Westcot

Lordship account 1

Two holdings entered under Sparsholt in Domesday Book are apparently to be identified with WESTCOT. Henry de Ferrers was in possession of 4½ hides and 1 virgate, his right to the greater part of it being disputed by the Crown. It seems probable that here, as at East Hendred (q.v.), the family of Hussey (Hosee) was enfeoffed by Henry de Ferrers. The 'vill of Sparsholt' was given to the Templars by Henry de Hussey, and it seems clear that this grant, which was made before 1310, included the Ferrers fee. The second holding, amounting to 2½ hides and I virgate, was held in 1086 of Turstin son of Rou by Roger and passed before 1231 to the family of Achard. Robert Achard gave the Templars 'many lands and tenements' here. The Templars were thus in possession of practically the whole vill, which passed with the rest of their property to the Knights Hospitallers. The latter order had a grange here. In 1544 the demesne lands of St. John of Jerusalem in Westcot were granted to Thomas Strowde, Walter Erle and James Pagett. They had licence in the same year to alienate them to Henry Brouncker. From Henry Brouncker they passed apparently by sale to John Pleydell, who died in possession in 1591. His son and heir Anthony Pleydell died without issue, and Robert, the only surviving son of John, succeeded him. Robert, son of the latter, had a son Robert, whose daughter and heir Charlotte Louisa married John Dawnay. Her son Henry Pleydell Dawnay Viscount Downe was lord of the manor in 1748, but before 1759 sold it to Abraham Atkins. Since that date it has followed the same descent as Kingston Lisle (q.v.).

Lordship account 2

An estate of a messuage and 1 hide in Sparsholt and Westcot was held of the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem by the family of Childrey. It followed the descent of their land in Childrey (q.v.) from 1353 to 1463. This was presumably the so-called manor of Westcot which in 1568 was in the possession of William Hyde. No later reference to it has been found.