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Our Story

A house with
a rich history

The story of Solton Manor weaves a tapestry of rich history that we take great pleasure in unravelling.

Image-12-scaled

Our Story

A house with
a rich history

The story of Solton Manor weaves a tapestry of rich history that we take great pleasure in unravelling.

We are endlessly proud of our heritage and hope you enjoy being a part of our history too. 

our_story_1

Solton Manor was first recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 and has been in the hands of many colourful characters throughout the ages. Today, the house boasts original period features.

Such as the impressive Tudor fireplace in the Great Hall, and it is said that the brother of Henry VIII once stayed here.

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our_story_2
our_story_1

Key dates in Solton Manor's 1,000-year history

  • Image
    1066
    The earliest known landowner of Solton Manor was Godric, a Saxon noble recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. He held the manor at the time of the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Like many Saxon lords, Godric retained his lands for a short period under Norman rule, but his tenure represents the final Saxon chapter in Solton’s long history. Today, his name lives on in Godric’s Garden, the most romantic outdoor ceremony space on the estate, where couples exchange their vows amidst the ruins.
  • 21_half-Domesday-book
    1086
    Bishop Odo of Bayeux. After the Norman Conquest, Solton Manor passed from Saxon Lord Godric to Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror and one of the most powerful men in Norman England. Odo, who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, was granted vast estates across Kent and beyond, recorded in the Domesday Book as tenant-in-chief. His ownership marked Solton’s transition from Saxon to Norman rule, embedding the manor into the feudal system that reshaped England after the conquest.
  • Image-2
    1086
    Domesday Book. Solton Manor is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, listed as a small settlement of just four households, placing it in the smallest 20% of communities surveyed. Despite its modest size, its inclusion reflects the manor’s early importance within the new Norman order. The Domesday survey provides a fascinating glimpse into Solton’s beginnings, noting its farmland, resources, and obligations under the feudal system. From these humble origins, the estate would grow into a manor that has endured for almost a thousand years.
  • William-Peverel-senior
    1050–1114
    William Peverel (c.), acquires Solton Manor. William Peverel a favoured knight of William the Conqueror, was rewarded after the Norman Conquest with extensive estates across England. By the time of the Domesday Book he held 162 manors, including Solton Manor in Kent, as part of his vast Honour of Peverel. Peverel is one of the few men explicitly recorded in Domesday as a castle builder, credited with founding Peveril Castle at Castleton, Derbyshire. His ownership tied Solton into the powerful network of Norman feudal estates stretching from Kent to the Midlands. He was also Constable of Dover Castle and his name is listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey.
  • images-William-Peverel
    1150s
    William Peverel the Younger. Sheriff of Nottingham and heir to the Honour of Peverel, William inherited Solton Manor from his father. Accused of treason and poisoning Ranulf, Earl of Chester, he lost his estates under Henry II, and Solton was seized by the Crown.
  • solton-manors
    1307-1387
    Solton Manor passes to the Holland family. Solton Manor passed to Henry Holland by knight’s service, embedding the estate within Kent’s medieval feudal system. On his death in 1307, the manor passed to his son, also named Henry Holland, who lived to a great age and died in 1387. Some accounts note that it then passed to his daughter, Frankers, highlighting the vital role women played in preserving the estate’s legacy. (Dover Kent archives for the 1307-1387 entries.)
  • Image-3
    1519
    The Finet Family. The manor passed to Robert Finet, of Italian descent, whose grandfather had come to England in the retinue of Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio, the papal legate sent during Henry VIII’s divorce negotiations with Catherine of Aragon. The Finets quickly established themselves in Kentish society, and their connection to courtly and ecclesiastical circles marked the beginning of a long association between Solton Manor and families tied to national events.
  • Image-4
    1571
    John Finet is born at Solton Manor, later rising to become Master of Ceremonies to both James I and Charles I, a role that placed him at the very heart of court life. Knighted for his service, Finet became renowned for his skill in managing royal protocol and international diplomacy. His legacy endures not only in history books but also here at Solton, where Finet’s Woodland, our new ceremony space opening in 2026, is named in his honour. His portrait, attributed to Tintoretto, is jointly owned by Edward Chaney and Professor Timothy Wilks.
  • Crispe
    1660
    1660-1700 Ownership shifts from the Finet line into the hands of wealthy merchants, most notably the Crispe family, who were closely tied to the Stuart monarchy. The manor evolves from a courtly residence into a gentry house, reflecting the new social order of Restoration England.
