10 Jul Lordship Title of Colworth ID1066
Posted at 20:00h
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Colworth, which is described as a hamlet attached to Sharnbrook as early as 1278, included a property held of the barony of Beauchamp of Bedford, known as COLWORTH MANOR. In 1278 it was held of William Fruel as of this barony in right of his wife, and in 1417 was held of Baldwin Pigot, who had acquired rights of overlordship by descent. The earliest tenants found of this manor were the Druels. John Druel held half a hide in Colworth in 1278–9, with free tenants, and 2 virgates in villeinage. In 1304, together with Amice his wife, he obtained recognition of his right to the manor from William Warren. In 1331 John son of John Druel acknowledged the right of his brother Giles to Colworth Manor. No further trace has been found of the Druels, but within the next generation Colworth passed to the Greene family. Sir Thomas Greene died in 1391–2 holding by knight service in this hamlet, leaving sons Thomas and Henry. This manor appears to have passed to Henry Greene, the younger son, for c. 1415 John son of Henry Greene remitted to his brother Ralph all his claims on this property. A year later Sir Ralph Greene, kt., and his wife Katharine are found placing this manor in the hands of William Islip and other trustees. Ralph Greene died in 1417, when his brother John was declared to be his heir. This manor subsequently became Crown property, probably escheating during the Wars of the Roses. In 1484 Richard III granted it to Thomas Lynom and heirs male of his body 'for his good services against the rebels.' Either the failure of issue of Thomas Lynom, or what is more probable, a forfeiture of the grant on the accession of Henry VII, brought this manor again into the possession of the Crown, and in 1546–7 Sir Edward Montague, kt., obtained a grant of it. He died seised of this manor ten years later. His son Edward, who was also knighted, died in 1602, leaving four sons, of whom Edward, the eldest, inherited the manor. A gap here occurs in the history of this estate, which, according to Lysons, was purchased about the year 1700 by Mark Antonie, who, dying in 1720, was succeeded by John Antonie, by whom the greater part of the present Colworth House was built. He died in 1760, when this estate passed to his brother Richard Antonie, who on his death without issue in 1771 left it by will to William Lee, who assumed Antonie as an additional name. John Fiott, his nephew, succeeded William Lee-Antonie in 1815, assuming the name of Lee under his uncle's will. He was a great collector of pictures and other works of art, both ancient and modern, with which he enriched Colworth House. He died in 1866, but previous to that date, in 1854, Colworth was sold to Hollingworth Magniac, who made it his residence until his death in 1867, when it passed by will to his eldest son Charles Magniac. It subsequently became the property of the late William Clarence Watson, who modernized the house, which is now the residence of Mr. Albert Edward Bowen.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
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