Printed Sources

Source 1
Grant by William I of Kingsclere Church and 4 hides and 1 virgate to the New Minster (1072 - 1086)

Regista Regum Anglo-Normannorum: The Acta of William I, 1066-1087, ed. David Bates, (1998) pp. 985-7.

I William, by the grace of almighty God, king of the English, to all my faithful subjects dwelling within the regions of England. Be it known that I have granted to Saint Peter of the New Monastery and to Ryuullonus, abbot of the same monastery, and also to the monks serving God there, with vacancy [vacantibus] the church of Alton with five hides and the tithes and other revenues which pertain to the afore-mentioned church, and also the church of Clara [ecclesiam de Clara] with four hides and one virgate of land and with the tithes and other revenues which belong to the afore-mentioned church. Accordingly I grant to St. Peter and the abbot Ryuullonus the aforesaid churches with the lands and whatever they have in them free of all service, in exchange for the land of the monks cemetery at the present time named which had belonged to St. Peter and the monks which I have received from the abbot for building my hall, and for which I grant that gift which is now described. But if anyone presumes to attack our grant to St. Peter' church and tries to make void this gift he shall be punished by excommunication for ever because of his profanity. And that his gift and agreement shall be unshaken. I myself place my sign by my hand.

Source 2
1086 - Domesday Survey

The following text is based on Domesday Book, Hampshire, ed. Julian Munby, (Phillimore, 1982). It should be noted that Munby inserts hundreds where he thinks they have been omitted in the original text, this practice is not followed here.

LAND OF THE KING In BASINGSTOKE Hundred
The King holds BASINGESTOCHES [Basingstoke] in lordship. It has always been a royal manor. It never gave tax nor has the hide been apportioned there. Land for 20 ploughs. In lordship 3 ploughs; 20 villagers and 8 smallholders with 12 ploughs. 6 slaves; 3 mills at 30s; 12 freedmen with 4 ploughs. A market at 30s; meadow, 20 acres; in Winchester 4 men of the suburb(s) paid 13s less 1d. Geoffrey the Chamberlain holds the land of one of these but neither the Sheriff nor the Hundred have ever seen the King's seal for it. Woodland at 20 pigs.
The King holds CLERE in lordship. It was of King Edward's revenue; it belongs to the day's revenue of Basingstoke. They did not know the number of hides. Land for 16 ploughs. In lordship 3 ploughs; 21 villagers and 31 smallholders with 13 ploughs. 2 mills at l00d; 7 slaves; from toll 15s; from woodland 20s; meadow, 6 acres; woodland at 15 pigs. 2 freedmen pay 13s.
The King holds ESSEBORNE [Hurstbourne Tarrant] in lordship. It was of King Edward's revenue. They do not have the number of hides. Land for 16 ploughs. In lordship 2 ploughs; 24 villagers and 12 smallholders with 15 ploughs. Meadow, 10 acres; woodland at 20 pigs; from grazing 20s. Vitalis the priest holds the church of this manor with ½ hide. He has 1 plough with 2 smallholders, 1 acre of meadow and the church tax which is assessed at 14s.
These 3 manors, Basingstoke, Clere and Hurstboume, pay 1 day's revenue.

THESE LANDS LISTED BELOW ARE FOR THE SUPPLIES OF THE MONKS OF WINCHESTER
In CLERE Hundred ECCLESWELLE [Ecchinswell].
It was always in the Monastery. Before 1066 it answered for 10 hides; now for 7½ hides. Land for 11 ploughs. In lordship 2 ploughs; 18 villagers and 12 smallholders with 9 ploughs. 2 slaves; 2 mills at 100d; meadow, 3 acres. Value before 1066 £7; later £6; now £8.

LAND OF ST. PETER'S WINCHESTER [Listed under MANSBRIDGE Hundred]
In CLERE St. Peter's Abbey has 1 church, 4 hides and 1 virgate of land. King William gave this to the Church in exchange for the land on which the King's house is in the city. Before 1066 it answered for 4 hides and 1 virgate; now for nothing. They appeal to the King as regards tax. Queen Edith held this. There was a hall. Land for 4 ploughs. In lordship 1; 3 villagers and 14 smallholders with 3 ploughs. 2 slaves; a mill at 5s; meadow, 2 acres; for grazing 8d. Value before 1066 £7; later and now £6

