10 Jul Lordship Title of Tofts or Tofte ID1305
Posted at 20:03h
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Newnham Priory owned TOFTS or THE TOFTE MANOR in Sharnbrook from the 13th century. Its origin is to be sought to a great extent in the land which Count Eustace held at Domesday, further supplemented by grants from the Beauchamp fee. Robert son of Rozelin, who was Count Eustace's tenant in 1086, was succeeded by the Trikets, of whom four generations are mentioned in Newnham Cartulary as benefactors of the priory in the 12th and 13th centuries—William son of Simon Triket, Baldwin son of William and Simon son of Baldwin. Their gifts, which were all held of the honour of Boulogne (to which Count Eustace's lands subsequently became attached), ranged from 2 virgates of land in Toft—whence the manor derived its distinctive name—to 3 acres of land in Tranecroft, and by 1278–9 included a capital messuage, 180 acres of land, meadow and pasture, and 10 acres of wood. Newnham Priory also received various grants of land from William Druel and other members of the same family, who held of the barony of Bedford, 13 selions from Robert de Parentine, and 27 selions from John le Child, whose father also granted the priory certain inclosed waters 'from Sitegate to Besebrigg.' Newnham Priory therefore held land in Sharnbrook attached to these two honours of Boulogne and Bedford. In 1281 the prior protested against appearing as suitor at the court of the former honour, saying that he owed no service though often distrained by the bailiffs. The prior's name appears, however, in 1302 as holding a half fee of this honour, whilst in 1346 and again in 1428 he held half a fee of the barony of Bedford. The manor was in lease to William Tofte in 1331 by assignment from one Bartholomew and Ellen his wife, who held it for their lives. In 1385 the prior received a charter of free warren in Sharnbrook, and at the Dissolution this manor became Crown property. In 1540 George Boteler received a grant of this manor, which henceforward follows the same descent as Loring s (q.v.). The Tofte has long been the residence of the lords of the manor and the principal house in the village.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
No