John Polhill

John., the only surviving son of David I, inherited Broughtons in Otford from his father and Planners (alias Palsters) from his grandfather Francis Sandbach. (36).

Planers or Planaz or Playnere was a manor, now extinct, lying on the right bank of the river Darent between what is now called the Home Farm and Shoreham Place. It comprised a manor house with stables, barns, dovehouse, orchard and gardens covering 2 acres; 15 acres of meadow and pasture, 40 acres of arable land, 20 acres of 'jenoper and gorsheground with coneyborough', a fulling mill with buildings, a tenterclose and land 3 acres. In the 14th century it was bought by the Passele family of Palstre in the Isle of Oxney, Romney Marsh, together with about 20 acres of woodland called the Palsters or Pawlsters between Otford and Highfield, Shoreham. The alternative name of Palsters was thereafter applied to what was formerly called Planers. The manor passed through many hands until it was purchased by Francis Sandbach in 1578 and willed to John Polhill. (A)

The adjoining manor of sepham, to the south by Twitton, was purchased by Francis Sandbach in 1547 and should have been conveyed to David I on his marriage with Alice Sandbach but was granted by Francis Sandbach on 20th November 1579 to Sir Christopher Wraye and Sir Thomas Gawdy for life, and afterwards to Edward Stoning. The late Mr. R. B. Polhill-Drabble suggests that Alice must have died during or prior to 1580 or otherwise Francis would have made the manor over to her by deed of gift. John Polhill made good the intention of his grandfather by purchasing Sepham or Upsepham for L720 from Edward Stoning in 1585. The purchase, including the farm of Goldhills is described as embracing, with appurtenances, 1 messuage, 2 barns, 1 garden, 1 orchard, 180 acres land, 8 acres mead, 12 acres pasture, 160 acres wood and 30 acres heath and furze in Shoreham and Otford. (A)

John proceeded to add to his possessions by a number of shrewd purchases. On March 10th 1592 he, described in the deed as 'yeoman', acquired The Coombs and Greenhill in Otford. (A). On June 10th 1602, in a deed filed in the Essex Record Office in which he is described as 'gentleman', he bought from Sampson Leonard of Knole for L270, lands in Otford described as Moorhope, The Mill, The Leape, Chearne Meadow, Warrens Mead, Dolling farmhouse, Cowpers, Borowes, Lames Marsh and Stockham Hill (B). On February 24, 1603 he bought more of Cowpers, Baker's Mead and Le Tenne Akers. (A).

In a survey made of Otford Manor in 1608, John is shown as owner of Land from Stumblegorough Hill (now Otford Mount) to Halstead, on both sides of the road (which, incidentally is nowhere described in the deeds as 'Pilgrims' Way'), as well as of the Mansion House, barn, stables and grounds of Broughtons, covering 95 acres. He paid 35/-a year to the Crown in lieu of military service (1/40th Knight's fee) and L10 at death. (A).

John also determined to make his Mansion House more impressive. In 1600 he reconstructed the front of the house. An inspired attempt to depict the appearance of the house at this time was made by Basil Lewin in 1928. (68)

After the brief period of marriage with Agnes Morse, John married Friswith, daughter of Robert Cawston of Orpington by whom he had a daughter Anne and two sons, David and John. Friswith died and was buried at Otford 23rd. November 1598, afterwhich John married Alice, daughter of Robert Holdsoll of Wrotham by whom there was no issue. (49). John himself died at Otford 22nd. September 1614.

The Inquisition Post Mortem (A) taken at Greenwich in December of that year declared him seized of:

I.P.M. 1614. JOHN POLHILL.

Manor and lands in Otford called Dunton Hill, Dunton Lands

and Darnetts 120 acres.

Messuage at Otford called Plomers als Plumers with 6ac.

land, 4ac. mead, 4ac. pasture.

Two parcels called Stockgates and Riddens also Clarkes

lands.

Sac. in Le Coombe

a parcel called Greenhill in Otford

7dw. in Redbrooks Meadow, Otford

3ac. in other meadow called Redbrooks

2ac. in bushye Croft als Peckham Logge als the Logge

Manor or farm of Upsepham in Shoreham

Messuage called Broughtons and divers lands

a cottage 1ac. Otford to Sevenoaks

another cottage and 1ac. Otford to Halstead

Manor of Planers als Palsters in Shoreham and Halstead

Fulling-mill and divers messuages and lands there and

other lands in Surrey. The premises called Dunton Hill etc. in Otford are held of the king as of his manor of Otford by Knight's service and are worth L4 per annum. Plomers of the King similarly but infree socage by fealty at 17d. per ann. and worth per ann.13/4. Stockgates and riddens ditto at 18d. worth 6/8. Land in Coombe, Greenhill and 17dw. in Redbrooks at 10d. worth 10/-. Redbrooks ditto at 9d worth 10/-. Bushey Croft ditto at 4d. worth 16d. Manor or farm of Upsepham and Manor of Planers and lands in Shoreham and Halstead held of the King as of his manor of Otford by 1/8th knight's fee and worth yearly 4s/-. Broughtons by 1/40 knight's fee and worth L10.  source . http://polhill.info/book.php?p=2