| Scrivelsby | |
St Benedict, Scrivelsby |
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Scrivelsby
Scrivelsby shown within Lincolnshire |
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| OS grid reference | TF267659 |
|---|---|
| District | East Lindsey |
| Shire county | Lincolnshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Horncastle |
| Postcode district | LN9 6 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Gainsborough |
| List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire | |
The Manor of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, England is a manor held by grand serjeanty,[1] a form of tenure which requires the performance of a service rather than a money payment – in this case as the King or Queens Champion.[1]
Scrivelsby Court
Scrivelsby appears in Domesday Book and was then held by Robert De Spencer,[2] but shortly after the Conquest it was given to Robert De Marmyion, Lord of Fountenay, on condition that he accept the office of King's Champion.[2] The Marmyon (sometimes Marmion) family's time as Champion died out with Philip De Marmyon, who only had daughters.[2] Joan, the youngest, married Sir Thomas De Ludlow, and it was to her Scrivelsby was left.[2] They had a son, John, who died with no children, and a daughter,[2] or great granddaughter [3] (disputed) Margaret, who married Sir John Dymoke.[2]
The duty of the King's Champion was to ride armed into the coronation banquet at Westminster Hall and challenge anyone who doubted the new monarch's right to the throne.[3] The Champion then threw down his gauntlet to prove he would fight to the death anyone who did. This was done three times, and if then, no challenge had been made, the king was presented with a gold cup of wine, and drank to the Champion who in turn took the cup and finishing the drink, would shout "Long live your Majesties!".[3] The custom was abandoned after the coronation of George IV in 1821.[3]
The manor house, Scrivelsby Court, was burnt out in 1761,[4] and was demolished between 1955 and 1957.[4] However the gatehouse was retained and restored in 1959.[4] The west front is predominately 15/16th century, with the rest being Georgian and later.[4] It is a Grade I listed building.[5] The Lion Gateway was built around 1530 and was rebuilt in 1833.[4][6] It is Grade II* listed.[6] The Queen's Champion retains an estate of some 3,000 acres (12 km²).