SIR THOMAS BILSON 



Buriton, which is believed to have been roughly co-extensive 

 with the manor of West Mapledurham, and likewise belongs 

 to Mr. Legge. The old manor-house of West Mapledurham 

 was pulled down in 1829, and there is no tradition of any 

 other old house in the district. The present Farm House 

 of Weston was built in 1776.^ 



Sir Thomas Bilson's father, Thomas, Bishop of Winchester 

 i2Q7_i5i5^ purchased the manor of West Mapledurham in 



ryr-' 







Mapledurham House. 



1605 from the widow and sons of the recusant Henry Shelley. 

 On the death of the Bishop in 16 16, the manor descended 

 to the eldest son Thomas ' aged twenty-four and more ' and 

 on the latter's death in 1649 to the second son Leonard. 



The manor-house was a house with a history. During 

 the occupation of the Shelleys it had been a centre where 

 Papists foregathered during the latter part of the sixteenth 

 century. There in 1586 the recusant Edward Jones used 

 daily to ' consociate withal and heard mass every day'. 

 There were ' priest's holes ' which must have been a great 

 joy to the Bilson boys : ' there is a hollow place in the 

 parlour by the livery cupboard where two men may well 



^ Information from Capt. P. Seward. 



