Manor Profile
East Wittering, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 1086 – 1835
Also known as: Wihttringes (pre-Conquest), Wystringes
East Wittering was presumably included in "Wihttringes" given by Caedwalla, King of Wessex, to Bishop Wilfrid for the endowment of Selsey minster. Before the Norman Conquest, one hide of fifteen had separated and was held by two freemen as separate manors. In 1086 this hide was held of Earl Roger by Robert fitz Tetbald and Ralph, with one house in Chichester attached.
The manor was recovered by the bishops of Chichester, whose overlordship persisted until 1520. The local Wystryng family held it as tenants: Oliver de Wystringes held part of a knight's fee in 1166; Alan de Wideringe in the time of King John; Simon de Vystryng held 2 hides c. 1260; William Wystryng held 4 hides and 1.5 yardlands from 1300 to 1310, attached manorially to Cakeham in West Wittering.
In 1481 William Wyghtryng and Joan conveyed the manor to Sir Thomas Seyntleger and others as trustees. Joan's son Robert Wyghtryng sold it in 1507 to Sir John Ernle (died 1519). His son William (died 1546) settled the manor on his wife Bridget. Francis Ernle (William's elder son) died 1547; his brother Richard succeeded. The Ernle family retained the manor until at least 1628, when Richard Ernle and Susan conveyed it to Thomas Hide.
In 1637 John Ashburnham and Francis sold the manor to Thomas Alcock, clerk. The Alcock family held it until 1807, when Rev. William Alcock conveyed it to George Copis. Copis probably acted as agent for John Helyer, from whom the Duke of Richmond acquired it. Henry Sparkes was the tenant in 1835.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two freemen | 1066 | held as separate manors | One hide of fifteen separated before the Conquest. | |
| 2 | Robert fitz Tetbald and Ralph | 1086 | enfeoffment by Earl Roger | Held 1 hide with one house in Chichester. | |
| 3 | Oliver de Wystringes | 1166 | tenure under Bishop of Chichester | Held part of a knight's fee. Also gave the church to the cathedral of Chichester. | |
| 4 | William Wystryng | 1300 | 1310 | inheritance | Held 4 hides 1.5 yardlands attached manorially to Cakeham in West Wittering. |
| 5 | Robert Wyghtryng | 1507 | inheritance (son of Joan Wyghtryng) | ||
| 6 | Sir John Ernle | 1507 | 1519 | purchase from Robert Wyghtryng | |
| 7 | William Ernle | 1519 | 1546 | inheritance | Settled the manor on his wife Bridget, daughter of Thomas Springe of Lavenham. |
| 8 | Richard Ernle | 1547 | 1628 | inheritance (brother of Francis, who died 1547) | Richard Ernle and Susan conveyed to Thomas Hide in 1628. |
| 9 | Thomas Alcock | 1637 | purchase from John Ashburnham and Francis | Clerk. The Alcock family held until 1807. | |
| 10 | Rev. William Alcock | 1807 | inheritance |
Bishop of Chichester
Held under the Bishop of Chichester's overlordship, which persisted until 1520.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 215-217
Dean and Chapter of Chichester
cathedral · held church rectory · 1180 – 1518
Oliver de Withringes gave the church to the cathedral c. end of 12th century. Rectory valued at 5 pounds in 1291.
Bishop of Chichester
bishopric · overlord · 1520
Bishops of Chichester held overlordship until 1520.
East and West Wittering are adjacent parishes in the Manhood hundred. William Wystryng's 4 hides were attached manorially to Cakeham in West Wittering.
Somerley was a prebendal estate within East Wittering parish, forming the endowment of a prebend in Chichester Cathedral.
Bracklesham was a prebendal estate within East Wittering parish. The chapelry was annexed to East Wittering in 1518 owing to coastal erosion.
Recorded under Wittering. One hide held by Robert fitz Tetbald and Ralph of Earl Roger, with one house in Chichester.
371m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
John Alcock of Trotton, clerk, and Lawrence Alcock of Midhurst, esq. (son and heir of Lawrence Alcock, late of Midhurst, gent., dec'd), to William Yaldwyn of Blackdown in Lodsworth, esq. and William Smith of Easby, co. Yorks., clerk. Manor and farmhouse of East Wittering, with appurtenances (no details). With abstract, 1824, of Final Concord, Hilary Term, 1706/7.
John Alcock of Treyford, clerk (eldest son and heir of John Alcock as in no. GOODWOOD/E207), to Mary Alcock, widow, his mother. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204; barn, gateroom and land called Hodges in Tillington; freehold land, formerly held of the rectory of Petworth, in Tillington. To the use of Mary Alcock for life.
