The following is an extract from the Manor of Essole rental 1501 drawn up on behalf of the Abbot of St. Alban’s Abbey, then the Lord of the Manor of Essole. A transcription of this rental is in the Hardman collection in the archives of the Kent Archaeological Society (KAS) at Maidstone. The B1, B2 ect. are the reference numbers that Dr. Hardman used in his transcription to identify individual proprties held by William Boys. The site of the Becham, now Beauchamps, manor house has been excavated and recorded over the last two or more decades by the Dover Archaeological Group supervised by Keith Parfitt.
The manor was held by Sir John de Beauchamp and his heirs for no more than three decades in the mid 1300’s but their name became attached to the land adjoining the messuage which is still called Beauchamps Wood, which is bounded to the south by Beauchamps Lane.
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Below are the persons who hold lands rendering rent from other places at the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel and do not owe suit of court except once in the year and neither pay suit of court or relief. (Michaelmas, 29th September).
B1 William Boys holds 1 ½ acres of land lying between the land of the manor and the King’s Way p.a. 18d.
B2 The same William (TSW-the same William) for ½ acre of land lying near Andrewstrawe p.a. 6d
B3 TSW for 1acre and 1 rood of land lying near Essolebyrg p.a. 15d
B4 TSW holds 1 ½ acres of land lying between the meadow of the lord and le Churcheway p.a. 18d
B5 TSW holds 13 acres of land and it lies toward Le Becham [Way] rendering p.a. 13/-
B6 TSW holds 13 acres of land lying at Porteway p.a. 8/8d
B7 TSW holds 5 acres of land lying in Le Clepcrofte p.a. 5/-
B8 TSW holds 2 acres of land lying in Le Tye [Tye Wood] p.a. 2/-
B9 TSW holds 4 acres of land lying in Le Tye p.a. 10/8d
B10 TSW holds 2 acres of land in the tenure of TSW lately called Garleston p.a. 2/-
B11 TSW above Borsate Pit between the Manor of Essole and Le Chyrcheway 2 acres of land and 1 garden p.a. 2/-
B12-TSW holds 4 acres of land with [ (not clear) messuage and Le Forstall (the area of land in front of a manor or farm house) p.a. 2/8d-(payment only 8d per acres, possibly because it is the gardens ect. in front of the Becham messuage).
Sum total £.2 2/9d
Total acres of land-50 acres 2 roods (1/2 acre).
