It started with a ghastly note of Hugh de Morville, an escapee who resided there after murdering Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury, on 29 December 1170, along with his three other comrades in crime Reginald FitzUrse, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton, then the death of Tristram Dillington in 1718 under mysterious circumstances and finally, 100 years later, followed by another tragic event of the owner of the Manor, George Maurice, destroying the manor in 1821 on his own volition (before his death), purely as a parental annoyance and spiteful action, to his daughter marrying a clergyman, against his wishes thus preventing her from owning the manor.

[1][2][3] Sir Hugh de Morville (d.1202) fled to the house after taking part as one of four knights in the murder on 29 December 1170 of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.

[1] She died in 1291–2, leaving a son Ralph, who in 1305 leased the manor to William de Caleshale and his wife for the term of their lives.

[1] Judgement was given in Elizabeth's favour, but as she had no issue by Ralph the manor reverted to Theobald, who was in possession in 1362.

Mary died unmarried, leaving the estate in common between her nephew Maurice Bocland and her niece Jane wife of John Eyre.

[1] The north front had large square windows, with an absence of stained glass, divided by stone mullions.

It was a favoured haunt of fashionable society including Sir Richard Worsley, 7th Baronet of nearby Appuldurcombe House, the latter's association resulting in a scandal and disgrace.