Manor Profile
Selsey, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 681 – 1940
Also known as: Selsea, The Bury
Selsey occupies a low peninsula at the southernmost point of the Manhood Hundred, projecting into the English Channel south of Chichester Harbour. The parish was assessed at 10 hides in Domesday Book, with Geoffrey holding one hide and William half a hide and half a virgate as sub-tenants. Six houses in Chichester were attached to the manor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 205-210).
The ecclesiastical connection predates the Conquest by four centuries. In 681, Bishop Wilfrid of York received Selsey from King Aethelwalh of Sussex. Two years later, King Caedwalla of Wessex endowed extensive territories to establish Wilfrid's monastery, making Selsey the seat of the abbey and later of the diocese. The see remained at Selsey until 1075, when it was transferred to Chichester. The Bishop of Chichester held the manor in demesne continuously from Domesday through the medieval period (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 205-206).
In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I compelled Bishop William Barlow to surrender the manor, which was valued at 53 pounds 4 shillings and 10 pence halfpenny clear yearly value. The Crown leased the demesne. In 1603, the manor was granted to Queen Anne (consort of James I), and in 1619 to trustees for Prince Charles. In 1628, the manor was assigned to the City of London as security for a loan. Sir William Morley purchased the manor in 1635 at a fee farm rent of 56 pounds 2 shillings and half a penny. Bishop Richard Montague attempted an unsuccessful recovery (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 207-208).
William Morley's son sold the manor to William Elson in 1700. In 1736, William Glanville acquired it and sold to John Peachey the same year. Peachey succeeded as second baronet in 1737. His brother Sir James was created Baron Selsey in 1794 and died in 1808. The third baron died in 1838 and the title became extinct. The manor passed to his daughter Caroline Mary Peachey. After her death in 1871, the manor was divided. One half went to Edward Paine and Richard Brettell, the other to Osmond Barnard, who immediately sold to James Henry Legge. Legge sold to Frederick William Grafton in 1878. Grafton died in 1890 and the manor vested in trustees. The trustees sold to Wilhelm Karl Ferro in 1909. W.A. Thornton purchased the manor around 1920 and held it in 1940 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 208-209).
Three cathedral prebends held substantial property in Selsey: the Prebend of Selsey (valued at 21 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence in 1291), the Prebend of Thorney at Crablands in the western parish, and the Prebend of Waltham in the Norton area. All prebendal estates passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under the 1840 Act. God's House hospital in Southampton held property or tithes in Selsey between 1297 and 1309 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 209-210).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Aethelwalh of Sussex(King of the South Saxons) | 681 | Granted Selsey to Bishop Wilfrid of York in 681 for the establishment of a monastery. | ||
| 2 | Bishop Wilfrid(Bishop of York) | 681 | royal grant from King Aethelwalh | Founded monastery at Selsey. King Caedwalla of Wessex further endowed the estates in 683. | |
| 3 | Bishop of Selsey / Bishop of Chichester(Bishop of Chichester (from 1075)) | 681 | 1561 | endowment of the see | The see was at Selsey from 681 until its transfer to Chichester in 1075. The bishop held the manor continuously throughout the medieval period. Assessed at 10 hides in Domesday with six houses in Chichester attached. |
| 4 | The Crown (Elizabeth I)(Crown) | 1561 | 1603 | forced surrender by Bishop William Barlow | Elizabeth I compelled Bishop Barlow to surrender the manor. Valued at 53 pounds 4 shillings and 10 pence halfpenny clear yearly value. Demesne leased to John Lewes for 80 years from 1535. |
| 5 | Queen Anne(Queen consort of James I) | 1603 | 1619 | royal grant | Granted the manor in 1603. |
| 6 | Trustees for Prince Charles | 1619 | 1628 | royal grant | Held in trust for Prince Charles (later Charles I). |
| 7 | City of London | 1628 | 1635 | assigned as security for a loan | Held the manor as security for a loan to the Crown. |
| 8 | Sir William Morley | 1635 | purchase | Purchased the manor in 1635 at a fee farm rent of 56 pounds 2 shillings and half a penny. Bishop Richard Montague attempted an unsuccessful recovery of the manor. | |
| 9 | William Morley (son) | 1700 | inheritance | Son of Sir William Morley. Sold the manor to William Elson in 1700. | |
| 10 | William Elson | 1700 | 1736 | purchase | Purchased from William Morley in 1700. |
Bishop of Chichester (Diocese of Selsey/Chichester)
diocese · held · 681 – 1561
Grant of King Aethelwalh 681; endowment of King Caedwalla 683
God's House Hospital, Southampton
hospital · held (property or tithes) · 1297 – 1309
The Crown
crown · held · 1561 – 1635
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
church · held (prebendal estates) · 1840
Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840
THE MANOR (SELSEY) LTD
company · corporate_holder · 2010
Companies House 07200831
ELEVEN MANOR FARM COURT (SELSEY) LIMITED
company · corporate_holder · 2013
Companies House 08812216
MANOR GARDENS (SELSEY) MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Both manors were held by the Bishop of Chichester continuously from the original endowment of the See of Selsey. Selsey was the seat of the diocese from 681 to 1075. West Wittering (Cakeham) was the bishops' favoured country residence. Both lie within the Manhood Hundred.
