Denford Park, Berkshire, England

Another part of Kintbury, also formerly known as Inglewood (Ingelflote Cumbrewell or Godingeflod, xii–xiii cent.), but now as ANFILLES (Hanvills, Hanfieldes, Goddingflod, Goldingfield, xvi cent.), is detached from the remainder of the parish. It appears to have been held in 1086 by William, probably William de Ow, who held Denford (q.v.), and of him by three thegns, Polcehard, Alured and Godbold. In the 13th century the overlordship of this manor belonged to Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, having probably passed to him from William de Ow in the same way as Denford. The manor remained part of the honour of Hereford until the earldom became extinct in 1373. This fee was evidently assigned to the younger daughter of the last earl, Mary, who married Henry Duke of Lancaster, who ascended the throne as King Henry IV, for in the 16th and 17th centuries the manor was held of the honour of Lancaster. In 1464 it was said to be held of John Michell.

The hide which was held by Polcehard seems to have passed eventually to Godfrey Punchard, whose widow Eleanor, with her daughter Ellen, was concerned in litigation respecting it in 1230. Later in the 13th century this manor was held by Philip de Cumbrewell. Hugh de Cumbrewell gave the estate to Stephen de Hanvill and his wife Juliana, the grant being confirmed by his son Robert in 1283–4. Stephen de Hanvill was still holding it in 1293, but it had passed before 1316 to Alan de Hanvill.

It seems to have been purchased before 1338 by Nicholas de la Beche, and to have passed like Yattendon (q.v.) to the heirs of Nichola's nieces. On a division of his property Anvilles fell to the share of Edmund Danvers, who was holding it in 1372. Either Edmund or his son William apparently sold this manor, for in 1428 it was held by John Wykes, and later in the same century acquired by Elizabeth wife of William Darell, who died seised of it in 1464. It then descended with the neighbouring manor of Balsdon until William Darell sold or mortgaged it in 1564 to Edward Butler of Reading.

Edward seems to have died soon afterwards, leaving this manor to his daughter Elizabeth wife of Richard Staverton of Warfield. William Darell was soon engaged in litigation with Richard and Elizabeth, but Richard was established here by 1591, and was holding the manor in 1607. He died not long afterwards, and on the death of his widow in 1634 the manor passed to her son Edward. Edward died childless in 1639, having bequeathed the farm called Anvilles to William Staverton of Wokingham and Francis Broughton of Binfield, to be sold by them for the payment of his debts and legacies. Francis Broughton sold this estate in 1641 to Sir Henry Martin, of whom it was purchased in 1650 by Thomas Hussey of Hungerford Park. His son Thomas sold it in 1669 to Thomas Bostock, after whose death the estate was sold in 1674 to Sir William Jones. He had purchased the neighbouring manor of Avington (q.v.), and Anvilles descended with that manor until 1900, when it was sold by Sir Francis Burdett, the eighth baronet, to Mr. Humphrey J. Walmesley of Inglewood House, who now holds it.

Certain lands at DENFORD (Daneford, xi cent.) were bequeathed in 931 by Wulfgar to AtheJstan and Cynestan on condition that they obeyed him till his death. In the time of Edward the Confessor Denford comprised 10 hides, and had been held in alod of the king by Alward, but was in the hands of William de Ow in 1086. In 1095 William joined Robert de Mowbray Earl of Northumberland against the king, and was condemned to be blinded and mutilated on 13 January the following year. What happened to the overlordship of this manor is uncertain, but it afterwards, probably as early as 1201, formed part of the honour of Kinton.

William de Braose, who held this honour in 1201, died in 1211,when he was succeeded by Reginald his son. Reginald was followed by his eldest son William de Braose, lord of Brecon and Bergavenny, who held this overlordship until he was hanged in 1230.His estates were divided among his daughters, and this fee passed to Eleanor, who married Humphrey de Bohun, son of Humphrey second Earl of Hereford. It followed the same descent as the overlordship of Anvilles, and eventually became part of the duchy of Lancaster. The manor was returned in 1455 as held of Ralph Grey in socage and in 1464 as held of Robert verse, but it was still held in the 17th century of the duchy of Lancaster.

