Marshwood History

Below you will find extracts from The History of Dorset by John Hutchins. The narrative takes us from Galfridus de Maundevile in Henry the Third’s time up to John Tatchell-Bullen in 1865 who is remembered on a plaque in the chimney breast by the front door. We are currently trying to find out more history of the house itself ...

2 6 0 HISTORY OF DORSET. is now a manor, farm, and hamlet, and tithing; it was anciently an honour, the only one in this county, and the head of a barony. 11 Hen. VI. Anne Countess of March held one-third of the hundred of Marshwood.c It takes its name from the marshy soil of the vale in which it lies, and to which it gives name. Here were two parks, the largest of which was called Marshwood Park; the other, adjoining to the former, called Brekelade or Crekelade Park. Though this place was of great repute not long after the Conquest, yet we find no mention of it in Domesday Book. " Behind these hills (viz. Charmouth) lieth a little territorie, called Mershwood vale, rich and. well stored with woods, by meanes whereof it affordeth convenient dwellings. The principall place in it is called Mershwood, which gave it the name, and was antientlie of much accompt, as the two parkes adjoineing seeme to affirme. This Mershwood was the barony of Galfridus de. Maundevile, who, in Henry the Third's time, helde fourteene knight's fees and an halfe in this tracke, and whose ancestours helde the manour of Hardington in Somerset, as the wordes of the recorde are, de conquestu Anglia. But John Maundevile, his grandson by his son John, 33 Edw. I. alienated the honour of Mershwood, with the hundred of Whitchurch appertaining to it, to f Robert le Fitzpaine” whose grandson Robert sold it to John Maltravers of Lichet Maltravers, who forfeited it to King Edward III. who granted it to William de Montacute, Earl of Sarum, who re- granted it to Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and by his heiress Philippa it came to the Mortimers, Earls of March; thence to the Crown, "unto whose nearest allies [relations] it was ever granted by succeedeing princes, untill of late years; but little doth now remaine at Mershwood worthie the honour of the place and the owners of it, the parkes beeing disparked, the names dispersed, and the house onlie able by ruines to show it has been such.”f The first lords of this place, the ancient family of the Mandevilles or de Magnavilla, came in with the Conqueror. A branch of this family was 5 Stephen created Earl of Essex, and became extinct 2 Rich. I. Those of Marshwood were barons of that place, and were very considerable. in their time for their large possessions in England and Normandy. Galfrid de Mandeville owed 100 marks, to have trial in the King's court concerning his inheritance in England and Normandy, which Henry de Tilli took from him; and when he shall have seisin, to give 400 rnarks.g William de Mandeville gave. the King 100 marks of silver, to have a trial in the King's court upon that suit which his father began against Henry de Tilly for the honour of Mers- wude, on condition to give 100 marks if he lost the suit, and 500 if he gained it.h This Henry de Tilli, 6 Rich. I. paid 141. 15s. scutage for .the' redemption of the King.i 7 John, the sheriff Marshwood, Mershwood, Mersewood, Merswde, accounted for 19l. 6s. 8d. for fourteen fees, a half, and a fourth part, for the honour of Henry lies four miles north-west from Whitchurch, and c Fin. Conc. Hunter, 85. d Testa de Neville. g Mag. Rot. 7 Rich. I. rot. 18, Dors. & Somers. Madox, Hist. Excheq. c. iii. p. 68. h Dugdale, Baron. vol. i. 206. Mag. Rot. 3 Joh. rot. 3 Dors. & Somers. & Rot. de Oblatis anno 1 Johann I Mag. Rot. 6 Rich. I. rot. 3, Dors. & Somers. WHITCHU RCH CANONICORUM. 261 de Tilly.a It appears by the great roll for Cornwall, making Robert and Geffrey, brothers and con- 6 John, that he had lands in that county.b temporaries, to be possessed of the same estates, Robert, son of William, recovered it.c For, 13 and to die the same year, cannot be well John, he accounted to the King for 1831. 