Manor Profile
Earnley, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 780 – 1934
Also known as: Ernele, Erneleia, Earnaleach
Earnley does not appear in the Domesday Survey, likely being included within Wittering at that time. The earliest recorded grant dates to 780, when Oslac, Duke of the South Saxons, granted land called Earnaleach and Tielesora to the church of St Paul at Selsey cathedral. In 930 King Athelstan granted land at Medmerry in Selsey with the woodland and fields called Erneleia to Bishop Beornheage (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
The 1166 return of knights' fees shows William de Lancing held land likely representing Earnley alongside three others, accounting for one complete fee. By the late twelfth century William de Lancing (son of William and Maud) granted 2 hides to his uncle Luke de Ernele as a quarter knight's fee minus 1 virgate. Around 1260 Luke de Ernele maintained 2 perches of Aldingbourne Park paling, corresponding to his 2-hide holding. By 1284 John de Ernele, son of Luke, held the manor (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
In 1318 John de Ernele or his younger son received a grant of free warren. In 1427 a John de Ernele conveyed the manor to John Michelgrove and Joan his wife. In 1431 William Ernele held the manor, and in 1467 it was settled for life on John Lunsford and Margaret his wife, widow of John Ernele. In 1480 John Ernele, later Attorney-General and Chief Justice, conveyed it to John Clerkson the elder and John Inglere, both great-grandsons of an earlier John Ernele (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
In 1495 Thomas Combe and Elizabeth his wife held the manor and conveyed it to Edward Barttelot. A later Edward Barttelot conveyed the manor to George Fenner in 1561, who transferred it to Richard Erneley in 1564. In 1630 Richard Erneley sold to Richard Taylor, who died seised in 1633 leaving a young son Richard. In 1695 the younger Richard Taylor's son sold to Robert Smith (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
By 1752 Sarah Stuart of Chichester held the manor. In 1773 the Skelton family, through several coheiresses, conveyed the manor to Edward and Francis Diggens. By 1777 John Slade and Elizabeth his wife held the manor. In 1830 William Slade and Elizabeth conveyed it to the Rev. William Woollams Holland, clerk and incumbent of St Andrew's and St Martin's, Chichester. By 1877 the Rev. Mr Willett owned the manor, and in 1934 Willett's trustees still held it (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
The church of Earnley comprises a chancel, nave with bell-cote, and north porch, constructed of rubble with ashlar dressings. The nave is thirteenth century and the chancel fourteenth century. The rectory of Earnley was valued at £4 6s. 8d. in 1291. In 1526 the neighbouring rectory of Almodington was united to Earnley, and by 1535 the joint rectory was valued at £7 5s. 11d. The Ernele arms were: argent on a bend sable three eagles or (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Church of St Paul, Selsey | 780 | grant (Oslac, Duke of the South Saxons) | In 780 Oslac granted land called Earnaleach and Tielesora to the church of St Paul at Selsey. In 930 King Athelstan granted further land at Erneleia to Bishop Beornheage. | |
| 2 | William de Lancing | 1166 | knight's fee | Held land representing Earnley alongside three others, accounting for one complete fee in the 1166 return. His son William granted 2 hides to his uncle Luke de Ernele. | |
| 3 | Luke de Ernele | 1284 | grant (from nephew William de Lancing) | Received 2 hides as a quarter knight's fee minus 1 virgate. Maintained 2 perches of Aldingbourne Park paling c.1260. | |
| 4 | John de Ernele | 1284 | inheritance | Son of Luke. Held the manor in 1284. He or his younger son received a grant of free warren in 1318. | |
| 5 | John de Ernele (the younger) | 1318 | 1427 | inheritance | Received grant of free warren in 1318. In 1427 a John de Ernele conveyed the manor to John Michelgrove and Joan his wife. |
| 6 | John Michelgrove and Joan | 1427 | conveyance (from John de Ernele) | Received the manor in 1427. | |
| 7 | William Ernele | 1431 | 1467 | unknown | Held the manor in 1431-1432. In 1467 the manor was settled for life on John Lunsford and Margaret his wife (widow of John Ernele). |
| 8 | John Lunsford and Margaret | 1467 | settlement (for life) | Margaret was widow of John Ernele. Settled for life in 1467. | |
| 9 | John Ernele(Attorney-General / Chief Justice) | 1480 | family interest | Later served as Attorney-General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.Later Attorney-General and Chief Justice. In 1480 conveyed the manor to John Clerkson the elder and John Inglere, both great-grandsons of an earlier John Ernele. | |
| 10 | Thomas Combe and Elizabeth | 1495 | unknown (in Elizabeth's right) | Held in Elizabeth's right in 1495. Conveyed to Edward Barttelot. |
Bishop of Chichester
Luke de Ernele held 2 hides as a quarter knight's fee minus 1 virgate. He maintained 2 perches of Aldingbourne Park paling as part of his service obligation.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 201-203
Church of St Paul, Selsey
cathedral · held (early grant) · 780
Oslac, Duke of the South Saxons, granted Earnaleach and Tielesora to the church of St Paul in 780. King Athelstan granted further land in 930.
