10 Jul Lordship Title of East Ginge (Giffard) ID1455
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EAST GINGE is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Survey. In the early 12th century it appears to have belonged to two Normans, Geoffrey son of Hamo Brito and Bertram son of Alantre. It was seized into the king's hands during the wars in Normandy, and from 1157 onwards was granted out to various tenants to hold for fixed terms or at pleasure. Rollo de Dinan held it in 1158 and till 1186. In 1187 it was granted to Alan de Viteri. In 1203 Richard Morin had a grant of half the vill, the other half being granted in 1210 to Peter Bertram or son of Bertram. Richard and Peter seem to have held the vill till 1221, when the whole of it was granted to Bertram de Guarcli in order that he might maintain himself in the king's service till the time of the king's majority. In 1233 the sheriff was ordered to allow Bertram to hold the manor peaceably till the king should command otherwise. Two years later Bertram pledged it for three years to William de Waltham in aid of his journey to the Holy Land. He was dead in 1236, when the custody of his lands and heirs was granted to his brother Peter. East Ginge, however, was granted almost immediately to two new tenants. One half was given to Urian de St. Peter to hold for life 'unless the land of England and Normandy should become one.' The second was granted in 1237 to William Gernun to hold for half a knight's fee 'until the king should restore it to the right heirs of his free will or by a peace.' From that date the two moieties of the manor were never reunited. Urian de St. Peter was succeeded in his share by Ralph le Visconte of Dynham, who was holding it in 1275 and 1285 and had evidently received a grant in fee. Before 1300 he granted his estate in East Ginge to Alan Plukenet and his wife Joan in tail. They had a son Alan, who died without issue. His sister and heir Joan Bohun granted her land here to Godfrey Morice, first for life and afterwards in fee. In 1335 he had a further release of it from Richard de la Bere, a kinsman of Alan Plukenet, who had succeeded to his estates. Maud, widow of Godfrey Morice, who held jointly with him for life, died in 1360, and the estate was inherited by William Morice, nephew of Godfrey. He died fifteen years later, leaving a daughter and heir Alice wife of Walter Frome. She had seisin of East Ginge on her father's death, but must have died without issue, for the estate reverted to members of the Morice family. In 1401–2 Walter Morice was in possession, and William Morice had succeeded him in 1428. Evidently the line ended in an heiress, for Alice wife of Walter Giffard was the next owner. She died in 1431, leaving a son and heir William Giffard. The Giffard family was seated at 'Rodenhurst,' Wilts, and remained in possession of this moiety of the manor for a considerable time. William Giffard 'the elder' put it into settlement in 1454. He was probably succeeded by the Walter Giffard who heads the heraldic pedigree of the family. Walter had a son Edward and Edward a son Morris, who was in possession in 1521. He was married three times, and by his first and third wives had sons both called Thomas. The elder Thomas died without issue in 1539, and was succeeded by his step-brother. The latter died in 1575, when his heir was his son John. In 1588 John Giffard settled the manor in tail male on his son William. The latter sold it in 1609 to Philip Allen, who conveyed it twelve years later to William Eyston and others. They conveyed it to Richard Tubb in 1626. The Tubb family held the manor for a century. John Tubb was lord in 1684 and another John in 1735. In 1743 Mary widow of John Tubb and her son John Tubb, jun., conveyed the manor to Edward Towsey of Wantage. The latter was still in possession in 1769, but in 1774 it was settled on the marriage of Elizabeth daughter and heir of John Bishop of Wallingford with Charles Toovey of Wallingford. Charles and Elizabeth Toovey sold it in 1789 to his brother-in-law William May, who by will in 1797 devised it to his son William. On the death of the younger William's widow East Ginge passed to his nephew Mr. May-Ellis, whose widow Eliza Ellis died in 1864, leaving the manor in trust for sale. Her trustee having predeceased her, Ann wife of Stephen Hemsted, her only sister, inherited. Ann died in 1876, and her son Stephen Hemsted sold the manor in the next year to John Allin. His representatives conveyed it in 1897 to the late Lord Wantage, on whose death without issue in 1901 it passed to his widow. Lady Wantage conveyed it in March 1912 to Mr. A. K. Loyd.
Other Information:
Listed in the Domesday Book:
No