VCH Closing Statement
“The Duke of Richmond acquired it and leased to Henry Sparkes, the tenant in 1835.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 215-217
(a) Charles Webber and Charles Hewitt Smith, as no. GOODWOOD/E228; (b) William Alcock, late of Trotton but now of Magdalen College, Oxford, clerk; (c) John Hellyer as in no. GOODWOOD/E223; (d) George Copis of Selsey, yeoman. For £1500 paid by (c) to (a) they, at the request of (b) convey the manor of East Wittering to (c). For £2925 paid by (c) to (b) he, conveys his moiety of the manor to (d) at the direction of (c). With covenant, 30 Sept. 1806, of (c) to John Newland to produce title deeds as
(a) John Alcock of Trotton, clerk; (b) John Smith of Chichester, surgeon; (c) Elizabeth Smith, eldest dau. of (b); (d) Rev. Thomas Doyly, LL.D., of Chichester and William Langbain of Trotton, clerk. Recites intended marriage of (a) and (c). Recites settlement by (b) and William Smith, his son, surgeon (eldest son and heir of his mother Sarah Smith, née Buckingham, one of the nieces of the Rev. Dr. Henry Edes, dec'd) of-- One third part of a moiety of all messuages, cottages, tenements and heredi
(a) Charles Alcock of New College, Oxford, esq. (eldest son and heir of the Rev. Charles Alcock, late of Trotton, dec'd); (b) Charlotte Alcock of Midhurst, widow of the said Rev. Charles Alcock; (c) John Hellyer as in no. GOODWOOD/E223; (d) George Copis as in no. GOODWOOD/E233. Moiety of the manor of East Wittering. £2175 paid to (a) and £750 paid to (b).
Consideration £2800 (a) John Hellyer; (b) George Copis; (c) Charles and Charlotte Alcock; (d) Thomas Rhoades of Chichester, esq. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204.
Recites from 21, 22 March 1706 to 12, 13 June 1820; endorsed with opinion of A. R. Sidebottom, Feb. 1824.
William Alcock, as in no. GOODWOOD/E223, and John Newland of Salthill [in New Fishbourne], esq., to John Hellyer, as in no. GOODWOOD/E223. To ensure that Charles Alcock, a minor and nephew of William Alcock, or his heirs conveys a moiety of East Wittering Farm to John Hellyer within 6 months after he or they shall be competent to do so.
Consideration £7600 (a) John Hellyer; (b) Charles Alcock of Midhurst, clerk, and Charlotte Alcock of the same, widow; (c) Thomas Rhoades; (d) Charles, 5th Duke of Richmond; (e) and (f) the trustees of the Richmond Estate Act. Manor of East Wittering, and East Wittering Farm (166a. as per schedule with field-names and acreages). £4800 paid to (a); £2050 paid to Charles Alcock and £750 to Charlotte Alcock at the direction of (a).
Consideration £1500 (a) William Alcock of Magdalen College, Oxford, clerk; (b) Charles Alcock of Trotton, clerk; (c) Mary Alcock of Midhurst, spinster; (d) William Fowler of Chichester, gent.; (e) John Hellyer of East Wittering, yeoman. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204. From (a) and (b) to (e). With Final Concord, Hilary Term, 1802, and counterpart.
In consideration of the intended marriage of her son, John Alcock, clerk, and Elizabeth, eldest dau. of John Smith of Chichester, surgeon.
John Alcock of Trotton, clerk, and Mary his wife, to William Yaldwyn and William Smith as in no. GOODWOOD/E204 Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204. To the use of John Alcock for life, then to the use of Mary his wife in lieu of her jointure, thirds and dower in any other manors, etc. of her husband and to provide her with an annuity of £45.
William and Charles Alcock to John Hellyer (all as in no. GOODWOOD/E223). Tenement, barn, stables, etc. and 163a. land (no details) in East Wittering in occ. of lessee.
(a) George Copis; (b) John Hellyer; (c) William Cobden Rhoades of Chichester, gent. (d) Thomas Rhoades. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204.
Mary Alcock of Midhurst, spinster, to William Alcock of Midhurst and Charles Alcock of Slindon, clerks. Recites that William Langbaine, late rector of Trotton, by will, 30 June 1771, bequeathed all his lands, tenements, etc. in Oving, co. Bucks., commonly called Buttermilk Hall, to his niece Elizabeth Alcock for life and after her death to Mary, sole dau. of his nephew, John Alcock, on condition that on her becoming possessed of the same she made over to her brothers, William and Charles, all he
Elizabeth Alcock of Trotton, spinster, Thomas Collins of Winchester, co. Hants., clerk, and Charles Smith and William Webber both of Chichester, clerks, to William Alcock of Trotton, clerk, Charles Alcock of Slindon, clerk, and Mary Alcock of Trotton, spinster. Recites no. GOODWOOD/E219. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E204.
Consideration £1500 John Hellyer, as in no. GOODWOOD/E223, to Charles Webber of Boxgrove, clerk, and Charles Hewitt Smith of Nyton [in Aldingbourne], esq.; with declaration of trust by the assignees, 1 March 1804, to William Alcock, as in no. GOODWOOD/E223.
civil parish in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Type: civil parish
village in West Sussex, England, UK. Type: village
former electoral ward in Chichester, West Sussex, England. Type: ward
former manorial estate in East Wittering , Sussex. Type: manor estate
grade II listed windmill in East Wittering, United Kingdom. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: tower mill. NHLE: 1026108
