was leased to William Walwyn in the beginning
of the sixteenth century. It afterwards was held by the Grenvilles, who
had obtained the reversion. In 1564 the tithes and demesne lands were
separated from the manor and rectory, which were still held by the
Grenvilles. The tithes passed through the hands of many people in
succession, as did also the manor. In 1595 one Robert Horseman was the
lessee under the Crown. The Queen sold the estate to Walter (afterwards
Sir Walter) Cope, and a special agreement was made by which Robert
Horseman still retained his right to live in the manor house. This is
important, as it led to the foundation of Holland House by Cope, who had
no suitable residence as lord of the manor.

West Town, created out of lands known as the Groves, was granted by the
fifth Earl, as we have seen, to his chaplain Simon Downham. This grant
is described by Mr. Loftie thus: "It appears to have been that piece of
land which was intercepted between the Abbot's manor and the western
border of the parish, and would answer to Addison Road and the land on
either side of it." Robins, in his "History of Paddington," mentions an
inquisition taken in 1481, in which "The Groves, formerly only three
fields, had extended themselves out of Kensington into Brompton,
Chelsea, Tybourn, and Westbourne."

The manor passed later to William Essex. It was bought from him in 1570
by the Marquis of Winchester, Lord High Treasurer of England. He sold
it to William Dodington, who resold it to Christopher Barker, printer to
Queen Elizabeth, who was responsible for the "Breeches" Bible. It was
bought from him by Walter Cope for L1,300.

Knotting Barnes was sold by the thirteenth Earl, whose fortunes had been
impoverished by adhesion to the House of Lancaster. It was bought by Sir
Reginald Bray, who sold it to the Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond,
mother of King Henry VII. This manor seems to have included lands lying
without the precincts of Kensington, for in an indenture entered into by
the Lady and the Abbot of Westminster in regard to the disposal of her
property we find mentioned "lands and tenements in Willesden, Padyngton,
Westburn, and Kensington, in the countie of Midd., which maners, lands,
and tenements the said Princes late purchased of Sir Reynolds Bray
knight." The Countess left the greater part of her property to the Abbey
at Westminster, and part to the two Universities at Oxford and
Cambridge. On the spoliation of the