Wendy Walker, County Archivist, writes: Medieval deeds from such an early period are rare survivals and West Sussex Record Office thanks FNL for their generous grant which has enabled the purchase of this c 1300 deed of gift. Medieval deeds provide an important insight into property ownership and transactions and also document people who may have owned adjoining property or acted as witnesses to a transaction. As such, they are invaluable resources for local and family historians from a time when few other written records survive to shed light on local residents.
This particular deed of gift, which relates to property in West Dean, not only identifies the two main parties involved in the transaction, Geoffrey de la Wodecote and John Sebrist of Arundel, but also the names of four witnesses: Sir Robert de Villiers, Adam de Chetwynde, Thomas de Westden, and William de Charleton. Interestingly it records that the piece of land had a house built upon it, providing early written evidence of medieval buildings in West Dean.
Whilst West Sussex Record Office has a substantial quantity of deeds relating to West Dean from the 17th century onwards there are very few which pre-date this, and none as early as c1300, making this deed a particularly significant addition to our holdings and of real value to researchers.
