Manor Profile
Boxgrove, West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1086 – 1953
Boxgrove was held by two unnamed freemen before the Conquest. In 1086 William (of Halnaker) held 6 hides of Earl Roger. Robert de Haye gave the church of St Mary with 2.5 hides to the abbey of Lessay (Normandy) in 1105, founding Boxgrove Priory as a cell.
The priory became independent after 1339 and held the manor as 0.5 fee of Halnaker, farmed at 20 pounds 12s. in 1535. At the Dissolution (1537) the manor passed to the Crown.
Thomas West, Lord de la Warre acquired the site and manor in 1540-41, exchanging it with Henry VIII for the abbey of Wherwell (Hampshire). Queen Elizabeth granted the manors to Henry, Earl of Arundel in 1561. John, Lord Lumley received them in 1566. Lord Lumley sold to John Morley of Saxham in 1587.
Sir William Morley, KB died without male issue in 1701. His daughter Mary married James, Earl of Derby (d. 1752). In 1765 Charles, Duke of Richmond purchased the estate for 48,000 pounds. The 11th Duke of Richmond (Charles Gordon-Lennox) holds the manor.
Two unnamed freemen held of Edward the Confessor. In 1086 William held 6 hides of Earl Roger. Subtenants included clerks of the church (1 hide), Humphrey (3 hides 1 virgate), Nigel (1 hide 1 virgate), and William (0.5 hide).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William (of Halnaker) | 1086 | Held 6 hides of Earl Roger. | ||
| 2 | Robert de Haye | 1105 | Gave church and 2.5 hides to Lessay Abbey. | ||
| 3 | Boxgrove Priory | 1105 | 1537 | Cell of Lessay Abbey, independent after 1339. Farmed at 20 pounds 12s. (1535). | |
| 4 | Crown | 1537 | 1540 | ||
| 5 | Thomas West, Lord de la Warre(Lord de la Warre) | 1540 | 1541 | Crown grant | |
| 6 | Crown (Henry VIII) | 1541 | 1561 | ||
| 7 | Henry, Earl of Arundel(Earl of Arundel) | 1561 | 1566 | Crown grant (Elizabeth I) | |
| 8 | John, Lord Lumley(Lord Lumley) | 1566 | 1587 | ||
| 9 | John Morley of Saxham | 1587 | 1622 | purchase | |
| 10 | Sir William Morley, KB | 1701 |
Boxgrove Priory (Benedictine)
priory · held · 1117 – 1536
Founded c.1117 by Robert de Haye. Dissolved 1536. Priory church survives as parish church.
Boxgrove Priory Church (St Mary and St Blaise): 12th-century Norman aisled east limb, transepts. Late 12th century: crossing piers, tower, nave extended. c.1200: entire east limb rebuilt in Early English Gothic with elegant stone-ribbed vaults, Purbeck marble columns. De la Warr chantry chapel (1532-35): sole Sussex example of flanking-screens chantry form, Caen stone, mixture of Gothic and Renaissance detail, among the best Renaissance carvings in any English church. Bell: 1674 (William Eldridge, recast 1937). Registers begin 1561.
Halnaker and Boxgrove are both within Boxgrove parish, held by the same lords from the 12th century and jointly purchased by the Duke of Richmond in 1765.
East Hampnett lies within Boxgrove parish.
Boxgrove Priory held half fee of Martinesgrave from 1244.
Prior of Boxgrove held Eastcourt (half fee in 1428) until Dissolution.
VCH Closing Statement
“The Duke of Richmond holds the manor and advowson.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 140-150
