Manor Profile
Boxgrove, West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1086 – 1953
Also known as: Helneche, Haunac, Halfnaked, Halfnakere
Halnaker was the caput of the honour of Halnaker, one of the most significant manors in the rape of Chichester. Alward held before the Conquest. In 1086 William held 9 hides of Earl Roger, with 3 burgesses in Chichester.
Robert de Haye (son of Rannulf, steward of Count Robert of Mortain) held from Henry I. His daughter Cecily married Roger de St John. The St John family held for over 200 years. John de St John died in 1301 holding 400 acres arable, 20 acres meadow, windmill, pigeon-house, with 21 freeholders and 14 customary tenants. Member manors included Walberton, Barnham, and Woodcote.
Division among coheirs in 1347 assigned Halnaker to Isabel (married Henry de Burghersh, then Sir Luke de Poynings). Sir Thomas Poynings held after 1393. Through the Bonville family, it came to Thomas West, Lord de la Warre, who exchanged it with Henry VIII in 1540.
Queen Elizabeth granted it to the Earl of Arundel (1561), who settled it on Lord Lumley (1566). Lord Lumley sold to John Morley (1587). Mary Morley, Countess of Derby (d. 1752), left the estate to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. In 1765 Charles, Duke of Richmond purchased it for 48,000 pounds.
Alward held before the Conquest. In 1086 William held 9 hides of Earl Roger, plus 1 hide separately. The manor had 3 burgesses in Chichester (St Pancras houses held of this manor until late 18th century). The estates formed the honour of Halnaker.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alward | 1066 | Pre-Conquest holder. | ||
| 2 | William | 1086 | Held 9 hides of Earl Roger. Estates formed honour of Halnaker. | ||
| 3 | Robert de Haye | 1100 | grant from Henry I | ||
| 4 | Roger de St John | marriage to Cecily de Haye | |||
| 5 | John de St John | 1301 | 400 acres arable, windmill, pigeon-house, 35 tenants. | ||
| 6 | Edmund St John | 1329 | 1337 | ||
| 7 | Isabel (coheir, m. Sir Luke de Poynings) | 1347 | Halnaker assigned to Isabel at division. | ||
| 8 | Sir Thomas Poynings | 1393 | 1429 | ||
| 9 | John Bonville | 1453 | 1495 | Son of Joan, daughter of Hugh Poynings. | |
| 10 | Thomas West, Lord de la Warre(Lord de la Warre) | 1498 | 1540 |
Halnaker House: Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building. Fortified medieval manor house; quadrangular walled courtyard (13th-14th centuries). Southern range: grand 14th-century gatehouse with portcullis, decorated high-quality dressed flintwork. Eastern range: remains of domestic apartments and 13th-century chapel of St Mary Magdalene. Flint rubble and clunch with sandstone ashlar dressings. 18th-century modifications by Duke of Richmond; house allowed to decay early 1800s. Park: free warren 1253, 150 acres by 1329, 300 acres by 1404, estimated 4 miles compass supporting 800 deer by 1570.
VCH Closing Statement
“The Duke of Richmond holds the manor.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 140-150
