The Delme Radcliffe Manuscripts

These documents relate to the Sussex part of the estates of the Radcliffe family, who also had property in Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire from the 18th century.

The chief properties in Sussex were the manors of Trotton, Bowley in Pagham (Now South Mundham) and Isfield (East Sussex). The first two formed the estate of the Alcock family having been acquired by Lawrence Alcock between 1678 and 1699. (See Nos. 1968-71, 1862, 1829) whose last male descendant, Thomas, died in 1731 (See No. 2028) leaving two sisters, Anne and Jane. Anne married George Bramston, but died without issue: Jane married John Radcliffe and through her the Radcliffes inherited the estates. (See Nos. 3514 and 3515). Isfield seems to have been in the Radcliffe family before 1619, the date of the first Isfield document in the collection (No. 2030).

The documents include index books to Court Rolls for Isfield and draft minutes and working papers in connection with the court baron of Trotton, but not the Court Rolls. Interesting personal items relating to the Alcock family are the accounts in connection with the building of the house at Trotton in 1709 and "Tommy's" school and university expenses (No. 2039), the inventory made for the probate of Lawrence Alcock's will in 1723 (No. 2033) and two inventories of the belongings at Trotton of Mrs. Radcliffe (Jane Alcock) and Mr.Bramston made after the death of Anne (1751 Nos. 3514-3515).

Other parishes concerned in deeds in this collection are Chithurst, Eartham, Fernhurst, Cocking, West Tarring, Ashurst, Heyshott, South Bersted, Durrington, Shripney, Slindon, and Cuckfield in East Sussex.

Deeds and papers deposited by the Hertfordshire County Council 15th February, 1950 (Part of Delmé Radcliffe collection, being Nos. DE.1830-208B, 2356, 3514-5 in the Herts. County Record Office).