North Shorwell, or North Court, is thus referred to in Domesday Book:—" Isd. rex ten. Sorewelle. Tres taini tenuer. in paragio et iii. aulas habuer. Tc. p. una hida et dim. modo p. iii. virg. Tra. e. iii. car. In dno. e. una car. et dim. et ii. vill, et viii. bord; cu. i. car. ibi vi. servi. Silva ad clausura. Val. et valuit iiii. lib."——This manor, with the other lands of the king's, went to Baldwin de Redvers, when he obtained the Lordship of the Island; and remained in that family until Amicia, Countess of Devon, bestowed it upon the Abbey of Lacock, in Wiltshire. Her daughter, Isabella de Fortibus, confirmed the grant; and it is stated in the Record of the Liberties claimed by, and allowed to her, that the Abbess held of her one fee in capite, whence •he possessed in demesne the manor of Shorwell. In the 13th Edward III. the Abbey was charged to supply three men-at-arms, and two bowmen towards the defence of the Island.—On the Dissolution of the Religious Houses, the manor reverted to the Crown. It was in the possession of Thomas Temes, Esq., in the 2nd year of Elizabeth; and towards the close of her reign, was purchased by Richard Bull, Esq.; and finally passed into the possession of the ancient family of Gordon, whose representative, Sir H. P. Gordon, now occupies the manor-house of North Court. A fee farm rent of £1 12s. 7d. is claimed by the Crown from this manor. General Sir James Willoughby Gordon, 1st Baronet GCB GCH, a general officer in the British Army, who notably served as the most long-standing Quartermaster-General to the Forces for some forty years, lived in the house. The mansion-house was built by Sir John Leigh, in the reign of James I. After his death it was completed by his son Barnaby Leigh, Esq. Extensive repairs and additions were made at a later period by Barnaby Eveleigh Leigh, Esq.
Grounds
The grounds contain a spring, and the Shor Well which feeds a stream.
Architecture and fittings
It is the largest ancient dwelling in the Isle of Wight. Modelled after larger houses on the mainland, it is of Jacobean style, and lies back from the road. An unusual feature is that it has only one wing. The entrance front has canted bays and mullioned windows. Sash windows were added in the 18th century, at which time a general internal remodelling on classic lines occurred. An extension was made to the north front in 1906 with the addition of a billiard room and offices.