6s. 8d. reconciled. But our records give a further and five palfreys, and three Norway goshawks for it. different account of this John. 4 Edw. I. John de By indenture signed by King John, dated 24 Mandeville held, inter alia, the manors of May, 1207, a. r. 8, he is declared to be lawful Marswood vale and Chidiock in Whitchurch descendant and right heir of Geffrey de Mande- hundred, of the King in chief, by knight's service; ville the elder, lord of the barony of Merswude, also certain fees in Morteshorne, Pyneford, and and accordingly that barony is ordered to be Weston, co. Dorset.h 33 Edw. I. it was found not restored to him: and he paid a very considerable to the King's detriment if he gave leave to J. de fine for it, 10 John. He was a great benefactor to Mandevile to enfeoff Robert le Fitzpain. and the church of Whitchurch. 2 Hen. III, he had the Isabel his wife, and their heirs for ever, of his barony of Funtell, co. Wilts, which by his manor of Marshwood, which is held of the King consent and that of the other heirs had been in chief, and the hundred of Whitchurch belongs resigned to King John. 19 and 20 Hen. III. to it.k There remains to the said John, besides this, Robert de Mandeville paid 53s. 4d. for the the manor of Coker, co. Somerset, which belongs scutage of two knight's fees in Dorset.d 38 Hen. to the hundred of Coker. 7 Edw. I. he paid 29l. III. on the collection of the aid for making the 10s. for fourteen fees on the scutage of Wales.l 34 King's eldest son a knight, he paid 29l. for four- Edw. I. Robert, son of John de Mandeville, was teen knight's fees, a half, and one fourth, outlawed, and the manors of East and West Coker belonging to this honour. 30 Hen. III. he paid were in the King's hands for a year and a day.m 14l. 15s. for fourteen fees of this honour, on the In 1282 John de 1VIaundeville of the county aid for marrying the King's eldest daughter. 48 of Dorset, serviens, acknowledges the service of Hen. III, he was in the battle of Lewes amongst two knight's fees, performed by himself and one the rebellious barons; but, 49 Hen. III. had his serviens during eighty days, on the expedition pardon, which is the last account we find of against the Welsh, the muster at Rhuddlan on him.e Sunday the morrow of St. Peter ad Vincula. In Geffrey, supposed to be his brother (for he was 1294 he was summoned to the muster at Ports- his contemporary), was, 17 John, in arms against mouth (Sept. 1) to perform military service in the King, on which his manors of Petersfield, co. person in Gascony. In 1300 he was returned Hants, and Mapledurham, co. Oxford, were from the counties of Somerset and Dorset as seised. 18 John, he was excommunicated by the holding lands, &c. to the amount of 40l. yearly Pope for that transgression. He held the lordships value and upwards, and as such summoned to of Mershwood and Chidiock, of the King in the muster at Carlisle on the Nativity of St. John chief, by barony and service of two knights in the the Baptist (June 24) to perform military service King's army, and sold them to John Gervase and against the Scots. In 1306 he was summoned to his heirs, reserving 20l. per annum rent.f About service against the Scots, or to appear at the 42 Hen. III. being in arms with the barons, he Exchequer to compound for the same. The mus- sold his manor of Sutton, co. Wilts, to Dru de ter at Carlisle in fifteen days of the Nativity of Barentine. He died 49 Hen. III. or before. He held St. John the Baptist. also of that King the hundred of Whitchurch by In 1309 he was again summoned to service barony.g against the Scots; and in 1313 obtained a pardon as John his son succeeded, to whom Dru de Ba- an adherent of the Earl of Lancaster for his rentine gave the lordship of Sutton, before-men- participation in the death of Gaveston, and the tioned, in frank-marriage, with Agnes his daugh- disturbances occasioned thereby. In 1316 he was ter." 4 Edw. I. and. 53 Hen. III. he had livery certified by the sheriff as lord of the township of of the land his father died seised of, and left Buckhorn Weston, co. Dorset, where see some issue, by the said Agnes, one daughter named further notices of this family. Joan.i Here Dugdale closes the account of this “Having already remarked that Dugdale is not family, which does not seem very exact: his

