Arreton

AT THE Domesday Survey this Lordship was held by the King and previous to that by King Edward. There were four hides with land for five ploughs, in the demesne three ploughs, 10 villeins, 12 bordars with 10 ploughs. There were seven serfs and one mill worth 15 shillings. The Abbey of Lyre held the church belonging to this Manor together with one virgate of land and one acre of meadow, all valued at 20 shillings. In Saxon times the whole Manor was worth £10, but in 1086 only £5.

The first holder of Arreton after the re-grant of the Sloe of Wight from the Crown in 1100 was Richard de Redvers, ancestor of the first Earls of Devon, and the Manor formed part of the first endowment of the abbey of Quarr by his son Baldwin in 1131. It was confirmed by Isabel de Fortibus in 1278. Its history then followed the Island Community and the Manor was farmed by the abbot's steward till 1525, when it was leased by the last abbot, William Rippon, to John Leigh, who already held land in the parish.

After the Dissolution it was granted to various farmers by the Crown until 1628 when it was granted by the King to trustees for the payment of his debts to the City of London. In 1629 these trustees sold the Manor to John Lamott and William Kinge and they conveyed it in 1632 to Sir Humphrey Bennett. It passed from him to his brother Thomas Bennett of Babraham who was created a baronet in 1660 and died in 1667. His son and successor Sir Levinus sold the Manor in 1668 to Cheyney Colepeper, a younger son of the R Hon John Lord Colepeper and to Alexander Colepeper of Leeds Castle. From them it seems to have passed to Thomas, Lord Colepeper, who died in 1688-9 leaving a daughter Katherine, wife of Thomas, Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Her two sons Thomas and Robert died without issue and the latter on his death in 1793 left his estates to the issue of his sister Frances by Denny Martin. Dr Denny Martin, afterwards Fairfax, the elder son of Frances died in 1800 and his brother General Philip Martin died in 1821, leaving his estates to his paternal relative Fiennes Wykeham. He assumed the name Martin in accordance with his relatives' will and died in 1840 when his son Charles Wykeham-Martin succeeded him. Shortly thereafter the Manor was sold to the Willis-Flemings and is still in the possession of this family.

Arreton village lies on the south slope of Arreton Down, four miles east of Newport in the Liberty of (Hundred) of East Medine, which had its seat at “the Hatt of trees down nere the parke gate going in to Arreton”. The parishes of North and South Arreton were formed in 1894, but the Lordship extends over both to an area of approximately 9,000 acres. There was a bowling green here, to the West of St George's Down, in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The historian, Sir John Oglander, described it: “I have seen with my Lord Southampton at St George's Down at bowls some 30 or 40 Knights and gentlemen ... and we had an ordinary (game) there and card-tables.” Birchmore according to the VCH, probably formed part of the medieval hunting grounds, and is referred to in a list of liberties allowed to Isabel Le Fortibus, Countess of Albemarle.

ARRETON LORDSHIP lies on the south slope of Arreton down, four miles east of Newport. The Manor house and Church are at the extreme western end of the village, and on the left of the lane leading to the church is a 17th century cottage called Stile House, which was once used for the holding of church ales. It is part of the Liberty (Hundred) of East Medina, which had its seat at “the Hatte of trees down nere the parke gate going in to Arreton”. The parish of north and south Arreton were formed in 1894, but the Lordship extends over both to an area of approximately 9,000 acres. Arreton was well known in the 16th and 17th centuries for having a fine bowling green, to the west of St George’s Down. The contemporary historian, Sir John Oglander (1595-1648), described it: “I have seen with my Lord Southampton at St George’s Down at bowls some 30 or 40 Knights and gentlemen, where our meting was then twice every weeke, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we had an ordinary (game) there and card tables.”

Before the Conquest this Manor was held by King Edward, and at the time of the Domesday survey (1086) by King William. At that time there were “Four hides with land for five ploughs, in the demesne three ploughs, 10 villiens, 12 bordars with 10 ploughs. There were seven serfs and one mill worth fifteen shillings.”

The Manor of Arreton after the Isle of Wight was re-granted by the Crown was Richard de Redvers, and his son Baldwin gave it as part of his first endowment of the Abbey of Quarr in 1131. The grant was confirmed to the convent by Isabel de Fortibus in 1278. The Manor was farmed by the Abbot’s Steward until 1525, when the last Abbot, William Rippon, leased it to John Leigh, who already had extensive landholdings in the parish. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was granted to various farmers by the Crown, until Charles I vested it in trustees in 1628 as a means of paying his debts in the City of London.

The Trustees sold the Lordship to John Lamont and William Kinge who conveyed it to Sir Humphrey Bennett in 1632. It passed from him to his brother Thomas Bennett of Babraham who was created a baronet in 1660 and died in 1667. His son and successor Sir Levinus sold the Manor in 1668. His sony Colepeper, a younger son of the Rt Hon John Lord Colepeper and co Alexander Colepeper of Leeds Castle. From them it seems to have passed to Thomas, Lord Colepeper, who died in 1688-89, leaving a daughter Katherine, wife of Thomas, Lord Fairfax of Cameron. She had two sons, Thomas and Robert, both of whom died without issue. Robert left his estates, including this Lordship, to the children of his sister Francis by her husband Denny Martin.

Dr Denny Martin, afterwards Fairfax, the elder son of Francis, died in 1801, his elder brother General Philip Martin dying in 1821. He left the estate to his paternal relative Frances Wykeham under condition he changed his name to Martin. He was succeeded by his son Charles Wykeham-Martin who shortly afterwards sold the Manor to the Willis-Flemings who are the current owners.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Survey with other Manors 1583 Cambridge Univ
• Court Rolls 1404-05, 1468, 1471, 1473, 1490-1 PRO
• Court Books 1603-5, 1625-31 Isle of Wight RO (with other Manors)
• Survey 1608 PRO
• Survey 1583 Cambs Univ
• (v other Manors)
• Court Rolls 1404-3, 1486
• 1471, 1473
• Court Books 1490-1 PRO
• Court Books (w other Manors) 1603-5
• 1625-31 Isle of Wight RO

Source notes

((1991 Catalogue Begins)) | ((1996 Catalogue Begins))

Historical holder / succession information

1. Willis-Flemings
   sold_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Shortly thereafter the Manor was sold to the Willis-Flemings and is still in the possession of this family.