Draft:Feudal barony of Chilham

The Barony (or Honour) of Chilham was a feudal barony in Kent, England centered around the village and parish of Chilham.

History
The earliest record of Chilham is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as Cilleham. It takes its name from the old English "Cyleham", meaning "the cold place".

In the time of the ancient Britons, Chilham was likely fortified as a place of strength against the invading Romans, who had several encounters with the Britons in the area. After the Romans gained control of Britain, they strengthened Chilham's fortifications and used it as one of their castra stativa, or permanent military encampments.

After the Romans left Britain, Saxon chieftains maintained control of Chilham and had a fortress or castle on the site of the present Chilham Castle. In the 7th century AD, King Widred of Kent resided at Chilham and strengthened its defenses.

The Danes sacked and demolished the castle during raids in either 838 or 851 AD. It remained desolate until the time of the Norman conquest. The lands around Chilham were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as belonging to Sired de Cilleham, a noble Saxon. After the conquest, the lands were granted by William the Conqueror to his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux.

Odo's lands were forfeited to the crown in 1082 after his rebellion against William II. The king then granted Chilham to Fulbert de Dover, from whom it derived the name of the "Barony of Fobert", or Fulbert. The barony came to be centered at Chilham Castle, and other manors in the area were dependent on the barony.

Chilham Castle was rebuilt and strengthened after the Norman conquest. It remained an important feudal center, changing hands several times due to inheritance and forfeiture over the following centuries. Owners included the families of Badlesmere, Roos, Scott and Digges.

In the 18th century the Colebrooke family came to own Chilham Castle and the barony. In 1775 Robert Colebrooke sold it to Thomas Heron. The Heron family made additions to Chilham Castle before selling the estate to Thomas Wildman in 1792.

Manors
The Barony of Chilham incorporated several smaller manors:


 * Chilham


 * Youngs
 * Herst
 * Esture
 * Old Wives Lees
 * Dingley
 * Ensinge
 * Shillingheld
 * Dane
 * Denne

Each manor had its own documented history of feudal landholders, many taking their names from the manor they held. Ownership often followed that of the Barony of Chilham as a whole.

Church of Chilham
The parish church of St Mary had originally been annexed to the Honour of Chilham. In the 12th century it was separated and granted to the alien priory of Throwley, which was dependent on the abbey of St Bertin in Flanders.

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the church assets were granted to Sir Thomas Chene along with Chilham Castle and the advowson of the vicarage. Subsequent ownership followed that of the barony.

The church building is 13th-14th century in origin with 15th-16th century additions and monuments. It housed several chantries and chapels over the centuries.