HENLEY ESTATE PAPERS (SOMERSET, DORSET AND DEVON)

The Henley estates in Somerset, Dorset and Devon were acquired mainly by Robert Henley of Taunton between 1576 and 1613 and included the former Ford Abbey estates of the manor of Street and Leigh in Winsham as well as the manors of Colway in Lyme Regis and Maiden Newton [co.Dorset] and the Manor of Werringstone and Raplinghayes and Sowells and Wrestalls [co. Devon] [see DD\TOR 153, 154].

This estate descended through the family of Robt. Henley and his second wife, Eliz. Freke [for pedigree see DD\SAS (C/1193), Brown volumes 5/31]. It remained intact throughout the 18th century although on several occasions receivers were appointed to take the rents and profits to pay off family debts. This was particularly the case in the 1770s and 1780s with Henry Cornish Henley's estate [see DD\TOR 35, 176]. Later, large parts were mortgaged to Thos. E. Clark of Chard [see DD\TOR 37, 38]. The break-up of the estate began with the sale of the Manor of Maiden Newton in 1830. Leigh House remained the centre of this estate until its sale in 1917 by Col. Henry Cornish Henley when the family moved to Crossrigg Hall, Cumbria.

The marriage of Henry Henley and Susanna Hoste in 1752 led to the acquisition of Sandringham estate [co.Norfolk]. This remained in the family until its sale c.1836 to Spencer Cowper before being sold in the mid 1840s to Queen Victoria.

The Manor of Champernhayes in Wootton Fitzpaine [co.Dorset] was purchased from the Trevelyan family in 1684 [see DD\TOR 58, 153, 170].

The family also held leasehold property in the manor of Winsham, including the parsonage barn and tithes, under the Dean of Wells. Several lengthy disputes over the tithes in the 17th and 18th centuries led to the accumulation of an interesting group of papers relating to this matter [see DD\TOR 266-268].

PROPERTY TENURE

1 - 22 Deeds (purchases and sales by Robt. Henley and Hen. Henley (1) 1468-1705

23 - 38 Family settlements and wills : main estate 1615-1838

39 - 72 Deeds (later purchases and sales) 1492-1873

73 - 76 Family settlements : not main estate 1611-1860

77 - 79 Family (Holt family, Southampton, etc.) 1561-1690

DORSET [numbers in brackets refer to original estate numeration; for orig. nos. DD\TOR 1-17 see DD\TOR 17-20, 26-29 see DD\TOR 27-28, for DD\TOR 4, 45, see DD\TOR 30]

80 Wills (not main estate) 1554-1876

MANORIAL AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

81 - 107 Leases : Manor of Street and Leigh in Winsham etc. 1557-1854

MANOR OF STREET & LEIGH. Leases for 99 years or lives DD\TOR 81-103. Numbers in brackets refer to an arrangement of the leases made in the C18th. They are arranged on a geographical basis within the manor.

108 - 115 Leases : Manor of Winsham [Dean of Wells] 1595-1844

116 Leases : Manor of Cricket St. Thomas 1605-1747

117 Leases : Manor of Chard 1722-1743

118 - 123 Leases : Chard, Buckland St. Mary, Charlton Mackrell, Chilthorne Domer, Combe St. Nicholas, etc. 1558-1738

124 - 141 Leases : Manor of Colway, Lyme Regis, etc. [co.Dorset] 1516-1849

Leases for 99 yrs. & lives. Leases [DD\TOR 130-135] are arranged by a numerical order created at the same time as that for the Street and Leigh manor leases although several have earlier survey numbers. Ellesdon's Lands are listed separately although it seems that part of these were incorporated into the manor

Leases mainly for 99 yrs. & 3 lives

142 - 144 Leases : Manor of Maiden Newton [co.Dorset] 1609-1828

145 - 147 Leases : Manor of Champernhayes, Wootton Fitzpaine [co.Dorset] 1635-1828

148 Leases : Manor Chardstock [Dean & Chapter of Salisbury Cath.] 1550-1590

149 Leases : Bridport, etc. [co.Dorset] 1687-1742

150 - 151 Leases : Manors of Werringstone & Raplinghayes in Awliscombe, Gittisham & Buckerell; manor of Sowells & Wrestalls, Kentisbeare [co. Devon] 1588-1713

152 Leases : Surrey, etc. 1658-1728

153 - 154 Estate papers; title to lands C18

155 - 179 Estate papers; legal cases 1603-1828

180 - 218 Estate papers; rentals, surveys, etc. : whole estate 1670-1897

219 - 275 Estate papers; Estate & Manorial : Somerset 1497-1858

276 - 323 Estate papers; Estate & Manorial : Dorset, incl. plans 1432-1850

324 - 325 Estate papers; Estate & Manorial : Devon 1618-1760

326 - 328 Estate papers; Estate & Manorial : Norfolk 1670-1853

PERSONAL ESTATE AND INTERESTS

329 - 333 Personal and Family late C18th - early C19th

334 - 336 Legal [not main estate] late C17th - 1841

337 Public Office 1697-1871

MISCELLANEOUS

338 Parish [Winsham, Cricket St. Thomas] 1677-1757

339 - 341 Miscellaneous 1538/9-1729

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