The history of Scadbury Manor can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was owned by the de Scathebury family. The original manor house was probably built of timber and was surrounded by a moat. By 1301, John de Scathebury was the richest man in Chislehurst.
In 1424, the manor was purchased by Thomas Walsingham, a wealthy London merchant, who added further land to the estate. He started off importing wine and exporting wool. By around 1500 the manor house had been rebuilt in brick. It was rebuilt by his son or more likely, his grandson. The Walsingham family were prominent in English politics and society; visitors to Scadbury Manor included the playwright Christopher Marlowe and Queen Elizabeth I. In the mid-17th century, following the Civil War, the manor was acquired by the Bettenson family.. Sir Edward Bettenson was born after the Civil War. His grandfather was a royalist. The estate may well have been improved by the Bettensons.
In 1736, the manor was inherited by Col. John Selwyn, who settled it on his daughter at her marriage to Thomas Townshend. The manor-house was demolished in 1738 and the family went to live at nearby Frognal.
The Townshends and their descendants owned the Scadbury estate for over 200 years. In 1983 the estate was sold to the London Borough of Bromley and was opened as a public nature reserve in 1985. The Orpington and District Archaeological Society have been excavating at the manor site since 1986.
The ruins of the old manor house can still be seen in Scadbury Park.
They are a reminder of the manor’s long and rich history
A Grain Store existed as part of The Manor. We are currently exploring the possibility of recreating this building on the west side of Scadbury Lodge replacing an old outbuilding. The photo below is a good indication of how the Grain Store may have looked.
Man and Man Planning have been awarded the architectural design and ODAS will provide the necessary historical details.