Manor Profile
Up Marden, West Sussex· Westbourne and Singleton Hundred· 900 – 1938
Also known as: Upmerdon, Meredone
Around 900, Goda the thegn granted 4 cassatos in Upmerdon to Wiohstan, his son-in-law. Wiohstan later purchased additional land near Blackmere pool. Around 935, Wiohstan sold these holdings to Bishop Wlfhun of Selsey. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, one Meredone was held by Lefsi from Countess Gida (wife of Earl Godwin) in the time of Edward the Confessor, assessed at 3 hides with 1 hawk in Chichester attached. By 1086 the manor was held of Earl Roger de Montgomery by Engeler de Bohun. Savaric fitz Cane, Engeler's successor, donated the church to Lewes Priory. The overlordship descended with the honour of Arundel.
In 1244, upon the division of the estates of Hugh d'Aubigny, 3 fees were assigned to Robert de Tateshale. By 1306 these fees had passed to Robert de Cailli. In the late twelfth century the manor was held by Eustace de Valle Pironis. In 1227 his daughter Mary granted the manor to her son Reynold Aguillon, excepting lands previously given to John Aguillon. By 1240 Reynold's estates were divided among his four daughters: Mary (who married William Covert), Cecily (who married Peter de Gatesden), Godehuda (who married Ralph St. Owen), and Alice (who married William Russel).
Cecily's share passed to the Knights Hospitallers, who held a quarter fee as the manor of Up Marden St. John until the Dissolution. Alice's share passed through her second husband Robert Haket. John Haket was the largest subsidy contributor in 1296. In 1326 John Haket held the manor, and in 1357 John Haket, his wife Maud, and their son Thomas sold the estate to Richard, Earl of Arundel. Countess Beatrice held three-quarters of a fee in 1428.
In 1566 Henry, Earl of Arundel settled the manor on his daughter Jane and her husband Lord Lumley. In 1581 Philip, Earl of Arundel sold the manor site, demesnes, windmill, and pasturage rights on Ligh Common to William Paye. William Paye died seised in 1598, holding in chief of the queen, with his son Henry as heir. William had previously sold the windmill to Thomas Marten in 1593. The estate subsequently subdivided and manorial rights lapsed.
The former Hospitaller property of Up Marden St. John was granted in 1544 to Henry Audeley and John Cordall, who immediately alienated it to John Sone. It passed to Thomas Sone in 1547, then to his son William in 1557 (holding one-thirtieth of a fee). William died in 1571, leaving his son Walter aged 8. Walter had livery of the manor in 1585 and sold it to Thomas Green in 1590-1591. In 1609 the manor was held by John Paye and others, who sold to William Grey and Richard Peckham.
In 1641 William Grey purchased from Edmund Fairmanner what was called the manor of Up Marden. William Grey died in 1646, leaving his son Thomas aged 18. In 1663-1664 Thomas sold the manor of Up Marden St. John and associated tenements to Anne Peckham, widow. Anne Peckham died at Lordington in 1713 and left the manor to her son Richard. The manor remained in the Peckham family and descended with Compton. Thomas Peckham Phipps held the manor in 1793. Vice-Admiral Sir G. T. Phipps Hornby held it in 1879. James Reckitt was lord in 1922, and Mrs. Pollock was lady of the manor in 1933 and 1938.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goda the thegn(thegn) | 900 | Earliest documented holder, c. 900Granted 4 cassatos in Upmerdon to Wiohstan. | ||
| 2 | Wiohstan | 900 | 935 | grant from Goda (father-in-law) | Purchased additional land near Blackmere pool. Sold to Bishop of Selsey c. 935. |
| 3 | Bishop Wlfhun of Selsey(Bishop of Selsey) | 935 | purchase from Wiohstan | Bishop of Selsey. Purchased c. 935. | |
| 4 | Lefsi | 1066 | held of Countess Gida | Pre-Conquest holder. Held of Countess Gida, wife of Earl Godwin. | |
| 5 | Earl Roger de Montgomery(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1066 | 1094 | grant from William I | Tenant-in-chief. Overlordship passed with honour of Arundel. |
| 6 | Engeler de Bohun | 1086 | enfeoffment by Earl Roger | Named in Domesday as holder under Earl Roger. Probably granted church to Lewes Priory. | |
| 7 | Savaric fitz Cane | succession from Engeler de Bohun (via marriage to daughter Muriel) | Married Muriel, daughter of Engeler. Donated church to Lewes Priory c. 1142. | ||
| 8 | Eustace de Valle Pironis | inheritance or enfeoffment | Held the manor in the late twelfth century. | ||
| 9 | Mary (daughter of Eustace) | 1227 | inheritance from Eustace de Valle Pironis | Granted manor to son Reynold in 1227, excepting lands for John Aguillon. | |
| 10 | Reynold Aguillon | 1227 | 1240 | grant from mother Mary | Estates divided by 1240 among daughters Mary, Cecily, Godehuda, and Alice. |
Honour of Arundel
Three knights fees assigned to Robert de Tateshale in 1244 on the division of the d'Aubigny estates; passed to Robert de Cailli by 1306.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 110-113
Honour of Arundel
Countess Beatrice held three-quarters of a fee in 1428.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 110-113
Crown
William Paye held in chief of the queen at his death in 1598.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 110-113
Honour of Arundel
The Hospitallers held one quarter fee as Up Marden St. John until the Dissolution.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 4, pp. 110-113
Honour of Arundel
honour · overlordship · 1086
Overlordship descended with the honour of Arundel from Domesday.
