Selsey

Selsey occupies a low peninsula at the southernmost point of the Manhood Hundred, projecting into the English Channel south of Chichester Harbour. The parish was assessed at 10 hides in Domesday Book, with Geoffrey holding one hide and William half a hide and half a virgate as sub-tenants. Six houses in Chichester were attached to the manor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 205-210).

The ecclesiastical connection predates the Conquest by four centuries. In 681, Bishop Wilfrid of York received Selsey from King Aethelwalh of Sussex. Two years later, King Caedwalla of Wessex endowed extensive territories to establish Wilfrid's monastery, making Selsey the seat of the abbey and later of the diocese. The see remained at Selsey until 1075, when it was transferred to Chichester. The Bishop of Chichester held the manor in demesne continuously from Domesday through the medieval period (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 205-206).

In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I compelled Bishop William Barlow to surrender the manor, which was valued at 53 pounds 4 shillings and 10 pence halfpenny clear yearly value. The Crown leased the demesne. In 1603, the manor was granted to Queen Anne (consort of James I), and in 1619 to trustees for Prince Charles. In 1628, the manor was assigned to the City of London as security for a loan. Sir William Morley purchased the manor in 1635 at a fee farm rent of 56 pounds 2 shillings and half a penny. Bishop Richard Montague attempted an unsuccessful recovery (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 207-208).

William Morley's son sold the manor to William Elson in 1700. In 1736, William Glanville acquired it and sold to John Peachey the same year. Peachey succeeded as second baronet in 1737. His brother Sir James was created Baron Selsey in 1794 and died in 1808. The third baron died in 1838 and the title became extinct. The manor passed to his daughter Caroline Mary Peachey. After her death in 1871, the manor was divided. One half went to Edward Paine and Richard Brettell, the other to Osmond Barnard, who immediately sold to James Henry Legge. Legge sold to Frederick William Grafton in 1878. Grafton died in 1890 and the manor vested in trustees. The trustees sold to Wilhelm Karl Ferro in 1909. W.A. Thornton purchased the manor around 1920 and held it in 1940 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 208-209).

Three cathedral prebends held substantial property in Selsey: the Prebend of Selsey (valued at 21 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence in 1291), the Prebend of Thorney at Crablands in the western parish, and the Prebend of Waltham in the Norton area. All prebendal estates passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under the 1840 Act. God's House hospital in Southampton held property or tithes in Selsey between 1297 and 1309 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 209-210).