Manor Profile
West Stoke, West Sussex· Bosham Hundred· 1066 – 1953
Also known as: 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).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgar | grant (soon after the Conquest) | Given the manor soon after the Conquest. | ||
| 2 | Robert (son of Edgar) | inheritance | Son of Edgar. Died leaving an underage daughter. | ||
| 3 | Alexander de Barentyn | 1175 | royal grant (Henry II) | Henry II granted the wardship of Robert's daughter to Alexander. The daughter refused to marry and fled overseas. Henry II gave the fee to Alexander, confirmed by Richard I. | |
| 4 | Richard de Barentyn | 1205 | inheritance | Held the manor in 1205 and 1210. Died shortly after. | |
| 5 | Thomas de Barentyn | inheritance (brother of Richard) | Brother of Richard. Died without issue. | ||
| 6 | William de la Faleyse | 1255 | recovery from King John (through wife Alice) | Alice (Robert's daughter and original ward) had married William de la Faleyse abroad. On her death, he recovered the lands from King John. Held the fee by 1252. Died 1255. | |
| 7 | Elias de la Faleyse | 1255 | inheritance | Son of William de la Faleyse. Married Margery de Grensted. Had two sons who were executed for felony. | |
| 8 | Roger Bigod(Earl of Norfolk) | 1279 | 1306 | conveyance (with Bosham to Edward I) | Conveyed West Stoke with Bosham to Edward I in 1279. Died 1306 holding it of the Bishop. |
| 9 | Thomas de Brotherton(Earl of Norfolk, Earl Marshal) | 1306 | 1338 | royal grant | Did homage for the half-fee to the Bishop in 1316. Descended with Bosham. |
| 10 | John Howard(Duke of Norfolk) | 1482 | division of Mowbray estates | At the division of the Mowbray estates in 1482, Stoke was apparently assigned to John Howard. |
Bishop of Exeter
church · overlord
382m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: Secrets of the High Woods.
395m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
494m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
295m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
401m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
497m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
297m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
263m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
433m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Thomas Phillips (as in no. GOODWOOD/E529), to Thomas German and William Burry of Chichester, gents. Moiety and three eighth parts of the manor of West Stoke. To be held in trust with provision for revocation by Thomas Phillipps at will. No day or month given
Consideration £7711 Robert Hampden and Robert Scawen, both of St. George Hanover Square, co. Middx., esqrs (exors. and devisees in trust of the will of Anne Spence), to Charles, Duke of Richmond. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E654.
Summary of a valuation of the manor of West Stoke, Sussex, parcel of the honour of Petworth. Includes rents from free tenants, customary rents and the farm of the manor and warren, demised to Christopher Bird for 31 years on 28 Nov 1528 by Thomas, late duke of Norfolk [d. 1554]. Copy of WARD 2/26/92/5.
With endorsement, 31 March 1758, on the latter following the conveyance to the Duke of Richmond. With Final Concord, Hilary Term, 1758.
Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond, to the trustees of the Richmond Estate Act. Two third parts of the manor of West Stoke, the manor house called Stoke House, 390a. land (field-names), 412a. of Down called Stoke Down and 81a. wood, all in West Stoke.
Reciting from 13 Feb. 1644/5 to 8 June 1725; with opinion of Nathaniel Pigot, 24 Nov. 1731.
Pursuant to marriage articles, 9 April 1718 (also recited in no. GOODWOOD/E658), of Thomas Spence of St. Paul, Covent Garden, co. Middx., esq. and Anne Barret. Property as in no. GOODWOOD/E599 but the whole manor of West Stoke. Conveyed to Thomas Borrett of the Inner Temple, London, esq. and William Ward, citizen and goldsmith of London, upon trust. Recites no. GOODWOOD/E652.
Book containing copies of records of courts held for the manor of West Stoke, Sussex, in 2, 3, 8 and 9 James I (1604-1612), during the lordship of Adrian Stoughton, esquire.
Consideration £4000 (a) Lady Louisa Mary Lennox of Broomfield, co. Hants., widow of Lord George Henry Lennox; (b) Lady Louisa Mary Lennox (eldest dau. of (a)); (c) Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond, K.G.; (d) the trustees under the Richmond Estate Act. Messuage and farmhouse, with buildings and 97½a. land (field-names); messuage called Chalcrafts or Griffens on the road from Chichester to [West] Stoke House; cottages. All in West Stoke.
(a) Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond, K.G.; (b) Charles, Earl of March; (c) Isaac Samuel Clamtree of Bloomsbury Square, co. Middx., gent.; (d) Robert Steele of Mansfield Street, Portland Place, co. Middx., esq. Manor of West Stoke with the manor house with lands as described in no. GOODWOOD/E668. With exemplification of a Common Recovery, Michaelmas Term, 1812.
Charles, 3rd Duke of Richmond, to Lord John Cavendish of New Street, Spring Gardens, Westminster, Charles Goring of Wiston, esq. and Harry Peckham of the Middle Temple, London, esq. as trustees for Lord George Henry Lennox, the Duke's brother. With plans of the West Stoke Estate annexed.
Summary of a valuation of the manor of West Stoke, Sussex, parcel of the honour of Petworth. Includes rents from free tenants, customary rents and the farm of the manor and warren, demised to Christopher Bird for 31 years on 28 Nov 1528 by Thomas, late duke of Norfolk [d. 1554]. Copy of WARD 2/26/92/6.
[d. 29 Oct. 1757], devising the manor in trust for sale.
Recites from 25, 26 June 1731 to 6 Nov. 1755; with opinion of William Rivet, 8 Feb. 1758.
Recites from 15 Feb. 1635/6 to 28 April 1729 and has undated opinion of Nathaniel Pigot.
Principal source for the manorial descent of West Stoke.
farmhouse in Funtington, Chichester, West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: farmhouse. NHLE: 1232340
farmhouse in Wonston, Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: farmhouse. NHLE: 1178656
building in Funtington, Chichester, West Sussex, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: building. NHLE: 1026330
building in Havant, Hampshire, England, UK. Heritage: Grade II listed building. Type: building. NHLE: 1154658
village in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Type: village
