Manor of Molland

The Manor of Molland was a medieval manor in North Devon, England. It was largely co-terminous with the existing parish of Molland, in which is situated the village of Molland. More accurately it consisted from the earliest times of two separate manors, held from separate overlords, later known as Molland-Bottreaux and Molland-Champson.

The Exeter Domesday Book of 1086 records three entries for manors called "Molland", two in South Molton hundred and one in North Molton hundred. The latter does not relate to today's village and estate of Molland, but to a separate ancient small manor later called "Molland-Sarazen", about 7 miles to the NW, in today's parish of North Molton, and now memorialized by the name of Higher Molland Farm and Molland Cross nearby it. This manor in North Molton hundred was held by Tetbald, son of Berner, who was the father-in-law of Odo. The two entries for Molland in South Molton hundred relate to a former ancient division of the present unified manor into two parts: One larger part listed under the demesne of the king, the other much smaller part under the lands of Geoffrey de Montbray (died 1093), Bishop of Coutances, both in the county of "Devenesira" or "Devrescira". These two divisions of Molland later became known respectively as "Molland Bottreaux" after the Botreaux family and "Molland Champeaux" now memorialized by Champson Farm, between Molland Church and West Molland Barton.

The royal manor was granted by the king to the Botreaux family as his tenants-in-chief whilst the smaller manor became a part of the feudal barony of Barnstaple and was granted, by the feudal barons of Barnstaple, several other manors (see below), to one of their knights, a member of the de Champeaux family (Latinised to de Champellis/Campellis).

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