MANORS AND OTHER ESTATES.
Pawlett,
Stretcholt, and Walpole, separately held in 1066,
were all held by Walter of Douai in 1086.
PAWLETT, later PAWLETT GAUNTS, (fn. 38)
was held by Saemer in 1066 and by Rademer of
Walter of Douai in 1086. (fn. 39) Walter died c. 1107
and his heir, Robert, who rebelled in 1136, (fn. 40)
seems to have lost the main part of his estate
which passed to Robert, son of Robert FitzRoy,
earl of Gloucester. Before 1147 Robert gave it
to Robert FitzHarding (d. 1171). (fn. 41) Robert's
younger son, also Robert (d. 1194), (fn. 42) was succeeded by his son Maurice (d. 1230), who held
Pawlett of the Crown in 1212. (fn. 43) Maurice's heir
was Robert de Gournay, son of his half-sister
Eve. Robert died in 1269 and was followed by
his son Anselm (d. 1286) and by Anselm's son
John (d. 1291) in turn. John's heir was his
daughter Elizabeth, wife of John ap Adam (d.
1311). (fn. 44) Their son Thomas was acknowledged
as lord of Pawlett in 1335 (fn. 45) but no further trace
of this lordship has been found.
Maurice, son of Robert FitzHarding, known
as Maurice de Gaunt, appears to have promised
to give his estate to St. Mark's hospital, Bristol,
a promise fulfilled by Robert de Gournay. (fn. 46) The
manor was confirmed to the hospital in 1232. (fn. 47)
The hospital was dissolved in 1539 and the
manor was let in 1540 and sold before 1544 to
Richard Cooper or Cupper of London. (fn. 48) Richard died in 1566 and was followed by his son
John (cr. Bt. 1622, d. 1631). (fn. 49) Sir Anthony
Ashley Cooper, son of the last, redeemed the
manor from the Court of Wards in 1648. (fn. 50) He
was created Baron Ashley in 1661 and earl of
Shaftesbury in 1672 and died in 1683. (fn. 51) The
manor descended with the earldom of Shaftesbury until the death of Anthony, the 5th earl, in
1811. It then passed to his only daughter Barbara, coheir through her mother of the barony
of de Mauley. Lady Barbara and her successors
bought most of the other estates in the parish.
She married William Ponsonby (cr. Baron de
Mauley 1838, d. 1855) and died in 1844 leaving
as heir her son Charles. Charles was followed at
his death in 1896 by his sons William (d. 1918)
and the Revd. Maurice Ponsonby in turn.
Maurice made over the manor in 1919 to his son
Hubert William Ponsonby, (fn. 52) who sold part in
1920 and the remainder in 1922. (fn. 53) The lordship
passed with the Manor House to H. Carver in
1922, W. W. Buncombe c. 1930, R. M. Smith
c. 1948, and to Bass Brewery c. 1954. Bass sold
the house and lordship in 1981 to Mr. A. Hunt,
owner in 1986. (fn. 54)
A house recorded in 1299 (fn. 55) had an oratory
licensed in 1338. (fn. 56) It was known as Gaunt's
Court from 1474 until 1593 and may have been
divided in the 1520s. The chapel chamber was
still so named in 1593. (fn. 57) The house was still
standing in 1658 but had been replaced by 1780
by Gaunt's Farm on a site slightly further
north. (fn. 58) That in turn was rebuilt as cottages in
the 19th century which were abandoned c. 1970.
Manor House, later Manor Hotel, is a villa built
for the agent of the estate shortly before 1861
when it was known as the Steward's House. (fn. 59) It
was sold in 1922. (fn. 60)
ALKESEYE was held by Robert FitzHarding
in 1163, by his son Maurice (d. 1191), and by
the latter's son Robert who died in 1220 without
issue. (fn. 61) The later descent is not certain, but
Maurice de Gaunt (d. 1230) granted land there,
lately held by Geoffrey of Erleigh, to Hugh
Trivet. Hugh or a namesake was alive in 1277
and was succeeded by James Trivet who gave
the land with the services of free tenants to St.
