Broadway Manor CottagesSelf catering holiday cottages and apartment at The Manor House, Broadway, The Cotswolds |
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History of The Manor House, Broadway and The Sheldon Family |
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It is recorded in the Worcestershire County Archives that in 1539, at
the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, Ralph Sheldon, son of
Baldwin and Jane Sheldon acquired several acres of land in Broadway from
John Stonywell, Abbot of Pershore and Bishop of Polizzi. Ralph Sheldon
survived his only son Thomas. Thomas Sheldon died in 1593 leaving
two daughters, Elizabeth (who married John Kighley of South Littleton)
and Mary (who married William Sambage of Broadway). Ralph Sheldon
granted land to his brother Anthony in 1576 and when he later died in
1584, Anthony's son William succeeded to the estate. Ralph also
settled land and The Manor on his nephew William in 1595. William
Sheldon then held The Manor and lands in West End, Broadway, until his
death in 1626 when his son, also called William, inherited. Lands
were still held by the Sheldon family in West End until they were
conveyed to John Bancroft in trust in 1678 until William's death.
When William died in 1680 the lands were sold.
The Sheldon Shield (see
right) incorporating 3 sheldrakes with the date 1768 can still
be seen albeit in weathered stone in the gable end of The Manor House on
the north facing wall of
Rafters. In the 16th Century at the time The Manor House
was built, Broadway was on the main pack-horse route from Worcester to
London, a route that passed through Childswickham past The Manor house
then on to St Eadburgha's Church on the Snowshill Road where it turned
up Coneygree Lane and up over the Cotswold escarpment. This route
pre-dated the carriage road later driven through Broadway and up Fish
Hill. The village of Broadway then developed as a group of inns
and houses serving the carriage trade where travellers could obtain
refreshment and extra horses could be hired to help get over the hill.
A 'manor' was a parcel of land which in Anglo-Saxon times the King could
bequeath to his subjects However, it was not just a gift of land, with
it went certain rights, eg to hold Courts of Justice, levy taxes, etc.
In return the Lord of The Manor owed certain duties to his King such as
sending men to fight, etc. After a time instead of sending men he
levied taxes, often on property, quit rents and harlots. In 1920 the
right to levy such taxes was withdrawn by Act of Parliament and except
for the possession of interesting deeds, the office had no importance. A
manor house is where the Lord of the Manor lived.
The Manor House, West End, having at a much later date fallen into
decline was reconstructed in the early 1980s. It was impossible to
trace the original interior layout but the reconstruction faithfully
followed the footprint of the original and as one gable end was still
standing, it was possible to accurately reproduce the original
fenestration, eaves height and ridge height. The original barns
were in sound order and they were incorporated into the rebuild
resulting in the house as it stands today. The self catering cottages,
The Willows
and Rafters
apartment are situated in the grounds of this wonderful house and
offer a tranquil holiday location just outside the centre of the village
of Broadway. |
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For more information and up to date availability of The Willows Cottages and Rafters contact: Debbie Williamson, Broadway Manor Cottages, The Manor House, West End, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7JP Telephone: +44 (0)1386 852913 or click here to send an E-mail Researching the Tanser family name? Click here for more information
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© Tanser & Company Consulting Limited, tel. +44 (0)7710 079 979 17/06/2008 15:14:51
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