10 Jul Lordship Title of Balsdon or Baladeston or Balatteston ID1361
Posted at 20:03h
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The western part of the township has been known from early days as Inglewood (Ingheflot, xi cent.; Ingeflode, xii cent.; Ingelflod, Ingefeud Belet, xiii cent.), and here there were three estates in 1086. That which was afterwards known as the manor of BALSDON (Balladeston, xiii cent.; Beletteston, xiii and xiv cent.; Balatteston, Baldeston, xiv cent.; Battleston, Baliston, Balson, xix cent.) is probably identifiable with the estate of 3 hides which had been held by two thegns of King Edward the Confessor and was held in 1086 by Robert son of Rolf. It was held of the king in chief, and before 1230–1 had passed into the hands of John Belet of Enborne. John Belet was holding this manor later in the century, when it had become known as Inglewood Belet. In 1250–1 he granted half a carucate in the manor to Nicholas de Yattendon, who held it until his death about 1273. John Belet seems also to have sold the manor, which was now called Balsdon, and it came into the hands of Richard de Sutton, who demised it to Sir Roger de Inkpen. Sir Roger settled it on his wife Emeline, and died in 1306. Emeline sold her life interest about that time to Richard de Polhampton, clerk. In 1311 Roger de Inkpen, nephew and heir of Sir Roger, released to Richard all his right in this manor, and Richard must have been succeeded shortly after by another Richard de Polhampton who in 1313 had licence to settle it on himself and Margaret his wife and their son Thomas. Richard de Polhampton was holding it in 1315 and died in 1317, when it passed to Margaret, on whose death in 1331 it passed to her son Thomas. It then followed the descent of South Fawley (q.v.) until the death of Thomas de Childrey in 1407, when it was assigned to his granddaughter Elizabeth wife of William Darell. She died in 1464, when her son George Darell succeeded. He was knighted in 1465 and died in 1474, leaving a son Edward, who was knighted in 1487. He died in 1530, and as his son John had predeceased him the manor passed to his grandson Edward. The younger Edward, who had been knighted in 1544, died in 1549, when his son William was ten years of age. By his will, dated 26 August 1549, he bequeathed this manor for life to Mary Daniell, who afterwards married Henry Fortescue, and was living as late as 1591. Sir William Darell died in 1588, and was succeeded by his brother Thomas, who died seised of the reversion of this manor in 1591, when his son John was nearly five years of age. He bequeathed Balsdon to the use of his daughter Elizabeth, who married Sir Gerard Bromley. In 1632 Thomas, Alexander and Darell Bromley conveyed it to Daniel and Peter Hersent. In 1637 Daniel with Ursula his wife and Sir John Darell, who had in 1622 become a baronet, sold the manor to Thomas Mann, Thomas Barret and William Mann, apparently in trust for Thomas Barret. Thomas Barret and his wife Jane had an only daughter Mary, who married John Loder. In 1682, Thomas Barret being then dead, the manor was settled on Jane for life with remainder to John and Mary Loder, and their son Thomas. The manor afterwards passed to Henry Eyre, who sold it in 1700 to William Stratton. It was sold in 1757 by the Strattons to Samuel Dixon, who left it by his will dated 1790 to his cousin Jane the wife of Cuthbert Johnson. Cuthbert and Jane sold it in 1803 to John Mackaness, but it was shortly afterwards recovered by Johnson and passed to his four daughters, Emma wife of Benjamin Le Mesurier, Louisa, Jane and Rosa Johnson, who sold it in 1828 to Michael Clayton. Balsdon afterwards passed to Major-General William Dunn who was succeeded in 1863 by his eldest son William Hew Dunn. He served as Sheriff of Berkshire in 1874 and was chairman of the County Council from 1907 until his death on 26 May 1911. The manor of Balsdon still belongs to his widow, though she sold the Balsdon estate in May 1912 to Mr. A. S. Gladstone.
Other Information:
Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes