Feudal barony of Plympton

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Plympton Castle, the motte with parts of ruined walls of the keep on top Plympton Castle - geograph.org.uk - 103022.jpg
Plympton Castle, the motte with parts of ruined walls of the keep on top

The feudal barony of Plympton (or Honour of Plympton) was a large feudal barony in the county of Devon, England, whose caput was Plympton Castle and manor, [1] Plympton. It was one of eight feudal baronies in Devonshire which existed during the medieval era. [2] It included the so-called Honour of Christchurch in Hampshire (now in Dorset), which was not however technically a barony. [3] The de Redvers family, first holders of the barony, were also Lords of the Isle of Wight, which lordship was not inherited by the Courtenays, as was the barony of Plympton, as it had been sold to the king by the last in the line Isabel de Redvers, 8th Countess of Devon (1237–1293).

Contents

History

Domesday Book origins

Many of the lands which later formed the feudal barony of Plympton were formerly held by two Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief of King William the Conqueror (1066–1087):

Descent

The descent of the feudal barony of Plympton was as follows:

de Redvers

The arms of de Redvers: Or, a lion rampant azure Redvers.svg
The arms of de Redvers: Or, a lion rampant azure

Courtenay

Arms of Courtenay, from about 1200: Or, three torteaux Blason Courtenay.svg
Arms of Courtenay, from about 1200: Or, three torteaux

List of constituent manors

The barony comprised originally the following manors held in-chief per baroniam:

