West Boarhunt

Earl Roger held West Boarhunt at the time of the Domesday survey in 1086. Three freemen had held it of King Edward as an alod. A knight held one hide of the manor with one plough. The whole was worth 20s.

The overlordship passed from Earl Roger to his son Robert de Belesme, Earl of Shrewsbury and Arundel. After Robert's forfeiture, it descended with the Earls of Arundel. In 1273 one third of the manor of Boarhunt was held in dower by Maud de Verdun, late the wife of John FitzAlan the elder. Two thirds were held by John de Mareschall as guardian of the heirs of John FitzAlan the younger.

West Boarhunt appears among the fees of the Earl of Arundel in the Testa de Nevill, compiled during the reign of Henry III. The prior of Southwick held it as half a fee of the old feoffment. The manor remained in the hands of Southwick Priory until the Dissolution.

In 1365 a mill was among the appurtenances of the manor. Bernard Brocas and his wife Mary conveyed it to William of Wykeham.

At the Dissolution the Crown seized the priory's estates. In 1543 the manor was granted to Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. In 1544 licence was granted to the Earl to alienate the manor to John White of Southwick.

In 1691 Henry Lacy and Catherine held half the manor and advowson and conveyed them to Richard Caryll. In 1694 Richard Caryll, Henry Lacy, and Catherine sold the manor to Richard Norton for 660 pounds. From this date the manor followed the descent of the principal manor of Boarhunt.

The prior and convent of Southwick held the church and the advowson of the rectory of West Boarhunt until the Dissolution. The living was valued at 7 pounds 6s. 8d. in 1291. The living is now consolidated with that of Southwick. Alexander Thistlethwayte held the advowson and the lordship of the manor at the date of the VCH publication in 1908.