Roman era

Claverton ...

Saxon era (c. 978)

There are several theories as to the origins of the name "Claverton". In Saxon times the village was known as Claftertone or Claftertona, meaning "clover place". The ford was originally known at Clot-ford, or "the ford of the yellow water lily" - hence the name of the village, Clot-ford-ton, or Claverton.

Saxon era (c. 978)

There are several theories as to the origins of the name "Claverton". In Saxon times the village was known as Claftertone or Claftertona, meaning "clover place". The ford was originally known at Clot-ford, or "the ford of the yellow water lily" - hence the name of the village, Clot-ford-ton, or Claverton.

Saxon era (c. 978)

There are several theories as to the origins of the name "Claverton". In Saxon times the village was known as Claftertone or Claftertona, meaning "clover place". The ford was originally known at Clot-ford, or "the ford of the yellow water lily" - hence the name of the village, Clot-ford-ton, or Claverton.

Saxon era (c. 978)

There are several theories as to the origins of the name "Claverton". In Saxon times the village was known as Claftertone or Claftertona, meaning "clover place". The ford was originally known at Clot-ford, or "the ford of the yellow water lily" - hence the name of the village, Clot-ford-ton, or Claverton.

Claverton ...

There are several theories as to the origins of the name "Claverton". In Saxon times the village was known as Claftertone or Claftertona, meaning "clover place". The ford was originally known at Clot-ford, or "the ford of the yellow water lily" - hence the name of the village, Clot-ford-ton, or Claverton.

Swein

Prior to the Norman conquest Claverton was held by Swein (also spelled Suain).  Swein paid tax to King Edward (reign 1042-1066) based on land-holdings of 5 hides (approximately 600 acres).

The conquest of Britain by William of Normandy in 1066 was followed by a brief period of adjustment as William rewarded his French followers with lands taken from the defeated English nobles.

The new King wanted to know every detail of the land he had acquired.   In 1086 he sent commissioners, scribes and escorts over most of England to record the extent of the lands, their value and their potential for taxation. Based in Winchester, the commissioner's findings were recorded and formed the "Domesday Book", the first example in the world of a nationwide inventory or catalogue.

Humphrey the Chamberlain

Following the Norman conquest, Somerset was divided into about seven hundred fiefdoms, nearly all of them transfered to Norman hands. Claverton was held by Humphrey the Chamberlain, brother of Aiulf, Sheriff of Dorset (in 1091 Aiulf became Sheriff of Somerset). 

Humphrey was "in the service" of the Queen Matilda of Flanders, wife of William I (d. 1083).

Hugolin the Interpreter (aka Hugoline, Hugolinus)

From the Domesday book: "Hugolin the Interpreter holds Claverton.  Land for 6 ploughs; as many there. 4 villagers, 7 smallholders and 4 slaves.  A mill which pays 7s 6d; meadow, 20 acres; pasture, 12 furlongs in both length and width.  1 cob; 4 cattle; 29 pigs; 120 sheep; 20 goats.  Value formerly and now £7."

Claverton was held by Hugoline, one of three Justiciaries of England who helped compile the "Domesday Book" for William the Conqueror. He was called "Hugoline the Interpreter" due to his clerical skill, and he may have been finance minister or treasurer to Edward the Confessor. After the Norman conquest, William wisely made use of Hugoline's clerical skills in compiling the Domesday Book, an inventory of all the land and property in England. According to the Domesday inventory, Hugoline also held other manors including Herlei (Warleigh), Estone (Batheaston), Hampton, Crandon, Holton, Lattiford and Lytes Cary.

John de Villula, Bishop of Wells

King William II (also known as Rufus, for his red hair) was the second son and chosen heir to William I.  Rufus reinged for 13 years, from 1087 until 1100. During his reign the manor (land) of Claverton was granted to Hugh Cum Barba ("Hugh with beard").

in 1088 William Rufus granted Bath Abbey and its lands (including Claverton) to John de Villula, Bishop of Wells.

