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In
1560 Queen Elizabeth granted the manor to Joan Ventris. The Ventris
family built the manor house in 1591 partially on the foundations of an
older building. Although added to and much altered, the manor house can
be seen and admired to this day.
In
1645, Sir Charles Ventris and his family were living in the house. Sir
Charles was a Knight Banneret (for he had been knighted on the field of
battle for bravery during the Civil War between King Charles' armies
and the Roundheads). Knowing the occupant of the Manor House to be an
ardent Royalist, a small armed band of Roundheads came by night to
Campton, crept up to the house, peeped through the leaded windows and
saw Sir Charles in the main downstairs room. One of the band drew his
firearm and fired. Fortunately his aim was poor and he missed and the
shot was embedded in the oak panelling. The damaged panel, now covered
with glass, is still to be seen.
In
1778 the manor - house and land was sold to Sir George Osbourn Bart
whose family had been in possession of the Chicksands manor since 1578.
In
1797 the house became a private school, hence the bell tower. Later in
the 19th century it became the dower house of the Osbourn family.
Mr.
Gerald King bought the house from the Osbourns in 1967 less the land on
either side of it. This land now occupied by Grange Gardens and Elm
Close.
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