Manor Profile
Stoughton, West Sussex· Westbourne and Singleton Hundred· 1086 – 1953
Before the Norman Conquest, Racton was held by Fulk under King Edward the Confessor. By 1086, the Domesday survey records it in the hands of Ivo, holding of Earl Roger de Montgomery as tenant-in-chief, assessed at 5 hides.
Shortly after the Conquest, Savaric fitzCane acquired Racton along with Stoughton, Up Marden, and Easebourne. He married Muriel de Bohun, and around 1142 they granted the church of Racton to Lewes Priory with the consent of their son Ralph. Savaric died about 1144. The Bohun family maintained mesne tenancy of Racton until at least 1199. The overlordship descended with the Rape of Chichester, held throughout the medieval period by the earls of Arundel.
Ralf Sanzaver appears in connection with Racton from 1196, claiming two and a half hides. In 1206, he granted William de Rakindon 2 hides as a quarter knight's fee, retaining the mill. By 1233, the estate passed to Henry fitz-Richard of Spargrove in Somerset in exchange for Spargrove manor. Thomas Sanzaver, who died in 1349, was the last of the family to hold the property; the lands reverted to the Earl of Arundel.
Roger Gunter contributed to the subsidy at Racton by 1327 and held land in chief of the king "by service of two white capons when the king shall come into the district." He died in 1437. John Gunter (d. 1475) acquired the Aldsworth portion through a fine. John Gunter of Chilworth, Surrey (d. 1511) was the first to be described as holding "a manor" at Racton.
John Gunter (d. 1558) held the manor in three distinct parts: one of Henry, Earl of Arundel, as of his manor of Stansted; the main portion of William Dawtrey as of his manor of Aldsworth; and 200 acres of pasture of an unnamed lord. Sir George Gunter (d. 1624) is commemorated by an elaborate monument in Racton church depicting him kneeling at a fald-stool with his wife Ursula.
Colonel George Gunter won lasting fame for assisting the escape of Charles II from England after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. A later George Gunter married Elizabeth Sherrington in 1695. Their son assumed his mother's surname, becoming Sir Charles Gunter Nicholl (d. 1733). His daughter Frances Katherine ultimately inherited, and in 1755 she married William Legge, second Earl of Dartmouth, bringing Racton into the Legge family where it remained at the time of the VCH publication in 1953.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fulk | 1066 | held of King Edward | Pre-Conquest holder. | |
| 2 | Ivo | 1066 | grant from Earl Roger | Mesne tenant of Earl Roger de Montgomery. Also held Mid-Lavant. Assessed at 5 hides. | |
| 3 | Savaric fitzCane | 1144 | acquisition | Also held Stoughton, Up Marden, and Easebourne. Married Muriel de Bohun. Granted Racton church to Lewes Priory c. 1142. | |
| 4 | Savaric de Bohun | 1144 | 1199 | inheritance | Second son of Savaric fitzCane and Muriel de Bohun. Held 3 knights' fees of the Earl of Arundel in Stephen's reign. |
| 5 | Ralf Sanzaver | 1196 | sub-tenancy | Claimed 2 and a half hides. Granted 2 hides to William de Rakindon as a quarter knight's fee in 1206, retaining the mill. | |
| 6 | Henry fitz-Richard | 1233 | exchange | Of Spargrove, Somerset. Acquired Racton in exchange for Spargrove manor. | |
| 7 | Hugh Sanzaver | 1284 | inheritance | Held of Sir John de Bohun. | |
| 8 | Ralf Sanzaver(Lord of Racton) | inheritance | Grandson of Hugh Sanzaver. Styled "lord" of Racton in 1316. | ||
| 9 | Thomas Sanzaver | 1349 | inheritance | Last Sanzaver holder. Lands reverted to the Earl of Arundel on his death. | |
| 10 | Roger Gunter | 1327 | 1437 | established presence | Serjeanty tenure: two white caponsContributed to subsidy at Racton by 1327. Held land in chief of the king "by service of two white capons when the king shall come into the district." |
The Crown
Roger Gunter held land in chief of the king "by service of two white capons when the king shall come into the district." A form of serjeanty tenure.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 113-118
Earl of Arundel
Savaric fitzCane/de Bohun held 3 knights' fees of the Earl of Arundel during Stephen's reign. Ralf Sanzaver granted William de Rakindon 2 hides as a quarter knight's fee in 1206.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 113-118
Lewes Priory
priory · held church and advowson · 1142 – 1445
Savaric fitzCane and Muriel de Bohun granted Racton church c. 1142
The Crown
crown · tenure in chief · 1327
Roger Gunter held by serjeanty of two white capons
Earls of Arundel
feudal honour · overlords
Overlordship descended with the Rape of Chichester
494m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
335m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
263m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
179m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
Fulk held before the Conquest. Ivo held of Earl Roger in 1086. 5 hides.
VCH Closing Statement
“The manor has remained the property of the Earls of Dartmouth to the present day.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 113-118
245m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
487m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
105m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
78m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade I.
Recites: 20 December 12[9 ?]2 evidence given before the Court of the Official of Chichester diocese on the tithes and other dues then payable, the vicarage then being vacant after the death of Master John. The abbot and convent of Grestain are patrons of the living. The vicar is due 12th sheaf from the royal demesne on which two tithes are due. 6th sheaf from the royal demesne on which one tithe is due. 7th sheaf from the.. part of the fee of.. Curpley. Nothing from the fee of Racton except.. fr
Short title: Gunter v Rygate. Plaintiffs: Arthur Gunter. Defendants: Thomas Rygate and Margaret Rygate his wife. Subject: manor of Racton, Sussex. Document type: [pleadings].
Also includes: manor of Racton and Woodmancote, mansion house called Racton house and several parcels of land called Racton farm (353a.) in Racton and Westbourne and cottage at Walderton in Stoughton; allotments 57, 58, 59 in Woodmancote, Nutbourne and Prinsted enclosure award; three parcels of land called Newells (except one of the three called Mill field) held of the manor of Woodmancote and several parcels of land, formerly part of the waste of the manor of Woodmancote enclosed under the Wood
Between Humfrey Handford, esq., and Hugh Handford, gent., querents, and George Gunter, kt., and John Gunter, esq., deforciants, of the manor of Racton, 6 messuages, 3 tofts, 1 water mill, 600 ac. of land, 60 ac. of meadow, 300 ac. of pasture, 150 ac. of wood and 100 ac of furze and heath in Racton and Westborne. Hilary term, 15 Jas.I
Between Humphry Handford, esq., and Hugh Handford, gent. querents, and George Gunter, knt., and John Gunter, esq., deforcts of the manor of Racton, 6 messuages, 3 tofts, one watermill, 600 ac. of land, 60 ac. of meadow, 300 ac. of pasture, 150 ac. of wood and 100 ac. of furze and heath in Racton and Westborne. Hilary term, 15 Jas. I
Principal source for the manor of Racton and its manorial descent.
farmhouse in Stoughton, Chichester, West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: farmhouse. NHLE: 1026170
folly in West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: folly. NHLE: 1026188
church in Chichester, UK. Heritage: Grade I listed building. Type: church building. NHLE: 1026186
village in West Sussex, England, UK. Type: village
former manorial estate in Racton, Sussex. Type: manor estate
