Compton Verney of Meulan and later inherited by the Earls of Warwick. At some time before 1150 the manor was granted to Robert Murdac when it became known as "Compton Murdak", and was inherited by his descenants and thence to the heirs of the Murdak family. In 1370, after two hundred years of ownership by his family, Sir Thomas Murdak surrendered the estate to Alice Perrers, mistress of King Edward III. In 1435 it was acquired by Richard Verney (1435–1490) with the assistance of his younger brother John Verney, Dean of Lichfield, and Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. The Verney family had
Alice FitzAlan, Countess of Kent Lord Holland was appointed captain of the English forces in Aquitaine in 1366, and in 1375, he was made a Knight of the Garter. Two years later in 1377, his half-brother Richard succeeded to the throne of England, as King Richard II. Alice's husband would become one of the young King's chief counsellors and exert a strong influence over his brother which led to the enrichment of Thomas and Alice. Alice was appointed a Lady of the Garter, an order of chivalry, in 1388. Together Thomas and Alice had ten children: Alice's husband died on 25 April 1397. In 1399,