>
THE
HISTORY
O F
SOMERSETSHIRE.
BY THE
REV. JOHN COLLINSON, F.A.S.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
#
THE
H I 'S T O R Y
AND
ANT. IQUITIES
O F T H E
COUNTY
O F
SOMERSET,
COLLECTED FROM
AUTHENTICK RECORDS,
A N D A N
ACTuJi SURVEY made by the late Mr. EDMUND RACK.
ADORNED WITH
A MAP OF theCOUNTY,
And Engravings of Roman and other Reliques, Town-Seals, Baths, Churches, and Gentlemen's Seats.
B Y T H E
REVEREND JOHN COLLINSON, F. A. S.
Vicar of Long-Ashton, Curate of Filton alias Whitchurch, in the County of Somerfet ; and Vicar of Clanfield, in the County of Oxford.
Exvtx variant faciem per fectda genUs. Manilius.
IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II.
BATH : PRINTED BY R. CRUTTWELL ;
AND SOLD Sr
C. DILLY, POULTRY; G. G. J. and J. ROBINSON, and T. LONGMAN, PATER-NOSTER-ROW}
and T. PAYNE, MEWS-GATE, LONDON; J. FLETCHER, OXFORD; and the BOOKSELLERS of BATH, BRISTOL, 4c
MDCCXCl.
THE HISTORY OF
SOMERSETSHIRE.
THE HUNDRED OF
CARHAMPTON.
HIS hundred is fituated in the northweft part of the county, and is bounded on the north and northweft by the fea, from the caft to the fouthweft by the hundred of Williton Freemanors, and on the weft by the borders of Devxjnftiire.
This mountainous tra£b may with great propriety be called the Alps of Somerfetftiire; the whole country being a pifturefque aflemblage of lofty hills fucceeding each other, with deep romantick vallies winding between them, in which moft of the towns and villages are fituated. Thp hills are principally fheep-walks; but in the weftern part many of them are fo covered with heath, fern, and mofs, as to afford little pafturage. The fteep fides of moft of them are either entirely vefted or patched with beautiful hanging woods, intermixed with projefting rugged rocks. The vallies are fruitful, and generally watered by fmall ftreams, running over rough rocky channels, and often In- terrupted by ftony fragments fallen from the mountains.
This hundred contains two market towns, and in all fifteen pariflies, in which are one thoufand and thirty houfes, and nearly fix thoufand inhabitants, It gives name to the firft parifh we fliall treat ofi viz.
Vol. if.
B
CARHAMPTON.
[ 2 ] ' [Cacfiampton*
CARHAMPTON.
SITUATED at the northweft point of the hundred, and fo denominated (as it is fuppoled) from Carantacus, a Britifli faint, the fon of Keredic, prince of the pro- vince of Cardigan. The Monkifli legends" inform us, that this Kerediclc had many- children, of whom the above-named Carantacus, or Carantac, betimes d^fcovered an uncommon difpofition to piety and goodnefs. That when his fathei*, harrafled with troubles, and worn out with years, and no longer able to fuftain the weight of govern- ment, propofed to refign to him the regency of the province, he declined the honour, and preferred a pilgrim's ftaff to a prince's fceptre. That led by Providence, he migrated from his native land to this diftant place, where repofing, he built an oratory, and Ipent his time in prayer and praife to God.
That fuch a perfon might have retired hither, and erefced a fmall oratory, is not alto- gether improbable; but what Leland fays, viz. that in his time there exifted a chapel of that faint, which fometime was the parifh church,"" cannot fo eafily be reconciled. The Norman record however, which was compiled upwards of feven hundred years ago, gives us notice of a church in this place :
*' In the church of Carentone lies one hide and a half There is in demefne one " carucate and a half^ with a prieft, and one villane, and eight cottagers. There are " forty acres of pafture» and-fifteen acres of wood. It is worth thirty Ihillings.'"
At the time this furvey was compofed the manor was in William the Conqueror's hands, indiftinftly with thofe of Williton and Cannington. He foon after gave it to William de Mohun, one of the retinue that attended him into England, and of whom notice will be taken in Dunfter, which was the head of his barony. It was however, togetlier with the hundred we are defer ibing, the honour of Dunfter, and divers other pofTeflions, alienated from this family in the time of Edward III. to the family of Luttrell, in whom it has invariably continued to the prefent time, John Fownes Luttrell, efq; being now lord thereof.
The manor of Eajlhury in Carhampton was for many fucceflive centuries the eftate of the very ancient family of Percival, and was not fevered from that houfe till about the beginning of the prefent century.
There is within this parilh an ancient hamlet of the name oiRodehuijh, ftanding two miles foutheaftward from the church, and containing twenty houfes, and a fmall chapel, which feems to have been of ancient foundation, the name being compofed of the Saxon Rob, fignifying a rood or crofs, and the Belgic word IpU^0, a dwelling. It is called in Dom fday-Book Radehewis, and has this defcription:
" Hugo holds of Alured Radehewis. Aluric held it in the time of king Edward, *' and gelded for one vkgate of land. The arable is one carucate, which is in demefne, " with one cottager, and one acre of meadow, and twelve acres of pafture. When he *' received it, it was worth two fhillings, now fix fhillings."*
» Vide Jo. Tinmouth, ap. Capgrav. in Caran»co, |> JLel. Itin. ii. lOl. « Lib. Domefday. ^ Ibid.
Catfiampton.] carhampton. 3
The church of Carhampton, valued in 1292 at four marks and a half/ was appro- priated to the priory of Bath/ It is a vicarage in the deanery of Dunfter, and in the
patronage of Sanford, efq; of George-Hampton in die county of Devon. The
Rev. Mr. Abraham is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptift, and confifts of a nave, fouth aile, and chancel. At the weft end there is a low ftone tower, topped with wood, containing a clock and four bells.
There is a monument'' in the fouth aile to the memoiy of Sarah Trevelyan of Knole, relift of Thomas, eldeft fon of Hugh Trevelyan, of Yarnfcombe in the county oft)evon, efq; who died Nov. 26, 1667, aged 37.
This parilh contains feventy houfes, and nearly two hundred inhabitants.
« Taxat. Spiritual. ' Mon. Angl. i. 477.
t " Ther lyith one Elizabeth, wife to one of the Luterelles afore the high altare under a playne flone." Lei. Itin. ii. loi.
C U L B O N E, alias K I T N O R.
A Very fmall parifh on the fea coaft, nine miles weft from the town of Minehead, containing only nine houfes and fifty inhabitants. The lands confift of eighty acres of arable, and two hundred acres of pafture and furze-brake, the reft is wood.
The ancient appellation of this parifh is Kytenore or Kitnor ; that of Culbcne having obtained in later times, from the faint to whom its church is dedicated. The Norman furvey calls it Chetenore, and thus defcribes it :
" Drogo holds of the bilhop [of Coutance] Chetenore. In the time of king " Edward it gelded for one hide, and one virgate. The arable is two carucates. There " are two villanes, and one cottager, and one fervant, with one plough, and fifty acres of " pafture, and one hundred acres of wood. It is worth fifteen ftiillings. Thefe two " manors [viz. Winemerefham, nowWinftiam, which immediately precedes tliis article, " and Chetenore] Ofmund held in the time of king Edward.""
Which Ofmund, being difpoflefled of it at the Norman revolution, king WiUiam the Conqueror conferred it on Geffiey bifliop of Coutance, with divers other manors in this county. In latter ages it had owners of its name, of whom William de Kytenore held it in the time of Edward I. after whom it palled into the family of Bratton. 16 Ric. II. Peter Bratton is certified to hold it of John de Raleghe as of his manor of Alryngton, by military fervice, and was fucceeded in it by Thomas his fon and heir.' Which Thomas was anceftor to John Bratton, who was lord of this vill in the tim^f Edw. IV.
•> Lib. Domcfday. * Efc 16 Ric. IL
B 2 and
4 c u L- B O N E. [Catljampton.
and was father of fcveral children, of whom John the eldeft had Kitenore. To him fuccecded John, Simon, and John, all of them poffeflbrs of this place. But by the inquifition, 6 Henry VI. Walter Pauncefote (the heir of Henry Sidenham) and William Bachell are certified to hold feparately half a knight's fee here, which Maurice de Kytenore formerly held.'' The prefent pofieflbr is Lord King, who is alio patron of the living, which is a redory, in the deanery of Dunfter. The Rev. WilUam Clare is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall Gothick building, thirty-four feet long, and twelve feet wide. Confining of a fingle aile, chancel, and porch, covered with Cornifh tiles. The fituation of this church is fingularly romantick; it Hands in a little narrow cove, about four hundred feet above the level of the water. On each fide this cove the hills rife almoft perpendicularly more than twelve hundred feet high. That on the weft fide is conical, and confiderably higher. The back of the cove is a noble amphitheatre of fteep hills and rocks, which rife near fix hundred feet above the church, and are covered with coppice woods to the tops. The trees which compofe thefe vaft plantations, fet by the hand of nature, are oaks, beech, mountain alh, poplars, pines, and firs, mingled together in the moft wanton variety. At the back ground of this cove, through a fteep narrow winding glen, a fine rivulet rufties down a narrow rocky channel overhung with wood, and pairing by the church, forms a fucceflion of cafcades in its defcent down the rocks into the fea.
This fpot is as truly romantick as any perhaps which the kingdom can exhibit. The magnitude, height, and grandeur of the hills, rocks, and woods, at the back and On each fide of the cove; the folemnity of the furrounding,fcene; the found of the rivulet roaring down its craggy channel j the fteep impaffable defcent from the church down to the beach; the dafhing of the waves on a rough and ftony fhore at an awful diftance below; the extent of the channel, and finely varied coaft and mountains of Wales beyond itj form a fcene peculiarly adapted to ftrike the mind with pleafure and aftonilhment.
This parifh cannot be approached on horfeback without great difficulty, and even danger; the road from Porlock being only a path about two feet wide, winding in a zigzag direftion along the Hope of the hills, and often interrupted by large loofe ftones and roots of trees. The woods abound with whortleberries, and a variety of fine poly- podies, lichen, and other mofles; among which is fome of the yellow rein-deer mofs, very bright and fcarce. "There are alfo fome rare plants i and many wild deer, foxes, badgers, and martin cats, inhabit thefe woods.
During the three winter months the fun is never feen herej being entirely hid by the height of the furrounding hills.
* Lib. feod. ms.
CUTCOMBE
Catfjamptono / \ [ 5 1
'^'
CUTCOMBE
IS an extenfive parifli, lying eight miles fouth from Minehead, and twenty-feveit norchweft from Taunton. The church and moft of the houfes are fituatcd in a fruitful vale, called JVatercombe, bounded by very lofty eminences to the nonh and fouth. On the weftern fide is Dunkery, a very large and high mountain, ftanding in the feveral parifhes of Cutcombe, Luccombe, Wotton-Courtney, Stoke-Pero, and Exford. From the church at Wotton-Courtney the afcent to its fummit is three miles, and very deep. Its bafe is about twelve miles in circumference. The iiighefl part o( it is the fouth foutliweft, and by an accurate meafurement one thoufand feven hundred and feventy feet above the fea at high-water maik. To tliis height it rifes in nakad fublimity, and is feen at a vail diftance both by fea and land; but frequently the top is obfcured in clouds. No part is cultivated; but in many places it is covered with whortleberry plants, divers fpecies of erica, and fome rare bog and other mofles, with, a little grafs intermixed.
On the top of this hill is a vaft coUeftion of rough loofc ftones, from one to two hun- dred pounds in weight each; and among them the ruins of three large fire-hearths, about eight feet fquare, and built of rough unwrought llones. Thefe fire-places form' an equilateral triangle, and in the center is another hearth confiderably larger than the reft. At the diftance of near a mile, and more than two hundred feet lower, the veftiges of two other hearths are vifible, with vaft quantities of rough loofe disjointed ftones fcattered round them. Thefe are the remains of thofe beacons which. were formerly eredted on this elevated fpot, in order to alarm the country in times of civil difcord or foreign invafion. Hence the hill to this day retains the name of Dunkery Beacon.
As this is the higheft mountain in the weft of England, it affords fo extenfive and noble aprofpeft, as to merit particular defcription. In a clear day the view extends from the high lands near Plymouth, on the fouthweft, to the Malvern-Hills in Worcefterftaire on the north, which are more than two hundred miles diftant from each other. On the weft and northweft the Britifh Channel, for near one hundred and thirty miles in length, lies under the eye, with the greater part of South-Wales, from Monmouthfiiire down to Pembrokefliire, rifingin a fine amphitheatre beyond it. To the eaft and fouth, the greater part of Somerfetftiire, Dorfet, and Devon, with fome parts of Hants and Wilts, appear to view. When the air is clear and ferene the line which bounds the horizon cannot be lefs than five hundred miles in circumference, and takes in fifteen counties.
The name of this parifli is written in the Norman furvey Udecome, which is derived from the Saxon Fuba, wood, and Eomb, a deep valley or hollow bcfet with moun- tains. It is thus furveyed:
" W^illiam himfelf holds Udecome. ^Imer held it in the time of jdng Edward, and " gelded for three hides. The arable is fifteen carucates. In demefne are fourcarw- " cates, and fix fervants, and eighteen villanes, and five cottagers, with five ploughs. " There are fix fwinehcrds, who pay thirty-one pigsj and a mill of five ftiillings rent,
"and
6 c u T c o M B E. [€atljampton»
" and fix acres of meadow. Pafhire two miles in length, and one mile in breadth, " A wood one mile lojig, and half a mile broad. It was formerly worth three pounds, ** now fix pounds.
" Of the land of this manor three foldiers hold of William one hide and half a vir- " gate of land, and they have there two ploughs, and four villanes, and fix cottagers, with " one plough. There are two acres of meadow, and fourteen acres of wood j pafture " half a mile in length, and five furlongs in breadth. It was and is worth thirty-five ** fhillings and fixpence,"'
This was another of the manors which the Conqueror gave to Sir William de Mohun, from whom it afi^umed the name of Cutcombe-Mohun, and in whofe defcend- ants it continued till tlie latter end of the reign of Edward III. when John Lord Mohun dying without ifilie male, fuch efl;ates as remained unalienated by his widow," were divided betwixt three daughters, coheirefles, of whomPhilippa the wife of Edward Duke of York had this manor, and died feized thereof lo Henry VI. leaving Richard Lord le Strange of Knocking, her coufin and next heir." Which Richard, 24 Henry VI. is found to have releafed all his right to this manor of Cutcombe-Mohun to Alexander Hody and others."
But there was another manor in Cutcombe, called the manor of Cutcomhe-Rakigh, from its poflTefi^ors of that nanne, to diftinguifli it from the other. This manor de- fended through many generations of the Raleiglis to the family of Dodilhamj and thence by the marriage of Eleanor, daughter and heirefs of WiUiam Dodifham, to John Gilbert, of Wollavington, efq; whofe daughter and heir Joan brought it by marriage to Roger Pym of Brymore, from whofe defendants it paflTed in like manner by the mar- riage of an heirefs to Sir Thomas Hales, bart. and now both the manors of Cutcombe- Mohun, and Cutcombe-Raleigh, are in the poflfeffion of Sir Philip Hales, bart.
There are two hamlets in this parilh of the names of Ludwell-Bridge, and Cod/end. The former is two miles fouthwefl from Cutcombe, and contains twelve houfes. A fair is held here about Michaelmas for flieep and black cattle. The other hamlet is three miles weft, and contains only five houfes. In Codfend moor a fmall flream rifes called Wefter River, which runs through Ladwell, and has over it two fmall ftone bridges. A fecond river, called Stowey Water, rifes in Harecliff, one mile eafliward from the church J and a third rifes in Dunkery. All thefe rivers contain trout and eels, and run to Dunfter, where they difcharge themfelves into the fea.
Betwixt Cutcombe and Timberfcombe there is a depopulated place, called OaktroWy which having been parcel of the manor of Cutcombe-Mohun, we Ihall here briefly notice. Its ancient name was Wochetrev, as we find it in Domefday-book:
" Durand holds of William [de Mohun] Wochetrev. Manno held it in the time " of king Edward, and gelded for half a virgate of land. The arable is one carucate. " There are two villanes, with half a plough, and four acres of wood. It was worth *' four fhillings, now fix fliillings."''
' Lib. Domefday. m See the account of Dunfter. « " Efc. \o Hen. VI.
« Rot. clauf. 2+ Hen. VI. p Lib. Domefday.
The
car&ton.] cutcombe. 7
The church of Cutcombe was anciently appropriated to the priory of Brewton, and together with Luxborough was valued in 1292 at ten marks." The prior of Dunfter received out of the reftory an annual penfion of forty fhillings and three-pence.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Dunfter, and in the gift of the crown. The Rev. Mr. Wilkins is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Laurence/ and is an ancient ftrufture, confifting of a nave, chancel, and north aile tiled; a tower at the weft end contains five bells.
There ij no monument nor infcription worthy of notice.
A charity-fchool was founded in this parilTi about the year 1720, by Richard Elfworth, of Timberfcombe, efq; for teaching poor children to read and write. 1 he endowment was ten pounds per annum, and the fchool is ftill kept up.
The number of houfes in this parifti is about eighty-fix, and of inhabitants upwards of five hundred. The average number of chriftenings fifteen; the burials eight. 1 Taxat. Spiritual. ' Efton fays St. John.
D U N S T E R
IS a town fituated about twenty-five miles from Bridgwater, on the margin of a rich and fertile vale, open on the north to the Briftol Channel, wliich is one mile diftant; but bounded on all other fides by fteep and lofty hills, rifing one behind another in grand fticcefTion.
In the time of the Saxon Heptarchy this was a place of great note, and was a fortrefs of the Weft-Saxon kings. At this early period, and indeed for fome centuries after, it was called Toppe, a fortified tower; but in after days Buneftorre, and by con- traaioQ Dunfter; the additional Dun or Dune implying a ridge of mountains ftretching out lengthwife upon the fea coaft.
At the time of the Norman Conqueft it conftituted the head of a large barony, and was given by William the Conqueror to Sir WiUiam de Moion or Mohun. The furvey fays:
" William himfelf holds Torre, and there is his caftle. Aluric held it in the time of « king Edward, and gelded for half a hide. The arable is one carucate. There are two " mills often fhiUings rent, and fifteen cottagers, and five acres of meadow, and thirty " acres of pafture. It was formerly worth five fhillings, now fifteen fhillings."*
This Sir William de Mohun, who was of a very ancient and eminent family in Normandy, when the Norman duke had announced his intention of vifiting England
» Lib. Domcfday^
in
8 PUNSTER, [Carliamptoin
in amis, was one ot' the firft of thofe gentiy who engaged in the expedition, and brought over with liim fifty-fcven knights of his retinue, all of them perfons of diftinition, both as to parentage and militaiy entei-prize.'" Having thus relinquiflied his native foil, he feat€d himfelf among thofe territories which he had acquired from his vidorious fovereign, and not only rebuilt the caftle, but added largely to the buildings of the town J and on the northweft fide of his manfion^ erefted a priory of Benedifline monks, which he dedicated to the honour of St. George, and in the church whereof he is faid to have been buried/
To this William de Mohun fucceeded another William, who was alfo a knight, and is reported to have been a perfon of great valour. He improved the buildings of his predeceflbr at Dunfter, and was a great benefaftor to the prioiy there, as well as to that of Taunton, founded by William Giffard, bifliop of Winchefter. He was alfo buried at Dunfter. By Agnes his wife he left iffue another Sir William de Mohun, the third of that name ;
Which William was one of thofe barons who efpoufed the caufe of Maud the em- prefs, and, befides other afliftance, fortified his caftle here in her behalf, and made many fuccefsfulincurfions into the neighbouring countiy: for thefe important fervices he had the honour of being created Earl of Somerfet and Dorfet, a title he enjoyed till his death, which happened about A. D. 1 1 60, wlien he was buried in the priory of Brewton, of his own foundation.
His fon and heir William, {uma.med Me/chyn, fucceeded him. This William, 12 Henry II. upon levying the aid for marrying tJie king's daughter, certified his knight's fees in this county to be in number, of the old feoffment, forty, and thofe of the new, four." He confirmed his father's benefaftions to the priory of Brewton, and was buried in the conventual church of Dunfter.*^
To him fucceeded Reginald de Mohun, his fon and heir, who 6 John had livery of his lands. He married Alice, one of the fifters and coheireffes of William Bruer, of Torre in the county of Devon, afterwards called Torre-Mohun from this family, its future poflTeflbrs. This Alice Bruer is fet down among the benefactors to the new cathedral church of Salifbury, having contributed thereto all the marble neceflfary for the building thereof for twelve years.^ She furvived the faid Reginald de Mohun her hufband, and was afterwards married to William Paganel. Her ifTue by the former was Reginald, John, (who was feated at Ham-Mohun in the county of Dorfet, where his defcendants long continued) and William.
Reginald de Mohun, the eldeft fon, fucceeded to the honour and caftle of Dunfter. Which Reginald 26 Henry III. was conftituted chief juftice of all the forefts fouth of Trent, and 37 Henry III. was appointed governor of Sauvey caftle in Leicefterfliire. 41 Henry III. he had fummons to attend the king at Briftol with horfe and arms-,
""Vid. Lei. Colleftan. vol. i,,pp. 202, 203, where their names are recited. Dugdale fays only forty-feven. ' Lei. Itin. vol. ii. p. 101. '' Lei. Colleftan. vol. i. p. 203.
• Lib. nig. voj. i, p. 91, 92. ' Lei. CoUeftan. ubi fupra. 6 Lei. Itin. iii. 95.
thence
Carbampton.] DUNSTER. 9
thence to march againft the Welfh. He died that fame year, and was fiicceeded'by Johnde Mohun his eldell fon and heir:
Which John married Joan the daughter of Sir Reginald Fitzpiers, by whom he had a fon of his own name, who inherited the eftate. He died in Gafcony 7 Edward I, being then fcized of the manors of Dunfter, Carhampton, Cutcombe, Mintjheacl, Ifle-Brewer, and Kilton in this county, befides divers other manors in the county of Devon.''
John de Mohun, the fecond of the name, was 22 Edward I. in the expedition then made into Gafcony. 26 and 27 Edw. I. he was in the Scottifh wars, and 28 Edw. I. v/as fummoned amongft the barons to parliament. He died 4 Edw. III. leaving John his grandfon, (viz. fon of John his eldeft fon, who died in his life-time) his next heir.
This laft John Lord Mohun doing his homage 15 Edward III. had livery of his lands, and in the fame year confirmed all the donations which his predecefTors had made to the priory of Dunller.' 16 Edward III. he ferved in the expedition then made into France, in the retinue of Bartholomew de Bergherfh, with whom, during his minority, he had been in ward, and whofe daughter Joan he afteiAvards married. This John Lord Mohun was one of the firft knights of the mod noble order of the garter,'' and 47 Edw. III. had his laft fummons to parliament. He died about 48 Edw. III. leaving three daughters his coheirefTes, viz. Philippa, married to Edward Duke of York, Elizabeth, to William de Montacute Earl of Salifbury, and Maud, to John Lord Strange of Knocking.
Which three daughters fhould have jointly inherited the patrimonial eftates; but it feems that a deed and fine had been levied and made by the faid John Lord Mohun their father fometime before his death, of the barony, honour, and manor of Dunfter, together with the manors of Minehead and Kilton, and the hundred of Carhampton, which he thereby vefted in the archbiftiop of Canterbury, and other truftees, for fuch ufes as his wife fliould, in cafe flie furvived him, declare. In purfuance of which deed the faid Lady Mohun 50 Edward III. fold the reverfion of the faid premifes to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, relid of Sir Andrew Luttrcll, of Chilton in the county of Devon, and daughter of Hugh Courtnai, Earl of Devonftiire.- This fale being abfolute, great fuits at law arofc between the Duke of York and Lord Strange of Knocking, who, as it has been before obferved, married Sir John Mohun's two daughters; and they fct forth another deed, whereby the faid Sir John had entailed the fame lands on the heirs of his body ; and for that and other reafons difputed the power he had of making a different difpofal.
^ Efc. ' Mon. Angl. i. 477.
'' Of this John it is recorded, that upon a petition of the inhabitants of Dunfter for certain lands adjoining to the town, whereon todepnflure their cattle freely and in common, he allowed his lady Joan Mohun, who fupplicated in the townfmen's behalf, as much foil as flie could go round in one day barefoot for the purpofe abovementioned. Although this feems to reft merely on tradition, yet certain it is, that a great number of privileges flowed from the houfe cf Mohun to this and other rownftiips that were held under it. This John de Mohun bore for his arms. Or, a crofs cngrailedyiW?; though the more ancient Coat feems to have been, Gu/es, a dexter arm, habited with a maunch ermine, the hand holding a fleur-de-Us or. Both thefe coats were ufed by the priory of Brewton, founded by this family.
Vol. II. C The
•
10
D u N 3 T E R. [Carfiampton.
The circifmftances of this fuit having puzzled the judges in point of law, the par- liament interfered,' and fulV petitioned the King, that he would give a peremptory order to the judges to give their opinion; and by a fecond petition i Henry IV. defired that he would order the difpute to a reference; it being their opinion, that die parties contending were unequal in condition to difpute the title in law, confidering the poor eftate of Sir Hugh Luttrell, fon of the lady Elizabeth Luttrell, who had made the purchafe, and the great power and riches of the Duke of York. On this laft petition certain lords, bifhops, and judges, were fworn in parliament, to confider the whole matter, and were ordered to make an award by a certain day. But it is probable that in the mean time fome agreement was made with the heirs of Lord Mohun, for it does not appear that any report was ever entered ; and it is certain that Sir Hugh Luttrell, from this time, continued in quiet pofleffion of the faid manors.
Of the progenitors of this Sir Hugh Luttrell, I fliall here make no mention, inaf- much as tlieir prior refidence was at Eaft Quantockfliead, an ancient manor in this county, where I purpofe to deduce their defcent to the time of their removal to Dunfter, ■which was immediately after the death of Lady Mohun.
Sir Hugh Luttrell abovementioned was the firft of the family who refided here. In fome publick records this Sir Hugh is ftiled kinfman to the King, and under that title 15 Richard II. had the grant of an annuity of forty pounds iffuing out of the lands belonging to the ahen prioiy of Wenge in the county of Bucks. 2 Hen. IV. he was appointed fteward of the Queen's houlhold, and foon after conftable of the caftle of Briftol, and warden of the foreft of Kingfwood. 3 Hen. IV. he was lieutenant of Calais, and 6 Hen. IV. was a commiffioner to array men within this county, on an expeftation that the French would affift the Welch rebels. 3 Hen. V. he attended the King at the taking of Harfleur, upon the furrender of which he was appointed counfel to the lieutenant, and foon after fucceeded him. 4 Hen. V. in confideration of two hundred and eighty-fix pounds, he agreed to ferve the King in the French wars in perfon for one year, together with twenty men at arms, whereof one was to be a knight, and the reft efquires, and fixty archers; all to be ready at Southampton by the fourth of May: and the year following he was appointed to treat with, and take the furrender of the town of Monfterville. He was feveral times chofen knight of the fliire for the county of Devon; and on the coronation of Henry V's Queen, he was appointed fteward of her houfliold. In his old age he lived always at Dunfter, where he rebuilt a confi- derable part of the caftle, and kept great hofpitality. That he had great intereft at court, appears by a letter from Henry VI. to the king of Scotland, demanding fatisfac- tion, on the complaint of Sir Hugh Luttrell, for harbouring a Spanifli ftup, that had taken one of his fifliing boats, and abufed his tenants at Minehead. He died about 10 Henry VI. leaving iftue by Catherine his wife, daughter of Sir John Beaumont, of Shirwell in the county of Devon, and widow of John Strecche, Sir John Luttrell his fucceflbr, and three daughters.
Which John, only fon of Sir Hugh, was with his father in France, and there knighted. He died one year after him, having married two wives; ift, Joan, daughter of Sir John
» Rot. Pari. I, 2, 4 Hen. IV. Malet
Cadjampton.] D u N s T E R. ' n
Makt of Enmore, by wliom lie had no children; and 2d, Margaret, daughter of John Lord Audky, by whom he had James his only fon.
Which James Luttrell was in ward to Sir Philip Couitenai, and married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir William, eldeft brother to Sir Edward Couitenai of Haccombe, who I Henry VII. became earl of Devonfhire."' This James was always a faithful adherent to the interefts of the houfe of I.ancafter, and was at the battle of Wakefield, where the Duke of York was killed, and where he was knitted in the field; but foon after, at the fecond battle of St. Alban's, fighting manfully for Henry VI. he received feveral grievous wounds, of which lie died the next day; and i Edw. IV. was, together with five hundred lords, knights, and efquires, attainted in Parliament. On this attainder his whqle eftate in Somcrfet, Devon, and Suffolk, was declared to be forfeited, and was accordingly feized into the King's hands, notwithllanding it had been veiled in the duke of Buckingham, the bifhop of London, and others, to prefcrve an inheritance to his children: — An inftance, among many others, that in times of violence and inteftine commotion, fettlements are but a feeble fecurity to a family, be they drawn ever fo carefully! All thefe poffelTions were granted to Sir William Herbert, and to the heirs male of his body; who was foon after created Baron of Dunfter and Earl of Pembroke.
The children of this Sir James Luttrell were, Alexander, who died foon after hi« father, and Hugh, as alfo feveral daughters, all young at the time of his death. They were fubfifted on a rent charge of fifty pounds per annum, which foon after his marriage he had made in truft to James Lots and other truftees for the ufe of his younger chil- dren. But I Hen. VII. Hugh Luttrell, the only furviving fon of Sir James, having in a petition fet forth to the King in parliament, that what his father did and fuffered for, was the truth and loyalty to his fovereign King Henry VI. praying that he might be reftored to the lands of his anceftors, the attainder was reverfed in parliament.
This Sir Hugh Luttrell was one of the Knights of the Bath at the coronation of Hen. VII's Queen. He married two wives, ift, Margaret, daughter of Robert Hill, fifter by the mother to Lord Daubeney, chamberlain to King Henry VII.; and 2d, Walthera, widow of Thomas Dreloc, and aftenvards of Walter Yorke, merchant of the Stannaries. By his firft wife he had Andrew his fon and heir, and feveral other children. 13 Hen. VII. this Sir Hugh attended the king into the weft in the expedition againft Perkin Warbeck. He feems to have been. a veiy devout perfon; for 2 Henr)- \'ni. he was, together with his wife Walthera, admitted into the fraternity of the abbey of Athelney, and die fame year into that of the abbey of Walfingham in Norfolk, becoming thereby entitled to the benefit of all the mafles, prayers, alms, &c. belonging to the faid convents.
Andrew Luttrell fucceeded him 2 Hen. VIII. and was knighted the 21ft of that reign, in which year he was IherifF for the counties of Somerfet and Dorfet. He was likewife one of thofe who were appointed to colleft the firft-fruits and tenths, which had been declared by parliament to be in the King. This Sir Andrew refided chiefly at Quaiitockfliead, where he died 30 Henry VIII. leaving ifliie by Margaret, daugliter of
" This Sir James Luttrell bore on his feal a Bend between fix Martlets.
C 2 Sir
'- D u N s T E R. [Catfjampton.
Sir Thomas^ Wyndham, ofFelbridge in the county of Norfolk, Sir John Luttrell of Dunfler, Thomas, Richard, (anceftor to the Luttrells of Harland, Honibere, Sandon- Court, and Cheli'ea) |\ndrevy, and Hugh, and feveral daughters.
John, eldeft fon of Sir Andrew, was 36 Henry VIII. with the Earl of Hertford in Scodand, and prefent at the taking of Edinburgh and Leith, when he was knighted 38 Henry VIII. he was widi the faid Earl of Hertford at Boulogne, and had the com- mand of one hundred men. In the time of King Edward VI. he was in the wars of Scotland, and commanded three hundred men at the batde of Mufsleborough, where, it is faid, lie behaved with fuch proweft, wifdom, and conduft, as gained him the charafter of a compleat captain j having before, that of a compleat and worthy courder. Indeed, it generally appears, that he was aperfon of great valour, zealous for the fervice of his prince, and extremely defirous of glory j to obtain which he fpared no expence, and by that means greatly wafted the fair patrimony which defcended to him from his ancef- torsj feUing great part of his demefnes at Dunfter, Kilton, and elfewhere; and at laft mortgaging the plate and furniture belonging to Dunfter-Caftle, and his other houfes.
There is an ancient pifture in the caftle, done by a tolerable hand, of a man fwim- mmg in the fea, and looking up to certain figures in the clouds j to which is added, by a later and very indifferent painter, the figure of a lady floating by his fide. This is tradi- tionally faid to have been the pidure of Sir John Luttrell, and refers to his having faved a certain lady from drowning, whom he was then in love with, and afterwards married.
His wife's name was Mary Griffith, a lady of North-Wales, who foon after his death was married to James Godolphin of the county of Cornwall. He had iffue by the faid Mary three daughters, heirs to a third part of his eftate, the other parts being by two entails, and, by the will of this Sir John, given to Thomas Luttrell his brother.
Which Thomas, in order to preferve the remainder clear from his nieces' portions and his brother's debts, fold all the lands in Devonfhire and Suffolk, which lands were fully replaced in this county, by his marriage with Margaret, fole daughter and heir of Chriftopher Hadley of Withycombe, great grandaughter of Philippa, daughter of Sir Humphry Audley, by Elizabeth widow of Sir James Luttrell. On occafion of this confanguinity, a fpecial buU was obtained 5 Philip and Mary from Pope Paul V. This Thomas died 13 Eliz. Margaret his wife, furviving him, was afterwards married to John Strode of Parnham, and thirdly, to Richard Hill, efq.
George Luttrell, his eldeft fon^ inherited his father's and mother's lands, and was -fhenff of Somerfctftiire 36 Ehz. He added greatly to the buildings of the caftle, and was much noted for his hofpitality, and the general love and refpeft of his neighbours. He lived to a great age, dying in 1630, having married two wives, ift, Joan, dauc^hter of Hugh Stewkley of Marfti in this parifti; and 2d, Silveftra Capper, afterwards mar- ' ried to Sir Edmund Story, and next to Gyles Penny.
Thomas, eldeft fon of the faid George Luttrell, by Joan his wife, married in his father's hfe-time Jane the daughter of Sir Francis Popham of Littlecot, knt. and died ui 1647, leaving by her feveral fons, of whom George, Francis, and Thomas, were
fucceffively
Carfjampton.] D u N s T E it
fucccffively lords of Dunfter-Caftle. Thomas, the third fon, married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Simonds, of Cambridgefliire, efq; and was father of two Ions. Franci:^ and Alexander.
Francis Liittrell, the eldeft, married Jane, fole heir of John Tregonwell, of Milton- abbey in the county of Dorfet, efq; and died at Plymouth in 1690, being then colonel of a regiment in the fervice of King William; leaving by the faid Jane one Ton, Tregonwell Luttrell, who died without ilTue in 1706, and two daughters, Mary, the wife of Sir George Rooke, vice-admiral of England; and Frances, wife firft of Edward Hervcy, efq; and afterwards of Edward Alhe, of Heytefbury in the county of Wilts, efq.
On the death of Tregonwell Luttrell in 1706, Alexander his uncle fucceeded in the eftate of Dunfter. He ferved in all the war in Flanders during the reign of King William ; and in Queen Anne's time was colonel of the roya'l regiment of marines. He was alfo during the greateft part of thofe reigns member of parliament for the borough of Minehead. He died in 17 14, leaving by Dorothy his wife, daughter of Edward Yard of Churfton in the county of Devon, two fons, Alexander, lord of Dunfter-Caftle and Quantockfliead, and member of parliament for Minehead; and Francis.
Alexander Luttrell married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Trevelyan, of Nettle- combe, bart. but by her having no iflue male, he left his eftates to defcend to one folc daughter and heirefs, Margaret, married to Henry Fownes, of Nethaway in die county of Devon, efq; who thereupon alTumed the name of Luttrell, and was father of John Fownes Luttrell, the prefent pofleflbr of Dunfter-Caftle, and member of parliament for the borough of Minehead.
The caftle is to this day the refidence of the Luttrell family. It is a large ftately edifice, fituated on a fteep hill at the fouth extremity of the principal ftreet, and com- mands a fine view of die town, the fea, and the mountains of South-Wales, Like other fortrefles, it has been the fcene of various military confufionj and was for fomc time the durance of the famous William Prynn."
The extent of territory and feudal power wliich formerly appended to this caftle, may be gadiered from the following records :
King William the Conqueror gave to Sir WiUiam de Mohun, together with the fcite and demefnes of the caftle, no lefs than fifty-fix manors or vills in this county, all of them fubfervient and doing fervice thereto."
In the time of Henry II. the following fees appertained to Sir William de Mohun, the fourth of that name, and were thus held:""
William, the fon of Durant, holds five knight's Alexander de Badialton, three.
fees and a half. Hugh Je Gundeville, two.
William de Elleworthe, four. 7alebot de Hathfelde, two.
Roger Arundel, three. Reiner TornacJi, one fee and a half.
» See vol. i. Wood's Athens Oxon. ij. 437 ; Biographical Diclionary ; &c. • Lib. Domefday, Svmerfetc. p Lib. nig. Stac. i. 91.
■\ViIliam
H
UN s T E R, [Catf)amptan«
William de St. Lcger, one'
Gefferey dc Ver, one ^
Gefferey Huffey, one
Ralph Hufley, one
John Croc, one
Thomas de Campo florldo, on^
Walter de Lege, one,
Robert Wallh, one
Robert Fitz-GefFerey, one fee and a half
Robert Dumaz, half a fee
Thefe knights fees were of the old feoffment, that is, fuch as conflituted the barony of the Mohuns in the reign of King Henry I.
