Manor Profile
Barnham, West Sussex· Avisford Hundred· 1066 – 1997
Alnoth, a free man, held Barnham in 1066. William held it of Earl Roger in 1086. Perhaps from that date, and certainly from 1230 when William de St John had it, the manor descended as a member of Halnaker in Boxgrove. It passed through Robert de St John (fl. 1250-3), John de St John (fl. 1275, d. 1301), and thence in the direct line through John (d. 1329), Hugh (d. 1335), and Edmund (d. 1347) (VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117).
In 1253 the manor was leased to Master Richard, the king's cook, and another for 14 years. In 1299 it was leased to the company of the Bonsignori of Siena for 16 years. Barnham continued to descend with Halnaker until the death of Thomas Poynings, Lord St John, in 1429, when it passed under a settlement of 1416 to Sir John Paulet, husband of Thomas's granddaughter Constance (VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117).
John's son and namesake succeeded in 1437 and died in 1492. His son Sir John (d. 1525) was followed by William Paulet, created Lord St John in 1539, who exchanged the manor to the Crown about 1542 (VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117).
In 1570 the reversion of Barnham was granted to William Howard, Lord Howard of Effingham. Courts were held in the names of Agnes Browne (widow) and William Browne in 1593, and of William Browne alone in 1596. Sir William Browne of Loseley (Surrey) held the manor in 1608. In 1629 he conveyed it to Sir William Morley (d. 1658 or 1659), after which it once again descended with Halnaker, from 1765 in the Lennox, later Gordon-Lennox, family, Dukes of Richmond (VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117).
The demesne farm (201 acres about 1700) was sold separately to the Revd Thomas Musgrave (d. c. 1725). It subsequently passed through several private hands including the Page, White Thomas, and Crosbie families. By the early 20th century the demesne was farmed by the Forse family, who retained it into the 1990s. The separation of the demesne from the lordship did not affect the manorial title, which continued with the Halnaker estate under the Dukes of Richmond (VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117).
Alnoth, a free man, held Barnham in 1066. William held it of Earl Roger in 1086. The Domesday entry records woodland yielding three swine, 20 acres of meadow, and a demesne farm of 348 acres (284 arable). Twelve villani and twelve cottars were recorded.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alnoth | 1066 | held as free man | A free man held Barnham before the Conquest. | |
| 2 | William (under Earl Roger) | 1086 | Domesday tenant | Held of Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel, at Domesday. | |
| 3 | William de St John | 1230 | held as member of Halnaker | Barnham descended as a member of Halnaker in Boxgrove from at least 1230. | |
| 4 | Robert de St John | inheritance | Fl. 1250-3. | ||
| 5 | John de St John | 1275 | 1301 | inheritance | Fl. 1275, d. 1301. |
| 6 | John de St John | 1301 | 1329 | inheritance | |
| 7 | Hugh de St John | 1329 | 1335 | inheritance | |
| 8 | Edmund de St John | 1335 | 1347 | inheritance | |
| 9 | Thomas Poynings, Lord St John(Lord St John) | 1429 | inheritance (Halnaker descent) | Last of the Halnaker-St John line. Manor passed under settlement of 1416 to the Paulets. | |
| 10 | Sir John Paulet | 1429 | 1437 | settlement of 1416 (married Constance Poynings) | Husband of Constance, granddaughter of Thomas Poynings. |
Honour of Halnaker
Barnham descended as a member of Halnaker in Boxgrove from at least 1230, owing service through the honour of Halnaker.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117
Bonsignori of Siena
commercial · lessees of manor · 1299 – 1315
The manor was leased to the company of the Bonsignori of Siena for 16 years in 1299.
Boxgrove Priory
priory · held advowson · 1536
The advowson of Barnham belonged to Boxgrove Priory until the Dissolution.
Barnham Court is a red-brick house built in the mid 17th century in the "Artisan Mannerist" style, contemporary with Albourne Place, Ford Place, and Kew Palace. It was assessed for 12 hearths in 1670. The house was built by a lessee (not the resident lord), likely with City of London connections. The interior was remodelled in the early 19th century and the service wing extended at that date. A medieval barn of about 150 feet in length with a queen-post roof stood on the site but was demolished in the 1960s.
Parish of Barnham. Includes manor descent, church, economic history.
VCH Closing Statement
“After Sir William Morley (d. 1658/9), the manor once again descended with Halnaker, from 1765 in the Lennox, later Gordon-Lennox, family, Dukes of Richmond.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 105-117
