BILSINGTON, (Kent) Great and Little, 5 m. E. of Tenterden. The former bel. m the R. of Hen. III. to Sir John Mantel, lord-
keeper, who built a mon. here, which K. Hen. VIII. granted, after the ref. to Sir Anthony St. Leger, one of whose
descendants sold it to Sir Francis Barnham. Little-Bilsington was anciently the estate of the Staplegates, who bought it
of the E. of Arundel, and claimed, by virtue of this manor, to be the king's butler at his coronation, which was allowed
them, 'till that of Rich. II. From them it passed to the Cheneys, one of whom sold it to Sir Francis Barnham
abovementioned, in the R. of Q. Eliz.