Bishop John de Villula purchased from Henry I the "town of Bath -- that is, the authority and services which had hitherto been due to, and exercised by, the crown" -- for five hundred pounds of silver. He also obtained, from the King, the abbey of black monks there.

John de Villula, a native of Tours, had successfully practised medicine at Bath, though somewhat irregularly according to William of Malmesbury.  He was elected Bishop of Somerset in 1088. He was the founder of the Palace of Wells, moving, for that purpose, the cloister and other buildings which Bishop Giso had constructed for the use of the canons. A more important change, brought about by this bishop, was the removal of the "centre of the see" from Wells to Bath in 1090.

John de Villula died 28th December 1122

The manors (lands) of Warleigh and Forde were sold by Hugo Barbatus (the son of Hugoline, or perhaps Hugoline himself) to John de Villula, Bishop of Bath and Wells, after which they were granted to the monastery of Bath.

Bishop Bitton obtained from King Henry III a "Charter of Freewarren" (the right to hunt) on all his lands in the parish (presumably including Claverton).

Ralph de Salopia

Ralph de Salopia, Bishop of Bath and Wells, built a "Court House" (manor house?) in Orchard Close, south of the present-day church at Claverton.

During the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, Claverton was spared the demolition suffered by other manors belonging to Bath Abbey.

King Edward VI

Upon the death of King Henry VIII (January 1547) his ten-year-old son ascended to the throne as Edward VI. Edward's maternal uncle, Lord Hertford, became "Protector of the Realm" and was created Duke of Somerset.

In 1548 the manor of Claverton was acquired by King Edward from Bishop William Barlow in exchange for other lands in Somerset.

Matthew Colthurst

King Edward VI granted Claverton to Matthew Colthurst.

Anne (Sybill) Colthurst, wife of Matthew Colthurst

In his will (proved February 4, 1559) Matthew Colthurst left Claverton "to my wife for her dowry, and at her demise to my son Edmund Colthurst".  Matthew Colthurst's wife, Anne (Sybill) Colthurst, did not pass away until 1604, yet Claverton was sold by her son Edward as early as 1560 (see below).

Edward Wynter

Edmund Colthurst sold Claverton Manor to Edward Wynter, son and heir of Sir William Wynter of Lydney, Gloucestershire (Sir William was an Admiral in the British navy and had fought the Spanish Armada).

Sir Walter Hungerford

Sir Walter Hungerford (1532-1596) constructed the second Manor House next to Claverton church. Some sources credit the design to architect John of Pradua, others sources credit architect Robert Smythson. Construction was completed circa 1580.  Sir Walter also held a significant parcel of land near the Thames in Westminster, London

Sir William Bassett

Sir Thomas Estcourt (of Shipton Moyne) sold Claverton Manor to Sir William Bassett of Bassett Court, Uley, County Gloucester (b. 1575, d. 1613). The sale included the Manor House (built circa 1580), the 15th century church, and a productive vineyard. A memorial to Sir William Bassett can be seen in Claverton Church.

In July 1643, several days before the Battle of Lansdowne, Parliamentarians shot a cannon from Warleigh Manor, on the east side of the River Avon, in the direction of Claverton Manor on the opposite hill. A cannon ball entered the room where Sir William Bassett and other Royalist officers were sitting, and lodged in the masonry of the chimney. This barrage was followed by a calvary charge in the Ham meadow in which two Parliamentarian soldiers and one Royalist soldier were killed. Eventually the Parliamentarians were driven back across the ford which at that time existed between Claverton and Warleigh.

son of Sir William Bassett

According to some sources, various members of the Bassett family held Claverton Manor from 1613 until 1693.

Robert Holder

In 1701 Robert Holder purchased Claverton Manor from the Basset family. His son sold it in 1714 to Dr. William Skrine (see below).

Dr. William Skrine

Claverton Manor is purchased by Dr. William Skrine (b. circa 1672, d. 1725 ... see bio in Ainely Walker pg. 99).

