The Oldest House in Portsmouth

Wymering Manor is the oldest house in Portsmouth. Sadly, it is in a run down state and recent attempts to sell by the city council have failed. Currently it is mostly used by ghost and other paranormal activity hunters. The site has been occupied since Roman times although the first recorded occupant of Wymering Manor was William Mauduit. He probably came across with the invasion of 1066 from his home in Normandy and was involved in local research for the great survey of 1086 – known as the Domesday book. He held other manors in Hampshire and married a local Portchester girl named Hawyse in 1069 with whom he had three children. Most of the house dates from the sixteenth century, although it incorporates both original Roman and Saxon building materials. To find out more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wymering_Manor http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=552596722&sk=wall

William the Conqueror

William of Normandy was familiar with Portsmouth. In approximately 1070 he granted the Manor of Froddington (Fratton) to William de Warrene, and in 1086 William himself left Portsmouth Harbour for Normandy with his fleet. William was renown for his administrative prowess and at his instigation a survey of this new kingdom, commonly now known as the Domesday book, was completed. This identified Portchester Castle, already providing a safe haven in the harbour, and settlements in Buckland, Copnor and Fratton. The total population of Britain at this time was a mere two million, with around 50,000 living in what is now Hampshire.