The fees of the new feoffment, that is, thofe with which they were invefted fince the beginning of the reign of King Henry II. were as follows:
Matthew de Combe and Nlcol. one fee Simon Bret, half a fee Ralph Dacres, half a fee William de Punchardun, two fees Robert de Bratton, one Richard de Langeham, one Gerebert de Perce, one Roger de Newborough, one William de Curci, one.
William de Curci holds one knight's fee
Robert Bohun, one
Luke de C^mpo florido, one
Hugh de Punchardun, half a fee Richard de London, half a fee.
Knights' fees in the county of Somerfetj belonging to John de Mohun, 4 Edw. III.
Whedon holds fix oxgangs of land in Whedon,
by the fervice of half a knight's fee. John le Bret holds of the fame John de Mohun the manor of Torveftone, by the fervice of
one knight's fee. William de Pavely holds Weft Cantok(hed, by
the fervice of one knight's fee. Walter de Furneaux holds the hamlet of Hole- ford, by the fervice of one knight's fee. John de Bures holds the manor of Ayly, by the
fervice of half a knight's fee. Margaret de Boteraux holds the manor of
Sherentone, by the fervice of one knight's fee. The prior of Taunton holds the manor of
Thurlokfton, by the fervice of one knight's fee. Henry Ghampflour holds the manor of Wyke, by
the fervice of one knight's fee. Walter de Wilton holds the hamlet of Tokeberc,
by the fervice of three parts of a knight's fee. Nicholas de Barton holds two carucates of land
in Morbache, by the fervice of one knight's fee. ^ViUiam Cheny holds the manor of Pontindon,
by the fervice of one knight's fee. Tliomas Weft holds the hamlet of Houndeflone,
by the fervice of one knight's fee.
William de Thome holds Thbrne-fagon, by the
fervice of two parts of one knight's fee. Thomas de Arundel holds the manor of Clot- worthy, by the fervice of one knight's fee. John Durburgh holds the manor of Hethfeld-
Talebot, by the fervice of one knight's fee. William de Pouleftiull, and Hilary de Badialton,
hold the hamlet of Badialton, by the fervice
of one knight's fee. James D'Audele holds the manor of Stanton,
by one knight's fee. John de Ralegh holds the manor of Ailludeford,
by one knight's fee. Philip de Columbers holds the manor of Heth-
feld-Columbers, by the fervice of half a
knight's fee. Gefferey de Avele holds one carucate of land in
Avele, by the fervice of half a fee. William Everard holds tlie hamlets of Ov/le-
KnoUe, Lynch, and Lamham, by the fervice
of the fourth part of a knight's fee. Robert de Biccombe holds four oxgangs of land
in Biccombe, by the fervice of the third part
of a knight's fee.
9 In<j. poft mort. Johannis de Mohun, 4 Ed. III.
John
■ji»
Catbampton.] D u N s T E R. 15
John de Durburgh Iioldsfour oxgangs of land in Waketrowc, Alwcrccotc, by the fervicc of die
Bilcombe, by the fervice of the third part ot fourtli part of one knight's fee.
a knight's fee. The abbot of Clivc holds Lollokfljorougli-
John de Bratton holds two carucatcs of land Pickett, by the fervicc of lialf a knight's fee.
in Bratton, by the fervice of lialf a knight's Waher de Wedon holds live oxgangs of land in
fee. Wedon, by the fervice of tlic fourth part of
Walter Meriet held Bilcombe, Ellcfworth, Wlllct one knight's fee.
and Maplercton-Bret, [Co. Dorfet] by the Roger Attewalle, and William de Paveljr, held
fervice of four knight's fees. Weft-Cantokeflicd, by the fervicc of one
The fame Walter held Lullikefbcrghe-Everard, knight's fee.
The town of Diinfter itfelfis inconfiderable, confiding chiefly of two ftrects; the one running in a north and fouth diredtion ; the other branching weftward from the cliurch. The formerj which is the principal ftreet, is clofe built, paved, and of a tolerable'brcadth, but blocked up in the middle by an old market-crofs, and a long range of old njinous fhambles. Many of the houfes are good, being built with wrought ftone; but the greater part are low, rough ftone, thatched buildings, with old pent-houfes over the doors and windows. The market is on Friday; and a chartered fair is held here on Whit-Monday.
It formerly fent members to parliament; but we retain only two of the names of its reprefcntatives, viz. Walter Morice, and Tho. Cartere, who were returned 34 Edw. HI. 36 Edw. lil. it was found not to the King's dam.age to grant licenfe to William k Tailleur of Dunfter, and Thomas de Rivers, for them to enfeoff the commonalty of the town of Dunfter, with one meftuage and twenty-four acres of land, &c. in Car- hampton, to hold to them, and their fucceffors burgefles of the faid town, for ever/
The parilli of Dunfter comprehends the vills of Avill, Stanton, Alcombe, and Marsh. The firft of thefe is fituated one mile to the fouthweft, and contains ten houfes. It is written in the Norman record Avena, and is thus furveyed:
" Ralph holds of William [de Moion] Avena. Aluric held it in the time of king " Edward, and gelded for half a hide. The arable is two carucates. In -demefne is " one carucate, and one villane, and five cottagers, with half a plough. There is a " mill of twenty pence renx, and four acres of meadow, and two acres of wood, and " fifty acres of pafture. It was and is worth ten ftiillings.'
This place gave name to a family who refided here ; but tJie lands were always held under the Caftle of Dunften'
Stanton, the next vill, is fiii-veyed immediately after Avill, as follows:
"William hi mfelf holds Stantunz. Walle held it in die time of king Edward, " and gelded for tliree virgates of land. The arable is two carucates. There are two " villanes, and two fervants, and two cottagers, with one plough, and five acres of mea- " dow, and forty acres ofpafture. It is worth fifteen ftiillings. To this manor is " added one virgate of land, which a thane held in the time of King E^w. for a manor.
' Inq. ad quod damnum 36 Ed. III. ' Lib. Domefdjiy. ■• .See the Inquifitions.
« TUc
i6 DUNSTER. [Catfjampton*
" The arable isone carucate. There is one cottager, and three acres of meadow, and " fifty acres of pafture. It is worth three fhilUngs.""
This manor was feme time held of the Caftle of Dunfter by the family of Audley.*
Alcombe is called in the fame record Aucome, and was referved in demefne by William dc Mohun, like Stanton above-mentioned.
" William himfelf holds Aucome. Algar held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for one hide. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one carucate, ** and four fervants, and three villanes, and four cottagers, with two ploughs. There " are eight acres of meadow, and three furlongs of pafture. It was and is worth twenty " fhiUings.'"'
Sir William de Mohun gave this manor to his priory at Dunfter. There are eighteen houfes in Stanton and Alcombe tithings, which are fituated about one mile weft from Dunfter.
The manor of Marsh, or Marshwood, was alio an appendage to the Caftle of Dunfter, and " lyeth (as Leland faith) betwixt our lady of Clyve and Dunefter."^
The whole number of the houfes within the parilh is one hundred and ninety, and of iiihabitants about eight hundred and fifty, many houfes being void. But at the beginning of the prefent century there were nearly four hundred houfes, and a large manufafture of kerfey cloths, which is now almoft wholly removed to other places.
The lands of this pariih are generally pafl^ire and meadow, and in goodnefs equal to moft in the kingdom j particularly the vale eaft of the caftle, and the rich common, containing five hundred acres, lying by the fea fide. [The fpot alluded to in the fore- going part of this account.]' This common is overflowed by the high fpring tides, and is thereby rendered uncommonly fertile.
A fmall but rapid ftream rifing on Dunkeiy-Hill, and fed by feveral little rivulets, runs through a deep vale on the fouth fide of the town and caflJej and after paffing under a ftone bridge of three arches, and turning fix grift mills, one oil, and two fulling mills, empties itfelf into the fea.
The coaft in this parifh is flat, and there are but few fhells or fea weeds upon it. The beach is fand mixed with pebbles, and often muddy j but near Minehead it becomes fine and firm.
The priory at Dunfter was annexed as a cell to the abbey of St. Peter at Bath, and was endowed by the Mohunswith the following lands and pofi"efllons, viz. the church of St. George at Dunfter, and all the tithes of that vill; the whole vill oi Alcomhe with its appertenances, containing one hide; half the tithes of the demefnes of Minehead; the entire tithes o( Broadwood, Carhampton, and Newton; half the tithes of Brunfeld; and the entire tithes of Stockland and Kilt on. Two fifiieries; the one belonging to Dunfter,
' Lib. Domefday. » Efc. J' Lib. Domefday.
* Lei, Itin. ii. loo. , ' See note, p. 9,
the
Cacftampton.] D u N s T E R. ,7
tlie otlier to Carhampton; and all the tithes of the mares at More, and the teiitli pig at Dunjler, Carhampoi, and Kiltoti. A pafture called Foghelerifmerjh. The land of Frekeford, and one furlong of land in ChaldevelU within the manor of Cutcombe; and one furlong of land lying between la Stenteville and the mill of Cogbriggc. And alfo all the burgages in D««^^, together with the releafe of the fuit of the hundred o( Minehead. The church likewife of Kii/on, with all its appertenances and tithes ; and the titlies of the demefnes of Screveto», Combe, and Codisford; and all the land of Kynevordijham, and the tithes of Exford. The land alfo of Hanelbam, which William de Mohun gave for the good of the foul of Ralph de Mohun, with three furlongs of land at Nordecom^ free and quit from all fervice, in pure and perpetual alms.''
Peter de Bradton gave lands in Sparkfhay to this cell, 1 8 Ric. II.*
The prior received from the reftory of Cutcombe a yearly penfion of forty fliillings And fourpence, and from the parfonage of Stogumber a penfion of feven {hillings.
This cell confifted of only four qr five monks befides die prior, who was generally fent hither from St. Peter's at Bath.
Robert de Sutton was made prior Oft. 24, 133a.
William Briftow was prior 141 1, and there were four monks with him,
John Henton, monk of Bath, was collated by Bifhop Stafford, July 28, 1425, the priory of Bath being then void.
Thomas Brown was prior 1499.
The revenues of this priory were valued in 1444 at 30I. ijs. 4d. and in 1534 at 37I. 4s. 9td.
The fcite of the houfe, whereof fome ruins ftill remain on the foutheall fide of the church-yard, was granted 34 Henry VIII. to Humphrey Colles.
The church is in the deanery of Dunfter, to which it gives name. It was formerly vicarial; but is now a perpetual curacy in the gift of Lord Stawel. The Rev. George Henry Leigh is the prefent incumbent. In 1 292 it was valued at twelve marks.'
There was an ordination of this vicarage made by bifhop Oliver King; but this being by fome means or other cancelled, afrefla one was inflituted in 15 12 by billiop Hadrian de Caflelloj" appointing that the vicar and his fucceflbrs fhould have their commons and repafts, and a fire in winter time, with the prior of the cell of Dunfler, and with the monks at their table, fitting next to the faid monks, but never getting higher; at the fole charge and expence of the faid cell. That he fhould likewife receive an annual ftipend of four pounds from the prior's hands, and fhould have a chamber adjoining to the church-yard of the parifh church of Dunfter, together with a certain meadow, and a rent of two fhillings for the ufe of certain vats belonging to the fulling bufinefs, as alfo the rent of two fhillings for a certain houfe of ancient time belonging and apperuining to the vicars. And that he fhould likewife have all the contingent contributions of the
I" Mon. Angl. i. 477, « Pat. i8 Ric. II. * Taxat. Spiritual.
• Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
Vol, II, D parifhioners
i8 DUNSTER. [Cat&toit*
parifhioners for the rehearfing and publifliing the bead-roll/ after the fervice of high niafs in the church of Dunller every L.ord's day.
The church, which was built by king Henry the feventh, is a large Gothick pile, one hundred and fixty-eight feet long, and fifty-five feet wide, being divided into two parts by the tower, which flands on four pillars in the centre. The part eaftward of the tower was the original church of the priory, having been clofed up from the parifli church in the year 1499, in confequence of a dilpute between the monks and the parifhioners; when' the matter being referred to the abbot of Glaftonbury, Thomas Tremayle, and Doflor Thomas Gilbert, as arbitrators, it was agreed upon that the vicar and his fucceffors fhould have their quire feparate from the prior and monies, to be made, erefted, and repaired, and if it fhould fo need, to be rebuilt at the cofl and ex- pence of the parifliioners, viz. in the nave of the church at the altar of St. James the apoflle, which is fituated on the fouch fide of the door leading from the quire -of the monks into the nave of the church.^ This part of the church is now Ib-ipt of all its furniture, and totally negleftedj although it contains many fine monumental tombs and efcutcheons of the Mohun and Luttrell families, nowperifhing with their owners in the dull, and exhibiting a ftrong rebuke to the vanity of human greatnefs.
The part wefhvard of the tower is that now ufed for divine fervice, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and north and fouth ailes. The tower is ninety feet high, embattled at the top, with low broken pinnacles at the corners, and contains a clock, chimes, and eight bells. ,
This part of the church contains no monument; but in the floor of the middle paflage, on two brafs plates, are infcriptions to the memories of divers of the families of Blackford and Sealy. And on a brafs plate, beneath the effigies or portraitures of a man and woman, there is a memento to John and Agnes Wyther, A. D. 1497.
In the old part of the church above-mentioned, in a fmall chantry chapel adjoining to the chancel, is an ancient tomb, on which lie the mutilated remains of two effigies of the Mohuns. Thefe were once of fine white alabafter, plenty of which is found on the neighbouring coafl.
On the fouth fide of the chancel there is a flately mural monument of various kinds of marble, whereon lie recumbent the effigies of one man in armour, and two women ; another man in a kneeling attitude and in a religious veil. Thefe are the memorials of the Luttrell family.* Under an arch below lies the figure of a domeftick of the family in Hone.
On the fouth wall flands a handfome monument of white and grey marble, infcribed with the name and charafter of Anne the wife of Francis Luttrell, and daughter and heir of Charles Stucley, of Plymouth, efqj, who died 06t. jo, 1780, £etat. 21.
* A lift of thofe perfons, whether grandees, benefaftors, or brethren, whofe names were to be mentioned ia the publick prayers of the church. This lift or roll was read over to prepare the audience for fuch a com- memoration.
8 Excerpt, e Regift, Wellen. * See their defcent, p. 10.
In
Catbampton.] dunster. 19
In the chancel is a large vault belonging to die fame family, in which arc nineteen coffins, moft of them charged with infcriptions.
Between two arches in the church-yard lies an effigy of one of the Everards, a family fet tip by the Mohuns, of whom they held lands in Carhampton and Dunfter, by the fervice of defending a certain part of the caftle.
The chriftenings in this parifli are on an average twenty-one; the burials twenty-two.
E X F O R D.
THE river Ex, rifing in the wilds weftward, ere it reaches the ancient city of Exeter, which owes its appellation thereto, gives name to divers places of infe- rior note within the limits of this county. Among thefe is Exford, fituated about four miles diftant from its fource, twelve miles fouth from Dunfter, and twenty-five fouth- weft from Taunton, in a fertile vale, furrounded by bleak and dreary moors. The environs for many miles were formerly a foreft called Exmoor, now a wild wafte, interfefted by deep winding vallies and romantick hollows.
26 Edw. I. a commiffion was iflued by the king to Malcoline de Harleigh and John de Wrotefleigh, to make a perambulation of this foreft, who chofe Sir Baldric dc Nonynton, and Sir Hugh de Popham, knights, in the prefcnce of Peter de Hamme, deputy of Sabina Peche, keeper of the foreft, Gilbert de la Putte, verdurer, and others, to affift in making the fiirvey, which was as follows: From a certain place called Cornefyete along a certain road between the king's demefne and the fee of William de Kytenore, to the ftones called Fijiones; and fo going down by a certain dudt called JJUeJcumbe to Ore water; and thence going down on tlie further fide of the lieath ground, to a mountain called Blakebergh; thence to Ofmundebergb \\i\\; and tiience to a place called Spracombejheved; and thence by a certain du6t to Ex water j and fo going up by an old ditch to a ftone called Radjloti; and thence between the fee of John Moliun and the fee of the abbot of Neth, to a ford which is called Reddcford; and (o ^fcending by the heath diredtly to a place called Schepecumbeheved, as far as a ftone known by the name o^ Derefmarke; and thence going along beyond the heath, between the King's demefne and the fee of the abbot of Neth, to a place called Stomhijle-, and fo going down to a place in the water of Berghel, where the water of Scburebnrn runs into the water ofBergM, wjiich place is called Schureburnejfcte; and tlience on the other fide the heath direftly to a ftone called Hockkjlon; and fo going down to a ford called Wylletteford, in the water of Dumokejbrokey on the confines of the counties of Somcrfet and Devon, to Cornefyete, the place where the furvey was begun."
» Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. - -'" D 2 The
20 E X F o R D. [CarSampton*
The bailiwick 'of this foreft was -ufually held by people of diftinftion. In the time of Hen. III. it was held by William de Placetis, by the fei-vice of paying to the King four heifers, and a young bull, or for each of them ten pence.*"
The office of forefter continued for many years aftei-wards in the family of Peche,* and is now held of the crown by Sir Thomas Acland, bart.
As the only produce of this wild traft is pafturage, it is principally flocked with fheep, and a fmall breed of horfes and cattle from the adjoining parifhes. There are a few wild deer; but thefe are more numeious on the adjacent commons, and the neighbouring woods contain a great many of this fort of animal. Many curious plants and flowers flourifh here, and in the neighbouring country; particularly the erica and the hawkweed; the digitalis, blue fcabius, and yellow tormentilla, intermixed with fome fcarce lichens and polypodies, which with tlieir blended tints "enliven the fcene, and delight the traveller.
But here, upon this defolate fpot, which perhaps never experienced the labours of the indufl-nous hu/bandmanj but has remained the fame for a long fucceflion of many thoufand years ; the eye of refleftion fees ftand uninterrupted a number of fimple fepulchres of departed fouls, whether of warriors, priefts, or kings, it matters not; their names have long been buried with their perfons in the duft of oblivion; and their memories have perilhed with their mouldering urns. A morfel of earth now damps in filence the eclat of noify warriors; and the green turf ferves as a fufficient Ihroud for kings !
In this neighbourhood alfo are many of thole circular intrenchments, which m our maps are called caftles; but from the inconfiderable fize of fome, and the fituation of of others, a doubt may be admitted whether they were ever intended for military purpofes. They are affuredly veftiges of antiquity; and perhaps they might have been thrown up in the early ages of Druidifm, for the celebration of religious rites and cere- monies; or in later days, for feats of aftivity or athletick exhibitions. Cow-Caftle, indeed, fituated on the river Barle, northweft from Withypool, is an exception to the foregoing obfervations.
This is the fartheft extremity of the county weftward towards Devonfhire. There is a farm in the foreft called Symonjbath, remote from any other habitation, where runs a fmall river rifing northweft, which hereabout joins the Ex, and has over it a wooden bridge. The weftern extremity of this foreft is a point at right angles, called Sadler's Stone, near the head of the rivers Ex and Barle.
With regard to the property of this place in early times, it may be faid, that it was, with moft other contiguous territories, annexed to the great honour of Dunfter. William de Moion had it.
" William himfelf holds Aisseforde. Domno held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for one furlong. The arable is two bovates.** There is one viUane, and " fifteco acres of pafture. It was and is worth fifteen pence."
* Efc. 35 Hen. III. * See the account of Neroche Foreft, vol. i. p. 17.
* An oxgang of land ; as much as one ox can till. " WiUianft
Catljampton.] E X F O R D. 21
*' William himfelf holds Aisseforde. Sarpo held it in the time of King Edward, ** and gelded for one furlong and a half. The arable is half a carucatej but now it is " laid down to pafture, and pays a rent of twelve pence.""
How the family of Mohun parted with it does not appear; but it is evident that the principal eftate in Exford belonged in very early times to the Ciftertian abbey of Nedi in Glamorganfhire, founded about A. D. 1 147 by Richard and Conftantia de Grainville. The prior of that convent received out of this manor a yearly penfion of fifty-five" fliillings/ The manor is ftill called Monkham, from the circumftance of its quondam monaftick propriety, and now belongs to Hugh Vafley, efq; as does
Almsworthy, of which manor the family of Durborough of Hethfield were lords for many generations.^ In the time of Eliz. it belonged to Nicholas Bluet.''
There are two hamlets in this parifh, viz. i. Edgecut, fituated half a mile weft, and containing feven houfes. 2. Lower-Mill, one mile weftward, containing fix houfes. The whole number of houfes in the parilh is fixty-three; ixihabitants, three hundred and fifteen.
The living is a redlory in the deanery of Dunfter; and in 1292 was valued at ten marks.' The Rev. Mr. Cox is the prefent incumbent. The patronage was anciently appertenant to the manor of Eaftbury, and vefted in the family of Perceval, whole arms, viz. on a chief indented three crofles formee, were carved on the church porch here.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, and has lately in great part been rebuilt, ftands on a litde eminence, and is a good Gothick ftrufture, conlifting of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile, all covered with tile. At the weft end is a ftrong embattled tower, feventy feet high, containing four bells.
There are two infcriptions in the church; one to the memory of Mr. Robert Baker, who died April 25, 1730, aged 68 j and another to William Gundry, who died the 1 2th of January 1703; and by his laft will gave ten pounds to the poor of this parifli, to remain for ever; the profits thereof to be diftributed yearly unto fuch poor inhabitants as have no monthly relief.
A charity fchool was founded here by Mr. Cox, and Mrs. Mufgrove, for teaching ten poor children to read, for each of whom the mafter was allowed two ftiillings a quarter.
About a mile and a half eaftrward of the church are the veftiges of fome ancient iron works, in which tradition fays much of the wood of Exmoor was confumed. Many of the old pits where the ore was dug ftill remain, and great quantities of the fcoria are found about them.
The births in this parifh aie on an average nine; the burials five.
•Lib. Domefday. 'Taxat. Temporal. 8 Efc.
* Terrar. Sydenham. MS. » Taxat. Spiritual,
LUCKHAM.
I ^2 ]
L JS C K II A M.
THIS vill is pleafaritly fitilated in a woody vale, three miles fouthweft from Minehead, and two caft <4om Porlock. The parifh contains about eighty-two houfes, and nearly live hundred inhabitants. Thirty-eight of the houfes form a ftrag- gling ftreet by the church i die reft are in three hamlets, viz.
1. West-Luckham, one mile and a iulf weft, containing twelve houfes.
2. Horner, aromantick fpot, fituated in a deep hollow between lofty hills, eight houfes. And,
3. Dover-Hay, adjoining to the town of Porlock, twenty-four houfes.
The lands are almoft equally divided between tillage and grazing, and {except on the hills) are very good. 'Fhe ftone here, of wliich there is great plenty, contains fomc iron, and is veined with fpar. Confiderable quantities of pyrites are found here, and fome lava; but few, if any fofflls. Several fprings rifing on Dunkery-Hill, and in the foreft of Exmoor, form a rivulet, which, paffing through this parifh under two ftone bridges, empties itfelf into the Tea at Boffington Point. Another ftream hz^s its fource about a mile foutheaftward from the church. The inliabitants have a right of common on Dunkery-Hill. A narrow flip of land belonging to this parifti extends quite down to the fea, dividing the parifti of Porlock into two parts.
At t"he time of the Conqueft, Luckham was divided into two diftinft parcels; the one belonging to Ralph de Limefi, the other to Odo die fon of Gamelin. The former is thusdefcribed:
" Ralph himfelf holds Locumbe. Queen Eddida held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for two hides. The arable is eight carucates. In demefne are " three carucates, and two fervants, and eighteen villanes, and fix cottagers with four " ploughs. There are five acres of meadow, and fifty acres of wood, Pafture one mile " in lengdi, and half a mile in breadth. It was worth three pounds, now four pounds."
The other parcel has the following defcription:
■** Odo the fon of Gamelin holds of the "king Locumbe. Vitafis t)f him. Fitel held " it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for one hide. T^e arable is fix carucates.. " In demefne is one carucate, and two fervants, and eight villanes, and one cottage'*, *' with two ploughs and a half There are two acres of meadow, and twelve acres of " wood, and fifty acres of pafture. Jt was formerly and is now worth forty fhillings."''
In the time of Edward I. thefe parcels of land, being united, belonged to Sir Baldric -de Nonington, a perfon very eminent in his days, and one who was entrufted with many important publick offices. He was likewife pofTefTed of the manor of Lillifdon, and many other eftates in this county; and died 3 Edw. II. leaving Margery, the wife of Robert de Pudele, his daughter and heir. The fuccefTors of this Robert de Pudele afTumed the name ofLuccombe from this place of their habitation. 13 Edw. II. John
'^ Lib. Domefday,
de
■it
Carbampton.] L u c K H A M. 23
de Luccombe died feized of this manor, and in the inquifition taken after his dcccafc is certified to Iiave held it of the king in capite by the fervice of three knight's fees.' To him fucceeded Hugh de I.uccombe his fon and heir; but he held not this nrianor long, being dead i6 Edw. II."" and leaving one fon John of the age of one year to fucceed him in the cftates. To which John fucceeded another Hugh, and to him Jolin de Luccombe : which John is found to hold this manor of the King, as of the honour of Pinkney, by the fervice of four knight's fees. He died 8 Edw. III. leaving no illlie, •whereupon his fifter Elizabeth, the wife of Oliver de St. John, became heir to his pof- feflions. This Oliver was fucceeded by Henry St. John, who died feized of Luccombe 8 Henry IV. leaving Edward his fon and heir. After this family, the manor was poflefTed by that of Arundel. 22 Edw. IV. Joan the relidt of Nicholas Anindel, of Trcryfe, died feized thereof, together with the advowfon of the church, and the rruinor and advowfon of Selworthy, leaving Robert Arundel her coufin and heir of the age of fifteen years. The family of Arundel continued in poflelTion of this manor, and many other contiguous eftates, for many generations; but it is now the property of Frederick Thomas Wentworth, efq.
The manors of fVeJl-Luckham, JVichangcr, and Dover-Hay, pafled- nearly in the fame manner as that above defcribed. The laft-mentioned hamlet is thus furveyed in Domefday Book:
" Ahic holds of Roger [de Curcelle] Douri. Eddeve held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one virgate of land. The arable is one carucate. There are " two villanes, with one cottager. It is worth eight (hillings.""
The church of Luckham is a redlory in the deanery of Dunfter, and is appendant to the manor. The Rev. Mr. Gould is the prefent incumbent. In the taxation of 129a it is valued at twelve marks." The church of Dovery is likewife included in the feme taxation, being rated at twelve marks and a half^""
The church is dedicated to St. Mary. It is a handfome Gothick ftru<fhire, confiding of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile, covered with tile. At die weft end is an embatdejl tower, eighty-two feet high, with a clock and five bells.
Againft the north wall of the chancel is a ftone monument with this Infcription:
" Non procul hinc fub marmore congenito, fepultum jacet corpus Henrici Byam, ex antiquifTnna Byamorum familia briundi ; facro-'fandise Theologire Doftoris infignif- fimi, hujus Ecclefias ec proximo Selwordiianre Reftoris, Paftorilque vigilantiffimi ; Ecclefi* Cathedralis Exonienfis Canonici, Ecclefijeque Wellenfis Prebendarii; Sere- niflimas Majeftatis Caroli fecundi Regis capellani et concionatoris ordinarii, necnon ejufdem, (fteviente ilia tyrannide, et femper execranda fanaticorum rcbellione) terra marique comitis, exulifque fimul. Ex meliore luto ejus conftrudum corpus poll annos tandem oftoginta et novem, anno falutis millefimo fexcentefimo fexagefimo nono, morti non triumphanti quam invitanti placide ceffir. Sed extat adhuc viri hujus optimi cclebrius muko hoc, et ornatius monumentum, non marmore perituro, fed typis exaratum perpetuis, fcriptaj fcilicet ejus plane divina ; ubi animi vires, et fummum
' Efc. » Ibid. n Lib. Domefday. • Taxat. Spiritual. f Ibid.
ejus
24 L u c K H A M. [Cat&ton.
ejus mgenii acumen, infueberis fimul et miraberis. Lugubrem hunc lapidem honoris et reverends: indiceni pofuit fiJius ejus oblequentiflTunus Francifcus Byam; Inftauratum a Maria et Cecilia Wood, Anno Dom. 17 13."
Armsj Argent, three boars' lieads crafed vert.
This Henry Byam was the Ton of Laurence Byam of this parilh, and born here Aug. 31, 1580. He was fentto the univerfity of Oxford in 1597, and in 1612, com- mencing batchelor of divinity, returned to Somerfetfhire, and fucceeded his fatlier in this hving, and William Fleet in that of Selworthy. In 1636 he became prebendar)^ of Exeter. During the time of the Oliverian perturbations, he was a faithful adherent to the royal caufe, raifing both men and horfe for Charles II. and engaging his five fons (four of whom were captains) in the fervice of his Majefty. For this caufe he was feverely pointed at by the oppofite party, who imprifoned and otherwife perfecuted iiim and his family, of whom his wife and daughter pez-ilbcd at fea in their attempt to avoid the cruelties of the enemy by flight into Wales. After the reftoration he was made canon of Exeter, and prebendary of Wells, and was univerfally efteemed for his fanftity of life, his knowledge of Hterature, his loyalty to his fovereign, and his charity to his fellow- creatures. His fermons were publifhed by Hamnet Ward, M. D. vicar of SturmiiVer- Newton Caftle in Dorfetlhire, who alfo compofed the infcription on his tomb.
On the fame wall is a marble monument to the memory of the Rev. Thomas Stawell, reftor of this parifli forty-three years. He died Dec. 22, 1782, aged 84. Elizabeth his wife died Aug. 3, 178 1, aged 73.
In the fouth aile there is a mural monument of ftone to the memory of Richard Wroth, gent, who died Aug. 17, 1637. To Mary his wife, and Richard their fon.
There is likewife in this aile an ancient ftone tomb, but without any legible infcription.
An old crofs ftands in the church-yard, with a Ihaft remaining, and three rows of Heps.
L U X B O R O U G H
IS a fmall parilh four miles fouth from Dunfter, and about nineteen northweft from Taunton, containing fifty houfes; twenty- two of which are farms; the reft moftly mean mud-walled cottages, covered with thatch. Of thefe houfes twelve form a hamlet called PooLTOWN, one mile weftward from the church; the reft are difperfedin the vil- lage of Luxborough. The farms are fmall, and the lands about equally divided between tillage and pafture. A rivulet rifing near Treborough, joined by feveral others fpring- ing on the hills towards the weft, turn a grift-mill at Pooltown, and two more in this parifh. Thefe little rivers contain trout and eels; and one of them empties itfelf into the Dunfter riverj the other into the fea at Watchet.
Thi?
*
Catbampton,] L u X B O R o u o n. ts
This place is called in the Conqueror's furvey Lolochejherie, and belonged to William de Mohun:
" Rannulf holds Lolochesberie. Two thanes held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for one hide. The arable is four carucates. In dcnielhe is one carucate, " and three fervants, and fix villanes, and three cottagers, with three ploughsu There arc " one luindred acres of pafturc, and thirty acres of wood. It is worth twenty Ihillings.'"
" Nigel holds of William Lolochefberie. Brifmar held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is three carucates. There are two *' acres of meadow, and one hundred acres of pafture, and thirty acres of wood. It « was and is worth fifteen Ihillings.'"'
In the time of Henry II. William Fitz-Everard held a knight's fee in Luxborough' of Reginald de Mohun, lord of Dunfter-Caftle, to which caftle and honour this manor, and a great many others in tliis neighbourhood, were always fubfervient. The family of Everard flouriflied here for many ages, and gave name to die manor.' The laft of them in the reign of Charles I. fold it to Sir John Wyndham, knight, from whom it has defcended to the Earl of Egremont the prefent poflcflbr.
In the inquifition taken after the deceafe of John de Mohun, 14 Edward I. reciting
the knights fees holden by him in this county, the abbot of Clive and Maurice de Luxborough are certified to hold of the faid John one knight's fee in Lukfborough- Pyket; and Gilbert de la Putte the fame in Lukfborough-Kynci' both of them, being manors within this parifli fo denominated from their ancient owners.
Contiguous hereto is a manor called Langham, which is thus noticed in the old Norman record:
" Three foldiers hold of William [de Mohun] Langham. Three thanes held it in " the time of King Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is fix carucates. *' In demefne are three carucates, with one fervant, and five villanes, and eight cottagers, " with three ploughs and a half. There is a mill of three fliillings rent, and four acres " of meadow, and fixty acres of pafture, and thirty-fix acres of wood. It was and is *' worth thirty Ihillings.""
It afterwards was held by the families of Tort and Botville, from whom it derived the appellation of Langham-Tort, and Langliam-Botville. 31 Henry VI. Thomas Whalefijorough, coufin and heir of Simon Raleigh of Nettlecombe, is found to releafc to William Gafcoigne and others, all his right in Pole, Langham-Tort, and Langham- Botville in this parifli, and in Bardeflegh in the parifli of Carhampton.* But th« manor in the fame reign was in the pofleflion of the family of Dodifliam, and after- wards in that of Pym, and is now the property of Sir Philip Hales, bart. The Rev, Chancellor Nutcombe has alio a manor in Luxborough.
-o"
- 1 Lib. Domefilay. ' Lib. Feod.
' Leland tells us the Everards were fet up by the Mohuns, Itin. ii. loi. ' Inq. pod niort. 14 Edw. L « Lib. Domefday. » Rot. Clauf. 31 Hbb. VL
Vol.. II. E Th«
«r
«
26 LUXBOROUGH. [Catfjampton*
The living of Luxborough (which is a vicarage) has always been annexed to that of Cutcombe, and is rated with it in Pope Nicholas's taxation at ten marks/ Thefe livings were appropriated to the priory of Brewton. The Rev. Mr. Wilkins is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mar}', and confifts of one aile and chancel, having a tower at the weft end, with four bells.
This church has no monument j but on the floor are the following infcriptions:
** Here lyeth the body of Ann the wife of Robert Siderfin, of Croydon, efq; and daughter of Sir John Wittewronge, of Rothamfted in the county of Hertford, bart. who died May 5, 1708. In Jpe beata refurre5iionis." Arms: three cups, Siderfin ; impahng Bendy of fix, on a chief a bar indented, fVittewronge.
" Here lyeth the body of Thomas Darch, of this parifli, gent, who died Auguft 1 2, I734> aged 68. Sarah relid of the faid Thomas furvived her hufband nearly twenty- eight years : She was a father to the poor, and eminent for the pradlice of virtue and true religion. She died May 24, 1762, aged 74. The memory of the juft is blefled."
John How, anceftor to the Lords Chedworth, by his will bearing date March 26, 1529, bequeathed to the churchwardens of this parifh the fum of eighteen-pence a year for ever, to maintain a taper of wax to burn within this church during all manner of divine fei-vice. Likewife the fum of fix fliillings arid eight-pence to the church, to be expended at the difcretion of the parilh officers.''
The chriftenings in this parifti are on an average nine, the burials fix.
y Taxat. Spiritual. * Ex Regift. Thower. in Cur. praerog. Cantuar.
M I N E H E A D
(Anciently written Manheve, Munheved, and Mineheved)
IS a fea-port and borough town, fituated on the Biiftol Channel, twenty-five miles weft from Bridgwater, and fixty-five from the city of Bath. The town is divided into tliree parts, which form a triangle of about two thirds of a mile on each fide.
1 . "The Upper Town, compofed of very irregular ftreets and mean buildings, ftands on the eaftern flope of a vaft hil}, called Greenaleigh, or Minehead Point.
2. The Lower, or Middle Town, half a mile foutheaft from the beach. And,
3. ^ay Town by the water's edge, under the brow of the point or headland, which is about fcvcn hundred feet high, and finely cultivated on the land fide to the very top; but next tJie fca it is a fteep rugged cliff, intermixed with flirubs and bufiies; the rocks hanging a prodigious height above the tops of the houfes. To the weft of the point the lliore is elevated to an immenfe height j the .next hill being eight hundred and fix,
and
earbampton.j M I N E H E A D. 27
and the next (called Bratton-llill) eight hundred and fixty-four feet high, according to an accurate mcafurement which has been lately taken.
From two furveys made in the years 1705 and 1783, of the number of houfci and inhabitants within this town, it appears that a great dcclenfion has taken place.
1705. I78.'?. _
Houfej. Inhabitant!. Houfci. Inhabitanti.
Higher town - 124 638 98 38a
Lower town - 130 710 141 520
Quay town - 64 452 45 226
318 1800 284 1128
Decreale ot houfes 34, and of inhabitants 67 2 ; many of the houfes ftill remaining being now uninhabited, and falling faft to ruin.
It was given by King William the Conqueror to William dc Mohun, and as his property, is thus accounted for in the general furvey:
" William himfelf holds Maneheve. Algar held it in the time of King Edward, and ** gelded for five hides. The arable is twelve carucares. In demefne are three caru- *' cates, and twelve fervants, and twenty-feven villanes, and twenty-two cottagers, with ** ten ploughs. There is a mill of three (hillings rent, and twelve acres of meadow, and *' twenty-four acres of wood. Pafture four miles in length, and two miles in breadth, *' When he received it, it was worth one hundred (hillings, now fix pounds.'"
From this time the manor of Minehead pafled in the fame way as that of Dunfter, from the Mohuns to the Luttrellsj and is now the pofleflion of John Fownes Luttrell, efqi ofDunfter Caftle.
This town was incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, and endowed with, great privileges. It was formerly governed by a portreeve; but now by two conftables, chofen annually at the court-leet of the lord of the manor. The quay however being negledled, and the trade of the port declining, this place was finking very rapidly into decay, when the Luttrells obtained of King William III. a ftatute for recovering the port, and keeping it in proper repair, by which they were to have the profits thereof for thirty-fix years; which profits were efti mated at about two hundred pounds per annum. In confequencc of a fubfequent aft, confirming tiie former, a new head was built to the quay, and the pier put into repair. By which means the harbour was rendered fafc for (hips to enter and ride in."
