Manor Profile
Rumboldswyke, West Sussex· Box and Stockbridge Hundred· 1086 – 1781
Also known as: Wyke, Rumboldswick, Rumboldsweeke
Rumboldswyke (Domesday: 9 hides reduced to 6) was held as five manors by five men before the Conquest. By 1086 it was held under Earl Roger by Hugh, sub-held by Warin. The identity of "Rumbold" is unknown.
The de Wykes family held the manor from the early 13th century. Roger de Wykes died in 1274 holding the manor as one knight's fee, with his sisters Godeheude and Christiane as heirs. Sir John de Foxle acquired the manor by 1317, combining the interests of the de Wykes and Pycheford families. The Foxle family held until 1420.
Through the Uvedale and Rogers families, the manor passed to William Essex. In 1543 Sir William Essex granted it to the Crown in exchange for Berkshire manors. The Crown held until 1560, when it was granted to John Fenner, who sold to Richard Pype. Through the Bowyer and Cawley families, it was sold in 1689 to Sir Charles Littleton, then to John Braman, and by 1725 was acquired by Richard Lumley, Earl of Scarborough. It subsequently descended with the manor of Westbourne to Richard Barwell.
Domesday records five men holding as five manors before the Conquest, assessed at 9 hides. By 1086 the assessment was reduced to 6 hides, held under Earl Roger by Hugh, with Warin as sub-tenant. The overlordship belonged to the honour of Arundel.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earl Roger de Montgomery(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1066 | 1094 | grant from William I | |
| 2 | Godeheude de Wykes | 1218 | inheritance | Widow of William de Planchis. Sold 50s. rent to Boxgrove Priory. | |
| 3 | Eustache de Warham | inheritance from mother Godeheude | Married Hubert de Warham alias de Wykes. | ||
| 4 | Roger de Wykes | 1274 | inheritance | Died holding as 1 knight's fee. Heirs: sisters Godeheude and Christiane. | |
| 5 | Sir John de Foxle | 1317 | 1338 | purchase (combined Pycheford and de Wykes interests) | Acquired 2/3 from Walter de Wykes (1312) and 1/2 manor from Geoffrey de Pycheford (1317). |
| 6 | Thomas de Foxle | 1338 | settlement from father Sir John | ||
| 7 | John de Foxle | 1420 | inheritance | Died with infant daughter Alice. Manor passed to brother Thomas under settlement. | |
| 8 | Thomas Rogers | 1488 | descent through Foxle/Uvedale line | Settled manors of Rumboldswyke and Holyngarden on daughter Elizabeth. | |
| 9 | Sir William Essex | 1543 | marriage settlement (Elizabeth Rogers married William Essex) | Granted to Henry VIII in exchange for Berkshire manors. | |
| 10 | Crown (Henry VIII / Edward VI / Mary / Elizabeth) | 1543 | 1560 | exchange from Essex |
Honour of Arundel
honour · held · 1086
One knight's fee of honour of Arundel.
Church of St Mary: stands east of the Chichester-Hunston road. Chancel with north organ chamber, nave, north aisle. Built of flint rubble with ashlar dressings, tile roof. Herringbone work visible in chancel walls (11th-century original). Chancel arch coeval with church: square responds with plain chamfered imposts, semicircular arch. Piscina with round head, formed from apparent 11th-century baluster shaft head. South doorway 13th century. Trefoil-headed holy-water stoup recess. Single bell inscribed "Iohn Clarke made this bell." Silver cup (hallmark 1758). Registers begin 1670.
VCH Closing Statement
“It subsequently descended with the manor of Westbourne to Richard Barwell.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 171-174