LAND OF ROMSEY CHURCH
In CLERE Hundred The Abbey itself holds SIDEMANESTONE [Sydmonton]. It always held it. Before 1066 it answered for 10 hides; now for 7½ hides. Land for 11 ploughs. In lordship 2 ploughs; 17 villagers and 11 smallholders with 9 ploughs. 1 slave; meadow, 4 acres; woodland at 5 pigs from pasturage. Value before 1066 £7; later £8; now £10

LAND OF HUGH OF PORT
In CLERE Hundred 1 hide in CLERE. Fadrelin [Fatherling] holds from him. Saulf' [Saewulf] and Goduin' [Godwin] held it from King Edward jointly. There were 2 halls; now there is 1 hall. Land for 1½ ploughs. In lordship a plough, with 4 smallholders and 3 slaves. A mill at 12s; meadow, 2 acres. The value is and was 20s.
CHENOL [Knowl] Faderlin [Fatherling] holds from him. Alnod [Alnoth] held it from the King jointly. Then and now it answered for 3½ virgates. Land for 1 plough. It is in lordship; 1 villager and 10 smallholders with ½ plough. 2 slaves; meadow, 2 acres. Value always 20s.
TITEGRAVE [Tidgrove]. Faderlin [Fatherling] holds from him. Osulf [Oswulf] held it from King Edward. Then and now it answered for 1 hide and 1 virgate. Land for 2½ ploughs. In lordship 1 plough; 2 smallholders. A mill at 50d; meadow, ½ acre. Value always 25s

LAND OF RALPH OF MORTIMER Ralph . . . hold Chenol [Knowl]. Oidelard holds from him, Cheping held it from King Edward. Then and now it answered for 2 hides, Land for 3 ploughs. In lordship 2; 2 villagers and 10 smallholders with 1 plough. 4 slaves; 2 mills at 11s. 3d.; woodland at 5 pigs. Value before 1066 and later 60s.: now 70s.

LAND OF WILLIAM SON OF BADERON
In CLERE Hundred William son of Baderon holds CLERE [Earlstone in Burghclere]. Sexi [Saxi] held it from King Edward. Then it answered for 4 hides; now for 3 hides and 2½ virgates; Land for 7 ploughs. In lordship 2 ploughs; 14 villagers and 16 smallholders with 5 ploughs. 1 slave; 3 mills at 7s 6d; meadow, 7 acres. Value before 1066, later, and now £7; however, it pays £10.

LAND OF THE KING'S THANES
In CLERE Hundred
Alwin' Wit [Alwin White] holds 2 hides. He himself held it before 1066. Then it answered for 2 hides; now for ½ hide. Land for 1½ ploughs. The plough is there, and 2 slaves. 1 villager and 1 smallholder with ½ plough. The value was 40s; now 30s. Alwin held this land before 1066 under Wigoto [Wigot] for protection; now he holds it under Milone [Miles], and it was delivered to Wigot by Humphrey Visdelupo [Visdeloup] in exchange for Bradeuuatre [Broadwater], as he himself states; but The Hundred knows nothing of it
Edwin Venator [Edwin Hunter] holds 2 hides from the King's revenue. King Edward gave them to him. Then and now they answered for 1 virgate. Land for 2 ploughs. In lordship I plough; 2 villagers and 5 smallholders with 1 plough. 2 slaves; meadow, 3 acres. The value is and was 18s.
Ravelin holds CLERE from the King. He himself held it before 1066. Then it answered for 3 hides and ½ virgate; now for 2 hides. Land for 5 ploughs. In lordship 2; 3 villagers and 18 smallholders with 3 ploughs. 4 slaves; a mill at 50d; meadow, 3 acres; for grazing 6s 2d. The value is and was 65s.
Lewin [Leofwin] holds 1 virgate in CLERE from the King. He himself held it before 1066. Then and now it answers for that amount Land for ½ plough; it is there, with 1 slave. Meadow, 2 acres; woodland for fencing. Value 5s.
Leuuin' [Leofwin] also holds 1 hide in HANITVNE [Hannington]. Estan held it from King Edward jointly. Then and now it answered for 1 hide. Land for 1 plough.

