Manor Profile
Soberton, Hampshire· Hambledon Hundred· 1338 – 1612
Also known as: Wayte Bere, Little Bere, Wayte's 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).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Wayte | ancient tenure | Dealt by fine in 1338 with two messuages, a mill, two carucates of land, 10 acres of meadow, 12 acres of wood and 30s. rent in Bere near Soberton. | ||
| 2 | Philip Wayte and Isabel | 1354 | settlement | Thomas de Wallop held meadow land of Isabel Wayte as of her manor of Bere by payment of 2s. per year.A messuage, mill, carucate of land, 24 acres of meadow, 30 acres of wood and 13s. 4d. rent in Bere and Soberton settled on Philip and Isabel in 1354. First called a manor in 1363 at the inquisition on Thomas de Wallop. | |
| 3 | William Wayte | 1449 | inheritance | Died 1449 seised of the manor of Bere held of the Bishop of Winchester. His heir Edward was aged five. | |
| 4 | Edward Wayte | 1449 | inheritance (aged five) | Heir of William Wayte. Aged five at his father's death in 1449. | |
| 5 | Simon Wayte | 1518 | inheritance | Son of Edward. Died 1518. | |
| 6 | William Wayte | 1518 | 1561 | inheritance (brother) | The division among six co-heirs effectively fragmented the estate.Brother of Simon. Died 1561 seised of the manor of Bere alias Wayte Bere. 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). |
| 7 | Elizabeth Norton (nee Wayte) | 1561 | inheritance (as co-heir, Bere as her portion) | Bere passed to Elizabeth as her portion from the six-way division. | |
| 8 | Sir Richard Norton(Knight) | 1612 | inheritance | Last holder before the VCH confirmed extinction of manorial rights.Son of Elizabeth. Died 1612 seised of a messuage called Bere alias Little Bere alias Wayte's Bere, with 100 acres, a cottage and an acre in Soberton and Meonstoke, held of Thomas, Bishop of Winchester. Heir Richard, aged 26 or more. The VCH states that manorial rights had by this time lapsed. |
Bishop of Winchester (manor of Hambledon)
Held of the Bishop of Winchester as of his manor of Hambledon.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 257-268
See of Winchester
diocese · overlord · 1612
Held of the Bishop of Winchester as of his manor of Hambledon. Sir Richard Norton held of Thomas, Bishop of Winchester, at death in 1612.
The site is marked by Bere Farm, Bere Copse and Soberton Mill at the extreme west of the parish, north of the Forest of Bere.
Referenced in VCH for death of William Wayte (1449), William Wayte (1561) and Sir Richard Norton (1612).
Referenced in VCH for Henry Wayte fine (1338) and Philip and Isabel Wayte settlement (1354).
Covers Bere / Wayte Bere as a sub-manor within the Soberton parish entry. Short descent ending with the statement that manorial rights had lapsed.
VCH Closing Statement
“Manorial rights, if ever there were any, had by this time lapsed.”
VCH Hampshire, Vol. 3, pp. 257-268