THE HUNDRED OF SONNING
CONTAINING THE PARISHES OF
|
| ARBORFIELD |
SONNING with EARLEY, WOODLEY and SANDFORD |
| RUSCOMBE |
WOKINGHAM (fn. 1)
|
| SANDHURST |
|
In 1086 the township of Sonning, comprising the present parishes of
Sonning (exclusive of Earley), Ruscombe, Arborfield, Sandhurst and the
greater part of Hurst and Wokingham, was included in the hundred of
Charlton, (fn. 2) as were also the townships of
Whistley and Earley. (fn. 3) Before 1224
Sonning had been withdrawn by its
lord, the Bishop of Salisbury, from
Charlton Hundred and made into a
separate hundred. (fn. 4) The townships
returned under the hundred at the end
of the century are Sonning, Arborfield,
Sandhurst and Wokingham. (fn. 5) In 1332
Ruscombe is given, and the township
of Winnersh (fn. 6) also appears separately (fn. 7)
and is so generally returned later.
Hurst (or Whistley) and Earley are
both included at this date under Charlton. (fn. 8) In 1316 the bishop was returned
as holding the hundred in free forestry. (fn. 9)
Index Map to the Hundred of Sonning
The above arrangement appears to
have held good (fn. 10) until the beginning
of the 16th century, when Earley was
included in the hundred, whilst about the
same date Wokingham, Arborfield, Sandhurst, Winnersh and Ruscombe are
returned under the seven hundreds of Cookham and Bray, and Easthampstead
is put with Sonning and Earley in Sonning. (fn. 11) The latter, however, appears to
have been only a temporary arrangement. In 1587 the usual townships are
returned, viz., Sonning, Ruscombe, Winnersh, Wokingham, Arborfield and
Sandhurst. (fn. 12) The composition of the hundred underwent no alteration
during the two following centuries. (fn. 13)
Portions both of Sonning and Charlton Hundreds, though locally in
Berkshire, were at one time appurtenant to the hundred and manor of
Amesbury in the county of Wilts. These in the reign of Henry VII (fn. 14)
included the manor of Hertoke, more commonly known as Ashridge, in
Wokingham and the tithings of Bokehurst and Beche in this hundred. It
is possible that they had been transferred from Berkshire when in the hands
of the Longespees, (fn. 15) Earls of Salisbury or Wiltshire. Later they formed a
parcel of the duchy of Lancaster. Their restoration to Berkshire was
effected by the Statutes of 1832 and 1844. (fn. 16)
Footnotes
| 1 |
The liberties of Newland and Winnersh in Sonning Hundred are treated under Hurst parish (within
which they lie) in Charlton Hundred. |
| 2 |
V.C.H. Berks. i, 335b. |
| 3 |
Ibid. 340a, 330b, 359a. |
| 4 |
Assize R. no. 37, 9 Hen. III, m. 37; cf. Hund. R. (Rec. Com.), i, 9. |
| 5 |
Lay Subs. R. bdle. 73, no. 5. |
| 6 |
See note 1. |
| 7 |
Lay Subs. R. bdle. 73, no. 7. In 1261 both Winnersh and Sandford appear as separate vills for
administrative purposes (Assize R. 40, m. 27). |
| 8 |
Lay Subs. R. bdle. 73, no. 7; cf. Feud. Aids, i, 47. Neither of these ever belonged to the Bishop
of Salisbury. |
| 9 |
Feud. Aids, loc. cit. |
| 10 |
cf. Lay Subs. R. bdle. 73, no. 14. |
| 11 |
Ibid. bdle. 73, no. 141, 135. |
| 12 |
Ibid. bdle. 74, no. 246. |
| 13 |
Ibid. bdles. 75, no. 335, 349; 76, no. 463. |
| 14 |
See Ashridge under Wokingham. |
| 15 |
cf. Add. Chart. 19622. |
| 16 |
Stat. 2 & 3 Will. IV, cap. 64; 7 & 8 Vict. cap. 61. |