Chalkley Manor House
more pictures at bottom of page
The Manor house of Chalkley believed to have existed c1150 (a reference I have mislaid describes the walk from Horton Court to Chalkley manor) the earliest current reference I have is Henry de Chalcleia Michaelmas AD 1241 Chalcleia being an early name for Chalkley.
We have various references to the Chalkley name
1369 Robert. Chalkeley
1376 Robert Chalkleye
1394 Robert Chalkeley
1496 Richard Chalkeley
the reference for 1496 shows Richard and wife Alice to be living next to Chalkley at and Alice his wife called Sherygges in Horton (Turgess End) and the appearance of the Codrington name for its Alice Codrington in 1462 who grants Chawley to Richard Walwyn, J Briggs, J Lipiatt and John Martin.
1485
deed by Alex Martin (presumably John's son) to his son John Martin, granting the manor of Chalkley
1503
John Martin is signatory with John Botteler esq, Christopher Coderyngton esq, Richard Forster esq, John Burnell gent.
1551
Nicholas Martin (John's son) was the owner of Chalkley Manor (although he may not have lived there in later years) died and leaves his 5 daughters the Manor they are Elizabeth Martin b,1522 married Thomas Stinchcombe, Katherine b,1526 married Arthur Vizar, Christian b,1530 married Edward Hervey, Johan b, 1531 married Lawrence Baynard, Alice b,1534 married John Ely
1567
Elizabeth nee Martin wife of Thomas Stinchcombe has died abt 1557
John Ely husband of her youngest sister Alice has leased a large portion of the Manor to John Alway and his sons Melchoir and Lawrence John Alway is currently living in the Manor house.
the sons of Elizabeth and Thomas Stinchcombe (died 1557) are now living at Hawkesbury in care of uncles.
1622
Thomas Stinchcombe son of Elizabeth Martin dies preceeded by his elder brother Nicholas, Thomas's will of 1622 shows he lived at Wotton Under Edge and there is no mention of Chalkley but he has leases in Hawkesbury.
1627
Thomas Stinchcombe grandson of Elizabeth Martin son of Thomas has acquired the Chalkley Manor House
1637
One fifth of the Manor of Chalkley being that
part of Johan Martin who married Lawrrence Baynard
Deed of settlement by Edward
Baynard of Hill Marton, Wilts, gent and Henry Blake of Pinnell in Calne, Wilts,
gent, of a close of arable land called Rudder Combe containing 6 acres and 3
closes of arable called the Upfields containing 13 acres
Also a meadow ground called Broad Meade 7 acres and Vurns Meade 5 acres,
both lying on the N side of Hortons Park. Also
a meadow ground called the Wheate Close 1_ acre and pasture called Rough leaze 7
acre on the S side of the highway from Hawkesbury to Sodbury.
And pasture ground called the Laynes containing 8 acres and a coppice
adjoining the Wheate Close containing 2 acres. All
the premises being in the possession of Edward Farr and theretofore of Nichs
Martin, gent decd., being the 5th part of the manor of Chalkley.Such
premises to be held to the use of the said Edw Baynard of Hillmarton in tail,
remaider successively to Edw Baynard of London, Robert Baynard of Hatcocke
Wilts, son of Gyles Baynard gent, Adiell Baynard, son of George Baynard of
Basing Stoake Southants, gent Signature: Edw
Baynard
1666
Thomas Stinchcombe dies at Chalkley he leaves most of his estate to his son Thomas
Thomas's son Nehamiah contests his fathers none copulative will
1689
Thomas Stinchcombe dies at Chalkley un married he leaves his estate to his brother John
1699
John Stinchcombe dies at Chalkley
living with John who never married is his sister Elizabeth and her husband Cornelius Gingell , after the death of John Stinchcombe his brother in law Cornelius Gingell in 1699 claims the Chalkley estate by virtue of living at the house and claiming he had lent John monies to the value of the estate and has had the rents and profit and raised sums on the lease and sale of part of the estate and from sale of timber from the estate his poor brother in law Nehamiah Stinchcombe is still fighting his case against the Will of his father and is slowly being drained of finances he had also become a Quaker and it may be this reason he has not been successful as the Quakers were despised by members of the Church of England.
The Manor house and lands are sold off in lots and pass from owner to owner in quick succession
1841
John Minnett
1851
John and Mary Minnett
1861
Mary Minnett
1881
John Nichols from Iron Acton
1891
John Nichols from Iron Acton
1901
John Nichols from Iron Acton
1935
Montyn Isaac farmer Upper Chawkley
in the present day the Manor house still survives known as Upper Chalkley farm and is owned by the Isaac family who have lived in the area for centuries.
Chalkley Farm approached from Hawkesbury Church towards Horton
Chalkley Manor House
Probably the original entrance I counted 20 1ft x 1ft x 20ft timbers in the entrance roof
Immediately to the left of the house is at least 3 medieval fish ponds they are fed by a natural spring from the very steep escarpment in front of the farm its possible this farm originally had a moat.
This is a close up of what may be an orb that turned up on the shot of the entrance it appears to have a right shoulder and arm and the faint trace of a leg. was this a Martin or Stinchcombe watching us??