the overlordship of dibden belonged in the 12th century to reynold de st. valery, who died in 1166, and his son bernard de st. valery, who was killed at the siege of acon in 1192, was probably the bernard who was lord of dibden in 1167. descending with his granddaughters to robert count of dreux, it fell, with the rest of the honour of st. valery, into the hands of the crown, when it was given to richard, 1st earl of cornwall whose son edmund, 2nd earl of cornwall died in 1300 seised of a fee there which belonged to the honour of st. valery. dibden was thereafter held of the crown. it was thus held in the reign of henry vii of arthur, prince of wales.