About the beginning of the prefent century upwards of forty velTels were employed to Ireland. Many others were engaged in the Weft-India, Virginia, and the Straits trade; and four thoufand barrels of herrings were at that time (hipped here annually for the Mediterranean. But all this is now nearly at an end; the trade is loft; the herrings have left the coaft; and there are at prefent only five or fix vefTcU belonging to the port-
» Lib. Domefday. * On a bra& plate fixed up at the end of the old quay it thii infcription :— " Tkii Key wai firft founded and built by Geo. Luttrell, efq; in the year 161 6, and hath been kept in repair at the coftand charges of that family ; and alfo this new work is done by the command and cod of the Hon '■* Colonel Francis Luarcll, lord of the manor of Minehead, .^nno Domini 1682."
E z But
28
M I N E H E A D.
[Carfjampton,
But notwithftanding the prefent low ftate of commerce in this town, the following account of its former trade will evince it to have been very confiderable.
In the time of Charles II. and Queen Anne, feveral rates and fubfidies on the im- portation of bay and woollen yarn were made payable here, amounting in the whole to nine fhillings and fix-pence per hundred weightj which continued till the year 174OJ at which time, complaints having been made that large quantities of wool had been run from Ireland to France, as a means to prevent thofe meafures in future, all the faid duty was taken off. But notwithftanding this great encouragement to Irifh induftry, there was a few years after fo confiderable a furplus of raw wool in Ireland, that by taking a period of eight years (from 1745 to 1754) there was imported here 179,45 9^ ftones of wool, which left a local profit to this town of 4790I. viz.
Freight - - 29901
Hauledge from ftiips - 150 4790^. which with fundry other contingent advantages
Quay duties - - 400 > may on an average be fairly computed at 6isi^. per
Packers and porters - 450 I annum benefit to this town.
Agency and commiflion 8 00 J
The imports of wool from Ireland to this period are as under:
|
, |
Stone. |
Stone. |
||
|
In 1718 - |
- |
- |
- 31269 |
In 1734 - - - - 40522 |
|
1721 |
- |
- |
- J3388 |
1736 - - - - 12795 |
|
1722 |
- |
- |
- 64344 |
1740 - _ - - 6689 |
|
17J3 - |
- |
- |
- ^S99'^ |
The following is a juft account of the other imports here for two periods of four years each, with a calculation of the value of the feveral commodities :
Firft period, from 1758 to 1763.
Bay yarn - - - - -
Woollen yarn - - - -
Linen cloth - - - -
Lamb flcins - _ - - Slink ditco - - - - -
Kid Ikins - - - - -
Sheep and goat fkins - - Ox and cow hides - - Calf fkins - - ,- - - Butter ------
Tallow ------
Hogs lard - - - - -
Pork ------
Bacon ------
.Briftles drefled and undreffed
1759-
6s6
17 5409
o o
9
13
12 7 6
170
35 16
13
oo
o 5
17 14
1760. £. s.
106 9661
32 97 47 45 637 883
59
187
5
9
17 II
2
5 I
10
10
10
4
1761.
£■ 537 6
7656
s. d. 3 4
•10 I
927
660
58
21
o o
3 12
102 o o
1762.
£'
175
s. d, II 6
12654 13 6
288 Z''-9
15 5
fc
Carfjampton.]
M I N E H E A D.
29
Second period, from 1774 to 1779.
Bay yarn - - - - -
Woollen yarn - - - -
Linen cloth - _ - - Lamb fkins - - - -
Slink ditto - - - - -
Kid fkins - - - - -
Sheep and goat (kins - - Ox and cow hides - - - Calf fkins - - - - -
Butter ------
Tallow ------
Hog's laid - - - - -
Pork ------
Bacon ------
Briftles drefled and undrefTed
1775- C- s. d. 13317 3 o
11453 o 6
3278 o o 164 II o 158 o o
12 O O
1776. I- s. d. 13879 10 o
4427 18 6
177 18 o
205 7 6
9 12 6
6087 8 o
72 o o
264 14 6
800
1777.
|
I' |
s. d. |
|
7534 |
12 0 |
|
3^3'^ |
10 6 |
|
288 |
r 0 |
|
254 |
19 6 |
|
207 |
7 6 |
|
1735 |
0 0 |
|
50 |
0 0 |
|
270 |
I 0 |
|
107 |
6 0 |
|
II |
9 6 |
|
4 |
7 0 |
1778
O s. d.
1018 I o
43 4 o
4409 17 o
251 o o
287 7 6
87 16 9
1862 TO O
108 10 O
274 13 O
280
77 o o
The exports for the fame periods are not confiderable here, as the veflels on the Irifli trade moftly load coals to carry out; the moft confiderable article of export has been oak-bark, valued at 2026I. los. The other articles of export in the fame periods have been chiefly grain, amounting to 17431.158.
The bringing over live cattle from Ireland was once a confiderable trade here, before an aft pafled in the time of Charles II. to prohibit it, by which aft the cattle became forfeited, one half to the informer, the other to the parifh poor.
But fo little were the wants of the poor, or fo confiderable were the forfeitures, that in the year 1675 an accumulated furplus fum of about five hundred pounds was in hand, and then laid out in the purchafe of a freehold eftate in the parilh of Ottcry St. Maryjwhic h eftate ftill retains the name of the Cow-Lands.
At the entrance of the quay is a convenient cuftom-houfe, with a regular eftablifh- ment of officers.
The coaft is compofed of fand and round pebbles; in fome parts a little muddy, and abounding with the common Bladder-fucus, which is burnt into kelp for the Briftol market. The tide ebbs near a mile from the high-watermark; and great quantities of laver (fea-liverwort) is gathered from the rocks, and fent to Bath, Briftol, Exeter, and London.
On the rocks at low water is a fpecies of limpet, which contains a liquor very curious for marking fine linen ; the procefs is as follows : Lay the limpet with its mouth down- ward on fome folid body, and break it with a fmart ftroke of a hammer, but not fo as to bruil'e the fifti. When the ftiell is picked off, there will appear a white vein lying tranfverfely in a little furrow next the head of the filh, which may be taken out by a
bodkin
5» M I N E H E A D. [CatMmpton.
bodkin or any other pointed inftrument. The letters or figures made with this liquor on hnen will prcfently appear of a light green colour, and if placed in the fun will change into the following colours: if in winter about noon, if in fummer, an hour or two after fun-nfing and lo much before fetting; for in the heat of the day in fummer It will come on lo faft, that the fucceffion of each colour will fcarcely be diftinc^uilhed Next to the firft light green, it will appear of a deep green, and in a few minutes change to a full fea-green; after which, in a few minutes more, it will alter to a blue- then to a purplilh red: after which, lying an hour or two, (if the fun fhines) it will be of a deep purple red, beyond which the fun does no more. But this lafl beautiful colour, after wafting in fcalding water and foap, will, on being laid out to dry be a fair bright crimfon, which will abide all future wafhing. This fpecies of limpets are fome red, others white, black, yellow, brown, and fand-colourj and fome are flriped with white and brown parallel lines. ^
On the Ihore is found a ftony mafs variegated with dark brown, and aglofTv talk Between the town and Dunfter, on the beach, feveral hundred yards below htgh-water ' mark, the roots of many large trees are feen, four or five inches abovfe the furfaceof the iand They are beconie very foft, crumble eafily with the fingers, and are almofl: - blackj but the texture of the wood is very perfeft, and the interior parts retain their colour. But, what is very Angular, this old wood, when broken parallel to the grain contains a number of fhells and oak-leaves within its very fubftance. The fhells are of the dottle kind, and in a femi-foffil Itate; but no recent fhells of this kind are now found on this part of the coaft.
The fifh common to this coafl are, fhrimps, prawns, crabs, mufcles, foles, flounders, flcait cuttle and dog-fifh, ray, ftar-filh, porpufes, and fometimes fharks. The fhells found here are, common patelte [limpets] trochi, nerites, common whelks, and bucci- nums, with fome fmaU venus and tellini. The pebbles are moftly large, and wafhed up by ftrong tides from the Welfh coafV; great quantities of them are burned into iime, which IS the principal manure ufed by the farmers in this neighbourhood.
w^^ ""^"^"-''^15 ^'^ °" Wednefdays, and a'chartered fair for pedlary, &c. on the Wednefday in Whitfun-week. A fmall woollen manufafture is flill carried on here. The arms of the town were a fhip under fail, and a wool-pack, emblematical of its pnftine trade.
The country on the land fide of this town is very piflurefque and beautiful, being a continued fucceffion of lofty hills and rich vales, finely contrafted. A rtream rifing on Bratton-hill runs through the lower town, and turns one fulling, and two grift mills. This ftream contains fine trout. The landholders have a right of commonage on the hills, which abound with a very hard liver-coloured ftone, with red and white veins, and ftrongly impregnated with iron. The climate is mild, and by the fea-breezes the air js rendered fo falubnous, that vegetation is earlier by near a month than in the inland parts of the county. Myrtles thrive, though expofed all winter in the open air.
J. p'T''"?^'''-^ ?^'' market-place is an alms-houfe, containing eleven dwellings, built *y Robert Quirck. On a brafs plate over the door is this infcription:
« Robert
Catfjampton.] minehead. 31
" Robert Quirck, fonne of James Quirck, built this houfe Anno 1630, and doth give it to die ufe of the poore of this parifli for ever. And for better maintenance I do g've my two inner cellers at the inner end of the key; and curfed be that man that fhall convert it to any other ufe than to the ufe of the pooje, 1630." Below is a fhip en- graved, and underneath,
" God's Providence
" Is my Inheritance. R. Q/'
The following is an extraft from Robert Quirck's will, dated July 4, 1648 :
" And whereas it hath pleafed God that I have built an alms-houfe in the town of " Minehead aforefaid, containing feveral dwelling-houfes, I do give the faid houfes " unto the poor of the town of Minehead for ever; but the ordering of the faid houfes " I leave to my fon Robert Quirck, and to the name of the Quirckes for ever; and " for want of the name of the Quirckes, then to the overfeers of th. poor of the parilh *' of Minehead for ever.
*' Item, I give unto my faid alms-houfes two hundred pounds, to be bellowed in *« land for the better relief and reparation of them.
** Item, I do give unto my faid alms-houfes my two inner cellars at the key of " Minehead aforefaid, to be let out for rent to him that will give moft for them; and " the cellars and alms-houfes being repaired, my will is, that the money which remaineth *' fhall be equally divided among the poor people dwelling in the faid alms-houfes ** twice a year."
The Hon. Col. Alexander Luttrell, who died Sept. 22, 171 1, gave to the poor of this parifh fifty pounds; the intereft thereof to be diftributed yearly to poor perfons not receiving alms of the parifh.
Joan the wife of the Rev. Mr. Moggridge, vicar of this church, gave to eight poor widows, who receive no alms, the yearly intereft of 20I. to be diftributed at Chriftmafs.
Mr. George Sullivan, of Minehead, maltfter, who died Nov. 3, 1755, gave dnc hundred pounds, the intereft thereof to be paid to Joan Oxmead and Sarali Leigh, widows, during their lives, and after their deaths, to fixteen aged weak people of this parifh, not receiving alms, on the firft of January in every year for ever.
There are three hamlets in this parifh of the names of Bratton, Periton, and HiNDON. The firft of thefe is thus defcribed in the book called Domefday-book :
" Roger holds of William [de Mohun] Bratone. Aluric held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for three virgates of land. The arable is four canicates. "In demefne are two carucates, with one fervant, and two villanes, and four cottagers, " with two ploughs. There are two acres of meadow, and one hundred acres of " pafture. It was formerly worth five fhillings; now thirty fliillings.
This place gave name to a fiimily fo early as the reign of Henr>' II. when Robert de Brattone held one knight's fee here of William de Mohun," and bore on his feal a chief
" Lib. nig. Scac. i. 92. indented
33 M I N E H E A D. [Cacljampton.
indented thi*cf mullets pierced.' His lucceflbr was Henry de Brafton or Bratton, an *nninent lawyer and juftice itinerant in the time of Hen. III. who lies buried in the parifh. church here, between the chancel and north aile, under an arch embellifhed with Gothick ornaments, and his efHgy vefted in long robes. His fucceflbrs were Thomas and Peter de Bratton, wliich laft died i6 Ric. II. then feized of the manor of Bratton, a third part of the manor of Langridgej lands in Bratton, Yarnor, Ven, Periton, and Dunfter; and was fucceeded by Thomas de Bratton his fon and heir, at the time of his father's deceafe of the age of fifteen years.' At what time this Thomas died is not clear ; but a fon of his own name is certified to have died 38 Henry VI. feized of the manor of Biddlefcombe, and the manor of Bratton, which he held of James Luttrell, efq; and lands and tenements in Wichangre in the parifli of Luccombe, and in Wydon, AUerford, and Periton, in the parifh of Minehead.^ To him fucceeded John de Bratton, whofe fon and heir was named Simon, and left iflue John de Bratton, who died 6 Edw. IV. leaving John his fon and heir of the age of four years. After this die name became cxtinft, and the manor pafled through a variety of proprietors to Peter Lord King.
The living of Minehead is vicarial, lies in the deanery of Dunfter, and was rated in 1292 at ten marks,"* The lord of the manor is patron; and the prefent incumbent the Rev. Alexander Luttrell. It was appropriated to the priory of Brewton.
The church ftands in the upper town, and is a large handfome ftrufture, one hun- dred and fixteen feet long, and forty-two feet wide, confifting of a nave, chancel, north aile, and veftry room. A well-built embatded tower at the weft end, ninety feet in height, contains a clock, chimes, and five bells.
Within an iron railing at the eaft end of the north aile is an elegant ftatue of Queen Anne, in white alabafter, on a pedeftal four feet high, holding the globe and fcepter. Thereon is this infcription: — " This ftatue was giveii by Sir Jacob Banks,' and erefted in 1 7 1 9. H« reprefented this borough in parliament fixteen years, and during this time was a benefadlor to it on all occafions."
On a black frame in the aile is the following memorial:
" Near this place lie the bodies of five children of the late Rev. Mr. William Moggridge, who was vicar of Minehead fifty-three years, and reftor of Porlock twenty- nine years. He died March 5, 1763, in the eighty-fecond year of his age, and was buried in Porlock chancel."
On a flat ftone in the chancel floor,
" Hererefteth the body of James Quircke, mariner, who deceafed Feb. 20, 16 13, ivho purchafed the fee farme of the moytee of this redori."
" Here refteth the bodye of Robert Quirck, mariner, the fone of James Quirck; he dyed the i8th of March. 1649."
" Here lyeth tke body of Robert Quirck, fon of John Quirck of Hindon, who departed this life the ift of April, 17 12, aged 19 years."
« Seals from old Deeds. ' Efc. s Ibid.
I" Taxat. fpirituaL ■ Of him fee Hutchini's Dorfetfhire, vcl. ii. p. 4-5.
Here
Carbampton.] MINEHEAD.
33
On a brafs plate : " Here lyeth the body of John Quirck, of Hindbn, who de- parted this life Aug. lo, 1697, aged 44. Alfo of John Quirck his fon, who departed this life Dec. 13, 1730, aged 32."
On another brafs plate: " Here lyeth the body of James Quirck, of this parifli,
mariner, who departed this life April 4, 171 1, aged 53 years. Here alfo lyeth the
body of Izott his wife, who departed this Kfe Nov. 7, 1724, aged 58."
In the middle of the church-yard is an old ftone crofs nearly entire, with four rows of fteps.
A
O A R E,
Parifh fituated at the fartheft extremity of the county, weftward, being twelve miles weft from Minehead, and two from the Briftol Channel.
The country here is very wild and romantick, and the parifli lies in a profound vale, environed with lofty hills. The parifli is fmall, the whole being rated at only two hundred pounds fer annum. The lands are moftly flieep-walks ; but in the vallies and lower flopes there is a little arable, and fome fine meads, the latter worth nearly forty ftiillings an acre. Several fprings riling in the hills to the eaft and fouth form a fmall ftream, which runs through the vale by the church, over a rocky channel, and dif- charges itfelf into the fea at Molefliead-bridge to the weft of Foreland-Point.
At the time of the Conqueft the manor of Oure, then called ArCy belonged to Ralph de Pomerai, and is thus furveyed :
" Ralph himfelf holds Are. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded ** for one hide. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne are two carucates, and four " fervants, and feven villanes, and five cottagers, with four ploughs. There are two *' acres of meadow, and fifteen acres of wood. Paflaire two miles in length, and one in *' breadth. It is worth thirty fliillings. This manor pays by cuftom twelve ftieep a " year to Carentone, a manor of the King. Ralph retains this cuftom.""
This Ralph de Pomerai was one of the Conqueror's attendants, and was rewarded for his fervices with many manors, particularly in the county of Devon, where his pofterity were feated, at a place called from them Bury-Pomerai, and where they con- tinued till the time of Edward VI. when Sir Thomas Pomerai, knt. fold it to Edward Seymour Duke of Somerfet.' They had parted with this manor long before, and it. feems to have been the inheritance of a family of its name. John de Auro [or Ore] occurs witnefs to a charter of the date of 1256, and William de Aure to another deed 8 Edw. 11."" A feudary rent or acknowledgment is paid hence to Dunfter Caftle.
'' Lib. Doraefday. l Sir W. Pole's Survey of Devon, MSi " Cart. Antiq,
Vol. II. F 36 Henry
34
0 A R ]K. [Car&tom
36 Henry VIJI. lands here were granted to Francis Byann." At prefent the manor is divided between Mr. Nicholas Snow, aixi the reprefentatives of the late John Short, efq.
The living is a rectory in the deanery of Dunfter, and in the gift of Mr. Nicholas Snow aforefaid. The Rev. Mr. Clare is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall building of one pace^ having a tower with one bell.
On the north wall of the nave is a fmall mural monument, infcribed to the memory iCrffeveral of the family of Spurrier, who were formerly patrons of the benefice.
n MS. Sydenham.
P O R L O C K
IS a fmall fea-port town fix miles weft from Minehead, and thirty-three weft from Bridgwaterj bounded on the north and north^weft by the Channel, on the eaft by Selworthy and Luccombe, on the fouth by Stoke-Pero, and on the weft by Culbone. A narrow flip of the parilh of Luccombe runs acrofs that of Porlock quite down to the fea, dividing it in twoj fo that the inhabitants of the eaft part cannot go to their own church without crofting the parifti of Luccombe.
This whole parifti, including hamlets, contains about one hundred and ten houfes, and nearly fix hundred inhabitants. Moft of the houfes form two mean ftraggUng ftreets near the church, and are chiefly built of rough ftone, or mud walls, two ftories high, and thatched, with the backs of the chimnies projefting from the fronts into the ftreets.
The fituation of the town is finely romantick, being nearly furrounded on all fides, except toward the fea, by fteep and lofty hills, interfered by deep vales and holloAv glens. Some of the hills are beautifully wooded, and contain numbers of wild deer. The vaUies between thefe hills are very deep and pidlurefquej the fides being fteep, feared with wild rocks, and patched with woods and foreft flirubs. Some of the vallies, however, are well cultivated, and ftudded with villages, or fingle farms and cottages, although agriculture here -is very imperfedly underftood. Moft of the roads and fields are fo fteep, that no carriages of any kind can be ufed; all the crops are therefore carried in with crooks on horfes, and the manure in wooden pots called doflTels. Many of the poor are employed in fpinning yarn for the Dunfter manufaftory.
A market by royal licence was formerly held here every Thurfdayj but there are now only three markets in a year; one at Michaelmas, which is the great market, and two in the Ipring, all for catde. In the ftreet is an ancient market crofs.
At the weft corner of the bay, which forms a concave of near three miles from point to point, the quay is fituated, and there is a fmall pier; three or four veflTels belong to
the
Carbampton.] P o R L o c K. ^5
the harbour, and are ufually employed in fetching coals and lime from Wales. In die centre of the bay is a decoy for catching wild fowl.'
The eaftern comer prefents a grand fcene of craggy and romantick rocks, called Hardijione, Hartland, or Boffmgton-Point. Part of thefe rocks are infulated at high water, and the reft rife in the boldeft manner from one liundred to more than three hundred feet high. In fpring tides, when the wind fets in ftrong from the weft, the fury of the fea is here lb violent, that it has wafhed vaft caverns in the Iblid rock, fome of which are eighty ket within the rock, fixty wide, and near one hundred high. On the coming in of the tide in a ftorm, the echoes, and the dalhing of the waves in thefe caverns, are aftonifhingly tremendous. At low water the fliore exhibits a ftriking fcene of rocky fragments, which have from time to time been waftied from the cliffs above, and lie widely fcattered, or piled on each other, in wild magnificence. The cliffs oa the eaft fide of this point hang over the beach with awful fublimity and grandeur. Thefe rocks are interfperfed with metallic veins, fpar, cryftals like the Cornifh, cop- peras, and a fmall quantity of filver ore.
In many of the roads through this parifh, pyrites are frequently found in large lumps; the rocks are impregnated with iron orej and there is alfo fome copper, but not in a fufficient quantity for working.
The channel is here about nine leagues over, and the greater part of South-Wales forms a beautiful rifing landfcape beyond it.
The Saxons gave this place the expreffive title of Pojir-Locan, which fignifies an inclofed bay or ftation for Ihipsj and under this name it twice occurs in the annals of that warlike people.
In the year 918, thofe turbulent vifitors of England, the Danes, having, under the command of the Earls Ohtor and Rboald, entered the Severn, and fpfcad ruin and de- vaftation along the oppofite coafts of Wales, directed their courfe to Somerfetfliire, and landed privately in the night at Porlock, for the fake of plunder; but the inhabitants, being timely alarmed, gave them fo warm a reception, that the greater part were cut to pieces; and thofe few who cfcaped alive, were obliged to retire with great precipi- Ution to their ftiips.''
About this time Porlock had an extenfive chace,' and a palace of one of the Saxon kings. The latter, in all probability, was deftroyed with the town jiot many years after, on the following memorable occafion: — Harold, the fon of the banifhed Earl of Kent,'' partaking of his father's loffes and dilgrace, had repaired to Ireland (which it
* Leknd calls Porlogh-Bay a meatly good rode for (hippes. Itin. vol. ii. p. 102.
* Chron. Sax. An. Dccccxvni.
' In the Regifter of Bifhop Oliver King, in the archives at Wells, there is a curious entry of a commiffion irtueJ 10 enquire into fadls, and to examine witnedcs, concerning a mutter of one John Strange, a pariftiioner of Porlock, who bein:; employed in hewing wood here^Aug. 23, 1499, upon cutting a piece of bread for his ufunlmeal. obferved blood to flow out of the incifion. Rig. King,fol. 156.— —The memorial does not iif that he cut his little finger. <i See the Englifh hiftorians.
F a fcems
36 PORLOCK. [Cac&ton.
reems ba4 long been the receptacle of fugitives) in order to ftrengthen his party, an<i to raife troops, with a view of making a piratical defcent upon the Englifh coafts. Accordingly, about Midfummer 1052, fettingfail from that country with nine flrong Jhips, replete with men and arms fuitable to his enterprize, he crofled the channel, and entered the bay of Porlock.' The place, it is to be fuppofed, had, fince the attempt of the Danes, been greatly ttrengthened both with regard to buildings and population; and the natives, being likewife apprized of the approach of an enemy, were on this junfture aflembled in valt multitudes upon the coaft, refolved to defend it. Harold, however, fecured his landing, and marched his men up into the country, where he feized every tiling that was valuable, and after flaughtering numbers of the natives, «nd fctting fire to the town, returned to his fhips with immenfe booty/
A fmall unfinilhed encampment of an oval form, in a wood one mile and a half fouth-weft from the church, is fuppofed to have been thrown up on this occafion. Tlie entrance to it is on the fouth fide, and the upper trenches are very deep. Swords, and Other inftruments of war, have been found within its area.'
The inhabitants prefervt the memory of the above occurrences to this day; and no longer ago than the beginning of this century, they could point out the burnt foundation ftones of fome of the ancient houfes,^ and the veftigcs of what had once been, in the vulgar opinion, an extenfive and magnificent city.
At this time, the whole manor of Porlock, with many of the adjacent lands, was in the polTeflion of Algar,"" the eldeft fon of Leofric Earl of Mercia, who was very inftru- mental in oppofing and thwarting the ambitious defigns of Godwin the father of Harold. But at the acceflion of William Duke of Normandy to the throne of Eng- land, by the decifive battle of Haftings, in which Harold was flain, this manor was veiled in Baldwin de Execeftre, one of the Conqueror's faithful adherents and attendants. William's own furvey gives us the following defcription of the place, and its poflelTorsi'
<* The fame (tliat is, Drogo or Drew) holds of Baldwin Portloc. Algar held ic ** in the time of King Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is twelve ** carucates. There are fix bondmen, three cottagers, and fix fervants. There are " three hundred acres of wood, and five hundred acres of pafture. It was worth four *' pounds when he received it, now only twenty-five Ihillings."
This Baldwin's name was Redvers; but in regard to his refidence in the city of Exeter, wherein he was pofl^efifed of nineteen dwellings, and the cuftody of the caftle, he was fometimes called Baldwims de Execeftre.
His fucceflbrs the Earls of Devon enjoyed this efl:ate; but in procefs of time enfeoffed the manor'' on the family of Roges or Fitz-Roges, of which name were many in this county and that of Devon. In the time of Henry II. Anthony de Porloc, a name alTumed from this place, held half a knight's fee in Porlock of Robert Fitz-Roges.'
• Chron. Sax. An. mlii. ^ Sim. Dunelm. A.D. mlii.
« Difcourfe of Antiquities near Conquejl, at the end of Peter Langtoft's Chronicle, p. 466.
'" Lib. Domefday. 'Ibid. i' Cart. Antiq. ' Lib. Nig. j 20.
Iiv
Carljampton,]
P O R L O C K.
37
In which family ofRoges the manor and advowfon of the church continued for man/' generations, till the beginning of the reign of Edward III." i Ric. I. Simon Fitz- Roges, lord of this manor, paid a fine of one hundred fhUlings for impleading his right of half a knight's fee in Porlock againft Richard de Raleigh." Tlus half knight's fee was ever after held of the caftle of Oakhampton, the barony of the Earls of Devon.* A. D. 1 310, 13 cal. Jan. George Roges was prefented to the church of Porlock by Henry Roges his kinfman.'' Simon Roges de Porlock was dead before 13 17, for in that year Richard de Birlaunde was collated to tlie church here by the prefcntation of Herbert de Marifco, who had married Ifabel the relidt of Simon Roges, lord of this manor."" After which it pafled to Stokkcy, and after fome dcfcents to Sir Nigele or Neale de Loring, knight of the garter,' who left it with his other lands to his two daughters, Ifabel the wife of Robert Lord Harington, and Margery, firft mar- ried to Thomas Peyner, and fecondly to Thomas Poynings, knt.' This manor came to Robert Lord Harington, and thence to William Bonville Lord Harington, and by Cecily his daughter to Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk; by whofe attainder it came to the crown, and was granted to the family of Rogers of Cannington. Edward Rogers died feized of it in 1627. Sir Francis Rogers died 15 Charles I. and was fucceeded by Hugh Rogers his fon and heir, whofe marriage and wardfhip were granted to Sir John Hele, and Thomas Smith, efq.' It afterwards came to the Blathwaites, and is now poffefled by William Blathwaite, of Dirham in the county of Glocefter, efq.
The manor-houfe hath the name of Worthy, and is at prcfent inhabited by a farmer. It ftands near the wier, about two miles from Porlock; and at a little diftance from it is a fmall cottage called the Oratory, which tradition fays was formerly a cell to Barlinch priory in this county.
The manor of Sparks-Hat, which formerly was a member of the great manor of Porlock, belongs to Lord King, baron of Ockham in the county of Surry.
Within this parilh are four hamlets, viz.
1. BossiNGTON, which ftands one mile north-eaft from Porlock, and contains
twenty-four houfes.
2. West-Porlock, one mile weft, containing fourteen houfes.
3. PoRLOCK-wiER, or QUAY, near two m.iles weft, which has twenty houfes.
4. Yarnor, on the hills, two miles fouth-wcft from Porlock, which contains
four houfes.
The firft of thefe hamlets, viz. Bofllngton, was, before die Conqueft, part of the pofiefllons of Athelney-abbey, which was founded in the year 888 by Alfred the pious king of England. We read the following account of it in Domefday:
" Radulfus de Limefi holds Bosintvne. The church of Adelingi held it in the " time of King Edward the ConfefTor, and gelded for one hide. It was appropriated
* Sir Wm. Pole. » Rot. Pip. Devon. » Ex Autog. MSS. p E.xcerpt. e Regift. WcUen,
■J Ibid. ' From ancicat evidences. ' Sir Wm. Pole. ' Ex Autog.
<'tO
38 porLock. [Carfjampton*
*' to the table of the monks. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one *• carucate, with one fervantj and there are five villanes, and two cottagers, with one " plough. Pafture one mile in length, and half a mile in breadth. It was, and is " now, worth twenty fhillings. When the King gave his land to Radulphus, the " church was feized of this manor,""
This manor was held of the abbey of Athelney above-mentioned by the fervice'of a whole knight's fee, and a rent of thirty {hillings. In the time of Henry II. Talbot de Hethfield agreed under his feal to hold the fapae of Benedifb the abbot and his fuccef- fors ; and, befides the above acknowledgment, to affift the abbots againft their enemies, under pain of excommunication." His defcendants took the name of Talbot.
In the time of Edw. I. this manor was held by Henry de Glaften,'^ and in that of Edw. III. John Whyton poflefied it, and died the latter end of that reign, leaving two daughters by Joanna his wife, viz. Elizabeth the eldeft, who married Walter Paunsfort, and was mother of Walter, who did his homage for half the manor to John Bigge, abbot of Athelney, 3 Henry VI. and fold his right to John Sydenham, fon of Henry, who married Margaret the other daughter j' and 30 Henry VI. on an award made by arbitration of Alexander Hody, then fteward to the abbey, John Sydenham acknow- ledges the rent and i'ervices above recited for the whole manor, whereof he was pof- fclTed of half by purchafe from Walter Paunsfort.^ Sir Thomas Acland, bart. is the prefent owner.
The living is a re<51:ory, in the deanery of Dunfter, and in the gift of the crown, worth 140I. a year. The Rev. George Pollen is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Dubritius, is an ancient Gothick ftrufture, ninety-fix feet in length, and thirty-four in breadth, confifting of a nave, fourh aile, chancel, veftry-room, and porch, all covered with flate. At the weft end is a low tower, with the remains of a fpire Ihingled, the yipper part having been blown down in a ftorm the end of the laft century. The tower, with the fpire, is feventy feet high, and contains a clock and five beUs.
In the chancel, on a large tomb under a grand arched canopy fupported by four ftone columns, lie the effigies of a Knight Templar and his lady. He is in compleat armour, with a military belt and fword; fhe is in a clofe bodice, with a loofe robe over it, and a kind of mitred head-drefs: at his feet is a lion, and another under his head; at her feet, fome other animal much mutilated.
Againft the north wall of the chancel is another very ancient tomb; but there is no infcription or arms on either. They, however, moft probably belonged to Ibme of the Rogers family.
On the fouth wall of the chancel is a pompous mural monument of ftone and black marble, much ornamented with painting, gilding, carved foliage, and fcrolls. In the front, two fmall detached columns of black marble, with Corinthian capitals gilt,
■' Lib. Domefday, - " Regift, Abbat. de Athelney, MS. ^ Efc. »• Regilt, ut fupra.
fupport
CarfjamptonO p o R L o c K.
59
fupport a cornice, at each corner of which is a flaaiingTirri. On the centci of Uiis cornice rifes an arched pediment, on which recline two cherubs with wings expand€4 and gilt. Their left hands fupport a civick crown, and their right the jlxum; /able, fix martlets rtr^^^K/. On the tablet is the following infcription:
" Subtus inhunnatur Nathaniel Anindel, s. t. b. parocliiae de Exford reflor, et vcrj pafiior; cujus erga Deum fincera pietas, erga ecclefiam intrepidus zeliis, erga uxorein amof vix imitabilis, erga pauperes fine oftentatione liberalitas, erga univerfos fine adulatione urbanitas: — heu quando uUum invenient parem! Plura vctat magnarum virtutum comes verecundia. Hoc igitur omnia breve claudat encomium; vivus amicos habuit homines, moriens confcientiam, mortuus Deum. Ob. 6 id. Feb. falutis hu- manas 1705, astatis fuse 70. Jana defunfti relida charifllma, necnon reverendi viri Gulielmi Mitcliell, hujus ecclefiam reftoris, fiha natu maxima, hoc fupremum pofuit devinftiflimi amoris monumentum."
Underneath is this coat; fable, five martlets argent, impaling ^«iJ?j, a chevron, between three fwans proper: for Mitchell.
On the fame fide of the chancel is a plain mural monument of white marble, tlius infcribed:
*' Near this place lies interred the Rev. Mr. William Moggiidge, who was reftor of this place 29 years, and vicar of Minehead 53; who died March 5, 1763, aged 82.
" Alfo Frances his wife, who died Feb. 6, 1765, aged 6^. And alfo Joan their daughter, who died July 7, 1737, aged 6 years."
Under an arch in the fouth wall of the aile, is the mutilated effigy of a knight, having a fliield on his left arm, a fword on his left fide in a military belt, and his right hand on the handle, in the ad: of drawing it.
Againfl: one of the pillars in the nave, is the following table of benefaftions. On the top are the arms of Rogers, viz. argent, a chevron, between three bucks tn^^^nt fable.
" Henry Rogers, of Cannington, efq; fome time lord of this manor, by his laft will *' gave the fum of 2350I. for the purchafing of lands, the clear rents and profits thereof *' to be employed towards the maintenance of twenty poor people; eight of the faid *' poor to live within the manor of Porlock, and to have their proportions; which lands ** have been fince purchafed in the names of Sir Edward Windham, bart. Sir Francis " Warre, bart. and others, to the number of twelve truftees; and when any five of them " fhall die, the furvivors are, within fix months after, to cleft fo many more fit and " able perfons to manage the truft. The vicar of Cannington for the time being is " appointed to be one, according to a deed of truft, one copy whereof remains in our " veftry. William Rt'scoNW, Steward."
There is alfo another charity of 25I. a year, being the rent of an eftate in Winsford parifb, formerly left by Mrs. Rogers.
In the year 1426, Sir William Harington, knt. founded a chantiy in the parifh church, for one prieft to celebrate divine fcrvice daily, for the health of his own foul, and the fouls of his anceftors, which chantry he endowed with lands in Ugborougli in
Devonlhire;
40 P O R L O c K. [Cattjampton*
Pevonflilrej as alfo with divers mefluages in the town of Porlock.* The houfe wherein the prieft refided is Handing near the church, and is ftill called the chantry-houfe.
John Bridgwater y or de Bridgwater y defcended from an ancient fannily of the fame name in this county, was redor of Porlock in 1565. He held divers other preferments in this neighbourhood, as well as the reftory of Lincpln-coUege in Oxford, to which he was appointed in 1563, but refigned it in 1574. He left Oxford the fame year; and having vifited feveral foreign countries, fettled at Triers in Germany, where he wrote many books, and was held in general eftimation as a fenfible ecclefiaftick. Among other things he publiflied, " Concertatio Ecclejia Catholica in Anglia adverfus Calvino- " Papijlas i^ Pur it anas, Juh Elizabetha Regina, quorundam hominum doSfrind et fanStitate " illnjirium renovata &' raegnita." Aug. Trev. 1594. 8vo.
On a view of the parifli regifter, the annual average number of births is found to be eighteen, and of burials fourteen.
» Pat. 5 Hen. VI.
SELWORTHY.
WESTWARD from Minehead, and fituated on the fouthern flope of lofty hills adjoining to the fea coaft, Hands Selworthy, a fmall parifh, which in the Conqueror's time belonged to Ralph de Limefi, who was alfo pofTefTed of Luccombe and other manors in this county: the record fays,
" Ralph himfelf holds Seleurde. Queen Eddida held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are *' two carucates, and two fervants, and feven villanes, and five cottagers, with three " ploughs. There is a mill of twenty pence rent, and five acres of meadow, and fixty " acres of pafture, and forty acres of wood. It was worth twenty fliillings, now twenty- « five fiiillings.'"
This Ralph dc Limefi was fiicceeded by Alan his ion and heir, after whom came Gerard, John, and Hugh, all of them principally feated in the county of Warwick. But this manor was afterwards pofieffed by the houfe of Luccombe, and paflTed nearly in the fame manner as the eftate from which they derived their name, having gone through the families of Luccombe, St. John, and Arundel, and is now the pofleffion of Frederick Thomas Wentworth, efq.
The viljs in this parilh are,
I. HoLNicoT, which in the Conqueror's time belonged to Roger de Curcelle, and to two Nuns, as we are informed in the record of that reign:
» Lib. Domefday. .
" William
Cai-Ijampton.] s E L vv o ii T li Y. 4,
" William holds of Roger Hunecote. Aliiric and Bridluin held it in the time of ^' King Edwardj and gelded for half a hide, and half a virgate of land. The arable is " two carucates and a half. There are four villanes, with one cottager, having two " ploughs. There are fixteen acres of pafture. It is worth tweRty-two fhillings."
" Two Nuns hold of the King in alms two virgates and a half of land in Honecotc, " The arable is two carucates. There is one plough and five acres of meadow. It is " worth five fhillings.'"
