Manor Profile
Merston (absorbed into Oving), West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1086 – 1920
Merston was held before the Conquest by Earl Gurth (brother of Harold) at 8 hides. In 1086 Oismelin held 6 hides of Earl Roger, with 10 acres meadow, 3 mills, and 2 houses in Chichester.
Roger Martel held c.1240. Through complex inheritance, the manor passed to the Bonville family. William Bonville was beheaded on 19 February 1461 after the second Battle of St Albans. His great-granddaughter Cecily married Thomas Grey, later Marquess of Dorset. In 1544 Henry, Marquess of Dorset conveyed the manor and advowson to Henry VIII.
The Crown granted to John Caryll in 1560. The Caryll family, prominent Catholic recusants, held until 1771 when John Caryll sold to Thomas Longcroft. Longcroft's representatives sold to Richard Godman in 1778. William Langmead purchased from the Godman family around 1920.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earl Gurth | 1066 | Brother of King Harold. 8 hides TRE. | ||
| 2 | Oismelin | 1086 | Held 6 hides of Earl Roger. Gave tithes to Abbey of Troarn. | ||
| 3 | Roger Martel | 1240 | |||
| 4 | Thomas fitz Roger | 1367 | 1382 | ||
| 5 | John Bonvyle and Elizabeth | 1385 | 1396 | ||
| 6 | William Bonvyle | 1414 | 1461 | ||
| 7 | Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset(Marquess of Dorset) | 1475 | 1544 | Married Cecily Bonvyle. | |
| 8 | Crown (Henry VIII) | 1544 | 1560 | ||
| 9 | John Caryll | 1560 | Crown grant | ||
| 10 | Caryll family | 1560 | 1771 | Catholic recusant family. Held for over 200 years. |
Boxgrove Priory
priory · held
Prior held half a fee temp. Edward I.
400m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Chichester.
381m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Chichester.
375m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Chichester.
332m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade I.
26m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
VCH Closing Statement
“William Langmead purchased the manor from the Godman family around 1920.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 158-160
319m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
100m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Short Title: Caryll v Bowyer. [Cause code: SCEL-13767]. Documents: interrogatories. Plaintiffs: John Caril, lord of the manor of Merston. Defendants: Thomas Bowyer and others. County: Sussex. Subject: a common called Meane Marsh, alias Merston Common. Regnal year: 28 Eliz I.
Conveyed to Philip Lawrance, 12 Oct. 1819. No. GOODWOOD/E3359 is an extract of the admin. of the goods of Henry Willsher, 1794; nos. E3360 and 3361 are abstracts of title, reciting from 1712 to 1819, endorsed with counsel's opinion, 1825.
Short title: Grey v Holdyn. Plaintiffs: Henry [Grey], marquis of Dorset. Defendants: Richard Holdyn, gentleman. Subject: Waste on the manor of Merston, late of Lord Leonard Grey.
Short title: Lysle v Coteler. Plaintiffs: John Lysle and Anne, his wife, daughter and heir of William Leycrofte, gentleman. Defendants: William Coteler, warden of the college of Knolle, William Abell, clerk, Harry Badeley, and others, feoffees to uses. Subject: The manor of Merston Culy and lands in Coleshill, Haukeswell, Overton, Curdworth, and elsewhere. Warwickshire. 5 documents.
Short title: Kybe v Cassy. Plaintiffs: Richard Kybe of Sidlesham and Thomas Aylwyn of Chichester, yeoman. Defendants: Raobert Cassy, esq late of North Mundham, Humphrey Westwood citizen of London, and others. Subject: Fraud in sale of timber from the demesne of the manor of Merston held on lease of Sir John Carrill kt. Sussex. Barnes category: fraud; unlawful assembly.
These documents, which all concern the Caryll family, are presumably with the Goodwood archives to support the title to some of the Duke of Richmond's property in Oving, into which parish the Manor extended but the Dukes never owned the lordship. No. GOODWOOD/E350 is a copy of a settlement, 26 Jan. 1729/30, on the marriage of Edward Caryll (younger son of John Caryll of Ladyholt, esq.) and Catherine, eldest dau. of Nathaniel Pigott of the Inner Temple, esq., and refers to the Manor and advowson
Short Title: Caryll v Bowyer. [Cause code: SCEL-13767]. Documents: bill, answer/s, demurrer, interrogatories, depositions. Plaintiffs: John Carill esq, lord of the manor of Merston. Defendants: John Purdew, Thomas Bowyer of Leythorne and others. County: Sussex. Subject: a common called Meane Marsh, alias Merston Common. Regnal year: 28 Eliz I.
Short Title: Caryll v Bowyer. [Cause code: SCEL-13767]. Documents: interrogatories, depositions. Plaintiffs: John Carrol, lord of the manor of Merston. Defendants: John Perdue. County: Sussex. Subject: a common called Meane Marsh, alias Merston Common. Regnal year: 29 Eliz I.
Short Title: Smythe v Devenyshe. Plaintiffs: Edward Smythe. Defendants: William Devenyshe and Lawrence Shorter. Subject: cottages and land held of the manor of Merston. County: Sussex.
Short Title: Caryll v Bowyer. [Cause code: SCEL-13767]. Documents: interrogatories, depositions. Plaintiffs: John Carell esq, lord of the manor of Merston. Defendants: Henry Cowldell, Richard Hibe the elder, Elizabeth Gleble widow of North Mundham, John Flusher, Thomas Maunser the elder and othrers. County: Sussex. Subject: a common called Meane Marsh, alias Merston Common. Regnal year: 28 Eliz I.
Entry giving details of copyhold enfranchisements for the Manor of Merston, county of Norfolk. The entries are classified under the following subject headings: file no. description, quit rent, con[siderati]on, no. of deed, date of seal & copyholder.
Surrender of Richard Streetin, to the use of George Streetin of Hunston in North Mundham, yeo
Particulars of the manor of Merston, Sussex, parcel of possessions purchased by the King from the Marquess of Dorset. Parchment, 1 folio.
Admission of James Thodes, son and heir of Henry Rhodes
Westminster. Octave of S. Michael
Certificate of William lord Roos of Hamelak and others (named) as to dying confession of John Bussy, kt, relating to the manor of Merston, Lincolnshire, formerly enclosed in C 81/592 no 999.
Consideration, 100 marks silver: Westminster. Octave of S. Michael Note: Appears to be a contemporary copy, in a different hand, of 466 and 467. Note also variant spellings of the proper names.
village in West Sussex, England, UK. Type: village
village on the Isle of Wight, England, UK. Type: village
house in Oving, Chichester, West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: house. NHLE: 1276901
Manor House in Merstone, Isle of Wight, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II* listed building. Type: manor house. NHLE: 1292159
former manorial estate in Merston, Sussex. Type: manor estate
