Birdham

Birdham lies on the eastern shore of Chichester Harbour, within the Manhood Hundred. The parish was included in Caedwalla's endowment to the monastery of Selsey in 683. Before the Conquest, Alnod held the manor as an alod under Edward the Confessor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 199-201).

In 1086, the manor was held under Earl Roger by William, with Nigel as his tenant. The holding consisted of three and a half hides, with a mill yielding 20 shillings and two fisheries. Anschitel held a further one and a half hides as a separate tenant. William's lands formed the honour of Halnaker, and Nigel was succeeded by the Sartilli family (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 199).

Geoffrey de Sartilli granted one virgate at la Hulle (Hill Land) to Boxgrove Priory. Prior Nicholas leased this around 1220 to Thomas de Chesney, who later surrendered it to William St. John in Halnaker court, after which it became part of the main manor held by the St. Johns in demesne. By 1329, the heirs of Robert de Sortell held half a knight's fee. Robert de Bromore held this by 1336 and 1349 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 199).

The Broomer holding (Birdham Broomer manor) passed to the Earl of Arundel. The earl's executors gave it in 1423 to Holy Trinity Hospital, Arundel. Upon the hospital's suppression, it was granted in June 1546 to Sir Richard Lee, who sold it within a year to Thomas Carpender. Carpender alienated it in 1561 to Thomas Shelley, who sold it to Sir Richard Sackville. In 1565, Queen Elizabeth granted it to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester in exchange for other property (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 199-200).

The principal Birdham manor descended with Halnaker to Thomas West, Lord de la Warre, who exchanged it to the Crown in 1540. In December 1557, it was granted to Sir Richard Sackville as one fortieth of a knight's fee. He obtained licence to alienate in 1564 and conveyed both manors to the Crown in 1565. Sir Richard Lewkenor held it by 1616 in socage. His grandson Richard settled it upon his 1617 marriage to Mary Bennett, daughter of an alderman of London, and died in 1635 leaving a son John, then eleven and a half years old. Thereafter it descended with West Dean manor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 200).

Birdham church was granted to Lessay Abbey by Robert de Hay in 1105, confirmed to Boxgrove Priory by William and Robert de St. John in 1187. The parish of East Itchenor was united to Birdham on 17 April 1441 by Bishop Praty (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 200-201).