West Lockinge

The tenant at the time of the Survey was a certain Hubert, who had an estate here of 10 hides and was the ancestor of the family of Curzon. His heir was a son Robert, who had two younger brothers Hubert and Stephen. Geram de Curzon confirmed a charter to Abingdon Abbey in the time of Abbot Ingulf (1130–58), and was succeeded by Stephen, who was in possession in 1166. This or another Stephen was living in 1199. In 1202 Aline widow of Stephen de Curzon claimed dower here from Geram de Curzon, who was evidently lord of the manor at the time and was probably the son of Stephen. He was living in 1211 and was succeeded by Stephen. West Lockinge then passed from father to son through several generations of Curzons all called Stephen. The last of these was dead before 1351, when his son William was in possession of Lockinge; another son John succeeded to Fauld, in Hanbury (Staffs.) After the death of William and John de Curzon these manors devolved upon heiresses. Half the manor of West Lockinge was in the hands of Richard Whysteler and Joan his wife, in right of Joan, in 1375. Five years later they granted the whole manor to John de Lilebon and his wife Isabel for the life of Isabel, with remainder to John son of John de Rothwell. It next appears in the hands of Edmund Sparsholt, who demised it in 1405 to — Putton. Shortly afterwards it was held by Thomas Chaucer, Robert Jeames, and others, evidently feoffees of Edmund, who must have conveyed it before 1428 to John Golafre. He granted it to William Fynderne, John Stowe and other feoffees, who released it to Ralph Butler Lord Sudeley before 1444. Two years later Ralph had a release of the manor from Robert Shyngle, who described himself as kinsman and heir of Alice, late daughter of Stephen de Curzon. In 1447 Ralph Butler conveyed West Lockinge to John Norris, whose son and heir William granted it in 1475 to William York the elder and William York the younger of Brians Manor in Wantage (q.v.). John York, son of William York, was in possession of the manor in 1506. He had a son Thomas who died without issue, his heirs being his two sisters Elinor wife of Robert Hungerford, and Jane, who married first Thomas Bodenham and afterwards Stephen Apharry. The manor descended in moieties for several generations. Robert Hungerford, son of Elinor, succeeded to one half and had a son Walter. Walter's sons were George and John, who in 1602 sold their moiety of the manor to Francis Moore of Fawley. The other half was inherited by Jane Bodenham's son Roger, and was left by him to Roger, his younger son. The latter granted it in 1614 to Francis Moore, who thereby became lord of the whole manor. It followed the descent of his manor of Fawley (q.v.) till 1733, when Sir Richard Francis Moore left it to trustees for the payment of his debts and other purposes. In 1750, these uses having been fulfilled, it was sold by them to George Prescott. He sold it twenty years later to Sir John Reade, bart., of Shipton under Wychwood (co. Oxon.) Sir John Chandos Reade was lord of the manor in 1808, and it was held by the Dowager Lady Reade as her jointure in 1824. This family must have sold it to Mr. J. T. Rice, who was in possession in 1869. Before 1883 it had been purchased by Lord Overstone, whose daughter Lady Wantage is the present owner.