In the same way that King William conferred lands in the Gower and Burdrop to his faithful knights Grantmesnil and Corbucion, the Manor and land in Sibford Ferris or Little Sibford was given to Henri de Ferrières. Henri was born in Ferrières-St-Hilaire, Eure, Normandy, and is thought to have fought at the BaBle of HasIngs. Following the conquest, King William I conferred extensive lands, including a Manor and land in Sibford Ferris. It is thought that the Ferris Manor may only have been used as a hunIng lodge and not as a residence for the Ferrières family. Ownership passed from Henri de Ferrières through his sons until 1138 when Henri’s third son, Robert, was created Earl of Derby. By now the family name had changed to de Ferrers and Robert confirmed the grant of the Ferris manor to the Knights Templar. Following the suppression of the Templars by the Pope in 1312, all land in their ownership was passed to the Hospitallers and subsequently reverted to the Crown in 1540. Together with the Hospitaller’s lands in Sibford Gower (which did not include the Gower and Burdrop Manor and lands), the combined manors were sold in 1542 to Sir Thomas Pope. The estate passed through many hands until in 1684 it was sold to Ralph Sheldon of Bewley (Worcs) in whose family it remained unIl 1901 when Henry James Sheldon died without direct heirs and the manorial rights appear to have lapsed.

The Ferris Manor House retains part of the core of the old 16th/17th century house. This house was owned by the Walford family from 1657 and they carried out major building works from 1666. During the 18th century they had become wealthy farmers and landowners and had the building restyled in the Queen Ann fashion, which was very much in vogue with the aristocracy. It was sold to the Harris family, who were Quakers, in 1797. Joseph Harris sold the house to the Society of Friends for the sum of £1200 ‘for the purposes of a school’ in 1842. It remained part of Sibford School unIl 2001 when it was sold for private residenIal development.

Maureen Hicks