Manor Profile
Soberton, Hampshire· Hambledon Hundred· 1086 – 1908
Also known as: Sudbertone
Soberton parish contained multiple manors at the time of the Domesday survey in 1086. Three large estates existed: one formerly of Godwin which had been added to the Crown by King Harold, one held by Herbert the Chamberlain, and one formerly of Andrac held by Henry the Treasurer (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
The chief manor descended from the royal estate. Ralph de Clere granted it to Jordan de Walterville, who granted it to Beaulieu Abbey for an annual rent of £12 10s. The Cistercian abbey augmented its holdings when John de Windsor gave 100s. worth of land under Henry III. In the reign of Edward III the abbey purchased an additional manor from Richard Bulgy and obtained free warren in 1359 and pasture rights in the Forest of Bere in 1393 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
In 1411 the abbey was licensed to lease the manor to Richard Newport for 200 years, effectively a sale. Richard Newport died in 1477, and his heir John (a serjeant-at-law) died seised in 1521 without issue. His widow Elizabeth died in 1527 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
William Dale conveyed the manor to Walter Bonham and Alice in 1544. The Bonhams sold to Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, in 1549. The earl died seised and the manor passed to his son Henry (aged three), who died in 1581, and then to the younger Henry (aged eight). This Henry was convicted of treason for involvement in the Essex conspiracy in 1601 and imprisoned in the Tower. Released by James I on 10 April 1603, the king restored the Soberton manor to him on 16 May 1603 and granted free warren, court-leet and assize rights in 1607. Henry died abroad in the king's service in 1624. His heir Thomas (aged sixteen) dealt by fine in 1641 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
The manor passed to Dr Walter Curll, Bishop of Winchester, who retired to Soberton after Cromwell's capture of Winchester on 5 October 1645. Curll died in 1647, aged approximately 72. His estate was sequestered, but his widow Elizabeth and son William petitioned for discharge in 1651 and were subsequently restored. Sir Walter Curll, baronet (son of William), dealt by fine and recovery in 1674 and died in 1678 aged 27 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
His daughter Anna Maria married Thomas Lewis, grandson of Sir Edward Lewis of The Van, Glamorganshire. Anna Maria died without issue in 1709 and Thomas Lewis held until his death in 1736. The manor passed to Humphrey Minchin of Ballinakill, County Tipperary, and his wife Clarinda, who dealt by fine and recovery in 1791. The present lord at the time of the VCH publication was Falkiner John Minchin of Annagh, County Tipperary, and Holywell, Hampshire (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
In addition to the chief manor, the parish contained several sub-manors with distinct descents. Thomas de Windsor held a manor by serjeanty of weighing money at the Exchequer under Henry III. Robert de Venuz held Flexland by serjeanty of marshal in the king's household. Beaulieu Abbey, Titchfield Abbey and Southwick Priory all held land in the parish. The sub-manors of Longspiers, Fawconer's and Bere also had separate descents before being absorbed into the chief manor, mostly by the early eighteenth century when Thomas Lewis acquired nearly the whole parish (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaulieu Abbey(Cistercian abbey) | 1411 | grant (from Jordan de Walterville, via Ralph de Clere) | Ralph de Clere granted to Jordan de Walterville, who granted to the abbey for £12 10s. annual rent. John de Windsor added 100s. worth of land under Henry III. The abbey obtained free warren in 1359 and pasture rights in the Forest of Bere in 1393. | |
| 2 | Richard Newport | 1411 | 1477 | lease for 200 years (effectively a purchase) | Licensed to lease from Beaulieu Abbey for 200 years in 1411. Died 1477; heir John, aged 23. |
| 3 | John Newport(Serjeant-at-law) | 1477 | 1521 | inheritance | Serjeant-at-law. Died seised in 1521 without issue. His widow Elizabeth died in 1527. |
| 4 | Thomas Wriothesley(Earl of Southampton) | 1549 | 1550 | purchase (from Walter Bonham and Alice) | William Dale conveyed to Walter Bonham and Alice in 1544. The Bonhams sold to the Earl of Southampton in 1549. |
| 5 | Henry Wriothesley (2nd Earl)(Earl of Southampton) | 1550 | 1581 | inheritance (aged three) | Inherited aged three. Died 1581. |
| 6 | Henry Wriothesley (3rd Earl)(Earl of Southampton) | 1581 | 1624 | inheritance (aged eight) | Patron of Shakespeare. Imprisoned for the Essex conspiracy.Convicted of treason for the Essex conspiracy in 1601 and imprisoned in the Tower. Released by James I on 10 April 1603. King restored Soberton on 16 May 1603. Granted free warren, court-leet and assize rights 1607. Died abroad in the king's service 1624. |
| 7 | Thomas Wriothesley (4th Earl)(Earl of Southampton) | 1624 | inheritance (aged sixteen) | Heir aged sixteen. Dealt by fine 1641. | |
| 8 | Dr Walter Curll(Bishop of Winchester) | 1647 | unknown (acquisition route unclear in VCH) | Bishop of Winchester who fled Cromwell's forces.Retired to Soberton after Cromwell's capture of Winchester on 5 October 1645. Died 1647, aged approximately 72. Estate sequestered. | |
| 9 | William Curll | 1651 | petition for discharge (from sequestration) | Elizabeth Curll (widow) and William Curll (son) petitioned for discharge in 1651 and were subsequently restored. | |
| 10 | Sir Walter Curll(Baronet) | 1678 | inheritance | Son of William. Dealt by fine and recovery in 1674. Died 1678, aged 27. |
Beaulieu Abbey
Chief Soberton manor held of Beaulieu Abbey for an annual rent of £12 10s., granted by Jordan de Walterville.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268
Southwick Priory
priory · held (East Hoe) · 1385 – 1538
Bernard Brocas granted East Hoe in 1385 for a daily mass. Thomas de Poynings confirmed the grant.
Beaulieu Abbey
abbey · held · 1411
Granted by Jordan de Walterville for £12 10s. annual rent. Free warren 1359. Pasture rights in Forest of Bere 1393.
Titchfield Abbey
abbey · held land · 1538
Peter des Roches granted various Flexland lands in free alms. John de Windsor gave 10s. rents in Soberton.
Flexland originated from Herbert the Chamberlain's Domesday holding within Soberton parish.
East Hoe was a sub-manor within Soberton parish, held of Hugh de Port at Domesday.
Wallop's was a sub-manor within Soberton parish, probably derived from Henry the Treasurer's Domesday holding.
Titchfield Abbey held land in Soberton and Flexland. Peter des Roches granted Flexland lands in free alms.
Three large estates: Crown (formerly Godwin), Herbert the Chamberlain, Henry the Treasurer.
Referenced in VCH for knight's fee assessments including Wallop family (1346) and others.
Referenced in VCH for numerous property transfers at Soberton, Flexland, East Hoe and Wallop's.
Referenced in VCH for deaths of Richard de Winton (1296), Thomas Wallop (1362), John Wallop (1486), John Newport (1521) and others.
Bernard Brocas grant of East Hoe in 1385 for a daily mass. Thomas de Poynings confirmation.
Charters and leases relating to the abbey's Soberton holdings, including the 200-year lease to Richard Newport (1411).
Principal source for all Soberton manors including Flexland, East Hoe, Wallop's, Longspiers, Fawconer's and Bere. Eleven pages of detailed manorial descents.
