10 Jul Lordship Title of Little Holwell or Nether Holwell ID1180
Posted at 20:02h
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Previous Lords:
A manor of LITTLE HOLWELL, sometimes called NETHER HOLWELL, existed in this parish in the thirteenth century, the earliest holders of which assumed the place-name as surname. It appears to have been held in chief, though no mention of the overlordship has been found, but on the forfeiture of Robert Belknappe in 1388, it fell into the king's hands. In 1200 Stephen de Holwell held property in Little Holwell, for in that year he alienated a virgate here to Ralph de Standon, and in 1203 Simon de Holwell alienated a virgate to Robert son of Ascelin. Another Stephen de Holwell granted the manor to William of Holwell for life in 1257, whilst John de Holwell held Holwell in 1272 by a fortieth part of a knight's fee. In 1314 Walter de Holwell held the manor, which was alienated by his son Nicholas in 1342 to John Avenel. He transferred it in 1364 to John of Buckingham bishop of Lincoln, who in 1383 granted it for fifteen years to Robert Belknappe. Robert Avenel son of John, who married Juliana daughter of Robert Belknappe, disputed the claim of the bishop to the manor, and it was finally arranged that Robert and Juliana should have the manor, which, failing their heirs, should revert to Robert Belknappe. They subsequently died without heirs, and the manor fell to Robert Belknappe, and he having been found guilty of treason in 1388, Little Holwell escheated to the crown. Reginald Braybroke received a grant of the manor in the following year on payment of an annual rent of 20 marks, which was afterwards remitted. In 1492 Elizabeth daughter of Gerard Braybroke, who married first William de Beauchamp of St. Amand, and afterwards Roger Tocotes, died in possession of the manor, which then passed to her son Richard Beauchamp of St. Amand, who died in 1508 without issue. Further traces of this manor are scanty; in 1528 Thomas Brook of Cobham, as kinsman and heir of Gerard Braybroke, relinquished his right in the manor to John Foule, and in 1532 Thomas Pares and others gave up their right in Little Holwell to James Dod of London, haberdasher, but nothing further has been discovered of the history of this manor, which appears to have become extinct.
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