The Manor of Riseley

Arms of the Knights Hospitaller

Volume III of The Victoria County History for Bedfordshire was published in 1912 and details the history of manors in Riseley. In 1086 Riseley was divided into six different holdings. The largest holding, six hides, was held by Geoffrey de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances who fought with William I at Hastings. On his death in 1093 his property reverted to the Crown.

In the 12th century the manor was given, like the Manor of Melchbourne, by Alicia de Clermont to the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem. By 1279 they held the manor from the overlordship of the Honour of Gloucester. It seems to have been split into three separate manors by the knights, the manors of: Harvies; Lawrence and Pertsoills or Pertesoyles.