History of the Manor

The Ancient Manor of Eynerdale

The Manor of Ennerdale lies in one of the wildest and beautiful parts of the Lake District. It includes, in its roughly 13,000 acres, forests, rivers, mountains, the glacial lake, Ennerdale Water, the most western of the lakes along with forests, streams, and waterfalls. Ennerdale Valley lies 8 miles from the coast and is surrounded by several fells including Great Borne (2019 ft), Great Gable (2949 ft) and Pillar Mountain (2927 ft). The Lordship of Ennerdale is roughly the same size as New York City also known as Manhattan Island.

Ennerdale Pedigree -

The Crown and Earls

The small village of Ennerdale Bridge lies two miles from the lake on the River Ehen which flows from the lake. The Churchyard here is the setting for the poem “The Brothers” by William Wordsworth. There is some dispute as to the derivation of the name Ennerdale. It was thought by some scholars to have come from the Irish name of Lough Eaneth after the wild fowls which breed on the various islands in the lake. Later historians now believe it likely came from the Old Norse Anundar-dalr meaning Anund’s Valley. The earliest mention of the manor is found in the Register of St Bees, a chartulary of that priory written between 1120 and 1135. It was then part of the ancient Feudal Barony of Copeland and later Egremont and was possessed by the powerful Norman lord, William le Meschin. Little more is recorded of it until the 14th century when Thomas de Multon dies seized of Eynerdale within the free chace of Coupland fell. After the death of Thomas’ son, John, in 1334 the manor passed to the Harrington family of Al-dingham. The Inquisition post mortem after Multon’s death records the following and there are at Enerdale (sic), which is within the Free Chase of Coupeland fell 31 tenants at will, who hold various places (loca) and pay per year £6 4/6d at the terms of Michaelmas and Easter equally. And there is a certain render (reditus) called Dalemale [payment for right of pasture, literally ‘valley money’] coming from the said tenants 29/- per year at the Feast of St James for the whole year. And there is a certain place called Braythemire [now Broadmoor plantation] in the hands of the said tenants, and they pay per year for the same 13/4d at the said Feast of St James for the whole year. And there is there a certain place called Head or Caput of Ennerdale (Capud de Eynerdale) in the hands of the said tenants at will, and they pay per year £4 at the said Feast of St James for the whole year. And there are two vaccaries (vacarie) where the lord used to have his own stock (staurum suum proprum) and they are worth per year 60/-’ Ennerdale then passed successively through the Bonville family to the Greys. Lord Bonville married Elizabeth, sole heir of Sir William Harrington. William and Elizabeth had a son, William, who died in 1457 leaving a daughter and heir, Cecily. The Lordship of Ennerdale passed to her and she then married Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset. The Baronies of Harrington and Bonville also passed to Thomas through his wife although these titles were superfluous as he had been created Earl of Huntingdon in 1471 and Marquess of Dorset in 1475. He was, however, found guilty of high treason when Richard III assumed the throne in 1483, on account of his closeness to the dead Prince Edward (briefly Edward V). He escaped to Britanny and returned at the summons of Henry VII who had defeated Richard at the battle of Bosworth two years later. He was subsequently made a Knight of the Garter and died in 1501. His son, also Thomas, succeeded him and served King Henry VIII loyally until his death in 1530. His son, Henry Grey, was elevated in 1551 to the Dukedom of Suffolk and was Lord High Constable of England and Knight of the Garter. He married Frances Brandon, daughter of Charles, Duke of Suffolk, by Mary, sister of Henry VIII and Queen Dowager of France. By her he had two daughters, Jane and Katherine. On the death of Edward VI, Henry Grey proclaimed his daughter Lady Jane Grey Queen of England. This failed, and Jane, her husband, and Henry, Duke of Suffolk, were all executed. Ennerdale was forfeited to the Crown and the land later granted by Queen Elizabeth to the manorial tenants in 1568 though the Crown remained as Lord of the Manor. The manor was managed for the Crown by a succession of bailiffs, stewards and greaves who administered the estate. During the 17th and 18th centuries the Lowther family became successful and prominent in Cumberland and entered into several leases with the Crown for land and rights in Ennerdale. In 1822 the whole manor was purchased outright from the Crown by William, Earl of Lonsdale and remained in the hands of this family until 198 when it was sold in auction to a private buyer. There are many documents associated with the Manor including There are many documents associated with Manor including the following; 1515-1516: bailiffs’ account roll, with other manors British Library 1563-1564: surveys, with other manors National Archives 1567-1568: rental (copy) 1604-1636: estreats (4 sheets) 1604-1636: estreats (4 sheets) 1613-1613: estreats, with other manors 1649-1660: parliamentary survey 1664-1668: court rolls 1676-1677: jury’s survey (4 ms) 1679-1679: estreats, with other manors 1632-1633: appointment of bowbearer of forest, Cumbria Archive and Local Studies Centre, Whitehaven 1632-1632: census of deer 1664-1664: appointment of deputy bailiff, collector and bowbearer 1687-1696: call roll 1668-1688: appointment of officers 1824-1827: 19th cent surveys and rental (3) 1673-1766: court book, indexed Cumbria Archive Centre, Carlisle 1702-1899: court rolls (copies), tenants’ papers, and admittances 1703-1885: papers incl boundary, copy of 1650 survey 1703-1854: verdicts 1765-1817: court baron verdicts 1765-1817: court leet verdicts 1765-1765: court book, with other manors 1765-1781: steward’s account book, with other manors 1765-1768: steward’s account books, with other manors (4) 1766-1833: court book, indexed 1768-1817: call book 1834-1933: court book