Source 3
Confirmation by Henry I of his father's grant of Kingsclere Church to Hyde Abbey

Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol, ii (1257-1300), p.148.
Inspeximus and confirmation by Henry III on 20 July 1270 of the following charter, the original of which must be dated between 1107 and 1123.
Henry, king of the English, to the archbishops, bishops abbots, earls, barons, sheriffs, serjeants, and all his faithful subjects French and English throughout England, greetings. Know that I have granted and by this my charter confirmed to God and Saint Peter and the abbot and monks of Hyde [abbey] in free and perpetual alms the churches of Kyngesclera et Aultona with chapels, tithes and all their appurtenances, and with five hides of land in that same vill of Alton, as king William, my father gave to them in exchange for that land in which he built his hall in the town of Winchester; and I wish and firmly order that that they should have and hold them free and quit of geld et of murage and of pleas and of all suits, just as that land, where my house is sited in Winchester which was always quit.
[It should be noted that the land at Kingsclere is no longer included in the grant]

Source 4
Confirmation of the grant by Henry I of the Manor of Clere to the Cathedral Church of Rouen.

Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. iii (1200-1326), pp. 462-3:
Westminster, March 24, 1324, An Inspeximus of the following charter:-

Henricus, rex Anglorum archiepiscopis, episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, vicecomitibus, baronibus, et omnibus fidelibus suis Francis et Anglis totius Anglie, salutem. Sciatis me dedisse et concessisse Deo et Sancte Marie Rothomagensis ecclesie et Gaufrido archiepiscopo ad opus canonicorum suorum in commune totum manerium meum de Clara, ita liberum et quietum et solutum ab omnibus geldis et danegeldis et hidagiis et placitis et auxiliis et omnibus rebus et conseutudinibus, sicut eum habui in meo dominio in bosco et plano, ita quod ad opus meum inde nichil retineo. Et si quis inde aliquid tenuerit, dissaisiatur, nisi ex dono meo vel per breve meum habuerit. Concedo etiam eis mercatum ejusdem ville et hundredum et forisfacturam et justitiam propriorum hominum suorum. Et hoc donum concedo ego perpetualiter in elemosinam pro animabus patris et matris mee et antecessorum et successorum suorum et meorum pro salute mea et statu regni mei. Et volo et firmiter precipio ut bene et in pace et quiete et honorifice teneant cum saca et soca et toll et theam et infangenetheof et omnibus aliis consuetudinibus, sicut ego tenuet habui in meo dominio. Testibus, Willelmo episcopo Wyntonie et Rogero episcopo Saresberie et Roberto episcopo Lincoln' et Bernardo episcopo de Sancta David et Ranulfo cancellario et Willelmo de Warenna et Roberto filio meo et Nigello de Albinneio et Willelmo de Albinneio et Willelmo de Tancardivilla et Gaufrido de Glintona et Gaulfrido filio Pagani et Radulfo Basset, apud Wyntoniam

and confirmation of the same by the Dean and chapter of the church of Rouen.
By fine of 5 marks.
[Note; Bernard bishop of St. David's was consecrated 19 September 1115 and Robert Bloet bishop of Lincoln died 11 January 1123.]
Henry, king of the English, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, sheriffs, barons, and to all his faithful, French and English throughout England, greetings. Be it known that I have given and granted to God and the church of Saint Mary Rouen and to archbishop Geoffrey, for the work of his canons in common, the whole of my manor of Clere, so that free quit and discharged from all gelds, danegelds, hidages, pleas, and aids, with all rights and customs as I have them in my demesne both in wood and field, so that I retain nothing there for my service. And if anyone held anything there he shall be disseased, unless he holds by my gift or brief. I grant them also the market of that town, and the hundred, and all forfeitures and the justice of their own men. And this gift I grant in perpetual alms for the souls of my father and mother and their and my ancestors and succesors, for my salvation and the well being of my kingdom. And I intend and firmly command that they shall hold the same truly, peacefully, quietly and honourably with sac, thol, theam, and infangenetheof , and with all other customary payments as I have and hold in my demesne. Witnesses . . .

Source 5
Grant of markets at Kilham and Ottery, and of fairs at Kilham, Ottery and Clere

Calendar of Charter Rolls, i. (1226-1257), 446.
Westminster 6 July 1227
Grant to the church of St. Mary, Rouen, and the dean and chapter thereof of a weekly market on Tuesday at their manor of Killum [Kilham, Yorks] and of a yearly fair there on the vigil and the feast of St. Laurence; of a weekly market on Tuesday at their manor of Ottery [Ottery St. Mary, Devon] and of a yearly fair there on the vigil and feast of the Assumption; and of a yearly fair at their manor of Clere on the vigil and feast of the Assumption. Note: The market at Clere was included in the original grant of 1115 - 1123.