  • Image-5
    1668
    Solton Manor is sold to John Matson, Mayor of Dover. During the early modern period, Solton Manor was sold to John Matson, who served as Mayor of Dover. The purchase reflected both his rising local status and the manor’s continued role as a seat of influence in East Kent. Upon his death, the estate passed to his son, Henry Matson, ensuring that Solton remained within the Matson family line and tied to Dover’s civic leadership.
  • majors
    1720
    In the late 17th century, Dover landowner and churchwarden Henry Matson fell in love with Elizabeth Stokes, daughter of William Stokes, a master mariner and six-time Mayor of Dover. One day, while strolling along the pier, Henry’s gold-knobbed cane slipped into a trunnel hole. In frustration, he swore sadly just as Elizabeth and her mother passed by. Shocked, Elizabeth ended their courtship and later married another. Heartbroken, Henry never married. In his will, he left his estates, which included Solton Manor, to Dover Harbour Commissioners on the condition they inspected the piers each year and repaired any trunnel holes. This duty inspired the annual “Trunnel Feast”. Henry died in 1720 and was buried at St James’ Church. At Solton Manor, we like to think Henry would have been delighted to see his legacy connected to a place where couples now celebrate vows that last a lifetime.
  • Image-6
    1722
    The house is given to The Commissioners of Dover Harbour to pay for ongoing repairs to the pier, a move that led to the annual Trunnel Feast.  
  • histroy-1
    1800
    Following a family fall-out over the will, the Harbour Commissioners sell Solton Manor to Sir Thomas Hatton of Buckland 1863-1925.
  • Image-7
    1900
    Arthur Burr becomes the new owner of Solton Manor. Arthur Burr, a key figure in the development of the Kent coalfields, purchased Solton Manor and owned it for nearly 20 years. His leadership in the coal industry helped to shape the region’s economy during the early 20th century. In recognition of his contributions, he was granted the Freedom of Dover in 1913, described at the time as “one of the greatest benefactors Dover had ever known.” His tenure linked Solton’s story to the industrial heritage of Kent, marking a new chapter in its long history.
  • Image-12-scaled
    1914
    Arthur Burr’s Downfall. Just a year after his civic honour, Arthur Burr was declared bankrupt following legal action for fraud. Condemned by the court as “a dangerous rogue,” his collapse forced the estate into decline and Solton Manor reverted to life as a working farm.
  • Screenshot-2025-09-30-113039
    19 October 1923
    Fire breaks out at Solton Manor. Thanks to the quick response of Mr. Gilman, who in partnership with Mr Cooke ran the farm, The Dover Fire Brigade, and swift precautions to seal the room, the blaze was contained within half an hour. The fire is believed to have started in the woodwork around the fireplace, and timely action prevented it from spreading to the rest of the house and adjoining farm buildings. The estimated damage was around £100. Dover Express and East Kent News.
  • Image-9
    1940
    A Messerschmitt 109 aircraft force lands on the estate after engagement with RAF fighters. The farmer’s daughter, Jean Weir, is photographed sitting in the cockpit after the pilot, Fritz Beeck was taken prisoner
  • Kent-Wedding-Photographer-James-Grist-440-of-851-Medium
    2011
    Solton Manor received its civil wedding licence on 15 March 2011, marking the start of a new chapter in its long history. Since then, it has become a much-loved heritage venue, blending historic character with modern hospitality to host unforgettable celebrations for couples from across the UK and beyond.
  • Image-10
    2021
    Solton Manor is bought by new owners who begin transforming the manor house, Dutch barn and period outbuildings into one of Kent’s best wedding venues
  • 1
    2024
    2024 – Awarded Silver by Bridebook in recognition of consistently receiving five-star ratings from happy couples. A proud milestone that reflects the trust, joy, and unforgettable experiences shared at Solton Manor.
  • Solton-Manor-2025-Old-Stables-indoor-ceremony-venue
    20 May 2025
    The Old Stables Restored. Once home to working farm horses, the Old Stables has been sympathetically restored with support from the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund. Featuring flint walls, timber beams, and York flagstone floors, it now seats up to 130 guests. This elegant indoor space blends historic character with year-round flexibility, offering a timeless setting and the perfect Plan B for winter months or wet weather. launched 20 May 2025
  • The-Jacobean-Grand-Tour-Book
    27 August 2025
    On 27 August 2025, we had the privilege of welcoming Professor Timothy Wilks, DPhil, Dip. Hist. Art (Oxon), FRHistS, Professor of Cultural History at Southampton Solent University, to Solton Manor. Professor Wilks, co-author with Edward Chaney of The Jacobean Grand Tour: Early Stuart Travellers in Europe, which features Sir John Finet, spent the evening here with his wife. Together, we shared fascinating conversations about Finet’s life, his role as Master of Ceremonies to James I and Charles I, and his enduring connection to Solton Manor. It was a visit that beautifully tied our historic estate to the very scholarship that continues to illuminate its story.