Easebourne Priory
priory · held advowson and appropriated rectory · 1409 – 1536
Lewes transferred advowson to Easebourne nuns in 1409. Appropriation allowed January 1412. Bishop of Chichester specified vicarage particulars in 1414.
Lewes Priory
priory · held advowson of Up Marden church · 1409
Church granted to Lewes Priory before 1121, probably by Engeler de Bohun. Muriel and Savaric fitz Cane renewed the grant c. 1142.
Knights Hospitaller (Order of St. John of Jerusalem)
military order · held quarter fee as Up Marden St. John · 1544
Cecily's share (daughter of Reynold Aguillon) passed to the Hospitallers. Held until Dissolution. Granted 1544 to Henry Audeley and John Cordall.
Fellow Marden parish. Up Marden church served as mother church for all four Marden settlements. Both held of the honour of Arundel.
West Marden was a sub-manor within Up Marden parish. Up Marden church served all four Marden parishes.
Fellow Marden parish. North Marden was a separate manor held of the honour of Arundel, with Up Marden church as mother church.
249m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
146m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
213m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
378m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
291m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
254m from manor coordinates. Period: BRONZE AGE. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
VCH Closing Statement
“Mrs. Pollock was lady of the manor in 1933 and 1938.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 110-113
Recorded as Meredone. Held by Engeler de Bohun of Earl Roger. 3 hides with 1 hawk in Chichester.
378m from manor coordinates. Scheduled Monument.
250m from manor coordinates. Scheduled Monument.
Thomas Cooke and Edward Greene pl.v. Thomas Greene and Margaret, his wife, def Manor of Up Marden St. John's, and four messuages, 120a. land, 3a. meadow, 90a. pasture, 10a. furze and heath, in Up Marden, Westbourne, Adsdean, Stoughton, Northwood and West Marden
John Paye, of Up Marden, gent. and Richard Paye, his son, to Thomas Gray, of Woolbeding, gent., William Gray, of Heyshott, gent. and Richard Peckham, of Heyshott, gent Manor of Up Marden St. John's and property as in Add Mss 6923; and land called the Green Close (3a.), gardens called the Upper Garden (6a.), Long Garden (2a.), three crofts called the Goschickens (8a.) late in occ. of John Turner; two more closes called the Goschickens (10a.), closes called the Breach (14a.), Little Coombe (2a), B
Thomas Greene, of West Marden, yeoman, to Matthew Taylor, of Stoughton, gent. and Edmund Fairmaner, of East Marden, yeoman Messuage and manor of Up Marden St. John's (200a.) in Up Marden, West Marden, Westbourne, Northwood, Adsdean, Harting and Stoughton To become effective on the death of Richard Paye, son and heir of John Paye, of Up Marden, gent. and to remain in force if Ann Greene, daughter of the said Thomas Greene shall so long live Witnesses: William Cresweller, John Paye and Richard Pay
Includes lists of persons present on the perambulation in 1835 and on a subsequent perambulation, 17 November 1853
Edmund Fairmaner, of East Marden in Stoughton, yeoman, to Henry Watts, of West Marden, husbandman Messuage and garden, and two crofts called Oldcroft and Trapwells (7a.) in Up Marden, late parcel of the customary house of the manor of Up Marden, held by copy of court roll by Peter Habyn, and common of pasture called Rodwoods (1a.) in West Marden Witnesses: George Sargeant, Nicholas Lucas, and John Aylwin
I Certain lands in 'Codham' (8d. year); lands called Avenalles [Avenals Farm in Angmering] (18s. 11½d. year); lands in Shipley (12s. 6d., year); lands in Billingshurst called Rosiers Landes [cf. Rosier Farm] (2s. 3d. year); manor of Kirdford (4s. 6d. year) sometime of Richard Lord Lumley; the rectory of Rustington, sometime of Henry, Earl of Arundel, now (As properties I-XI are given only in recital, the word 'now', which occurs only twice in the recited text, presumably refers not to the date o
