Catalogue description MANOR OF MARKSBURY AND HOUNDSTREET court papers

Mainly presentments made at the court leet and/or court baron. Apart from those relating also to Sewardswick [mentioned below], the additional documents comprise only a list of resiants, 1658, and lists of the homage and jury, 1659-60. Added to the presentments of 1740 is a list of tenants showing rights in Marksbury and 'Hownstreet' Common.

The style of the court varies between court baron and court leet as combined and as separate titles, and the indefinite term 'court'. Evidence of consistency appears only in the three periods 1658-1732 (courts leet and baron), and 1732-39, 1755-68 (both court leet only). A court of survey is added to the court baron for 1741.

Between 1755 and 1765 the presentments are made at the court leet for the liberty of Marksbury and Houndstreet, and from 1766 to 1773 the liberty of Houndstreet only is given. Houndstreet is described as a manor and liberty in 1786 and 1791, the manor of Marksbury having separate presentments. In these documents, the style 'Liberty of Houndstreet and Manor of Marksbury' is first used in 1725.

Sewardswick (Shewards Weeke, etc.) is joined with Marksbury and Houndstreet in 1657 in a record of licences to sub-let made at the court baron, and is styled a manor in a list of tenants (with amerciaments) presented at a court baron and court of survey for the same year.

Lords, etc.: Alexander Popham, esq., 1657-60,1718; Francis Popham, esq., 1720-32; Edward Popham, esq., 1739-41; and Dorothy Popham, 1782-95.

The years 1657-60, 1717-18, 1720, 1725-43, 1745-53, 1755-70, 1772-73, 1782, 1786, 1788-89, 1791, 1793 and 1795 are represented.