10 Jul Lordship Title of Arborfield ID1347
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The manor of ARBORFIELD is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Survey, and at that date probably formed part of the manor of Sonning, held by the Bishop of Salisbury. Subinfeudation of Arborfield was apparently made later, for at the beginning of the 13th century Richard Bullock held a quarter and a twentieth part of a fee there of the bishop. He was the successor, apparently, of Osmund Bullock, who was patron of the church towards the end of the 12th century. Richard was succeeded by Gilbert Bullock, who was holding the manor in 1254, and who or whose son Gilbert was living in the reign of Edward I. Robert Bullock was lord in 1331, and in 1341 settled the manor on his son Robert and the latter's wife Joan Drokensford. Robert Bullock, either the father or the son, was convicted of perjury and forfeited the estate, but was pardoned by the king in 1345. Robert Bullock the younger died before 1365, when 'Robert Bullock tertius' made a grant of land in Arborfield. A Robert Bullock was sheriff in 1384 and 1391. It would seem he died in 1405. In 1407 Margaret widow of Robert Bullock and Margaret his daughter and heir, then wife of John Hertington, conveyed the manor to Laurence Dru, from whom it descended to Thomas Dry of Seagry, Wiltshire, who in 1421 sold it to Thomas Bullock and his wife Alice. The manor continued in the hands of the Bullock family and descended to Thomas Bullock, who by will of 1557, proved in 1558, left ornaments and vestments to Arborfield Church. His wife Agnes, by a provision of his will, was to have the upper parlour in the manor-house of Arborfield, the chamber over the same and 'Jaks chamber' and '2 butteres next the parlour, the old dyhouse for her kitchen.' If she did not like Arborfield she was to have the farm of Barkham. Richard son of Thomas, who died in 1570, desired that his body should be buried in the chancel of Arborfield Church next to the tomb of Robert Bullock. He was succeeded by his son Thomas, who in 1589 sold Arborfield and Barkham to Edmund Standen. In 1609 Sir Henry Neville wrote to Sir Ralph Winwood, who seems to have been negotiating for the purchase of Arborfield, 'I am sorry you are prevented in the purchase of Arborfield, I despair of any other near me that will be worthy of you.' The purchase, however, did not take place. In 1639 the manor was held by William Ball or Bennet and his wife Margaret, possibly as dower of the latter, for the Standen family continued to hold it. Edmund Standen was succeeded by his son William, who died in 1639. William Standen, apparently grandson of the latter, was dealing with the manor in 1678 and Edward, his son, in 1700. Edward Standen died in 1707 and was succeeded by his son Edward, who settled it in 1726. He was the last male heir of the family and is the person alluded to in the ballad of 'Molly Mogg of the Rose.' On his death in 1730 he was succeeded by his mother's half-brother Richard Aldworth, then a minor. The manor was sold by the latter's guardian to Pelsant Reeves, whose son John Reeves was the owner in 1806. This property devolved upon Reeves's daughter Elmira wife of George Dawson of Osgodby Hall, Yorkshire, at her father's death in 1814. Their son George Pelsant Dawson sold the manor to Sir Charles Russell, bart., in whose family it has since remained (see Swallowfield), and the manor-house and park to Sir John Conroy, bart., in 1842. After Sir John's death the latter were bought by Mr. John Hargreaves in 1855 for his son Thomas. Captain Thomas Hargreaves died in 1891, his heir being his second son Mr. John Reginald Hargreaves, whose mother Mrs. Hargreaves now resides at Arborfield. There was a fishery in the waters of Arborfield appurtenant to the manor, which is mentioned in 1589 and later. Rights of fishing were also held by others than the lord of the manor. The park of Arborfield is also mentioned in conveyances.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
No