Originally it is believed that Westwick was part of Cottenham parish. The name West ..wick suggesting a farmstead to the west ie: west of Cottenham. The largest of three estates that existed in Westwick in 1066 had passed to Picot the Sheriff by 1086. According to VCH (Vol: IX) Picot’s tenant in 1086 was Odo, the Chamberlain of Count Alan and his tenant elsewhere in Cambridgeshire. One of Odo’s granddaughters and eventual heirs married Robert de Lisle and after c 1212 the manor was held as 2/3 knight’s fee of Count Alan’s honor of Richmond, whose lords exercised rights in Westwick in the 14th Century.
What is a knight’s fee?
The above example shows how after the Conquest of 1066 land in England was distributed by William the Conqueror amongst a relatively small number of powerful overlords. In the History from the Sources Book detailed above we can see that in 1086 there were only 44 people (including the King himself) who were the landholders for the whole of Cambridgeshire. This included abbots on behalf of Abbey’s.
These powerful overlords could not live in every manor house or farm all the lands that had been given to them by William I. They certainly could not be everywhere at once; maintaining property; farming and maintaining their lands in good order. They therefore gave surplus manor houses and manorial rights to those who would provide them with both loyalty and men (knights) when requested to do so by the overlord. The amount of the knight’s fee indicated how many men had to be supplied in return for manorial rights given out. William de Cheyney of Longstanton is an example of a knight who is provided with a manor and lands in return for an obligation to provide men, arms and to ensure the stability and good governance of his “patch!”
To be continued……
Westwick Hall.
Westwick Hall was built by William Linton after he returned to the village, from Longstanton, in 1829 on the death of his mother. He knocked down the medieval manor of Westwick and built the impressive Georgian house – Westwick Hall.
Reference: The Rise & Fall of the Lintons of Westwick Hall – JA Lane (CRO / LDHS Archives)
In 2006 LDHS was visited by Commander E W Linton a descendant of the Linton family who now lives in Australia. A member of the society he kindly donated some images of Westwick Hall that he took whilst he was here. Since these pictures were taken in 2006 the house has been substantially renovated.
In addition to these photographs E. Linton has also provided photographs of some of his ancestors. These photographs and more information on the Linton family will follow in due course in the section marked Village People.
