10 Jul Lordship Title of Bishops Harwell or Lower Manor ID1385
Posted at 20:03h
in
County:
Parish:
Title Type:
Previous Lords:
The manor of BISHOP'S HARWELL or LOWER MANOR was part of the endowment of the Bishopric of Winchester in the reign of Edward the Confessor, when it was held by Bishop Stigand. The monks of St. Swithun recorded two charters relating to seven 'mansiunculi' in Harwell, presumably the land acquired by their church. The one, of very doubtful authenticity, purports to be a grant by King Edgar to his thegn Aelfstan in 956 (sic), the other is a grant of the same land by King Edgar to his thegn Aelfric. In the 13th century it was stated that a part of Harwell had been granted to the bishop by a certain man called Wulward. In 1086 the bishop was holding 10 hides in Harwell, to which were attached three closes in Wallingford. Bishop John of Pontoise had confirmation of this manor from the king in 1283. The bishops still kept it in hand in 1317, when the chancellor, Bishop John Sendale, ordered the corn and other victuals from Harwell and Brightwell to be brought to London for the maintenance of himself and the clerks of the chancery. In 1428 the service due for the manor was recorded as one knight's fee, and it had formerly been assessed with the five knights' fees by which the whole bishopric was held. In the 16th century the capital messuage or farm-house with the demesne lands and stock were let on a sixty years' lease to John Woodliff of Harwell, possibly a descendant of William Woodliff, born a bondman of the manor and manumitted by Bishop Henry Beaufort in 1421. Edward Wiseman of Spursells Court purchased the manor in 1647 from the trustees for the sale of bishops' lands, but it was recovered by the bishop after the Restoration. Early in the 19th century the lessees were the Hopkins family of Tidmarsh Manor. Robert Hopkins purchased the bishops' rights. He died childless in 1838 and was succeeded by his brother John Hopkins. Upon his death in 1877 the manor descended to his son Robert John Hopkins, from whom it was purchased in 1890 by Messrs. Paine & Brettell of Chertsey. The present lord is Mr. W. Paine of Chertsey.
Other Information:
Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes