Historical names: Aburton (Manor) | Eadbriston (Manor) | Edbretintune (Manor) | Edbrighton (Manor) | Edburinton (Manor)
Location: Abberton, Worcestershire
Places / associated places: Abberton, Worcestershire
Listed in Domesday Book: Yes
Location & Extent
GPS Location & Recorded Land Areas
Representative GPS point: 52.1787, -2.0093
Identity: confirmed — The record is securely identified with the Worcestershire manor of Abberton, historically recorded as Eadbriston, Edbretintune, Edbrighton and related forms. The historical description, Pershore Abbey tenure, Sheldon ownership, Abberton Hall association and archive references all correspond to Abberton in Worcestershire, not the separate Abberton manor in Essex.
Representative point: 52.1787, -2.0093
Basis: documented_manor_house — Abberton Hall is the principal historic residence associated with Abberton Manor. Historic England identifies the surviving hall at National Grid Reference SO 99457 53381 and records a seventeenth-century nucleus dated 1619. This is the strongest surviving defensible point for the manor centre.
Point confidence: high
Boundary status: representative_point_only
Boundary period: Medieval to nineteenth century; exact period-specific perimeter not established
Boundary confidence: none
Boundary basis: The evidence confirms the manor's location and gives historical indications of scale, including three carucates in 1291 and the later Abberton parish area of approximately 999 acres. The 1910 valuation material identifies substantial land associated with Abberton Hall and Alline Bushell, but it does not establish that all such land was the legal manorial extent, nor does it provide a defensible manor perimeter. No accessible manor map, survey, rental with mapped parcels, enclosure plan, or other source was found that securely defines the historical boundary. The modern civil-parish boundary and the 1910 estate holdings therefore cannot safely be substituted for the manor boundary.
Sources:
- The National Archives, Abberton Manor record F275577: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F275577 — Registry authority and historical description for the exact Worcestershire manor, including its alternative names, Pershore Abbey tenure, Sheldon ownership and Abberton Hall association.
- Historic England, Abberton Hall, Abberton, list entry 1259952: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1259952 — Identifies Abberton Hall in the parish of Abberton at SO 99457 53381 and records its surviving seventeenth-century nucleus, providing the defensible manor-house location.
- Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, St Eadburga, Abberton: https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=7941 — Confirms that the medieval Abberton estate belonged to Pershore Abbey and records the manor as three carucates in 1291.
- Electronic Sawyer, King Edgar's charter to Pershore Abbey: https://esawyer.lib.cam.ac.uk/manuscript/723.html — Provides early documentary evidence for land at Abberton among the possessions confirmed to Pershore Abbey.
- Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Data from the 1910 Land Valuation Survey for the parish of Abberton: https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Land-Valuation-Abberton-v2-0.pdf — Records the 999-acre civil parish, the concentration of 729 acres under the principal landowner, and Abberton Hall-associated holdings; useful for scale and context but not sufficient to reconstruct the legal manor boundary.
Warnings / uncertainty:
- The returned point is suitable as a representative manor location, but the evidence does not justify a historical manor polygon.
- Do not substitute the modern civil parish, the 1910 valuation holdings, the Abberton Hall park or the modern estate boundary for the medieval or post-medieval manorial extent.
- The 1910 valuation evidence post-dates the documented 1829 sale of the manor and concerns ownership and valuation rather than a formally defined manorial boundary.
About the Manor
Abberton Manor was the principal estate of Abberton in Pershore Hundred, Worcestershire. The place is recorded in a tenth-century charter as Eadbrithinctune and in Domesday Book in 1086 as Edbretintune and Edbritone. In Domesday the estate was a berewick or outlying holding of the church of St Mary of Pershore, whose abbey was both tenant-in-chief and immediate lord. The manor remained connected with Pershore Abbey until the Dissolution. A Crown grant of 16 January 1544 transferred the manor to William and Francis Sheldon, members of the local Sheldon family. The Sheldon family retained the manor until its sale in 1829 to William Laslett. Abberton Hall was the principal residence associated with the manor in the nineteenth century. No distinct barony, seigneurial title or other associated title has been found; Abberton Manor is treated here as a property designation rather than a separate titled dignity.
Ownership / Holder Account
The earliest securely evidenced lordship is that of the church of St Mary of Pershore, represented by Pershore Abbey, in 1066 and 1086. The available evidence does not establish every intermediate medieval holder or every legal step between Domesday and the Dissolution. Ralph Sheldon was lessee of Abberton by 1540, but the evidence distinguishes his leasehold interest from the later freehold or fee grant. On 16 January 1544 the manor was granted to William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon; the estate was then settled on Francis Sheldon and Mary his wife, with remainders to their children. William Sheldon died in 1570, after which the manor descended through the Abberton branch of the Sheldons. The sources record Francis Sheldon holding in 1625 and 1632, Francis Sheldon dealing with the manor in 1699 and dying in 1700, a succeeding Francis Sheldon dying in 1711, another Francis Sheldon holding in 1720, and the estate of Francis Sheldon, described as a lunatic, being dealt with by Act of Parliament in 1733. Thomas Sheldon held the manor in 1776 and with his wife Margaret in 1798. The manor was sold in 1829 by Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham to William Laslett. William Laslett remained the securely evidenced historical holder through his lifetime, dying in 1884. Later nineteenth- and early twentieth-century references identify the Abberton Hall estate and associated land, but the sources examined do not securely establish a subsequent manor lord and therefore no later holder is entered.
