Manor Profile
Rowner, Hampshire· Titchfield Hundred· 1066 – 1908
Also known as: Rugenore, Rogenore, Rownore
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Rowner was held by William Mauduit. The pre-Conquest holder was Coleman. The survey records 14 households (10 villagers, 2 smallholders and 2 slaves), 4 ploughlands, 1 acre of meadow and woodland yielding 4 swine. The manor was valued at £3 10s. in 1086, the same as before the Conquest. The value when acquired was £1 10s. (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219; Domesday Book, Hampshire 35,1).
William Mauduit, who died in 1171, served as Chamberlain of the Exchequer. By 1240 Elias de la Falaise held three and a half virgates and 63 acres, having exchanged land with the prior of St Swithun's. In 1247 Elias granted five and a half virgates to the abbot of Quarr, a grant confirmed by Henry III in 1266. Elias died in 1254 holding the manor from the king by serjeanty: the obligation was to provide one armed man for forty days yearly for the defence of Winchester Castle. His brother William de la Falaise died seised of Rowner land with the same service obligation (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219).
The property escheated to the Crown through the felony of William de la Falaise (grandson of Elias) before 1277. In that year the Crown granted it to Sir William le Brune and his wife Isolde. William served as chamberlain to the king and Isolde was lady-in-waiting to the queen. William received a grant of free warren in 1284 and died in 1301. Isolde held until her death in 1307, when their son Maurice succeeded. Maurice's son William obtained the property in 1355 and in 1358 obtained licence to convey the manor to his daughter Joan and her husband Thomas de Overton in tail. In 1371 Joan released her rights to her mother and brothers Ingram and Richard (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219).
Between 1390 and 1392 Sir Robert de Marny transferred the manor to Ingram Brune. Ingram died seised in 1400 and the manor passed to his wife Elizabeth under a 1392 settlement. Elizabeth died in 1403 and their son Maurice came of age in 1407. Henry Brune died in 1461 and the manor reverted to Maurice Brune. Maurice died in 1468 and was succeeded by his son Thomas, who died in 1497. Thomas's son William succeeded, and in 1512 William was succeeded by his nephew Sir John Brune, who died in 1559. Henry Brune died in 1594. His son John died in 1639 and was succeeded by his nephew John (son of his brother Charles), who died in 1645 without male heirs. John's brother Charles succeeded and died in 1703. Charles's grandson, also Charles Brune, died in 1769, extinguishing the male line (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219).
In 1769 the estates devolved to the grand-nephew Rev. Charles Prideaux-Brune of Padstow, Cornwall, who died in 1833. At the time of VCH publication his grandson Charles Glynn Prideaux-Brune held the manor. Henry I was detained at Rowner in 1115 awaiting a fair wind to France, an early reference to the settlement's role as a staging point on the south coast (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coleman | 1066 | Pre-Conquest holder. Value TRE: £3 10s. | ||
| 2 | William Mauduit(Chamberlain of the Exchequer) | 1066 | 1171 | Conquest grant | Chamberlain of the Exchequer. The Mauduit family also held Portchester.Held Rowner at the Domesday survey. Died 1171. |
| 3 | Elias de la Falaise | 1254 | By 1240 held three and a half virgates and 63 acres, having exchanged land with the prior of St Swithun's. In 1247 granted five and a half virgates to Quarr Abbey (confirmed by Henry III in 1266). Held from the king by serjeanty: one armed man for forty days yearly for defence of Winchester Castle. | ||
| 4 | William de la Falaise (brother of Elias) | 1254 | inheritance | Died seised of Rowner land with the same serjeanty obligation. | |
| 5 | William de la Falaise (grandson of Elias) | 1277 | inheritance | Property escheated to the Crown through his felony before 1277. | |
| 6 | Sir William le Brune(Knight) | 1277 | 1301 | royal grant | Royal chamberlain.Granted the manor by the Crown in 1277. Chamberlain to the king; wife Isolde was lady-in-waiting to the queen. Free warren granted 1284. |
| 7 | Isolde le Brune | 1301 | 1307 | dower | Wife of Sir William le Brune. Lady-in-waiting to the queen. Held until her death in 1307. |
| 8 | Maurice le Brune | 1307 | 1355 | inheritance | Son of William and Isolde. Also died seised of "a liberty called Crofton" belonging to the manor of Rowner. |
| 9 | William le Brune | 1355 | inheritance | Son of Maurice. Obtained the property in 1355. In 1358 obtained licence to convey the manor to his daughter Joan and her husband Thomas de Overton in tail. | |
| 10 | Joan (daughter of William) and Thomas de Overton | 1358 | 1371 | grant in tail from William le Brune | In 1371 Joan released her rights to her mother and brothers Ingram and Richard. |
The Crown
Free warren granted to Sir William le Brune in 1284.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219
Winchester Castle
Serjeanty service: one armed man for forty days yearly in time of war for the defence of Winchester Castle. Later commuted to a monetary payment of 40s. yearly to the exchequer.
