New Fishbourne

New Fishbourne lies on the coastal plain west of Chichester, distinct from Old Fishbourne which sits to the south. New Fishbourne falls within the hundred of Stockbridge, while Old Fishbourne lies in the Bosham hundred. Their manorial descents diverge from the earliest records.

Earl Tostig held Fishbourne as six hides in the time of Edward the Confessor. After the Conquest, Earl Roger granted the estate to the Abbey of Seez (Saint-Martin de Seez) in Normandy. Domesday Book records the abbey holding of Earl Roger: six ploughlands, two lord's plough teams, two men's plough teams, six villagers, 11 smallholders, one slave, 27 acres of meadow, and two mills worth two pounds. The manor was valued at six pounds in 1066, two pounds 10 shillings when acquired, and seven pounds in 1086 (Domesday Book, Sussex 11,39; VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 154).

The Abbey of Seez held Fishbourne as an alien priory estate for over three centuries. In 1270 the abbey acquired a watermill on the stream running into Fishbourne Channel. In 1272 the abbey received a grant of free warren in their demesnes. In 1291 the abbey acquired 28 acres from William de Braclesham. The church was valued at four pounds six shillings and eight pence in 1291 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 154-155).

During the wars with France, the estates of alien religious houses were repeatedly seized by the Crown. The Sussex estates of the Abbey of Seez, including Fishbourne, were granted in 1416 to the Bridgettine nunnery of Syon in Middlesex. The revenues were valued at 28 pounds two shillings and eight pence at this date (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 155).

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Crown seized Syon Abbey's estates. In April 1540, Fishbourne was annexed to the honour of Petworth. The VCH notes that the estate was for the first time called a manor at this date. Thomas Lane held it under a lease for 40 years dating from June 1529. It was said to have been held of the Crown in chief by Sir Thomas White and others in 1558 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 155).

In 1560 the manor of New Fishbourne was granted to John Fenner. Fenner died on Christmas Day 1566, having in the previous year sold to Bartholomew and Francis Dodd. The Dodds in 1570 sold the manor to Francis Bowyer, alderman of London, and Elizabeth his wife. Bowyer died 14 June 1581, holding the manor of the Queen by knight service, valued at 20 pounds. His son Sir William Bowyer settled the manor on himself and his wife Mary in 1605, then in 1609 settled it on his son Henry on his marriage with Anne, daughter of Nicholas Salter. Sir William outlived his son and died in 1615. His heir was Henry's infant son William (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 155-156).

In 1633, William Bowyer and his mother Anne Harris sold the manor to William Cawley. At the Restoration, Cawley's estates were forfeited, and Fishbourne was among manors given to James, Duke of York. Cawley had sold or mortgaged the estate in 1639 to John Biggs of Portsmouth. Biggs's widow married John Tredcroft, rector of West Grinstead, who left the manor to Sir John Biggs in 1662 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 156).

William Bowyer had previously leased part of the estate for 1,000 years to John Comber, who died in 1623 and left the lease to his son Thomas. Thomas Comber died in 1634, leaving the lease to his daughter Katherine. Thomas's elder brother John Comber in 1683 acquired the manor from Sir John Biggs and in 1684 bequeathed it to his nephew Sir Thomas Miller (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 156).

The manor descended in the Miller family. Dame Susannah Miller held it in 1785. Sir Thomas Miller held it in 1788. The Rev. Sir Thomas Combe Miller, sixth baronet of Froyle, sold the manor to Edward Stanford between 1870 and 1876. Stanford died about 1882 and his widow bequeathed it to Major-General Byron (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 156).