Both manors lie within the Manhood Hundred on the Selsey peninsula.
Selsey was the seat of the Sussex bishopric from 681 to 1075. The Bishop of Exeter held the chapel of Bosham, which originated from the same pre-Conquest ecclesiastical network. Both manors were part of Caedwalla's 683 endowment.
In 1086, Payn held 4 hides at Westbourne formerly held by Alric as belonging to the minster at Selsey. This suggests a pre-Conquest link between the Selsey episcopal estate and Westbourne.
Sussex folios. Selsey assessed at 10 hides, held by the Bishop of Chichester. Geoffrey held 1 hide, William half a hide and half a virgate as sub-tenants. Six houses in Chichester attached.
227m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
217m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
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Companies House 14044648
Prebend of Selsey (Chichester Cathedral)
cathedral · held (tithes and lands) · 1840
Both Sidlesham and Selsey were part of the original endowment of the See of Selsey (later Chichester). Sidlesham was granted to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 alongside the Selsey estate.
244m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
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Pagham Harbour: Manor of Selsey; W A Thornton.
Admission of Katherine Mason and John Mason, her son, on the surrender of John Mason, her husband Messuage and boardingmanland (12 a.) at Sutton in Selsey, rent 3s 10d Lord: Sir William Morley. Steward: William Westbrook With covering letter, 1942, to L. White from Rev. W. Budgen, with a translation of the deed
Surrender by (a) Thomas Adkinson the younger and Anne his wife (late called Anne Westwood, spinster) to the use of (b) William Knott of Chichester, butcher, and his heirs, and admission of (b) Tenement and garden called Westwoods in Selsey
Copy of mortgage surrender to secure £250 and interest by (a) Israel Tilley of Selsey, yeo. to (b) Hannah Smyth of Binderton in West Dean spinster Property as in Add Mss 12,790 Witnesses: John Wakeford, Francis Greenfield, Francis Goater, Thomas Sheppard, John Smith Bond of even date in £500 for the performance of the above mortgage
With index
Surrender of John and Ann Willshire of Newly built tenement, with barn, garden and 13a. arable land at Sutton in Selsey To James and Matthew Clayton, both of Selsey, gents., upon a mortgage of £150
Admission of Ann Willshire (née Warner), wife of John Willshire of Selsey, husbandman, to - Barn and 13a. arable land, 3 cow leazes, 2 horse leazes and 8 sheep leazes, called and esteemed an husbandmanland at Sutton in Selsey On the death of her uncle, William Reeves Lord: Sir James Peachey. Steward: Francis Dear
Licence granted to John Knott on a fine of £2 to pull down the "decayed and ruinous" tenement and convert the butcher's shop and slaughterhouse, built in the garden by William Knott, into a dwellinghouse Property as in Add Mss 12,799 Sir James Peachey, Bart., Lord of the Manor. Francis Dear, gent. Steward
Copy of mortgage surrender to secure £174 with interest by (a) Israel Tilley of Barnham, yeo. to (b) John Dear the elder of Chichester, cordwainer One messuage and yardland in West Street in Sutton in Selsey called Swithins, held at a rent of 13s. 4d., and one cottage and 2a. of land in West Street in Sutton in Selsey Witnesses: William Newnham, William Wakeford, jun Endorsed 8 July 1719, receipt and quittance Witnesses: Thomas Sturtt, John Dear, jun., Francis Greenfield, John Farhills
Copy of mortgage surrender to secure £250 and interest by (a) Israel Tilley of Barnham, yeo to (b) Henry May of Chichester, esq., Thomas Carr of Chichester, esq., Thomas Smith of Binderton in West Dean esq., Francis Goater, citizen and alderman of Chichester and John Wake ford of Chichester, gent., trustees of the Charity School lately founded by Oliver Whitby Property as in Add Mss 12,790 Witnesses: Thomas Sturtt, John Dear, jun., Francis Greenfield, John Farhills Endorsed 9 July 1720, receipt
Manor of Selsey: G. Collins.
With index
Admission of Henry Robinson Arnell of Selsey, miller, by Matthias James Sowton of Chichester, gent., his attorney Piece or parcel of ground which heretofore formed the site of a barn called Willshire's Barn and was parcel of an ancient copyhold tenement called Mann's; piece or parcel of land for many years past thrown into and forming part of the land used as a yard or playground to the Selsey Parish School as the same is fenced off on two sides by a wall erected by the Trustees of the School fr
With index
Admission of William Pullinger of Selsey, carpenter, on the surrender on 9 October 1792 of Charles Green of Tarring, labourer, and Priscilla, his w., previously Priscilla Morris, spinster, and a fine of £2. 2s One cottage and garden in East Norton in Sutton, in Selsey Sir James Peachey, Bart., Lord of the Manor. Francis Dear, gent., Steward
Admission of John Knott of Earnley, yeo., on the surrender of William Knott and a fine of £3 One tenement and garden, late Westwoods in Selsey. Sir James Peachey, Bart., Lord of the Manor. Francis Dear, gent. Steward
Principal source for the manorial descent of Selsey, including the prebendal estates.