The Pedigree of MANDEVILLE of Marshwood. Arms.—Ga. three lions passant in pale arg, debruised with a bendlet az. 1...... ==Galfriclus de Mandeville, Sen. baron de Marshwood, t. Hen. II.==……. ______

Robert de Mandeville.==…….. Radulf de Mandeville, baron of Marshwood. by grant of King==…. Henry II. because he was a better ______knight than ---- his brother. ______Galfrid de Mandeville de Crocre,==……… Dionysia, ==William, fil. Johannis, Senechal of Normandy. [f.,] Coker,] in the reign of Richard I

John de Mandeville, 10 King John==…… ... Henry de Tilli, 6 Ric. I. 6, 7 John.

Robert de Mandeville.

a b c Mag. Rot. 7 John, rot. 2, Devon. Madox, Hist. Excheq. a. xv. p. 411; and Baron. Angl. b. i. p. 65. Dugdale, Baron. vol. i. 206. Galfrid, living 17 John, died 49 Hen. III. or before. d Testa de Neville. e Dods. vol. xv. go. 4179. Mag. Rot. vol. xc. 5031. f Esch. 4 Edw. I. n. 48; where Chidioc seems to be mispelt Eddiote. g h Nomina Lib. Tenant. Dorset. Esch. i Dugdale, Rot. Fin. 53 Hen. III. m. 5. k Inq. ad quod damnum. l Dodsw, vol. xvi. No. 4158. Mag. Rot. m Esch, VOL. II. 3u 2 62 HISTORY OF DORSET. very accurate in his account of this family, I have 45 Edw. III. amongst the patent rolls is the added," says Hutchins, "a pedigree different from exemplification of a fine levied between Lionel de his. He quotes a record, 13 John, relative to that I Antwerp the king's son querent, and Robert Fitz- am about to give, which contains a different payne, and Ela his wife, deforcients, concerning the account of this family." manor of Mershewood, and the advowson of the "Robert de Mandeville owed 380l. five marks, church there, and the hundred of White-church, co. five palfreys, and four Norway hawks [osturos Dorset.e The Earl of Clarence died seised of it 42 Norrenses], to have the barony of Merswude, Edw. III. By his heiress Philippa it came to the which Henry de Tylli holds, and unjustly took from Mortimers, Earls of March, whose heiress brought it the predecessors of the said Robert, whose right it to Richard of Coningsburg, Earl of Cambridge, from was, as appeared by the inquiry and oaths of twenty whom it passed to the crown and his grandson King jurors, who set forth the following pedigree, and Edward IV. After which it was often granted by the add, that the said Robert and his heirs, for the said Crown to some of the Royal family, or great fine, shall hold the said barony with its favourites. appurtenances, and he shall not be disseised or 48 Edw. III. Catherine de la Pole releases to impleaded, unless by a writ de recto, for which he Edmund Earl of March and his wife, all her right in shall pay yearly 100l. and two palfreys.”a this manor. She was probably lessee.f 2 Rich. II. 9 Edw. II. Robert Fitzpain at his death held, inter William Guldone of Milborne Port, and Alice his alia, with Isabella his wife, the manor of wife, were allowed to hold a messuage, one toft, Mershwode, and the hundred of Whitchurch.b 20 100 a. of arable, 12 a. of meadow, six a. of wood, Edw. III. and also at his death, 28 Edw. III. Robert and 1s. rent in Mershwode.g Fitzpain held here a fee which John de Mandeville 7 Rich. II. Lucia, daughter and heir of Geoffrey formerly held. 33 Edw. III. Ela, relict, of R. atte Brygge, held a tenement in Whytechirche, and Fitzpain at her death held this manor and the manor of Merschwode, co. Dorset.h advowson.b 11 Rich. II. John de Chidyoke held, inter alia, John Maltravers, jun. of Lichet, purchased the Mershwode manor.i reversion of this manor, &c. of Robert Fitzpain. 