No. of knight's fees 4 Edw IIName of Fee in DomesdayName of Tenant in Domesday*current or last known name
1 fee, 100sAvetonRoald Dubbed Aveton Gifford
1/2 fee, 50sLobeRoald Dubbed Lobb & North Lobb, Braunton
1 fee, 100sPodifordRoald Dubbed West Putford
1/2 fee, 50sWenfordRoald DubbedWonford in Thornbury, Black Torrington
MerlandRoald Dubbed Peters Marland
1/4 fee, 25sSigefordRoald Dubbed Sigford in Ilsington
[part of] Peeke or Tamerlande*Roald Dubbed Northcott
PlymptonWilliam of PoilleyRadford next to Goosewell
1 fee, 100sWitcerceRoald Dubbed Whitchurch
1 fee, 100sLanbretoneRoald Dubbed Lamerton
3/4 fee, 75sChempbereRoald DubbedEast & West Kimber in Northlew
1/4 fee, 25sRadecliuaRoald DubbedGreat Rutleigh
1 fee, 100sWereRoald Dubbed Weare Giffard
1/12 fee, 8s 4dPolhamRoald DubbedPulham
1 fee, 100sColecome Robert of Aumale Collacombe
Weslege Robert of Aumale Westleigh
3 1/2 fees, 350sStoghes Robert of Aumale Stoke, Plymouth
1 fee, 100sodelea Robert of Aumale Woodleigh
1 fee, 100sBeuleie Robert of Aumale Beenleigh
1 fee, 100sFlutes Robert of Aumale Fleet
1/6 fee, 16s 8dWitewei Baldwin FitzGilbert Whiteway, Kingsteignton
1/2 fee, 50sElforde Robert Bastard Efford
1/2 fee, 50sGosewelleWilliam of PoilleyGoosewell
1/4 fee, 25sHaroldesoreWilliam of PoilleyHazard
1/4 fee, 25sCumbe Robert the Bastard Combe Royal
1/4 fee, 25sBlacheurdeRobert the BastardBlackford in Cornwood or Blatchworthy in Stoodleigh
1/4 fee, 25sRobert the BastardLovaton
1/4 fee, 25sBicheford Robert Bastard Bickford
1/4 fee, 25sBachestane Robert Bastard [West & East] Backstone
1 fee, 100s / 1 fee, 100sIlestintonaRalph PaganIlsington / Ingston (near Haytor Rocks)
1 fee, 100sAscerewelleWilliam of Poilley Shirwell
1 fee, 100sEssestoneEmma of Hellean Higher Ashton
1/2 fee, 50sHacheurdeEmma of HelleanHakeworthy in Tedburn St Mary
1/6 fee, 16s 8dEmma of HelleanHilion's Mill & Hilions Barton, Sandford
1/2 fee, 50sLeugeGodbold the Bowman Doddiscombsleigh
1/2 fee, 50sLewendoneGodbold the BowmanLowton
1 fee, 100sBrigefordGodbold the Bowman Brushford
1/2 fee, 50sMolecoteGodbold the Bowman Mullacott
1/2 fee, 50sBurneGodbold the BowmanBurn, Silverton (part of Tarrant Rushton hamlet)
1/4 fee, 25sHelescaueGodbold the BowmanHele Barton
1/2 fee, 50sCliforda / HalestouGodbold the BowmanClifford (or East Clifford)
CarmeGodbold the BowmanNorth & South Quarm in Somerset
1/2 fee, 50sStoches Nicholas the Bowman Stokeinteignhead
1 fee, 100sGrennelize Nicholas the Bowman Greenslinch in Silverton
1 fee, 100sRachun Nicholas the Bowman Middle Rocombe
1 fee, 100sBochelande Nicholas the Bowman Challermoor? / Buckland-in-the-Moor
1 fee, 100sBagetore Nicholas the Bowman Bagtor
1/2 fee, 50sWoguwel Nicholas the Bowman Church Ogwell in East Ogwell
1/2 fee, 50sEstapeleia Nicholas the Bowman Staplehill, Teignbridge
1/2 fee, 50sHolebeme Nicholas the Bowman Hobbin in East Ogwell
1/2 fee, 50sclistOsbern of SaceyClyst Gerred
1/2 fee, 50sBegeurdeWilliam of Poilley Beaworthy
1 fee, 100s Baldwin FitzGilbert Friars Hele
1 fee, 100sYudeford Nicholas the Bowman Ideford
Fulcher the Bowman
2/3 fee, 66sEsselingefordaFulcher the Bowman Shillingford St George
FerentoneFulcher the BowmanFarringdon, Buddleigh
1/2 fee, 50sColumFulcher the Bowman Columbjohn
1 fee, 100sSandfordWilliam of Poilley Sampford Spiney
Tauetone William the Conqueror North Tawton
1 fee, 100sPontimoreHalmaic of Arcis Poltimore
1/2 fee, 50s / 1/4 fee, 25sBaverdone / TorintoneKing William / Baldwin the Sheriff / King William Beaford
1/2 fee, 50sBradestone William the Conqueror Bradstone
1/5 fee, 20sNochecoteGerardNitchacott, Tiverton
1/4 fee, 25s / 1/6 fee, 16s 8dLevelegeGodbold the Bowman / LeofricLowley
1/2 fee, 50sCadebirieWilliam of Poilley Cadbury
[portion of] 1 fee, 100sUlfaldeshodesWilliam of Poilley Woolfardisworthy
[portion of] 1 fee, 100sBlachegraveWilliam of Poilley / Judhael of TotnesBlagrove
1/2 fee, 50sTrule Ralph Paynel Throwleigh
1 fee, 100sRoald Dubbed Luffincott
HanemardunRoald DubbedHemerdon
DocheordeRoald Dubbed(Little & West) Dockworthy (& Dockworthy Cross)
1/2 fee, 50sPlumtreiOdo son of Gamelin Plymtree
1/5 fee, 20sLegeWilliam of PoilleyChallonsleigh
1 fee, 100sBrigeRoald Dubbed Bridgerule
Robert Bastard Plympton
1/3 fee, 33s 4dErmentoneKing William Ermington
1 fee, 100sTeweberie Robert of Aumale Thuborough
1/4 fee, 25sLanfordaOsbern of SaceyLittle Lamford in Cheriton Bishop
2 fees, 200s Stokenham
1/2 + 1/10 fee, 60s William the Conqueror Witheridge
1/4 fee, 25sJudhel of Totnes
3/4 fee, 75sJudhel of Totnes Compton
1/2 fee, 50sGildescote Robert of Aumale Gidcott
3/4 fee, 75sWiche Robert of Aumale [Cookbury] Wick
2 fees, 200sRoald DubbedTwigbear
1 1/2 fees, 150sWhitefelle Robert of Aumale Whitefield near Bittadon (in Marwood)
1 fee, 100sGodelege Robert of Aumale Goodleigh
1/4 fee, 25sEstochaWilliam of Poilley Stoke Rivers
1/5 fee, 20sDerteWilliam of PoilleyDart Raffe
1/2 fee, 50sWorthWilliam of PoilleyWorth in Washfield
DerteWilliam of PoilleyDart (in Cadeleigh)
BovelieWilliam of PoilleyBowley in Cadbury
Cressewalde Ralph Paynel Kerswell in Broadhembury
Godbold the BowmanWhiteheathfield in Cullompton
CodefordOdo son Edwin of ButterleighCoddiford
ClistOdo son Edwin of ButterleighClyst William in Plymtree
Topeshant William the Conqueror Topsham
CrochewellaRoald Dubbed Crockernwell
SeluestanOsbern of SaceyShilstone in Drewsteignton
Cageffort Ralph Paynel Wonston with Morchington in Throwleigh
WitestaniWilliam de OwWhitstone
DunesfordSæwulfSowton or Little Dunsford in Dunsford
Dunsedoc Ralph Paynel Dunchideock
LeualigaKing's military thane (Godbold or Godebold the Bowman)Lowly in Doddiscombsleigh
AssecoteWilliam of PoilleyAssecote [?]
ForhodeWilliam of PoilleyFarwood Barton (in Talaton?)
BichelieWilliam of Poilley Bickleigh
Bichecome Robert of Aumale Bickham Barton near Bickham Moor
Merehode Robert of Aumale Marwood
Mideltone Robert of Aumale Milton Damerel
Odetreu Robert of Aumale Ottery
Oladone Baldwin FitzGilbert Woollaton

