Manor Profile
Compton, West Sussex· Westbourne and Singleton Hundred· 899 – 1938
Also known as: Cumtun
The earliest probable reference to Compton is in King Alfred's will (c. 899), in which "Cumtun" was bequeathed to his nephew Aethelm. In 1015 Aethelstan Aetheling granted "Cumtun" to Godwin son of Wulfnoth. By the time of Edward the Confessor the vill was held by Sbern (Osbern) of Earl Godwin. At the Domesday survey of 1086 it was assessed at 10 hides, with a further hide in Wotton Hundred, Surrey, attached to it, held by Geoffrey of Earl Roger de Montgomery. A church was recorded. The overlordship thereafter descended with the Honour of Arundel.
The mesne lordship was acquired by the St. John family. Roger de St. John granted the church of Compton to Lewes Priory before the middle of the twelfth century. About 1175 William de St. John confirmed that grant, stipulating a requirement of personal service. The St. John interest continued until Edmund de St. John, who died in 1347 as the last of the male line. His estate was divided: half a fee passed in dower to his widow Elizabeth, with reversion to his daughters Margaret (wife of John de St. Philibert) and Isabel. Isabel married first Henry de Burghersh and then Michael de Poynings; the St. John share came with the manor of Halnaker to the Poynings family.
Beneath the St. John lords the manor was divided among several families. Henry de Lyons obtained land at Compton in 1279 and was the largest contributor to the subsidy in 1296. John de Lyons held a quarter fee in 1329, 1336, 1347, and 1349, after which his name disappears from the record, possibly a casualty of the Black Death. Baldwin de Lisle purchased land from Geoffrey de Lisle in 1279. His widow Joan claimed dower in 1307. Joan de Lisle died seised of a life interest in 1349, leaving a grandson John de Lisle aged six. Elizabeth de Lisle, his heir, married John de Bramshott.
John de Bramshott's grandson John died in 1479, leaving two daughters: Elizabeth, who married Sir John Dudley, and Margaret, who married Sir John Pakenham. The Dudley moiety passed to Edmund Dudley, who was attainted in 1510. William Ernley acquired a third of the manor in 1531. A distinct second manor of Compton was granted in 1461 to Thomas Vaughan and Eleanor, formerly wife of Sir Thomas Browne, and descended through the Browne family.
In 1653 Robert Peckham acquired the manor from Thomas Pay. His son purchased a further portion from Sir William Morley in 1699, consolidating the estate. Richard Peckham died a minor in 1734, and the property passed to his sister Sarah, who married Thomas Phipps in 1742. Thomas Peckham Phipps bequeathed the estate to his godson Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby. By 1922 and 1938, Mrs. Pollock was recorded as the lady of the reputed manor and principal landowner in the parish.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Alfred(King of Wessex) | 899 | royal possession | King Alfred's will, c. 899Earliest probable reference. "Cumtun" in his will. | |
| 2 | Aethelstan Aetheling(Aetheling) | 1015 | Granted "Cumtun" to Godwin son of Wulfnoth in 1015. | ||
| 3 | Sbern (Osbern) | 1066 | held of Earl Godwin | Pre-Conquest holder at time of Edward the Confessor. | |
| 4 | Geoffrey | 1086 | enfeoffment by Earl Roger | Named in Domesday. Held 10 hides plus 1 in Surrey. | |
| 5 | Roger de St. John | First recorded St. John holder. Granted church to Lewes Priory before mid-twelfth century. | |||
| 6 | William de St. John | 1175 | inheritance | Confirmed church grant to Lewes Priory. Stipulated personal service. Gave rent to nuns of Fontevrault. | |
| 7 | Edmund de St. John | 1347 | inheritance | Last male of the St. John line. Estate divided among widow Elizabeth and daughters Margaret and Isabel. | |
| 8 | Luke de Poynings | 1369 | inheritance via mother Isabel de St. John | Held of Honour of Arundel. Isabel married (1) Henry de Burghersh, (2) Michael de Poynings. | |
| 9 | John de Bramshott (grandson) | 1479 | inheritance through Lisle line | Left two daughters: Elizabeth (married Sir John Dudley) and Margaret (married Sir John Pakenham). | |
| 10 | Edmund Dudley | 1510 | inheritance/marriage | Minister of Henry VII, attainted and executedFamous minister of Henry VII. Held the Dudley moiety. Leased it to John Ernley. Attainted 1510. |
Honour of Arundel
The overlordship of Compton descended with the Honour of Arundel throughout the medieval period.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 91-94
Fontevrault Abbey
William de St. John gave a rent to the nuns of Fontevrault Abbey (France).
