Whittlesford Manor: Moat House

• Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire
• Scheduled Monument
• Monument Number 370814

Sub-rectangular Medieval moat with the island measuring 459 ft by 216.5 ft and the moat measuring 39.3 ft wide and 5.9ft deep. There is a bank at the north west side of the moat measuring 3.3 ft high.

Glass in the windows showed the coat of arms of Howard and Tilney together.

1235                            c: The lands were held by Roger de Akeny.

1240                            c: Roger de Akeny died and his daughters become joint heirs.

1241                            The lands passed to Baldwin de Akeny.

1267                            Baldwin de Akeny received a grant of free warren.

1272                            Baldwin de Akeny died.

1279                            The Manor was held by Baldwin’s son, Sir John Akeny.

1293                            Sir John de Akeny died and Alice, his widow, held the Manor.

1300                            Alice de Akeny died.

1311                            c: Held by Baldwin de Akeny.

1316 & 1327               Held by William Howard who had married Baldwin de Akeny’s widow, Joan.

1328                            William Howard died.

1331                            John de Akeny, Baldwin’s son, sold the lands to Roger Waterville, and Margery, his wife.

1346                            Margery held the Manor on her own.

1358                            Possibly held by William Muschet.

1362                            After: William Muschet died.

1365-1368                   Held by Richard Muschet.

1374                            Held by John Muschet.

1378                            The Manor was settled on Sir George Muschet.

1394                            Sir George sold the Manor to Roger, Lord Scales’ widow, Joan, who had married Sir Edmund Thorp.

1401                            Held by Sir Edmund Thorp for his wife, Joan.

1415                            Joan died and Sir Edmund Thorp held the Manor.

1418                            Sir Edmund Thorp died in France and the Manor went to Joan’s grandson, Robert, Lord Scales, and her two daughters; Joan, who married Sir John Clifton, and Isabel who married Philip Tilney.

1450                            Joan Clifton died.

*                                  Thomas, Lord Scales disputed Robert Tilney’s claim to the Manor.

1451                            Thomas, Lord Scales settled the lands on Robert Tilney.

1500                            Robert Tilney died and his son Robert, a minor, inherited.

1514                            In ruins.

1542                            Before: Repaired or improved by Robert Tilney.

1542                            Robert Tilney died and the lands went to his second wife, Audrey who then married William Johnson.

1552                            John Audrey’s son sold the Manor to William Hawtrey to cover debts.

1555                            Sir John Huddleston bought the Manor.

1557                            Sir John Huddleston died and it passed through his family until the early 18^th century.

17C                             Stable block dates from.

1745                            Conveyed to John Stephenson.

1765                            Sold by John Stephenson’s son to Ebenezer Hollick.

1785                            c: A new building called Whittlesford Lodge, was built by Ebenezer Hollick.

1792                            Ebenezer Hollick died and Ebenezer Hollick (2), his nephew, inherited.

1825                            Ebenezer Hollick (2) declared bankruptcy.

1828                            Ebenezer Hollick (2)  died and the manor was inherited by his daughter Anne Blunkett-Hollick. The lodge was abandoned.

1858                            The Lodge was demolished.

1864                            Anne Blunkett-Hollick died and left the manor to her nephew, Joseph Blunkett-Hollick.

1877                            Joseph Blunkett-Hollick sold it to Major Christopher Pemberton, but kept the title of Lord of the Manor.

1885                            By: Major Christopher Pemberton had died.

1888                            The mortgage on the Manor was foreclosed and went to WRC Farquhar.

1901                            WRC Farquhar died and his heir, Alfred Farquhar, inherited. The house was demolished.

1909                            Alfred Farquhar sold the Manor to GRC Foster.

1972                            Overgrown.

1976                            Field Investigation.

1993                            Evaluation by Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeology Section.