Westhorpe Hall

Westhorpe is a small village 2 miles west from Finningham and 8 north from Stowmarket.

The Manor belonged to Ulrico Hagana at the time of Edward the Confessor and at the time of the Domesday Survey was held by Eudo, son of Spirnic. In the 13th century John de Westhorpe held the Manor. In 1323 it was held by John de Thorp and in 1338 it belonged to Matthew de Cambridge. In 1514 a grant was made to “Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who resided with his wife, Mary Tudor, Sister of Henry VIII in the noble Mansion of Westhorpe Hall which is now demolished.” (Copinger, The Manors of Suffolk, Vol. III, p. 327).

On 10th March, 1717, a Court was held for Maurice Shelton, his Steward being Robert Martin. On 5th June, 1733, the first Court was held of Thomas Taylor, Robert Martin continuing to act as Steward. Five years later the Manor was held by Baron Pettyman in the right of Arabella, his wife, relict of Thomas Taylor. He continued to hold it until his death in 1758, and on 30th October in that year his widow held her first Court. She appears to have died in 1761 when John Reilly appears as Lord at a Court held 10th December of that year. Neale Ward was his Steward.

John Reilly held his last Court on 19th October, 1795 and he was followed by his widow, Maria Rebecca Reilly. Seven courts were held for her, the last on 13th June, 1808. She was followed by Thomas Reilly, whose last Court was held on 15th May, 1821.

One Court only was held by the new Lord, Sir Miles Nightingale, for on 5th December, 1831, Dame Florentia Elizabeth Nightingale, widow, was Lady of the Manor, and remained so for 25 years. Her last Court was on 9th December, 1856.

The First and only Court of Charles Tabor, of Bovingdons, Braintree, was held on 25th October, 1869. Joseph Beaumont of Coggeshall acted for him on his purchase and also as Steward. Several enfranchisements were negotiated immediately but one was as late as 11th September, 1905, and the Lords who entered into it were Benjamin Dixon Tabor and Charles Victor Tabor, both now deceased. They did not, however, hold any Court.

This Manor is an example of a custom of descent on intestacy which was not very common, viz., Borough-English. Under this custom in certain Manors the Youngest Son succeeded as heir instead of the eldest, who was normally heir at law unless any custom to the contrary could be proved. On 8th July, 1803, William Philip Mulliner was admitted as youngest son and heir and later Jonathan Banks, Shoemaker, was admitted under the same custom.

Fines on death and alienation of copyholds were arbitrary in this Manor, i.e., two years’ annual value of the property, as opposed to fines certain which were twice the annual quit rent, usually only a few shillings.

Cutting down trees was a frequent offence in this Manor. At a Court held on 26th July, 1768, the Homage presented that Samuel Corke had cut down four ash trees lately standing upon the waste land of this Manor called the Brick Kiln Lies, the property of the Lord of this Manor. On 11th December, 1749, William Page, Baronet, paid to the Lord £3 3s. 0d. for felling certain timber trees off the copyhold lands of his wife, Dame Frances Page.

At a Court held on 23rd October, 1753, it was certified by the Steward that the Lord of the 2nd Manor of this Manor of the Copyhold Tenants did grant licence to John Turner to make a ditch at Lady Willow (“parcel of the waste land of this Manor adjoining to the copyhold lands of the said John Turner”).

There is a small village green in respect of which negotiations are in progress with the Eastern Electricity Board for the granting of wayleaves. The correspondence to date and plans will be handed to the purchaser on completion.

The records of the Manor (insured for £300) which will be handed over on completion, are as under:

Court Books: 1635–1691; 1705–1760; 1767–1810; 1812–1856 and 1857–1892. 12th October, 1860: Notice by Joseph Beaumont of Court to be held at Crown Inn, Westhorpe. 2nd June, 1869: Particulars of Sale by Biddell and Blencowe at Angel Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds. 12th October, 1869: Notice by Joseph Beaumont of intention to hold a Court at the Crown Inn, Westhorpe. 1951: Schedule of Courts, Lords, Stewards and Homage, 1705–1892.

The Vendors sell as Trustees for sale and the title shall commence with a conveyance on sale dated 28th December, 1869 from the Rev. A. L. Darell Bart and L. E. Darell, to Charles Tabor of Bovingdon’s, Bocking.

Rights, customs and incidents

Five years later the Manor was held by Baron Pettyman in the right of Arabella, his wife, relict of Thomas Taylor.
This Manor is an example of a custom of descent on intestacy which was not very common, viz., Borough-English.

Historical holder / succession information

1. In the 13th century John de Westhorpe [source claim requiring identity review]
   held_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: In the 13th century John de Westhorpe held the Manor.
2. Lord, Sir Miles Nightingale, for on 5th December, 1831, Dame Florentia Elizabeth Nightingale [source claim requiring identity review]
   1831 · lord_of_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: One Court only was held by the new Lord, Sir Miles Nightingale, for on 5th December, 1831, Dame Florentia Elizabeth Nightingale, widow, was Lady of the Manor, and remained so for 25 years.