or Lower Manor, after the Middle Ages.
In the sixteenth century the capital messuage or farmhouse with the demesne lands and stock were let on a sixty years’ lease to John Woodliff of Harwell, possibly a descendant of William Woodliff, born a bondman of the manor and manumitted by Bishop Henry Beaufort in 1421.
Edward Wiseman of Spursells Court purchased the manor in 1647 from the trustees for the sale of bishops’ lands, but it was recovered by the Bishop after the Restoration. Early in the nineteenth century the lessees were the Hopkins family of Tidmarsh Manor. Robert Hopkins purchased the bishops’ rights; he died childless in 1838 and was succeeded by his brother John Hopkins. Upon his death in 1877 the manor descended to his son Robert John Hopkins, from whom it was purchased in 1890 by Messrs Paine and Brettell of Chertsey. Many farmers worked there in the nineteenth century, including Hopkins, Betteredge and Robey.
In 1906, Benjamin Lay, twelfth child of John Lay of Prince’s Manor, purchased the tenancy for Bishop’s Manor for the sum of £2,200; the farmhouse and land remained a tenancy until 1919, when it was purchased by Joseph Lay, Ben’s youngest brother; Benjamin sadly died young; he had made quite a name for himself locally as an exceptionally good horseman; he won cups and trophies at race-meetings and point-to-point gatherings.
Ben Lay’s general factotum was Harry Buckle, who lived in Harwell’s northernmost cottage. Many of his offspring still live in the village, and his daughters, Mrs C. Froud and Mrs F. Moody are two of our oldest residents. The groom was Harry Besin, uncle to the Bowness brothers; Felix Bowness has become well known in the Hi-di-hi television series; he no longer lives in Harwell, but was born and attended school here between the two great wars.
Joan Vinall says
I would bedelighted if someone from the Lay family would get in touch, pjvinall@waitrose.com
My name is Joan and I am a volunteer with Berkshire Family History Society. We have inherited for safekeeping and/or disposal the Research and many photographs belonging to Miss Valeries Storie who sadly died last year. Unfortunately the Storie family seem to have no descendants at all. If you know of anyone who would like, say, the photographs please get in touch.
Claire Hemens says
My grandfather bought the title of Lord of the Manor, it has been passed to me if anyone is interested.
Kath Luker says
Claire as a true Harwellian and member of Harwell Parish History Group I would be very interested
E Jones says
Hi
I’m a Harwellian living in Cornwall. There is a tin box belonging to Mrs AF Helen’s for sale on Facebook. Is she a relative of yours?
Eileen Jones nee Harmer
Claire Hemens says
Hi
I presently live in Falmouth. I inherited the Manor Title from my father . Any information on this would be gratefully received as my family and I are interested to learn as much as we can
Regards
Claire
Carolyn says
I am from the Hopkins family and from doing my ancestry I see that they were farmers and owned many acres for several generations. My grandmother was a Hopkins and her dad Walter was in the navy being ships surgeon. He was in WW1 on HMH Fearless.
I would love for anyone else with my connections to the Hopkins family to contact me.
Claire says
Hi , sorry I have not checked in on here for Ages . My son has moved to Witney and I will now be in the vicinity more .
I am officially Lady of the Manor of Bishops Harwell and would really be interested to learn more . I know my father placed the chest with all the relevant documents somewhere for safe keeping. Maybe with the Parish ?
It is sad that he did not educate me more about things , but my children are now curious and I would like to know more .
My email is hemensclaire@hotmail.com if anyone has any relevant information.
Thank you
Regards
Claire Hemens