Manor Profile
Tortington, West Sussex· Avisford Hundred· 1066 – 1995
Also known as: Tortington Cheyneys, Tortinton
Tortington lies on the west bank of the river Arun south of Arundel. The north-east corner of the parish lay within Arundel Great Park in the Middle Ages, described as a park called the Rooks in 1331. In 1933 Tortington absorbed the whole of Binsted, making a combined area of 2,136 acres.
Leofwine, a free man, held the manor at 4 hides in 1066. By 1086 Ernucion of Greatham held it of Earl Roger. Pharamus de Tracy had land here by 1216 and Roger de Tracy was described as lord of Tortington in 1234-35. In 1279 John de Tracy conveyed the manor to William of Bracklesham, Dean of Chichester, who gave it in 1295 to Ellis de Cheyney. It became known as Tortington Cheyneys. Ellis died by 1327, and his grandson William succeeded in 1341-42.
In 1373 Ralph de Restwold quitclaimed to Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel (d. 1376), and thereafter the manor remained in demesne with the FitzAlans. Under the will of Earl Thomas (d. 1415) it passed to the Holy Trinity Hospital at Arundel, subject to the life interest of his widow Beatrice (d. 1439).
After the Dissolution the Crown granted Tortington to Sir Richard Lee in 1546. Lee conveyed it to Henry FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel in 1547, who with Lord Lumley sold it to John Apsley in 1567. In 1587 Browne and Apsley conveyed it to Roger Gratwicke (d. 1596 without issue). It passed to his cousin Sir William Gratwicke of East Malling, Kent (d. 1613), then to his son William (d.s.p. 1666), brother Francis (d.s.p. 1670), and Francis's heir Oliver Weekes (d. 1689).
In 1706 Carew Weekes sold to William Leeves of Arundel (d. 1710). The manor passed to his eldest son Robert (d. 1743), then Robert's son (also Robert, d.s.p. 1744). In 1790 the younger Robert's brothers-in-law and heirs Robert Edwards, Robert Lamport, and Henry Johnson conveyed Tortington to the Duke of Norfolk, after which it descended with the rape.
Tortington Priory, an Augustinian house, held a separate estate described as a manor from 1380. At the Dissolution it passed to Henry FitzAlan, Lord Maltravers (d. 1556). Through the Crown, Spencer, Compton (Earls of Northampton), and Thomas families, it was conveyed in 1698 by Sir William Thomas to Richard Scrase, who sold it in 1714-15 to William Leeves. Thereafter it descended with the demesne lands of Tortington manor.
After the Duke's purchase of the Tortington estate (965 acres) in 1879, virtually the whole parish belonged to the Norfolk estate. The trustees of the late Bernard, Duke of Norfolk retained woodland in the north and north-west in 1995, though most agricultural land had been sold to the Luckin family, previously tenants.
Leofwine, a free man, held Tortington at 4 hides in 1066. By 1086 Ernucion of Greatham held it of Earl Roger of Shrewsbury. The demesne had 2 ploughs with 6 villani and 2 cottars. 30 acres of meadow and woodland for 6 swine. Value had fallen from 3 pounds (1066) to 1 pound 10 shillings on acquisition, recovering to 2 pounds by 1086.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leofwine | 1066 | 1066 | A free man. Held 4 hides. | |
| 2 | Ernucion of Greatham | 1086 | grant from Earl Roger | Held of Earl Roger of Shrewsbury in 1086. | |
| 3 | Pharamus de Tracy | 1216 | Had land in Tortington by 1216. | ||
| 4 | Roger de Tracy | 1234 | Described as lord of Tortington 1234-35. | ||
| 5 | John de Tracy | 1279 | Conveyed manor to William of Bracklesham, Dean of Chichester, in 1279. | ||
| 6 | William of Bracklesham, Dean of Chichester | 1279 | 1295 | conveyance from John de Tracy | |
| 7 | Ellis de Cheyney | 1295 | 1327 | grant from Dean of Chichester | The manor became known as Tortington Cheyneys. His son William succeeded. |
| 8 | William de Cheyney (son of Ellis) | 1327 | 1341 | inheritance | |
| 9 | William de Cheyney (grandson) | 1341 | 1373 | inheritance | Ralph de Restwold quitclaimed to Earl of Arundel in 1373. |
| 10 | Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel(Earl of Arundel) | 1373 | 1376 | quitclaim from Restwold/Cheyney interest |
Earl Roger / honour of Arundel
Held of the rape of Arundel. The manor was assessed at 4 hides in Domesday.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 214-224
Holy Trinity Hospital, Arundel
hospital · institutional lord · 1415 – 1546
Thomas FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel (d. 1415) gave the manor to the hospital by will, subject to widow Beatrice's life interest (d. 1439).
Arundel Castle / Norfolk Estate
estate · absorbed into estate · 1790
Conveyed to Duke of Norfolk in 1790. After the Duke's purchase of the full estate (965 acres) in 1879, virtually the whole parish belonged to the Norfolk estate.
Tortington Priory (Augustinian)
priory · priory within parish · 1536
An Augustinian priory. Its demesne was described as a manor from 1380. At the Dissolution it passed to Henry FitzAlan, Lord Maltravers. Through Crown, Spencer, Compton (Earls of Northampton), and Thomas families, it was conveyed to Richard Scrase (1698), who sold to William Leeves (1714-15). Thereafter it descended with the demesne lands of Tortington manor. The priory barn (surviving 1995) retains remains of the mid-13th-century priory church.
The church of St Mary Magdalene retains its striking 12th-century chancel arch with chevron and beakhead ornament. Deep-splayed windows in the nave and chancel date from the same period. A circular Caen stone font is richly decorated with cable moulding and arcading. The priory barn (surviving 1995) contains remains of the mid-13th-century priory church: part of the north wall of the nave including two wall-shafts and a section of the vault with window traces, part of the west wall of the nave, and the west wall of the north transept. Manor Farm is a substantial 17th-century building of red brick with 16th-century elements, bearing inscribed stones "RG/1590" (Roger Gratwicke) and "1659 G/WM" (William Gratwicke and wife). Tortington House (built shortly before 1699) was remodelled in the early 19th century; it became a Catholic girls' boarding school (1922-1969) and later the English campus of New England College. Monastic fishponds survive east, south, and north-west of the priory site.
Phillimore reference Sussex 11,80. Ernucion held of Earl Roger. 4 hides, 2 demesne ploughs, 6 villani, 2 cottars, 30 acres meadow.
Tortington parish entry, including manor, priory, church, and economic history.
VCH Closing Statement
“The trustees of the late Bernard, Duke of Norfolk, retained woodland in the north and north-west in 1995, but most of the agricultural land had been sold by then to the Luckin family, previously tenants.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 214-224
