2 AN OLD IIAMrSHIKE MANOR HOtTSE. 



Ellingliani, and another of the same name in 2 Edward III. 

 Tlie next oAvner recorded is Florencia de Punchardon, in 

 19 Edward IIT., and several of tliat name held the manor in quick 

 succession till 1392, Avhen we iirst nicct with the name of Moyle's 

 Court, and " Ellingham ]Manor vocat. Meoles," was held hy 

 AVm. de Botreaux. There appears to have been an intermarriage 

 between the Punchardons and Botreaux families, and the manor 

 passed from one to the other of these names. To the before-named 

 William de Solariis probably belongs the ancient altar-tomb in 

 Ellingham churchyard, M'hich is, no doubt, of the same date as the 

 chancel of the church, probably built towards the end of the 

 twelfth century. The name Moyle is still very common among 

 the humbler denizens of this district, and is the same as Meoles 

 (probably pronounced Moyles), who held the manor early in the 

 14th century.* 



In the 16th century Moyle's Court, with the parish of Ellingham, 

 was in the possession of a family of the name of White. A 

 daughter, Alice, of that family, having married William, a son of 

 William BeconsaAv, took the estate into that family. Of that 

 marriage there were three children, of whom one was kirighted in 

 1627 and became Sir White Beconsaw. At his death the Moyle's 

 Court Estate was divided between his daughters, Elizabeth, wife of 

 Sir Thomas Tipping, and Alicia, wife of John Lisle. 



Having thus traced the early history of the estate attached to 

 Moyle's Court we may return to the house itself and the more 

 immediate circumstances which have attached an historical interest 

 to the place and connect it so closely Avith the short, but tragic 

 episode, of IMonmouth's rebellion and the deeds of horror perpe- 

 trated by Jefferies, the echoes of which are still heard throughoul: 

 the Western Counties. The old Manor House itself, formerly much 

 larger than it now is, Avas probably surrounded Avith moats, traces of 

 Avhich still exist, on its tAvo sides, and a braAvling forest brook runs 

 near the house, Avhich Avould give an amj^le supply of Avater 



* For the above, relating to the descent of the property, I am indebted 

 to Mr. T. VV. Shore, F.S.A. 