Records & References
Sources and references mentioning this manor/title which are not necessarily conveyances or transfers.
8 records found · showing 1–8.
1533-1534: court roll
Held by: The National Archives
1524-1528: court rolls, with other manors
Held by: The National Archives
1462-1463: court roll
Held by: The National Archives
1457-1461: bailiffs' accounts
Held by: The National Archives
1421-1421: court roll
Held by: The National Archives
1413-1433: bailiffs' accounts
Held by: The National Archives
1400-1402: reeves' accounts
Held by: The National Archives
1399-1413: court roll (fragment)
Held by: The National Archives
Conveyance & Descent
First holder to present holder: blood proximity & distance travelled
First recorded holder: Pershore Abbey, the church of St Mary of Pershore
Present holder:
Recorded title journey: 13 holder entries in this manor's saved Conveyance & Descent history.
No recorded holder currently has a usable saved direct-blood or collateral-blood relationship path from which to calculate proximity percentages.
First recorded holder → present holder
A usable saved blood relationship path between the first recorded holder and the present holder has not yet been recorded, so that first-to-present genealogical distance cannot be calculated.
Pershore Abbey, the church of St Mary of Pershore, Benedictine abbey
Transfer: Continuation of the pre-Conquest ecclesiastical holding; the estate was held by Pershore Abbey in 1066 and in Domesday Book in 1086, and remained associated with the abbey until the Dissolution.
Shared holding: Pershore Abbey
Domesday records Abberton, under the forms Edbretintune and Edbritone, as a berewick of the estate of Pershore held by the church of St Mary of Pershore. The Domesday evidence identifies Pershore Abbey as tenant-in-chief and immediate lord in 1086. This entry represents the abbey's lordship, not merely an ecclesiastical tenancy or advowson. The end date is approximate and reflects the Dissolution period; the source evidence does not supply a precise date for the final transfer from the abbey.
Source: Domesday Book, Worcestershire folio 7; Open Domesday entry for the land of Pershore (St Mary), abbey of, including Abberton. Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7. — source link
William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon, Esquire, member of the Sheldon family of Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Transfer: Royal grant of the manor following the Dissolution of Pershore Abbey; the manor was granted to William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon.
Holding arrangement: Joint — Joint grant to the two Sheldon brothers; the subsequent settlement placed the estate on Francis Sheldon and Mary his wife, with remainders to their children.
Shared holding: Sheldon family
Co-holder: Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham
Previous holder: Pershore Abbey, the church of St Mary of Pershore, Benedictine abbey
Victoria County History states that the manor was granted on 16 January 1544 to William and Francis Sheldon. The same account says that the manor was settled on Francis Sheldon and Mary his wife, with remainder to their children William, Thomas, Francis and Lucy. Ralph Sheldon was then lessee of Abberton and had held it in 1540; his leasehold must not be confused with the later grant of the manor in fee.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, Esquire, Sheldon landowner of Abberton
Transfer: Settlement made after the 1544 grant, placing the manor on Francis Sheldon and Mary his wife, with remainders to their children.
Holding arrangement: Joint — Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon held under the settlement; remainders were provided to their children William, Thomas, Francis and Lucy.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon, Esquire, member of the Sheldon family of Worcestershire and Warwickshire
The source describes the settlement rather than a separate sale or conveyance. It is therefore recorded as a settlement of the 1544 grant, not as an inferred transfer caused merely by family relationship.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Esquire, Sheldon landowner of Abberton
Transfer: Succession within the settlement after the death of William Sheldon, the elder 1544 grantee, on 24 December 1570; the source states that William, son of Francis, was then of full age and residing at Abberton.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon; subsequently Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon under the settlement
The VCH account states that the William Sheldon who received the 1544 grant died on 24 December 1570, when William, son of Francis, was of full age and residing at Abberton. The source treats the latter William as the succeeding holder. The exact legal mechanism is not stated and is not inferred beyond the documented descent.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Transfer: Succession to his father William Sheldon in 1608.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Esquire, Sheldon landowner of Abberton
The VCH account states that William Sheldon was succeeded in 1608 by his son Francis. Francis is subsequently recorded with his wife Elizabeth as holding the manor in 1625 and 1632.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Wife of Francis Sheldon, joint named holder in the cited manor evidence
Transfer: Continuing Sheldon ownership; the manor is documented in their joint names in 1625 and 1632.
