Review of the “Survey of West Country Manors 1525”

Review of the “Survey of West Country Manors 1525”

This survey was compiled in 1525 of the manors held by the Marchioness of Dorset. This lady was one of the largest landowners in the country who not only held manors in Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Cornwall but also in Bedfordshire, Cumberland, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, Northamptonshire, Warwick and Yorkshire.

This CD covers the manors held in the West-country (over sixty) in just under 200 pages, giving various details relating to the various properties in each manor and their tenants. Below is an abstract from the section relating to Porlock.

George Almyswurthe Joan his wife and John Almyswurthe son of William Almyswurthe hold there one tenement for the term of their lives and for the life of the longest liver according to the customs of the manor there by grant from Richard Phellypps surveyor to the most noble lady Cecily Marchioness of Dorset, Lady Haryngdon and Bonvyle and from Master Nicholas Chaunterell clerk surveyor to the most noble lord Thomas Marquis of Dorset son and heir apparent of the said lady. And to the said tenement belong 4 closes containing 17 acres of which 10 are arable worth each yearly 12d and 5 are pasture worth each yearly 18d and 2 are meadow worth yearly 5/4d. And common for 240 sheep and 20 beasts and 2 mares on Porlocke Moere. There belong also to the said tenement 3 virgates of meadow worth yearly 2/- And they give to the said lady for a fine 40/- payable in 2 accounts and to the said lord for confirmation 13/4d payable in the third account by surety of Walter Popham and pay yearly for all 12/3d viz for the tenement 12/- and for the Wodweyghte 2d and for the Ferneheu 1d. At will and paid for a fine temp. Fitzharbard 10/- and temp.Rovyngton 26/8d.

Robert Ivett and John his son hold there one tenement for the term of their lives according to the customs of the manor by grant from the aforesaid surveyors. And to the said tenement belong 4 closes containing 15 acres and one virgate of which 5 are arable worth each yearly 12d and 10 and one virgate are pasture worth each yearly 18d. And common for 140 sheep and 10 beasts on Porlocke And they give to the lady for a fine 26/8d payable in two accounts and to the lord for confirmation 9/- payable in the third account. And they pay yearly for all 9/3d viz for the tenement 9/- and for the Woud Weyzghte 2d and for the Fernheu 1d At will and paid for a fine temp. Fitzharbard 10/- and temp. Rovyngton 26/8d.

Henry Selwyll holds there by allowance from John Fitzharbard one tenement to which belong 7 closes containing 21 acres and 3 virgates of which 6 are arable worth each yearly 12d and 13 acres and one virgate are pasture worth each yearly 18d and acres are meadow whereof half an acre lies in the Lordes Marsche worth each yearly 2/8d. And common for 160 sheep and 15 beasts and 2 mares in Porlocke Marsche. And he pays yearly for all 8/3d viz for the said tenement and for the 2d and the Ferneheu 1d. At will and paid for a fine temp. Fitzharbard 10/-

If you would like a copy of this book on CD it is available at www.westcountrybooks.com price £7.50 (£6.00 for download)

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