According to the Domesday Book, it was part of the possessions of Gozehne Fitz Azor, and had been held in the time of the Edward the Confessor by Ulnod in abeyance.

At the time of the countess Isabella's record, we find that Sir John Lisle had this manor, with many others, which he held of her in capite, or by knight's service.

[1] South Shorwell, or West Court, is thus described in Domesday Book:—"Isd.

There are 3 slaves, and a mill at 40 denarii, and 14 acres of meadow land.

King Edward held it, and afterwards it was valued at 100 shillings: now only at 4 pounds.)

It remained in the De Insula or Lisle family, who once possessed such wide domains, for several centuries, and afterwards passed—like the parishes of Bonchurch and Shanklin —through the families of Dennis, Broad, and Alcorn, into that of Popham.

The old manor-house is a very picturesque object from the road, being richly adorned with ivy up to its gabled roof.