William de Holne held this vill in the time of Edw. I. and in that fame reign Walter Barun is certified to hold certain lands and tenements herein, confiding of one mefluage, ten acres of arable, and two acres of meadowj of the King in capite, by the fervice of hanging on a certain forked piece of wood the red deer that died of the murrain in the foreft of Exmoor, and alfo of lodging and entertaining fuch poor decrepit perfons as came to him, at his own expence, for the fouls of the anceftors of King Edw. I.*
This village is fituated in the road leading from MLnehead to Porlock, foutlxward from the church, and confifts of twelve houfes. The noble old manfion of Sir Thomas Acland here was accidentally deftroyed by fire in the year 1779. Sir Thomas Dyke Aclandj bart. is the prefent lord of Holnicot.
a. Allertord, one mile weftward, containing fifteen houfes. This place was the land of Ralpli de Limefi above-mentioned, and is thus furveyed:
" Ralph himfelf holds Alresford. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for one hide. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are two carucates, *' and two fervants, and fix villanes, and two cottagers, with one plough. There is a *' mill of fifteen-pence rent, and fix acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pafture, and " one acre of wood. It was worth fifteen Ihillings, now twenty Ihillings.
" This manor pays a cuftomary rent of twelve fheep per annum to Carentone the " King's manor. Ralph ftill keeps up this cuftom.'"
This manor was afterwards held of the lords of Dunfter. 4 Edw. III. John de Raleigh held it of John de Mohun.' i Eliz. lands were held here by John Arundel ofTrerice*
3. TiviNGTON, or Blackford, one mile eaft, having nine houfes. This manof was the property of the late Charles Whitworth.
4. Knoll, adjoining to Wotton-Courtney, near two miles eaftward, in which ard four houfes.
5. West-Lynch, near Bofllngton, four houfes.
6. Brandy-Street, betwixt Holnicot and Allerford, five houfes.
The reft of the houfeS ftand near the church, the whole number being feventy, and of . inhabitants about three hundred and fixty.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Dunfter, valued in 1 292 at fix marks and a half. The abbot of Athelney had a penfion out of it of three marks, given to the
" Lib. Domefday. « Ibid. <" Efc. 35 Edw. I. ' Lib. Domefday. ' Lib, Fcod. Vol. II. G abbey
42 SELWORTHY. [Catbamptott.
abbey by Richard de Lvickham, out of his demefhe lands in this parifli, about A. D. 1 200.^ Frederick Thomas Wentworth, efq; is the patron; and the Rev. Mr. Williams the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to All-Saints, is fituated very pleafantly on rifing ground open to the fouth; and confifts of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, tiled. An embattled tower, 45 feet high at the weft end, contains a clock and fix bells.
In the foudi aile is an elegant mural monument of white and grey marble, the in- fcription whereof is now quite effaced, but which bears the following arms, viz. Gules, a chevron argent, between three etoiles or: an inefcutcheon of pretence, on a chevron between three horfes paflant argent, three orlts fable.
Againft the fame wall is another monument of white and grey marble, with this in- fcription: — " Sacred to the memory of Charles Staynings, efq; of Holnicot in this parilh, the laft of that ancient family, and of Sufannah his wife, daughter to Sir Nicholas Martyn, late of Oxton in the county of Devon, knt. She departed this life the 8th of May 1 6 8 5 J he Dec. 4, 1 700, aged 78." Arms, argent^ a bat difplayed/a^/i?, Staynings : impaling, argent, two bars gules, Martyn.
On a brals plate in the chancel floor is a long epitaph in Latin and Englifh verle to the memory of William Fleet, paftor of this parifh 48 years, who died Jan. 5, 1617.
Another brals plate to Robert Siderfin, gent, who died Jan. 20, 17 14, aged 25; and to Walter Siderfin, gent, who died March 21, 173 1, aged 40.
On two brafs plates on the floor of the fouth aile: — " Heere lyeth the body of Anthony Steynings, the fonne of Charles Steynings, of Holnecot, efq; who died May 19, 1635. — Here lyeth the body of Cecill Staynings, Ibme tyme the wife of Charles Staynings, of Holnecot, efq; by whom he had feven fonnes and fixe daughters. She died June 21, 1646, aged 47."
In the church-yard is an old ftone crols.
The chrlftenings in this parilh are twelve; the burials ten.
s Taxat. Spiritual.
STOKE-PERO.
THIS parifli, fo denominated from its ancient lords, is fituated four miles fouth from Porlock, and eight fouthweft from Minehead, in one of thofe deep vallies which wind between the hills. The number of houfes is eighteen, and of inhabitants about one hundred. Fourteen of the houfes, which are moftly mean thatched cottages, ftand In the valley near the church; the other four compofe a hamlet called Wilmotsham.
A part
Catbampton.] stoke-pero.
43
A part of Dunkeiy-hill is within the confines of this parifli, and to the weft and fouth is the long wild tradt of Exmoor. The lands, except a few meads in the valley, and fields of arable on the fides of the hills, are chiefly wade or woods. On each fide the vale wherein fl:ands the village, the flopes of the hills are very fteep, woody, and rocky. Through one of them the road lies to Luckham, and is extremely pifturefque, but impaflTable for any carriage, being fo fteep, narrow, and encumbered with large loofe ftones, that it is dangerous even for horfes, Thefe woods abound with whortle- berries; and on the rocks and trees are many curious moflcs.
We find but little in hiftory concerning this parifti, which was anciently written Stoche, implying fimply 9. place, perhaps by way of eminence. It belonged to William dc Mohun among his other eftates in this neighbourhood :
"^oger holds of William Stoche. Eddida held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for two hides. The arable is two carucates, which are in demefne, with " eight cottagers. There are eight acres of meadow, and four acres of coppice wood, *' It was and is worth thirty fiiillings.'"
In the time of Edward I. this manor was the property of Gilbert Piro, a name which afterwards degenerated into Pero and Perrow.
12 Hen. IV. John fon of Henry Forfter held half a knight's fee in Stoke-Pero and Bagley of Ralph Durborough, as of the manor of Almefworthy.
It came afterwards into the families of Dodiftiam and Pym, and is now the property of the Rev. Chancellor Nutcombe.
The living is a redory in the deanery of Dunfter, and in the gift of the crown. The Rev. Mr. Williams is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which fl^nds on a rifing ground on the fouthweft fide of the valley, is a fmall ftrufture fifty-four feet long, and fixteen wide, and at the weft end is a tower, thirty feet high, with one bell. — There is no monument, nor infcription,
• Lib. Domefday.
TIMBERSCOMBE.
THIS parifli being fituated in a lowly valley encompafied with hills of wood, un« doubtedly had its name from that circumftance; Timbeji being die Saxon term for wood, and Eombe that for a valley. In like manner many Combes in this neigh- bourhood were denominated from the particular kind of wood that grew about them, as Withycombe from FiSi^ a withy or willow, andEombe a valley; Thorncombe from Dopn a thorn, andLombc; Afiicombe from ^I"c an afli, andEombC; and Bickham in this parilh, called in Domefday Bkhecome, from Bece a beech tree, and Lombe the fame
Q 2 appellation
44 TIMBERSCOMBE. [Cat^ampton*
appellation for a glen or valley. Nay even fome of thefe fpots, thus deeply fituated, were denominated from very inferior produfts of nature, of which we have a notable inftance in the name oi Nettlecombe, which comes from Necele, a nettle, of which herb in all probability great plenty grew in that parifh. And fome had their derivatives from fome particularity of fituation, as Liiccombe^ or Luckham, called in Domefday Locumhe, which is derived from the Saxon Loc and Eombe, fignifying an inclofcd valley; and Widcombe from Fid and Eombe, a wide or extenfive valley.
Timberfcombe is a fmali parilh four miles from Minehead, and in the road to Dulverton, confifting of about fourfcore houfes, which principally form an irregular ftreet by the church. The country round is very pidlurefque and romantick. Two fmall rivers rifing under Dunkery-hill unite in this parifli, and turn two grift mills, running under a ftone bridge of one arch (built by the parifh) in its way to Dunfter.
King WilUam the Conqueror gave the manor of Timbercombe to Roger Arundel:
" Drogo holds of Roger Timbrecumbe. Aluerd held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one hide and a half The arable is eight carucates. In " demefne is one carucate, and two fervants, and three villanes, and eight cottagers, " with one plough. There are eleven acres of meadow, and one hundred and fifty ** acres of pafture, and fixty-one acres of wood. It was worth when he received it one " hundred fhillings, now forty fhillings,
" To this manor is added one furlong. Algar held it in the time of King Edward. " The arable is one carucate. There is half a plough, with two cottagers, and eight " acres of pafture, and four acres of wood. It is worth five fhillings."''
We find by the inquifitions 8 Edward IV. that John Sydenham died feized of Timbercombe that year, which he held of Sir William Herbert, knt. as of his barony of Dunfter, by fealty and the rent of two fhillings; leaving Walter Sydenham his fon and heir.' 7 Henry VI. Simon Ralegh, Robert Bykcombe, Walter Pauncefot, William Cloutfliam, and Thomas Bratton, held feparately half a knight's fee in Timbercombe, which John de Tort, and the heirs of Edon de Dammefton, formerly held there."* The manor now belongs to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. The prior of Dunfter received out of it a yearly penfion often fhiUings."
About half a rnile_jveftward from the church is Bickbam, now the feat of William Withycombe, efq; but which formerly gave name to a family who were owners thereof. It is furveyed in Domefday-book under the title of Bichecome:
" Richard holds of WiUiam Bichecome. Two Thanes held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one virgate of land. The arable is two carucates. In " demefne is one carucate, and three villanes, and fix cottagers, with half a plough. " There are three ?cres of meadow, and forty acres of pafture. It was formerly worth " fix lliiUings, now fifteen fhillings."^
This was another of thofe manors which were anciently held of the Caftle of Dunfter. i4Edw. I. Robert de Bykkombe held one knight's fee in Bykkombe of John de
^ Lib. Domefday. « Efc. " Lib. Feod. ' Taxat. Temporal. ' Lib. Domefday.
Mohun
Cadjampton.] timberscombe. 45
Mohun lord of Dunftcr,* which fee feems to have continued in the fame family for feveral generations. The Biccombes were lords alfo of Crocombe in this county, as alfo of Broomfield, and had divers lands and poflefllons in other parifhes, which de- fcended to the families ofCarew of Camerton, and Smith ofLong-Alhton.
Timberfcombe conftitutes a prebend in the cathedral church of Wells, which prebend was in 1292 valued at eight marks.*" The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Dunfter: The Rev. George Knyphton is the prefent incumbent. A. D. 1471, John Nesfeld, efq; recovered the prefentation to the prebend of Timberfcombe againft the Bifhop of Bath and Wells, and by virtue of the King's writ Robert Wilfon, L.L.B. was inftituted to the faid prebend.'
The church Is a neat Gothick edifice, dedicated to St. Michael, and confifts of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, and a north porch; and has at the weft: end an embattled tower crowned with a low fpire, a clock, and four bells.
The altar-piece, which is very neat, was given by Richard Elfworth of Bickham, efq; who died Aug. 5, 17 14, aged 22 years, and lies buried in this church. His arms are. Per pale indented, gules and argent, four lions rampant counter-changed. This Richard Elfworth founded a charity-fchool in this parifh about the year 17 10, for teaching poor children to read and write, and endowed the fame with ten pounds per annum.
In the church-yard ftand the remains of a ftone crofs.
The chriftenings on an average are eleven, the burials eight.
8 Lib. Feod. «" Taxat. Spiritual. * Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
TREBOROUGH,
(Anciently written Treberge and Traberge)
A Small parifh, lying in a hollow on high ground, furrounded by ft:ill higher hills, finely cultivated, and cut into large and beautiful inclofures, unincumbered with wood, fix miles fouth from Dunfter, and fourteen weft: from Taunton. The lands are in general very rich, being a fandy loam, and moftly arable. It confifts of about twenty houfes, the greater part of which are farms.
The manor of this place is fet down in the Norman record among the poflenions of Ralph de Limefi:
" Ralph himfelf holds Traberge. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for half a hide. The arable is five carucatcs. In demefne is one carucate. " There is one villane, and thirty acres of wood. Pafl:ure one mile long, and as much " broad. It is worth feven Ihillings, for it lies wafte."*
After ' Lib. Domefday.
46 T R E B o R, o u G H. [Carfiampton.
After the Conqucft, Treborough came to the poffefllon of the family of Bafings, lords of Kentsford in the parifh of St. Decumans in this county j of whom were, William fon of Hamo de Bafings temp. Edw. I. John de Bafings 8 Edw. II. fatherof another John, whofe fon Gilbert Balings 7 Henry V. was fucceeded by another Gilbert then under age. This Gilbert Bafings died 16 Henry VI. leaving Simon his fon and heir, who dying foon after without ifllie, Alianor his fiftcr, married to John Hamme, became poffefled of Treborough and Kentsford; and in conjunftion with her faid hufband, 20 Henry VI. pafled over all her right in thefe manors to Sir William Bonville and others in truft tor Richard Luttrell; and 24 Henry VI. being then the wife of John WiUiams, levied a fine to the faid truftees.
This Richard Luttrell, who Avas an illegitimate fon of Sir John Luttrell, was 22 Henry VI. appointed confliable of Dunfter Cafl:le for life; and the following year coroner for the county of Somerfet. 29 Henry VI. he was, with Sir William Bonville, appointed by the Duke of York keeper of the King's park at North-Petherton, and the fame year fteward of all the lands belonging to the Duke of York in this county, and keeper of his caftle at Bridgwater. 23 Henry VI. he accounted for timber cut down in the King's manor of North-Petherton, and foon after died without ifllie, whereupon the eftates reverted to Sir James Luttrell of Dunfl:er caftle. On his attainder this manor, with that of Kentsford, and the other lands, was granted to the earl of Pembroke; but on its being reverfed 12 Henry VII. it reforted to Sir Hugh Luttrell, in whofe defcendants it continued, till in the time of Edw. VI. Sir John Luttrell, grandfon to Sir Hugh, fold it to Sir John Wyndham, who gave it to Edward his fecond fon, progenitor of the Wyndhams of Kentsford, Trent, Pillefdon, and Tale.** The manor was afterwards conveyed into other hands, and is now the property of Sir John Trevelyan, bart.
Within the parifli of Treborough is Brown, wliich is thus noticed in the old record:
" Durand holds of William [de Mohun] Brune. Edwold held it in the time of *' King Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne *' are two carucates and a half, and two fervants, and thirteen villanes, and three *' cottagers, with four ploughs. There is one acre of meadow, and four and twenty *' acres of pafture, and twelve acres of wood. It was formerly worth twenty fliillings, *' now forty fliillings.'"
It afterwards was held of the caftk of Dunfl:er by the Martins, progenitors of thofe of Athelampfton in Dorfetfhire.''
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Dunfter; .the patronage is annexed to the manor, and the Rev. Mr. Bennet is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall building, dedicated to St. Peter, confifting of one pace fifty- four feet long, and fifteen wide. There is a tower on the fouth fide, and a porch at the weft end. The tower contains three bells.
* MS. Palmer.— See Kentsford in St. Decumans, Williton hundred. « Lib. Domefday. ^ Efc
WITHYCOMBE.
Ca?I)ampton.]
[ 47 ]
w
H Y
M B E.
THIS parifh, which had its name (as we have before obferved) from tlie Saxon Fi^ij a withy or willow tree, and Com be a valley, lies four miles eaft from Minehead, and twenty northweft from Taunton. It is delightfully fituated in a fertile vale, encompafled on three fides with lofty and finely cultivated hills; the north fide opens to the fca at about two miles diftance, afibrding a pleafing view of the broken coaft of Somerfet on the right, and in front, beyond the channel, the Welch coaft and mountains.
The parifli contains forty-three houfes, and two hundred and twenty inhabitants. The village confifts of one ftraggling fl-reet, through which runs a fmall ftream, which i/Tues from a fpring at a place called Redgirts, under Rodehuifli hill, and empties itfelf into the fea between Dunfter and Watchet.
Half a mile eaftward from the church is a noble wood of fine oak, containing more than twenty acres, and covering the crown of a round hill. It is called Court- Wood, and belongs to John Fownes Luttrell, efq. On the hills to the fouth, the black game are plentiful, and the woods abound with whortleberries and wild ralpbenies.
Themanerial province of this place, called Withycombe-Hadley, and Withycombe- Week, is vefted in John Fownes Luttrell, efq; in whofe family it has been for feveral generations. At the time of the Conqueft the whole vill belonged to the Bifhop of Coutance, to whom it was given by William tlie Conqueror:
" Edmer holds of the Bifliop Widicumbe. Alnod held it, and gelded for three ** hides, in the time of King Edward. The arable is ten carucates. In demefne are ** two carucates, and fix fervants, and fourteen villanes, and feven cottagers, with eight " ploughs. There are ten acres of meadow, and five hundred and fifty acres of pafture, " and one hundred acres of wood wanting four. It was worth four pounds, now "fix pounds.""
The family of Fitz-Urfe poflefled this manor in vejy early times after tl^ Norman Conquefl:. Of which family there is traced a defcent of feven generations from the time of Henry II. to the latter end of the reign of Edw. III. when the two daughters of Sir Ralph Fitzurfe being married, the one to Fulford, of Fulford in Devonlhire, the other to Sir Hugh Durborough, of Heathfield-Durborough in this county, the manor became aliened from the name; and in the partition of the marriage fettlements between the two daughters above-mentioned, was affigned to Maud the wife of Durborough, Their iflbe was James Durborough of Heathfield, and Ralph Durborough the eldeft, who inherited Withycombe. He married Joan the daughter of John St. Barb, by whom he had two daughters, Joan the wife of John Courtenai, who died without ifliie, and Alice the wife of Alexander Hadley. Which Alexander, in right of his wife, became poITefled of Withycombe, and tranfmitted it to his Ton Jolin Hadley; who.
" Lib, Domefday.
having
43 W I T H Y c o M B E. [Carfjampton.
having married Jo^n the daughter of Richard Stawcl, was father of Richard Hadley. He married Philippa the daughter of Sir Humphry Audley, knt. and had ifllie one fbn, James, and two daughters, Anne and Jane. James married two wives, firft Fridefwide> the daughter of Charles Matthew, of the county of Glamorgan; his fecond wife's name was Elizabeth. By his firft wife he was father of feveral children, viz. four Tons, Chriftopher, John, James, and Thomas, and two daughters, Anne and Rachel. Cliriftopher Hadley, his fon and heir, was twenty-two years of age, 31 Henry VIII. and being married, left iflue Arthur Hadley, and Margaret. Arthur died without iflue in the time of Philip and Mary; and his fifter Margaret, who was married to James Luttrell, efq; fucceeded to the eftate ; which thus pafling into the family of Luttrell of Dunfter Caftle, has lineally defcended to the prefent pofleflbr.
The living ofWithycombe is a redhory in the deanery of Dunfter. The Rev. George Inman of Burrington is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a fmall building, confifting of a nave and chancel tiled. On the fouth fide ftands a fquare embattled tower thirty-fix feet high, and containing four bells.
On a brafs plate in the chancel:-——** Here lyeth the bodie of Joane Carne of Sandel, who was thrice married; firft unto John Newton of Sandell, gent, next unto Charles "Windham, efquire; and laft of all unto Thomas Carne of Eweny in the eounty« of Glamorgan, efq. Shee dyed on the nine and twentieth daye of October 161 2."
Of\ a ftone: " Here lyeth the body of Samuel Rogers, M. A. reftor of this
parifh; and under the next ftone, on the right hand, lies the body of his dear fifter Elizabeth. He died Jan. 26, 1767, aged 79. She died Sept. a, 1749."
On a tablet againft the north wall of the nave: *' Underneath lyeth the body of
Elianor Sully, daughter of Richard Sully and Margaret his wife, who was wife of Henry Chefter, and Giles Dawberie, who died Aug. 27, 1730, aged 88." * What is more miferable than a living man without divine afliftance?"
WOTTON-COURTNEY
IS a fmall parifh three miles fouthweft from Minehead, and twenty-two northweft from Taunton, pleafantly fituated on the fouth flope of a lofty ridge of hills called Grabbift, which divides this parifli from thofe of Minehead and Dunfter. Two miles to the fouth is Dunkery-Hill, the foot of which reaches to the fine vale at the bottom of the village.
The whole number of houfes in this parifti is about fifty-four, and of inhabitants about two hundred and fixty. Thirty houfes form a neat though irregular ftreet near the church; the refidue are diftributed in the following hamlets, viz.
I., Ranscombe,
®ar1)ampton.] WOTTON -COURTNEY. 49
I, Ranscombe, one mile eaft, containing eight houfes. ■2. WoTTON-FoRD, under Dunker^-hill, three houfes. 3. Hunts gate-Mill, one mile weft on the road to Luckham, eight houfes. - 4. Brockwell, under Dunkery, two houfes. 5. Burrow, one mile fouth, three houfes.
A fair for cattle and fheep is held here on the 19th of September, and the inhabitants have a common right on Dunkeiy-hill.
William de Faleife, a Norman, had the manor of Wotton, (then called Otone) given him by William Duke of Normandy j his poffeflions here are thus accounted for in the general furvey :
" William himfelf holds Otone. Algar held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for three hides. The arable is ten carucates. In demefne are three canicates, *' and fix fervants, and ten villanes, and eight cottagers, with three ploughs. There is ** a mill of ten pence rent, and four acres of meadow. Pafture one mile in length, ** and half a mile in breadth, and the fame of wood. It was and is worth one hundred *' fhillings.""
In the time of Edw. I. this manor came into the family of the Courtneys, barons of Oakhampton, and afterwards earls pf Devonlhire; and from them the place derived its additional denomination. In this name and family it continued for many gene- rations; tUl in the time of Edw. III. Sir Hugh Courtney dying without iflue, his €ftates became divided between his fifter Margaret, afterwards married to Sir Thomas Peverell, and John Dinham, fon and heir of Muriel his younger fifter. In an inquifition taken i Henry VI. it was found that Margaret Peverell held this manor at her deceafe; and that her heirs were Catherine the wife of Sir Walter Hungerford, and Eleanor the wife of Sir William Talbot, both daughters of the faid Margaret Peverell.' On the partition Sir Walter Hungerford had this manor, and from him and his defcen- dants of that name it pafled to the family of Haftings and Huntingdon, After which it was poffeffed by that of HiHborough, and now by Lord Stawel.
The living of Wotton-Courtney is reftorial, in the deanery of Dunftcr, and in 1292 was valued at feven marks three ftiillings and fourpence."' It was appropriated to tjie priory of Stoke-Courcy, and as parcel of its revenues was granted by King Henry VI. to Eton college, the provoft and fellows whereof are now the patrons. The Rev. Mr. Bryant is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to All-Saints, ftands on an eminence, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and north aile, all covered with tiles. At the weft end is an embattled tower, containing a clock and five bells. The aile is divided from the nave by three arches, thirteen feet wide and feventeen feet high. The pillars, which are cluftered, are fix feet in circumference, and ten feet high to the fpring of the arches. On the tops of thefe pillars are ftatues in niches, embelliftied with Gothick ornaments.
• Lib. Domefday. T Inq. poll mort. ' Taxat. SpUitual.
Vot. II. ~ H That
so
WOT TON-COURTNEY. Cacf)amptoi%
That next to the chancel reprefents Saint Chriftopher carrying our Saviour, the middle one is fuppofed to be intended for the Virgin Mary, and the other for Saint Lawrence with his gridiron. On each fide of the eaft window, on the fouth fide of the nave, are angels, with the nanaes St. Gabriel and St. Michael on their breads. There is likewifc an ancient font.
The following infcriptions are on the chancel floor:
" Hie jacent fepulti Thomas Morley, i6 Mar. 1624. Ricardus Morley, 4 Mar. 1627. Filii Johannis Morley, reftoris hujus ecclefias."
" The Rev. Ralph Coombes, reftor of the parifh of Wotton-Courtney, departed this life the 29th of May, and was buried June 4, 1720; aged 60."
" The Rev. Mr. Charles Snape, reftor of the parilh of Wotton-Courtney, died Sept. 12, 1726, aged 40. Charles his fon, and Penelope his daughter, died 15 March 1723. Alfo Penelope his fecond daughter, April 1726."
There are the fragments of an old ftone crofs in the church-yard, and a fine yew tree with a beautiful fpread of branches.
The average number of chriftenings is feven, the burials five.
THE
t 5» 3
THE HUNDRED OF
C A T A S H.
THIS hundred, which is bounded by that of Brewton on the eaft, Somerton on the weft, by Whitftone and Glafton-Hides on the north, and on the fouth by Horethorne, takes its name from an afti tree in the road between Caftle-Cary and Yeovil, where the court for the hundred has ufually been held.
This hundred was anciently in the crown; but granted out at different periods to different perfons. 14 Henry II. the fheriff of Somerfet and Dorfet accounted for five marks for a murder committed in this hundred.* 8 Edward II. it was held by Richard de Cumpton, who was alfo poffeffed of a moiety of tlie manor of Kenton-Mandeville.' King Richard II. in the fixteenth year of his reign granted the hundreds of Stone and Catafh to John Holland Earl of Huntingdon," whofe fon John, created Duke of Exeter by King Henry VI. died feized of them in 1447." i Ric. III. the hundred of Catafh was granted by the crown to Burghe and his heirs male.' It is at prcfent held by Mr, Jonas Blandford of Sparkford.
» Mag. Rot. 10, b. " Efc. « Pat. 16 Ric. II. m. 3 j. " Efc. « MS. Sydenham^
CASTLE -GARY (anciently C A R I)
IS a market town, fituated three miles weft from Brewton, twelve foutheaft from Wells, and thirteen . north from Yeovil. It feems to have had a fortrefs in the Saxon times, from Caer its primitive appellation.
At the time of the Conqueror's furvey it was the property of Walter de Dowai:
" Walter holds Cari. Elfi held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for " fifteen hides. l"he arable is twenty carucates. Thereof in demefne are eight hides, " and there are fix carucates, and fix fervants, and thirty-three villanes, and twenty " cottagers, with feventecn plouglis. There are three mills of thirty-four killings rent, " and one hundred acres of meadow. Wood one mile in length, and half a mile in *' breadth. And one burgefs in Givelceftre, [Ilchefter] and another m Brewton, pay " 16 'd. When he received it, it was worth fixteen pounds, now fifteen pounds."
'Lib. Domcfdav. I"
52 C A S T L E - C A R y, [Catal|l.
In a fhort time after the Conqueft we find this place in the poflcflion of the family of Perceval, lords of Yvery in Normandy, from which country they came over hither with. William the Norman Duke.
The firfl of the name that we meet with in England was Robert, Lord of Breherval, Yvery, Montinney, and VafTe, in Normandy, who was one of thofe that embarked in the Conqueror's expedition; but foon after the battle of Haftings returned to his own country, and devoted himfelf to a religious life in the abbey of Bee. He left behind him three fons, Afcelin, (furnamed Gouel and Gouel de Percheval) Goud, and William.
Afcelin the eldefl was likewife an adventurer in the Conqueror's army, and being ofa ferocious difpofition, acquired among his fellow-foldiers the title of Lupus or the Wolf. He died in 1 1 20, leaving feveral fons, of whom John the youngefl was portioned in the manor of Harptree, and in confequence alTumed that name; but afterwards changed it to that of Gournay; and from him defcended the barons of Harptree-Gournay.
Robert, the eldefl fon, died in 1 1 21, without iflue, on whicR
William Gouel de Percheval, his next brother, fucceeded him in the Norman and Englifh eflates. He likewife was ofa haughty and turbulent temper; and as his father had been complimented with the appellation of Lupus, fo the fon, for a fimilar reafon, was diminutively termed Lupellus, which in procefs of time became foftened into LoveJ, and that name was ever after ufed by hts pofterity. When the barons of England, difgufled with King Stephen for having violated the engagements he had made to them on his advancement to the throne, levied forces againfl that prince, under the command of Robert Earl of Gloucefler, in favour of Maud the Emprefs, nrother to King Henry the fecond, this William de Percheval adhered to the confederate party, and erefted flrong fortifications at Cary, which was the head of his barony. William de Mohun did the fame at Dunfler, William de Harptree at Harptree, and other barons in different parts of the kingdom. This was done in 1 1 38, and at a time when the King was greatly embarrafTed in the fiege of the city of Briflol, an occafion which William de Percheval availed himfelf of in order to diflrefs his fovereign, ravaging from his caflle at Cary tlie adjacent country, and carrying away with him all provifions neeefTary for the fupport of the King's army. Upon this, Stephen, finding Briflol impregnable, and conceiving that it would be altogether unfafe for him to continue before it any longer, raifed the fiege, and turned all his attention to the Caflle of Cary, from which he had received fo great an annoyance. Here his arms were crowned with better fuccefs; for he battered the fortrefs with his engines fo violently and for fo long a time, that the gar- rifon, being reduced to the utmoft extremity, and receiving no reinforcement nor fupplies from the Earl of Anjou, or their allies in Brillol, furrendered at length upon terms of peace and allegiance. Notwithflanding this, we find this William de Percheval again in arms againft his Prince, and in the fame caufe, in 1 153, when he defended this caflle againfl Henry de Tracey, a firm adherent to the royal caufe, who clofely befieged him here, and threw up flrong works above the caflle; but he was fhortly relieved by thrC Eavi cf Gloucefter, who with fome difficulty difmantled Tracey's fortifications.^ It >s
8 S«e the Englifh Chronicles. probable
Catad).] CASTLE-CAR Y. .53
probable that from this time the caftle fell to ruin and decay; for little more is heard of it in the fucceeding reigns, and at prefent the fpot whereon it ftood is hardly known to the inhabitants of the town; being marked only by an intrenched area of about two acres, called the Carney in which implements of war and bolts of iron have frequently been dug up.
This William Gouel de Percheval was fucceeded in the barony of Gary by Ralph Lupellus, or Lovel, his fon and heir, who dying A. D. 1159 without iflue, Gary came to the poffeffion of Henry Lovel his brother.
Which Henry, 12 Henry II, upon the aid levied for marrying the King's daughter, certified his knight's fees to be eighteen of the old feoffment, and one of the new." His wife's name was Alice, by whom he was fadier of two children, Ralph and Henry,
Ralph fucceeded his father in the inheritance, and i John gave fixty-fix pounds for livery of his barony of Gary,' but dying without iffue 9 John,
His brother Henry became next heir to the eftates, and 9 Joh. gave three hundred marks and feven palfries for the livery of his lands," being certified to hold Gary of the King by the fervice of finding four knights, viz. two for the honour of Moreton, and two for that of Gary.'
To him fucceeded Richard Lovel his fon and heir, who 15 Henry III. procured a charter of free warren in all die lands belonging to his honour." 26 Henry III. he paid a fine of fifteen marks to be excufed attending the King in his- expedition into Gafcony, and jS'" of the fame reign, upon coUeftion of the aid for making the King's eldeft fon a knight, anfwered for eleven knights fees and a half of the fees of Morton." He died the fame year, leaving iffue
Henry Lovel his heir, who paid one hundred pounds- for his relief, and had livery of his lands. He died 47 Henry III. being then feized of the manor of Gaftle-Gary, which he held of the King in chief for a whole barony, by die fervice of finding two foldiers in the King's army at his own coft for forty days."
Richard, eldeft fon of Henry, fucceeded in the manor of Gaftle-Gary; but he did not long furvive his father, and died without iffue, whereupon ^
Henry Lovel his brother came to the inheritance of this great lordfliip, and died feized thereof before 1280. His children were, Hugh .Lord Lovel, and a daughter named Olivia, married to John Lord Gournay, fon of Anfelm de Gournay.
Which Hugh Lord Lovel was poffeffed of Gary 8 Edvf. I. and died 19 Edw. 1. feized of the fame and other lands in this county," leaving iffue, by Eleanor his wife,
Richard Lovel, the third of that name. Baron of Gary. This Richard 9 Edw. III. obtained the cuftody of the caftles of Gorf and Purbeck.'' He was aftewards fummoned
•> Lib. Nig. i. 100. > Rot. Pip. j Joh. " Rot. Pip. 9 Joh. 1 Teft.deNevi]. "- Clauf. 15 Hen.IIL
» Rot. Pip. 38 Hen. Ill, «> Efc. 47 Hen. III. " Efc. "i Rot. Fin. g Edw. HI.
to
54
.C A s -f L E - C A R y. [CataQ),
to parliament as a baron of the realm in the a 2d, 23d, and 24th of the fame reign/ and died the year following feized of this manor. He married Muriel daughter of William the firft Earl of Douglas, by whom he had James Lovel his heir, and two daughters, Joan and Eleanor.
James Lovel, only fon of Richard, died in his father's life-time. By his wife Ifabel he had ifTue a fon, Richard, and a daughter of the name of Muriel.
Which Richard died very young, his grandfather being yet living. He was the laft male heir of this houfej for deceafing without iffue, his filler Muriel became fole heir to the eftate and barony of Cary, after the death of her grandfather Richard Lovel, the th?rd of that name, and laft baron thereof. This Muriel was at that time, viz. 25 Edw. IIL nineteen years of age, and then the wife of Nicholas Lord St. Maur, whofe pofterity long enjoyed this honour and eftate. The arms of Lovel were, Or^ femee of crofs crofslets, a lion rampant azure.
This Nicholas Lord St. Maur, or Seymour, was defcended from a family quite diftindb from that of the Duke of Someriet, though the fame name was common to both, and both branches fiourilhed with great honour and profperity in this county for many generations. But their arms were always different, viz. the ancient arms of the Seymours Dukes of Somerfet were, A pair of wings conjoined, the tips downward; but the arms of St. Maur of Caftle-Cary were. Argent, two chevrons gulest a label of three points vert.
The firft fettlement of the St. Maurs of Caftle-Cary was at Road in this county, where we find by authentick records Laurence de Sto Mauro had his refidence in the time of King Edw. L This Laurence died in the 25th of that reign, and was fuc- ceeded by
Nicholas de Sto Mauro his fon and heir, thirty years of age at the time of his father's deceafe. He married to his firft wife Eva the daughter and fole heir of John de Meyfey, Lord of Meyfey-Hampton in the county of Gloucefter, by whom he had that manor, and others in different counties. To his fecond wife he married Helen, eldeft daughter and coheir of Lord Alan-Zouche of Aftiby in Leicefterlhire. 9 Edw. I. this Nicholas St. Maur had a grant from the King of the manor of Poulton in Wilt- Ihire, and 4 Edw. H. obtained a hcence to fortify his manor-houfc at Eton-Meyfey in the county of Wilts, where he himfelf and John de Meyfey before him had fometime refided.' He was fummoned to Parliament 8 Edw. IL but died two years after, leaving
Thomas his fon and heir, who about 21 Edw. III. founded, at his manor of Poulton abovementioned, a Gilbertine priory to the honour of the Virgin Mary, and annexed it as a ceU to that of Sempringham in Lincolnftiire. In this priory the founder and many of his family were interred, and their monuments were depofited under arches in the walls of the preftjytery.'
Nicholas the fon and heir of Thomas St. Maur abovementioned, and heir by Muriel his wife to the barons of Caftle-Cary, was 21 Edw. III. in the wars of France of the
' Claaf. 22, 23, 24 Edw. III. » Pat. 4 Edw. II, ' Lei. Jtin. ii. 49.
retinue
CataO).] CASTLE-CAR Y. ^S
tetinue with Maurice de Berkley; and again 22 Edw. III. of the retinue with Thomas de Holand. He was fummoned to parliament from 25 to 34 Edw. III. and died 35 Edward III. leaving iffud two fons, Nicholas and Richard.
Nicholas the eldeft died in his minority, and Richard his brother became heir to the eftates. Which Richard, 10 Ric. II, was in the French wars, and in the retinue of Richard Earl of Arundel, admiral of England. He was fummoned to parliament from 4 Ric. II. to 2 Hen. IV. when he died. He married Ela the daughter and coheir of Sir John St. Lo, by whom he had three fons, Richard, John, and Nicholas.
Richard the eldeft was alfo among the parliamentary barons, and engaged, as his progenitors had been, in the wars of France: he died 10 Hen. IV. By Mary daughter and heir of Thomas Peyner he had ifliie one only daughter and heir, Alice, who was married to William Lord Zouche of Harringworth, whereby the faid Lord Zouche became lord of this manor of Caftle-Cary, and of moft of the other great manors which belonged to the St. Maurs. But John, a younger brother of this Richard Lord St, Maur, kept up the family name for fome generations.
This William Lord Zouche was defcended from Alan Lord Zouche of Afhby in Leicefterlhirej but William the firft of that name, having feated himfelf at Harring- worth in Northamptonlhire, one of thofe manors which "came into the family by his mother Millicent, one of the fifters and heirs of George Lord Cantilupe, baron of Abergavenny, he afterwards affumed tlie title of Harringworth. This William, who married the heirefs of St. Maur, was the fourth of that name, and died 3 Henry V. feized of Caftle-Cary and many other manors, leaving William his fon and heir, John, Margaret, and Elizabeth.
Which William, 2 Edw. IV. being then above thirty years of age, and bearing the title of Lord Zouche and St. Maur, having performed many fignal fervices for the king, had a fpecial livery of the lands of his inheritance. He died 8 Edw. IV. leaving John his fon and heir, at that time eight years of age, as alfo William a younger fon, and two daughters, viz. Elizabeth and Margaret.
John his fon and heir married two wives, i. Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Capel, knt. Lord-Mayor of London; 2. Joan, one of the fifters and heirs of John Lord Dynham, by both ofwhomheleft children to pofterity. But unluckily taking part with King Richard III. and being found with him in arms at the batde of Bofworth, he was attainted in parliament i Henry VII. and all his lands were confifcated to the crown. The caftle and manor of Cary were thereupon granted by that King to Roi^ert Willoughby Lord Broke; and the lands at Bridgwater, with North and South-Barrow, to Giles Lord Daubcney, and then he was reftored in blood. The Lords Zouche being thus ftript of Caftle-Cary and other great manors, lived retired at Marfli near Brewton, which Leland calls a goodly manor place, but ruinous in his time.
