Anciently it was the property of the Archbishops of Canterbury, who seems to have been forcibly deprived of it. After Cromwell's attainder it was at some time (probably temp. Eliz.) granted to the Sackvilles, who sold it to the Bakers, from whom, by marriage, it passed into the Kirby family, and was sold by the late Rev. John Kirby to Morgan Thomas, Esq., the present possessor. There is, in the Burrell Papers, a visitation of the borough of Isinghurst [adjoining to the manor] giving in very full detail its boundaries in the parishes of Heathfield, Waldron, and HeUingly, and stating that it is within the Duchy of Lancaster, and has no church or town within it."[1]
In the multitude of manors, farms, rectories, &c., assigned to Anne of Cleves, which may be seen in Rymer's Feeders, mention is made of Brithelmstone, Broughton [supposed to be in Jevington], and Maresfield. Now there is nowhere in the records of this priory the slightest allusion to any property possessed by it in Maresficld. I cannot help thinking the manor intended was that written in the 'Valor Ecclesiasticus' "Mafeld." In which case there can be little doubt that, being resumed by the crown on the death of Anne, this Mayfield manor of Isinghurst was—like the manor of Brighthelmstone-Michelham, and probably at the same time — granted by Queen Elizabeth to the Lord Treasurer Buckhurst.
- ↑ This information was kindly communicated by the Rev. H. T. H. Kirby.
