THE LIBERTY OR HUNDRED OF
EAST MEDINE
CONTAINING THE PARISHES OF
| | |
|
ARRETON | NEWCHURCH (fn. 1) | WHIPPINGHAM |
| BINSTEAD | NITON | WHITWELL |
| BONCHURCH | ST. HELENS | WOOTTON |
| BRADING (fn. 2) | ST. LAWRENCE | YAVERLAND (fn. 3) |
| GODSHILL | SHANKLIN | |
The natural division of the Isle of Wight into the hundreds of East
and West Medine is of early origin, certainly dating from early in the
13th century, (fn. 4) though in the Domesday Survey practically the whole Island,
and certainly all that part now contained
in East Medine Liberty, was included
in Bowcombe Hundred. (fn. 5) This point
is treated more fully under West Medine,
in which Newport, the capital of the
Island, is situated. The boundaries and
extent of East Medine have practically remained unaltered since the 13th century.
Index Map to the Liberty of East Medine.
The hundred belonged to the lords
of the Island, (fn. 6) who claimed in it the
same privileges as in the hundred of
West Medine. (fn. 7) The hundred court
was held at 'Estmed le Hate,' (fn. 8) which
Sir John Oglander locates as 'the Hatt
of trees on the East end of Stanum
down nere the parke gate going into
Arreton grounds from the down, but
now all the trees are gonne.' (fn. 9) By the
entries in the court rolls for April 1605 it appears that the hundred of
East Medine contained the tithings of Hardley, (fn. 10) Yaverland, St. Helens,
Kerne, Sandown, Shanklin, Wroxall, Week, Stenbury, Niton, Nettlecombe,
Whitwell, Rowde, Rookley, Knighton, Arreton, East Standen, Fairlee,
Whippingham, West Standen and Wootton.
Footnotes
| 1 |
Containing the modern parishes of Bembridge and Sandown. |
| 2 |
Containing the modern parishes of Ashey, Ryde, Wroxall and Ventnor. |
| 3 |
This list represents the extent of the hundred in 1831. |
| 4 |
See account of West Medine Hundred. |
| 5 |
V.C.H. Hants, i, 517–26. See under West Medine. |
| 6 |
Assize R. 787, m. 89; Feud. Aids, ii, 321; Chan. Inq. p.m. 47 Hen. III, no. 32; 10 Hen. VI,
no. 45. |
| 7 |
Worsley MS. R. B. 2 |
| 8 |
Ct. R. (P.R.O.), portf. 202, no. 12. |
| 9 |
Oglander MSS. at Nunwell (I.W.). |
| 10 |
In Bembridge. |