The manor of Agney, Kent
Encyclopedia
The manor of Agney was an estate in Old Romney
, Kent
owned by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral
. The estate may have originated in the eighth century and for hundreds of years was leased to members of the same family, including Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. It is frequently referred to as Agney Court, Agne Court, Agnes Court or even Aghne Court.
are mentioned. Aghne Court, alias Old Romney court was described as the main manor of Old Romney. It was owned by the priory of Christchurch, Canterbury until the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry VIII then gave it to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral. The manor was let by them to tenants in a series of leases for lives.
In the middle of the 16th century the property was leased to Sir Stephen Thornhurst and passed to his son, Sir William Thornhurst and then to his son, Sir Giffard Thornhurst - the first (and only) baronet of Agnes Court. Sir Giffard married Susan Temple (sister of the regicide, James Temple
). Their only male child died shortly after birth and on Sir Giffard's death in 1627, the manor passed to their daughter Frances, although it was held by Susan until Frances came of age. Frances married Richard Jennings and in due course the property passed to their daughter Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. In her will, she left it to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
and it remained in the Spencer family for some years thereafter.
The manor house, located about a mile south west of Old Romney parish church
was called Agney Court (sometimes Agney Court Lodge) and the manor itself was frequently referred to by the name of the manor house - Agne Court, Agnes Court, Agney Court or even Aghne Court. The earlier manor house may have been destroyed in 1287/8 by a breach in the sea wall and then rebuilt following the repair of the breach.
Old Romney
Old Romney is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England.The village, as its name suggests, is the original site of the settlement, and is situated two miles inland from New Romney...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
owned by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
. The estate may have originated in the eighth century and for hundreds of years was leased to members of the same family, including Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. It is frequently referred to as Agney Court, Agne Court, Agnes Court or even Aghne Court.
History
The manor of Agney may have been the estate granted by King Offa to Ealdbeorht and Selethryth in 785. It is not mentioned by name in Domesday, but a number of un-named properties in Old Romney belonging to the Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
are mentioned. Aghne Court, alias Old Romney court was described as the main manor of Old Romney. It was owned by the priory of Christchurch, Canterbury until the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry VIII then gave it to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral. The manor was let by them to tenants in a series of leases for lives.
In the middle of the 16th century the property was leased to Sir Stephen Thornhurst and passed to his son, Sir William Thornhurst and then to his son, Sir Giffard Thornhurst - the first (and only) baronet of Agnes Court. Sir Giffard married Susan Temple (sister of the regicide, James Temple
James Temple
James Temple was a puritan and English Civil War soldier who was convicted of the regicide of Charles I. Born in Rochester, Kent, to a well-connected gentry family, he was the second of two sons of Sir Alexander Temple, although his elder brother died in 1627...
). Their only male child died shortly after birth and on Sir Giffard's death in 1627, the manor passed to their daughter Frances, although it was held by Susan until Frances came of age. Frances married Richard Jennings and in due course the property passed to their daughter Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. In her will, she left it to George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough KG, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1758, was a British courtier and politician...
and it remained in the Spencer family for some years thereafter.
The manor house, located about a mile south west of Old Romney parish church
St Clement's Church, Romney Marsh
St Clements Church in Old Romney, Romney Marsh, is one of the oldest churches in Kent originally constructed in the 12th Century although there is some evidence of an original structure on the site dating back to the 8th Century....
was called Agney Court (sometimes Agney Court Lodge) and the manor itself was frequently referred to by the name of the manor house - Agne Court, Agnes Court, Agney Court or even Aghne Court. The earlier manor house may have been destroyed in 1287/8 by a breach in the sea wall and then rebuilt following the repair of the breach.