Manor Profile
Slindon, West Sussex· Aldwick Hundred· 1086 – 1949
Slindon appears in the Domesday Survey as an 8-hide manor in the hundred of Binsted, held by Hugh under Earl Roger of Shrewsbury. Azor of Slindon had held it before the Conquest. The manor was valued at 20 pounds TRE, falling to 16 pounds in 1086, with 23 villeins, 12 bordars, 1.5 demesne ploughs, 7 men's ploughs and a church.
Shortly after Domesday, the manor was given to Christ Church Canterbury. In 1106 Henry I, at Archbishop Anselm's request, restored Slindon to the archbishopric, to be held as two knights' fees. The archbishops used Slindon House as an occasional residence. Stephen Langton died here in 1228. Archbishop John Pecham held ordinations in the chapel in 1288 and 1291. In 1451 Robert Huberden farmed the manor at 26 pounds 13s. 4d. In 1535 the manor was valued at 37 pounds 18s. 11d.
In 1542 Archbishop Cranmer exchanged Slindon with Henry VIII. In 1552 it was granted to Sir Thomas Palmer, who forfeited it upon his execution for supporting Lady Jane Grey. Anthony Kempe received the manor in 1555 and died seised of it in 1597. The Kempe family held Slindon through the 17th century. Anthony Kempe, the last male of the line, died in 1753 aged 81.
Anthony Kempe's daughter Barbara married James Bartholomew Radcliffe, Earl of Newburgh. When Anthony James, the 5th Earl of Newburgh, died in 1814 without issue, the estate passed to his cousin Francis Eyre. Francis Eyre's daughter Dorothy (claiming to be Countess of Newburgh) married Colonel Charles Leslie. After their deaths the estate descended to Charles Stephen Leslie (d. 1916), whose son sold it before 1930.
Frederick Wootton Isaacson purchased the estate and bequeathed it in 1949 to the National Trust. The estate comprises 3,500 acres of agricultural land and woodland on the South Downs.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azor of Slindon | 1066 | held TRE | ||
| 2 | Hugh | 1086 | grant (under Earl Roger) | Held of Earl Roger of Shrewsbury in the Rape of Arundel. | |
| 3 | Archbishops of Canterbury | 1106 | 1542 | royal grant (Henry I to Archbishop Anselm) | Held as two knights' fees. Stephen Langton died at Slindon 1228. Archbishop Pecham held ordinations 1288, 1291. Farmed by Robert Huberden at 26 pounds 13s. 4d. in 1451. Valued at 37 pounds 18s. 11d. in 1535. |
| 4 | Henry VIII (Crown)(King of England) | 1542 | 1552 | exchange with Archbishop Cranmer | |
| 5 | Sir Thomas Palmer | 1552 | 1553 | royal grant | |
| 6 | Crown | 1553 | 1555 | forfeiture of Palmer | |
| 7 | Anthony Kempe | 1555 | 1597 | royal grant | |
| 8 | Sir Garrett Kempe | 1597 | inheritance | Son of Anthony Kempe. Rebuilt or extended Slindon House. | |
| 9 | Philip Kempe | inheritance | Eldest son of Sir Garrett Kempe. | ||
| 10 | Garrett Kempe | inheritance | Brother of Philip Kempe. |
Earl of Arundel
Annual venison render of 13 bucks or harts of grease and 13 does or hinds, agreed 1259.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 234-237
Crown (formerly Honour of Arundel)
Held as two knights' fees from 1106 when Henry I restored the manor to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 234-237
Christ Church Canterbury (Archbishopric)
diocese · held · 1106 – 1542
Henry I restored Slindon to the Archbishop at Anselm's request in 1106, to be held as two knights' fees.
Lewes Priory
priory · granted church · 1154
Archbishop Theobald dedicated the church c. 1154 and granted it to Lewes Priory, but the grant did not take effect.
Crown (Henry VIII)
crown · held · 1542 – 1555
Archbishop Cranmer exchanged Slindon with Henry VIII in 1542.
National Trust
charity · held · 1949
Frederick Wootton Isaacson bequeathed the 3,500-acre estate to the National Trust in 1949.