See of Chichester
diocese · overlord
The bishop's feodary recorded 2 hides at Earnley attached to Preston, held as knight's fees.
Earnley and West Wittering are neighbouring parishes in the Manhood hundred. Earnley does not appear separately in Domesday, likely being included within Wittering.
Earnley and Sidlesham are neighbouring parishes in the Manhood hundred. The sub-manor of Almodington, within Earnley, was held of the Bishop of Chichester under Sidlesham.
Middleton-on-Sea and Earnley are in the same coastal area of West Sussex.
Almodington lies within Earnley parish. The advowson of Almodington was united to Earnley in 1526.
Bracklesham and Earnley are adjacent parishes in the Manhood hundred. A 1656 Commonwealth proposal to unite Earnley with East Wittering was not implemented until 1924.
Referenced in VCH for knight's fee assessments. William de Lancing held one complete fee in 1166.
418m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
495m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II*.
462m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Referenced in VCH for early Saxon grants by Oslac (780) and King Athelstan (930).
Referenced in VCH for deaths of Richard Taylor (1633), Ralph Scrope (1572), and Henry Whysh (1347).
Rectory of Earnley valued at £4 6s. 8d. in 1291.
Sir Richard May of the Middle Temple, London, kt., and w. Dame Susanna, to William Manlove of the parish of St. Andrew (co. Midd.), gent., and Charles Mowbray of the parish of St. Martin in the Fields (co. Midd.), gent Properties, as in Add Mss1651 (but the Thicket now or late in occ. of Henry Hide, Richard Tayler, Richard Braman and Sir Richard May, and the messuage, etc., 'part of Ernle farme', late in occ. of Thomas Searle) To the use, as to one moiety, of said Sir Richard May for life, then
Richard Ernle of Cackman [in West Wittering], esq., to Richard Taylor of Almodington [in Earnley], gent Manor of Earnley, and the site, demesne lands and farm of the said 'now or late' manor, and all other the lands of (a) in Earnley, Sidlesham and East Wittering, heretofore leased to George Greene, which lease is since come to John Maye of 'Rawe Mare' [Raughmere in Mid Lavant], esq., and now or late in occ. of the same John Maye From (a) to (b) in consideration of a further £390 in addition to
[Granted in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Chichester; fragment of seal only remaining.]
Richard Gunter, gent., and John Swayne, gent., dems., v. Richard Taylor, gent., tenant Manor of Earnley, and six messuages, 300a. land, 20a. meadow, 300a. pasture, 60a. wood, 150a. fresh marsh, 50a. salt marsh, and 5s. 0d. rent in Earnley, Sidlesham and East Wittering Vouchee: Richard Ernle, esq [Seal missing]
Thomas Briggs and Stephen Penford, both as in Add Mss1651, to Sir Richard May, kt., one of the barons of the Exchequer Properties, as in Add Mss1651 Signatures and seals (a) Witnesses - Charles Herbert, Thomas Maskell
To be sold by auction on the above date at the Royal Pier Hotel, Bognor by order of the trustee under the settlement of the late Mrs. Palmer [Endorsed with memorandum that Richard Smith Skinner of Bognor was purchaser of both lots for £1,600.]
