FEATURE
By Peter White
It remains one of the Island’s most
imposing buildings, although much
has changed at Mottistone Manor
since it was listed in the Doomsday
Book.
Back in the 11th century when
Mottistone was spelt ‘Motteston’
the whole structure – just a small
oblong door house - was valued at the
princely sum of £6.
Hundreds of years later, Mottistone
Manor is now the home of Sir
Charles Nicholson and his wife
Martie (pictured left) and their
family. Although part of the National
Trust since 1963, it is very much a
cosy family home that is normally
open to the public just one day a
year, even though its magnificent
Mediterranean-style garden can be
viewed for seven months of the year.
This year, because of the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee celebrations,
Mottistone Manor opened its doors
for two days, and inevitably the
visitors flocked to the West Wight
village for a rare glimpse at the Island
history.
To mark the occasion, and for those
who were unable to visit, Island Life
was given exclusive access by Sir
Charles, who also explained the rather
chequered history of the landmark
Manor house.
He said: “After the Doomsday
Book recording, records of how the
house evolved sadly disappeared
until the 12th century when Brian de
Insula (Brian of the Island) took up
residence.
“But it was with the arrival of the
Dillington family in the 14th century
that real progress was made, with
the stone structure beginning to take
shape. In 1421 the Cheke Family
moved in and continued the changes.
From the outside it is easy to spot
the high West Wing, as it is known,
which was built by Sir Thomas
Cheke. On that side of the house all
the rooms are very much taller and
larger, but still blend in perfectly with
the remainder of the building.”
The adjacent barn was added in
the 15th century by the then Lord
of the Manor so that the villagers
could store their grain there, and so
Mottistone became a typical English
medieval community.
Sir Charles continued: “The Cheke
Family left in 1621 because Sir
Thomas Cheke’s son went through
his inheritance, and then in 1708
the house was hit by a violent storm
that resulted in the massive earth
bank behind the house collapsing and
engulfing the walls, but thankfully
causing no real structural damage,
and it was discovered years later.”
Mottistone Manor became a
simple farmhouse by the turn of the
19th century, but all the furniture,
www.visitislandlife.com
69