The "Old" Manor House
The early photographic record (lithograph) made by Pouncy in 1857 (the writer's print)
Taken prior the the construction of the Steepleton Manor in 1870, it shows the site occupied by farm buildings and barns.
The Old (original) Manor House :
The notes and records below hopefully support the existence of an original Manor House in the village within the grounds of the present Steepleton Manor (now a care home).
The records below commence in Tudor times but the date of the original manor is not known. (perhaps early C16th - a building boom time)
The writer's house (Old Manor Cottage) dates from the late C16th and appears to have been modified and upgraded with stonework from other buildings. It is perhaps not unreasonable to suggest some of the stone came from the adjoining site. The name Old Manor Cottage is a modern one replacing the former "Manor Cottage"
Many of the records below have been extracted from the Law suits section which have been transcribed from Pope's original unpublished work held in the Dorset County Museum.
Conjectural Summary :
The Manor House was built prior to 1528 possibly by a member of the Willoughby De Broke family who, by this date, had leased it to the Trenchard family. The lease was transferred to the Lawrence family in 1541 who held it until the Civil War period (1650's). It was damaged by fire in 1634 and legal proceedings note that it was defective after this time. The house and estate had been forfeited during the Civil War and the Lawrence family, who had been on Cromwell's side, failed to resecure their lease after the Restoration (1660).
Hutchins records "a pretty large house" and confirms the location as being opposite the church and eludes to the house being owned by the Duke of Bolton after the Lawrences.
"....................Opposite the church is a pretty large house, once the seat of the Lawrences, but now belonging to the representatives of the late Duke of Bolton”
The date of its demolition is not known. The 1841 Tithe map extract below shows the farm buildings that appear in the early photograph above.
Above : RCHM maps showing former settlement remains
The Records relating to the Manor House :
1528 The Willoughby De Broke family were in possession of the manor with the junior line of the Trenchard family (of Lytchett Matravers) as lessees of the manor house and its demesne lands (20 MAY 8 HEN VIII) = 20/5/1528/9
1540 The marriage of Willoughby heiress to John 2nd Marquis of Winchester gave the Paulet family possession for the next 250 years (3 JAN 32 HEN viii) 3/1/1540/1
1541 Tenancy of the manor transferred to Richard Lawrence (d 1597) from Trenchards. Lawrences remained until the Restoration with last member of family dying in Wareham in mid C19th.
1570 - A deed of 20th October 13 Eliz (1570/1) whereby Sir William Paulet of Howke (Hooke), Dorset afterwards Marquis of Winchester demised the Manor to Richard Lawrence the elder of Wynterborne Stepleton and his sons Richard Lawrence the younger and William Lawrence (now plantiff) the capital mansion house of Wynterborne Stepleton and the advowson there, Court Leet and the wood called Poorewood for their lives.
1625/6 Sept 3rd Capitial messuage and farm of WS – William (80yrs) & George Lawrence defendants in law suit regarding state of repair of the house and lands . (Pope Dorset Depositions Vol 1 p65 DCM)
1634 April 18th Mr George Lawrence’s house burnt at Steepleton (Whiteway’s Diary – Pope misc records vol II – DCM ref N5)
1638 - Chancery Proceedings Marquis of Winchester v Lawrence - W 73/12 9th June 1638
Plantiff, John Marquis of Winchester states that his grandfather William , Marquis of Winchester being seized in fee of the Manor of Wynterborne Stepleton, Dorset, about 3 Elizabeth (1587/8), leased the same for years and lives to certain persons unknown to the plantiff.
The premises included a “fayre and strong built dwelling house” with barns and stables with timber trees and fences in good repair being “ a decent and useful habitation for a gentleman of good rauche (?) and quality”. The lease included 40 acres of wood in Poorestock called Poorewood and now William Lawrence of Dorchester gent, and George Lawrence of Wynterborne Stepleton gent, and Phillip Davy and Charles Davy his son have committed waste in the manor and are the defendants.
The answer quotes a deed of 20th October 13 Eliz (1570/1) whereby Sir William Paulet of Howke (Hooke), Dorset afterwards Marquis of Winchester demised the Manor to Richard Lawrence the elder of Wynterborne Stepleton and his sons Richard Lawrence the younger and William Lawrence (now plantiff) the capital mansion house of Wynterborne Stepleton and the advowson there, Court Leet and the wood called Poorewood for their lives. Defendant William Lawrence survived his said father and brother. He admits that part of the mansion house has lately become defective. (ie in 1638).
