Shinglehall

THIS MANOR descended to the Earls of Essex from the de Say family, when Beatrice de Say married Geoffrey Fitz Piers who was created Earl of Essex in 1195. Their son Geoffrey took the name of Mandeville. There is a possible site of an ancient park and mill, which are remembered by the names Park Field and Mill Field, which lie within the boundaries of the Manor. Maud, the sister and heir of William de Mandeville, married into the Bohun family, who were Earls of Hereford, and the Lordship eventually passed to the Crown on the marriage of Mary de Bohun to Henry VI when the Manor was annexed to the Duchy of Lancaster. Edward IV granted it to John Leventhorpe, the member for Hertfordshire in 1467, who had a grant of free warren and a market and two fairs in Sawbridgeworth and Thorley. He also gained a licence to inclose 400 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow and 80 acres of wood in these Manors to make park. He died in 1484 and was succeeded by his son Thomas, then aged 60, who died seised of the Manor in 1493.

John, his son, who was Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1509, died in 1511, when Shinglehall passed to his son Thomas, who received a confirmation of the grant of market, fair, and park made in 1447. Their descendent John was knighted at Theobalds in 1603, and was Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1593-94 and 1607-8 and was created a baronet in 1622. Thomas, who was his second son, succeeded him, his eldest son having died earlier. Thomas’ eldest son died of smallpox in infancy in 1649, and the property passed to his brother, Sir Thomas Leventhorpe. Sir Thomas had no male issue, so the title passed to his uncle, Sir Charles Leventhorpe, but the Manor passed to his daughter Mary, who married John Coke of Melbourne, County Derby.

Their son Thomas sold the Lordship of Shinglehall to Ralph Freeman, DD, who conveyed it to Edward Gardiner in 1755. His daughter, Rose, married Jeremiah Miles, and they held the Manor jointly in 1781. Jeremiah died in 1797, but Rose survived until 1835. On her death the Lordship passed to Rowland Alston who had married her eldest daughter and co-heir. He sold it in 1847 to J M Ede, and on his death the estate was sold to Mr B Colvin of Waltham House executors disposed of it in 1865.

After this the Manor passed by marriage to the Bowbly family, who are the present Lords. The Lordship lies in the Parish of Sawbridgeworth, about five miles south of Bishop’s Stortford and twelve miles north-east of Hertford. The church at Sawbridgeworth contains many monuments of the Leventhorpe family, including a fine tomb dating from 1625. The memorial brass to a John Chauncey has been lost, but his shield remains and is dated 1546.

Rights, customs and incidents

Edward IV granted it to John Leventhorpe, the member for Hertfordshire in 1467, who had a grant of free warren and a market and two fairs in Sawbridgeworth and Thorley.
John, his son, who was Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1509, died in 1511, when Shinglehall passed to his son Thomas, who received a confirmation of the grant of market, fair, and park made in 1447.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Steward’s Papers .......... 1745-9 .......... Herts RO
• Court Books ............... 1828-1935
• Deeds & Awards &c ......... 1889-1925 ....... PRO
• Court Baron & Customary ... 1828-1925 ....... Herts RO
• Schedule of Court Rolls
• (w. other Manors) ......... 1879

Historical holder / succession information

1. Earls of Essex from the de Say family
   1195 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: THIS MANOR descended to the Earls of Essex from the de Say family, when Beatrice de Say married Geoffrey Fitz Piers who was created Earl of Essex in 1195.
2. Crown on the marriage of Mary de Bohun to Henry VI
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Maud, the sister and heir of William de Mandeville, married into the Bohun family, who were Earls of Hereford, and the Lordship eventually passed to the Crown on the marriage of Mary de Bohun to Henry VI when the Manor was annexed to the Duchy of Lancaster.
3. his daughter Mary [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Sir Thomas had no male issue, so the title passed to his uncle, Sir Charles Leventhorpe, but the Manor passed to his daughter Mary, who married John Coke of Melbourne, County Derby.
4. His daughter, Rose, married Jeremiah Miles [source claim requiring identity review]
   1781 · held_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: His daughter, Rose, married Jeremiah Miles, and they held the Manor jointly in 1781.
5. Rowland Alston
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: On her death the Lordship passed to Rowland Alston who had married her eldest daughter and co-heir.
6. Mr B Colvin of Waltham House
   1847|1865 · sold_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: He sold it in 1847 to J M Ede, and on his death the estate was sold to Mr B Colvin of Waltham House executors disposed of it in 1865.