West Stoke

West Stoke lies north of Chichester Harbour in the Bosham Hundred, at the foot of the South Downs. The manor was held of the Bishop of Exeter as of his manor of Chidham, forming part of the chapelry of Bosham at seven and a half knight's fees (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 192-195).

Soon after the Conquest, the manor was given to one Edgar. Edgar's son Robert died leaving an underage daughter, and Henry II granted her wardship to Alexander de Barentyn around 1175. The daughter refused to marry him or anyone else and fled overseas. Henry II then gave the fee to Alexander, confirmed by Richard I. Richard de Barentyn held the manor in 1205 and 1210, dying shortly after. He was succeeded by his brother Thomas de Barentyn, who died without issue. The manor passed to their aunt Aubrey, who left two daughters as coheirs (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 192).

Alice, the original ward, had married William de la Faleyse abroad. On her death, he recovered the lands from King John. William de la Faleyse held the fee by 1252 and died in 1255. The manor passed through the de la Faleyse family. Elias de la Faleyse married Margery de Grensted and had two sons who were executed for felony (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 192).

Roger Bigod conveyed West Stoke with Bosham to Edward I in 1279. Roger Bigod died in 1306 holding it of the Bishop. Sir Thomas de Brotherton, Earl Marshal, did homage for the half-fee to the Bishop in 1316. At the division of the Mowbray estates in 1482, Stoke was apparently assigned to John Howard, Duke of Norfolk. The manor remained with the Howard family until 1540, when Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, exchanged it to the Crown (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 192).

The manor was attached to the honour of Petworth and granted in 1559 to Thomas and George Stoughton. Adrian Stoughton died in 1614, having settled the manor on his wife Mary (daughter of William Jordan) on their marriage in 1583. Upon Mary's death in 1635, the manor passed to four sisters' lines and was divided among coheirs. William Styant bought the shares of Arthur Gunter and Thomas Bowyer in 1637 and 1638. Peter Legay acquired seven eighths of the manor by 1664. In 1764, the whole manor was purchased by the Duke of Richmond. It has since remained in the hands of the Dukes of Richmond (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 192-193).