Soranks Manor and the origin of the name Fairseat

At British History Online (click here), there is some fascinating history on Soranks Manor in Fairseat, and also how Fairseat came by its name. Below is an exerpt.

THERE IS A MANOR in this parish called SORANKS, which in the reign of king Henry III. was held by Ralph de Sandwich, of the archbishop of Canterbury as one quarter of a knight's fee, but in the next reign of king Edward the 1st, it was got into the possession of a family, who implanted their name on it, one of whom, Edmund Sorank held it in the reign of king Edward II. as did Roger Sorank in the 20th year of king Edward III. 

This manor did not remain long in this name, for in the beginning of the reign of king Richard II. it was become the property of Thomas Mortimer, of Mortimer's, in Cliff, near Rochester, and he in the 20th year of that reign passed it away by sale to William Skrene, from which name it was alienated to Wood, in whose descendants it remained until the latter end of the reign of king Henry VII. when Thomas Wood passed it away to Robert Barefoot.

He died in the 1st year of king Edward the VIth, being then possessed of this manor, and one hundred and forty acres of arable, and wood in Stansted, held of the king, as of the manor of Otford, by knight's service. Thomas Barefoot was his son and heir, and he, with Catherine his wife, in the 2d and 3d year of king Philip and queen Mary, sold this manor to Henry Fanshaw, and Dorothy his wife, who in the beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign alienated it to George Wifeman, and he passed it away to Launce, in whose descendants it continued till it was conveyed by sale to Mr. John Cox, who having purchased of Sir Roger Twisden, bart. an estate on the summit of the hill, on the eastern side of this parish, built A SEAT for his residence on it, naming it FAIRSEAT, from the pleasantness of its prospect, the extensiveness of which has caused it commonly to be called Fairfee. Of this family there are several memorials in Stansted church; they bore for their arms, Sable, a chevron argent between three attires of a stag fixed to the scalp of the second. He died possessed both of this manor and seat in 1736, leaving by Hannah his wife, who survived him, John Cox, esq. who was of Fairseat. He left no issue, and was succeeded by his only sister Sarah, married to George Wilson, esq. who is jointly with her the present possessor of this manor and seat.

I have seen Fairseat also called Facy Seat on the map of 1841 in one of my earlier posts. And I'm sure I've heard tell of it also once being called Fair Street. If anyone has any further information I'd love to hear it.

Also on the subject of Soranks Manor, I found this information on Ancestry.com about a former inhabitant of note. Click here for the source.

William Edward Hickson was indeed a pioneer in the education of the poor of London and the owner and editor of the Westminster Gazette. He was brought up in his father's business (Boot & Shoe Manufacturers). In 1840 he retired to devote himself to philanthropic & literary pursuits. He was one of the pioneers of national education. He was a composer of some merit and published "The Singing Master". He married Jane Brown in 1830, he died in 1870, she died about nine months later. He was brought up at Soranks Manor, Fairseat, Kent.

Click here for William Edward Hickson's Wikipedia entry. Apparently he credited with writing the proverb If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. Here is some more information, and shows where he is buried in St Mary's Stansted (photo below).

Grave of WE Hickson