Bartholomew de Denford seems to have held Denford in the middle of the 12th century, and it was probably this manor which Geoffrey Hussey held in 1201 as one knight's fee of the honour of Kinton. He was succeeded by Bartholomew Hussey, who was dealing with lands here in 1226, 1250 and 1252. Soon afterwards, however, the manor passed to Richard Longespee, second son of William Earl of Salisbury. He was holding it before 1260, together with the adjoining manor of Avington (q.v.), and he seems to have been succeeded by his niece Emeline wife of Maurice Fitz Maurice fourth Lord Offaly, Lord Justice of Ireland. Maurice died childless in 1277, when Emeline resumed her maiden name. She seems to have entertained the king here after her husband's death, for Letters Close were dated from Denford on 25 January 1286 as the king was on his way from Marlborough to Caversham. She settled this manor in 1305–6 on herself for life, with remainder to her great-niece Maud, who was betrothed to Robert de Holand. Emeline died on Whit Sunday 1331, when this manor passed to Maud de Holand J. She held it until her death on Whit Sunday 1349, when her son Robert Lord Holand succeeded. He settled this manor in 1355 on his son Robert and his wife Alice, and died in 1373, when, as his son was already dead, the manor passed to the latter's daughter Maud.

Maud married John Lovel, Lord Lovel of Titchmarsh, who died seised of this manor in 1408. His widow survived him and held it until her death between 1420 and 1423. Denford then passed to her grandson William Lord Lovel of Titchmarsh, who was followed in 1455 by his son Sir John.This John Lovel was succeeded in 1465 by his young son Francis Lovel, whose wardship was granted to John de la Pole Duke of Suffolk and Elizabeth his wife. Joan, John's widow, held the manor in dower until her death in 1466. Francis Lord Lovel of Titchmarsh was created Viscount Lovel in 1483, but died about 16 June 1487, soon after the battle of Stoke, at which he fought on behalf of Lambert Simnel, and his lands, including a rent from this manor, were forfeited to the king. This rent was held by Sir John Cheney after Sir Francis Lovel's forfeiture and it seems to have continued in his family until early in the 16th century. It was confirmed by the Crown in 1512 to Sir William Compton and his wife Warburga, widow of Sir Francis Cheney, but no further reference to it has been found.

The manor seems to have been granted by one of the Lovels early in the 15th century to William Coventre, who is described as late of Denford in 1428. He had purchased the manor of Avington (q.v.) in 1405, and Denford descended with it until 1640, when it was sold by Francis Choke to Alexander Browne. He and Elizabeth his wife conveyed this manor on 18 December 1650 to Anne James of St. Margaret's, in the City of London, widow of Walter James, serjeant of the bake-house to James I and Charles I. She settled this manor on her eldest son William on his marriage with Sarah daughter of John Southby of Carswell in 1652, and William was holding the manor in 1665, but died on 24 June 1666, leaving an only son Boulton. Boulton James and Sarah his mother placed this manor in settlement on 30 May 1684, on the occasion of a marriage between Boulton and Frances daughter of Adam Head of Peasemore, and by his will, dated 1 December 1692, he bequeathed it to his eldest son William, with successive remainders to his younger sons John and Walter; he died in 1693. His son William James, who inherited the manor, died unmarried and intestate in 1745, and the manor passed under his father's will to his brother John. John James and Alice his wife cut off the entail in 1760, and by his will, proved by his widow in 1769, John bequeathed this manor to trustees for his wife Alice for life, with successive remainders to William son of Sir Thomas Head, and to any other son of Sir Thomas Head, on condition that they resided at Denford. William Head, then an infant, assumed by Act of Parliament in 1772 the name and arms of James, but died unmarried in 1777. He was succeeded by his younger brother Walter James Head, who also assumed the name and arms of James. He was created a baronet on 28 July 1791, and he and his wife mortgaged the manor in 1808 to John Thomas Wasey of Newbury, and sold it in 1810 to William Hallett of Townhill in South Stoneham, Hampshire.

William Hallett built the present house, of which Sir Jeffry Wyatville was the architect. He sold the manor in 1822 to George Henry Cherry, who was Sheriff of Berkshire in 1829 and died on 6 January 1848. His son George Charles Cherry was sheriff in 1871 and chairman of quarter sessions. He died unmarried 12 June 1887 and was succeeded by his brother Maj.-Gen. Apsley Cherry, who assumed by royal licence the additional name and arms of Garrard on inheriting the estate of Lamer Park (Herts.). He died on 8 November 1907, leaving a son Apsley George Benet Cherry-Garrard, the present owner, who served under Capt. Scott in the recent Antarctic expedition.