Holding arrangement: Joint — The source records the husband and wife as holding the manor; the precise legal shares are not stated.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: Francis Sheldon, Esquire, described in the 1733 Act as a lunatic
The VCH account specifically records Francis Sheldon and his wife Elizabeth holding the manor in 1625 and 1632. This is entered as joint holding because both are named in the manor evidence, without inferring a separate conveyance to Elizabeth.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Transfer: Continuing Sheldon ownership; Francis Sheldon was dealing with the manor in 1699 and died in the following year.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: Earlier Sheldon holders; intervening descent not fully documented in the available source
The VCH account states that Francis Sheldon was dealing with the manor in 1699 and died in the following year. The source does not provide all intermediate successions from the 1630s to 1699, so no undocumented bridge is inserted.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Transfer: Succession after the death of Francis Sheldon in 1700; the succeeding Francis Sheldon died in 1711.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: Francis Sheldon, died 1700
The VCH account records that the Francis Sheldon who was dealing with the manor in 1699 died in 1700, and that his son and successor Francis Sheldon died in 1711. The relationship and succession are stated by the source and are not independently expanded here.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Transfer: Succession after the death of Francis Sheldon in 1711; a Francis Sheldon was holding in 1720, and an Act of Parliament in 1733 dealt with the estate of Francis Sheldon, described as a lunatic.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon
Previous holder: Francis Sheldon, died 1711
The VCH account records a Francis Sheldon holding the manor in 1720. In 1733 an Act was passed for discharging the Abberton estate of Francis Sheldon, a lunatic, from the trusts of a former Act made for payment of his debts and for vesting other estates in trustees. The statutory trusteeship is not treated as a transfer of beneficial ownership unless the source expressly says so.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Thomas Sheldon, Esquire, lord of Abberton Manor in the cited late-eighteenth-century evidence
Transfer: Continuing Sheldon ownership; Thomas Sheldon held the manor in 1776 and with his wife Margaret in 1798.
Shared holding: Abberton branch of the Sheldon family
Co-holders: Francis Sheldon and Mary Sheldon, William Sheldon, son of Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon, Francis Sheldon and Elizabeth Sheldon
Previous holder: Francis Sheldon and the Sheldon estate; intervening descent not fully documented in the available source
The VCH account records the manor as held by Thomas Sheldon in 1776 and by Thomas and his wife Margaret in 1798. Because the source does not describe a conveyance or state a distinct share for Margaret, the entry records the documented holding without inferring a separate transfer to her.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7, as reproduced in the Sheldon family historical compilation citing the VCH account. — source link
Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham, Esquire, Sheldon landowner and vendor of Abberton Manor
Transfer: Sale of Abberton Manor in 1829 to William Laslett. The source identifies the vendor as Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham; the relationship between Samuel and the Thomas Sheldon named in 1798 is not established here.
Shared holding: Sheldon family
Co-holder: William Sheldon and Francis Sheldon
Previous holder: Thomas Sheldon and Margaret Sheldon
The cited VCH-derived account states that the manor and advowson were sold in 1829 by Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham to William Laslett. A separate nineteenth-century directory gives a less precise account that the Sheldons retained the estate until it passed to William Laslett. The 1829 VCH-derived statement is preferred. No earlier transfer to Samuel is inferred because the available sources do not document it.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7; corroborating VCH-derived account of the 1829 sale by Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham. — source link
William Emmerson Kendrick Laslett, Barrister-at-law, Member of Parliament, lord of the manor of Abberton
Transfer: Purchased Abberton Manor in 1829 from Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham.
Shared holding: Laslett family
Previous holder: Samuel Sheldon alias Lesingham, Esquire, Sheldon landowner and vendor of Abberton Manor
William Laslett acquired Abberton Manor and Hall in 1829 and made Abberton Hall his residence. He is documented as lord of the manor in nineteenth-century heraldic and biographical sources and remained the securely evidenced historical holder until his death on 26 January 1884. The sources examined do not establish a subsequent manor holder with sufficient directness for inclusion.
Source: Victoria County History, A History of the County of Worcester, volume 4, 'Parishes: Abberton', pp. 4-7; William Laslett biographical and local historical accounts; The Heraldry of Worcestershire, entry for Laslett of Abberton Hall. — source link
Transfer: Ralph Sheldon was lessee of Abberton by 1540. This records a leasehold interest and does not establish freehold or manorial lordship.
Holding arrangement: Other — Leasehold interest; precise term and extent not stated.
Previous holder: Pershore Abbey, the church of St Mary of Pershore
Ralph Sheldon is recorded as lessee of Abberton by 1540, before the Crown grant of the manor to William and Francis Sheldon in 1544.
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Machine-readable published manor data, including public images, mapped land areas, notes, rights, conveyances, relationships, records, source/document-library entries and public file links.
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