  • XPL4GBII4JIJI2EXIW6I
    3 September 2025
    Shocking moment ‘tornado’ hits Solton Manor. High winds ripped through the estate and caused sparks to fly as it tore down a tree. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/you-don-t-expect-tornadoes-here-shocking-moment-tree-cra-329422/
  • Image
    1066
    The earliest known landowner of Solton Manor was Godric, a Saxon noble recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. He held the manor at the time of the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Like many Saxon lords, Godric retained his lands for a short period under Norman rule, but his tenure represents the final Saxon chapter in Solton’s long history. Today, his name lives on in Godric’s Garden, the most romantic outdoor ceremony space on the estate, where couples exchange their vows amidst the ruins.
  • 21_half-Domesday-book
    1086
    Bishop Odo of Bayeux. After the Norman Conquest, Solton Manor passed from Saxon Lord Godric to Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror and one of the most powerful men in Norman England. Odo, who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, was granted vast estates across Kent and beyond, recorded in the Domesday Book as tenant-in-chief. His ownership marked Solton’s transition from Saxon to Norman rule, embedding the manor into the feudal system that reshaped England after the conquest.
  • Image-2
    1086
    Domesday Book. Solton Manor is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, listed as a small settlement of just four households, placing it in the smallest 20% of communities surveyed. Despite its modest size, its inclusion reflects the manor’s early importance within the new Norman order. The Domesday survey provides a fascinating glimpse into Solton’s beginnings, noting its farmland, resources, and obligations under the feudal system. From these humble origins, the estate would grow into a manor that has endured for almost a thousand years.
  • William-Peverel-senior
    1050–1114
    William Peverel (c.), acquires Solton Manor. William Peverel a favoured knight of William the Conqueror, was rewarded after the Norman Conquest with extensive estates across England. By the time of the Domesday Book he held 162 manors, including Solton Manor in Kent, as part of his vast Honour of Peverel. Peverel is one of the few men explicitly recorded in Domesday as a castle builder, credited with founding Peveril Castle at Castleton, Derbyshire. His ownership tied Solton into the powerful network of Norman feudal estates stretching from Kent to the Midlands. He was also Constable of Dover Castle and his name is listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey.
  • images-William-Peverel
    1150s
    William Peverel the Younger. Sheriff of Nottingham and heir to the Honour of Peverel, William inherited Solton Manor from his father. Accused of treason and poisoning Ranulf, Earl of Chester, he lost his estates under Henry II, and Solton was seized by the Crown.
  • solton-manors
    1307-1387
    Solton Manor passes to the Holland family. Solton Manor passed to Henry Holland by knight’s service, embedding the estate within Kent’s medieval feudal system. On his death in 1307, the manor passed to his son, also named Henry Holland, who lived to a great age and died in 1387. Some accounts note that it then passed to his daughter, Frankers, highlighting the vital role women played in preserving the estate’s legacy. (Dover Kent archives for the 1307-1387 entries.)
  • Image-3
    1519
    The Finet Family. The manor passed to Robert Finet, of Italian descent, whose grandfather had come to England in the retinue of Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio, the papal legate sent during Henry VIII’s divorce negotiations with Catherine of Aragon. The Finets quickly established themselves in Kentish society, and their connection to courtly and ecclesiastical circles marked the beginning of a long association between Solton Manor and families tied to national events.
  • Image-4
    1571
    John Finet is born at Solton Manor, later rising to become Master of Ceremonies to both James I and Charles I, a role that placed him at the very heart of court life. Knighted for his service, Finet became renowned for his skill in managing royal protocol and international diplomacy. His legacy endures not only in history books but also here at Solton, where Finet’s Woodland, our new ceremony space opening in 2026, is named in his honour. His portrait, attributed to Tintoretto, is jointly owned by Edward Chaney and Professor Timothy Wilks.
  • Crispe
    1660
    1660-1700 Ownership shifts from the Finet line into the hands of wealthy merchants, most notably the Crispe family, who were closely tied to the Stuart monarchy. The manor evolves from a courtly residence into a gentry house, reflecting the new social order of Restoration England.
  • Image-5
    1668
    Solton Manor is sold to John Matson, Mayor of Dover. During the early modern period, Solton Manor was sold to John Matson, who served as Mayor of Dover. The purchase reflected both his rising local status and the manor’s continued role as a seat of influence in East Kent. Upon his death, the estate passed to his son, Henry Matson, ensuring that Solton remained within the Matson family line and tied to Dover’s civic leadership.
