Great Budbridge Manor

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Great Budbridge Manor is a historic brick manor house near Merstone on the Isle of Wight, England. It sits on East Lane just south of Merstone and Arreton. The house is built in a simple Jacobean style and is Grade II listed. The grounds include medieval fish ponds, and part of the land is used for commercial greenhouse farming, growing tomatoes that are sold across Britain.

The manor’s history goes back to the 12th century. It has appeared in records under several names, including Messetone, Marshton, Botebrigge, and Northbudbrygge. Early owners included John de Lisle, Henry de Botebrigge, and Walter Urry during the time of Henry III; William Urry owned it in 1280. In 1312, after Robert Urry killed the Constable of Carisbrooke Castle, part of the land was taken, but the family held the manor until 1450. In 1633 the manor was bought by Sir Robert Dillington, 1st Baronet. Over the years it passed through several families, including Knighton, Maurice George Bissett, and Samuel Spicer, and later through the Spicer family to Frederick Blake in the 19th century. By the late 19th century it was held by the trustees of E. Sapte Blake and then by his heirs.

Architecturally, Great Budbridge Manor is a small, low house with a double-fronted façade. It is built of brick, with mullioned windows on the upper floor, and a projecting porch added in 1668. Although modernised, it retains much of its early Jacobean character.