Richard Wardroper the younger, plt. v. George Chatfield and w. Elizabeth, defs Two messuages, two barns, two stables, two orchards, two gardens, 5a. land, 5a. meadow, 5a. pasture, common of pasture for all cattle and common of turbary, in Midhurst
Richard Taylor, gent., plt. v. Richard Ernle, esq., and w. Susan, defs Property, as in Add Mss1641
(a) Henry Box of the Inner Temple, London, esq., and Henry Aylway of Paternoster Row, London, gent., (b) Thomas Stewart (but signs Stuart) of Milland [in Trotton], esq., (c) George Aylmore of Petersfield (co. Hants.), clerk, and Alexander Robinson of Petersfield, gent., (d) John Reeves of Petersfield, gent Manor of Deane in Stedham, Iping, Trotton and Chithurst; capital messuage and farm called Millands, Great Millands and Little Millands in Trotton, and an annual rent of 8s. 0d. and other servi
[Release missing.] Joseph Merlott of Wokingham (co. Berks.), esq., Richard Peckham of 'Niton' [Nyton in Aldingbourne], esq., Robert Bull of Symonds Inn, Chancery Lane, London, esq., and Cowley Palmer of Merton (co. Lincs.), esq., to John Farhill of Chichester, esq Manor and Farm of Kenor alias Keynor, etc., as in I in Add Mss1674 (except that the phrase 'sea gause' now given as 'sea cause', Burrowbread Feilds now spelled Barrow Breadfields, and all now in the tenure or occupation of Henry Pryor)
Richard Taylor of Chilgrove in West Dean, gent., to Thomas Churchor of Chilgrove aforesaid, gent Tenement or dwellinghouse, barns and stable, with the gateroom, garden and orchard, and arable, meadow and pasture land (60a.) called 'part of Earnly Farme' in Earnley, in occ. of Thomas Searle Signature (a) (on Add Mss1643); signature (b) (on Add Mss1644); seals missing Witnesses - Ja. Lane, Henry Peckham, Henry Shipsea
[Marginal heading, 'Warneham', the property presumably lying in that parish.]
Measured and Plan'd November M,DCC,XCI By William Barlow of Midhurst Surveyor 20 in. to 1 m. 34 x 29½ 258a. around Earnley parish church. The church shown in perspective view, and other buildings in block plan. Names of adjacent owners. Field names and acreages on schedule. Shows hedges; ponds; gates; a stream; and a possible kiln in Kiln Field. Decorative compass rose
Granted to William Sargent, esq., bro. and sole executor of Charlotte Sargent, wid. decd., who was surviving executor of the will of John Sargent, esq., decd., father of said Charlotte Sargent, spinster, and which John survived her but died without having taken letters of administration [Granted P.C.C.; papered wafer seal.]
John Reeves of Petersfield (co. Hants), gent. (eldest son and one of the devisees and executors of the will of John Reeves, as in Add Mss1677, decd.) to William Reeves of Petersfield aforesaid, gent. (another of the sons, devisees and executors) Manor of Deane, etc., as in Add Mss1676 (but the land from which issues the rent and services now spelled 'Stanley'; barn and lands called Standley, now called Standley alias Standley Lyth; Dean or Standly Mead now called Deane & Standley Mead; Little Mi
As in Add Mss1646, to perform the covenants in this indenture Signature and papered seal Witnesses - Henry Barnard, Richard Barnard, John Dee, Robert Hearne
Richard Ernle, as in Add Mss1638, and w. Susan, to Richard Taylor, as in Add Mss1638 Property, as in Add Mss1638 The fine to be levied and the recovery suffered by the names of the manor of Earnley, six messuages, 300 a. land, 20 a. meadow, 300 a. pasture, 60 a. woodland, 150 a. fresh marsh, 50 a. saltmarsh, and 5s. 0d. rent in Earnley, Sidlesham and East Wittering Recites: Add Mss1638 Signatures and seals (a) Witnesses - George Boyse, Thomas Bickley, Wi: Garrett, John Lea
Principal source for the manorial descent of Earnley. Covers manor, sub-manor of Almodington, church, and charity.
