10 Jul Lordship Title of Crooks and Dunts ID13071
Posted at 21:35h
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Previous Lords:
It may be assumed that the reputed manor of CROOKS AND DUNTS derives the former name from the family of Atte Crouch or De la Croice, which was prominent here in the 14th century, and it was doubtless held afterwards by a person called Dent, Dunt or Dunk, of whom no record appears. The estate held by John de Cruce in the time of Edward I, and Edmund de la Crouche in 1331, may probably be taken as the origin of this manor, but there is no record of courts. In the 15th century the 'manor of Crowchys alias Dentes' was held of Lord St. Amand by William Bedwell, passing at his death in 1502 to his daughter and heiress Elizabeth wife of William Cottesmore. Afterwards it became the property of Reading Abbey, which held in 1539 rents in Basildon amounting to 18s. 9d. and a manor farmed at £5 6s. 8d. In 1543 a messuage called 'Crookes' was leased to Sir William Penyson. The lands in his tenure formed part of the 'manor of Bastilden' which was granted in 1544 to Thomas Stroud and others and conveyed to Roger Yonge, 'Duncis coppice' being named. It then passed with the principal manor (q.v.). In 1625 William Davies conveyed his rights in it to Griffith Allen and Richard his son. Griffith or Griffin Allen died in 1640, bequeathing one-third of the manor to his son Griffith and two-thirds to his sons John and Thomas; Griffith died the same year and left a son Griffith. One-third was conveyed in 1665 by Francis Rigg to John Allen and by him in 1672 to William Allen, and by Isaac Matthew in 1713 to Charles Fane. A third was conveyed to Sir Thomas Head in 1748. The whole doubtless passed with Allen's manor to Lord Fane. One-third was conveyed with the moiety of Breamores (q.v.) in 1768, becoming part of The Grotto estate (q.v.), while two-thirds were held by Sir Francis Sykes with the principal manor.
Other Information:
Manorial Counsel Limited has created a new legal right to bring the titles of this lordship back into use.
Listed in the Domesday Book:
No