Spilsill Manor House (now 'Spilsill Court') and its history

Image: © D Gore Taken: Unknown

Spilsill is a 14th century manor named after the original owners, the de Speldeselle family, who had it around 1317-35. The manor and its house were in the hands of the Mayney family of Biddenden from about 1377 - see Image Besides Biddenden, the Mayneys also owned other Kentish manors in this area, at Image, at Cranbrook and at Benenden. They held Spilsill manor for nearly 250 years:- c.1377-1571 Mayney of Biddenden 1571-77 Walter Mayney (Sheriff of Kent) Image 1577-87 Thomas Mayney (Walter's eldest son) 1587-90 John Mayney (Walter's 2nd son) 1590-1613 John Mayney (only son of John above) During Thomas Mayney's tenure, while his mother Anne was living at Spilsill as a widow, her younger son Walter aged 15 was drowned in the lake in front of the house. The family sold the manor in 1613 to John Sharpye, a London clothier. Unfortunately the Mayney's wholeheartedly backed the wrong side during the Civil War after which they lost all their properties - see http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2_ZstVBZSfIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA25#v=onepage&q=&f=true . The Mayney Arms with its motto "Courage et Esperance” can be seen at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2_ZstVBZSfIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA30#v=onepage&q=&f=true The Mayney crest and foundation date (1522) are on the uniforms of the children of the John Mayne Primary School in Biddenden which the family endowed nearly five centuries ago. A short general history of the Manor House is at: http://www.perfumefromprovence.com/Spilsill%20Court%20History.pdf

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