10 Jul Lordship Title of Westcourt or Shalbourne Dormer ID1679
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The greater part of the Wiltshire portion of Shalbourne was held before the Conquest by Ordwold. Before 1086 his land had been divided between Richard Sturmy (Sturmid), one of the king's serjeants, who held 1 hide and 3 virgates, and the thegn Ulvric, probably Ulfric the huntsman, who held a hide and a virgate. Osgot, another thegn, held half a hide here. It is possible that these three holdings were afterwards united in the possession of Richard Sturmy's descendants, who held at Shalbourne a manor called WESTCOURT, or Shalbourne Dormer, by the serjeanty of finding one mounted man armed with hauberk, iron cap and lance for forty days. Before the beginning of the 13th century Richard Sturmy's estates had been divided between Walter and Geoffrey Sturmy, and this manor fell to the share of Walter. Walter died in 1243, his heirs being his sisters Alice wife of Robert Kernet and Letewarie. Letewarie sold her share to Richard de Harden, who was to hold it of Alice, and Alice's share was divided before 1274 between Robert de Punchardon, who had married Alice de Kernet, probably daughter of Robert and Alice, and Roger de Clatford and his wife Hawisia. Roger and Hawisia sold their quarter, which carried with it the advowson of the chapel of St. Margaret at West Shalbourne, in 1285 to William de Harden, who in 1302–3 acquired Richard de Harden's moiety from his widow Maud and son Roger. The Punchardons' share which belonged in 1288–9 to Lawrence de Punchardon may have consisted only in some rights of overlordship, as this family is not afterwards found holding land in Shalbourne, but in 1527 the manor of Westcourt was said to be held of the heir of Fulk de Punchardon. William de Harden died in 1329–30, when his daughter Anastasia, then wife of Robert de Bilkemore, succeeded. A third of the manor was assigned to William's widow Mary, who was still holding it in 1339, when Westcourt was settled on Robert and Anastasia for their lives with remainder to John, Anastasia's son by her first husband William Lilbone. Anastasia died in 1353, her heir being her grandson John son of John Lilbone above mentioned. Sir Robert de Bilkemore held the manor until his death in 1361. In 1395 Sir John Lilbone settled the manor on his wife Isabel with reversion in default of John's issue to William Changton (Changylton). The manor had passed before 1412 to William, and it was probably his son Walter Changton who settled it in 1468 on himself for life, with remainder to his son William and his wife Maud. Walter died in 1472 seised of this manor, when William succeeded. After his death it passed to Maud, who was succeeded in 1527 by her son Thomas. Thomas sold the manor and some land soon after to Thomas Wenman and his brother William, the sale being confirmed in 1545 by Thomas Changton's son Walter, who sold the remaining lands and the advowson of the chapel in 1545 to Sir Michael Dormer. Geoffrey Dormer, the third son of Sir Michael, sold his share in 1548 to Edward Duke of Somerset, and this part followed the descent of Eastcourt (q.v.) from that time. William Wenman, owner of the rest of the manor, was succeeded about 1587 by his son Richard, who sold it in 1590 to William Castell. Thomas Castell and Katherine his wife sold it in 1600 to Edward Earl of Hertford, and it then became united to the other part of the manor.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes