CALBOURNE
Cawelburna (ix cent.); Cauborne (xi cent.);
Cauburne, Cawelbourne, Kauleborne (xiii cent.);
Caulebourne (xiv cent.); Calborne (xvii and xviii
cent.).
Calbourne, one of the central parishes of the Isle
of Wight, has a station on the Isle of Wight Central
railway, about 1½ miles from the village, and includes
the ancient borough of Newtown.
The house at Swainstone, though mainly an 18th-century building, four-square and of little interest,
taking the place of a 16th–17th-century structure,
has in the offices at the back some interesting early
work, consisting of a 13th-century hall with an annexe
of the latter part of the 12th century. (fn. 1) This latter
was evidently part of the original hall, probably
built by Richard of Ilchester, Bishop of Winchester
(1174–88), and still retains a two-light, round-headed
window in the end wall and remains of a blunt lancet
in the south wall. The 13th-century hall, perhaps
built by Nicholas of Ely, Bishop of Winchester
(1268–80), is a long, narrow room 51 ft. long by
15 ft. wide, and may have had its eastern end
partitioned off as a chapel (fn. 2) or oratory. (fn. 3) This eastern
portion was lighted by two pairs of lancets, one on
either side, and at the end by a plain traceried window
of three pointed lights, with three circles in the head, (fn. 4)
a door in the north wall providing an external
entrance. The openings in the western part of the
hall are somewhat puzzling. The two windows in
the south wall are but 12 in. from the floor. (fn. 5) The
two doors adjoining are but a foot apart, and the
west wall is pierced by a curious square-headed
window, rebated for shutters, 2 ft. wide and divided
by a transom into two narrow lights above, the whole
contained within a pointed rear arch. Two comparatively late openings (possibly of the 16th or 17th
century) from the annexe are now blocked up, and
access to the hall from the main house is by a modern
door in the north-west angle. The undercroft was
originally entered by a pointed door (now blocked
up) in the north wall directly under the one above,
and lighted by windows contained within a flat arch
(now built in). Later door openings of the 15th
and 16th–17th centuries have been made in the south
wall, but are now formed into modern windows.
The whole ground floor of the 16th–17th century
house has been lowered 3 ft. to conform to the 18thcentury basement as is seen by the jambs of a doorway
of that period still in situ.
Plan of Swainstone Hall, Calbourne
Part of Shalfleet (fn. 6) was transferred to Calbourne in
1889. (fn. 7)
The village, a fairly large one, lies along the road
from Newport and Shalfleet, with, at the south end,
the church of All Saints standing on the high ground
adjoining the rectory, and on the opposite slope
Westover House, built in the 18th century as a
hunting-box by Leonard Troughear Holmes. There
are National schools (mixed) at Calbourne, built in
1844, and at Locks Green, built in 1867.
The parish contains 6,542 acres of clay and chalk
land, of which 1,854¾ acres are arable, 3,752 are
permanent grass, and 612¼ are woodland. (fn. 8) There
are also 496 acres of foreshore, 8 acres covered by
water and 24 by tidal water.
Calbourne Village
The following place - names occur: Ilsbiddenemode, Sondrehulla, (fn. 9) Wolveleye, Danlee, Elmesore,
Beriberi, Efford (fn. 10) (xiv cent.), Elpolesbrygg (fn. 11) (xv cent.),
Mewesbryge, Brentingham Crosse, Gyllporteseys,
Laystede, Coppidthorne, Berrfoteslane, Lowstedys,
Moretowneswey, Westnowre, Clappyngbrede, Foxellisdowne, Gerveise (fn. 12) (xvi cent.).
John Fisher, D.D., Bishop of Salisbury from 1807
to 1825, was at one time rector of Calbourne, as
was Nicholas Tindal, the historical writer, who became
rector in 1740. John Buckler, the topographical
artist, was born at Calbourne in 1770. (fn. 13)
MANORS
The manor of SWAINSTONE (Sweyneston, xiii cent.; Swyneston, xiv cent.)
in Calbourne was said to be granted by
Egbert king of Wessex (fn. 14) in 826 as 30 hides at Calbourne
to the church of Winchester, which held the manor
in 1086. In it Robert held 6 hides, Herpul 2 hides
and Alsi, an Englishman, 3½ hides. In the time of King
Edward the Confessor seven allodial owners had held
these hides of the bishop. (fn. 15) A market on Wednesdays
and a fair on the eve, day and morrow of St. Mary
Magdalen were granted in 1255 to Aymer, elect of
Winchester, in his manor of Swainstone. (fn. 16) The
manor belonged to the see of Winchester (fn. 17) until
1284, when the king showed his displeasure at the
appointment of John Pontoise as Bishop of Winchester
by seizing the manor of Swainstone. (fn. 18) There was
evidently a manor-house of some importance in Swainstone in the 13th century, since in October and November 1285 Edward I stayed there for about a week. (fn. 19)
In 1307 Edward II granted the manor to his sister
Mary, a nun at Amesbury, for her support at the
convent, in exchange for certain manors in Wiltshire
which Edward I had granted to her. (fn. 20) In December
1312 (fn. 21) the king granted it to his infant son Edward
Earl of Chester, but the Lady Mary remained in
possession until March 1315, when she again received
the Wiltshire manors and Swainstone was resumed
by the king, (fn. 22) to be regranted to Prince Edward in
June of that year. (fn. 23) In 1331 the latter, then
Edward III, granted the manor to William de
Montagu, (fn. 24) and from that date it followed the descent
of Ringwood (fn. 25) (q.v.) until 1478, when it was granted
to Anthony Earl Rivers 'in consideration of the
injuries perpetrated on him and his parents by George,
late Duke of Clarence, and because the said Duke on
the day of his death and before intended that he
should be recompensed.' (fn. 26) Sir Anthony being a
loyal adherent of Edward V was seized by the
partisans of Richard III at Northampton and was
beheaded at Pontefract in 1483 without trial. (fn. 27)
Swainstone passed to the Crown, and was granted
for life in 1495 to Sir Reginald Bray. (fn. 28) In 1513
the manor was restored to Lady Margaret Pole with
the rest of the Salisbury and Montagu inheritance,
but after her attainder and execution in 1541 the
manor reverted to the Crown. Queen Mary granted
it in 1553 to Thomas Hastings and his wife Winifred, (fn. 29)
daughter and co-heir of Henry Lord Montagu, eldest
son of Lady Margaret Pole. Sir Francis Barrington,
son of Winifred by her second husband Sir Thomas
Barrington, (fn. 30) succeeded to the estate on the death of
his mother. He was created a baronet in 1611 (fn. 31)
and died in 1628. (fn. 32) The manor was confirmed in
1632 to his son Thomas. (fn. 33) It descended with the
baronetcy until, on the death of Sir Fitz William
Barrington without male issue in 1832, (fn. 34) it passed to
his eldest daughter Louisa Edith, who married Sir
Richard Godin Simeon, bart. The latter died in
1854, leaving a son and heir Sir John, whose son Sir
John Stephen Barrington Simeon succeeded him in
1870 (fn. 35) and died in 1909, when the estate passed
to his brother Sir Edmund Charles Simeon, bart.,
the present owner.
Barrington. Argent three cheverons gules and a label azure.
Simeon. Six pieces sable and or with an ermine tail between two trefoils in the chief and a trefoil between two ermine tails in the foot all counterchanged.
The tithings of Swainstone, Binstead, Brighstone
and Limerstone did suit at the courts and view of
frankpledge held at Swainstone at Michaelmas and
Hockday. At the former courts reeves were yearly
elected for Swainstone and Brighstone. There were
customary tenants at Binstead holding of the manor
of Swainstone. The service due by one tenant was
that of carrying corn to market at Newport and
Yarmouth and carrying corn to ships at 'Neweton
Emesore' (Elmsworth?). (fn. 36)
The manor of WESTOVER or CALBOURNE was
held in the time of Edward the Confessor by Bolla
in parage, and passed at the Conquest to William
Fitz Stur. (fn. 37) The manor has always been held of
Carisbrooke Castle (fn. 38) as a member of the manor of
Gatcombe (fn. 39) (q.v.), with which it descended (fn. 40) until
the middle of the 16th century, when its two moieties
were held, like those of Gatcombe, by Sir Geoffrey
Poole and Richard Ernley. Sir Geoffrey and his
wife Constance sold their moiety in 1556 to John
Erlisman, (fn. 41) and in 1564 Richard Ernley and his wife
Barbara sold their share to
the same John. (fn. 42) John Erlisman died without issue and
was succeeded by his brother
Richard, (fn. 43) who died in 1623,
when his grandson John succeeded to the manor. (fn. 44) It
was purchased of John Erlisman in 1636–7 by Sir Robert
Dillington, bart., (fn. 45) and from
that time it passed with the
baronetcy in the same way as
Mottistone (fn. 46) until it was sold
by Sir John Dillington in
1698 to William Urry. (fn. 47)
Erlisman. Argent with drops sable and a chief indented azure with three crowns or therein.
It remained in the family of Urry until 1765,
when John Urry conveyed it to Barnabas Eveleigh
Leigh and John Eames, (fn. 48) evidently as a preliminary
to the sale of the manor to the Rev. Leonard Holmes,
formerly Troughear, who was created Lord Holmes
in 1798. (fn. 49) From this date the manor followed the
descent of Yarmouth (q.v.).
The mansion of Westover, which is pleasantly
situated in a park of 30 acres, is occupied by
Mrs. Octavius Moulton-Barrett.
The manor of WATCHINGWELL (Watingewelle,
xi cent.; Whatingewelle, xiii cent.; Whatlyngwelle,
xiv cent.) may with great probability be identified
with the 'mansa' in the Isle of Wight given in 949
by King Edred to his man Alfsig the goldsmith to
hold in 'everlasting inheritance.' (fn. 50)
Apparently Alfsig or one of his descendants gave
Watchingwell to Wilton Abbey, to which it belonged
in 1086. Half a hide, as being in the king's park,
had then been deducted from the original assessment
of 3 hides, and this half-hide, which comprised the
meadow land of the manor, was worth 5s. There
was in the manor a salt-pan, worth nothing. (fn. 51)
It is not clear how Watchingwell was alienated
from the abbey, but it apparently passed to the lords
of the Isle of Wight, of whom it was subsequently
held. (fn. 52) It seems probable that this estate formed
part of the grant by Baldwin de Redvers to Payn
Trenchard in the reign of Henry I (fn. 53) and that
its descent during the 12th and 13th centuries was
identical with that of the neighbouring manor of
Shalfleet (fn. 54) (q.v.). Yet the Trenchards are not
actually mentioned as holding Watchingwell until
the middle of the 13th century, when Henry Trenchard held one fee of the Earl of Albemarle in
Shalfleet, Chessell and Watchingwell. (fn. 55) After this
date it descended with Shalfleet (fn. 56) until 1329–30,
when it was sold by Henry Trenchard to Robert de
Dumbelton and Sir William de Montagu. (fn. 57) In
1334 John son of Richard de Dumbelton surrendered
his claim to William de Montagu, (fn. 58) and it then
descended with the manor of Swainstone (q.v.) as a
carucate of land in Watchingwell (fn. 59) until that manor
was granted in 1495 to Sir Reginald Bray. He
leased Swainstone to Thomas Baker, and apparently
sold Watchingwell to him, for in 1508 Baker is
found as holding it. (fn. 60) Joan daughter of Thomas
Baker by his wife Joan married John Erlisman, but
both she and her husband died before her mother
Joan. (fn. 61) The latter evidently held Watchingwell in
dower, and on her death in 1542 it passed to Joan
wife of Thomas Cheke, elder daughter and heir of
the younger Joan. (fn. 62) Joan Cheke married secondly
Richard Cotton, and together in 1568 they conveyed
their interest in the manor to John Cheke, son and
heir of Joan by her first husband. (fn. 63) John Cheke
sold it in 1596–7 to Thomas Worsley of Chale. (fn. 64)
The capital messuage or farm of Watchingwell
belonged in 1640 to Sir John Dingley and was in
that year settled by him in moieties upon his two
younger sons Robert and George for their lives. (fn. 65)
In 1650 Upper Watchingwell belonged to Sir John
Dingley and Watchingwell belonged to Mr. Bull. (fn. 66)
An estate called Watchingwood Lower Farm was
purchased about 1780 of Mr. Goodenough by Sir
Fitz William Barrington, (fn. 67) and a second estate called
Watchingwood Upper Farm belonged in 1781 to
John Bull (fn. 68) and in 1795 to Richard Bull. (fn. 69)
At the time of the Domesday Survey there were
two mills in the manor of Swainstone (fn. 70) and a mill
annexed to the manor of Westover. (fn. 71) This last mill,
a water mill, is mentioned in 1337–8. (fn. 72) There are
now three mills on the Caul Bourne—Calbourne
Lower Mill, Calbourne Mill and a fulling mill near
Calbourne Lodge.
CHURCH
The church of ALL SAINTS consists
of nave with south aisle, chancel, western
tower and a modern north chapel and
porch. The church existed at the time of Domesday (fn. 73)
as a manorial chapel—conjecturally an aisleless structure—which in the 12th century gave place to a
building with north and south chapels, (fn. 74) probably for
the use of the tenants of Swainstone and Westover.
Early in the 13th century a remodelling took place.
Windows were inserted in the west wall, the chancel
was lengthened, if not rebuilt, and the south chapel
improved by the addition of larger windows. Finally
a tower was added at the south-west angle. With the
exception of a small lintel light in the west face of the
tower there is no evidence of 14th-century work, as
indeed after such a recent drastic remodelling none
can have been needed. The upper stages of the
tower were refaced in the 15th–16th century, only
to be damaged—probably by lightning—to such an
extent in 1683 that it remained in a ruined state till
its repair in 1752. (fn. 75) In 1842 the old north chantry
gave place to the present Romanesque chapel; the
12th-century south arcade of two bays was destroyed
and three pointed arches inserted, and an ambitious
porch was added on the north side. There is not
much of interest in the church and the practical
absence of any late work is remarkable. It is lighted
throughout by single lancets with double external
chamfer, the two east windows having a pier dividing
two lancets and pierced above with a quatrefoil in the
south aisle, a trefoil in the chancel. The nave is
divided from the chancel by a pointed arch with two
rings of splayed voussoirs springing from plain doublesplayed piers. In the chancel south wall is a priest's
door, pointed externally and square-headed within.
The tower has two sets-off, one at each stage, and is
entered by a lintelled door in the west face. The
bell stage is lighted by narrow square-headed windows,
one in each face, and the whole is now roofed in with
a lead flat. It formerly had angle pinnacles, whose
seatings still remain.
There is a curious 13th-century arched opening
from the tower to the west gallery, which has been
lowered by the insertion of a four-centred arch. (fn. 76)
There is an interesting 13th-century font with a
mutilated octagonal—originally square—bowl, on the
axial faces of which are cut symbolic characters. (fn. 77)
The only memorials of interest are two brasses,
the one of the late 14th century representing a mailed
figure (fn. 78) in a salade with a jupon over a chain hauberk,
the feet resting on a dog, and the other to Daniel
Evance, (fn. 79) a Cromwellian rector, who died in 1652.
The latter is a curious late brass with figures of Time
and Death and below the anagram I CAN DEAL EVEN.
The one bell is by Mears & Stainbank, 1906.
The plate consists of a silver chalice and alms-dish,
a plated flagon and two plated patens.
The registers begin with entries of baptisms in
1561, marriages 1599 and burials 1614.
ADVOWSON
The church of Calbourne, with
half a hide of land, was held at the
time of the Domesday Survey by
Malger. (fn. 80) The advowson has always belonged to the
Bishops of Winchester, having been reserved in 1284
when the manor passed to the Crown. (fn. 81)
In the time of Bishop John Sendale (1316–19)
proceedings were taken against the rector for making
away with the furniture of the chancel and rectory
and for not contributing his tithe for the support of
the Crusade. (fn. 82)
In 1304 timber required for the repair of the
king's chapel in Swainstone was supplied from Parkhurst Forest. (fn. 83)
There is a Bible Christian chapel and a Congregational chapel at Porchfield, built in 1808.
CHARITIES
In 1874 Miss Charlotte Ward by
a codicil to her will bequeathed £750
London and South Western Railway
4 per cent. stock, the income to be applied for the
benefit of the school at Locks Green in this parish.
The stock is standing in the names of administering
trustees, producing £30 a year.