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 91-94
Lewes Priory
15 shillings yearly pension payable to Lewes Priory from the church.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 91-94
The Crown
crown · royal bequest · 899
King Alfred's will bequeathed "Cumtun" to nephew Aethelm
Fontevrault Abbey
abbey · received rent · 1175
Rent from William de St. John
Easebourne Priory
priory · appropriated rectory · 1411 – 1536
Received churches of Compton and Up Marden in 1411. Paid 4 pounds yearly to Lewes.
Lewes Priory
priory · held church and advowson · 1411
Roger de St. John granted church before mid-twelfth century; confirmed by William de St. John c. 1175
Sbern held before the Conquest of Earl Godwin. Geoffrey held of Earl Roger in 1086. 10 hides plus 1 in Surrey.
26m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
88m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
110m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
VCH Closing Statement
“By the modern period the manor had fragmented into a "reputed manor"; Mrs. Pollock was styled lady of it and was the chief landowner in the parish as of 1922 and 1938.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 91-94
133m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
167m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
267m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
334m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
27m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
99m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
119m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
158m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
196m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
273m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
46m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
110m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
120m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
166m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II*.
255m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
289m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Survey and perambulation, manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Manor of Compton Westbury: G. Tice.
Presentments at the court, styled court baron between 1727 and 1796, a court of survey being added for 1741. Other documents include the view of the tenants of certain nuisances and encroachments on the highway, 1725, the view of the homage (Jury in a court baron.) of persisting offences, appointment of the steward, charge by the steward to the bailiff for summoning the court, charge to the homage for conduct of the enquiry, Serjeant William Earle's opinion on a court baron's amerciaments (A pec
Survey of the manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Valuation and perambulation, manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Manorial tenants: William Jurden, Christopher Turke, William Susan, Thomas Cane, the heirs of Edward Lulham, the heirs of William Comber, John Kepes List of farm-tenants of the copyholders, with lands Annotated: supposed to have been made about the year 1570; Frederic Ellman [of Battle, solicitor to the Fuller estate]
Volume inscribed 'The Particulars of a Survey of the Manor of Compton Dando in Comm. Somerset--belonging to Edward Popham Esqr.--Taken anno 1758. By John Hinde'. Giving reference to the map, names, acreage, and state (arable or pasture) of the properties, and the number of trees (oak, ash, elm, as timber, maiden, or pollard trees), for the land in hand and for each tenant's holdings. The survey and valuation described in no. DD/PO/105 below has been copied into this volume. Map [with title simil
Court book, manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Viz.: [a] A Rentall of the quitt and Customary Rents.. from the freeholders copyholders and leaseholders. 1662; - [b] Banister's leases, 1672 etc.; [c] Particulars of Mrs Pickering's estate purchased by Mr Weld, 1697; [d, e, f] Surveys of the manor, 1699; - [g] An account of ten demesnes; [h] Burchall's particular; - [i -m] Schedules of leases; - [n, o] Abstract of the title of Mervyn Touchet's lease estate; - [p, q.] Abstracts of title.
Survey of the manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Court book, manor of Compton Chamberlayne.
Site of the manor of Compton Abdale
Sir Christopher More obtained the manor of Compton Westbury in 1535 (for title deeds see section G.3.2). The manor was a tithing of the hundred of Godalming, so the records of view of frankpledge are to be found within the hundred records. See also LM/1087/6/box 1, section F.27 and LM/1087/29, section A.4.2, for receipts of rents, 16th and 18th cents.
Principal source for the manor of Compton and its manorial descent.
