Manor Profile
Oving, West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1100 – 1870
Also known as: Weston Drayton
Drayton originally belonged to the city of Chichester. Henry I granted 10 pounds' land value to William Conan. By 1166 Alan son of Conan held 1 knight's fee of the honour of Arundel. The fee passed through William son of Alan, William de Humez, and John l'Estrange.
Hamon l'Estrange granted the manor to Urian de St Peter, who married Margaret de Somery. Geoffrey de Picheford held as tenant from 1275, and through a complex exchange involving John Tregoz and Queen Eleanor in 1282-83, Geoffrey and his wife Alice obtained the manor outright. In 1320 their son John granted the reversion to Bartholomew de Badlesmere, who was attainted and executed in 1322. Edward III restored the lands to Giles de Badlesmere, who died seised in 1338.
The manor passed through the Bohun family to Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and descended with the Mortimers to Richard, Duke of York, then to the Crown. In 1544 the Crown granted "Weston Drayton" to Thomas Bisshopp. The manor descended in the Bisshopp family, who were created baronets of Parham in 1620. Sir Cecil Bisshopp, 8th Bt, was created Lord Zouche in 1815. The baronetcy became extinct on the death of Sir Edward Cecil Bisshopp, 12th Bt, on 27 January 1870.
No specific separate Domesday entry. Granted by Henry I as land worth 10 pounds to William Conan, implying it was part of Crown demesne before that.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Conan | 1100 | grant from Henry I | Land originally belonging to city of Chichester, value 10 pounds. | |
| 2 | Alan son of Conan | 1166 | inheritance | 1 knight's fee, honour of Arundel. | |
| 3 | John l'Estrange | 1242 | descent | ||
| 4 | Urian de St Peter | grant from Hamon l'Estrange | Married Margaret de Somery. | ||
| 5 | Geoffrey de Picheford | 1270 | 1293 | lease then grant via Queen Eleanor | Married Alice at Ankerwyke Priory 1270. Obtained outright via exchange involving John Tregoz and Queen Eleanor 1282-83. |
| 6 | John de Picheford | 1293 | 1320 | inheritance | Granted reversion to Bartholomew de Badlesmere. |
| 7 | Bartholomew de Badlesmere | 1320 | 1322 | purchase of reversion | |
| 8 | Giles de Badlesmere | 1322 | 1338 | restored by Edward III | |
| 9 | Roger Mortimer, Earl of March | 1359 | reversion after Elizabeth widow | ||
| 10 | Crown | 1544 | attainder of Richard, Duke of York | Descended via Mortimers to Richard, Duke of York, then Crown. |
Drayton Manor House, 1.25 miles west of the church: early 18th-century house facing north, walls of whitened brickwork, plastered coved eaves cornice, tiled roof, entrance with Doric pilasters and pediment. Stone walls to the cellars below the eastern wing are part of an earlier structure. Some rooms have 18th-century panelling; staircase c.1730.
VCH Closing Statement
“The baronetcy became extinct on the death of Sir Edward Cecil Bisshopp, 12th Bt, on 27 January 1870.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 165-170
