Bere

Bere, also known as Wayte Bere, lay in the extreme west of Soberton parish, north of the Forest of Bere, held of the Bishop of Winchester as of his manor of Hambledon. The Wayte family held from early times (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).

In 1338 Henry Wayte dealt by fine with two messuages, a mill, two carucates of land, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of wood and 30s. rent in Bere near Soberton. In 1354 a messuage, mill, carucate of land, 24 acres of meadow, 30 acres of wood and 13s. 4d. rent were settled on Philip Wayte and Isabel his wife. In 1363, at the inquisition on the death of Thomas de Wallop, the property was first called a manor. Thomas held meadow land in Soberton of Isabel Wayte as of her manor of Bere by payment of 2s. a year (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).

In 1449 William Wayte died seised of the manor of Bere held of the Bishop of Winchester. His heir Edward was aged five. The manor passed to Simon Wayte (died 1518), then to his brother William, who died in 1561 seised of the manor of Bere alias Wayte Bere. William left six daughters as co-heirs: Eleanor (married Richard Bruning), Mary (married William Cresweller), Honor (married William Wayte), Margaret (married Henry Perkins), Elizabeth (married Richard Norton) and Susan (married William Wollascot) (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).

Bere passed to Elizabeth as her portion and from her to her son Sir Richard Norton, who died in 1612 seised of a messuage called Bere alias Little Bere alias Wayte's Bere, with 100 acres of land, a cottage and an acre in Soberton and Meonstoke, held of Thomas, Bishop of Winchester. His heir Richard was aged 26 or more. The VCH states that manorial rights, if ever there were any, had by this time lapsed. The site is marked by Bere Farm, Bere Copse and Soberton Mill (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268).