Balneath

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Background

Balneath Manor is situated in Chailey Parish, north of Lewes and midway between Burgess Hill (west) and Uckfield (east) in what is now East Sussex.

According to the Victoria County History for Sussex:

BALNEATH [Balneth (xvi to xviii cent.)] formed part of the possessions of St. Pancras Priory at Lewes until the Dissolution. It was perhaps identical with the land which William de Warenne granted to the priory about 1095, being his demesne land 'from Beuehorne (Bevern) Bridge to Cheagele (Chailey) from the east road to the road beside the Bridge of Hamwde', which seems roughly to correspond with its present situation. The tenants of this manor had to carry 600 cartloads of wood yearly to the priory from Homewood and Balneath Wood. After the Dissolution Balneath, with the other possessions of the priory, was granted first to Thomas Cromwell in 1538, and later, in 1541, to Anne of Cleves for her life. The reversion of the manor was granted in 1552 to Sir William Goring, who died in 1554. His son Sir Henry obtained possession of it, and Balneath remained in the Goring family without a break until the end of the 19th century, being purchased from them about 1900 by Sir William Grantham…

George Goring versus Sir Harry Goring

The East Sussex Record Office (aka The Keep) holds a file (reference AMS 1222) containing the original "Papers relating to the pedigree of Goring of Barcombe, and the descent of the Barcombe estate". Amongst these papers is one entitled "An Acct. of Mr Goring’s Title to the Manor of Balneth". It relates to a dispute between George Goring and Sir Harry Goring (4th Baronet of Highden) regarding the title to Balneath Manor following the death of Sir William Goring (3rd (and last) Baronet of Burton).

The document was prepared by the George Goring who lived from 1670 to 1728. He was the eldest son of George Goring (1646-1714), brother to Elizabeth Goring (1675-1704) and step-brother to John Goring (1678-1735) - all three being the direct ancestors of Fred Buist.

Sir Harry Goring lived from 1679 to 1731. He played a key role in the Jacobite conspiracy known as the Atterbury Plot in 1721-22. Following the plot's collapse, Goring fled to France on 23 Aug 1722 where he remained until his death.

Although the document is undated, it must have been written after 29 Feb 1724 (the death of Sir William) by which time Sir Harry had fled to France.

The Goring pedigree

According to George, the manor should pass to the Heirs Male. To support his case, George provided his and Sir Harry's descents from Sir Henry (c. 1521-1594).

View the document or transcript (opens in a new tab).

George and Sir William were half-3rd cousins. Sir Harry was a 4th cousin of George and Sir William. All were descended from Sir Henry who lived from c. 1521 to 1594 and his father Sir William (died 1554) who was the first to receive the manor.

As the manor is not mentioned in his will dated 28 Dec 1727, either George was unsuccessful or, having no sons himself, he relinquished his claim.

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