Mark's hospital, Bristol, in 1315. The land was
then probably absorbed into Pawlett Gaunts
manor. (fn. 62)
Cannington priory held YEARSEY or Yawesye, probably acquired in 1382, (fn. 63) until the
Dissolution. (fn. 64) It was granted to Edward Rogers
in 1538 and descended with Cannington. (fn. 65)
Thomas Grindenham held land in 1394 in East
Stretcholt, later called GOUNDENHAM,
which had passed by 1412 (fn. 66) to John Goundenham (d. by 1438) and by 1451 to Sibyl, daughter
and heir of N. Goundenham and wife of John
Kyghley. (fn. 67) Kyghley was still alive in 1474. (fn. 68)
Goundenham may have been part of the estate
which Joan, daughter of John Speke and wife of
Sir Thomas Brooke, held of St. Mark's hospital,
Bristol, at her death in 1527 and which in 1528
her son Hugh agreed should be assigned to
Nicholas Halswell and his wife Margery, Joan
Brooke's niece. (fn. 69) The property descended with
Halswell in Goathurst until 1602 when another
Nicholas Halswell exchanged it with John Cornish. (fn. 70) By 1660 it had passed to William Bacon, (fn. 71)
and as Stretcholt farm (fn. 72) the estate descended
with Maunsel in North Petherton (fn. 73) until the
death c. 1731 of Alexander Seymour, who left
Stretcholt farm to his sister Eleanor. (fn. 74) Eleanor
had probably died without issue before 1756
when the estate was held by her nephew Alexander Seymour Gapper of Maunsel, (fn. 75) who sold
off some land. (fn. 76) Stretcholt farm, however, appears to have been conveyed to Gapper's uncle
Francis Seymour (d. 1761) and passed to Henry
(d. 1805) and Henry Seymour (d. 1849). (fn. 77) It was
later purchased by Henry Smith Sparke (d. c.
1904). (fn. 78) Ownership has not been traced further.
A capital messuage was recorded in 1602; (fn. 79) it
was probably replaced by the early 18th-century
farm house known as Seymours.
In 1508 Robert Brent held an estate of Pawlett
Gaunts manor which came to be known as
PAWLETT manor. (fn. 80) It may have originated in
the holding of Hugh Godwin in 1286 (fn. 81) and it
descended like Godwinsbower manor in Bridgwater. (fn. 82) John Hodges, kinsman and heir of John
Brent, sold his estate in Pawlett in 1694 to
Edward Perrot and Gilbert Whitehall, and they
sold to John Gooding. The land, no longer
referred to as a manor, passed to the Good
family, (fn. 83) and part was acquired by William
Ponsonby, lord of Pawlett Gaunts, in 1832. (fn. 84)
The part of his lordship which Robert, son of
Walter of Douai, retained after c. 1136 passed c.
1200 like Bridgwater manor to William
Brewer, (fn. 85) was held by his heirs as 2½ fees in
Pawlett, Horsey, and Bower in 1234, (fn. 86) and descended like Bower to the duchy of Lancaster. (fn. 87)
William of Horsey held a mesne tenancy in
Pawlett as at Bower in 1234 and his successors
held the fee of the duchy in 1401-2. (fn. 88)
The terre tenancy was held by the Pawlett
family. Walter of Pawlett was succeeded by his
son William in his estate at Pawlett in 1242-3. (fn. 89)
William of Pawlett was one of the lords there in
1316 (fn. 90) and by 1324 had perhaps been succeeded
by John, son of Martin of Pawlett. (fn. 91) John, whose
family became known as Paulet, was still alive
in 1344. (fn. 92) Another John Paulet (d. c. 1382) (fn. 93) was
followed by Sir John Paulet (d. 1391), (fn. 94) whose
widow Elizabeth held PAWLETT in 1412. (fn. 95)
Their son John and his sons John and Thomas
were all dead by 1413, (fn. 96) and the manor passed
to Sir John's younger son Thomas (fn. 97) and descended with Rhode in North Petherton to Sir
Amias Paulet, later Poulett (d. 1538). (fn. 98) His son
Sir Hugh sold the manor to John Newport in
1548. (fn. 99)
John Newport died in 1564 and his son John (fn. 1)
under age and without issue c. 1566, when the
estate escheated to the Crown. (fn. 2) Lucy Newport,
widow of John's brother Emmanuel, and her
sons had recovered the manor by 1604 when they
sold it to George Dodington. (fn. 3) Pawlett descended
with Dodington manor, except for the years
1652 to c. 1660 when it belonged to the Freake
family by purchase after confiscation. (fn. 4) In 1802
the lordship was put up for sale (fn. 5) following the
sale of most of the land, (fn. 6) and was not recorded
again.
John Paulet was granted license in 1344 to have
mass in his oratory. (fn. 7) The house was possibly on
the site of the later Pawlett Farm which was sold
to Richard Doidge in 1802. Doidge sold it to
Lady Barbara Ashley-Cooper in 1814 (fn. 8) and it was
renamed South Farm. (fn. 9) The present house dates
from the late 18th century.
STRETCHOLT was held in 1066 by Eadweald and Leofgar and in 1086 by Rainwald of
Walter or Walscin of Douai. (fn. 10) Stretcholt was
later divided between Bampton and Castle Cary
honors. (fn. 11) One half evidently descended with
Bridgwater in Bampton honor but continued in
the possession of Fulk Pagnell (d. 1208) and
passed to his son William (d. 1228) and to
William's son William (d. 1248). Auda, sister
and heir of the last and wife of John de Ballon,
died in 1261, and in 1267 the barony passed to
John de Cogan, heir of Christian, daughter of
Fulk Pagnell (d. 1208). (fn. 12) John held ½ fee at
EAST STRETCHOLT in 1284-5 (fn. 13) and died in
1302. (fn. 14) No further reference to the overlordship
has been found.
John de Marisco or Marsh held a mesne
tenancy of John de Cogan in 1284-5 (fn. 15) possibly
in succession to William de Marisco. (fn. 16) Stephen
Marsh held it in 1343 (fn. 17) but no further reference
has been found.
In 1284-5 John Cote was the terre tenant of
East Stretcholt, where he or a namesake held
land in 1242-3. (fn. 18) William Trivet's holding in
1303 may be the messuage and carucate of land
held by knight service of Stephen Marsh in 1343
by Thomas Gournay through his wife Joan,
widow of Thomas Trivet (d. 1316). (fn. 19) The subsequent history of the estate has not been traced.
Land at East Stretcholt, said in 1623 to be held
of Hendley, (fn. 20) probably Robert Hensleigh (d.
1623), owner of Syndercombe in Clatworthy, (fn. 21)
descended with Syndercombe through the Periam and Lethbridge families to Sir Thomas
Buckler Lethbridge, Bt. (d. 1849), who bought
the adjoining West Stretcholt estate. (fn. 22) The combined holding known as Stretcholt farm or
Lethbridge's (fn. 23) passed to Sir John Hesketh Lethbridge and to his son John Periam Lethbridge.
