West Thorney

West Thorney occupies Thorney Island in Chichester Harbour, connected to the mainland by a road across the mud flats. In Domesday Book, the manor was called Tornei and was assessed at 12 hides with geld liability of 8 hides. Mauger held the manor from the church lands. The overlordship belonged to the Bishops of Exeter as two knight's fees (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 195-197).

Richard de Thorney held both fees by 1212. He was the son of William de Thorney and died around 1222 without issue. His heirs were his three sisters: Cecily, who married Gilbert Marshal; Margery, whose son was William Aguillon; and Emma, whose son was Richard de Grensted (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 195).

The manor was divided into thirds. Richard de Grensted held both fees by 1242. His daughters Margery and Christiane (who married Elias de la Faleyse and Adam de Clothale respectively) sold their shares to the Bishop of Exeter. The Aguillon third eventually came to the Bishop through Richard de Weston, Richard Jeudewyne, and Maud de Bulkestrode (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 195).

In 1252, Cecily (de Thorney) sold one third to Humphrey de Aluredesfeld, who sold it to Hugh Bigod in 1263. Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, held this as one third of a knight's fee of the Bishop of Exeter, and it descended with Bosham thereafter (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 196).

In 1548, the Bishop of Exeter sold the manor to Thomas Fisher, who conveyed it to Henry Bickley in 1549. It descended with Chidham manor as Thorney Bickley until Richard Barwell's death in 1805. In 1814, one third was conveyed to William Butler. Around 1860, Frederick Padwick acquired it and it remained in his family (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 196).

The rectory was valued at 20 pounds in 1291 and at 10 pounds 8 shillings 2 pence in 1535. The glebe in 1341 comprised 64 acres arable plus a messuage and garden valued at 20 shillings (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 197).