1642 From this date, Richard Lawrence & Thomas Meech had held the farms at WS formerly in the tenure of Rob Lawrence & Richard Parrott (Pope DD Vol II p50)
1645 Lord Paulet’s old rents of this manor value £9 per year, and his north and south farms here value £160 per annum were sequestered. It now belongs of Duke of Bolton. (Hutchins Dorset p775)
1650 - – 24th February Hoskins v Lawrence - Plaintiff, John Hoskins of Caundle Purse esq, had by bond dated 1639, lent money to George Lawrence of Winterbourne Steepleton gent, who had owned lands in Winterbourne Steepleton & in the Isle of Purbeck of the value of £120 a year. George Lawrence had died one & a half years since & the defendants is his son & heir Richard Lawrence of Winterbourne Steepleton gent.[Pope Vol 7 p140] Mitford 111/69
1654 12th February 1654 Lawrence v Gould - Plaintiff Richard Lawrence of Winterbourne Steepleton gent, and Thomas Meech of the same, yeoman, state that on 13th October 1653, the said Richard Lawrence had agreed to purchase lands, which had been the property of the Marquis of Winchester and which having been forfeited to the Commonwealth, were appointed to be sold.
According to the Act of Parliament estates sold under the act could be paid for one half in ready money and one half in debentures. And Sarah Gould of Broadwey, widow, and John Gould her son pretended that they had a debenture for money due to them “uppon the publiq fayth” and plaintiff had ageed to pay them 4s 6d in the pound of their debenture as part payment for the purchase of the lands. On 29th June 1654 gave a bond for payment of £100 to Sarah Gould and her son – being £93 for the debenture & £7 for the money lent. But afterwards, the trustees and treasurers (of the Commonwealth) refused to make any allowance for the debenture. The suit (?) concerned the bond. Sarah & John Gould are defendants. (Pope Vol 7 p117] Reymandson 408/12
1657 - Common pleas dated Easter 1657 fo 1222 - George Edwards, gent, sues Robert Carpenter late of London (?) gent, concerning a messuage, 3 cottages & 36 acres in Winterbourne Steepleton which William Gould on the 26th March had demised to the said George for 5 years. [Pope Vol 5 p290]
1664 - Hearth tax returns – no mention of a Lawrence (Largest number - 5 hearths = Mr Arthur Crofts
1665 - Dated 18th December Samways v Lawrence - Plaintiff, Henry Lawrence the elder of Winterbourne Steepleton Yeoman had by deed of March 1658 agreed to rent for 6 years from Richard Lawrence of Winterbourne Steeepleton, gent, a messuage & farm called South Farm in Winterbourne Steepleton (of which Lawrence claimed the inheritance) and a lease in the same parish called Teltes (?) lease. Lawrence had “gained” these lands “from the late usurped powers”, they having belonged “before the late unhappy warrs” to the Marquis of Winchester.
And now the Sheriff acting on an order from the House of Peers had put the lands in the possession of the Marquis and ousted plaintiff – Lawrence was indebted to Symon Bridle of Upwey & Thomasine Angell of Long Briddy who were executors of Hipolett Mockett (?) of Long Briddy, yeoman. [Mitford 321/244 & Pope Vol 4 p309 & 310]
1665 - 3rd May 1665 Lawrence v Marquis of Winchester - Plaintiff Richard Lawrence of Winterbourne Steepleton gent, states that his uncle William Lawrence who died about 1640, had held for his life from John Marquis of Winchester two farms in Winterbourne Steepleton called North Farm & South Farm. And afterwards plaintiff & Thomas Meech of Winterbourne Steepleton yeoman, took the two farms to rent by the year at a rent of £200 per year. And plaintiff “having been unhappily misled in the late times” had bought some of the Marquis’ lands from “the late Committee which pretended to sell the same” Paule Minterne, “Bayly & Receivers” for the Marquis is mentioned. [pope Vol 6 p300] Mitford 192/18
1680 The Lawrence chapel (on north side of the church) was pulled down in 1680 – several Lawrence gravestones buried in the rubble.
Hutchins ……..”Opposite the church is a pretty large house, once the seat of the Lawrences, but now belonging to the representatives of the late Duke of Bolton”
2004 Archaeological investigation to take place to investigate the Lawrence chapel. Outcome ???