The farm was sold to Lord de Mauley in 1862. (fn. 24)
Further land, also said to be held of Hendley,
was held by knight service by Sir Nicholas
Smith (d. 1622). It passed to his son Nicholas
(d. 1629), Nicholas's son George (d. 1631), and
Sir Nicholas's second son George. (fn. 25) Possibly
held by Mr. Selleck in 1658, (fn. 26) the estate appears
to have been divided. Part was in possession of
George Balch of Bridgwater in 1723 when it was
settled on the marriage of his son John; (fn. 27) John
was probably dead by 1731 (fn. 28) leaving a son
Robert. (fn. 29) The estate descended with Nether
Stowey manor (fn. 30) until 1802 when George Balch
sold most of the estate known as Stretcholt farm
in small lots. (fn. 31) The remaining lands continued
to descend with Nether Stowey manor until
1847 when they were sold to the de Mauleys and
held with Pawlett Gaunts. (fn. 32)
The division of Walter of Douai's estates,
possibly between the sons of his two marriages,
brought part of Stretcholt, later WEST
STRETCHOLT manor, into the hands of
Ralph Lovel (fl. 1121) and into Castle Cary
honor. (fn. 33) It was held of Hugh Lovel (d. 1291) in
1285-7 (fn. 34) but no further trace of the overlordship
has been found. Sir Adam of Bawdrip held a
mesne tenancy in 1285 when the terre tenant was
Raymond Malet. (fn. 35) Also in the late 13th century
Sabina, widow of Jordan of Bradney, granted an
estate at Stretcholt to her son Humphrey. (fn. 36) The
descent has not been traced further.
In 1412 Thomas Michell held land at West
Stretcholt (fn. 37) which seems to have descended with
East Chilton in Durleigh until 1663 (fn. 38) when
Gregory Hockmore sold it to Humphrey Steare.
Steare died in 1692 when the land passed to
Robert Steare, already owner of property there. (fn. 39)
Robert was succeeded by his son Samuel (d.
1745). A dispute between the heirs of Richard
Limbery (d. 1774), to whom Steare had devised
his land, and Steare's legatees concluded with
its sale and division in 1797. (fn. 40) During the 19th
century part was acquired by Sir Thomas Lethbridge, Bt., and part, known as Black Rock, by
the Revd. George Trevelyan. (fn. 41) Later in the
century the Trevelyan holding was bought by
the de Mauleys. (fn. 42)
In the later 13th century a family named de la
Grove was settled in the parish. (fn. 43) In 1325-6
Robert de la Grove held land there (fn. 44) and William
Grove was succeeded by Simon Ellis (d. by
1474). (fn. 45) John Strangeways owned an estate at
GROVE in West Stretcholt in 1590, (fn. 46) which by
1620 was held by George Dodington. (fn. 47) The
property descended with Dodington manor, and
was augmented by other lands in West Stretcholt, (fn. 48) but in 1800-1 it was divided and sold,
mostly to Thomas Parker. (fn. 49) William Dod purchased Parker's estate and other land in 1808 and
1810, (fn. 50) and his son, also William, sold Dod's
farm to Lord de Mauley, lord of Pawlett Gaunts
manor, in 1853. (fn. 51)
Edward Brit held WALPOLE in 1066 and
Rademer of Walter of Douai in 1086. (fn. 52) An estate
there, held of Castle Cary honor in 1371 (fn. 53) and
in 1408 (fn. 54) may be traced to a holding shared in
1242-3 between three daughters of Gerard of
Bratton (fn. 55) which appears to have been acquired
by the Bawdrip family and which by 1355 was
known as BAWDRIP AND WALPOLE
manor. (fn. 56) Dower there had been assigned to Joan,
wife of Sir John Durburgh (d. 1352) and previously widow of John of Bawdrip, heir to Adam
of Bawdrip (d. 1296). (fn. 57) In 1355 the same land
was assigned by John, son and heir of Hugh of
Bawdrip, to his mother Orange. (fn. 58) The property
descended with Bawdrip manor and in 1542 it
may have passed, with Washford in St. Decumans, (fn. 59) to Sir John Wyndham, who owned
Walpole manor in 1552. (fn. 60) The manor then descended with other Wyndham estates (fn. 61) until
