The Early Years

The de Scathebury family were the first recorded settlers at Scadbury; their name suggests that they took it from the place where they settled. It is possible that they were granted land, perhaps by the King, and made additional acquisitions by purchase or leasehold from Kemnal Manor. Later documentary evidence indicates that Scadbury was 'held of the Manor of Kemnal' for a long time. Between 1257-1261 John, Daniel and Alicia de Scathebury are mentioned as witnesses and vendors of land to Hornchurch Priory. They became resident Lords of the Manor and appear to have been quite wealthy. A lay subsidy (a tax on goods and property) in 1301 shows that John de Scathebury was by far the richest man in the Parish, his goods being valued at £22 3s (£22.15). The Priory of Hornchurch, owners of Kemnal, were the next wealthiest, their valuation being £6 10s 2d (£6.51).

In 1311 a complaint was made against John de Scathebury and his son, also named John, by William de Craye that they had taken goods belonging to him at Paulinscraye (now St.Paul's Cray) and assaulted his servants. Evidently any action taken had little effect as a later complaint records them assaulting William in London. The de Scathebury family remained here until about 1369.

It appears that the younger John married Christina de Hadresham, and died childless. She then married Nicholas Heryng, Seneschal and Supervisor of the King’s castles and manors in Kent. They sold the manor in 1369 to John de Hadresham (possibly her nephew), Richard Northwych and John Aleyn for 100 marks of silver.

There follows a poorly-documented period, lasting until 1424 when Thomas Dale, described as a clerk, released the Manor and other lands ‘held in the gift and feoffment of Alan Everard, citizen and mercer of London’ to Thomas Walsingham and his wife Margaret. Alan Everard was sheriff of the City of London in 1415 and his connection with Scadbury is unclear. Margaret was the daughter of Adam Bamme, a Gillingham goldsmith who was Lord Mayor of London in 1391.