The manor of Caftle-Cary, with other lands, were afterwards purchafed by Edward the firft Duke of Somerfet. But about the year 1672, both the manor and eftate being in the family of Bruce, they were difpofed of in parcels to William Ettricke, efq; and Mr. Player^ and one moiety thereof defcended to Mrs. Ettricke of London, who left
it
56 , C A s 't L E - <: A U Y. [CataR),
-it by uiU to Mrs. Powell, who bequeathed it to theufe of certain orphans, and of them it was finally purchafed by Richard Colt Hoare, efq. The other moiety, purchafed by Player, defcended to Mr. Bragg, who difpofed of it to the father of the late Lord Holland, and he to Benjamin Collins, of Salifbury, efq. This part of the eftate was not long fince fold to the tenants in poflefllon; but the material rights were purchafed by Richard Colt Hoare, efq; (now Sir R. C. Hoare, bart.) who thus became poflefled of the whole manor, and is the prefent proprietor.
The manor-houfe ftands on the eaft fide of the ftreet, and was, as appears ty feveral fine old arches and other remains, a ftately edifice; but great part of it has lately been demoliflied, and the apartments which remain are converted into ftore-rooms. At the time that King Charles fled from Worcefter to Lyme-Regis after his defeat, he ftopt at this houfe, which was then inhabited by a Mr. William Kirton, who met him on the road, and conduced him hither in difguife. To the weft of the houfe, and within twenty feet of the walls, was a large piece of water, of nearly two acres, now almoft choaked up with weeds and rubbilh, but ftill retaining the name of Park-Pond.
The town of Caftle-Cary confifts principally ;of three ftreets, one of which is near a mile In length, but thinly and irregularly built, containing one hundred and forty-fix boufes. Befides thefe there are three hamlets, viz.
1. DuMMER, one mile weft, containing four houfes.
2. Clanvill, one mile northweft, eight houfes.
3. CocKHiLL, one mile fouthweft, four houfes.
Artd alingle houfe called 'Thome. The whole number of houfes is one hundred and fixty-three, and of inhabitants about nine hundred and fifty.
This town has a charter for holding a market on Tuefdays, but it has been long difcontinued, except that markets for corn, ftieep, and cattle, are occafionally held from Allliallow-tide to Eafter. The old market-houfe (built in 16 16) is now converted into dwelling-houfes. There are three fairs; on the Tuefday fe'nnight before Eafter, the firft of May, and Whit-Tuefday, for cattle, flieep, and pedlery ware. Many of the poor ar^ employed in knitting ftockings for fale.
The church of Caftle-Cary was anciently appropriated to the prioiy of Bathj and in 1292 was valued^t twenty marks."
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of its name, and in the patronage of the biftiop of the diocefe. The Rev. John Taylor, A. M. is the prefent incumbent.
The chyrch is dedicated to All-Saints, and confifts of ajiave, chancel, and fide ailes, covered with lead. Its length is ninety-four feet, its breadth forty- two. There is an embattled tower at the weft end, fifty feet high, having thereon a fpire thirty- fix feet - high above the battlements, and containing a clock and fix bells. This ftrudlure ftands en a rifing ground, and makes a pretty appearance. It retains the marks of Cromwell's iury, which entirely demoliflied the organ, and defaced many of its ornaments.
• Taxat. Spiritual,
In
Cntaflj.] C A S T L E - C A R Y. 57
In the Ibuth aile, the tablet of a very elegant mural monument of different kinds of
marble contains the following infcription: " In memory of John Riifs, gent, v/ho
ilied Feb. 9, 1732, aged 26. Of Margaret his wife, who died July 30, 1758, aged 5 6^ And of Margaret their daughter, who died Feb, i, 1758, aged 25: whofe mortal remains are depofited in the middle aile of this church. This monument was ercdted by Agnes Checke widow, filler and executrix to the above-mentioned Margaret Rufs, A. D. 1760." Arms, Azure, a faltire or, between four crofs croflets fitche argent.
On the fame wall there is a neat monument of white marble, infcribed as follows:
" Near this place lie the remains of Daniel Collins, gent, who died the 13th of April 1753, in the 60th year of his age. Early in life he retired from bufinefs to this his native- air to obtain health, which neither his own experience, nor fkill of the faculty, could procure him in London. Here he pafled the remainder of his days, inoffenfive, friendly, honeft, always feeking the peace of a juft mind by an humble refignation to the Divine will, and conftant integrity and benevolence to his neighbour. His difconiblate widow, Magdalen Collins, has placed this monument as a mark of her fincere regard to his memory, with whom flie had the happinefs to live upwards of forty years in the greateft concord and affedion."
At the eaft end of the north aile isjyer^neat mural monument of white and yellow
marble, terminated by an urn. "In the centre of the ifles is depofited all that was
mortal of Cary Creed, jun. efq. He departed this life Jan, 10, in the year of Salvation 1775, aged 67."
In the fame aile, on a marble monument: " Oppofite hereto in the middle idc
lies all that is mortal of Elizabeth, wife of Cary Creed, gent, who departed this life June 16, A. D. 1737, in the 48th year of her age."
, *^. ^ On the floor: *' Underneath are depofited the remains of John Creed, vicar of
.jf^r ' ^lis parifli fifty years, interred 29 Dec. 1740. Of Ann his wife, 31 July 1740. Of Elizabeth their daughter, aged 22. Of Elizabeth wife of Cary Creed, gent. 16 June i737> aged 48. Of Cary Creed, efq; their fon, 18 Jan. 1775, aged 67. Alfo of the faid Cary Creed, gent, ai April 1775, aged 88."
*' Here lyeth the body of James Napper, gent, who died Feb, 15th, A, D. 1658."
^ *' Here lyeth the body of Anthony Abarough, gent, who deceafed the 21ft day of April, 1637." With feveral others of that family.
On a black frame at the eaflrend of the fouth aile the following charities are recorded:
" Gifts to this church and parifli.
" John Francis, gent, gave the interefl: of two pounds to this church for ever j and the interefl: of ten pounds to the poor at Eafi:er for ever.
" David Lewellin, gent, gave the intereft of ten pounds to the poor at Eaft:er for ever.
" The aforefaid principal fums of ten pounds each were laid out in the purchafe of Gibfon's houfe, and the parifli ilock is ciurged with the payment of the faid interefl:.
" John Rufs, gent, gave the ioSgreOa ten pounds to the poor in bread, on All- Saints day for ever. ^^
Vol. II. I ♦' John
^ m
58 CASTLE-CAR Y. [€m%
" John Lewis, gent, gave twelve fhillings in bread to the poor on Good-Friday for ever, and charged his hibufes in Cary with the payment.
" Richard Cozens, gent, gave the intereft often pounds to the poor on the 25th of March for ever.
" Edward Rufs, gent, gave ten fhillings yearly to the parlbn, vicar, or curate of this parilh, to preach a charity fermon the Sunday after the 6th of Auguft for ever; and 20s. in bread to the poor for ever, to be diftributed by the churchwardens the fame day after the faid fermon; and left a ground called Guy's-Clofe, in the parifh of Almsford, charged with the payments thereof.
" Mrs. Eleanor Boucher gave one large damalk communion cloth and napkin.
" William Swallow gave the gates of the church porch.
" Cary Creed, gent» gave forty pounds a year for ever to the fecond poor of this parilh, to be diftributed by the churchwardens and overfeers on St. Thomas's-Day. And left William Pew and John Tidcomb his manor of Lovington, and eftates in Caftle-Cary and Almsford, chargeable with tlie payment thereof"
A L F O R D.
ML -
A Small parilli lying two miles weft from Caftle-Cary, and in the turnpike-road leading from that town"' to Ivelchefter, in a low, flat, and woody fituation. It contains twenty houfes, feven of which are farms, the reft cottages. ^ 'If
It is only memorable for a mineral fpring, fituated about three quarters of a mile from the church, at a farm-houfe called Alford JVell, and inclofed within a ftied locked up. It is now quite neglefted, although formerly it had fuch repute for its medicinal virtues, being ufed with fuccefs in cafes of the fcurvy, jaundice, and obftruftions, that it was fought after from very diftant parts.
We meet witli this place in Domefday Book, under the title o^ Aldedeford, as the property of Earl Morton:
" Anfger holds of the earl Aldedeford. Godric held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one " carucate, and three fervants, and feven villanes, and four bordars, and four cottagers, " with two ploughs. There is a mill of feven fhillings rent, and fifty acres of meadow, " and from the villanes eight blomes of iron. It was worth one hundred fhillings, <' now four pounds,'"
The Ficzpaines had tliis manor in later da«^ and it now belongs to John Willes, efq;
■^ Lib. Dpineriiay.
It
who is alfo patron of the living. ^^^
m O
♦
Catatl).] A L F O R D. 59
It is a reftory in the deanery of Cary, valued in 1292 at loos.'' The Rev. Jolm Phillips is the prefent incumbent.
* The church, dedicated to All-Saints, confifts of a nave leaded, and chancel and tower tiled, the latter containing three bells.
Againft the north wall of the chancel is a monument of ftone: " In memory of
Mercy the wife of Walter Harvey of this parifh, gent, who died Dec. 22, 1734,
attat. 6 2-" Arms: On a bend argent, three trefoils flipped, vfrt, impaling a chevron
faMe between three boars heads
There is a benefadion often pounds given by Mr. Francis to the fecond poor, and another of twenty pounds for the fame ufe by Mr. Gregory,
>> Taxat. Spiritual. j
ALMSFORD. ^
W
HALF a mile northward from Caftle-Cary lies Almsford, corruptly called Ansford, a fmall parifh confifting of about thirty houfes, part of which ftand near the ■church, and the reft near the turnpike-road between Shepton-Mallet and Sherbotne. The fituation is pleafant, being in a very fruitfiil country, well wooded and finely di- verfified with hill and valley. The profpedt w^ftward is terminated by Blackdown and the Quantock hills, at the diftance of about thirty miles.
This manor was at the time of the Conqueft, and ever after, (as far as we can learn) held by the lords of Caftle-Cary, with which at this day it compofes one tithing. It is called in Domefday-Book, probably from fome very ancient poflefTor before the Conqueft, Almundesford:
" Uluric holds of Walter [de Dowai] Almundesford. Chetel held it in the time *' of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne *' are two carucates, and three fervants, and five villanes, and four cottagers, with five *' ploughs. There is a mill of feven ftiillings and fixpence rent, and wenty acres of *' meadow, and twenty acres of pafture. A wood four furlongs long, and one and a *' half broad. When he received it, it was worth four pounds, now three pounds."*
Almsford, Had/pen, and HoneyvAck, have always been members of the manor of Caftle-Cary, and the fame records which refer to the one arc applicable to the others.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Cary. The Rev. Mr. Woodford is the patron and incumbent. In the taxation of Pope Nicholas it is rated at fix marks.*"
The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a fmall but very neat ftru6burc of one pace, with a tower and three bells. ».
» lib. Domcfday. •• Taxat. Spiritual.
I 2 Againft
m
;lx.
fio ALMSFORD. , [Cataflj.
Againft the north wall of the chaneel is a neat monument of white marble with this
infcription: « H. S. E. Samuel Woodforde, A. M. ecclefis de Caftle-Cary
vicarius, hujus item parochias annos magis quinquaginta reftor indefeffus, et honora- tiflimo comiti de Tankerville a facris domefticus, Vir erat antiquis moribus, virtute fide, pauperibus erogatorlargus; pater prudens acprovidus; amicus certus, cordatus,
fidus. Eodem tumulo quiefcunt cineres uxoris amatse, asque ac amatifllmsp, Jan^
Woodforde, qu£e per quadraginta fere annos in domefticis vitas muneribus obeundis,
plurimis ntecellere, nuUi forfan fecunda videbatur^ Amabiles in vita, nee in mortc
divifi funt. Illaprius obiit Feb. 8°, 1766,7 _ . 60*.
lUe fecutus Mail 16°, 177 1, \^^^^'' ^""° 76'.
Valete fuaves anima;, fed non asternum!
Filii maerentes pofuerunt."
In the floor: " Here lieth the body of Thomas Gary, gent, who died Dec. 4,
I704>aged6i. And William his fon, gent, who died Jan. 4, 1705. And Elizabeth his wife, who died May 7, 17 12, aged 79."
0
B A B C A R Y.
THE river Gary, rifing at Gaftle-Gary,' runs through, and gives its appellation to this place, to Little-Cary, or Cary-Fitzpaine, a hamlet in the parifh of Weft- Charlton, and to Lites-Gary, from whence itpafles under Gary-Bridge near Somerton, to Borough-bridge, and there falls into the Parret.
This parim lies about five miles to the eaft of Ivelchefter, and feven foutheaft from Somerton, the turnpike-road from Wincanton to that town pafling through it. Weft- ward runs the Fofs in a ftrait direftion to the ancient Roman city o{ Ivelchefter.
, In the time of King William the Gonqueror, we read that this place belonged to one of the name of Hunfridus or Humphry : 4
" Humphry holds Babecari. Bruno held it freely in tlie time of King Edward, and " gelded for two hides and a half. The arable is three carucatesj but in demefne are " two carucates, and two fervants, and fix villanes, and three cottagers, with three " ploughs. There are fourteen acres of meadow, and eight acres of pafture. It " was formerly worth forty iTiiJlings, now fifty fhillings. This is added to the lands " of Briftric.""
This manor was very anciently held of the Barons Beauchamp of Hatch, by the family of D'Erteigh, or de Erlega, lords of Durfton, Beckington, Michael's-clnirch, and North-Petherton." It palled from them to the Seymours, the Bampfyldcs, and the Stawels, and is now the property of Lord Stawel.
* Lib. Domefday. ► See the account of thofe manors.
There
161
Cata.] B A B C A R Y. 6t
There are two hamlets, Stert, and Farringdon. The former contains three houfcs, the latter eleven. 34 Hen. VI, John Gilbert, merchant, held jointly with. Chriftiana his wife the manor of Stert in the parilh of Babcary in focage, leaving William their fon and heir.' In the time of Henry VIII. it was held under the name of Gilbert.'' The vill of Farringdon has been written different waysj but its mod ancient term is Fodindone, as we find it in the Norman furvcy :
" Hugh holds Fodindone. Alward held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded " for two hides, and one virgace of land. The arable is three carucates, and in all " there are two villanes, and one cottager, and fix fervants, and fourteen acres of. *' meadow. It was formerly worth thirty fliillings, now forty fhillings.'"
Another parcel of land of this name, is thus furveyed:
*' Schelin holds Fodindone. Bricftoward held it in the time of King £(Mai|^ and " gelded for one hide, and one virgate and a half of land. The arable is two carucates, *' and there are on it one fervant, and one cottager. There are fix acres of meadow. " It was and is now worth twenty fhillings."'
It afterwards was poffefled by the fucceflive lords of Babcary. There were chapels at both the hamlets of Stert and Babcary, which have long been in ruins.
The hofpital of St. John at Wells had lands in Babcary fo early as the reign of Edw. I.* The manor of Babcary was held of the abbey of Athelney.""
This parilh contains fifty-two houfes and about three hundred inhabitants.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Cary, and in the patronage of Lord Stawel : the Rev. Mr. Cheefe is the prefent incumbent. In 1292, it was valued at twenty marks,* and the prior of Brewton received twenty Ihillings yearly out of it.*
The church is dedicated to the Holy-Crofs, and confifts of one ailc, and aWong embattled tower, containing five bells.
On a ftone in the wall over the communion table is this infcription: " Under
'* lyeth Elizabeth the wife of Jonathan Colmer, reftor, and daughter of A. Clare, of " Beamifter in the county of Dorfet, M. A. whored July 6, 1685. vEtatis ftiie 42."
On a mural moraiment of black ftone: " H.S.E. Bridget Colmer, uxor Rev'"
viri Jonathan Colmer hujus parochiae reftorisj mulier ob vitas integritatem honelle confpicua, Chriftian:^ rcligionis cultrix fidelis, abundans charitatis fine dolo, pietatis lp|4 equidem pcrixigua fautrix, pudicitife amatrix vera; conjux chariffima, pien- tifTima mater; omnibus amabilis, omnibus flebilis. In coelum migravit tertio die Maij, an. zetat. 58, Dom. 1724. Nefcis qua hora — vigila." Arms; three crcfcent< between nine billets, impaling, a bar ermine between three rofes.
"= Efc. 34 Hen. VI. •" Terrar. Sydenham MS. ' Lib. Domefday. ' Ibid.
||r £ Plac. in Com. Somerf. 8 Ed. I. Affis. Rot. 45. d. ^ Regift. Abbat de Athelney.
^* ' T.ixat. Spiritual. "^ Taxat. Temporal.
« Near
'»■
-*;■
62 B A B C A R Y. [^atalfj*
'"^itNear this place lies tlie body of Edward Colmer, reftor of Bridport, who died March 12, 1766, aged 73. Memento mori."
" Near this place lies the body of Ann wife of the Rev. Mr. Edward Colmer, who .died June 24, 1770. Aged 80;"
In the fouth wall of the chancel: " In memory ,of ,the Rev. William Stone.
He died July 6, 1721; aged 26."
On a table of benefaftions : L' ^' ^"
" In 1669, Cheek 500
" 17 10, Richard Cooper - - - - i i p " 1728, Rev. John Colmer, reftor -300 charged on an cftate called Wellhe's. The intereft to be given in bread to the fecond poor."
Amias Hext, B. D. redtor of this place, was one of the fufferers in the great rebel- lion of the laft century.
BARROW-NORTH.
A Small parifh fituated on rifing ground, nine miles northeaft from Ilchefter, and containing about twenty houl'es, which form an irregular ftreet near the church. From the church-yard there is a fine view acrofsarich woody vale to the hills about Soiith-Cadbury and Corton-Dinham, and to the north and northweft along the fouth- eaft declivity of Mendip-hills, and eaftward to Creech-hill and the adjacent country.
The manors of North and South-Barrow are not diftinftly noticed in the Norman record, having been comprized within the great manor of Caftle-Caryj by the fucceflive lords of whicli, the Lovels, St. Maurs, and the Zouches, they were held 'till the attainder of John Lord Zouche, i Henry VII. when they were granted to Giles Lord Daubeny for life; thereverfion to die heirs of the faid Lord Zouche. In this name we find thefe manors held fome years afterwards; for in a terrier of lands in this county, it appears that 5 Edw. VI. Richard Zouche was pofleffed of North-Barrow, and the advowfon of the church; and that he the fame year levied a fine of lands in South- Barrow."* In the reign of Queen Elizabeth Charles Zouche had a moiety of the manor; but it was afterwards alienated and became the property of the family of Portman, and the prefent lord both of North and South-Barrow is ?Ienry William Portman, of Brianilone in the county of Dorfet, efq.
By an jnquifition taken at Ivelchefter 29th Oft. 31 Henry VIII. it is fet forth that John Abarough died 28th Sept. 30 Hen. VIII. feized of a capital meffuage in North-
» Terrier MS.
*^' Barrow,
CataliJ.] B A R R O W - N O R T ir. 6^
Barrow, five hundred and twenty acres of arable land, forty acres of nwadow, twelve of pafture, and two of wood, which he held of the manor of Caftle-Cary." This family had their names from the place, and flourilhed in thefc parts for many generations. John Abarough, of North-Barrow, married Margery daughter of William Gregory, and had ifllie John Abarough of Ditchet, who married Ifabel daugluer of Ralj)h Hannam, of Evercrich, efq; by whom he was father of Anthony his heir, and Hercules Abarough, and two daughters, Mary and Agnes.' Their principal place was at Ditchet; but they had many other eftates in Somerfct and Dorfet, They bore for their arms, SaMe, two fwords in faltire argent, between four fleurs de lis or-, a bordure ermhif. Creft, a ferret argent, collared or, lined azure.
The benefice of North-Barrow Is reftorial in the deanery of Cary, and in the patro- nage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Butler is the prefent incumbent.
The church ftands on an eminence, and is fifty-fix feet in lengtli, and fourteen in breadth, confiding of a nave, chancel, and porch tiled. A quadrangular tower at the weft end, fifty feet in height, contains four bells. It is dedicated to St. Nicholas. The only infcription is on a mural monument of black ftone to the memory of Thomas Wake, who died Feb. 26, 1770.
There was a chantry in the church of North-Barrow, the laft incumbents of which were Thomas Crybbe, and John Gent, the former of whom received in 1553 a penfion of jl. 5s. id. the latter a penfion of il. 6s.''
•> Inq. poll raort. Johis. Abarough, 3 1 Hen. VIII. ' Cook's Vifitation of Somerfctlhirc.
^ Willis's Hift. of Abbiet, ii. p. 202.
m
B A R R O W - S O U T H.
SOUTHWARD from the laft-mentioned parifti, and fo denominated from its fituation, is Soiith-Barrow, a fmall parifli, containing about the fame number of houles as the other Barrow. It lies in a woody country, not much diverfified with furface, but has a pleafing view of the hills near Cadbury and Gorton, and a fine opening towards the north and weft. The lands are moftly pafture, being cold and iieavy; the arable lefs adapted to fummer corn, but produces good beans and wheat.
The rmnor,, as nas been before obferved, has gone conjointly witli North-Burrow and Caftl?-Cary.
The church is a reftory in the deanery of Cary, and in the fame patronage with
t^ North-Barrow; the Rev. Mr. Hughes is the prefent incumbent. • No mention is made
of either of thele benefices in Pope Nicholas's taxation.
^ The
64 BARROW-SOUTH. [Cataft.
The church is a fmall ftrudure of one pace, fixty feet long and fourteen wide, and contains notliing remarkable, nor any memorial, except the following old acroftick on a brafs plate in the floor:
'* E eane anD t)ef)oVD!De my prefcnt aate, tobicf) Jl)otoetf) f fataU tome: 31 ftooD as poto, ann goto as 31 to dug fljall Qjortlg come, C att of tl)ecfore tW tnittcbeo toorloe, f)is pleafam baites Defie, it) is flotocrs arc cutt auB toidjetcn, in tijc tVuinMincje of an cie, a no toljcn toe Die, mofl ceitainlp, toitij iogcs or enDIes paine m etoarDeD of a DreaDfuU 3I«0D:e, our fouls ftaU ftill remaine. 2:) eatb is tlje Dongeon of our ftnnes, ^erufalem abotie <B afe, comfort, glory, Jjatlj for tbofc, tobom i^oD Ootb Oereig lotie. S19 p fotole tijerfore in boDp tocake, DcfireD tbee to embrace, SD JFatber Dere, anD note Q)Z lities before tbg tbrone of grace, 1R efufe 31 Dib tbis toorlbe alibc, anb noto in clobb of clag^ 31 leabc tbis p?ecept to mp frcnbs, Vobicb pet in eartb bo flaie; C are for tbe iopes celefliall, tobicb cannot finb tbeir pceres e bcr faic in bart, tbis life ttjall latte, alas, but ttoentg geeres."
BARTON-DAVID,
SO called from the dedication of its church, is a fmall parifli five miles eaft from Somerton, and feven foutheaft from Glaftonbury. It is fituated on the banks of the river Brew, which divides it from Baltonfbury, in a low but fruitful country, well wooded with fine large elm trees, and fufficiently watered.
The number of houfes is about forty, many o^ them very neat dwellings, and of inhabitants nearly two hundred and twenty.
This parifh furniflies few fubjedts either in antiquity or in natural hiftory, that merit particular remark. At the time of the Conqueft it belonged to Roger de Curcelle, of whom it was held by one Norman:
" Norman holds of Roger Bertone. Aleftan held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for one hide and a half. The arable is two carucates. In demefne is *' one carucate, and two villanes, and four cottagers, with one plough. There is a mill " of five fhillings- rent, and twenty- four acres of meadow, and as many of pafture. It *' was worth fortj Ihillings, now thirty Ihillings."*
* Lib. Doraefday.
This
> ' Catallj.] B A R T O N - D A V I D. 65
This manor was fometime held of the abbey of Glaflonbury by the family of Appul- ton, many of whofe eftates defcended by a coheirefs to that of Pyne. It now belongs to the Rev. Mr. Wightwick in right of his wife, late Mrs, Keate of Somerton.
The living is a reftbry in the deanCry of Cary, and was valued in 1292 at fixtecn marks.'' The Rev. Mr. Fofter is patron and incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. David, is a fmall Gothick building fixty-three feet in length, and fcventecn in breadth, confifting of a nave, chancel, and fmall aile, covered with tiles. At the weft end there ftands an odangular tower forty-five feet high, containing four bells.
The north door-way is compofed of a fine arch of Saxon workmanfhip.
In the church-yard is a tomb to the memory of the Bulh family, and an ancient ftone crofs.
*> Taxat. Spiritual.
CAD BURY-NORTH.
THIS is a confideraible parifti, five miles weft fi-om Wincanton, and eleven fouth from Shepton-Malet, fituated on an eminence in a country well wooded and watered, and in good cultivation. A ftream rifing under Yarlington-hill runs through this parifti, under a ftone bridge in the hamlet of Brook-Lavington, and another called Weft-Bridge, and turns a grift mill in the hamlet of Galhampton. Another ftream rifing at Blackford joins the above river near South-Cadbury, after turning two mills, and runs under a ftone bridge of two arches in its way through Sparkford to the Ivel. Befides the above-mentioned hanalets, there are two others in this parifti of the n^tmes of North-Town and Woodjlon.
In the time of William the Conqueror the manor of Cadbury, then written Cadtberie, was held by Turftin Fitz-Rolf, a Norman, who feems to have refided here on his own demefne. The record fays,
" Turftin himfelf holds Cadeberie. Alwoldheld it in the time of king Edward, " and gelded for twelve hides. The arable is twelve carucates. In demefne are three *' carucates, and fix fervants, and fixteen villanes, and twenty cottagers with eight *' ploughs, and one fwineherd pays twelve pigs fer annum. There are two mills of " twenty-two fhillings rent, and fifty acres of meadow, and feventy acres of pafture. " A wood four furiongs long, and one furlong broad. It was worth twenty pounds, " now twelve pounds.'"
A great fink in value: — but it muft be obferved, that this part of tlie county was much haraff^ by the incgrfions of the Danes, and the lands greatly iinpoveriflied by
» Lib. Domefday.
Vol. II. K the
66 CADBURY-NORTH. [Cataft,
the ravages of war. In a few years after the Conqueft, this manor and that of Maperton became part of the barony of the lords Newmarch, who came over into England amongft the other followers of William duke of Normandy. la Hen. II. Henry de Novo Mercato accounted for the knight's fees which he heldj and amongft the tenants are fet down GefFery de Galehampton, and WiUiam de Cadeberi, both perfons of this place, but now known only by their names." He was fucceeded in this lordlhip by James de Newmarch his brother and heir, who 6 Joh. gave two hundred marks for livery of his lands. He died, 17 Joh. leaving iflue two daughters, his heirs, viz. Ifabel married to Ralph RufTell, and Hawife married firft to John de Botreaux, and after- wards to Nicholas de Molis or Moels.
This Nicholas de Moels was a great perfon in the court of Henry III. in whofe reign he ferved the feveral offices of ambalTador, fheriff for divers counties, governor of the iflands of Guernfey, Jerfey, Sark, and Aureney, and governor of the caftles of Rochefter, Canterbury, Shirborne, Corfj Carmarthen, and Cardigan.
To this Nicholas fucceeded Roger his. fon and heir, who 5 Edw. I. ferved In the wars againft the Welfh, and 6 Edw. I. was appointed to the government of the caftle of Llanbadarn- Vawr in the county of Cardigan. He married Alice, the daughter and heir of William de Preux, and died 23 Edw. I. feized of this manor, and the manors of Maperton and Halton, leaving John his fon and heir twenty-fix years of age.'
Which John de Moels married the daughter of Lord Grey of Ruthyn, and was one of the barons that fat in the parliaments of Edw, I. He died 3 Edw. II. and was fuc- ceeded in this manor by Nicholas de Moels his fon and heir, twenty years of age.
This Nicholas de Moels, 4 Edw. II. was in the Scottifh wars, and 5 and 9 Edw. II. had, his fummons to parliament, but died the laft-mentioned year. He married Mar- garet daughter of Sir Hugh Courtney, knt. who after his death had for her dowry an afTignation of this manor. She died 23 Edw. III. leaving Muriel the wife of Thomas Courtney, and Ifabel the wife of Sir William de Botreaux, her coufins and heirs.
The manor of Cadbury came in the partition to Ifabel the wife of Botreaux, who 23 Edw. III. had livery of the lands of her inheritance. This William de Botreaux was a knight, and defcended from a very ancient family in Hamplhire. 6 Steph. Gefferey Boterei), brother to Alan Earl of Richmond, diftinguifhed himfelf for his valour againft the forces of Maud the Emprefs, then befieging the caftle of Winchefter. After him came Hamon, William, William the fecond, Reginald, W illiam the third, and the abovenamed William, who married the heirefs of Moels. Ele died 23 Edw. III. leaving another William his fon and heir, who the fame year had livery of the lands.
Which William de Botreaux, who was alfo a baron, 8 Ric. II. entailed this his manor of North-Cadbury with other lands upon himfelf and Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of Sir Ralph Daube^ney, knt. with remainder to William his fon, and the heirs male of his body; and, for want of iffue rriale, to Thomas, Ralph, and John, his younger Ions, fucceffively. He died 15 Ric. II. a.nd WilUam his eldeft fon, furviving him, inherited
* Lib. nig. Scac, Gloucfcue, 169, 170. ' Efc.
this
CataltJ,] CADBURY-NORTH. 67
this manor. Elizabeth the wife of the above-mentioned Lord Willjant Botrcaux, and daughter of Sir Ralph Daubeney, rebuilt the parifli church of North-Cadbury, and in 1427 procured a licence from King Henry VI. to ercdt and transfer the faid foundation into a collegiate church, and to eltablifli therein a perpetual college of fevcn chaplains, one of them to prefide and have the government thereof, and to be called the reftor of the college of Saint Michael the archangel of North-Cadbury, and four clerks to pray for the good eftate of the King, as alfo for the good eftatc of her the faid Elizabeth, and of Sir William Botreaux the younger, knt.'« • She died II Hen. VI. and the faid "William, afterwards Lord Botreaux, fucceeded to the family eftates.
Which William, by his deed bearing date 23 Sept. 37 Hen.' VI. gave his manor of Yeovilton to the prior and convent of Bath, to the end that they fliould caufe a mafs to be celebrated daily in their church for the good eftate of the King and Queen, and Edward Prince of Wales, as alfo for him the faid William and Elizabeth then his wife; direfting alfo, that three days before Eafter (when mafs fhould not be faid) the fum of fixpence fhould be diftributed to the poor of Bath in bread, in fuch portions as that each poor man might have the value of a farthing.' He died 2 Edw. IV. having ordered by his will his body to be buried in the church of North-Cadbury. This William was the laft Lord Botreaux, leaving by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of John Lord Beaumont, one only daughter and heir, Margaret the wife of Sir Robert Hun- gerford, eldeft fon of Sir Walter Hungerford, knight,' defcended from the barons Hungerford, of Farley Caftle, and of Heytefbury. This Robert left iflue by the faid Margaret,
Thomas Lord Hungerford, who in the time of Edward IV. was beheaded for being in arms to reftore King Henry VI.; but the attainder being reverfed in parliament I Heniy VII. Mary his fole daughter and heirefs became entitled to the eftates, which being immenfe in this and other counties of England, ftie carried together with the titles by marriage to Edward Lord Haftings, father of George the firft Earl of Huntingdon of that furname. He died March 24, 36 Hen. VIII. and was fucceeded by his fon Francis, as fecond Earl of Huntingdon, who bore the titles of Hungerford, Botreaux, Moulins, and Moels; and dying June 23, 1561, was interred in the pariftj church of Aftiby de la Zouch, in the county of Lcicefter. By Catherine his wife, eldeft daughter and coheir of Henry Pole Lord Montacute, he was father of feveral children, of whom Sir Francis was of North-Cadbury, and knight in feveral parliaments for this county. He was author of feveral pieces, and a benefa£tor to Emanuel college in Cambridge. He married Magdalen, widow of Sir George Vernon, knt. and dying Sept. 26, 161 o, was buried in the parifli church, as was alfo his lady who died fbme years before him. This Sir Francis Haftings, having no children, fold the eftate of both Cadburys to Richard Newman, efq; who was high-fteward of Weftminfter, and was imprifoned by Oliver Cromwell for his attachment to King Charles the firft, whom he attended in his troubles and fupplied with large fums of money; in confideration of which fervices. King Charles the fecond granted the family an augmentation of their arms, viz. Guks, a portcullis
* Excerpt. eRegift. Wellen. ' Dugdale's Baronage, i. 630. *■ Ibid.
K 2 crowned
68 CADBURY-NORTH. [C^m*
crowned or. From this Richard defcended Sir Richard and Sir Samuel Newman, of Fifehide in Dorfetfhire, where many of his family lie buried. The lineal defcendant and prefent reprefentative of this ancient family is Francis Newman, efqj who is lord of both the manors of North and South-Cadbury.
The m^nor-houfe (lands near the church, and is a large handfome building, erected, as appears by a date over one of the doors in the great hall, in 1 58 1.
The redory of North-Cadbury (valued in 1292 at twenty marks^) was given by Henry the third Earl of Huntingdon to Emanuel college in Cambridge, in which it is now veiled. It lies in the deanery of Cary, and the Rev. Mr. Afkew is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, was built (as has been before obferved) by Elizabeth Lady Botreaux, about the year 1427, and is a large {lately pile, confifting of a nave, two fide ailes, and a veflry. At the weft end is a large handfome tower, feventy-two feet high, embattled, with pinnacles at the angles, a clock, and fix bells.
At the two eaft corners of the chancel are void niches, two feet and a half wide and ten high, for images, with the pedeftals below, and richly ornamented Gothick canopies above, ftill remaining; one of the latter is profufely gilt. The pedeftals are four- teen inches high.
On the north fide of the chancel are two ancient tombs, the fides of which are covered with Gothick ornaments, carving, and cherubs holding the arms, which are now defaced. On one of them are . the^effigies in ftone of Sir Francis Haftings, knt. in armour, and his Lady lying by his fide. On the wall over the tomb is a brals plate with the following infcription:
" The epitaph of that worthy religious lady the Ladye Magdalen Haftings, wife to Francis Haftings, knight, who departed this vaine and tranfitory life the 14th of June 1596, and continued a conftant profeflbr of God, his holye truth and gofpell, to her lives end,
" This Ladies bed, that heare you fee thus made, Hath to itfelf received her fweete gueft, Her life is fpent, which doth like flower fade, Freede from all ftorms, and heere flie lies at reft ;
Till foul and body joined are in one, - ''
Then farewell grave ! from thence (he muft be gone.
" This Lady was well borne and eke well bred, .Her virgins time (he fpent with worthy praife; When choife of friends brought her to marriage bed, Withjuft renowne (lie pafled thcfe her dales ; And though her youth were fyde to age farr fpenf, Yet without fpot fiic lived, and was content. ,
' ! Taxat. SpiritHa!.
"Her
CataQjO CADBURY-NORTH.
" Her fecond match (hee made by her own choice, Pleafing herfelfc wlio others plcafed before; Her ears (liee flopt from all diflwadcrs voice,
Who did her tender wealth and goods great (lore; With honour greate which both (he did refufe, And one of meaner ftate herfelf did chufe.
« With this her choice full twenty yeares and nine She did remain, witli joy and comfort greate. He liveth not that ever went between Thefe twoc, to move a peace, or to intreate ;
God made the matche, and God the knot hee tyde, Who in his feare did both their heartes (till guide-
<* This feare of God was grafte in her by grace, And her whole tyme (hee fpent in this true feare j God's gofpell pure with harte (lie did embrace, The fruites whereof to all men did appcare ; To hu(band true, to kinred Ihe was kinde. And to all friends did beare a loving minde.
« The preachers (he did ufe with great regarde. Which (hewed her love unto this gofpell pure; Where want there was (hee preft was to rewarde. And by her will no fuch (hould want endure ; Unto the truth fuch was her zeal moft rare. As to helpe fuch (hee from herfelfe would fparc.
*' The poore (he willing was ftill to relieve
With hart and hand, not feeking worldlie pralfe. For fewe or none (hould know what (liee did give, This courfe to keep (lice careful was alwaies ; Both rich and poore they tafted of her love. More ready ftill to helpe than they to move.
"If any one of thefe her helpe did need^ By being ficke or fore of any forte. Let tliem but fend, they were moft fure to fpeede Of what (hee had that might them yield comforte; And yeare by yeare (he fought fuch thinges to make, To ferve fuch turns as might be fitt to take.
" In government of thofe that did her ferve
Moft wife, moft ftout, moft kind, (hee ever was, Moft kind to fuch as fought well to deferve,
Moft ftout to thofe who did negled their place; She wifely could corre6t the fault of thefe, And thofe incourage that would (eek to pleafe.
*' Theil guiftas of grace from God (hee did receive. And (hee in thefe her life did wholly fpende; When ficknefs came, that did her health bereave. On God's good will (hee whollie did depende;
K r.
6g
'.>
And
y
'i-
70 CAD BURY. NORTH. [€m%
And then his grace did worke in her with might, *' For Him to pleafe it was her whole delight.
" She did not grudge, or murmur at her paine,
Though paines were greate, and lafted very long, She refted on her hope of future gaines,
Than heart could thinke or could be tould with tongue j Comfortes flie -fought, becaufe her flefh was fraile, By preachers founde, which neverdid her faile.
" When that her ficknefs did her foe reftraine. As that her houfe fhee forced was to keepe, Shee did intreate three preachers to take paine Her to inftrufte and ftay from dangers deepe. And this they did by turns one weeke beftowe, In love moft found till fhee to weake did growe.
