West Shefford

Lordship account 1

As already mentioned Sir John St. John enfeoffed Sir Richard de Hautot of this manor in 1274, and in 1282 it was in the king's hands for Andrew de Hautot's default in a suit against Henry and Agnes de la Wyk. In 1283–4 Andrew was sued for a messuage and 3 carucates of land by Joan de Oakhanger daughter of Fulk St. John. Andrew, however, settled the manor in 1315–16 on himself and his wife Isabel. He was still holding it in 1326, but had been succeeded, probably before 1332, by Richard de Hautot, who was holding it in 1349. From Richard the manor passed to Isabel wife of Martin de Hertham, sister and heir of Andrew Hautot of Medestede, who conveyed it in 1353 to William Overton. In 1357 the Oakhangers' claim was renewed by Gilbert de Oakhanger, Joan's grandson, who stated that his ancestor Fulk St. John had been unjustly disseised of the manor by Robert St. John. Gilbert made good his claim against John Ingram and Walter le Young, but in 1366–7 Henry de Aldrynton and his wife Elizabeth, in whose right the manor seems to have been held, sold it to John Kentwood. Sir John Kentwood died before 1393, when the manor was held by his widow Alice. In 1428 it was held by another John Kentwood, who was succeeded by Robert Kentwood. He died towards the end of the 15th century, leaving it to his son John, with successive remainders to his next son Nicholas and his daughters Frideswide and Elizabeth. John granted it in 1484 for life to Alexander Cheney and Florence his wife. John and Nicholas both died childless early in the 16th century, when Frideswide, with her husband Richard Fettiplace and Elizabeth and her husband John Swaffeld, endeavoured to recover the manor from Florence, now a widow, and Eleanor her daughter, who had married Richard Norreys. In 1507 John Swaffeld and Elizabeth his wife, who had inherited West Shefford as their share of Robert Kentwood's estates, conveyed it to Richard and Eleanor Norreys, who sued Florence for detaining the title deeds relating to it. Richard Norreys died before 1525, when the manor had passed to his daughter Anne wife of Richard Bruges or Bridges of Newbury. Richard died seised of the site of the manor before 1558, leaving a widow Joan, who must have been his second wife, and a son Anthony, who succeeded him. Anthony settled the manor in 1583 on himself and his wife Barbara and his daughter Eleanor, who was then about to marry Sir George Browne of Wickhambreux, Kent, second son of Anthony Browne Viscount Montagu. Anthony Bridges died here in January 1613, his wife Barbara having predeceased him, and the manor passed to Eleanor and Sir George Browne. The latter died in 1614, when his son George succeeded. George Browne being a Roman Catholic forfeited twothirds of the manor as a recusant in 1627, and in 1637 obtained from the Crown a lease of this part for forty-one years. He died in February 1664, when his son George succeeded. George had been knighted in 1660 and became K.B. in 1661. He died in 1678 and was buried in the church here. He left two daughters, Winifred married to Basil Brooke of Madeley, Shropshire, and Helen the wife of Henry Fermor of Tusmore, Oxfordshire. On the death of Sir George this manor seems to have passed to his brother Sir John Browne of Caversham, who was created a baronet 10 May 1665 and died about 1680. His son Sir Anthony Browne, with his cousins Winifred Brooke and Helen Fermor, was dealing with it in 1688. Sir Anthony died unmarried in December 1688 and was succeeded by his brother Sir John Browne of Caversham, who died childless in 1692; this manor then passed with the title to the third brother George, who sold it in 1714 to Sir William Trumbull. Sir William Trumbull of Easthampstead, Secretary of State in the time of King William III, was succeeded in 1716 by his son William, who died in 1760, leaving an only daughter Mary wife of the Hon. Martin Sandys, fourth son of Samuel Lord Sandys. Their daughter and heiress Mary, wife of Arthur Hill, second Marquess of Downshire, was created Baroness Sandys in 1802 and died in 1836. Her eldest son Arthur Blundel Sandys Trumbull Hill, third Marquess of Downshire, seems to have succeeded to West Shefford before her death, as he was holding it in 1810, and it has since descended with the title. Arthur Wills John Wellington Blundell Trumbull Hill, sixth Marquess of Downshire, sold by auction all the lands here a few years ago, but the manorial rights were reserved.

Lordship account 2

Five hides of land in this parish were granted in the time of Henry I to the priory of Sherborne in Hampshire by Hawise wife of Henry de Port, the founder of the priory, and were confirmed to it by her son John. The priory held these lands until 1462, when Edward IV granted it and its endowments to the hospital of St. Julian in Southampton. Eleven years later it was granted to Eton College. The priory was afterwards restored to the hospital at Southampton, which had been granted in 1347 by King Edward III and Philippa his consort to the Provost and Fellows of Queen's College, Oxford, to whom these lands still belong.