Manor

Small holding, typically 1200-1800 acres, with its own court and probably its own hall, but not necessarily having a manor house. The manor as a unit of land was generally held by a knight (knight's fee) or managed by a bailiff for some other holder. In later years, the power of the manor declined progressively in favour of the vill.

The granting of land with a demense, peasants and lands considered requisite to sustain a minor noble. The demense was the lord’s personal land, providing for their needs, while the land worked by the peasants provided additional income or food consumed by the lord or his retainers.

♦ Estate held by a lord and farmed by tenants who owed him rents and services, and whose relations with him were governed by his manorial court.

(Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 230)

♦ An estate with land and jurisdiction over tenants. Not necessarily a whole village, which might have several manors, just as one manor might own land in more than one village.

(Wood, Michael. Domesday: A Search for the Roots of England, 214)

♦ Unit of rural lordship, varying greatly in size.

(Frame, Robin. Colonial Ireland, 1169-1369, 144)