Manor Profile
Chidham, West Sussex· Bosham Hundred· 1243 – 1953
Also known as: Chidham Manor
Chidham lies on the western shore of Chichester Harbour, a low-lying peninsula bounded by Bosham Channel to the east and Thorney Channel to the west. The parish formed part of the Bosham Hundred, and the manor's tenants owed suit to the Earl of Norfolk's hundred court of Bosham (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 188).
The manor was not separately recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086. At that date it formed part of the Bishop of Exeter's estate within the chapelry of Bosham. A confirmatory grant of 1243 first names the manor of Chidham as belonging to the Bishop of Exeter. In 1290, the Bishop of Exeter held the chapel of Bosham and the manor of Chidham, with free and villein tenants performing suit to the Earl of Norfolk's hundred of Bosham (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 188).
In 1548, the Bishop of Exeter conveyed the manor to Thomas Fisher, confirmed in 1549. Fisher transferred it to Henry Bickley, who died holding it of the Crown in 1570. Thomas Bickley, Henry's son, died seised in 1588. The younger Thomas Bickley, grandson of the first Thomas and aged three in 1588, held the manor until his death in 1640. He bequeathed it to Brewen Bickley and his wife Cicely (nee Ryman) and their son Richard. Henry Bickley, Brewen's younger son, eventually inherited and died in 1707, leaving the manor to trustees for sale (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 188).
The manor was apparently purchased by Richard Lumley, Earl of Scarborough, and descended with Westbourne until the death of Richard Barwell in 1805. Barwell's trustees sold it to Edmund Woods. By 1822, William Padwick owned it. Charles Cheesman purchased it before 1835. Sophie, Lady Gifford, was named as lady of the manor between 1915 and 1922. Albert Eadie held it in 1919. Before 1937, the lordship was acquired by the Earl of Iveagh (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 188).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop of Exeter(Bishop of Exeter) | 1548 | Held the manor as part of the chapelry of Bosham. First named as the manor of Chidham in a confirmatory grant of 1243. In 1290, the Bishop held the chapel of Bosham and the manor of Chidham. | ||
| 2 | Thomas Fisher | 1548 | 1549 | conveyance from Bishop of Exeter | Bishop of Exeter conveyed the manor to Thomas Fisher in 1548, confirmed 1549. |
| 3 | Henry Bickley | 1549 | 1570 | transfer from Thomas Fisher | Died holding the manor of the Crown in 1570. |
| 4 | Thomas Bickley (I) | 1570 | 1588 | inheritance | Son of Henry Bickley. Died seised in 1588. |
| 5 | Thomas Bickley (II) | 1588 | 1640 | inheritance (aged three) | Grandson of Thomas Bickley (I), aged three at succession. Died in 1640, bequeathing to Brewen Bickley and Cicely (Ryman). |
| 6 | Brewen Bickley and Cicely (Ryman) | 1640 | bequest | Received the manor by bequest from Thomas Bickley (II). | |
| 7 | Henry Bickley | 1707 | inheritance (younger son of Brewen) | Brewen's younger son. Died in 1707, leaving the manor to trustees for sale. | |
| 8 | Richard Lumley(Earl of Scarborough) | purchase | Apparently purchased the manor. Descended with Westbourne until the death of Richard Barwell. | ||
| 9 | Richard Barwell | 1805 | descent (with Westbourne) | Held the manor with Westbourne. Died in 1805. | |
| 10 | Edmund Woods | 1805 | purchase (from Barwell's trustees) | Purchased from the trustees of Richard Barwell. |
Hundred of Bosham
Free and villein tenants performed suit to the Earl of Norfolk's hundred court of Bosham.
Source: VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 188
Bishop of Exeter (Bosham Chapelry)
church · held · 1548
Confirmatory grant of 1243
Chidham formed part of the Bishop of Exeter's estate within the chapelry of Bosham. Tenants owed suit to the Bosham hundred court. The full title of the Bosham lordship includes Chidham: the Hundred and Manor of Bosham and Chidham.
Both manors lay within the ancient Bosham Hundred.
Both manors lay within the Bosham Hundred. The Bickley family held both Chidham and lands in the Fishbourne area.
West Thorney descended with Chidham as Thorney Bickley from 1549, through the Bickley family and subsequent holders.
Chidham was apparently purchased by Richard Lumley, Earl of Scarborough, and descended with Westbourne until the death of Richard Barwell in 1805.
Principal source for the manorial descent of Chidham.