Thomas Gray, gent., William Gray, gent., and Richard Peckham, gent., pl. v. John Paye, gent. and Susan, his wife and Richard Paye, gent. and Ann, his wife, def Manor of Up Marden St. John's, as in Add Mss 6930
Henry Audley and John Cordell to John Sone, of Up Marden, yeoman. Manor of Up Marden with appurts., sometime known as the Priory or Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, in Up Marden, Westbourne, Harting, Northwood, and West Marden, and messuages, barns, houses, woods and views of frankpledge, except woods called North Copse and Southfrith (12a.) in Up Marden, formerly of the Priory of St. John of Jerusalem Held by the said Henry Audley and John Cordell under Letters Patent, granted 29 S
Thomas Gray, of Woolbeding, gent., William Gray, of Heyshott, gent. and Richard Peckham, of Heyshott, gent. to John Paye, of Petersfield, co. Hants. gent Recites that the farm of Up Marden is by grant of the said John Paye, charged with the following sums: (i) Annual rent of £16 payable to Thomas Greenfield, of Chichester, and Elinor, his wife, until the sum of £160 is satisfied; (ii) annual rent of £10 payable to Jane Boyer, of Laythorne, widow, until the sum of £100 is satisfied; (iii) annual
John Coldam, gent. and John Reade, pl. v. Thomas Gray, gent. and William Gray, gent. and Richard Peckham, def Manor of Up Marden St. John's, as in Add Mss 6929
The first entry in this court book is incorrectly stated as being 1645 on the binding. Folios 6 and 7 are missing
Edmund Fairmaner, of East Marden, yeoman, to William Gray, of Woolbeding, esq Manor of Up Marden, and messuage, cottage, barns, gaterooms, gardens, orchards and pastures, in Up, West and East Marden, except messuage and two yardlands called Peppers in East Marden, purchased by one Edmund Fairmaner, dec'd from John, Lord Lumley Witnesses: Edmund ?Hawkin, Richard Fairmaner, William Fairmaner, John Read, and Stephen Straingmore
Manor of Up Marden: I. Burge.
Thomas Greene, pl. v. Walter Sone and Elizabeth, his wife, def. Manor of Up Marden St. John's, four messuages, 120a. land, 3a meadow, 90a. pasture, 10a. furze and heath, in Up Marden, Westbourne, West Dean, Stoughton, Northwood and West Marden
Henry, Earl of Arundel, John, Lord Lumley and Jane, his wife (daughter of the said earl) to William Sone, son of John Sone, dec'd. of North Marden, yeoman I Tenement and yard land with appurts. called Gryggs (9a.) in Up Marden, parcel of the manor of Up Marden, now or late held by copy of court roll by the said John Sone II Croft of land (2a.) and mill called Pratt, in Up Marden, now or late held by copy of court roll by the said John Sone III Yard land and close called Rodeland (14a.) in Elsted
Anne Peckham, widow, pl. v. Thomas Gray and Margaret, his wife, def Manor of Up Marden St. John's with appurts. three messuages, three cottages, two barns, two dovehouses, three gardens, three orchards, 200a. land, 30a. meadow, 150a. pasture, 50a. wood, 100a. common of pasture in Up Marden, East Marden, West Marden, Westbourne, Northwood, Adsdean, Stoughton, Harting, Compton, Blackdown and Longdown
Richard Peckham, of Up Marden, gent. to Thomas Gray, of Woolbeding, esq. and William Gray, of Up Marden, gent Recites that the said Richard Peckham is in possession of Manor of Up Marden St. John's (sometime belonging to the dissolved priory of St. John of Jerusalem in England) Messuage and farm now in occ. of William Gray Two barns and gateroom adjoining Haylett Coppice, and messuage called East House also Clements; Hemps Croft (1a.), Two West Fields (15a.)., the Goschicks (16a.), the Grevett C
Principal source for the manor of Up Marden, including descent, church, and chapel of West Marden.
former manorial estate in Up Marden , Sussex. Type: manor estate
village in West Sussex, England, UK. Type: village