  • majors
    1720
    In the late 17th century, Dover landowner and churchwarden Henry Matson fell in love with Elizabeth Stokes, daughter of William Stokes, a master mariner and six-time Mayor of Dover. One day, while strolling along the pier, Henry’s gold-knobbed cane slipped into a trunnel hole. In frustration, he swore sadly just as Elizabeth and her mother passed by. Shocked, Elizabeth ended their courtship and later married another. Heartbroken, Henry never married. In his will, he left his estates, which included Solton Manor, to Dover Harbour Commissioners on the condition they inspected the piers each year and repaired any trunnel holes. This duty inspired the annual “Trunnel Feast”. Henry died in 1720 and was buried at St James’ Church. At Solton Manor, we like to think Henry would have been delighted to see his legacy connected to a place where couples now celebrate vows that last a lifetime.
  • Image-6
    1722
    The house is given to The Commissioners of Dover Harbour to pay for ongoing repairs to the pier, a move that led to the annual Trunnel Feast.  
  • histroy-1
    1800
    Following a family fall-out over the will, the Harbour Commissioners sell Solton Manor to Sir Thomas Hatton of Buckland 1863-1925.
  • Image-7
    1900
    Arthur Burr becomes the new owner of Solton Manor. Arthur Burr, a key figure in the development of the Kent coalfields, purchased Solton Manor and owned it for nearly 20 years. His leadership in the coal industry helped to shape the region’s economy during the early 20th century. In recognition of his contributions, he was granted the Freedom of Dover in 1913, described at the time as “one of the greatest benefactors Dover had ever known.” His tenure linked Solton’s story to the industrial heritage of Kent, marking a new chapter in its long history.
  • Image-12-scaled
    1914
    Arthur Burr’s Downfall. Just a year after his civic honour, Arthur Burr was declared bankrupt following legal action for fraud. Condemned by the court as “a dangerous rogue,” his collapse forced the estate into decline and Solton Manor reverted to life as a working farm.
  • Screenshot-2025-09-30-113039
    19 October 1923
    Fire breaks out at Solton Manor. Thanks to the quick response of Mr. Gilman, who in partnership with Mr Cooke ran the farm, The Dover Fire Brigade, and swift precautions to seal the room, the blaze was contained within half an hour. The fire is believed to have started in the woodwork around the fireplace, and timely action prevented it from spreading to the rest of the house and adjoining farm buildings. The estimated damage was around £100. Dover Express and East Kent News.
  • Image-9
    1940
    A Messerschmitt 109 aircraft force lands on the estate after engagement with RAF fighters. The farmer’s daughter, Jean Weir, is photographed sitting in the cockpit after the pilot, Fritz Beeck was taken prisoner
  • Kent-Wedding-Photographer-James-Grist-440-of-851-Medium
    2011
    Solton Manor received its civil wedding licence on 15 March 2011, marking the start of a new chapter in its long history. Since then, it has become a much-loved heritage venue, blending historic character with modern hospitality to host unforgettable celebrations for couples from across the UK and beyond.
  • Image-10
    2021
    Solton Manor is bought by new owners who begin transforming the manor house, Dutch barn and period outbuildings into one of Kent’s best wedding venues
  • 1
    2024
    2024 – Awarded Silver by Bridebook in recognition of consistently receiving five-star ratings from happy couples. A proud milestone that reflects the trust, joy, and unforgettable experiences shared at Solton Manor.
  • Solton-Manor-2025-Old-Stables-indoor-ceremony-venue
    20 May 2025
    The Old Stables Restored. Once home to working farm horses, the Old Stables has been sympathetically restored with support from the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund. Featuring flint walls, timber beams, and York flagstone floors, it now seats up to 130 guests. This elegant indoor space blends historic character with year-round flexibility, offering a timeless setting and the perfect Plan B for winter months or wet weather. launched 20 May 2025
  • The-Jacobean-Grand-Tour-Book
    27 August 2025
    On 27 August 2025, we had the privilege of welcoming Professor Timothy Wilks, DPhil, Dip. Hist. Art (Oxon), FRHistS, Professor of Cultural History at Southampton Solent University, to Solton Manor. Professor Wilks, co-author with Edward Chaney of The Jacobean Grand Tour: Early Stuart Travellers in Europe, which features Sir John Finet, spent the evening here with his wife. Together, we shared fascinating conversations about Finet’s life, his role as Master of Ceremonies to James I and Charles I, and his enduring connection to Solton Manor. It was a visit that beautifully tied our historic estate to the very scholarship that continues to illuminate its story.
  • XPL4GBII4JIJI2EXIW6I
    3 September 2025
    Shocking moment ‘tornado’ hits Solton Manor. High winds ripped through the estate and caused sparks to fly as it tore down a tree. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/you-don-t-expect-tornadoes-here-shocking-moment-tree-cra-329422/

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Email: info@soltonmanor.com