1703 when it was conveyed to Sir Thomas
Wroth, Bt., probably in trust for Edward Raymond. (fn. 62) Edward died before 1746 leaving
Walpole to George Raymond (d. by 1748) whose
son Edward sold it to Sir Charles KemeysTynte. Sir Charles in 1753 sold it to Mary Jeane,
widow. (fn. 63)
James Coker had land in Pawlett in 1350 (fn. 64)
which may have descended by 1461 to Margaret,
daughter of John Coker and widow of Sir Alexander Hody. Margaret's property was said to be
held of William le Eyre. (fn. 65) The holding descended, with West Bower in Bridgwater, to Edward
Seymour, duke of Somerset, on whose attainder
in 1552 it reverted to the Crown. (fn. 66) It was granted
in 1553 to Thomas Sydney and Nicholas Halswell and descended with Halswell in
Goathurst (fn. 67) until 1746 when most of the land
was sold to Edmund Jeane (d. 1754). (fn. 68) Edmund's son John also inherited the Walpole
estates which his mother Mary bought in 1753
and died in 1790 leaving Walpole to his younger
daughter Mary who in 1794 married Wyndham
Goodden. (fn. 69)
In 1798 Goodden purchased more land in
Walpole and in 1802 the remainder of the Tynte
estate there, creating an estate called WALPOLE manor in 1807. (fn. 70) By his death in 1839
Goodden had reorganized Walpole into two
large farms known as the Western and Eastern;
the house on the latter, now Walpole Farm, was
said to be newly erected in 1844. Goodden left
Walpole to be sold to benefit his younger children. (fn. 71) John Ryall Mayo bought it in 1845 and
sold it to Lord de Mauley, lord of Pawlett
Gaunts manor, in 1856. (fn. 72)
Robert FitzHarding gave Pawlett church to St.
Augustine's abbey, Bristol, probably c. 1140,
and his son Robert gave ½ virgate in 1146. (fn. 73)
Maurice de Gaunt (d. 1230) gave more land,
called PAWLETT manor, a grant confirmed by
Robert de Gournay. (fn. 74) In 1251, however, the
abbey renounced its estate in favour of St.
Mark's hospital, Bristol, in return for other lands
which were known in 1540 as PAWLETT
manor together with land and tithes which constituted the RECTORY. Manor and rectory
were let together by 1529 to William and Robert
Williams and Robert's wife Christine. (fn. 75) The
manor was held as of East Greenwich by John
Williams at his death in 1608 when it was
divided between his two daughters, Joan, wife
of William Avery, and Sarah, wife of Humphrey
Blake. (fn. 76)
Fields of Pawlett 1658
The Avery's share passed to Joan's son John
(d. 1669) and included the later Shoulder of
Mutton inn. (fn. 77) It passed from John's widow
Grace and her son John to John Clarke (d. by
1711), who was followed by his son Robert (d.
by 1721) and his grandson also Robert Clarke
(d. before 1752). (fn. 78) Robert Brown, nephew of the
last, sold the estate to Jasper Porter in 1758. (fn. 79)
Porter's daughter Susannah sold it to the Revd.
Francis Parsons for the benefit of Anne Poole
who married the Revd. Charles Burt c. 1794. (fn. 80)
In 1835 Anne and her son Augustus conveyed
it to William Ponsonby, lord of Pawlett Gaunts
manor. (fn. 81)
The Blakes' share, which included responsibility for the chancel, (fn. 82) passed to Arnold Brown
and his wife Hannah who sold it in 1682 to John
Taylor. By will of 1725 it was divided between
Taylor's son Joseph and the Revd. Samuel
Taylor; (fn. 83) most of the land, known as Taylor's,
passed to William Doidge in 1766, (fn. 84) whose
children sold most of it c. 1812, part going to
Lady Barbara Ashley-Cooper. (fn. 85) Other parts
were bought by Lord de Mauley, lord of Pawlett
Gaunts, in 1843. (fn. 86)
The tithes were held by the Williams family
and apparently passed on the death of John
Williams in 1608 to Sir John Cooper who let
them to Humphrey Blake before 1631. (fn. 87) They
descended with Pawlett Gaunts manor. (fn. 88) Rectorial tithes were commuted in 1838 for a rent
charge of £200. (fn. 89)