Licktopp

HOW THIS Lordship of the Manor came by its unusual name is not known but it was probably based on a farm within the ancient Lordship of Ripton which itself was later divided into three separate manors. Licktopp lies within the parish of Ashford which is ten miles from Folkstone and around 50 miles from London. At the time of Domesday Book, in 1086, therefore Licktopp is included in the entry for Repetone, and this entry reads;

The Abbot himself hold one yoke, Repentone and Answered of him.

It was taxed at one yoke.

The arable land is two caracutes.

In demesne there is one, with four borderers.

There are 11 acres of meadows and the 4th part of a mill, of 15 pence,

And wood for the pannage of 10 hogs, and as yet there are two yokes,

which the Abbot gave to it of his demesne,

And there are two villeins, with eight borderers.

In the time of King Edward the Confessor, and afterwards, it was worth

three pounds, now four pounds.

The abbey was that of St Augtustine in Canterbury which was founded as early as 598, just 150 years after the Romans had left the island. Little is known of the priory’s existence between the 8th and 11th centuries, but when the Normans arrived in 1066 William placed his own man, called Scotland, in charge and the monks were cowed. He proved to be very capable and renewed the abbey’s land holding and improved the state of production at Ripton.

It was during the next two hundred years the estate at Ripton was subinfeudated, producing three Lordships of which Licktopp was one. In reality the abbey acted as feudal overlord and Licktopp was held from the abbot by the Valoigns family who resided here. During the reign of Stephen (1135-1154) it was in the hands of Ruellion de Valoigns. From him it came to his son, or grandson, Allan who was sheriff of Kent from 1184 to 1189. Sir William de Valoignes was recorded as attending Edward I into Scotland and may well have been present when the king visited St Augustines. Sir William served a sheriff of Kent on a number of occasions, in 1275 and 1278. A later member of the family was Henry de Valoigns, who was resident at Ripton during the reign of Edward III. In 1341 he received a grant of free-warren for all his land and manors in Kent and paid aid at the making of Edward, the Black Prince, a knight. The last of the male line was Waretius de Valoyns, who, on his death left Licktopp to his co-heirs, one of whom married Thomas de Aldon and the other to Sir Francis Fogge. On the partition of their father’s estate Licktopp passed to the latter.

The Fogge family originally came from Lancashire and Otho Fogge came to Kent at the begining of the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). It appears that this may have been to take up an inheritance because the Fogges are noted in a number of parishes in the east of the county during this period. Otho was succeeded by his son, John who in turn was succeeded by his son Francis. It was he who married the daughter of Waretius de Valoyns and from this union he came into possession of Licktopp. Through this marriage the Lordship passed to Sir Thomas Fogge who was taken prisoner by the French in 1377 and Parliament was successfully petitioned to obtain funds for his release. On his return to England he seved as sheriff of Kent, which he did again at the beginning of the reign of Richard II (1377-1399). On his death Sir Thomas was buried at Glastonbury and Licktopp passed to his son Sir Thomas Fogge. He was a man of high repute and was an advisor to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster on his voyage to Spain to claim the throne of Castile in 1385. He was also a member of all the Parliaments called during the reign of Richard II and those in the early reign of Henry IV (1399-1413). He died in 1407 and is buried in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral.

Sir Thomas was succeeded by his son Sir William who in turn passed Licktopp to his son Sir John who was resident at Ripton House during the reign of Edward IV (1461-1483). For this king Fogge served as comptroller and treasurer, and was highly trusted by Edward. He served as sheriff of Kent on a number of occasions and as knight of the shire in Parliament. Such was his attachment to Edward that when Richard III came to the throne in 1483, Fogge was attainted and his lands seized. After Richard himself was killed at the Battle of Bosworth, in 1485, the new king, Henry Tudor reinstated Fogge to all his previous possessions and he died in 1490. He portrait was formerly captured in stained glass in the window of Ashford parish church. His son and heir was Sir Thomas, who served as sergeant-porter of Calais during the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509). He died in 1533 and Licktopp came to his son Sir John.

Sir John Fogge is recorded as being granted in full, the Lordship of the Manor of Licktopp, in 1538, after its overlord, the abbey of St Augustine, had been dissolved. He died in 1564 and was succeeded by his son Edward. He died four years later, unmarried, and the Lordship then came to his uncle, George Fogge of Braborne. He soon sold it to Sir Michael Sundes who in turn conveyed it to John Tufton. Licktopp has since remained in the Tufton family. Lord Hothfield, the present representative of the family is the current Lord of the Manor.

The manorial court for Licktopp was traditionally held at a great stone lying by the road heading northwest from Ashford and near to Ripton House.

Historical holder / succession information

1. latter [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: On the partition of their father’s estate Licktopp passed to the latter.
2. Sir Thomas Fogge
   1377 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Through this marriage the Lordship passed to Sir Thomas Fogge who was taken prisoner by the French in 1377 and Parliament was successfully petitioned to obtain funds for his release.
3. his uncle, George Fogge of Braborne [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: He died four years later, unmarried, and the Lordship then came to his uncle, George Fogge of Braborne.