Manor Profile
East Wittering, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 1086 – 1953
Also known as: Somerley Prebend
Somerley was one of three manorial estates in East Wittering parish that formed endowments of prebends in Chichester Cathedral.
Somerley is entered in the Domesday Survey as 1 hide which had been held before the Conquest by Helghi. In 1086 his successor was Rainald, holding of Earl Roger de Montgomery. The means of transfer to the cathedral is unknown, but by 1291 the prebend of Somerley was valued at 8 pounds.
In 1340 the prebend of Somerley included land in East Wittering worth 4 pounds and 50 shillings. The estate was held continuously by successive prebendaries, usually leased for three lives. It was taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act of 1840.
Somerley is entered in the Domesday Survey as 1 hide which had been held before the Conquest by Helghi. In 1086 his successor was Rainald, holding of Earl Roger. The Manhood Hundred introduction confirms Somerley was within the Hundred of Wittering at Domesday.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helghi | 1066 | pre-Conquest holder | ||
| 2 | Rainald | 1086 | enfeoffment by Earl Roger | Held 1 hide. | |
| 3 | Prebendaries of Somerley (Chichester Cathedral) | unknown (transferred to cathedral) | Held continuously by successive prebendaries. Usually leased for three lives. Prebend valued at 8 pounds in 1291. | ||
| 4 | Ecclesiastical Commissioners | 1840 | Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 | Taken over from the prebendaries. |
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
church_commission · current holder · 1840
Taken over under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840.
Chichester Cathedral (Prebend of Somerley)
cathedral · prebendal endowment · 1840
One of three prebendal estates in East Wittering parish. Prebend valued at 8 pounds in 1291. Leased for three lives.
Somerley was a prebendal estate within East Wittering parish, forming the endowment of a prebend in Chichester Cathedral.
Both Bracklesham and Somerley were prebendal estates in East Wittering parish, endowing prebends in Chichester Cathedral. Both taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
Recorded as Somerley. 1 hide. Helghi held TRE. Rainald held of Earl Roger in 1086.
VCH Closing Statement
“Held continuously by prebendaries, usually leased for three lives, until taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 215-217
