Manor Profile
Wymering, Hampshire· Portsdown Hundred· 1318 – 1821
Also known as: Palegrove
Paulsgrove was a hamlet situated on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour within the parish of Wymering, in Portsdown hundred. The earliest documentary reference appears in a fine of 1318, where it is recorded as "Palegrove". The place-name survived into the modern period through Paulsgrove Lake and Paulsgrove Quay. A local tradition, noted by the VCH, held that St Paul landed here during a supposed visit to England (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 165-170).
Paulsgrove was not a separate manor but formed part of the larger Wymering estate. Wymering was ancient demesne of the Crown, held by King Edward the Confessor and retained by William the Conqueror after 1066. In the twelfth century the Vidame of Picquigny held the manor through his wife, a daughter of Stephen, second Earl of Albemarle. During the reign of Henry III, William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle, held Wymering, dying seised in 1260. In July 1280 Edward I assigned the manor to his mother Eleanor, and in 1281 it was granted in fee simple to John le Botiller by Ralph de Sandwich, the king's steward (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 165-170).
The le Botiller family held Wymering for over a century. John le Botiller died seised in 1309, and the manor passed through his descendants until 1387, when it reverted to John Botiller of Limbourne. He died the same year and it passed to his daughter Isabel, wife of Geoffrey de Roucle. Through Isabel's son Richard Wayte (by her first husband), the manor entered the Wayte family, who held it from 1390 until 1561. William Wayte died in 1561 and the manor was divided among his six daughters: Eleanor (married Richard Bruning), Mary (married William Cresswell), Honor (married cousin William Wayte), Margaret (married Henry Perkins), Elizabeth (married Richard Norton), and Susan (married William Wollascot) (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 165-170).
The divided shares were gradually consolidated over the following two centuries. By 1730 George Kelly held the whole manor in right of his wife Sarah. In 1733 it was conveyed to Sir John Huffield. By 1821 Thomas Gosling held it in right of his wife Elizabeth and sold it to Thomas Thistlethwayte, in whose family it remained at the time of the VCH publication. The Domus Dei at Portsmouth received a rent-charge of three quarters of corn (15s.) from William de Fortibus's gift. The Prior and Convent of Southwick held the advowson of the vicarage until the Dissolution (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 165-170).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crown (Edward the Confessor)(King of England) | 1066 | ancient demesne | Wymering was ancient demesne of the Crown, held by King Edward the Confessor. | |
| 2 | Crown (William I)(King of England) | 1066 | Conquest | Retained by the Crown after the Conquest. Held in demesne in connection with Portchester Castle. | |
| 3 | Vidame of Picquigny | through marriage (daughter of Stephen, 2nd Earl of Albemarle) | Held before 1167 through his wife, a daughter of Stephen, second Earl of Albemarle. | ||
| 4 | William de Fortibus(Earl of Albemarle) | 1260 | unknown | Held during the reign of Henry III. Died seised in 1260. Gave a rent-charge of three quarters of corn (15s.) to the Domus Dei at Portsmouth. | |
| 5 | Queen Eleanor(Queen Mother) | 1280 | 1281 | royal assignment (July 1280) | Edward I assigned the manor to his mother Eleanor in July 1280. |
| 6 | John le Botiller | 1281 | 1309 | grant in fee simple (from Ralph de Sandwich, king's steward) | Granted in fee simple by Ralph de Sandwich in 1281. Died seised in 1309. |
| 7 | John le Botiller (son) | 1309 | 1350 | inheritance | Held from 1316 after his mother Joan's dower. Settled on himself, wife Joan, and heirs in 1330. On his death in 1350 it passed to second wife Margery for life. |
| 8 | John Botiller of Limbourne | 1387 | 1387 | reversion (son of first marriage) | After Margery's life interest expired, the manor reverted to John Botiller of Limbourne (son from first marriage). Died the same year. |
| 9 | Isabel de Roucle (nee Botiller) | 1387 | inheritance | Daughter of John Botiller of Limbourne. Wife of Geoffrey de Roucle. | |
| 10 | Richard Wayte | 1390 | 1423 | inheritance (son of Isabel by first husband) | Son of Isabel by her first husband Richard Wayte of Denmead. Geoffrey de Roucle died in 1390. Richard died 1423. |
Portchester Castle
Wymering manor held by military service connected to Portchester Castle. Cosham sub-manor owed one armed man for castle defence.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 165-170
Crown
crown · held (ancient demesne) · 1281
Wymering was ancient demesne of the Crown from the time of Edward the Confessor.
Southwick Priory
priory · held advowson · 1538
Prior and Convent of Southwick held the advowson of the vicarage until the Dissolution.
Domus Dei, Portsmouth
hospital · received rent-charge
Received a rent-charge of three quarters of corn (15s.) from William de Fortibus's gift.
Paulsgrove was a hamlet within Wymering parish, sharing the same manorial descent. First documented in a fine of 1318.
Wymering was held in connection with Portchester Castle, with military service obligations owed to the castle.
Both Wymering (including Paulsgrove) and Widley were held by the Thistlethwayte family from the early nineteenth century.
Wymering recorded as ancient demesne of the Crown, held in connection with Portchester Castle.
Fine of 1318 records the place-name "Palegrove", the earliest documentary reference to Paulsgrove.
Principal source for the parish of Wymering, covering Paulsgrove hamlet and the manorial descents of Wymering, Cosham, East Cosham, and Hilsea.