■" When pangs grew great, fhe found but little reft. Yet faith was ftrong in God her Father deare, And from this faith Ihee found it alwaies bed To praife her God, and praie to him in fearej And to this end the preachers fliee would call To come to her, who failed her not at all. -
" In all her dangers fhee did never faile
From day to day to crave their helpe in this. For them to feeke it did not much availe. For them to call fhee did but feldom mifs ;
Thrife many times, and moil times twife a day. That fhe with them and they with her might pray.
*' Thefe weare the frultes of one that learned had To ferve her God, in ficknefs, health, and all. In health to feare, in ficknefs to be gladd.
Though fleih be fraile, and find itfelfe in thrall ; This fruite came not from father Adam's tree, ■, Our fecond Adam taught her fuch to bee.
" This then fhee was, and was unto the ende. This did fhee fhew, many can witnefs this ; This to be true none neede doubt to defende. Wee rcfl in woe, and fhe is gone to blifs ;
Where God this Ladye in his armes doth take. And crowne with glorie for Chrifl Jefus fake.
« VIVIT POST FUNERA VIRTUS."
On the fouth fide of the chancel is a tomb bearing the date 16 1 1, and the following arms cut in ftone: Azure, a h^r fable between two fleurs de lis or, impaling gules, three arrows argent. Creft, a duck argent rifing.
Againft the north wall there is a Latin infcription to the memory of the Rev. The. UifF, S. T. P. of Emanuel college, Cambridge, and redlor of this church, who died
Feb.
CataO).] C A D B U R Y - N O R T H. 71
Feb. 28, A.D. 171 1, aged 58." Arms: Argent^ on a chevron engrailed /a/^A-, berween three etoiles guleSy as many (lags' heads cabofled, of the fecond, impaling, quarterly, firft and fourth,/<j^/^, acrois engrailed or-, fecond and third, a crofs moline argent.
On the back of one of the old feats is this date :— —
** anno Oomini e@illm" ccccc iitmi:'
The chriftenings in this parifli are twenty-three ; the burials feventeen.
CADBURY-SOUTH
IS a fmall parifh, fituated fouthward of that laft defcribed, in a very populous and beautiful part of the county, the environs being pleafingly pidlurefque, and finely varied with well-cultivated hills, and fruitful vallies.
That this traft has been the fcene of military adtion in ancient times, is fufficiently evident from its very name, which fignifies the "Tower of War^ were there no remains of martial antiquity extant to evince it. But here on the eaftern fide of the parochial church, at the northern extremity of a ridge of high hills, commanding an extenfive profpedl over Mendip and the Blackdown fummits in Devonfhire, fl:ands one of the nobleft fortifications in this or perhaps any other county, called by old topographers Camalet; but by the natives Cadbury Cajlle. Its form is neither entirely circular nor fquarcj but fomewhat between both, conforming to the fliape of the hill. Part of it feems to have been hewn out of the folid rock, and is defended by four ditches, and within is a ftill liigher intrenchment, of a circular form, which was the citadel, or Praiorium; but vulgarly called King Arthur's Palace. The rampart is compofed of ftones, now overfpread with earth, and has only one entrance from the eafi, which is guarded by fix or feven ditches. The area contains upwards of thirty acres. Within it, and in the ditches, have been found at different periods many noble reticks of the Roman empire j fuch as pavements, hypocaufl:s, pateras, urns, fibulas, and immenfe quantities of coins, chiefly of Antoninus and Fauftina. There have alfo been difcovcred in its topmoft area, remnants of arches, door-jambs, bolts, hand-grindftones, and great quantities of round pebble-flrones, quite difi^erent from any in this county, and fuppofed to have been brought hither from the fea for the purpofe of flinging, or fliooting from the bov^.' Teland tells us," that a filver horfe-fhoe was found here within the memory of people living in his time; and Selden, in his notes on Drayton's Polyolbion, fuj's, tiiat it was full of ruins and old buildings.''
* The name is compofed of the Britirti word Cath, fignifying war; and the Saxon BujiJ, a camp, or fortified eminence, which lail was originally derived from t!ie Greek ITuj yof a tower.
•i Stukely's Itin. cur. i. 150. ' Itin. i. 76. * Polyolbion, p. 54.
Writers
72 C A D B U R Y - S O U T H. [CataO;.
Wiiters have been much divided as to the name of this fortification, and the time of its ereflion. The boldeft aflertion reaches to the days of King Arthur;" and the anno- tator of oiir hiftorian Nennius places the elevehtli battle of that King againft the Saxons in this fpot. Undecimwn fuit bellum in monte qui dicitur Agned-Cath-Rcgenion, quern nos Cath-bregion appellamus.^ Caer Celemon is likewife mentioned among the Britifli cities of the fame author. Drayton, fpeaking of the river Ivel, calls it
*< The neareft neighbouring flood to Arthur's ancient feat. Which made the Britaines name through all the world fo great. I/ike Cameht what place was ever yet renown'd? Where, as at Carlion, oft he kept the table round, Moft famous for the fports at Pentecoft fo long. From whence all knightlie deeds, and brave atchievements fprong,"''
The name of this mountain truly, as it is called by Leland, Camden, Stukely, and others, Camalet, favours fomething of one of the Britilh names aflignedto it, viz. Caer- Celemon, or Caer-Cakmion-, but the other, Cath, or Caer-Bregioti, certainly comes nearer its prefent appellation Cadbury-Cajile, which is commonly ufed by all the inhabitants of the vicinity, who know indeed no other. However, whether this were a work of the Britons or of the Romans, no doubt can pofTibly be maintained of its having been occupied by the latter people for a confiderable fpace of time j as they eredted here not only fabiicks of temporary utility, but of great labour, and even magnificence. But what the Roman name hereof was, we muft ftill be ignorant of. Stukely*" judges it was the Coloneas of Ravcnnas, which others have put in another part of the ifland,' and we know of no fta- tion nearer Cadbury than Ifchalisy our prefent Ivelchefter.
* Leland fpeaks in the following emphatical terms concerning this fortrefs : " Fama publica Murotrlgum, radices Camaletici montis incolentium, pra;dicat, attollit, cantitat, nomen Arturii, incola: aliquando cailri, quod idem dim & magnificentifllmum, & munitiffimum, atque in editiffima fpecula, ubi mons confurgit, fitum eft. Dii boni, quantum hie profundiflimarum foflarum? Quot hie egeilae terrae valla? Quaedemum pra:cipitia > Atque, ut paucis finiam, videtur mihi quidem effe et artis et naturas miraculum." Aiiertio Ar- turii, in vol. quinto Colledlan. pp. 28, 29.
" At feges eft ubi Troja fuit, l^c.
But now, where once the lofty towers uprear'd Their heads to heav'n, low grovels the rank herb. Upbraiding man's device: and where the noife Of warrior Ihouted, now the bleat of (heep Is heard, full plaintive to the vale below.
A pleafing contraft That the din of war
Is funk in notes fo innocent!
'' Nennii Banchor. Hift. Brit. cap. 62, p. J38. Edit. Bcrtr. Havniae.
8 Polyolbion, p. 48, 3d fong. There are many places here and in the neighbourhood called by the name of King Arthur; as the Camp itfelf is denominated Arthur's Palace; Arthur's Round Table here mentioned; Arthur's Kitchen ; Arthur's Well, &c. and Stukdy tells us of a road acrofs the fields under the caftle, bear- ing very rank corn, called King Arthur's Hunting Caa/eiuay. Itin. i. 150.
'' Itin. cur. i. 151, * Vide Anonymi Ravennatls Britanniae Chorographiam, ap, Antonini Itin. per
Gale, vcl ap. Horllei Britan. Roman, p. 491,
The
Catalb.i C A D B U R Y - S O U T II. 73
The Saxons fimply called tiiis place Sudcadeberie, nor is there fuch a name as Camalei in the Norman furvcy. It belonged in King William the Conqueror's time to TurlUn I'itz-Roir, and included the two vills o(Hotton and Clapton,
" Bernard holds ofTurftin, Sudcadeberie. Alwold held it in the time of Kini* ** Edward, and gelded for three virgates of land. There are added two hides, and ojic ** virgate of land, which four thanes held freely in the time of King Edward. In all "the arable is three carucates. Bernard has two hides; a Clerk half a hide; an ** Englifliman half a hide. It was and is.worth three pounds. All thel'e lands arc " added to the lantls of Alwold which Turflin holds."
" There is alfo added one hide in Ultone, which Alnod held freely in the time of ** King Edward. The arable is one carucate. Leviet holds it ofTurftin, and haa ** there one feivant, and three cottagers, and four acres of meadow, and three acres of " coppice wood. It is worth ten fhillings."
" There is further added Cloptone. Alnod held it freely in the time of King «* Edward, and gelded for two hides. The arable is three carucates. Ralph holds it of ** Turftin, and has there one plough, with one villane, and four bordars, and two fervants. ** There are ten acres of meadow, and four furlongs of wood in length, and two furlongs •' in breadth. When he received it, it was worth forty fhillings, now twenty fliillings.""
This manor, as well as that of North-Cadbury, was poffcfled by the Lords Moels, and defcended by an heirefs of Sir John de Moels to Thomas Courtney, fourth fon of Hugh de Courtney fenior, Earl of Devon. Which Thomas left ifllie Sir Hugh dc Courtney his heir, and two daughters, viz. Margaret the wife of Sir Thomas Peveiell, and Muriel the wife of Sir Jolin Dinham. This manor was allotted to Margaret Peverell, and fo defcended by a coheirefs to Sir Walter Hungerford, and afterwards pafled in the fame manner as North-Cadbury, being now the pofTefTion of Francij Newman, efq. The family de Bofco, or Boyfe, were for a long fuccefllon tenants in this manor under the Courtneys, and the Pauncefoots.'
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Cary, and was valued in 1 29a at ten marks." The lord of the manor is the patron, and the Rev. Mr. Baily the prcfent incumbent.
The chiircli, which is dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, ftands pn rifing ground, and is a fmall but very neat edifice, confifting of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, and a porch on the north fide, all covered with rile. An embattled tower at the weft end contains
five bells. The chancel has an elegant altar-piece, on the tablet of which is a very
good painting of our Saviour on the crofs. Againft the north wall of the chancel tlierf is a monument of white marble to the memory of the Rev. George Farewell, A. M. reftor-of tliis church, who died April 6, 17 17, aged 41.
There are three fprings which break out from the fides of Cadbury-Hill; one by the principal entrance on the northeaft fide, called King Arthur's well: Another on the north fide, called Queen Anne's wiihing well, inclofed in an elegant femitircular bafon. The other fpring is namelefs.
•■ Lib. bomefday. ' Efc. » Taxat. Spiritojl.
Vol. II, JL CAMEL-
I 74 3 t€mftfi
CAMEL-QUEENS, otherwife EAST-CAMEL;
AConfiderable parifh, fituated on a river of its name, nine miles weft from Win- canton, and five Ibutheaft from Ivelchefter, in a country rather flat and woody^ It comprifes a fmall town, confifting chiefly of one ftreet tolerably wide, but ill builtj the number of houfes about ninety-three, of inhabitants about five hundred and thirty, including the hamlets of Hazlegrove and Wales, which contain about twelve houfes. About half a mile to the fouth is a hill, from which is one of the moft pleafing views in the county, the lands being very rich and well-timbered for many miles round, and upwards of forty towns and villages are to be fecn from it with the naked eye.
This place had its additional name from its having been formerly vefted in the Queens of the realm. At the time of the Conqueft it was the demefne of the King.
*' The King holds Camel. Ghida held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded " for eight hides and a half: but there are fifteen hides. The arable is fifteen " carucates. In demefne there are five hides, and four carucates, and fix fervants, " and twenty-eight villanes, and ten cottagers, with eleven ploughs. There are twQ " mills of twenty fhillings rent, and one hundred acres of meadow, and one hundred ** acres of pafturd, and one hundred acres of wood. It yields twenty-three pounds of *' white money/"
Although granted out at feveral times to difib-ent favourites, this manor has gene- rally been vefted in the crown, and held of it by knight's fervice."' The Earls of Kent and Saliftjury were the chief tenants. But an inquifition of 3 Edward I. fets forth that this manor, which was fometime ancient demefne of the King, re-efcheated to the crown by the death of William de Romare without iflue, and that the King of England afterwards gave it to Lord Lumbart de Burgh, father of John Lord Burgh the elder.'= 14 Hen. III. Thomas de Cirenceftre, flieriff of this county and Dorfet, ftocked this manor of the King with cattle and feed-corn, as follows, viz. thirty-two oxen for four ploughs, price eight fhillings the ox; fixteen heifers, at half a mark each ; three hundred ftieep, at twelve-pence; forty-two quarters of corn, at four ftiiilings a quarter; feventy- five quarters of oats, at three ftiiilings a quarter; five quarters of beans, at two ftiiilings and eleven-pence; and alfo two cart-horfes, value fixteen ftiiilings." In the time of Philip and Mary this manor was exchanged for the manor of Great- Weldon in Suffolk, belonging to Sir Walter Mildmay, knt. in which family it has been ever fince, and is now the property of Mrs. Ann Hervy Mildmay, (daughter and heirefs of the late Xarew
» Lib. Domefday. >> Sec the Inqulfitions and Crown Charters. « Efc. 3. Edw. I.
■1 Mag. Rot. 14 Hen. III.
' This Gentleman, who was the Lift furviving male of this refpedable family, was buried in the chancel of the pari(h church of Sherborne in Dorfetihire, A. D. 1784; where a very handfome monument is erefled to his memory. On this monument there are the following memorials relative to the family :
" The family of Mildmay may by ancient deeds be traced back to the reign of King Stephen. In the reign of King Henry VIII. lived Sir Thomas Mildmay of Chelmsford, who left four fons, from whom this family
fpread
Catatl).] CAMEL- Q^U E E N S. y^
Hervy Mildmay, efq;) who has a handfome manfion, called Hazlegrove, fituated about one mile and a lialf northward of the church.
The church of Eaft-Camel, valued in 1292' at twenty marks, was appropriated t© the abbey of Clyve in this county, which was a cell to that of Bee in Normandy. It is a vicarage in the deanery of Marllon, and in the prefentation of Mrs. A. H. Mildmay. The Rev, Thomas Horner Pearfon is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Barnabas, confifts of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, belfry, and porch; the whole leaded except the porch and chancel. At the wcfl: end is a large tower ninety feet high, containing a clock and fix bells.
In the fouth aile is an elegant mural monument, of black and grey marble, infcribed,
" Near this place lyeth the body of Humphrey Mildmay, efq; lord of this manor, fecond fon of Sir Humphrey Mildmay, of Danbury in the county of Eflex. He fuftained feveral wounds in the wars for his loyalty to his prince King Charles the Firft; particularly at Newbury fight, where he fervcd as major under his uncle the Earl of Cleveland, and was taken up among the flain. His firft wife was Sarah the daughter of Thomas Freke, efq; of Hinton St. Mary in Dorfetfliire. His fecond wife was Sarah the daughter of Edmund Parker, efq; of Burrington in Devonfhire. He died on the 1 9th day of November 1690, aged 67, and, having no ifTue, left his eftate to his kinfman Carew Mildmay, efq; of Marks in the county of Eflex, who, in token of his gratitude, ereftedthis monument." Arms, Argent, three lions rampant azure, two and one.
Near the above is z, monument to Edith, wife of Carew Hervy Mildmay, and daughter of Sir Edward Phelips, of Montacute. She died Oft. 12, 1772.
In the fouth wall there is an arch, under which formerly lay the effigies of a knight. The font is ancient, and has been curioufly decked with fculpture, but retains no arms.
In this.parifh) oppofite to the hamlet of Wales, and within three feet of the river's fide, rifes a very remarkable fpring, very cold to the touch, and offcnfive to the fmcll, which is much like that of burnt gunpowder mixed with common water. It has been ufed with much fuccefs in fcrophulous cafes.
It has a charter for four fairs annually, and two markets weekly; and was a town of fome.note before it was burnt, which happened about one hundred and ninety years
fpread into feveral branches, principally in the county of Eflex. From the elded. Sir Thomas of Moul/ham- hali, defcended the late Benjamin Earl of Fitzwalter ; alfo Sir Walter, of Pifliobury in Hcrrfordlhire. From the fecond fon. Sir William of Springfield-Barnes, defcended the late Sir William, of Moullham-hall, bart.; Sir Henry, of Graces ; Walter, of Potlands ; Carew Hervy, of Marks, who was adopted heir of Sir Gawen Hervy; Humphrey, of Shawford in Hampfliire ; and George, whofe only daughter mamcd Henry Eaton, cfc); of Raynham-Lodge. The third fon of Sir Thomas was John Mildmay, of Tarling- Place. The fourth fon was Sir Walter, of Danbury-Place in Eflex, and of Apthorpe in Nortliamptonlhire, (which lad cilate, by the marriage of the only daughter of his eldeft fon Sir Anthony to Francis Earl of Weftmcrcland, paffcd into that family.) This Sir Walter was chancellor of the exchequer, and a privy counfellor to Queen Elizabeth, and was the founder of Emanuel college in C.imbridge. From him alfo defcended John, of Danbury-Place \ Humphrey, of Hazlegrove in Somerfetlhire ; and Hertry, of Wanftcad in Eflex, and of Sh4wfor'd in-ilants.
' Tavat. Spiritnal.
L 2 ago.
[ 76 J ' [Camiij*
ago. It has now only two fairs annuallyj one on Trinity Thurfday, the other on the 25th of Oftober.
The chriftenings for the lafl: twenty years have amounted to two hundred arid ninety- feven, and the burials to two hundred and forty-four.
COMPTON-PAUNCEFORD.
THIS parifli lies five miles fouthweft from Wincanton, and eight miles eafl: front Ivelchefter, under the eaft and foutheaft ridge of a high range of hills, on the edge of a very fruitful vale, with the church and town of North-Cadbury on the oppofite fide on elevated ground, and about a mile diftant. The number of houfes is thirty-feven, and of inhabitants about two hundred and twenty. Almoll every houfe has a fine orchard and little garden ; they are moftly decent dwellings, and ftand near the church. A ftream runs through this parifii, which rifes at a fpot called Laverjwellf in the hamlet of Hatherleigh, in the parifh of Maperton, and in its way down divides the parifhes of North and South Cadbury, paffing on to Sparkford, Wefton-Bampfylde, Queen-Camel, and Yeovilton, where it falls into the Ivel.
The manor belonged in the Conqueror's time to Turftin Fitz-Rolf, lord of South- Cadbury, Maperton, and other manors in this neighbourhood.
" Goisfrid holds of Turftin, Cuntone. Alward held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for fix hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne is half a carucate, " and four fervants, and nine villanes, and eleven cottagers, with five ploughs. There " is a mill of eight ftiillings rent, and fifteen acres of meadow. A wood four furlongs " long, and one furlong broad. It is worth one hundred fliillings."*
Its lords after the Conqueft were the family of Pauncefote, fometimes ftiled in records de Cumttone, from whom the place derived the addition to its name. It is not eafy to trace the pedigree of this family to its fountain-head, and we muft be content with a few extradts from ancient documents. In the time of Henry II. Walter de Pancefot held lands in Maperton of Alexander de Alno."" In the fame reign Mabel Pancefot appears upon record as fined in the fum of fix pounds three fliiUings and four-pence, for leave that a duel between her and Robert Pancefot her brother might be pre- vented.' 9 Edw. II. John de Pauncefot held one knight's fee in Compton-Pauncefot.* 1 1 Edw. III. Margaret the late wife of Nicholas de Moels held in dower of the heir of Muriella and Ifabella, daughter and heir of John de Moels deceafed, one knight's fee in Compton, by reafon of the minority of Nicholas Pauncefot, fon and heir of John Pauncefot.' In the beginning of the reign of Hen. VII. Walter Pauncefort held this
» Lib. Domefday. '■ Cart. Andq. « Mag. Rot. 31 Hen. II. 'Lib. Feod.
• Inq. port. mort. Margaretts de Moels, 1 1 Edw. III.
inanorj
CataltJ.l COMPTON-PAUNCEFORD. y-j
manor, and from him it defcended by Maud his daughter and coheir to John Brent, of Cofllngton, efq. To whom fucceeded William and Richard, whofc daughter Anne was married to Thomas Lord Paulet, and was mother to Elizabeth wife of Giles Hoby, cfqj whofe family leems to have alienated it. It is now the property of John Hunt, efq.
The church was valued in 1292 at ten marks.' It is a refkory in the deanery of Cary, and in the prefentation of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Hunt is the prcfent incumbent. A chantry was founded in this church by one of the family of Pauncefoot/ of which the laft incumbent, whofe name was Robert Bryce, received in 1553 apenfion of five pounds.*"
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a fmall Gothick ftru6ture, confifVing of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile, covered with tile. There is a tower and ftone Ipire at the weft end, the whole fixty feet high, with three bells.
At the eaft end of the aile are two very neat mural monuments of white, black, and variegated marbles. On the tablet of one is this infcription:
" Here underneath lyeth the body of John Hunt, efq; who departed this life the 3d
of April 1660, aged about 94 years. And alfo the body of Elizabeth wife of Robert
Hunt, efq; and daughter of John Brown, of Frampton in the county of Dorfet, efq. She was married the 24th of September 1635, and dyed the 24th of September 1675,
aged 65 years and 5 months. Here alfo lyeth the body of Robert Hunt, efq; who,
after he had ferved his generation many years, died Feb. 20, 1 67 9, aged about 7 1 .
And alfo the body of Elizabeth wife of John Hunt, efq; daughter of Charles Rofcarrock,
of Rofcarrock in the county of CornwaH, efq. She died 1 3th of January 1 697. This
monument was eredted by John Hunt, efq; in memory of his dear parents, and beloved wife, A.D. 1698." Arms: Azure, two chevronels between 3 martlets argent, impahng; argent on a chtvron fable, between 3 cranes azure, as many efcallop fhells or. Creft> an aim finifter rifing from a murion.
The fecond is a neat plain monument, infcribed, " In memory of William
Bragge, efq; of Hatfield-Peverel in ElTex, who died Oft. 24, 1778, aged 70. And
alfo EHzabeth his wife, who died May 24, 1741, aged 30. She was daughter of John Hunt, efq; of this place." Arms, Or, a chevron between 3 h\.\\[% fable, impaling Hunt^ Creft, a bull's head fable, gorged or.
On a ftone in the floor : — " Here lieth the body of Grace Hunt, who. died the a4th day of July 1708. A virgin enriched with many virtues."
Near the above : — " D,0. M. Here lyeth the body of John Hunt, efq; who died April 26, A. D. 17 2 1, aged 82 years. A lover of God, his King, and his Country." —Arms: Hunt, impaling, parted quarterly, four ftags ftatant.
* T.uat, Spiritual, « Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. ^ Willis's Abbif s, ii. tot.
KENTON-
I 7^ ] [€m%
KENTON-MANDEVILL
IS a fmall parilh, fituated four miles and a half eaftward from Somerton, and in the turnpike-road thence to, London by Salifbury. The fituation is lofty and very plcafant; the number of houfes is thirty, forming a long ftreet in the fliape of an L. Thefe houfes are very neat, being built of ftone, neatly chipped, and dug in the parifh. As this is a very fine kind of flab ftone, it demands particular obfervation. It is found in an open arable field in the higheft ground, from two to four feet below the furface, (which is a yellowifli clay inclining to brick earth) to a very great depth, lying in ftrata or layers nearly horizontal from northeaft to fouthweft, the layers being from two and a half to fix inches in thicknefs. Between each layer of ftone is a ftratum of earth from three to fix inches in thicknefs, and of various kinds, increafing in denfity as they defcend. At about eight or ten feet below the furface, the ftratum of earth is a blue ftrong loam or marlj but does not much efitrvefce in vinegar.
The ftone is a very fine hard kind of blue lyas, or lime-ftone, in which (the uppermoft layers efpecially) are a few fmall Cornua Ammonis, and many fpecies of bivalve ftiells, particularly a kind of Venus, deprelTed and ftriated in fo peculiar a manner, that it appears to be a non-defcript. Here are alfo many of the gryphites, and the fmall long ■flat oyfter, with fome peftens. Some of the veins of this ftone contain pyrites, but very little fpar ; in others a metallic fubftance of a rufty iron colour is found, which on attrition has a ftrong fulphureous fmell. Great quantities of this ftone are raifed, and fent to confiderable diftances for paving rooms and walks, and for grave-ftones. If fufil-red to be thoroughly dry before they are put up, they ftand the froft without fcaling for many years. The layers of this ftone are fo fmooth, that they require little labour; but will not receive a good polifti. They are commonly raifed from ten to thirty feet in length, and often twelve or fifteen wide. One was lately raifed upwards of forty feet in length, and fo wide that it contained five hundred fuperficial feet. The fame kind of ftone is found in the neighbouring parifties of Butleigh and King-Wefton.
Near the quarries a fine fpring iflues out of the rock, forming a brook, which empties itfelf into the river Brew at Barton St. David, about two miles to the north. This brook is remarkable for being higheft in dry feafons, and loweft in wet. Here are three large common fields, and the lands are moftly in tillage.
The manor of Kenton was, as we learn from Domefday-Book, in the time of Edward the ConfeflTor, appendant to that of Barton, now called Barton St. David.
" In this manor (viz. Bertone) lay Chintone in the time of King Edward. There *' is one hide. Earl Morton holds it.'"
" Malger holds of the Earl, Chintune. Two thanes held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are •' three carucates, and five fervants, and two villanes, and four bordars, with one
* Lib. Domefday, «.' cottager,
CatallJ.] KENTON-MANDEVILL. 79
*< cottager, having one carucate and a half. There are thirty acres of meadow. It is *' worth four pounds."''
The Mandevilles, who were the fubfequent lords of this manor, and from whom It aflumed its name, were defcended from Geffrey de Magnaville, a famous foldier, who came over into this country with Duke William the Norman, and having difplayed extraordinary valour in the battle of Haftings,' was by him rewarded with one hundred and eighteen manors in different counties of England, and was alfo appointed conftabk of the Tower of London, an office he held during the whole of his life.''
William de Magnaville, his fon and heir, fufFered his name corruptly to be changed into Mandeville, by wliich his defcendants were ever after denominated. He married Margaret the fole daughter and heir of Eudo, fteward to King William, and was father of Geffrey Mandeville, who fucceeded to the eftates, and had by deftent from his mother the high office of fteward of Normandy. He was alio conftable of the Tower of London J and, being in favour with King Stephen, was by that prince advanced to the title and dignity of Earl of ElTex, being the progenitor of four fuccefTive Geffreys Earls of EfTex, the laft of whom was created Earl. of Gloucefter by King John, and was in 1216 fucceeded by his brother William Mandeville, who left no ifTue.
A branch of thefe Mandevilles, Earls of EfTex, flouriflied here for a confiderable time after. 1 1 Edw. I. it was found by an inquifition then taken, that Geflrey Maundeville had died feized of the manor of Kenton, then called Kington, and the jurors affirmed that of all the land the faid Geffrey held in this place, before the prior of the hofpital of St. John at Wells had been enfeoffed with part diereof^ only one fuit was due to the King's hundred of Catafhj and that the faid Geffrey and his heirs ought to acquit the prior from that fiiit."
By another inquifidon it appeared that the lands and tenements held here by the prior of St. John's confifted of eight meffuages, one dove-houfe, eleven acres of arable, and eleven acres and three roods of meadow ground.'
At diis prefent day the manerial rights, together with fome eftates, are annexed to and held with the living of Longbridge-Deverell in the county of Wilts.
The living is a redlory in the deanery of Gary, and in 1292 was valued at fix marks.* The Rev. Edmund Gapper is the prefent patron and incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, ftands at the fouthern extre- mity of the village, and is an edifice of a fingular conftru6tion, fifty-four feet in length, and eighteen in breadth, confifting of a nave and chancel covered with tile. From the north fide of the nave, an arched paffage, eight feet long and four wide, leads into the tower, which is an oftagon of eleven feet diameter, and forty feet high, terminated by a conical roof tiled, and containing three fmall bells.
On the left fide of the communion-table there is a mural monument of ftone, infcribed to the memory of feveral of the family of the Rev. Jofeph Dauncey. — Near it, another
* Lib. Domefday. ' Mon. Ang. ii. 446, ^ Dugd. Bar. i. 200. • Efc. 1 1 Edw. It
f Efc. 15 Edw. IT, « Taxat. SpirituaJ.
to
So 1C E N T O N . M A N D E V I L L; [CataOJ.
to Rebecca his wife. — And a thircl, to the Rev. William Clarke, reftor of this parifli^ who died Feb. 9, 1751, aged 49.
There is only one pauper in this parifli, moft of the poor finding employment in the quarries and in hu/bandry. Ihe women ijjin, and knit hofe for the Glaftonbury manufacture.
KING-WESTON.
THIS place is very corruptly called; its ancient name being Chinwardejliine and Kinwardejior.e, wliich fignifiea the town or habitation o( Kinw-ard, a Saxon noble.
It is finely fituated on high ground, twelve miles fouth from Wells, and com- manding a pleafing profpeft of great part of Dorfetfhire. The village confiflrs of twenty-one houfcs, moft of which are of fine blue ftone, and in general very neat handfome buildings, forming a ftreet nearly half a mile in length, which is a very fine road, inclofed with walls between the houfes, with rows of elms in the inclofures. Upon the whole, this is one of the neateft and moft pleafing villages in the county.
The place is of great antiquity, having fometime belonged to the Saxon kings. Kinward, its owner, was a thane of royal extraftion. In the time of King Edward the Confeflbr, Ulveva, who in all probability was aUied to Kinward, poiTefled it. But at the coming in of the Normans the manor was feized on by King William, and, together with feven others in this county, was given to Euftace Earl of Bulloigne in Picardy.' The Norman record gives us the following particulars of this place :
" Ida Countefs of Bolonia holds of the King, Chinwardestune. Ulveva held it ** in the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is eight caru- *' cates. Thereof in demefne are two hides, and three virgates; and there are two ♦' carucateSj and fix fervants, and eight villanes, and eight cottagers, with five ploughs. "There are twenty-five acres of meadow, and twenty-two acres of pafture. A wood *' three furlongs long, and one acre broad. It was and is worth fix pounds.""
By the above account it fhould appear that Earl Euftace had transferred his right in this manor to his lady for her feparate ufe, or at leaft that the King had referved it for her private benefit; for although all the other tenants are faid to hold their lands of the Earl, this Ida is certified to hold this manor de Rege, of the King. However, ic continued in the fame line of poflTefnon till the year of our Lord 11 14,' when Mary Countefs of Bulloigne, who was fifter to Queen Maud, the wife of Henry the Firft, conferred it with --',11 its appertenances on the Cluniac abbey of Bermondfey, in the
» This Earl EuAace was father of the famous Godfrey of Bulloigne, who won Jerufalem from the Saracens,' * Lib. Domefday. « Mon. Angl. i. 640,
county
I
CataO).] K I N G - W E S T O N. ' 8i
county of Suny; and fhortly after Earl Euftace her hufbanJ confirmed the grant. In 1293 the pofTefTions of that abbey in this place were rated at ten pounds," but in after times it received from the manor an annual income of forty-eight maiks.'
On the dilTolution of that monaftery, King Henry VIII. by patent bearing date the lath of June, in the 37th year of his reign, granted, amongft other things, the manor of King-Wefton with the advowfon of the reftory, to James Tutt and Nicholas Hame, and their heirs. Which faid patentees, by deed dated a6th September the fame year, granted the fame to Sir Thomas Moyle, lent, and his heirs. Sir Thomas left two daughters coheirefles, of whom Catherine was the wife of Sir Thomas Finch, and Amy the wife of Thomas Kempe, efq; of Afpley in Bedfordfhire. Sir Thomas Moyle by his will left this manor and advowfon to Thomas Kempe, fon of Amy his fecond daughter, who 16 Eliz. fold the fame to Matthew Smyth, of Long- Afliton, efq. ■To which Matthew Smyth fucceeded herein Sir Hugh Smyth, lent. Thomas Smyth, efq; Sir Hugh, knight of the Bath and baronet, and Sir John Smyth, bart. who in the year 1723 fold the fame to Edmund Bower, of Somerton, gent. Becoming by an heirefs of Bower the property of Mr. Swadling, it was finally fold to Caleb Dickinfon, of Briftol, efqj father of William Dickinfon, efq; the prefent owner.
This place is memorable for a very fignal defeat which the rebels of Devonfliire and Cornwall experienced 3 Edw. VI. from the conduft of Sir Hugh Powlet, knt. who purfued them hither after their difcomfiture by the King's forces at Exeter, and took their leader prifoner.
The church at King-Wefton, valued in 1292 at fix marks*^ and twelve-pence, was appropriated to the abbot and convent of Bermondfcy above-mentioned. It is a vicarage in the deanery of Cary; the Rev. Mr. Collinfon is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall but neat building, fituated on the higheft part of the parifh, and almoft furrounded with lofty elms and chefnut trees. It Gonfifts of a nave, chancel, and fmall fquare aile or chapel, (belonging to the lord of the manor) with an embatded tower containing a clock and three bells.
Againft the north wall of the chancel is an elegant monument of black and white marble thus infcribed: — "M.S. Caleb Dickinfon hie fepulti, qui obiit 6'° Aprilis 1783; et Sarx uxoris apud Briftoliam fepultas, quje obiit i™ Julii 1766. Pofuit Gulielmus filius anno 1783."- Arms: Or, a bend engrailed between two lions ram- pant gules, Dickinfon. Over all on an efcutcheon of pretence, argent, a pale fufelly gules, within a bordure azure, fitche or. HoUoway.
On a flat ftonc in the chancel: " Here refteth the body of William Woodhoufe
Clark, M. A., late Prebendarie oF Wormifter, and Vicar of Butley, who died the aoth of Sept' 1642."
In the chancel is dcpofited a chair formerly belonging to Glaftonbury abbey. It is of oak, the back divided into two compartments, embellifhed widi Gothick carvings
"" Taxat. Spiritual. <• Archer's Account of Religious Houfes. f Taxat. Spiritual.
Vol. II. M in
82 K I N G - W E S T O N. [Cata®.
in relief; on one- fide a fliield bearing a crofier widi the initiils R. W. (for Richard Whiting, the laft abbot of Glaftonbury) and on the other fide a fhield charged with a crofs botone, between two leopards' heads in chief, and in bafe two cinquefoils. This chair was purchafed by the late Mr. Dickinfon of Mr. More of Greinton, and depofited here as a relick of monaftical antiquity.
LOVINGTON,
A Small parifh lying on the river Brew, feven miles eaftward from Ilchefter, in a flat and woody country, abounding with fine elms and rich paftures. The turn- pike road from Caftle-Cary to Ivelchefter runs through it, at the diftance of about a mile northward from the church. The number of houfes is twenty-three, and ten of them farms.
In ancient times this place muft have been much more confiderable than at prefent, for we learn from the Norman Survey that in the time of King Edward it compofed three diftindl manors, held by as many Thanes or Saxon nobles, who were all affefled at the rate of fix hides, or between fix and feven hundred acres. King "William the Conqueror, wrefl:ing it from its former poffefTors, gave the whole place to one Serb de Burci, a perfon of his train, who held it with fome other places in this vici- nity in demefne. The Survey fays,
" Serlo himfelf holds Lovintune. Three Thanes held it in the time of King " Edward for three manors, and gelded for fix hides. The arable is eight carucates. " In demefne are two carucates, and two fervants, and eight villanes, and nine cotta- *' gers, with fix ploughs. There is a mill of ten fhillings rent, and forty acres of " meadow. Wood four furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was formerly " worth fix pounds, now one hundred fliillings.
" Of this land Lanbert holds one hide, and has there one carucate with three " villanes. There are twelve acres of meadow. It is worth twenty ftiillings."*
This manor was afterwards poflTefled by the very ancient family of Fitz-Martin, who were lords alfo of Wefl-Lydford and Blagdon. lo Edw. I. Nicholas Fitz- Martin held it.' 19 Edw, II. William Fitz-Martin died feized of it.' In the fame reign W^illiam de Lovington held half a knight's fee here."" 19 Ric. II. Wiiiiam Banifter is found by the inquifitions to have died feized of this manor.' It afterw-i ds pafTtd to the Rodney family, of whom Thomas Rodney held it 10 Edw. IV. of Anne Duchefs of Exeter, by knight's fervice.' To him fucceeded Sir John Rodney, knt. Walter, John, Maurice, and George j^ which lafl: married Anne daughter of Matthew
» Lib. Domefday. >• Efc. "= Ibid. <» Lib. Feod. « Efc. f Ibid. s ExSteramate.
Smythj
CataH).] L o V I N (; T o N. ^
Smyth, efq; and fettled this manor among feveral others on the faid mairiage. Not many years fince it was the property of Caiy Creed, of Caftk-Cary, efq; who devifcd it to William Pew, and John Tidcombe, gent, of Caftle-Cary above-mentioned, who are at this time the joint poffeflbrs of this manor.
The living is a perpetual curacy in the deanery of Car>', and in 1292 was rated at feven marks and a half." The perpetuity is veiled in the Rev. James Leach.
The church, which according to Efton is dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, is a fmall ftrudlure, and contains nothing remarkable.
Over the fouth door is the following memorandum:
"Mr. John Whitehead, who died May the 24th 1715, gave a gr6und called Brandiers, lying at Fodington in the pariHi of Babcary, for the fchooling of poor children for ever. Mr. James Clarke gave a houfe for a fchool-houfe, and to be connefted witli the ground given by Mr. Whitehead.
" Thomas Wallis gave twelve fliillings to be paid to the fecond poor labouring men on Chriftmas-Day for ever, and fettled a ground called Hewilh for the payment of the fame."
