Molland - Descent of The Manor

Descent of The Manor

The Exeter Domesday Book of 1086 records 3 entries for manor called "Molland", two in South Molton hundred and one in North Molton hundred. The latter does not relate to today's village and estate of Molland, but to a separate ancient small manor later called "Molland-Sarazen", about 7 miles to the NW, in today's parish of Morth Molton, and now memorialized by the name of Higher Molland Farm and Molland Cross nearby it. This manor in North Molton hundred was held by Tetbald, son of Berner, who was the father-in-law of Odo. The 2 entries for Molland in South Molton hundred relate to a former ancient division of the present unified manor into 2 parts: One larger part listed under the demesne of the king, the other much smaller part under the lands of Geoffrey de Montbray (d.1093), Bishop of Coutances, both in the county of "Devenesira" or "Devrescira". These two divisions of Molland later became known respectively as "Molland Bottreaux" after the Botreaux family and "Molland Champeaux" now memorialized by Champson Farm, between Molland Church and West Molland Barton.

The royal manor was granted before 1194 by the king to the Botreaux family as his tenants-in-chief whilst the smaller manor became a part of the feudal barony of Barnstaple and was granted, probably by the de Tracy feudal barons of Barnstaple, with several other manors, to one of their knights, a member of the de Champeaux family (Latinised to de Champellis/Campellis), probably from Champeaux on the coast of Normandy between Avranches and Granville. From the latter place probably originated the ancient familly of Grenville, lords of the manor of Bideford. Radulfo de Champeaux was a witness to a charter of King Richard I dated 24 March 1195 given at Fougeres in Normandy confirming to the Abbey of Luzerne and the canons regular there serving God the gifts of William de Sancto Johanne and Hasculf de Soligneio, "according to their charters, and all other gifts, by whomsoever made". The charter is in the archives of the Abbey of St Mary, Montmorel, for Augustinian canons in the diocese of Avranches.