9 15 Rich. II. Margaret, wife of Hugh de Cour- Edw. III. after his attainder the king, pro bono ser- tenay, late Earl of Devon, held Marsshewod vale vicio, gave to William de Montacute, the royal crest manor inter alia.k of an eagle (timbream R. de aquila), to be borne by 22 Rich. II. Roger de Mortimer, Earl of March, him and his heirs for ever, and being willing further held inter alia, the manor of Mershewode vale, co. that the same William, as well himself as his heirs in Dorset.l estate and dignity, might be able to maintain the 10 Hen. VI. three parts of this manor and the aforesaid crest with becoming honour in future times, hundred of Whitchurch were granted, inter alia, to the king granted the manors of Wodeton and Anne, wife of Edmund Earl of March. 1 Edw. IV. Mershewode vale together with the members and and 1 Rich. III. the manor was granted for life to other the appurtenances, and all other manors, lands, Cecilia, Duchess of York.m 9 Hen. VIII. it was in tenements, and hundreds, with appurtenances, in the crown: for, at Michaelmas that year, Thomas Somerset, Dorset, and Wilts, which Robert Fitz-Payn. Thornhull, the king's receiver for Dorset and and Ela his wife hold, that after their death they Somerset, acknowledges, in his account, to have should remain to the said William and his heirs, received of John Raaff, bailiff of Marshwood, de together with the knight's fees, &c. rendering therefor exitu officii sui, 11l. 2s. 9d. for perquisites of court to the king, wheresoever he may be within his realm, for the last year, and charges for the annual fee of a sword of the price of 40d. every Christmas for all the said Raaff, keeper of the park at Merswood, 6l. services, and he granted to the same William, and his 1s. 4d. 31 Hen. VIII. this manor of Marshwood heirs, return of the king's briefs, and view of frank- vale, with the parks of Marshwood and Crekelade, pledge in the same manors.c and the office of the feodery of Marshwood, and the Coker says, King "Edward the Third, when out of hundred of Whit-church, the possession of the late his great affection he gave unto Will. de Montacute, Queen Jane, were granted to Queen Katharine Earle of Sarum, an eagle for his crest, which himselfe Howard; and 35 Hen. VIII. to Queen Katharine Parr had formerlie borne; gave him alsoe, for the for life; 1 Edw. VI. to Edward Duke of Somerset; 7 maintainance of it, amongst other manours, this Edw. VI. to John Duke of Northumberland; and, 1 Mershwood, with Woodton adjoine- Mary, to Gertrude, Marchioness of Exeter, who by ing unto it; all which, with the crest, the said Earle will dated 27 Aug. 4 and 5 Philip and Mary, gave regranted with much honour unto his god- the same to Anthony Harvey, esq. for life, sonne Leonell, Duke of Clarence, third sonne of the with remainder to his daughter Margaret, wife of same King Edward; from whose onlie daughter by Amias Poulett, esq. son and heir apparent of Sir the Mortimers, Earles of March, it came again in Hugh Poulett, knt. ; but, on the death of the short time to the crown." marchioness, Harvey and his daughter became 29 Edw. III. The king committed to William de seized under her will of two parts in three only,” Byngham the custody of the manor of Merss-wode, the other third part descending to her cousin and co. Dorset, during the minority of Lionel heir John Baker, who had licence, 27 Eliz. to the king's son, together with the knight's fees, &c. to alienate the same to Sir Amias Poulett, who held hold during the king's pleasure, and to answer for it at his death 31 Eliz. Sir Anthony Poulett, knt. the issues, &c.d eldest son of Sir Amias and Margaret, on the death of his father and mother, became pos- a Madox. Hist. Excheq. c. xiv. 339. Mag. Rot. 10. John, rot. 11, b. Dors. & Somers. bEsch. c Abb. Rot. Orig. II. 99. Rot. Pat. 10 Edw. III. m. d Abb. Rot. Orig. II. 239. e Exemplificatio in Rot. Pat. anno 45 Edw. III. f Rot. Claus. p. 1. m. 14. g Esch. h Esch. iEsch. k Ibid. 1 Esch. m Rot. Pat. n By the Statute of Wills, 32 Hen. VIII. c. 1, explained by 34 Hen. VIII. c. 5, those who were seised in fee simple (except

WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM. 263 sessed of the whole manor, &c. and transmitted it freeholds, or let out to tenants for three lives, or for to his descendants. In 1654, Lord Poulet's old rents term of years. The lord claims right of royalty from of this manor, value 501. were sequestered. In Lewsdon-hill to the sea; but this claim has been 1790, the manor and court leet belonged to John, frequently contested by the possessors of manors Earl Poulet, but were afterwards purchased by John and other property within the hundred, and Bullen, esq. under whose will they are in 1865 the particularly by the lord of Wotton Abbas, whose property of his great nephew John Tatchell-Bullen, early grants from the crown have been found on esq. a minor, son of John Tatchell-Bullen, esq. the trials at law and in equity, to contain equal late owner, who perished by an unfortunate privileges, in respect to manorial rights, with those accident with his own gun in 1863. which have been exercised by the lord of the There are the remains of a castle at Marshwood, hundred within his own manor of Marshwood. At (probably a Norman keep tower) consisting of the present the paramount right seems to be confined basement story of a building about 40 feet by 20 to the court leet, where the civil officers of the feet internally, the walls of rubble work, about ten hundred are annually chosen; the owners of the feet in thickness. Earthworks surrounding it are still inferior franchises being left at liberty to inclose visible; a wide ditch, nearly filled up, incloses an their waste lands, and to take to their own use the area of about two acres. The foundations of the casual profits of their manors, such as wreck of the ancient chapel of Marshwood, consisting of nave, sea, treasure trove, estrays, and the various appen- chancel, and tower, were discovered within this dages of manorial property. Few gentry ever area in 1839. In 1840 the site of the chapel was resided in this tract. changed, and a new parochial chapel was erected by subscription, and aid from the church-building Societies, adjoining the village of Marshallshay, one of the hamlets of this parish. This edifice was consecrated Oct. 6, 1841.

Marshwood Vale,

This vale includes the parishes of Whitchurch, Bettescombe, and Pillesdon, and is bounded by Lewsdon hill on the north, by Pillesdon-hill on the west, by Lambert Castle on the south- west, and by the sea on the south. It extends into the parishes of Broadwindsor, Netherbury, Simondsbury, Stoke Abbas, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wotton Fitzpayne, and Chideock. A perambulation of it was made in the reign of Edward I. but it is not now to be found in the Tower. The whole vale is a deep inclosed coun- try, formerly hardly passable by travellers but in dry summers, and consists chiefly of pasture. It abounds with wood, and great plenty of game; and is, in general, a rich and fertile country; but, in the lowest parts of it, near Marshwood, the soil is a poor cold clay. Several sm.all springs rise under Lewsdon, Pillesdon, and Lambert castle hills, which form a body of water at Whitchurch bridge, falling into the sea at Charmouth. The greatest part of this extensive manor belonged, in 1790, to Earl Paulet, and was then cantoned out into estates, seldom exceeding 50 or 60l. per annum, and either

feme covertes, &c.) were enabled to devise by will to any other person, except to bodies corporate, two-thirds of their lands held in chivalry, and the whole of those held in socage. See Blackstone's Commentaries, Book ii. chap. 23. a He was made Serjeant at Law 1554, King and Queen's Serjeant 1555, and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1 Eliz. A description of the grand feast given by him and others in the Inner Temple Hall, 16 Oct. 1555, in consequence of their call to the degree of Serjeants is to be found in Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, pp. 128, 135. What will be thought somewhat extraordinary at the present day, a part of the repast consisted of swans and cranes, which were rated at 10s. a piece. The swan and crane occur as common articles of food in most of the entertainments of that age. See Peck's Desid. Curios. Lib.vii. p. 248, and Nichols's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, passim.