| Woodcott |
| When the Domesday Survey was being
carried out there were probably two estates in Litchfield one of which
was in the hands of the King while the other with Hugh de Port. The
estate held by the King afterwards developed into the Manor of
Litchfield and was granted to Ralf Monachus by Henry II and subsequently
in 1228 Ralf granted the manor to Brian de Stopham. It then passed to
John Kingsmill in 1537 and when he passed away his heir was William
Kingsmill and the manor then followed in the descent of Sydmonton. The second estate which became known as the hamlet of Litchfield or West Litchfield and Woodcott were in the possession of Faderlin and his daughter and these properties both passed to Ruald de Woodcott and stayed with his family until the start of teh 14th century, when Richard de Cardeville inherited them. He granted the Manor of Woodmancott and the hamlet of Litchfield to the Prior and Brethren of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 1303. They remained the property of the Prior and Brethren until the Dissolution when they became the property of the crown. It was in 1544 that they were granted to John Kingsmill and stayed with the family until 1766 and then the manor was purchased by the Herberts and descended to the Earls of Carnarvon.
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