Yapton & Ford Local History Group

Yapton was originally called Yabeton, but it is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. It comprises 1500 statute acres of extremely fertile land (marine loam) of which 100 are pasture, and very little of wood, distant from Arundel about 5 miles. It is in the Hundred of Avisford. In the Testa de Nevil, Henry de Preston is said to hold a quarter of a Knight’s fee in balsham (now Bilsom) and Yabeton of the Honour of Arundel. In the early centuries, it was sub-divided by grants of it in parcels to several monastic bodies. But the paramount manor remained vested in the Earls of Arundel. It was sold by Henry Fitz-Alan, the last of the name, in 1571 to John Edmundes, and subsequently came by purchase to George Thomas Esq. (MP for Chichester), and is now vested in his daughter, Mrs. Crosbie. The Manor House was for many years occupied by Scrase Dickins, Esq., and lately by Colonel Palmer.

In the year 1734, 22 freeholders gave their votes, in 1774 13 and in 1820 14. In 1821 there were 79 houses, occupied by 105 families. Families chiefly employed in agriculture numbered 76, in trade, etc. 21, not in either of these classes 8. Number of males 311, number of females 268, total 579. Amount of poor rates £668 18s 0d., ratio to each person £1 3s 1¼d.