Manor Profile
Westhampnett, West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1086 – 1765
Also known as: Hamptonet
Westhampnett was held before the Conquest by two free men of Earl Godwin. In 1086 William held 9 hides of Earl Roger de Montgomery. The church is mentioned in Domesday Book.
The Paynel family held the manor from the 13th century as a fractional fee of the St John lords of Halnaker. William Paynel died in 1316 holding as 1/20 knight's fee. Through marriage and purchase, the manor passed to John de Hastings, Lord Bergavenny (1320), then by sale to Richard, Earl of Arundel (1338). It descended with the Arundel estates through the FitzAlans.
In 1566 John, Lord Lumley received the manor. William Devenish and Cicely purchased it in 1567. Through the Walrond, Cawley, and Chapman families, it was sold to Sir Hutchins Williams, whose son Sir William Peare Williams sold to the Duke of Richmond.
Held of Earl Godwin by two free men before the Conquest. In 1086 held of Earl Roger by William, assessed at 9 hides total (William 1 hide, Restold 1 hide, Richard 3 virgates, Godfrey 1 virgate). Included a mill, a church, and one haw in Chichester.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earl Roger de Montgomery(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1066 | 1094 | grant from William I | |
| 2 | Nicholas Paynel | sub-infeudation | Daughter Godeheude married William de St John. | ||
| 3 | William Paynel | 1316 | Held as 1/20 knight's fee of John de St John. | ||
| 4 | John de Hastings, Lord Bergavenny(Lord Bergavenny) | 1320 | 1324 | conveyance | Son Lawrence aged 6. |
| 5 | Richard, Earl of Arundel(Earl of Arundel) | 1338 | purchase from Maud Paynel | Acquired reversion after Eve de St John's dower (d. 1354). | |
| 6 | Earls of Arundel (FitzAlan)(Earls of Arundel) | 1354 | 1566 | ||
| 7 | John, Lord Lumley(Lord Lumley) | 1566 | 1567 | settlement | |
| 8 | William Devenish and Cicely | 1567 | 1584 | purchase from Lumley | |
| 9 | Henry Walrond | 1584 | purchase | Six Clerk in Chancery. | |
| 10 | William Cawley | 1625 | purchase from William Walrond |
Church of St Peter: mentioned in Domesday Book. Stone construction, flint rubble with some reused Roman bricks in western chancel. Enlarged in the 13th century. South aisle of three bays. Pre-Conquest blocked window (7 in. wide, semicircular head cut from one stone). Sackville Monument (c.1535): niche tomb under depressed Tudor arch. Three bells (one uninscribed, 1632, 1581). Silver cup with paten cover (1569). Registers begin 1734. Also: Old Place Farm at Westerton (Elizabethan, red brick, diagonal chimney shafts). Westhampnett Place rebuilt c.1720 by Sir Hutchins Williams, completely burnt 3 November 1899.
VCH Closing Statement
“The manor ultimately came to the Duke of Richmond.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 175-180
