Site of medieval manor of Battails, Bradwell-on-Sea (EHER 45956)

Now destroyed. The medieval manor of Battails can be traced back to 1068 where it is mentioned in the Domesday Book as one of four manors in Bradwell-on-Sea, under the earlier name 'Effescestra'. The manorial lands survived into the 18th century although they were smaller than they were as 'Effescestra'. The manor house seems to have been destroyed at some point after 1629, but before 1714 where an estate map does not depict a manor house.

It is possible to partially reconstruct the medieval landscape of Bradwell-on-Sea using documentary, cartographic and archaeological sources. The Domesday Book mentioned four manors in 1086: Hacflet, Dona, Duna, and Effescestra. Effescestra is listed as having two landowners both holding only 1 1/2 hides each; one of the owners was the monastery of St Valery. In 1086 Hugh de Montfort held the other half of the manor of Effescestra, roughly equivalent to 180 acres. Round (1903) uncovered that the later manor of Battails was held of the Honour of Haughley and, therefore this was the portion of Effescestra held by Hugh de Montfort. The manor was soon after passed back to the Crown. During the medieval period there appears to have been some consolidation of the Domesday manors. The half of Effescestra held by St. Valery is thought to have become East Hall and Battails was to become the other portion of the Domesday manor that lay further along the East End Road. Around 1207-8 Almaric (or Emeric) Bataille is recorded as holding 1 messuage, 68 acres of arable land, pasture for 50 sheep and 2 villeins from the King and gained a further virgate (30 acres) from St. Valery. The Battails manor is significantly smaller than the former portion of Effescestra. A fishery is recorded in 1274 and a windmill in 1292 (EHER 45964). It was located on the North side of East End Road. It was often held along with other lands and parts were sold off at various times. At some point between 1306 and 1333 the manor of Down Hall became joined with the manor of Battails. It was held in the Battail family until 1394. The manor was in the Crowns possession by the early post-medieval period and was held by Anthony Higham. It was still held by the Crown around 1581. Henry Carter was in possession of the estate and passed the estate to his son on his death in 1629. An estate map dated to 1714 plots Wymarks Farm and the ‘demean lands of the Manor of Battels’ in the possession of Joseph Mason. The extent of the demesne lands is only about 57 acres. The division between the two portions may have been the tidal creek that flowed in from what is now Wymarks Beach. The manorial lands of Battails survive until the 18th century although the house seems to have been destroyed at some point after 1629. There is no manor house depicted on the map so it must have been destroyed before 1714. <1>