Bibliography - Hugh Archibald Wyndham F.S.A., 4th Baron Leconfield (1877 - 1963)
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A Family History: 1688-1837; the Wyndhams of Somerset, Sussex and Wiltshire, by Hugh Archibald Wyndham, published 1950 (64 pp., Oxford University Press) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 224] & West Sussex Libraries

Petworth Manor in the Seventeenth Century, by Lord Leconfield, published 1954 (Oxford: Geoffrey Cumberlege) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2812] & West Sussex Libraries

The manorial muniments of Petworth for the seventeenth century are remarkably complete, and include a terrier and a great map of 1610. It is largely round this map, reproduced in a series of sectional drawings, that Lord Leconfield has built his book. He has taken the reader on a personally conducted tour round the demesnes, the parks, the copyholds, and finally the town, pointing out the position and history of the various tenements - amongst which we meet such pleasant names as Robin Hood's Garden, Widow Magicke's Laces, and Belchambers Garlands. From the map is reproduced the interesting drawing of the old Petworth House, of which nothing survives in the present building except the chapel and the medieval cellar. This house had water laid on to its offices from the public piped supply, of which Lord Leconfield traces the history from its instalments by a rector about 1500, down to its re-organisation in 1782 by the Earl of Egremont. There are sections on the iron works and the mills; and the first two chapters show very clearly the actual working of the manorial system at this period. The author points out that 'the seventeenth century witnessed a rash of mortgaging.' This is true of other places than Petworth, but it may be doubted if elsewhere it would be possible to draw up such a list as is given on p. 13 of the mortgagees arranged under their respective trades; it is a subject worth wider study. Is the assertion (also on p. 13) correct that a condition of a widow obtaining her 'free bench' was that she should have been a spinster when she married? I do not think that this was a normal requirement. A very small point: on p. 67 reference to land 'purchased of Person Dyrig ' is followed by the author's comment that this 'would appear to mean a person named Derrick.' But it must mean 'Parson Derrick' and probably refers to William Derrick who was presented to the vicarage of Chidham in 1579 and held that living until his death in 1625. The book has a full index, and is produced with the usual excellence of the Oxford University Press.

Sutton and Duncton Manors, by Lord Leconfield, published 1956 (Oxford: Geoffrey Cumberlege) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2818] & West Sussex Libraries

This work is a sequel to the Author's Book on Petworth Manor and is a very full account of the holdings and tenants of these two Manors under the South Downs held by the same Lords as Petworth. For this purpose the Court Rolls have been closely examined and abstracted to show the successive tenants of particular holdings and attention has been given to mortgages as throwing light on the financial conditions of the times. It is a valuable book for students of land tenure and cultivation. It seems from "Petworth Manor" that the custom of Borough English (or descent to the youngest son) obtained there and that the widow's freebench was (usually?) a life interest in all her husband's lands and not only in part or until remarriage. That the customs were the same in Sutton and Duncton appears from many scattered references, but perhaps Lord Leconfield would in a further publication throw more light on these customs (which are not very common). The end maps (one for each Manor) by Raphe Treswell (1608) are very interesting, but the sketch map at p. 99 may mislead as it seems to show roads as they now exist - in particular the 1800 turnpike with Coultershaw Bridge (then made) is shown, but not the previous high road past Horsebear and over Rother Bridge which it superseded.

Articles Relating to Petworth, by Lord Leconfield, published 1957 (pamphlet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 5373]

Published in Petworth parish magazine July 1956-July 1957

The Minute Book of the Petworth Turnpike Trustees, 1757-1801, by Hugh Archibald Wyndham, F.S.A., 4th Baron Leconfield, published 1957 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 95, article, pp.105-115) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2180] & The Keep [LIB/500334] & S.A.S. library

Freebench in the Petworth Manors, by Leconfield, published November 1957 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XIV nos. 15 & 16, note, p.279) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8232][Lib 2213] & The Keep [LIB/500216] & S.A.S. library