Source 6
Manor of Clere let at farm for nine years

Seine-Inférieure Archives Ecclésiastiques, serie G, iii, page 250
1270-1273. - Biens aliénés. - Lettres d l'official de Rouen (samedi après la Saint-Luc 1273), portant vidimus d'une chartre de noble homme Guillaume de Wintrehelle chevalier, par lequelle ce seigneur prend à ferme, pour 9 ans, à commencer de la saint Michel 1271, des chanoines de Rouen, leur manoir de Clera en Angletterre, moyennant 60 marcs de sterlings par an, payables à Rouen; ne pourra rien vendre ni assarter sans permission, dans les bois de Holt et de Helle ; Tractabo homines manerii secundum usus et legitimas conseutudines patrie, nec sine assensu dictorum decani et capituli eos aliquatenus potero tailliare . . . Teneor eos justiciare secundum quod eis predicti decanus vel capitulum vel eorum mandatum duxerit in jugendum. Item si religionem intravero vel longam perigrationem, utpote in terram Jerusolimitanam vel Constantinopolim, profectus feroo vel etiam viam universi carnis fuero ingressus, dictum manerium ad dictos decanum et capitulum cum omni melioratione libere revertetur. De 3 ans en 3 ans le preneur visitera l'église de Rouen, personnellement, pour rendre compte de l'état du manoir. Westminster, février 1270. . Sceau perdu.

Source 7
Licence for dean and chapter of Rouen to alienate the manor of Kyngesclere to William de Melton, archbishop of York

Calendar of Fine Rolls, vol. iv, p.432.
Newcastle upon Tyne, 20 February 1335
Licence for Peter, archbishop of Rouen, and the dean and chapter of the church of St. Mary Rouen, to enfeoff William de Melton, archbishop of York, of the manor of Kyngesclere, held in chief in frank almoin, as was found by an inquisition made by Robert Selyman, escheator of the counties of Southampton, Wilts, Oxford, Berks, Bedford and Buckingham, and returned to the Chancery, to hold to him and his heirs of the king and his heirs by the services of rendering 10s. yearly at the Exchequer by the hands of the sheriff of Southampton.

Source 8
Edward III sells advowson of Kingsclere Church to the Earl of Salisbury

Calendar of Charter Rolls, Edward III, iii, p. 387.
Jan 10. Gift and sale to William de Monte Acuto, in consideration of 500 marks, which he will pay at the king's exchequer, one moiety at Michaelmas, and one at Easter next following, and by the assent of the prelates, earls, barons and others of the king's council, of an acre of land in Kyngesclere, co. Hants, and of the advowson of the church there; to be held by him and his heirs of the king and his heirs by the yearly payment of a rose at the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist in lieu of all service

By King and Council

Source 9
Kingsclere Church is granted by Earl of Salisbury to Augustinian Priory of Bisham

Chartulary of Winchester Cathedral, ed., A.W. Goodman, (Winchester, 1927) p. 46. No., 102.
Inspeximus by prior Alexander and convent of the letter addressed to the prior and canons of Butlesham Mountagu of the order of S. Augustine by Adam [of Orlton] bp of W.: A petition of William of Montacute earl of Salisbury informs the bp that in honour of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Virgin S. Mary his Mother, and All Saints he has lately built on his manor of Butlesham in the diocese of Salisbury a priory of canons regular and has assembled thirteen brethren, one of whom holds the office of prior. He has given the manor of Butlesham to them in perpetual alms for their support and desires that the service of God should be extended by the admission of thirteen other brethren, but at present there is not a sufficient endowment for the support of these and for works of hospitality. The bishop has made careful enquiry and desires to further the devout intention of the earl. He has therefore consulted the p. and c. of W., as is required by law in the matter of the alienation of churches, and with their consent grants the church of Kingsclere to the prior and canons of Butlesham for their own uses, reserving of the fruits of the said church a sufficiency to maintain a vicar and to pay episcopal and archidiaconal dues. The present v. and his successors must always have without any diminution those portions which they have been wont to receive. But the prior and canons by right of the appropriation must receive all oblations at the great cross of the church or elsewhere, all mortuaries of parishioners and the greater tithes arising from the lands of the parishioners in the villages or hamlets of la Putte and Boltesham, and of all lands called la Hethe within the parish, save only the hay from the meadows. The v. shall have for his dwelling the manse assigned to him in which he now abides, together with a certain area adjoining the manse and belonging to the church. To relieve the v. of an annual pension due from him of four marks to the bp and one mark to the master of the works of the cathedral church payable at the feast of the Annunciation, the bp imposes upon the prior and canons with their express consent the charge of an annual pension of five marks to be paid to the v. on f. of S. Gregory [12 March].

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