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY
charity · estate_holder · 1962
Charity Commission 205846
372m from manor coordinates. Period: MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
Slindon Estate acquired by National Trust. Includes Slindon manor, park, and surrounding land.
Phillimore edition, digitised by Anna Powell-Smith.
133m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
VCH Closing Statement
“It was bought by Frederick Wootton Isaacson and bequeathed by him in 1949 to the National Trust.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 234-237
164m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
178m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
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5m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II*.
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174m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade I.
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164m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
32m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
94m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Admission of Mary, wife of Nathan Haines, and only daughter of Rowland Buck, to property as before
SLINDON MANOR, SUSSEX
Admission of Thomas Newland on the surrender 14 October 1751 of John Fielder and Elizabeth, his w., late Elizabeth Lopp One customary messuage, stable, garden, and orchard, 2½a. of land, one garden and 1a. of land in Slindon. Rt. Hon. James Bartholomew Radcliff, Esq., called Viscount Kanaird, Lord of the Manor. Edward Carleton, gent., Steward
Admission of Rowland Buck of Ifold, in Kirdford, husbandman, on the surrender of Elizah Penfold, to Cottage and garden in Plaistow Consideration: £98
SLINDON MANOR, SUSSEX
Copy of Court Roll of a special Court of Anthony James, Earl of Newburgh, lord of the manor, being a Surrender by William Lane of a piece of land called the Gaston Field containing 2a. 3r. 28p. and a small piece of pasture ground containing about ¼ ac. being part of a copyhold estate consisting of a messuage and ¾ yardland in Slindon To the use of John Lane of Arundel, merchant Edw. Carleton, steward
SLINDON MANOR, SUSSEX
Manor of Slindon: J. Bagley.
Admission of Elizabeth Styant of Walberton, spinster, on the surrender of Richard Hebberden and payment of a fine of £35 One messuage, brewhouse, barn, stable, carthouse, orchard and garden, 12 closes of land called Courthillfields, Stanylanefields, Biblands, the Marsh, Mansors Head, and 2 small meadows (46a.) Anthony Kemp, esq., Lord of the Manor. Henry Aylward, gent., Steward
Manor of Slindon: E. Grinstead.
Manor of Slindon: J. Coles.
Admission of Elizabeth Turner, sister of Henry Newsham, late a customary tenant of the manor in pursuance of the will of Henry Newsham One messuage, barn, garden, orchard and 16a. of land, one croft of land adjoining on the E. to Middle Lane, and 3a. of land and one garden in Slindon Rt. Hon. James Bartholomew, Earl of Newburgh, Lord of the Manor. Edward Carleton, gent., Steward
Manor of Slindon: G. Stemp.
Manor of Slindon: J. Taylor.
Admission of William Thomas Carlisle of Lincoln's Inn, co. Middx., gent., to - Land (2¾a.) with several messuages and other buildings adjoining Reynolds Lane on the E. and Slindon Common on the N.; messuage, etc. called the Roundabouts late in the occ. of William Hornsby On the surrender of Philip Henry Howard To be held in trust for Charles Leslie, K.H., the lord of the manor Steward: William Thomas Carlisle, Deputy steward: Frederic Haworth Brown
SLINDON MANOR, SUSSEX
Manor of Slindon: A. J. Dean.
Presentation of a mortgage surrender (4 January 1685) to secure £150 and interest by (a) Richard Hebberden and Elizabeth, his w., to (b) John Styant of Walberton, gent One customary messuage (20a.) called Court Hill Feilds, abutting Court Hill on the S., the lands of Richard Chat on the W., and the lands of Richard Smith on the N. and W., and the Common on the E 9a. of land abutting the Common called the Downe on the E., Slindon Farm on the S., the Common on the W., and the lands of Richard Newl
Manor of Slindon: H. Hillyer.
Manor of Slindon: G. A. Gadd.
Main VCH entry for Slindon parish and manor.
village in Staffordshire, England. Type: village
building in Slindon, Arun, West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: building. NHLE: 1275082
UK local authority for the parish of Slindon. Type: parish council
village and civil parish in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Type: village
