Manor Profile
Tangmere, West Sussex· Aldwick Hundred· 680
Also known as: Tangemere
When Caedwalla, King of Wessex, gave Pagham to Bishop Wilfrid c. 680, he also gave to the bishop's brethren serving God at the church of St Andrew the land called Tangmere. Wilfrid subsequently gave Tangmere with Pagham to Archbishop Theodore. The original grant was assessed at 10 hides, reduced to 6 by 1086.
Tangmere appears in the Domesday Survey among the manors of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was assessed at 6 hides with 2 lord's plough teams, 4 men's plough teams, 15 villeins, 15 smallholders and a church. The value stood at 6 pounds, the same as in the time of King Edward, though it had fallen to 5 pounds at some point.
The manor remained in the hands of the archbishops except during the Interdict, when King John seized the estates of the see. In 1211 William de Milliers claimed and apparently obtained the manor of Tangmere as having been given as a marriage portion to his mother Constance.
In 1542 Tangmere was among the manors surrendered to Henry VIII by Archbishop Cranmer. In 1556 it was granted to Cardinal Archbishop Reynold Pole, reverting to the Crown on Pole's death. In 1560 the Crown granted it to Richard Baker and Sir Richard Sackville. In 1579 Sir Richard Baker and Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, conveyed the manor to John Morley and Thomas Crompton.
Since that time Tangmere has descended with Halnaker. The present lord of the manor is the Duke of Richmond. The 3rd Duke of Richmond acquired the Halnaker estate, and the Goodwood Estate (of which Tangmere forms part) has remained in the Richmond family since.
King Caedwalla granted 10 hides at Tangmere to Bishop Wilfrid c. 680, who gave them to Archbishop Theodore. The assessment had been reduced from 10 hides to 6 by 1086. Held directly by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the hundred of Pagham (later Aldwick). Value stable at 6 pounds from TRE through 1086, though it had fallen to 5 pounds at some point on acquisition.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Wilfrid | 680 | royal grant from King Caedwalla | Caedwalla gave Tangmere to the brethren of St Andrew. Wilfrid subsequently conveyed it with Pagham to Canterbury. | |
| 2 | Archbishops of Canterbury | 1542 | gift from Bishop Wilfrid via Archbishop Theodore | Held continuously except during the Interdict (1211, when William de Milliers claimed the manor). Farm rent reached 25 pounds in 1535. | |
| 3 | Henry VIII (Crown)(King of England) | 1542 | 1556 | surrender by Archbishop Cranmer | |
| 4 | Cardinal Reynold Pole(Archbishop of Canterbury) | 1556 | 1558 | royal grant | |
| 5 | Crown | 1558 | 1560 | reversion on death of Pole | |
| 6 | Richard Baker and Sir Richard Sackville | 1560 | 1579 | royal grant | |
| 7 | John Morley and Thomas Crompton | 1579 | conveyance from Baker and Sackville/Buckhurst | Conveyed by Sir Richard Baker and Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst. From this date Tangmere descended with Halnaker. | |
| 8 | Dukes of Richmond(Duke of Richmond) | descent with Halnaker (3rd Duke acquired Halnaker estate) | The present lord of the manor is the Duke of Richmond (11th Duke, Charles Gordon-Lennox). Part of the Goodwood Estate. |
Crown
Knight service tenure documented. Military fees of one-tenth and one-ninth of a knight's fee recorded at various dates.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 237-239
See of Canterbury (Archbishopric)
diocese · held · 680 – 1542
King Caedwalla granted Tangmere to Bishop Wilfrid c. 680, who gave it to Archbishop Theodore. Held by successive archbishops until Cranmer surrendered it to Henry VIII.
Crown
crown · held · 1542 – 1560
Surrendered by Cranmer 1542. Briefly granted to Cardinal Pole 1556-1558. Granted to Baker and Sackville 1560.
Lewes Priory
priory · held advowson · 1204
Advowson given to Lewes Priory before 1121, confirmed by Archbishop Ralph. Last reference to priory holding the advowson c. 1204. By 1232 belonged to see of Canterbury.
Goodwood Estate (Duke of Richmond)
estate · held
Tangmere descended with Halnaker from 1579. The 3rd Duke of Richmond acquired the Halnaker estate. The Goodwood Estate remains in the Richmond family.
The church of St Andrew retains an 11th-century nave and chancel of flint rubble with freestone dressings. The chancel was enlarged in the 13th century with lancet windows. The church contains a 12th-century font, 17th-century oak buffet, three bells and Elizabethan communion plate. A south porch with fuel store survives. Tangmere village was substantially affected by the construction and operation of RAF Tangmere (1917-1970).
Phillimore edition, digitised by Anna Powell-Smith.
Main VCH entry for Tangmere parish and manor.
VCH Closing Statement
“Since that time Tangmere has descended with Halnaker, the present lord of the manor being the Duke of Richmond.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 237-239
