10 Jul Lordship Title of Circourt or Southcote ID1423
Posted at 20:04h
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In 1166 Circourt was held of the abbot for one knight's fee by Raer de Aura. Ralph de Aura was in possession in 1221, when he claimed warranty from the abbot of his 5 hides in Circourt and 2 in Denchworth. About 1240 John de Aura was holding the knight's fee. He or his heir of the same name granted it before 1305 to Walter de L'Orti of Swell in Somerset, Maud his wife, and their heirs. Walter died about that year, and Maud held the manor for life. The next owner was their son Henry, who was returned as lord in 1316. Eight years later he granted Circourt to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband William de L'Orti, who is described as the son of Sir William de Weyland, and must have taken his wife's name. They were to hold it for their lives, with remainder to the heirs of Elizabeth by William, and a contingent remainder to the right heirs of Henry. Elizabeth lived till 1336 at least; nevertheless in 1331 Henry de L'Orti of Swell made a conveyance of his lands here apparently to feoffees. In 1370 John de L'Orti, son and heir of Henry, granted the reversion of the manor to William Whittock. It was held at the time by John atte Ya for life by courtesy of England. John atte Ya was still in possession in 1372, when William Whittock granted his reversion to Edmund Chelreye, John de Blebury, John Corf and Peter Stanford, the last of whom conveyed it in the following year to Richard Saumon. Henry Saumon was the tenant in 1428, but by 1442 Circourt had come into the possession of John Hyde. He settled it on himself and his wife Agnes in 1448, with four other manors in the parish. During the occupancy of the Hyde family Circourt followed the descent of South Denchworth, Hyde and Lovedays (q.v.). It was sold with the rest of the estates here to the Cokaynes, and afterwards passed to the Geerings. They sold it to the Matthews family of the neighbouring manor of Goosey, from whom it was purchased by Edward Saxton of Abingdon. His grandson Sir Charles Saxton, bart., was lord of the manor in 1824. On his death the estate was inherited by his nephew John Oliver, in whose family it still remains.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
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