•> Taxat. Spiritual.
LYDFORD-WEST.
THIS place evidently obtained its name from its fituation, there having been in ancient times a broad' ford here over the river Brew, which runs through the parifh, and has over it a good ftone bridge near the church. It lies on the weftern fide of the great fofs road which paffes hence to Ivelchefter, from which it is diftanc feven miles towards the north. The country is low, flat, and woody, and the foil being in general a cold wet blue clay, is not very fertile. The lands are chiefly paf- ture, worth from five to thirty fliillings an acre. The number of houfes within the parifli is feventy-one, forty of which are farms, two grifl:-mills, two publick-houfes, and the refl: cottages, Mofl: of the houfes are very neat, being built of the fine blue Kenton ftone, chipped very fmooth, and tolerably well thatched, forming a decent ftreet near the church.
Here are two fairs, the one on Holy-Thurfday, the other on the twelfth day <^ Auguft. This laft fair was obtained of King Henry III. in the foity-fourth year ot his reign, by William Martin, then lord of this place, who likewife procured under the fame charter a market to be held here on the Tuefday of eveiy weeki" but this has long fince been difcontinued.
■ Llydan in the Biiti(h language fignifies broad. '' Cart. 44 Hen. III.
M 2 The
84 L Y D F O R D - W E S T. [CataHl*
The Norman Survey thus defcribes tliis place:
" Aluric [a thane] holds Lideford. Briftric held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for nine hides. The arable is eight carucates. There are feven ploughs, *' and fix villanes, and nine bordars, and two cottagers, and eight fervants. Thtie is " a mill of fifteen IhiUings rent, and fixty acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture, " and one mile of wood in length and breadth, and a breeder of fwine renders ten hogs. " It was, and is now, worth eight pounds.'"
After fome length of time this place became the property of the Barons Martin, defcended from Martin de Tours, a Norman emigrant in the time of William the ' Conqueror. Of this family (notice whereof will be elfewhere taken) were five fuccef- five generations from the above-mentioned date to the time of Ric. II. when William Martin dying without \fCuc, left this and the other eftates to be divided betwixt Eleanor his filler, then married to William Columbers, and James the fon of Nicholas de Audley, by Joane his other filler.''
This manor came in the partition to James Lord Audley, who being attainted for treafon, it returned to the crown, and was granted to John Holland, Earl of Hun- tingdon. He being likewife attainted, it was again feized by the King, who bellowed it on the abbey of St. Mary des Graces, near the tower of London, founded by King Edward III.° The abbey however afterwards loft pofleiTion of it, and Henry VII. in the fourth year of his reign, granted it to Sir George Stanley, knt. Lord le Strange, in which family it continued for fome time, and then paflfed to the family of Hungerford. ' In the time of Charles II. Sir Edward Hungerford fold it, with other manors, to Edward Colfton, efq; of Briftol, who devifed it to his ncice, Mrs. Mary Edwards, from whom it defcended to Sophia her daughter, who was married to Alexander Ready, efq. Which Alexander, by an aiSt of parliament, afllimed the name of Colfton, and who is fince dead, leaving his widow the prefent lady of the manor.
22 Edw. I. William Martin, lord of this manor, procured a charter of free warren in all his lands in this place. He died i8 E.dw, II.'
The living is a reflory in the deanery of Cary, valued in 1292 at ten marks.^ Mrs. Colfton is the patron, and the Rev. Mr. Chaloner Bale the prefent incumbent.
The church is a large ftrudture, confifting of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a fmall tower at the weft end, containing five bells. The window over the north door has fome remains of painted glafsj the only whole figure is the Virgin Mary and Holy Infant, witli the fcroU ^ia Q^aria,
In the middle paflage is a vault belonging to the family of the Popes, who were formerly refident in this parifti. On the ftone which covers it there is a brafs plate
with the following infcription:- " Here lyes the body of Tiiomas Pope, who died
the 2d of September 173 1, aged 30 years and 3 months."
<" Lib. Domefday. * Efc. ' Cart. Antiq. ' Cart. 22 Edw. I,
* Taxat. Spiritual.
« This
CataO).] LYDFORD-WEST. 85
This Thomas Pope left certain lands to the amount of about feven pounds a year {or the educating fix poor children; the furplus to be given to the fccond poor at Eafter. Tiie chiidren to be Ichooled no longer than three years eacli.
Here are alfo the broken fragments of an old mural monument, containing the effigies of a man in armour kneeling, with a fcull in his hand, and behind him two fons in a fimilar pofture. Before him kneels his lady in a nun's habit with five daughters; and behind them lie fix fwathed infants. Beneath is this infcription:
" Here lieth the body of Oliver Lottifliam, efquier, who married with Dorothy daughter of John Tilburie, by whom he had thirteen children, and died the 28 th of March, 16 16."
The chriflenings in this parifh arc ten, the burials nine on an average annually.
MAPERTON
IS a parifh of large extent, although it contains only about fifty houfes. It is four- miles fouth from Wincanton, delightfully fituated in a winding combe between fine fwelling hills, well cultivated and patched with coppice woods. The river Can, rifing. above Wincanton, runs through a part of it.
At the time of the Conqueft it belonged to Turftin Fitz-Rolf, of whom mention has already been made, and was then called Malpertone:
" Goisfrid holds of Turftin Malpertone. Alwold held in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne are " two carucates, and ten fervants, and three villanes, and nine cottagers, with three " ploughs. There are two mills rendering five fhillings and five pence, and five acres *' of meadow, and ten acres of pafture. Wood five furlongs long, and three furlongs " broad. It was formerly worth eight pounds, now fix pounds.""
In the time of Richard th'^ firft, the manor of Maperton conftituted part of the barony of the Lords Newmarch, and by the marriage of a coheirefs in the time of Henry III. became the property of the Barons Moels,"" from whom alfo it dcfcended in a fimilar way to the family of Courtney, and from them to the Earls of Huntingdon. The Hungerfords were its fucceeding lords; and in the fchedule of the great eftates of Lady Mary Hungerford, this manor, with thofe of Hatherley and Clapton, now two fmall hamlets, both in this parifh, was valued at 29I. 19s. 4d.' It was henceforth alienated, being pofTefled by different perfons, and not long fince was the property of Thomas Lockyer, efq; who devifed it to his daughter Mary, the wife of Samuel Smith, cfq; the prefent pofTefTor.
' Lib. Doraefday. * See page 66, under North-Cadbury. * Dugd. Bar. iii. 212.
The
86 MAPERTON. [Catall).
The manor of Clapton above-mentioned, was at the Conqueft a member of South- Cadbury/ but ever after pafied with Maperton, as did alfo that of Hatherley,
Clapton is fituated a mile weftward from the church, and confifts of two farms and one cottage, which are the property of Charles Penruddock, of Compton, near Salifbury, efq.
Hatherley lies a mile and a half foutheaft, and confifts of two farms, the one belonging to Mr. Clare, the other to Mr. Longford of Milborne-Port.
There is alfo another hamlet in this parifti, called Slatterford, fituated a mile and a quarter foutheaft, and containing fix houfes.
The church of Maperton, with the chapel of Blakeford, now Blackford, in the
hundred of Whitney, was valued in 1292 at fifteen marks.' It is a reftory in the
deanery of Cary, and is appendant to the manor. The Rev. Mr. Watfon is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, ftands on a confiderable eminence, confifting of a fingle pace and chancel, with a tower containing three bells.
Againft the fouth wall there is a black ftone infcribed to the memory of the Rev. Charles Michel, late reftor of this parifli, who died Oft. 6, 1766; as alfo to feveral of his family.
In the floor of the chancel: " Underneath he Philip Bennet, efq; and Jane his
wife. As he was univerfally efteemed for his friendftiip, good-nature, and honefty; flie was no lefs remarkable for her beauty, virtue, good-fenfe, and piety. He died March
15, 1722, aged 44. She died May 2, 1722, aged 50." There are fome other
memorials of the fame family.
On another ftone: " Samuel Collins, once reftor of this parilh, was buried
Jan. 21, 17 14," with feveral children.
•» See the Domefday account of South-Cadbury, « Taxat. Spiritual.
SPARKFORD,
AParifti lying in the turnpike-road from Caftle-Cary to Ivelchefter, from which it is diftant northeaft fix miles. The adjoining country to the eaft and fouth is very fine, being beautifully varied with hills and fruitful vallies, thickly interfperfed with villages. To the weft and north it is flat and woody for many miles, and admits of few agreeable profpedls. The lands are principally pafture. The number of houfes is forty-one, twenty-feven of which form a ftraggling ftreet, near which ftands the church J the reft are built along the turnpike-road half a mile to the north. The number of inhabitants is about two hundred and thirty.
It
CataO).] SPARKFORD. 87
It is called in Domefday-Book Spercheforde, and is thus furvcyed under tlic title of The land of Walter de Dow at:
" Fulcuin holds of Walter Spercheforde. Eluuacre held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides and one virgate of land. The arable is five cani- " catcs. In demefne are two cariicates and a half^ and fix fervants, and nine villancs, " and feven cottagers, with four ploughs. There is a mill of fcven fhillings and fix- " pence rent, and forty acres of meadow, and one hundred acres of pafture, and " one furlong of wood in length and breadth. It was worth four pounds, now one " hundred (hillings.""
In very early times this compofed part of the great barony of the Lovels, lords of Caftle-Cary. 12 Hen. II. Ralph de Sparkeford, fo denominated from the place, held one knight's fee here of Henry Lovel," and his defendants long continued tenants under the fuccelTive pofleflbrs of this lordfliip. It was however fometime held by the family of Burnell, of whom was Robert Burnell, Bifliop of Bath and Wells in the time of Edward I. After thefe came the Handle's and the Rogers's, fuccelTive mefne lords of this place; but the Lovels were lords paramount, and from them it defcended in the fame manner as Caftle-Cary to the Seymours, the Lords Zouche of Harring\vorth, Willoughby Lord Broke, and was at length purchafed by Richard Newman, cfq; whofe defcendant Francis Newman, of North-Cadbury, efq; is the prefent pofleflbr.
The living is reftorial, in the deanery of Cary, and in the patronage of Francis Newman, efq; above-mentioned. The Rev. Mr. Newman is the prefent incumbent. In 1292 it was valued at lOOs."
The church is fmall, having only one aile, with a ftrong quadrangvilar embattled tower fixty feet high, and containing three bells.
On a brafs plate in the chancel is the following infcrlption :
** Ibic meet SloljeiS Cf)pfec filius et l)cres ^tepf)i Cbpfee De SSla^efiam Quon* Dam Ecftoc iftiu0 ecclie, qui obijt 26° Die s©a?cii 3° "Dm 09° u^ xnU cuiuiei aie^picieturDeus. amen,"
» Lib. Domefday. * Lib. Nig. Scac. i. loO. « Taxat. SpirituaK
SUTTON-
[ 8g ] [€ata(!j.
S U T T O N - M O N T I S/
-^Corruptly fo called for MoNTACUTE,.an appellation formerly added to it by reafon of
its having been poflTefled by that family)
IS a fmall parifh fix miles eaft from Ivelchefter, lying in a fruitful woody vale, under the foiithwelt brow of Camalet or Cadbury-Caftle, with other high hills towards the eaft. This parifh contains about thirty houfes, which compofe a long ftreet in the turnpike-road from Ivelchefter to Caftle-Cary.
It was one of the many manors which William the Conqueror gave to Robert Earl of Morton, and is thus noticed in the Survey:
" Drogo holds of the Earl Sutone. Bundi held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are two caru- " cates, and two fervants, and three villanes, and nine cottagers, with two ploughs. " There is a mill untaxed, and fixteen acres of meadow, and eight acres of wood. It *' was and is worth one hundred Hiillings."-'
This Drogo was that Drogo de Monteacuto or Montagu, who came over with the Conqueror's army, and was rewarded for his fervices with many confiderable eftates in this county. The original caftle or feat of this family was at Montacute, a neighbour- ing eminence, either fo denominated from its acute fummit, or from Montagu the place in Normandy from which they emigrated; but the feat of their barony was Shepton- Montacute, a vill at no great diftance from the place we are fpeaking of Drogo was anceftor of a long train of progeny, which I fliall trace hereafter, all of them pofi'eflbrs of this manor, till in the time of Henry VIII. Thomas Montague leaving no ifllie male, this eftate was divided between three fifters, Emma the wife of Thomas Blundell, Eleanor the wife of John Bevyn, and Joan the wife of John Molyns,""
35 Eliz. the manor and advowfon of the church of Sutton-Montacute were in the poffeffion of Thomas Duport, efq; but now the whole manor is difmembered, the ii'eehold of all the lands being in pofi"eflion of the occupiers.
The lower part of the village of Sutton is diftinguifHed from the other by the, addi- tion of Crowthorne, by reafon that this divifion or parcel was in former times heFd in the houle of Montacute by the family of Crowthorne, who were people of eminence in their days, and lords of Crowthorne, an adjoining vill, from which they derived their name.
Great quantities of Roman coins have been dug up in the fields of this parilh, it being fituated near the Fofs, and the great ftation of Ivelchefter.
The living is a reftoiy in the deanery of Cary, valued in 1292 at eight marks." The patronage is in the family of Leach, and the Rev. Mr. Palmer the prefent incumbent.
. ' Lib, Domefday. •> Jnq. poll Mort. capt. ap. Bridgwater, 25 Sept. 2 Hen. VIII.
* Taxat. Spiritual.
The
Cataflj.] SUTTON-MONTIS. 89
The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and coufifts o^nc ailc, having a tower containing three bells.
In the chancel is an old brafs plate to the memory of James T3uport, lord of this manor, and Emma his wife, and Thomas their fon, with a long train of funereal fentences in Latin verfe, from Job xix. i Cor. xv. 20. Pfal. xvi. 9. and Phil. iii. 20.
WESTON-BAMPFYLDE
LIES northweft from Sutton-Montis, to which parifh it is contiguous. It confifts of only fixteen houfes, twelve whereof ftand near the church, and the reft compofc the hamlet of Little-Weston, half a mile to the eaft. The lands are moftly pafturc and meadow.
At the time that the Norman furvey was compofed, this place was a member of the great manor of North-Cadbury, as we learn from the following extract;
" To this manor [viz. Cadeberie] is added Westone. Alwi held it in the time of *' King Edward for a manor, and might go where he would.* He gelded for two hides, " and two virgates and ahalf of land. In demefne is one carucate and a half, and two *' fervants, and fix cottagers, with one plough. There is half a mill paying forty-five " pence, and twenty-four acres of meadow j a wood two furlongs long, and one furlong " broad. It was and is worth forty fhillings. Richard holds it of Turftin [Fitz-Rolf.""]
This territory in fucceeding times chiefly compofed the demefnes of the manor of Wefton; but there was a portion of land fevered from the reft, which was held, both before and after the Conqueft, by Alwine aSaxon.
" Alwine holds of Turftin Westone. The fame held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for half a hide. The arable is half a carucate: but there is one carucate " with onevillane. It is worth ten fhillings.'"
This disjointed piece of land feems to have been what we now call Littk-JVeJion.
At a very early period the manor of Wefton began to be the property, and the place the refidence of the ancient family ofBaumfilde, now written Bampfylde, from whom it derived its additional name.
The firft of this family that appears upon record is Richard Baumfilde, who married a daughter of John Haftings about the latter end of the reign of King John, or the beginning of that of Henry III. John the fon of this Richard Baumfilde married Joan daughter of William Hoxham, of Hoxham near Poltimore in Devonfhire," and by her
* That is, he was a freeman, and could difpofe of his land wherever he went. *■ Lib. Domefday. 'Ibid. * Sir William Pole's MS. Survey of Devon.
Vol. II, N had
90 WESTON-BAMPFYLDE. [Catatlj*
had ifllie John Baurafilde, lord of Poltimore in the time bf Edward I. To whom lineally fucceeded five other Jq/ins, of whom the laft dying without iffue, his brother Thomas inherited the eflates.
This Thomas Baumfilde married Agnes daughter of Adam Copleflone, and was father of two fons, and three daughters.
John the eldeft fon took to wife Agnes the daughter and heir of John de Pederton, of Hardington in this county, by whom he had iflue two fons. Sir William Baumfilde, lent, and Peter, who was of Hardington j as alfo two daughters, Elizabeth married to Henry Fraunceis of Combe-Flory, and Thomafine.
Sir William Baumfilde, fon and heir of John above-mentioned, married Margaret, daughter of Wa^^ter Pauaceford, of Compton-Paunceford, and had iflue
Walter Baumfilde his heir, who married, firft, Grace" daughter of Sir Ralph Pudfey, knt. and fecondly, Conftance daughter of Edward Langford, efq; who died childlefs. This Walter died 1 9 Edw. IV. leaving by his firft wife,
'William Baumfilde, efq; who married, firft, Margaret daughter of John St. Maur, and fecondly, Margaret daughter of Nicholas Kirkham, and relift of John Cheyney of Pinhoe in thccounty of Devon. By his firft wife he was father of one fon, Edward, and two daughters Margaret and Elizabeth.
Edward Baumfilde, his only fon and heir, married Elizabethdaughter of Sir Nicholas Wadham, of Merrifield, knt. by whom he had ifliie one fon and five daughters.
Richard Baumfilde, his fon and heir, married Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Sydenham, knt. of Brimpton in this county, and was father of three fons. Sir Amias, who fucceeded him, Giles, and Richard, and nine daughters. It is commonly reported that this Richard Baumfilde was in his childhood kidnapped away by fome great perfon or other, who, concealing from him his quality and eftate, committed him to domeftick drudgery, and, when he grew up, made him his huntfman. But it fo happened that one of the gentleman's tenants (being the huft)and of the woman who had nurfed Richard when an infant) found him out, and made him acquainted with the circum- ftances of his fanriily and fortune, the truth of which he convinced him of by fuggefting to his recolledlion a large mole which he had in his back; and brought him away privately to Sir John Sydenham's at Brimpton, who helped to reftore him to the Poltimore eftate, and gave him his daughter in marriage.' He died May 29, 1^94, and was buried in the parifti church of Poltimore.
Sir Amia^ Baumfilde, his eldeft fon and heir,- married Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Chfton, of Barrington in this county, by whoati he had ifl"ue fix fons, and four 'daughters. Richard the eldeft fon died without ifi^ue, and John the fecond fon fuc- ceeded to the eftate,
« So the Baronetage; bat Sir William Pole fays Joan. f See the EngUfli Baronetage by Wotton, who had his ioibrnjation from one of this family.
Whkh
CataO).] W E S T O N - B AM P F Y L D E. 91
Which John was member of Parliament for Tiverton, i James I. and for the coiihty of Devon, 3 Car, I. He married Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Drake, cfqj and by her Iiad [Hxic eight fons and feven daughters. He was fucceeded in the family eftatcs by John the third fon, who fat in Parliament as Member for Penryn in Cornwall, and 17 Car. I. was advanced to the dignity of a baronet. He married Gertrude daughter of Amias Copleftone, efq; and coheir to her brother John Copleftone, of Coplcftone and Warleigh in the county of Devon, efq; by whom he was father of five fons and eight daughters.
Sir Copleftone Bampfylde, bart. the eldeft foh and fucceflbr of Sir John Bampfy ld<^, received his education at Corpus Chrifti College in the univerfity of Oxford. During the civil diflentions in the time of Charles I. he fhewed himfclf a loyal fubjeft to the King, by endeavouring to promote peace and unanimity among the difaffedked, par- ticularly thofe of Devonfliire, of which county after the reftoration of, Charles II. he was high-lberiff and knight for the fhire. He died of the gout at Warleigh, A.D. 1 69 1, and was buried at Poltimorc, having been twice married, firft to Margaret
daughter of- Bulkeley, of Burgate in Hampfliire, efq; by whom he had two fons,
John Copleftone Bulkeley, who died without ifllie; and Hugh, who died by a fall from his horfe in his father's life-time; and one daughter, Margaret, who died an infant. His fecond wife was Jane, daughter of Sir Courtenay Pole, of Shute in the county of Devon, bart. by whom he had no ifllie.
Hugh Bampfylde, efq; who (as we before obferved) died in the life-time of his father, married Mary, daughter and heir of James Clifford, of Ware, efq; by whom he left two fons. Sir Copleftone Warwick, who fucceeded to the title and eftates; and John, who was Member of Parliament for the county of Devon, and afterwards for the
.city of Exeter, and married, firft, Elizabeth t;he daughter of Baflet, of Heanton-
Court in the county of Devon, efq; and fecondly, Margaret daughter and fole heir of Sir Francis Warre, of Heftercombe, by whom he was father of the prefent Copleftone Warre Bampfylde, of Heftercombe, efq. The name of Hugh Bampfylde's daughter was Margaret, who died in her infancy.
Sir Copleftone Warwick Bampfylde, eldeft fon of the faid Hugh> fucceeded his grandfather in his title and eftate. He reprefented the city of Exeter in parliament 9 Anne, as he did alio the county of Devon in the 1 2th year of the fame reign, and in every fucceeding parliament till his death, which was in 1727. By Gertrude his ^ wife, daughter of Sir John Carew, of Anthony in the county of Cornwall, bart. he left iflue Sir Richard Warv/ick, his fucceflbr, and one daughter, Maiy, who married Sir Coventry Carew, bart.
Sir Richard Warwick Bampfylde was knight of the ftiire for the county of Devonij, He married Jane, daughter and fole heir of Col. John Codrington, of Wraxhall in this county, by whom he had feveral fons and daughters; dying in 1776, he was fucceeded in title and eftate by
Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, the prefent baronet, membier of parliament for Exercr, and pofleflTor of the manor of Wefton.
N 2 The
92
WESTON-BAMPFYLDE.
[Cataoi.
The church of Wefton in 1292 was valued at one hundred {hillings.^ It is aredtory in the deanery of Cary. The Rev. Mr. Goldfborough is the prefent incumbent.
It is a plain fingle building, having only one aile, with a tower containing three bells.
On the north fide of the chancel there is an old mural monument of white marble, infcribed — " Grace, the daughter of Matthew and Ann Lydford of this parilh, and wife of Nathaniel Mill of London, changed this life for a better, Sept. 17, 1726, in Carter-lane, London i and was there buried j aged 2^ years."
On a flat ftone: — " Here lies the body of Ann, daughter of Nathaniel Wilkinfon, fometime reftor of this place, and wife of Thomas Combeftocke, re£tor of the fame, who died May 8, 1711.— -Alfo the Rev. Mr. 'Thomas Combeftocke aforefaid, who died July 1720,"
« Taxat. Spiritual,
THE
[ 93 ]
THE HUNDRED OF
CHEW.
THIS hundred lies in the northeaft part of the county, and takes its name from Chew, its chief town, as that alfo is denominated from the river Chew, whereon it (lands. This river rifes at Chewton under Mendip, and likewife communicates its name to that place, and to Chewton-Kcynlham, near which it joins its waters with the Avon.
In the charter of King Edward the Confeflbr to Bifhop Gyfo,' whereby feveral lands are confirmed to the church of Wells, the territory of Eijio [miftakenly tranf- cribed for Eipo or Eipe] is faid to contain fifty manfions : and thefe were the villages adjacent, Litelrune, paej-ele,"" Dunbjieej, and the three Subrunej* : Littleton, Hafel, Dundry, and the three Buttons. At this day it is divided into the following tithings;
Tim/bury Bifliop's-Sutton
Clutton Knighton-Sutton
Stowey Knoll
Chew-Stoke Norton-Hautville
Dundry North-Elm, and
Norton-Malreward , Stone.
* See Dugdale's Monallicon Anglicanum. * This is now a manor and farm near Compton-Martin, but in the parifh of Chewton-M*nd^
r^^i^:^^
CHEW-MAGNA.
mi • r 94 1^ C<2:betD,
CHEW-MAGNA.
*
THIS is a large and populous parifh, very pleafantly fituated at the diftance of. fix miles fouthwefl from Briftol, and twelve northweft from Wells ; and extends four miles from north to fouth, and two miles from eaft to weft, containing within its precinfts one hundred and feventy houfes, and eight hundred and thirty inhabitants.
The town of Chew ftands on the north fide of the river of that name, over which
there is a ftone bridge of two arches, called Tun- Bridge-, and a little belowthe town this
river receives a rivulet, which comes from Winford; and running under Port-Bridge,
in the Fort-Waf from Briftol to Wells, and Sprat's -Bridge, another county bridge of
• two arches, make the town a fort of peninfula.
In former days this was a borough, a market, and a large clothing town, ' neither " of which charadlerifticsk belong to it nowj as it retains no veftiges of privilege as a borough, nor any extent of commerce as a market, and its only manufadlure are a few , edge-tools and ftockings.
It is diftinguilhed by the name -of Chew-Magna, on account of its being larger than other places of a fimilar name, and by that of Bijhofs-Chew, as having in very ancierit times belonged to the Bifhops of Wells, of whofe revenues in this place at the time of the Conqueft we read the following detail in the great Norman Survey:
"The fame Bifliop [i. e. Gyfo of Wells] holds Chiwe. He held it in the time " of King Edward, and gelded for thirty hides. The arable is fifty carucates. Thereof " in demefne are four hides, and there are fix carucates, and fourteen fervants, and " thirty villanes, and nine cottagers, with twenty- four ploughs. There are three ■" mills of twenty fhillings rent, and one hundred acres of meadow, and fifty acres of " paflxire. A wood two jniles long, and half a mile broad. It is worth to the Bifhop " thirty pounds.
*' Of the land of this manor Richard holds of the Bifliop five hides. Rohard fix
" hides. Stefan five hides. Aluric feven virgates. Uluric two hides. In demefne
•'^: :" there are feven carucates, and eight fervants, and eighteen villanes, and twenty-feven
" cottagers, with ten ploughs. There are two mills of ten ftiillings rent. Among all
■" it is .worth thirteen pounds."''
This Bifliop Gyfo was a Frenchman, a native of a fmall village called Saint Trudo,
in the territory of Haivan, and in the province of Lorraine. He was in great favour
<• with Edward the ConfeflxDr, after whofe death, fearing the confequences of Harold's
aifurpation, he fled into foreign parts, and there continued till he heard of the vidto-
' That is, the City or Town- way. See a curious note on this fubjeft in Mr. Warton's excellent Hiftory of Kiddington, p. 56. "
^ Lib. Domefday. ricuS
M ■ #
Cfjeto.] C H E W - M A G N A. 95
rious Norman being fcated on the throne. He then returned, and the Conqueror not only reftored him to the dignity he liad abandoned, but rcinftated his church of- Wells in thofe lands of which it had been difpoflefled, and of which the place in queRion was a part. Subfequent Monarchs enriched the burgh of Chew with many and great privileges; and thefe poflinions continued in the fee of Bath and Wells till the fccond year of the reign of Edward the Sixth, when, in purfuance of a licence from the King, ^ifhop William Barlow alienated the manor, the borough and hundred, with all fervices appertaining thereto, as alfo the vills of Stone and Sutton, to Edward Duke of Somerfet the protestor. But upon his attainder it reverted to the Crown, and was granted to Lord Lumley, who 2S Eliz. fold the fame partly to Sir Francis Popham, and partly to Edward Baber, efq; ferjeant at law, viz. the royalty, leet, and the overland, or that little which paid tithe to the Bifhop, to Popham; but the Bilhop's houfe, demefnes, &c. to Baber, The manor itfelf continued in the family of Popham till, in the year 1766, Edward Popham, efq; knight of the fhire for the county of Wilts, fold it with that of North-Elm to Richard Summers, efq; who is the prefent pofleflbr.
The demefnes of this manor lay chiefly in the tithings of North-Elm and Knoll.
There are four tithings in this parilh, viz.
1. North-Elm, 7 1 • j
-- J. above-mentioned.
1. Knoll, j
3. Stone,
4. BisHOP's-SuTTON, fo Called from its having formerly belonged to the BiHiops of th? diocefe.
Befides which there are the following hamlets: ^
1. SuTTON-WiCK,
2. NoRTH-WiCK,
3. SuTTON-NoRTH, othci-wife called Knighton-Sutton and Sutton-Militis, from its having been anciently poflefTed by the knightly family of the St. Loes. This place formerly gave name to a family. By an inquifition taken 20 Edw. III. William de Sutton is certified to hold half a knight's fee here, which Walter de Sutton formerly held of the Bifhop of Bath." Whether it came to the St. Loes by defcent or purchafe, is not certain; but 7 Hen. VL John Saintelo is certified to hold this half fee.'' This John Saintelo or St. Loe was a knight, and lord alfo of Walley, an adjoining manor. He married Eleanor the daughter of Sir Thomas Arundel, *knt. by Catherine daughter and coheirefs of Sir John Chydiock, knt. and dying 21ft of Sept. 24 Hen. VII. left ilTue John St. Loe his fon and heir aged fixteen years and a half.°
When Leland, our celebrated topographical antiquarian, made his itinerary, this feat of the St. Loes feems to have been one of his ftations in fui-veying this county, as appears by feveral excurfions he made from hence, when he tells us fuch places arc fo far diftant from Seuthtoun, " where (faith he) Syr John Saindte Lo hath an olde " maner place."'
' I ib. Feod. * Ibid. 'Coles's Efc. in the Britllh Mufeum. « lun. vil. ^o^.
The
^
4r
»
96 C H E W - M A G N A. [Cfjeto^
The family of St. Loe^ were pofTcflbrs of this manor, till Sir William St. Loe^ . captain of the guards to Queen Elizabeth, and ftiled chief butler of England, fettled it, with other pofTeffions in this neighbourhood and in the county of Gloucefter, on his
lady, Elizabeth the daughter of Elardwick, of Hardwickin Derbylhire. Which
lady had four hufbands, the firft of whom was named Barloe, and died before they were bedded, being both very young. Her fecond hufband was Sir William Cavendilli, who had fix children by her. On his death, fhe married this Sir William St. Loe, by whom fhe had no ifllie. Her fourth hufband was George Earl of Shrewfbury. But Sir William St. Loe having fettled all his great eftate on her, flie gave the greateft part of it to her fecond fon Charles Cavendifh, (brother to William the firft Earl of Devonfhire) whofe fon William was afterwards created Lord Ogle, and 18 James I. Vifcount Mansfield} and 3 Car. I. Baron Bolfover and Earl of Newcaftle; and having fortified that town for Charles the Firft, in the 1 9th year of his reign he was created Duke of Newcaftle. Flying beyond fea, his eftate was confilcated, and this manor, with Stoke and fome other lands hereabout, was fold away. The manor-houfe, called Sutton- Court, was purchafed in truft by Elizabeth the wife of Edward Baber (which Edward had a leafe on it for lives before) for the ufe of her fon by Samuel Jep, on whom ftie fettled it in marriage. But the faid Samuel Jep dying without iflue male, and the remainder being vefted in her, ftie fettled it on John, the fon of her fecond huft)and William Strachey, in marriage with Jane, daughter and coheir of George Hodges, of Wedmore, efq; and their heirs ; in which family it ftill continues, being now the eftate of Henry Strachey, efq; member of parliament for Biftiop's-Caftle in Shropfhire.
The arms of St. Loe remain in the houfe, and were, in a large parlour built A. D. 1558 by the lady above-mentioned, quartered with Ragland, Irwood, Pointz, Aden, Fitz-Payne, Ancel, Rivers, Malet, and Fitz-Nichols.
The parifh of Chew produces a red bolus, called by the inhabitants ruddle, which is much ufed for marking ftieep, and frequently ufed by the apothecaries as a fubftitute for the Armenian bole.
Not far from the town are the veftiges of an ancient Roman encampment, called from its ftiape Bow-ditchy being of a circular form with triple ramparts, and command- ing a fine profpedl of the Briftol Channel.
Chew gave birth to Sir John Champneys, a merchant of London, and lord-mayor of that city, A. D. 1535. He ftands recorded for being the firft perfon who ever built a turret to a private houfe in London.*"
The living of Chew is a peculiar, and one prefentation with Dundry. The Rev. Mr. Lindfey is patron, and the Rev. Mr. Hall the prefent incumbent. It is mother church to Stoke, Stowey, and Norton. In 1292 it was valued at fifty marks.'
- Biftiop Ralph de Salopia appropriated this c\mrc\\ men/eg ep'ifcopali, and referving the tithes of the dcmeihe lands, endowed the vicar with the refidue.
« Of this family fee more under the article of Newton-St. Loe. ^ Fj^llcr's Worthies, Stow's Survey, &c. ' Tnixat. Spiritual.
m --^ The
ei)eto.] CHEW-MAGNA. 8^
The church is a large pile, confiding of a'nave and fide ailes, one hundred and fix fceC in length, and fixty in breadth. At the weft end is a well-built tower, one hundred and three feet high, with an open balluftrade and turret at one corner, a clock and fix bells.
At tlie eaft end of the north aile is a large old tomb of Sir John St. Loe and his lady, whoj Leland fays» was grandfather to that Sir Jolin St. Loe in his time living at this place. On tliis tomb lies the effigies of Sir John in armour, of a gigantick fize, being feven feet four inches long, and two feet four inches acrofs the fhoulders. His head-piece is under his head, and he lies crofs-legged, to denote his having been at Jerufalem, with a lion at his ftet, and a collar of SS about his neck. The female figure is much defaced; her head-drefs like that worn by Mary Queen of Scots, her robe gathered round her neck, whereon is a gold chain reaching to the top of her ftays.
On a grave-ftone hard by is the following fentence: " ^iC jaCCt flUCiS UTOJ
3loaiii]Sf ^aintelo, arm. tint ob. 1443."
On the fides of Sir John St. Loe's monument the family arms are cut in ftone, viz. On a bend three annulets, over all a label of three points. The fame arms are alfo in the roof of the aile (which is thought to have been built by Sir John) impaled with a pair of wings conjoined, the arms of Fitz-Payne. In the fame roof arc alfo the arms of Bifiiop Beckington; and in another efcutcheon the five wounds of our Saviour. There was formerly an infcription round the roof in wood, but now effaced.
At the eaft end of the fouth aile, which belonged to the manor-houfe, is a large freeftone monument, containing the effigies of Edward Baber, efq; and Catherine his wife J and on feveral tablets the following memorials to that family:
" Memoriae et honori facrum V. CI. Edwardi Baber, fervientis ad legem; qui pietate morum, gravitate, fcientiaque juris municipal, confpicuus, et inter ornamenta- fui feculi communi bonorum hominum fufFragio numeratus, obitu prseveloci fuanrt mortalitatem finivit 23° Septembris, A. D. MDLXXVIII. Vixit annos XLVII."
•' Memoriae S. Francifci Baber, de Chew-Magna, armigeri, qui officio Irenarchje com. Somerfet. fub Elizabetha Regina, Jacobo et Carolo Regibus, cum laude funftus, obijt 9° die Septembris, A. D. MDCXLIII. Vixit annos LXXVUI, dies XV."
" M. S. Annas filis Willielmi Whitmore, de Appleby in com. Salop, arm. nuper iixoris prajdifti Francifci Baber, a quo fufceptos Francifcum et Jacobum fillosi, Annam, Mariam et Janam filias, fuperftitcs reliquit. Vixit annos lxxx. men. vii. obijt die XXX Decem. A. D. MDCL. Cujus corpus in EcclefiaS. Pitri Bathon. fepukum jacet. Fran. Baber, arm. LL.D. matri fua; B. M. hoc cenotaphium P. C."
" In memoriam Catharinse Baber, iixoris Edw. Baber, fer, ad leg. filias Thomas Leygh^ de Stone-Leygh in comit" WarwicI Equitis aurati. obijt x° Martij, A. D. MDCI."
" Eiufdem Francifci Baber corpus in infra pofito conditorio (quo4 'pfe extruxit) ill tipe beata; refurreftionis fepultum requiefcit." The arms of Baber, viz. yirgerit, on ^ kkgulesy three hawks' heads erafed, of the firft, are impaled with Wkitmore, vert, frctty *r, and with Leigh of Stonely, gules , a crofs engrailed argent.
yc- '' o At
#'
m
90 CHEW-MAGNA. [Cbeto,
At the foot of this tor^ there is an old ftone in the floor, with the following broken
inicription; ^{c 0@cn(i0 6^au aiino Domini ^ccccltJiih
To the right of the communion-table is an ancient mural monument of ftone, with a brafs tablet bearing an infcription in Latin to Gabriel Goodman, efq; of the family of
Goodman in Northamptonfliire, and two of his fons. Arms: Per jpale/aMe and
ermine, an eagle difplayed or; impaling two chevronels_/«^/^, between three roies gules.
To the left of the communion-table is an elegant mural monument of white and Sienna marble, infciibed to the memory of
" Elizabeth Smith, who died the 8th of May, 1.745,
"Robert the ijth ofOftober, 1745,
"John ^ the 29th of Oftober 1745,
** The children of the Rev. William Smith, vicar of this parifh thirty yearsj" who vdied the i6th of March 1764, aged 62. Ann his wife died Feb. 4, 1764.
Arms : Parted per chevron embattled azure and argent, in chief three crofles fitches *r, in bafe a lion curranty?/^/,?, crowned or.
On the north wail of the chancel is a handfome mural monument of white marble,
infcribed : " Near this place lyes the body of Richard Jones, late of Stowey in this
parifli and county, efq. He was born May the ift, 1605, and dyed May 15, 1692. He was a man of univerfal knowledge and good fenfe, every way ufeful in his ftation whilft living, and dying gave a noble inftance of his good-will to his country and mankind : leaving three thoufand pounds to be employed in public charities, at the ■difcretion of his executors; one thoufand pounds of which were given to the Merchants- hail at Briftol, for maintenance of feamen's widows; the reft was employed in erefting and endowing free-fchools at Newton St. Loe, and Stanton-Wick in this county, and .at Wotton-Ballet in die county of Wilts. He married Mrs. Joyce Woodward, by whom he had fix fons, Thomas, WilUam, Samuel, two Richards, and John; and five daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, two Joyces, and Sufaru As his children -were bleft in a careful father, fo was he likewife happy in them, particularly in his fon William, who had the honour of knighthood, and office of attorney-general, conferred on him by King Charles the Second, his fignal eminence in his profelTion juftly claiming his mjnce's favour.
