At some time after the
Norman Conquest of 1066 and after the compilation of the
Domesday Book of 1086, the manor of
Avon, in the New Forest, a royal hunting forest, was held by the Peverell family, which held it until the mid-14th century. In 1363 Sir Henry Peverell died seised of the nearby manor of Milton, leaving a son and heir Thomas Peverell, who in 1365 granted it to Sir Thomas Tyrrell. Thenceforth, Avon and Milton descended in the Tyrrell family. Members of this family included:
Sir John Tyrrell (c. 1382–1437) of Heron in the parish of
East Horndon, Essex,
Knight of the Shire for
Essex,
Speaker of the House of Commons, and
Treasurer of the Royal Household. Although the Tyrrell family was not connected with the manor until the mid-14th century, legend has connected the name with the 11th century Norman
Walter Tirel, who in 1100 in the New Forest accidentally shot dead with an arrow
King William II (1087–1100). The legend states that Tirel fled, fearing being accused of murder and regicide, and crossed the River Avon at a ford in this location, known as Tyrrell's Ford. In 1602 the manor of Avon Tyrrell was sold by his descendant John Tyrrell to Bennett Wynchecombe and Giles Tooker, who sold it to
Sir John Webb, 1st Baronet (d. 1680), of Odstock, Wiltshire (created a
baronet in 1644), son of Sir John Webb, knight, of Odstock and of Great Canford, Dorset, by his second wife Catharine Tresham, daughter of Sir Thomas Tresham, of Rushton, Northamptonshire. His descendant
Sir John Webb, 5th Baronet (d. 1797) sold it to Edward Buckley Batson, a banker, and Stanlake Batson. The heir of Stanlake Batson was his sister Anne Batson, wife of
Henry Fane (1739-1802), of
Fulbeck Hall, Lincolnshire, the second son of
Thomas Fane, 8th Earl of Westmorland (1701–1771). The 3rd Baron Manners won the
1882 Grand National as owner, trainer, and rider of his horse Seaman, for which triple feat he won a large sum from a wager, and in 1891 used the proceeds to rebuild Avon Tyrrell House, to the design of the architect
W. R. Lethaby. The house is now a
Grade I listed building considered to be "one of the archetypal
Arts & Crafts buildings". His eldest son
Francis Manners, 4th Baron Manners (1897–1972) inherited Avon Tyrrell. It was requisitioned by the government during
World War II and the family decided not to return to it after the war. In 1968 the residence of
Francis Manners, 4th Baron Manners, was nearby Tyrrell's Ford, Christchurch, Hampshire. ==Youth centre==