In 2035, the Nevill family will have been custodians of this piece of land for 600 years and 20 generations. We’ve taken inspiration from our family crest – Ne vile velis – ‘form no mean wish’ to govern our approach to the next phase of the Estate’s continuing story.
Probably our favourite Nevill of Birling over the generations is Sir George, 5th Baron Bergavenny.
Sir George was Chief Larderer for Henry VIII – the renowned gourmond – and also competed for him in France in 1520 on the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Not one to sit around, he also held the post of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
His son, Henry Nevill, also managed to keep in with the Royal Family; Queen Elizabeth I is recorded as having visited him in Birling for a few days as part of her travels in 1573.
The Manor of Birling was originally part of the possessions of Odo, Bishop of Baieux, half-brother of William the Conqueror. Following that Ralph de Curva Spina resided at the Manor House of Birling called Comfort until 1154, it then passed through various families to Elizabeth Beauchamp, daughter of the Earl of Worcester, who married Sir Edward Nevill in 1435. At that time it was a deer park and has remained in the Nevill family ever since.
The very shortlived Birling Manor House was built in the 1830’s by the Hon. Rev. William Nevill, later the 4th Earl of Abergavenny. But early in the morning of 17th January 1917, fire broke out and the house was almost totally demolished – bringing to an end what was at the time a central part of village life.
If you look carefully, the remains of Birling Manor House can still be found at our dedicated events and weddings space, The Manor Gardens, hidden amongst the woodland glade that claimed the ruins.
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