Winkfield

The manor of WINKFIELD at the date of the Domesday Survey belonged to the abbey of Abingdon. In 942 Winkfield had been granted, together with Swinley, by King Edmund to a certain holy woman called Saethryth, who is said to have transferred it to the abbey of Abingdon, but it was not until 1015 that the abbey received the estate from Eadfled, a noble matron. William I is said to have taken from it 4 hides to enlarge Windsor Forest, and also two woods called Jerdelea and Bacsceat. Half a hide of this, however, seems to have been restored by William Rufus, who ordered Walter Fitz Other, constable of the castle, not to encroach upon the abbot's lands. In an undated list of the possessions of the abbey during the first half of the 12th century Winkfield is assessed at 3½ hides and is said to be held by the kitchener of the monastery, who was to use the proceeds for the purchase of lard. In 1225 it was alleged that each of the villeins of Winkfield had to render yearly a bundle of myrtle (fesseletum de mirto) and three baskets (hopas) of oats to the abbey. There was apparently a revolt among the tenants of the abbey, who banded themselves together, refusing the customary services due from their lands. The dispute appears to have been renewed in the latter part of the 15th century. After the Dissolution the manor was granted in 1540 to Richard Warde. (fn. 25) It descended with Hurst (q.v.) until 1652, when Richard Harrison conveyed the manor to John Lovelace and others. At the beginning of the next century the manor is found divided into ninths) and in the possession of the families of Draper, Neville and Meeke. Dame Mary Draper, Grey Neville and Anthony Meek were said to be lords of the manor in 1709. Richard Neville Neville suffered a recovery of a ninth in 1763. Katherine Meeke held eight-ninths of the manor in 1782, the remaining ninth being still in the hands of the Nevilles. At this date it was purchased as his private estate by George III, who retained it till 1819. It was then annexed to the Ascot estate and bought from Lord Brudenell, the king's trustee, by Daniel Agace. On his death in 1828 it passed by will to the father of the present owner, Mr. Charles Agace Ferard.