Manor Profile
Soberton, Hampshire· Hambledon Hundred· 1086 – 1549
Also known as: Flexland Cobham, Englefield, Inglefield
Flexland originated from a portion of Herbert the Chamberlain's Domesday manor, granted to his daughter on her marriage to Robert de Venuz. Robert de Venuz (grandson of the original, early thirteenth century) held by serjeanty of marshal in the king's household. Robert died before 1219 and his widow Constance quitclaimed her third of 100s. rents to their son John for 60s. rents in Worldham and Draycote. John de Venuz died without issue and his brother Thomas succeeded (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
Thomas's daughter Agnes granted one carucate to William de Cobham in 1249 for a pair of white gloves or 1d. rent at Easter. William purchased an additional 5 acres and 12d. rent from William le Waleys and Beatrice that same year. William de Cobham's daughter Joan de Heigham quitclaimed to Agnes de Cobham for life for a rent of a chaplet of roses in 1281 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
Philip de Hoyville and Mary claimed the manor in 1281. Mary held land in 1316 and granted the reversion of two-thirds of a messuage, 2.5 carucates and a pound of pepper to Roger de Englefield in 1325. Roger obtained licence from Bishop Edendon (1346-1366) to celebrate mass in an oratory at Flexland. Roger died in 1361 seised of 20 acres held of the king, a messuage and carucate held of Sir Maurice le Bruyn as Russell Flexland for 2s. per year, and a cottage acre held of the Abbot of Beaulieu for a pepper rent (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
The manor was last mentioned as Flexland Cobham; it was subsequently called Englefield or Inglefield. William Dale conveyed it with other Soberton manors to Walter Bonham and Alice in 1544. The Bonhams sold to Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, in 1549, and the descent thereafter followed the chief Soberton manor. The site is identified as Ingoldfield Farm near the parish centre (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert de Venuz (original) | 1086 | marriage (to daughter of Herbert the Chamberlain) | Herbert the Chamberlain granted a portion of his Domesday manor to his daughter on her marriage to Robert de Venuz. | |
| 2 | Robert de Venuz (grandson) | 1219 | inheritance | Held by serjeanty of marshal in the king's household.Held by serjeanty of marshal in the king's household. Died before 1219. | |
| 3 | John de Venuz | 1219 | inheritance | Widow Constance quitclaimed her third of 100s. rents to John for 60s. rents in Worldham and Draycote in 1219. Died without issue. | |
| 4 | Thomas de Venuz | inheritance (brother) | Brother of John. His daughter Agnes granted one carucate to William de Cobham in 1249. | ||
| 5 | William de Cobham | 1249 | grant (from Agnes de Venuz, for pair of white gloves or 1d. rent) | Received one carucate in 1249. Purchased additional 5 acres and 12d. rent from William le Waleys and Beatrice. Gave the manor the name Flexland Cobham. | |
| 6 | Mary de Hoyville | 1281 | 1325 | claim (with Philip de Hoyville) | Philip de Hoyville and Mary claimed the manor in 1281. Mary held land in 1316. Granted reversion of two-thirds to Roger de Englefield in 1325. |
| 7 | Roger de Englefield | 1325 | 1361 | grant of reversion (from Mary de Hoyville) | Obtained licence from Bishop Edendon to celebrate mass in an oratory at Flexland. Died 1361 seised of 20 acres held of the king, a messuage and carucate held of Sir Maurice le Bruyn as Russell Flexland for 2s. per year. |
| 8 | Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton(Earl of Southampton) | 1549 | purchase (via Bonhams, from William Dale) | William Dale conveyed with other Soberton manors to Walter Bonham and Alice in 1544. Bonhams sold to the Earl in 1549. Descent thereafter followed the chief Soberton manor. |
Crown
Robert de Venuz held Flexland by serjeanty of marshal in the king's household.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268
Beaulieu Abbey
abbey · overlord (part)
Roger de Englefield held a cottage and acre of the Abbot of Beaulieu for a pepper rent.
Titchfield Abbey
abbey · held land · 1538
Peter des Roches granted various Flexland lands to Titchfield Abbey in free alms.
Three large estates: Crown (formerly Godwin), Herbert the Chamberlain, Henry the Treasurer.
Principal source for all Soberton manors including Flexland, East Hoe, Wallop's, Longspiers, Fawconer's and Bere. Eleven pages of detailed manorial descents.
