05 Jun Lordship Title of Leckhampstead ID14242
Posted at 08:27h
in
County:
Parish:
Title Type:
Previous Lords:
The township or tithing of LECKHAMPSTEAD became a parish on the dedication of the church in or about 1050, but it was at a later date included as a chapelry in the parish of Chieveley. In 1835 it became a civil parish, and in 1884 it was again made into an ecclesiastical parish. The monks of Abingdon claimed that 10 manentes here were granted to them in 811 by Kenwulf, King of Mercia, but the charter including this gift is usually considered a forgery. In 943 King Edmund granted 10 mansae here to his servant Edric, who gave them to the abbey of Abingdon. In the time of King Cnut the abbey leased these lands for the term of three lives to Brihtmund, at whose death they were enjoyed for a while by his widow. At her death they passed to their son Brihtnoth, and at his death they were claimed by Brihtwine, another son of the first lessee. Before 1043 Brihtwine persuaded Siward, then Abbot of Abingdon, to extend the lease for the period of his own life, but, not content with this, he claimed the land as his inheritance. On hearing this claim Siward, who had become Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote to Earl Godwin, Bishop Herman and the nobles of Berkshire pointing out the true state of affairs, but the monks were unable at that time to establish their possession of the land. About 1050, on the appointment of Ordric to the abbacy, the monastery made a further attempt to recover possession; but Brihtwine still argued that the lands were his by right of inheritance, in evidence of which he produced the charter. Ordric seems for a while to have temporized, and asked to see the charter, which he prudently retained in his own hands, while he lost no time in appealing to Harold, who was now Earl of Berkshire. The case was fully tried by the earl's delegates, and the decision given in favour of the monks. Brihtwine, or Bricstuin as he is called, was holding the land of the abbey in the time of Edward the Confessor, 'but could not go to another lord.' At the time of the Domesday Survey he had been succeeded by Reinbold. The abbey continued to hold the manor after the Norman Conquest, and attached it as a member to their adjoining lordship of Welford (q.v.). They are mentioned as holding it from the 13th to the 15th century, after which no further mention of their overlordship occurs.
Other Information:
Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes