10 Jul Lordship Title of La Hyde or Studham ID1168
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Land in Studham was held at an early date by the family 'de Stodham.' This was probably the 5 hides of land called in Domesday 'Bereworde,' which was held by Baldric of Robert de Tony. This, like Studham, had been held before the Conquest by Oswulf son of Frane, and is probably identical with the manor which later on became known as LA HYDE. Alexander de Stodham held land in Studham in the reign of Henry II, and William de Stodham held land there between 1190 and 1200, and died in 1222. Jordan son of Alexander de Stodham seems to have succeeded to the manor, as he confirmed the grant of the church made by his father. He left four daughters, Alice wife of Hugh Britt, Lavinia wife of Elias de Turri, Paschasia wife of Gilbert son of Richard, and Sarah, who, with their husbands, granted the manor to Robert de Stodham, perhaps another son of Alexander, in 1202. It was, however, agreed that the capital messuage and advowson of the church were to remain to the sisters. Jordan de Stodham conveyed land in Studham by fine to William de Eltesdon and Margaret his wife in 1231–2 and 1235–6, and in 1236 the Prior of Dunstable granted William a chantry in his chapel at Barworth. Members of the Eltesdon family seem to have been considerable benefactors of the priory of Dunstable, for William granted to the prior land in Feldmerishull and all the services of Reginald de Hesriche, and John de Eltesdon in 1262 granted rent and lands in Studham and Barworth. The Prior of Dunstable held land in Barworth in 1275 of John de Eltesdon, and did not do suit at the tourn as John used to do. John was succeeded by his son Walter, who is called lord of the manor of Studham in 1275 and 1287. His descendants appear to have assumed the surname 'de Stodham,' or to have conveyed the manor to a member of that family, for in 1294–5 Thomas de Stodham died seised of a rent paid by Richard atte Hille from a messuage and 240 acres of land in Stodham, which is later called the manor of la Hyde in Barworth, and which was held by Thomas of Walter de Botlesford, then lord of the manor of Studham. Thomas left a son and heir Thomas, who in 1308 sold this rent to Sir Henry Spigurnell. From this deed it appears that Thomas de Stodham, the father, had for the said rent granted the manor to Richard atte Hille and Maud his wife and Thomas their son. It was further agreed that if Thomas son of Richard should die without issue the manor should remain to Sir Henry. In 1309 Henry obtained a grant of free warren, and in 1312 Thomas son of Richard atte Hill conveyed the manor to Henry Spigurnell. In 1328–9 Henry died seised of land in Studham held of the barony of La Rye, and left a son Thomas his heir. Thomas died in 1332–3, and seems to have been succeeded by William Spigurnell, probably the son of his son Henry. William died in 1366, leaving a son William, an infant. In 1386 William Spigurnell died seised of land in Studham which had been settled on him and his wife Joan by his father William. He left no children and was succeeded by Lucy his father's sister, wife of William Alberd. William Alberd was seised of a toft and land at Studham when his lands were extended in 1387 for debt. Lucy, who retained her maiden name, died in 1390–1 seised of la Hyde and Hydewood in Studham, held of the king in chief for knight service. She left a daughter Amy or Anne, who married John Kyrkham, and died without heirs in 1427. The manor apparently descended to John son of David Brecknock and Lettice his wife in right of Lettice, for in 1476 John died seised of land in Studham and Barworth which had been settled on him and his wife. They had issue Alice late wife of John Smith and Margaret wife of William Lucy. John Brecknock survived Lettice, and the manor was settled on him for life with remainder in moieties to Alice and Robert Radclyff, her second husband, and William Lucy and Margaret. The latter moiety seems to have passed from William Lucy to his great-grandson William, for in 1549 William Lucy and Anne his wife conveyed half the manor of the Hyde to Sir Robert Dormer, and it is probable that this portion of the manor then became merged in the manor of Studham. By her husband, John Smith, Alice Brecknock had a daughter Alice, who married Thomas Cavendish, and by her third husband, Alexander Quadring, she had a son Richard, and in 1493 a settlement of a moiety of the manor was made upon Alexander Quadring for life, with remainder as to a quarter to Richard Quadring and Margaret his wife, and as to the other quarter to Thomas Cavendish and Alice his wife, with contingent remainders. Richard Quadring and Margaret died before Alexander, and their share came to John Smith son and heir of Margaret, who had apparently married — Smith as a second husband. Thomas Cavendish survived his wife Alice and died in 1524 holding a quarter of 200 acres of land in Studham and elsewhere of the king in chief for a twentieth part of a knight's fee. George his son and heir, the friend and biographer of Cardinal Wolsey, died in 1561–2. His share of the manor probably became joined to the part held by John Smith, and passed to John Sheparde of Offley, for in 1544 he and Philippa his wife granted the manor of Studham to John Sibley of Ayot St. Lawrence, senior. This manor with the wood called Charlewood was granted in 1557 by John Sibley to his son John, and in 1587 John Sibley, yeoman, died seised of a capital messuage in Studham held of Sir Robert Dormer as of the manor of Studham, and of a farm in Studham called Halseys Farm, held of William Belfield as of his manor of Barworth-cum-Studham. He left this estate to his second son John, and in 1614–15 view of frankpledge and court leet was granted to John Sibley in Studham. Thomas Sibley, a signatory of a petition in 1689 from the inhabitants of Studham and other neighbouring parishes, protesting against the bill enjoining the wearing of woollen hats, may have been a member of this family. John son of Edward Sibley died in 1737 and was buried in the chancel of the church. Edward left two daughters: Elizabeth married to Rev. A. Smith, curate of Market Street, and Anne, who married John Bentley. In 1748 Anne Sibley, spinster, probably the Anne just mentioned, conveyed the manor of Studham to Thomas Nicoll and William Jarman. The manor subsequently came to Edward Nicoll, Sheriff of Bedfordshire, in 1794. It now belongs to Earl Brownlow.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes