 The manor of Pennington was held in the 13th century by the de Clares, whose descendants continued to be overlords till it passed to the Crown following the execution of the Earl of Salisbury in 1499.John de Acton is the first recorded knight to have held Pennington for a knight's fee from the de Clare's.John de Acton was from Iron Acton in Gloucestershire, which was a manor (now also a village) that he already held.