Manor Profile
Sidlesham, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 683 – 1919
Also known as: Filleicham
Sidlesham was granted to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 by King Caedwalla as part of the endowment for Selsey monastery. In 714 King Nunna of the South Saxons granted an additional three cassatos there to Beadufrid and the Selsey brethren. At Domesday in 1086 the manor, recorded as Filleicham, was held by the Bishop of Chichester in demesne, assessed at 12 hides. Subtenants included Gilbert (3 hides), Rozelin (1 hide), and Ulf (1 hide) (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
A detailed custumal of 1275 records 60 to 70 villein and cottier households. The 1327 terrier shows a three-field system in operation, with Sidlesham proper holding 227 statutory acres and Ham containing 141 acres. In 1535 the demesne lands were farmed by John Sawkyn for £12. The manor remained with the bishops of Chichester until 1560, when Queen Elizabeth acquired it by exchange valued at £52 12s. 6d. (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
In 1588 Queen Elizabeth granted the manor, mill, and advowson of Sidlesham, together with Ham manor, to Sir Moyle Finch and Sir Thomas Henneage. The grant carried a fee farm rent of £57 11s. 10½d. In 1590 Finch and Henneage sold the manorial site to George Green. By 1594 Finch conveyed his interest to Henneage, who in 1600 sold the lordship to Adrian Stoughton (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
Adrian Stoughton died in 1614, leaving the manor to his widow Mary for twelve years. His son Thomas Stoughton died in 1626, having settled Sidlesham and Ham Farm on himself and his wife Jane Garton. The manor passed to William Styant, husband of one of Thomas Stoughton's six sisters and coheirs. Styant died in 1640, leaving a minor son Thomas. Young Thomas died in 1644, and Thomas Phillips became heir. In 1665 Phillips and wife Mary sold to William Styant, who in 1671 conveyed the manor to Richard Farrington of Chichester (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
After Farrington's death the manor descended to the heirs of his sisters Anne (wife of William Vinall) and Grisel (wife of Barnham Dobell), held jointly until 1742. In that year a partition assigned Sidlesham manor to Robert Bull, grandson of Anne Vinall's daughter Elizabeth. After Bull's death in 1775 the manor was sold to the Rev. Charles Smith, who sold in 1795 to John Winter. In 1801 it passed to Messrs. Johnson, Price, and Freeland of Chichester. By 1835 John Price held it, and after his death in 1845 it passed to his representatives. From 1875 to 1893 Mary Blagden Gruggen held the manor, followed by Miss Emma Gruggen and Mrs Frances Elizabeth Malim. Miss Mary Charlotte Malim held the manor from 1919 (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
The rectory of Sidlesham was a prebend of Chichester Cathedral, valued at £30 in 1291. Bishop Stephen de Bersted (1262–1267) established a new township of Wardur to encourage settlement, granting tenants freehold at 14d. per acre and freedom from tolls. Sidlesham Mill stood on the Pagham Harbour inlet and was referenced in the 1275 custumal as the bishop's mill; in 1535 it was farmed for £3 6s. 8d. (VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Wilfrid(Bishop of Selsey) | 683 | grant (King Caedwalla) | Granted by King Caedwalla in 683 as endowment for Selsey monastery. | |
| 2 | Bishop of Chichester(Bishop) | 1086 | 1560 | episcopal succession (from Selsey see) | Held in demesne at Domesday, assessed at 12 hides. Subtenants included Gilbert (3 hides), Rozelin (1 hide), and Ulf (1 hide). Remained with the bishops until 1560. |
| 3 | Queen Elizabeth I(Queen) | 1560 | 1588 | exchange (valued at £52 12s. 6d.) | Acquired from the Bishop of Chichester by exchange valued at £52 12s. 6d. |
| 4 | Sir Moyle Finch and Sir Thomas Henneage(Knight) | 1588 | 1600 | royal grant | Granted the manor, mill, advowson, and Ham manor. Fee farm rent of £57 11s. 10½d. attached. Finch conveyed his interest to Henneage by 1594. |
| 5 | Adrian Stoughton | 1600 | 1614 | purchase (from Henneage) | Purchased from Henneage in 1600. Died 1614, leaving the manor to his widow Mary for twelve years. |
| 6 | Thomas Stoughton | 1614 | 1626 | inheritance | Son of Adrian. Settled Sidlesham and Ham Farm on himself and wife Jane Garton. Died 1626. |
| 7 | William Styant | 1626 | 1640 | inheritance (married one of Thomas Stoughton's six sisters) | Husband of one of Thomas Stoughton's six sisters and coheirs. Died 1640, leaving a minor son Thomas. |
| 8 | Thomas Styant | 1640 | 1644 | inheritance (minor) | Son of William, under 16 at father's death. Sir Henry Compton received guardianship. Died 1644. Thomas Phillips became heir. |
| 9 | Thomas Phillips | 1644 | 1665 | inheritance (heir of Thomas Styant) | Became heir on death of Thomas Styant. Sold the manor in 1665. |
| 10 | William Styant | 1665 | 1671 | purchase | Probably son of the earlier William by his second wife. Phillips and wife Mary sold to him in 1665. Conveyed manor to Richard Farrington in 1671. |
The Crown
Fee farm rent of £57 11s. 10½d. attached to the 1588 royal grant. £14 2s. chargeable on Sidlesham rectory and manor; remainder on Ham, a mill, and 30 acres of woodland.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 210-215
See of Selsey / See of Chichester
diocese · held · 683 – 1560
Granted to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 by King Caedwalla. Additional grant by King Nunna in 714. Held continuously until exchange with Crown in 1560.
The Crown
crown · held · 1560 – 1588
Acquired by Queen Elizabeth by exchange valued at £52 12s. 6d. in 1560. Granted to Finch and Henneage in 1588.
Chichester Cathedral (prebend of Sidlesham)
cathedral · held rectory revenues · 1840
Rectory of Sidlesham was a prebend of Chichester Cathedral, valued at £30 in 1291. Advowson transferred to bishop under the 1840 Act.
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.
Sidlesham and Birdham are neighbouring parishes in the Manhood hundred.
Earnley and Sidlesham are neighbouring parishes in the Manhood hundred. The sub-manor of Almodington, within Earnley, was held of the Bishop of Chichester under Sidlesham.
Bishop of Chichester held Sidlesham (Filleicham) at 12 hides with subtenants Gilbert, Rozelin, and Ulf.
Detailed custumal recording 60-70 villein and cottier households. References the bishop's mill.
Referenced in VCH for the 1588 royal grant to Finch and Henneage.
Demesne lands farmed by John Sawkyn for £12. Mill farmed for £3 6s. 8d. Prebend of Sidlesham valued at £13 6s. 8d.
Referenced in VCH for deaths of Stoughton, Styant, and other holders.
Principal source for the manorial descent of Sidlesham. Covers parish, manors (Sidlesham, Ham, Keynor, Shotford, Easton), church, and charities.
