Castlefacts³

Freshwater Manor

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

Name	Freshwater Manor
Alternative Names	Fresshewater
Historic Country	Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Modern Authority	Isle of Wight
1974 Authority	Isle of Wight
Civil Parish	Freshwater

Egidius de Bello Campo (Giles Beauchamp) granted a licence to crenellate his 'mansum' at Fresshewater, Insula Vectis in 1342.

Gatehouse Comments

As with many Isle of Wight parishes there were several manors in the medieval parish of Freshwater. This seems to have been the prime manor and, presumably, the manor was by the parish church at the given map reference. Freshwater, on the far west of the island, is almost an island and is natural defended by the River Yar and its associated marsh (presumably large and more of a barrier in the days before modern field drainage). The parish church and, presumed, manor house are situated at the entrance to this 'island' (a road caused 'The Causeway'). The church was mentioned in the Domesday Book and the original manor house was also, presumable, of pre-Conquest origin. The location might be described as defensive, although the location makes it an administrative focus. There is nothing, other than the licence to crenellate, to suggest the C14 manor house was a defensive structure, although it may well have had decorative battlements. The tenurial history of the manor is complex with many exchanges in the year before and after 1342. The licence most probably represents a reward for service but may have been requested as a way of securing tenure.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

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OS Map Grid Reference	SZ346873
Latitude	50.6843681335449
Longitude	-1.51024997234344
Eastings	434600
Northings	87300