WALDSHEF'S MANOR took its name from a family who appear in 1279 as tenants both in Grimbaud's and Littlebury's manors. Robert Waldshef, however, married Joan, apparently the widow of one of the Littleburys, and they also held as her dower a third part of John de Littlebury's half fee. In 1289, Roger de Littlebury granted this land to them to hold in fee as the sixth part of a knight's fee, and it was presumably by this grant that they obtained whatever manorial rights were attached to their land. The word manor, however, is not used till 1574. John Waldshef succeeded before 1300 and was living in 1332. He is said to have died in 1334 and was succeeded by his son Robert, who was in seisin in 1340. Robert's son John succeeded him, probably about 1353, and died in 1378, when his heir was his son Robert, who died in 1421. In 1497, a John Waldshef and his wife Joan sold their holding at Diddington to William Taylard, Thomas Burton and others and the heirs of Burton, but possession of the manor was evidently obtained by Taylard, since with Grimbald's and Littlebury manors (q.v.) it was inherited by his descendants.
Taylard.
Quarterly argent and sable a cross paty quartered and counter coloured.
John de Littlebury held view of frankpledge in 1279. This privilege was not, however, claimed by the Grimbalds in their manor, although the tenants of the Honour of Huntingdon usually held the view in their manors. It is noted, however, that William Grimbald owed suit of court every month to the court of John Hastings at Barton, and in 1285 the Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem claimed to hold view of frankpledge for various tenants in Toseland Hundred, one of whom was a tenant at Diddington. In 1616 Sir Thomas Brudenell, afterwards Lord Brudenell, obtained a grant of free warren in the manor of Diddington.
Victoria County History - Published in 1932
