The manor of Dartford passed through a number of different hands in medieval times and it was a useful source of
income to the designated lord of the manor. In 1086 King William owned the manor until the sheriff of Kent inherited the rental from
the manor. During the reign of Henry II (1154-89) it was granted to the earl of St Pol. Eventually, Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward
I acquired the manor, receiving income from the manor until her death in 1291.
By 1330 the manorial estate had become united with Chislehurst.
It was held variously by the earl of Somerset and the marquis of Dorset. Edward IV granted it to the earl of Warwick who also held
the nearby manor of Wilmington. Following Warwick’s death at the battle of Barnet in 1471, his daughter who married the duke of Clarence
inherited the manor.
