Lords of the Manor of Bisley

The Hamlet of Bisley was originally part of the manor of Byfleet, owned by Chertsey Abbey (probably from it's foundation in AD 666).

From 1337 to 1533 the manor was granted to the Duchy of Cornwall, reverting to the crown when there was no Duke. The Dukedom of Cornwall always belongs to the eldest son of the Sovereign. Cornwall was the first dukedom ever conferred in the Kingdom of England, being created for Edward, the Black Prince, the eldest son of Edward III in 1337. After Edward predeceased the King, the dukedom was recreated for his son, the future Richard II. Under a charter of 1421, the dukedom passes to the Sovereign's eldest son and heir. If the eldest son of the Sovereign dies, his eldest son does not inherit the Dukedom. However, if the eldest son should die without children, his next brother obtains the Dukedom. Underlying these rules is the principle that only a son of the Sovereign — never a grandson, even if he is the Heir Apparent - may be Duke of Cornwall.

In those days, Windsor Forest extended as far as Woking - it is likely that the Dukes and Sovereigns visited the area on hunting trips but otherwise would have taken little or no interest. When James I granted Bisley to Sir Edward Zouch in 1620 (along with Woking and Chobham), it became split from Byfleet and has been a separate manor ever since.

In 1298, Henry de Leybourne sold a piece of the land (approx 52 acres) to Hugh de Smershull, which thus became detached from the rest of the hamlet and is the piece shown on the tithe map as 'Bisley detached'