*Domesday tenants identified in Testa de Nevil [18] [19]

The following fees originally held by Alfred the Breton may have also been part of the Honour [20]

No. of knight's fees 4 Edw IIName of Fee in DomesdayName of Tenant in Domesdaycurrent name
1 fee, 100sMorlei Alfred the Breton Moreleigh
1 fee, 100sBacheleford Alfred the Breton Battleford in Ipplepen
1 fee, 100sLege Alfred the Breton Grimpstonleigh in Moreleigh
1 fee, 100sGrismetone Alfred the Breton Grimstone in Blackawton
1 fee, 100sTambretone Alfred the Breton Tamerton Foliot
1 fee, 100sTawi Alfred the Breton Peter Tavy
1/2 fee, 50sBlachestane Alfred the Breton Blaxton
1 fee, 100sMideltone Alfred the Breton Horsewell / South Milton
1/2 fee, 50sSprei Alfred the Breton Sprytown aka Spry in Stowford
1 fee, 100sEsseberie Alfred the Breton Ashbury
1 fee, 100sWifleurde Alfred the Breton Willsworthy in Peter Tavy
1 fee, 100sBucheside Alfred the Breton Budockshed
Corneurde Alfred the Breton Curworthy farm in Shirwell
1 fee, 100sGenelie Alfred the Breton Ingleigh (Green) in Broadwoodkelly
1 fee, 100sUlgeberge Alfred the Breton Ugborough
Alfred the Breton Redway in Rewe

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References

  1. Thorn & Thorn, part 2, chapter 1,17
  2. Sanders, Contents, pp. ix–xi; the others being Bampton, Bradninch, Great Torrington, Barnstaple, Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, Okehampton
  3. Sanders, p.112
  4. Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985, part 2, Chapter 28
  5. Thorne & Thorne, part 2 (notes), chapter 28
  6. Thorn, part 2, Chapter 21
  7. Sanders, p.137
  8. 1 2 3 4 Sanders, p.138
  9. Both shared common ancestry from William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon (died 1217), Isabel's great-grandfather and Courtenay's great-great-grandfather
  10. 1 2 3 4 Sanders, p.70
  11. Cokayne 1916 , pp. 323–4
  12. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage , new edition, vol.IV, p.317, pedigree chart "The Heirs of Richard FitzBaldwin"
  13. Sanders, p.112: The manor of Christchurch, sometimes called a barony, was part of the barony of Plympton, granted by King Henry I to Richard de Redvers (died 1107), but was sold together with the Isle of Wight to the crown by Isabella
  14. Charter XXII, published in Appendix to Worsley, Sir Richard, History of the Isle of Wight, London, 1781
  15. Sanders, pp.70, 138
  16. Pole, p.5
  17. Historic England. "OKEHAMPTON CASTLE (440855)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  18. GENUKI. "Genuki: The Honour of Plymton and the Whitchurch Fee, Devon". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. "Home | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. "Alfred the Breton", Wikipedia, 22 April 2022, retrieved 14 July 2022

Sources