Manor Profile
Westbourne, West Sussex· Westbourne and Singleton Hundred· 1331 – 1808
Also known as: Tawkes Manor, Sayes Court alias Tawkes Manor
A 1375 survey of Westbourne mentioned "a holding of 1 virgate late belonging to Say," possibly connected to John le Say of Chichester who held property in Westbourne and Aldsworth in 1331. The holding passed to the Tawke family.
In 1587 John Tawke sold "Sayes Court alias Tawkes Manor" to Richard Lewkenor. Sir Richard Lewkenor died seised in 1616, holding the manor "of the king in socage." The manor descended in the Lewkenor family. In the early 18th century Elizabeth Lewkenor married Bulstrode Peachey, who afterwards took the name Knight. The Peachey family held it until Sir John Peachey, 2nd Lord Selsey, owned it by 1808. The manor subsequently lost its manorial quality and was absorbed into other Peachey property.
No separate Domesday entry. Sayes Court may derive from a 1375 survey mention of "a holding of 1 virgate late belonging to Say," possibly connected to John le Say of Chichester who held property in Westbourne and Aldsworth in 1331.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John le Say | 1331 | Of Chichester. Held property in Westbourne and Aldsworth. | ||
| 2 | John Tawke | 1587 | inheritance or purchase | ||
| 3 | Sir Richard Lewkenor | 1587 | 1616 | purchase | Died seised. Held of the king in socage. |
| 4 | Peachey (later Knight) family | 1808 | marriage (Elizabeth Lewkenor married Bulstrode Peachey) | Held until Lord Selsey. Manor lost manorial quality. |
VCH Closing Statement
“Sir John Peachey, 2nd Lord Selsey, owned it by 1808. The manor subsequently lost its manorial quality and was absorbed into other Peachey property.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 126-132
pp. 126-132