Source: VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 218-219
Quarr Abbey
abbey · held_portion · 1247 – 1537
Grant of five and a half virgates from Elias de la Falaise in 1247. Confirmed by Henry III in 1266.
The Crown
crown · granted_to · 1277 – 1277
Escheat through felony of William de la Falaise; granted to Sir William le Brune 1277.
Priory of St Swithun, Winchester
priory · land_exchange
Elias de la Falaise exchanged land with the prior of St Swithun's by 1240.
Titchfield and Rowner were both in Titchfield hundred. Maurice le Brune of Rowner held "a liberty called Crofton" belonging to the manor of Rowner, linking the two manorial complexes.
Wickham and Rowner were both in Titchfield hundred.
Maurice le Brune of Rowner died seised of "a liberty called Crofton" belonging to the manor of Rowner in 1355. His son William held the same in 1358.
William Mauduit held both Rowner and Portchester at the time of the Domesday survey. The Mauduit family held through the hereditary chamberlainship of the exchequer.
Rowner held by William Mauduit. 14 households, 4 ploughlands. Value 1086: £3 10s.; TRE: £3 10s.
Rental, manor of Rowner
Survey, manor of Rowner.
William Brun, knight, to grant the manor of Fordingbridge to Thomas de Overton, Joan his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to himself and his heirs, retaining the manor of Rowner, and a messuage and land in Midgham. Hampshire. 34 Edw III.
Draft agreement for surrender of leases 1) Mary Prater of St. Austell, widow 2) Rev. Charles Prideaux Brune of Prideaux Place, clerk Recites lease of 1799 for property in Rowner, Hants. Consideration: 10s. 65a., manor of Rowner, known as Great Stoners tenement.
Translation of a grant of Edwd 1 to William le Brun of manor of Rowner
Findings of an inquisition post mortem, by Walter of Gloucester 1-2 Edw. II That Isolda le Brune held the manor of Rowner at a value of £7. 7s. 3d. p/a and that Maricius le Brun her son was of full age at the time of her death
Court book of Richmond Crofton, for court leet and view of frankpledge (In the back court for manor of Rowner 1654-1743, not held annually; also some loose sheets for manor of Fordingbridge, 1693-4)
Inquisition Post Mortem taken at Blandford Forum 11 June on Sir John Brune. Manor of Rowner, Hants, with le Grange in parish of Rowner and Stoke and land in Aishmonsworth Crokerstock and St. Mary Born Manor of East Parley with advowson Manor of Charleton in Dorset Manor of Barston alias Puddle Barston alias Bardolpheston with lands in Barston and Puddletown. Moiety of manor of Adelhampston with lands in East Woodford and Tincleton Manor of Forde alias Fordingbridge Throupe alias Thrope in parish
William Bruyn, knight, to settle the manor of Rowner, with the advowson of its church, on himself for life, with remainder to William son of Thomas Wayte, Joan daughter of the grantor, and the heirs of their bodies, remainder to his own right heirs, retaining a liberty called Crofton in the hundred of Titchfield, and the manor of Fordingbridge. Hampshire. 32 Edw III.
Appointment of quarter share of messuage and tenement called Berry Farm, parish of Alverstoke, Hampshire, and closes called Seymours, manor of Rowner, Hampshire, and of entire sum of £776 10s 3d Bank of England stock. Partly recites agreements 20 August 1778 [JER/GPS/1/1] and 29 August 1778 (1) Elizabeth Gother [nee Eames] of Newport, Isle of Wight, widow (2) Mary Gother of Newport, spinster, daughter of (1)
Settlement 1) Charles Brune of Plumber esq. 2) Jane Colier one of daus. of Hy Colier late of Hermitage esq. dec. Jointure settlement of manor of Rowner
1) Sir John Brune of Athelhampstone, Knight and Dame Bridget his wife 2) Robert Cooker of Mapowder, esq. Charles Brune of Athelhampston, esq. Brune Williams of Tynham, esq Edward Dackombe of Skoles in the Isle of Purbick, esq. Wm. Cooker of Mapowder, esq. Thomas Gerrard of Trente in Somerset, esq. In love and affection for love of brother Charles Brune and in consideration of marriage between Charles Brune and Mary, dau. of Robert Cooke The manor of Rowner and le Grange
1) Sir Ralph Bankes of Corfe Castle, Knight and Mary his wife Charles Brune of Rowner esq. 2) Francis Wyndham of Trent, esq. Anthony Stericke of Holt Park esq. Trusteeship of manor of Rowner in event of Charles Brune's marriage
Agreement by way of settlement of (A) messuage and tenement called Berry Farm, parish of Alverstoke, Hants, with closes etc., all further described (B) closes called Seymours, manor of Rowner, Hants, further described Recites lease for (A) (dated 5 February 1766) from Charles Brune of Plumber, Dorset, esq. lord of the manor of Rowner to late William Eames for 99 years; and lease in reversion for same (dated 4 June 1776) from Charles Morton Plevdell Brune of Plumber, esq. to (1) on behalf of (2)
Principal source for the manorial descent of Rowner. Covers Mauduit, la Falaise and Brune families.
