Henry VIII gave the manor to his last wife Katherine Parr in 1544 and, in 1547, her brother William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, sold the reversion by licence to Thomas Smyth (Smythe/Smith). Thomas Smith was knighted in 1548. Sir Thomas Smith was described as 'of Ankerwicke, in the county of Berks, Knight' when by deed of 6 July 1556, he sold the manor and advowson to William Rosewell, of Loxton, in the county of Somerset, gentleman, and William Rosewell, his son and heir apparent. This William Rosewell became the Solicitor-General to Queen Elizabeth and lived at the manor until about 1562.