William Skrine (son of Dr. William Skrine)

William Skrine (b. circa 1700) of Arlington Street, Westminster, and of Claverton Manor, son of Dr. William Skrine (see above).  Member of Parliement for Callington 1771-1780.  He sold Claverton Manor to Ralph Allen (see below) in 1758, possibly to settle a gambling debt. William Skrine was a heavy gambler, and having lost heavily at cards at the Brooks Club in 1783, took his own life by shooting himself in the head in a tavern in Newgate Street!

Gertrude Warburton

Following the death of Ralph Allen (June 29, 1764) the Manor was bequeathed to his first wife's niece, Gertrude, wife of William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester.  Gertrude was the daughter of William Tucker, who's wife was the sister of Ralph Allen.

On October 9, 1781, several years after the death of her first husband, William Warburton (d. June 7, 1779) Gertrude Warburton married Martin Stafford Smith of Weymouth. According to information provided by Claverton Church, Mrs. Warberton left Claverton, preferring to reside at her Prior Park home in Bath.

Allen Tucker

The Ainley Walker book book suggests that, upon or before the death of Gertrude Warburton, the Manor may have been passed to her nephew, Allen Tucker.

John Vivian

Circa 1816 Claverton Manor was purchased by John Vivian, Bencher of the Middle Temple, a barrister, and Solicitor to the Excise. It may have been purchased from the estate of Allen Tucker (d. 1816?) who may have inherited Claverton circa 1790 (see above).  In about 1823 John Vivian demolished the old manor house at the suggestion of architect Jeffrey Wyatville, who persuaded him that the house was too dilapidated to be repaired.

A new manor house was designed for John Vivian by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, architect to George IV. The new house was constructed of Bath stone, and is still standing today. It is neoclassical in style, with Ionic pilasters and a pediment on the south facade.  There are two semi-circular projecting bays on the east facade. The house occupies a prominent position on the hill above Claverton village overlooking the valley of the River Avon.

George Vivian

In 1828 Claverton was inherited by John Vivian's second son and heir, George. During his absence abroad, the manor house was leased to James Wilson, MP for Westbury, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and founder of the "Economist". Shorty after inheriting the house, George Vivian constructed a screen wall between the drive and the gardens, extending south from the house.  He also added a gallery for his picture collection.

the 15c Claverton Church is restored, and consecrated on New Year's Day 1859 by Baron Auckland, Bishop of Bath and Wells.

George Vivian (son of John) sold the manor to Mr. Issac Carr, who leased it for a time to the Eaton family.

Henry Duncan Skrine

In 1874 Henry Duncan Skrine (1815-1901) purchased Claverton manor from Isaac Carr.  The primary incentive for acquring the hill-top manor house was that his wife (Susanna Caroline Mills) disliked the mists and damp of Warleigh Manor in the Avon Valley below. After her death H.D. Skrine continued to reside at Claverton, while his eldest son, Henry Mills Skrine (1844-1915) occupied Warleigh Manor.

Charles Warleigh Hill

Charles Warleigh Hill, owner of Albion Shipyards of Bristol, leased Claverton from the Skrines, and described the mansion as "a London house put into the country".

IN 1888 Henry Duncan Skrine published a paper (called "The British Camp"??? / Excavations at Small Down camp???), in which he postulated that a Celtic settlement stood on Hampton Down during the Iron Age (Hampton Down is partly situated on lands belonging to Claverton Manor). The paper also mentions the Wansdyke (Woden's Dyke), which is still visible north of Bath University.

Ainley Walker tells us that the Wansdyke was a defensive boundary line constructed in pre-Roman times by the Belgae, who had come from Flanders, and who had made this district their frontier. The dyke had at one time traversed the land between the Bristol Channel and Bathford, and continued through Wilshire and into the area Marlborough.

American Museum

Claverton Manor was acquired in the 1960's by American philanthropist Dallas Pratt