^ " Near this place alfo lye buried Joyce his wife; three of their fons, Thomas, Rkhard,
and John; and four of their daughters, Sarah, two Joyces, and Sufan." Arms;
' Party per pale, gules and azure, three lions rampant argent.
On the fouth wall of the chancel is a handfome mural monument of white marble,
on the tablet of which is this infcription: *' Near this place lies one of the beft of
chriftians, of mothers, and of women, Ehzabeth the daughter of Richaixi Jones, of Stowey in this parifti, efq; who was firft married to Henry Pinnel, efq; of Nailh-Houfe iii the county of Wilts, by whom ftie had one fon named Henry. And afterwards to Sir Richard Hart, knt. of Hanham in the county of Gloucefter, by whom ftie had alfo one fon named William. She was born the 17th of September 1636, and died the J ith of November 17 14. To whofe memory this linall momiment of filial jpiety and
' 'gratitude
CIjcVu.] C H E W - M A G N A.- 91
♦ , gratitude is erefted by her two fons Henry Pinnel and William Hart."— —Arms : SalUy a liart paflant argent, impaling Jones.
On the north wall of the north aile is a fuperb mural monument with the fol- lowing infcription: " Hodges Stracliey, efq; eldeft (on of John Strachcy, efq; late
of Sutton-Court in this parilh, died 2 Dec. 1746. His firft wife was Margaret daughter of Henry Henley, of Lee in the county of Somerfet, efq. His fccond wife, Ann daughter of William Parkin, of Briftol, merchant. His third wife Mary, (one of the daughters and coheirefles of Robert Smith, of Nailfworth in Gloucefterfhire) died 1 9th Dec 1764. Whofe nephew and executor Robert Hale (in purfuance of her will)
caufed this monument to be erefted to their memories." Arms: Argent, a crofs
between four eagles difplayed gules. Creft, an eagle difplayed of die fecond.
On the floor : " Here lyeth the body of Mary the wife of Edward Clarke, of
Chipley in the county of Somerfet, efq; by whom ftie had a numerous iffue. She was the fole daughter and heirefle of Samuell Jepp, efq; late of Sutton-Court in this parifl\ «f Chew-Magna,. deceafed. She died at Chipley upon the tenth day of January 1705, and was here interred upon the eighth day of February following, and at her own re-» quefl buryed in a lead coffin, to the end her bones miglit not be difturbed.
" Conditur hoc tumulo — fua moUiter ofla quiefcant, ■" " Semper et in fummo mens aurea vivat Olympo."
Arms: Barry of four, in the dexter point in chief an efcallop fhell: over all an efcut- cheon of pretence quarterly, Firft and fourth, a chevron between three falcons clofe; fecond and third, three arrows, points downward, on a chief three moor's heads erafed.
©n the north fide of the nave is an old oval mural monument of ftone furrounded with very antique ornaments, which once were painted red. On a black tablet is the
following infcription, much injured by time: " Sarah the wife of William Lyde, of
this parifh, gent, and daughter of Richard Jones, of Stowey, efq; having had Chrift her life, found death lier gaine, the 17th of September, in the year of our Lord 1662, and of her age the 31ft."
"M. S. Elizabeth the wife of Benjamin Harington, of Corfton, efq; and daughter of William Lyde, of this parifh, gent. Died 12th of December, anno Dom. 1693."
On the fouth fide of the nave is a mural monument of white marble " To the
memory of Major Samuel Colhns, whofe merit gradually recommended him to leven fucceffive commiffions in 01ft regiment of horfej wherein he acquitted himfelf with honour and courage, in Scotland, Ireland, the Low Countries, Portugal, and Spain. To omit lefTer adtions, he had his fliare in die battles of Gillicranky, the Boyne, and Agrim; in tlie fieges of Athlone, Galway, Limerick, Namur, Badajox; and at Barcarotta firft proclaimed Charles the Third in Spain. By his firft wife Elizabeth, he left iffue Samuel, Eliza, and Mar)'; and after twenty-four years fatigue in war, died here in the year of peace, March 20th, 17 |i, aged 65. Quis generofa putet nifi fortia ?
This monument was ereded by his two fons Samuel and Emanuel." Arms: GuUs,
on a bend or, three martlets azure. Motto; Colens Deum et Regem,
O 2 ' On
92 C H E W - M A G N A; TOeto*
On the call window in the fouth aile lies the effigies of Sir John Hautvil, a warrior, i(of whom" hereafter) cut in one folid piece of Irifli oak, Ke Hes recUning on his left fide, retting on his hip and left elbow, the left hand fupporting his head. Between the left elbow and hip lies his ihield, which is two feet three inches long, and fourteen jnc.hes broad in the wideft part, being of an oblong fhape. His right arm being brought forv/ard over his breaft, the hand refts on the edge of the ftiield. The under or left leg is raifed from the hip, and the foot placed againft the fide of a lion, whofe .open mouth is turned towards him, as it were biting his fpur. The right leg is fo drawn up as for the knee joint to bend in a right angle, the toes refting on a little piece of wood. The whole figure is in armour, with a red loofe coat without fleeves over it, and bound round the waift with a leather girdle, fattened by a gilt buckle; jutt below the breaft it is fattened with a fmaller belt. He has a helmet on, and fpurs gilt.
" Benefadlions to the parifh of Chew-Magna.
4IPI " Mr. John Curtis and Agnes his wife, of Chew, gave 40s. for three fermons on Midlent Sunday, Sunday after Afcenfion-Day, and Sunday before St. James's, yearly hr ever. Alio 20s. for fchooling one poor l^oy of this parifli for ever. A. D. 1607.
♦' Mr. John Webb, of Chew, gave lol. the ufe thereof to the poor of this parifh for •ever. 1 62 1.
" Mr. John Heale, fenf. of Sutton-Wick, gave two parcels of ground fn that tithing; «nd aos. per annum to the poor of this parilli for fixty years. He alfo gave lol. the profit tliereof to the poor of this parifh for ever. 1657.
" Mr. John Tegg, of Stowey, gave all his lands in Morton, after two lives, for the education of poor children of this parifh; to be difpofed of by Mr. John Heale and Mr. Thomas Sherborn, and their heirs for ever. 1684.
■" Richard Jones, of Stowey, efq; gave 3000I. to charitable ufes, whereof 5I. per annum for ever is allotted for fuch poor of this parifh who do not receive alms. 1692.
** Madam Baber, widow, by will gave to the churchwardens of the parifh of Chew- Magna the fum of lool. the intereft thereof to be employed in binding out poor chil- dren apprentices. The eftate purchafed is fituate in the parifh of Compton-Martin.
" James Selby, gent, of Briftol, by will gave lOol. to the vicar and churchwardens of this parifh, the intereft to be diftributed yearly among the poor of Bifhop's-Suttoa tithing. 1772."
In the church-yard are the remains of a very old crofs.
The church-houfe feems to have been eredled by the St. Loe's, whofe arms, impaling Fitzpaine two wings conjoined, are cut in ftone over the door, and the date 1510.
Here is a charity-fchool, founded by Mr. John Tegg of Stowey, in the year 1684, who gave an eftate at Morton for the purpofe, amounting to 5I. los. per annum. The iiumber of boys is eight.
CHEW.
•
C^cto.] r 93 ]
C II E W - S T O K E.
CONTIGUOUS to Chcw-Magna is Chew-Stokr, which in the Conqueror's time belonged to Gilbert Fitz-Turokl, or Thorold, and is thus I'urvcyed in the. old record:
" Gilbert Fitz-Turold holds of the King Chiwestoch, and Ofbem of him. Edric " held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for a hide ar.d a half. The arable u "two camcates, which are held in demefre, and two fcrvants, and two cottagers, and " twenty acres of meadow, and ten acres of coppice-wood. It was formerly wordi *' twenty fhillings, now thirty Ihillings.""
This Gilbert Fitz-Turold was one of thofe nobles who confpired, with Robert Duke of Nbrmandy, againft King William Rufus, in which adventure he bore fo great a • fliare, that all his lands in England were feizcd, and dilpofed of to different perfoits. To whom this manor was given is not evident, but the moll ancient poireffors of irof any account after the Conqueir, were the Lords Beauchamp of Hatch, by whom it was held under the Honour of Gloucefter. It came in procels of time to the St. Loe's, who fold it, and it is now the property (by a late purchafc) of John Savery, cfq.
Walley in this parilh was alfo a manor of the St. Loe's, as was
St. Cross, where was anciently a cell for four nuns, the foundations whereof ftill remain, and near it is a well called St. Mary's {Veil, to whom probably the houfe was dedicated. This cell was founded by Elizabeth de SanSia Crute, a family who refided in and took their names from the place. They had likewife the adjoining manor of Moreton, and lands in Nemnet and Compton-Martin.'' Moft of thele lands came to the family of St. Loe; and by an inquifition taken at Brewton 26th June, 26 Hen. VI. it was found that Sir John St. Loe died feized ih fee of \^'alley manor, and of two mefluages, two hundred acres of arable, forty acres of meadow, and thirty fliillings rent in the hamlet of St. Crofs.*
This parifli is fituated in a very pleafant woody vale, on the turnpike- road from Briftol to Wells, and contains about eighty houfes, and four hundred and forty inha- bitants. Here are feveral quarries of lime-ftone, and of another kind of granulated ftone, which works eafily for buildingj but is of a reddiih yellow colour. In thefe quarries are fome few folTils and cornua ammonis.
The benefice is a redory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter; the Rev. Mr. Butler is the preient patron and incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Andrew, and was built by one of the St. Loe's, whofe arms, impaling thofe of Fitzjames, were formerly in the windows ; and there ftill remain two coats of each family cut in ftone on the outward fouth wall of the church.
* Lib. Domefday. ^ Inq. poft More < Inq. poft Mort. Joh>< St. Loe.
There
•*'
94 CHEW-STOKE. [CfjeW^
There are infcriptions on the floor to the memory of the families of Woodward, Lukens, Pickering, Perry, and Webbj and the following lift of benefaftions :
" Mr. John Lufh by will bequeathed. Anno Dom. 1567, to charitable ufes the fum of forty pounds.
" Mr, Edmund Laggatt by will. Anno Dom. 1693, bequeathed to the poor the fum of twenty pounds.
" Mr. John Brean by will bequeathed, 1723, to the poor the fum of fixteen pounds, *< John Perry, gent, by will bequeathed. Anno Dom. 1727, to the poor tool,
" John Webb, gent, (fon of Mrs. Mary Budge) bequeathed by will. Anno Dom, 1765, to the poor the fum of fifty pounds.
"To the charity fchool in this parilh 17 18, Edward Colfton, efq; gave 5I. a year during his life, and continued that annuity by will twelve years after his deceafe.
1732. Thomas Bilbie gave a bell 471b. weight, value 2I. 7s. ■*>
1743. John Norcot, gent, deceafed, by will gave 20I. for ever.
"April 10, 17 1 8. Then began to be erefted by fubfcription a charity-fcool within tlie faid parifh, for the maintenance of twenty free boys to read and write, by the fol- lowing Gentlemen fubfcribers:
(C
itt
|
£• |
s. |
d. |
£■ |
s. |
d. |
||
|
Robert Paine, reftor |
150 |
0 |
0 |
W.Wd)b,jun'. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Edward Colfton, efq; |
5 |
0 |
0 |
John Webb |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wm. Webb, kn\ |
62 |
0 |
0 |
Samuel Filher |
10 |
0 |
|
|
John Perry |
30 |
0 |
0 |
William Kirton |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Walter Webb |
16 |
0 |
0 |
James Stallard |
I |
6 |
|
|
Thomas Dandoe |
5 |
0 |
0 |
Edward Bilbie |
0 |
0 |
|
|
George Perrot |
JO |
0 |
0 |
John Griffin |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Thomas Cox |
II |
0 |
0 |
Thomas Webb |
0 |
0 |
|
|
John Brean |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Richard Heale |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Thomas Walker |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Hefter Webb |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Jof. Lane |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Rev. Wm. Symes |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Richard Leverfuch |
I |
0 |
0 |
William Coomb |
I |
0 |
0 |
|
George Sheppard |
I |
I |
0 |
Michael Webb |
13 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thomas Hill |
I |
0 |
0 |
William King |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thomas Goodfon |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Sufan. Woodward |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
Samuel Biftiop |
0 |
10 |
0 |
James Fear |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Robert Paine, reftor |
5 |
0 |
0 |
*' William Webb, gent, of this parifti deceafed, and chief promoter of the charity- fchool here erefted, befides his fubfcription to the faid charity-fchool, mentioned in the table, and divers other charities to the poor, did, by his deed of ufes bearing date the nth day of December 1731, fettle the fum of 5I, per annum forever, payable out of his eftate called Summers's, for cloathing five poor boys, natives of the faid parilh, who Ihall conftantly attend the faid fchool."
The
Cbeto.] C H E W - S T • O K E. c:
The parfonage-hoiife is a very old building, now converted into a parifh worklioufc. On the front over tJie weft window thefe arms are cut in ftone: — On a bend three annulets, over all a label of three points, Sf, Loe, innpaling a crofs wavy. St. Loc, impaling Fitzpaine. St. Loe, impaling a fakire engrailed between four leopards'' heads; Atifell. St. Loe, impaling two bars dauncettee, Rivers.
Over the next window: — Three unicorns pafiant, Ragland, St. Loe, impaling three ^fcallop fhells, Malet. Three moor's heads wreathed.
Over the door: — St. Loe. A moor's head in a chaplet wreathed. The rofe and crown. Dexter hand in a chaplet, A fefle between fix billets. On each fide HdUd
Deo: and on a fcroii, 3 ©fio faftu cft \\i\x'Q QUOD &arrg in anno Oni epDrrir^
The St. Loe's arms are alfo in other parts of the hotife.
CLUTTON 0
IS a parifli fituated on very high ground, ten miles fouth from Briftol, ten ilorih from Wells, and twelve weft from Bath, to each of which cities there is a turnpike- road from hence. This parifh is one tithing, and contains one hundred and feventy- five houfes, and nine hundred inhabitants. The country abounds with excellent coals, •the veins of which are generally covered with a ftony ftratum, which the miners call Wark. It fplits like flate, and abounds with imprefTions of fern and other plants. Over this is another ftratum called the Thorny Cliff, which is intermixed with arborefcent marcafites. The coal is often tinged with fulphur: fome years fince one ftratum wrought here was fo ftrongly impregnated with it, that in all its joints it feemed to be covered witli leaf-gold. In another work near three hundred weight of good lead ore was found growing to a vein of coal.
This place is noticed in the general furvey of this kingdom by the name of C/tf/ew, the derivation of which is uncertain. The Conqueror gave it to the Bifhop of Coutance:
*' William holds of the Bifliop, Clutone. Turchel held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for ten hides. The arable is eight canicates. In dcmcfne are <* three carucates, with one fervant, and ten villanes, and twelve cottagers, with fix " plouglis. There is a mill of thirty pence rent, and one himdred and fcven acres of " meadow. Pafture ten furlongs long, and four furlongs broad, A wood half a n>i!c *' long, and as much broad. It was worth three pounds, now fix pounds.'"
The firft notice that occurs concerning this manor in times fubfcquent to the Conqueft, is in an inquifition taten after the deceafe of Robert Gycne, wherein the faid Robert is certified to have held this manor with the advowfon of the church for the term of his life of John de Greyville, by thefervice of paying to the faid Jolin and
f Lib. Domefday,
his
96 C L U T - T O N. l€tm*
his heirs a rofe yearly for all fervicesj reverfionary to the faid John de GreyvIUe, then a minor and in ward to the Earl of Hertford, of whom the manor and advowfon are certified to be held by the fcrvice of one knight's fee and a half, and doing fuit to his court at Monkton-Farley.'' This Greyville or Grevile was progenitor of the Earls of Warwick, and in this family (having pafled through the names of Stafford, Willoughby, Broke, &c.) the manor is vefted at the prefent day, being the property of George Grevile, Earl Broke, and Earl of Warwick. His Lordlhip's arms are, Salle, on a crofs within a bordure engrailed or, five pellets.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Redclifi^ and Bedminfter. The Earl of Warwick is patron, and the Rev. Dr. Morgan the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Auguftine, is a handfome edifice, confifting of a nave, chancel, and porch, all covered with lead. The tower at the weft end was rebuilt in the year 1728, and contains a clock and five bells.
Againft the north wall of the chancel there is a plain neat monument of white marble, infcribed to the memory of John Newel, gent, who died Aug. 6, 177 1, aged 41 years; with divers other infcriptions to the families of Burton; Rev. Mr. Thomas Ment, refbor of Glutton, who died May 6, 1715; Moore; and Poole.
The chriftenings are twenty-fix, the burials eighteen, on an annual average.
>> Efc. z6 Edw. III.
D U N D R Y.
THE name of this village was derived from two Erfe words. Dun and Draegb, fignifying a hill of oaks, of which wood without doubt there was plenty in ancient times in this neiglibourhood ; and indeed at prefent there are remains of fome oak groves in the common northward of the village, though they bear on their ftinted trunks the marks of that eold northern blaft which impedes the progrefs of vegetation.
It is fituated on a very lofty and bleak fpot, fourteen miles weft from Bath, and five fouth from Briftol, and commands one of the moft extenfive and beautiful profpefts in the weft of England.
To the north and eaft the cities of Bath and Briftol are both in view; the hills about Calne and Devizes, feen above the former, bound the profpeft. To the right of Briftol are feen the hills near Berkeley and Stroud in Gloucefterftiire, and the view extends to the Malvern fummits. From north to weft the Severn, with the Welfti coaft and mountains for nearly forty miles in length, and the Quantock hills near Bridgwater, appear to view. To the fouth the eye ranges over a rich and beautifully varied country, aud fees Stourhead, Knoll-Hill, and Clay-Hill near Warminfter, with the noble plantations of Lord Weymouth and the Duke of Somerfet, bounded by. the high lands in the vicinity of Shaftlbury.
The
CDCto.] D U N D R r. >05
The paridi is compofed of forty-two houfes, and about two hundred inhabitants; and is divided into the tithings of Eafi-Dundryy M'^eji-Dundry, and Littleton -, bcfidcs which there are t\vo iiannlets, called High-Ridge and Cold-Harbour i the former taining fourteen houfes, the letter five.
The lands are about an equal mixture ofpafture and arable,^ and tolerably good, but from their cold expofiire to the winds blowing from the Channel, the crops are more backward than in mofl: other parts of the county. The weftern fummit of the hill is a moft bleak, dreary, and folitary fituation, whereon nature has been very fparing with her gifts, and the hand of art never exerted itfelf but in hewing out immenfe quarries in days of yore, and erefting one poor forfaken building for the purpofe of a beacon- houfe. This building is compofed of two ftones put flantwife for a covering, with an arched door- way three feet high, and two and a half wide. The room within is five feet and a half long, and five feet wide. TIk whole feems rather to have been a kind of watch-houle to a bergierj or perhaps the keeper of a beacon, than a beacon itfelf^ as no marks of fire are diftinguifhable in any part of its compofition^
The manor of Dundry is not mentioned in: the Norman Sui-vey, having anciently been a member of the manor of Chew-Magna, and held by the Bifhops of Bath and. Wells till the time of Edw, VI. when it was alienated from the church, and given to the Duke of Somerfet; upon whofe attainder it reverted to the crown, and pafled through feveral hands, till by purchafe it came to the poflefTion of the family of Popham, who enjoyed it for a confiderable time; but in the year 1766 it was conveyed by Edward Popham, efq; to Richard Summers, efqj the prefent proprietor.
The hofpital of St. John the Baptift in the city of Briftol had divers lands and tenements in Dundry," which 36 Flen. VIII. were granted to George Owen, efq.
15 Ric. II. Edmund BafTet poiTcfled lands in this place.^ There were alfo five pieces of land in Dundiy, given for the fupport of a lamp in the church, which lands,, aftei- the diflblution of chantries, 7 Edward VI. were granted to Thomas Reeve and
George Cotton, and by them fold to PIughTynte, clerk, and Cocks ofWraxall..
I Mary, Tynte and Cocks fold the fame to Peyton and others, as feoffees for die parifh.^
The living is annexed to Chew-Magna, and is in the deanery of RedclifTand Bed- minfter. 1 1 was always heretofore confidered as a chapel to the above-named church.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel,"* ftands on the top of a very high hill, and is ktn at an immenfe diitance both by lea and land: It confifls of a nave, north aile, and chancel. At the weft end is a beautiful tower with cluftered open turreted pinnacles, fifteen feet high above die battlements, and containing a clock and fix bells. Notwithftanding the elevated fituation of diis church, it is very damp.
Againft the north wall of the chancel is a neat monument of white and mottled marble, eredted "In memory of William Symes, gent, of this parifh, who died
• Pat. i6Ed.II. » Rot. Pari. ' Takenfrom aDeedin thechurchcheft of Dundry, 23 Nov. 1786.
• Sec vol. j. p. 76, note I. ^
Vol. II. ' P Nov..
io6
U N D R Y. [C!)CtO»
Nov. 6, 1760, aged 77. Alfo of Benjamin Symes, gent, fon of the above William and Letitia Symes, who departed this Ufe July 3, 1779, aged 49. Alio of William Symes, gent, fon of William Symes and Letitia his wife of this parifh, gent, who de-
parted'this life Sept. 10, 1741, in the 15th year of his age." Arms: Or, two lions
pair^nt, hngaedy/aMe. On a quarter of the laft three bezants: impahng, on a chevron gules, between three crefcents or, as many flags' heads of the fame, caboffed.
There is alfo a fmall mural monument to Benjamin Godwin, gent, who died April Q.2, 1743, aged 68. Alfo to Anne his wife, who died June 10, 1740, aged 70.
There are likewife memorials for the families ofTibbot, (arms: barry, gules and argent, afefs embattled>/-/f.') Haythorne, Hellier, Webb, Branch, and others; and on
a brafs plate the following infcription: " In memory of WilHam and Martha Jones,
of Bifhport. She died March 3, 1749, aged 67. He died May 16, 1753, aged 81. He was a man of well-known integrity, and whofe natural abilities were fo great, that by them only he clearly comprehended the powers of the human mindj and unaided by academical education, was able to refute with uncommon fagacity the Havifh fyftems of ufurped authority over the rights, the confciences, or the reafon of mankind ! ! ! !"
Near the church there ftands an ancient houfe, built by the Bifhops of Bath and Wells for the refidence of an officiating m.inifter, but which is now converted into a poor-houfe. And in the church-yard is a handfome crofs.
Dundry gave birth to Henry Hellier, a learned divine, and fellow of Gorpus-Chrifli CoUeo-e in Oxford, A. D. 1687. Among other things he publifhed a fermon preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, Dec. 4, 1687, concerning the obligadon of oaths, (Pfalm XV. 4.) which was "diought to refled on King James II. for breaking Ms oath at his coronation.
The chriftenings in this parifh are on an average twelve, the burials eight.
« The lands of Tibbot in Dundry do now belong to John Blagrave, efq.
NORTON-HAUTVILLE, or HAWKFIELD.
THIS vill, lying north from Chew, the hundred town, to which parifh^ it is a tithing, obtained from that circumflance the original appellation of Norton or Ncrth-To'wn. The other was added in confequence of its having been pofTefTed by the family n'i Hautevilk or de Alta Villa, who were defcended from the ancient houfe of that name in the diocefe of Seiz in Normandy.
Of this name of Hautville lived many in the reigns of John, Henry the Third, and Edward the Firfl and Second, in all whofe wars they were engaged, and efteenied
mighty warriors,
" ' Sir
CaetD.] N O R T O N-H A U T V I L L E. 107
Sir John Hautville lived in the tinne of Henry the Third, and was engaged in all the wars of that Prince, and 54th of that reign was figncd with the crofs in order to hi* going to the Holy Land with Prince Edward. In his old age he b laid to have refidcd at Norton, where he fcems to have been fomewhat of a terror to the inhabitants^ inafmuch as thty termed him a giant, and there ftill remain in this neighbourhood, between Chew and Pensford, two huge ftones, called by the common people Hautville s Celts, and vulgarly fuppofed to have been tlirown there by this champion.
Sir Geffcrey de Hautville was his fuccefibr, and 25 Edw. I. was one of thofe gentry of this county who were fummoned to be in London with horfe and arms, the Sunday after the oftave of the feaft of St. John the Baptift, in order to attend the king into foreign parts.'
To him fucceeded William, and to him Sir GefFerey de Hautville; but the name leems to have ended about the commencement of the reign of Ed. 11. or the beginning of that of Edw. III. at leaft we find no more of them in thefe parts. For in the laft- mentioned reign we learn, from indubitable records, that the manor of Norton, then called Norton-Hautville, belonged to a family who afltimed their name from IVtck in., the parifh of Yatton, where there ftill remains an ancient manor-place known by tlie name of Court de Wick.''
John De Wick is the firft that I find poflrefTed of Norton. He was a perfon emi- nent in his days, and died ao Edw. III. The inquifition after his deceafe fays that he held half a knight's fee here, which Gefferey de Hautville formerly held of the Bilhop of Bath. His wife's name was Egelina, who after his death married to her fccond hufband Robert Cheyne, efij; of the family of Cheyne in Lancartiire, who in her right became poneflTed of the manor and advowfon of the church of Norton, and left them to a coufiia of his own name."
It does not appear when Robert Cheyne the fecond died, but his heir and fucceflbr. was Sir William Cheyne, knight, who lived in the time of Henry V. and fecms to- have been a perfon of confiderable account and property in this county and Dorfetfhire. At his death, 8 Hen. V. he is certified to have held this manor, with the advowfon of the free chapel here appertaining to the manor, of the BiHiop of Bath and W^ ells,*
Edmund Cheyne, his fon and heir, fucceeded to the manor.
After him came Edward Cheyney, whofe name is mentioned 7 Hen.. VI. as pof- fefTing half a knight's fee here. But he feems to have alienated it, for in the very fame reign Walter de Sutton is certified in the Book of Fees to hold that half knight's fee in Norton-Hautville wliich the Wykes and Cheyneys formerly held of the Bilhops of Bath and Wells .^
To him fucceeded William de Sutton, probably his Ion and heir. Birt I find no more of tlio manor for fevcral reigns, till in that of Edw. VI. both die manor and the advovlbn and right of patronage of the church were found to be in tiie poflelTion of Thomas Hulley, clq; of Cakhorp in Lincolnlhire. Wliich Thomas Hulfcy 5 Ed. VI,
• Clauf.ijEdw. L » Inq. poft More ' Efc. "Ibid, • Lib. Fcod,
P 2 ibid
.7o8 N a R T O N -H A U T V I L L E. [C!)eto.
fold thv;fe-pofl*efrions to John Cutler, of Stanfted in Suflex, efqj and he the year following •diipofed of the fame to James and John Bifs, of Stoke "St. Michael in this county, 14 Jac. I. James Bifs and James his fon fold the fame to James Ford, of Norton- Hawkfield, gent. "William Ford, A. D. 1666, fold the manor to the Rev. Nathaniel Ingelo, D. D. fellow of Eton College in the county of Bucks/
In this tithing of Norton-Hautville there is an old camp or fortification, called May's-Knoll, fuppofed to be Roman, It is encompafled with a fingle ditch, the grafF .whereof is higheft on the weft fide, and includes upwards of twenty acres. The entrance being narrow, is barred with a high rampart. The common people tell us that this knoll was the refidence o( Haulvilk, {ox Hakill, as they call him) the fuppofed giant, whom we have before mentioned, and tiiat it was from this place that he flung his coit.
Tlie church of Norton-Hautville has long fince been deftroyed, but the foundations fhew where it once ftood. The advowfon was generally annexed to the manor, and was fome time held by the Babers of Regilbury, and lately by Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte, bart.
In this church were interred the remains of Sir John Hautville, and his effigy cut in wood placed over his monument; which, when the church was deftroyed, was removed JO Chew church, where it now remains, and in the account of which we have defcribed it.
There was a chantiy in this church, founded by one of the Cheynes, the laft incum- bent of vsihich was Thomas Ellys, who in 1553, when the chantry was diflblved, was allowed a penfion of il. 6s. 8d.
' From authentick evidences.
N O R T O N-M ALREWARD.
IT may not be foreign to the purpofe to notice (though it would be ridiculous to controvert) the popular opinion which has prevailed from time immemorial con- cerning the etymology of the name of this place. Sir John Hautville, of whom we have juft fpoken, was a man of prodigious ftrength, and withal a great favourite with King Edward I. who frequented his houfe at the other Norton in this neighbour- hood.* The King, having one day expreffed his defire of knowing the extent of Sir John's manhood, and feeing a fpecimen of his abilities, the knight undertook to convey three of the ftouteft men in his Majefty's army up to the top of Norton tower. This he effefted by taking one under each arm, and the third in his teeth. Thofe under his arms made fome reftftance, for which Sir John fqueezed them to death ere he reached ihe fumniiti but the other in his teeth was carried up unhurt. For this feat of ftrengtK
* See page 99.
Cl)Cto.] N O R T O N-M A L R E W A R D. 109
the King gave Sir John Hautville all hiseftate lying in this parifh of Norton, obfcrving at the fame time it was but -ajmall reward; from whence (fay they) comes the fumamc of this parifh of Norton !
The family of Malreward, Maurcward, in after days contrafted into Marwood, who aftually impofed their appellation on the place, were people of eminence and diftlndcion in this county, and in Dorfet, and Devon, and bore for their arms a chevron between three goats' heads erafed. Thefe Malrewards poireficd three manors in the county of Dorfet, viz. Winterborne, in Ruflimere hundred, Shipton in Whitchurch, and Kingfton in the hundred of St. George." In Devonfliire they had lands in Sj^cccot in the hundred of Shebeare, in the time of Hen. III. of the grant of Nicholas Speccot;' but their principal feat was at this Norton, where they had free warren in their eftate.* In a chartulary of Kington abbey in the county of Wilts," Sir William Malreward, knt. is fet down as one of the principal benefiidtors to that monaftery, Jiaving given thereto the church of Twiverton near Bath, and lands in Bromham, Raymore, and Keinton in Wilts. Geffrey Malreward confirmed the grant,'
This manor does not feem to be furveyed in the Domefday record, nor does it ap- pear when it came to the family before fpoken of. The name indeed could have exifted here but afliort fpace of time; for in the reign of Edward II. John Le Sore of Backwell is certified to hold the manor of Northon-Maureward by the fervice of one knight's fee. 20 Ed, III. Elawifia de Button held one knight's fee here, which John de Button formerly held,^ 7 Hen, VI, Thomas Ruge is certified to hold the fame,** 23 Hen, VI, Robert Greyndor, efq; held at his death this manor, and the advowfon of All-Saints church here of the abbot of Keynlham.' 2 Ric. Ill, Joane Barre, widow, died feized of this manor, with the manors of Charlcombe, Pury- Furneaux, and Cheriton, leaving Robert Ballet, efq; Lucy the wife of Thomas Choke, jun', Joane the wife of Thomas Choke, fen', Elizabeth the wife of John Choke, and William Strode, her next heirs.'' BafTet, the firft-mentioned, became pofTeflTed of Norton, and for a term of years leafed it to David Brooke, efq. In 1701 tlie exe- cutors of Sir William BalTet of Claverton, under the authority of a decree in chancery, • fold this and other manors to Richard Holder, efq; whofe fon, Robert Holder, in 17 1 8 fold the fame to Francis Freeman, and Samuel Prigg, efqrs, and it now jointly belongs to Sir George Onefiphorus Paul, bart. and to Francis Adams, efq; from tlieir mothers, the coheirefTes of Mr, Freeman.
Norton-Malreward is a fmall pariHi, under the fouth brow of Dundry hill, twelve miles wefl from Bath, and fix fouth from Briflol. It contains eighteen houfes, and about one hundred inhabitants.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bcdminfter. The Rev. Mr. Butler is both patron and incumbent.
' Hutchins's Dorfet. ' Sir W. Pole's MSS. " Cart. 26 Edw. I. ' Cartular. de Keinton MS.
' Mon. Angl. i. 888. ■= Lib. Feod. " Ibid. ' Efc. " Ibid. _
The
no NORTON-MAL REWARD. [Cfjeto*
• The church confifts of a nave leaded, and a chancel and porch tiled. • At the Weft end is a fquare embattled tower, forty feet high, containing two bells.
On the north wall of the chancel there is a fmall ftone infcribed to the memory of Robert Paine, formerly redor of this church, who died Dec. 1 1, A. D. 1720, aged 91. And on the floor another to Mary the wife of the faid Robert Paine, who died Jan. 29, 1714, aged 86.
Againft the fouth wall of the nave is an elegant monument of white and grey
marble, infcribed " To the memory of Shute Adams, elq; who departed this life
on the 10th day of January 1766, aged 48; and of Frances his wife, who died the a6th
of January 1775, aged 55." Arms: Quarterly, firft and fourth vert, a pale argent^
between two griffins fegreant or. Second and third, three lozenges, argent.
S T O . W E Y,
A Small parifh adjoining to Chew-Stoke eaftward, confifting of about twenty houfes, moft of which are thatched, and fo furrounded with lofty elms and other wood as not to be feen at any diftance. In a lane near the church a fpring rifes, and flows along the weft fide of the ftreet in its way to the river at Pensford. The Anno- tator on Camden mentioning this, obferves it to be of a very petrifying quality, but at prefent it retains no more of it than ferves to form flight incruftations round fticks and other bodies, which it pafTes over. It is very remarkable, however, that no perfon who drinks frequently of this water, was ever known to have the ftone or gravel.
The manor of Stowey was held in the Conqueror's time by Dodo a Thane, as we read in the furvey:
" Dodo holds Stawe. Siwold held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for " three virgates of land. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one carucate, '* and three fervants, and fix villanes, and two cottagers, and a mill untaxed, and five ,* acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture, and three acres of wood. It was for- «' merly, and is now worth twenty (hillings.'"
7 Hen. VI. it was found, by an inquifition taken at Axbridge, that John Candell held half a knight's fee in Stowey in the hundred of Chew, which Hamon Fitz-Richard formerly held.*" The manor is now the property of Mrs. Jones, who refides here.
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of RedclifFand Bedminfter, and in the patro- nage of the Bifliop of Bath and Wells. The Rev. Mr. Sayle is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a fmall ftrufture, confifting of one aile, \vith a tower at the weft end containing five fmall bells. At tiie eaft end of the nave is
't3
* Lib. Domefday, t IJb. Feod.
» very
Cl)Cto.] S T O W E Y. >- III
a veiy elegant mural monument of white marble, on the tablet of which is this infcrip-
tion: "Sacred to the memories of William Jones of this parifh, efqj who died
Jan. 4, 1748, aged 69. lie was a commiffioner of the peace in die reigns of Queen Anne, King George the Firft, and of his prefent Majcfty; which tnift he difchargcd with great candour and impartiality. He was fecond fon of Samuel Jones, of Ramlbury in the county of Wilts, efq. Likewife of Elizabeth his wife, who died Dec, 26, 1743, aged 6g. She was in every part of her life worthy of imitation for all virtues and chriftian graces. She was daughter of John Strachey, of Sutton-Court, efq; by Jane his wife, one of the daughters and coheirefles of George Hodges, of Wcdmore in this county. And alfo of Richard Jones, fon of the abovefaid William
and Elizabeth Jones, who died March 14, 1724, aged 17." The arms of Jones
are. Per pale, azure and gules, three lions rampant, argent.
On a ftone in the chancel floor: -" Edwardus Barnard, hujus ecclefia: vicarius,
obijt Februarij xii°. An. Dom. 1658, stat. fuae 72."
On another ftone: "In memory of the Rev. Mr. A*Deane, vicar of this
parifh, who departed the nth of September 1773, aged 58."
On the outfide walls of the church is found the velvet orange-coloured mofs, very bright and lively.
In this parifh was bom Parfons, the Jefuit, reftor of the Englifh college at Rome, where he died, and was buried A. D. 16 10.
TIMSBURY
IS a pillage pleafantly fituated about eight miles weft from Bath, confifting of about fifty houlcs, moft of which form a ftreet near the church, which (lands on ele- vated ground, with a fine vale on the foudi, ar.d commanding a rich and extcnfivc profpc(5t. The lands are moftly pafture, and well wooded with elm, and are worth from fifteen to thirty fhillings an acre. Here are feveral large coal-works, from which^ and thofe at Glutton, the city of Bath is moftly fupplied. The price at the pit's mouth is threepence per bufliel. Varieties of fcfTils are found here, and fom,e curious lichens and polypodies. From the top of a lofty eminence called Timfbury Slade, ifTues a fine Ipring of excellent foft water, which, forming a rivulet, pafles through the village. From this high land diere is a beautiful profpedt to the fouth and weft.
The name of this place has been differently called, as Timjborcugh, Timejlarowe, and Temjhury, and in the Norman Record it pafTes through two appellations. It is thus defcribed in two feparate parcels, one as die Bifhop of Coutance's land, and the other as diat cf Odo Flandrenfis:
« William
112 T I M S B , U R Y. [Cbeiw*
" William holds of the Bifhop Temesbare. Ape held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne " is oiie carucate, and two fervants, and two villanes, and one cottager with one plough. " There are t^vo parts of a mill rendering three Ihillings, and twenty-fix acres of mea- " dow, and as many of pafture. It was worth twenty-fix fhillings, now fifty Ihiilings.
" To this manor are added two hides, which Sibe held in the time of King Edward " for a manor, and gelded for as much. The arable is two carucates, and there are " with it one fervant, and one villane, and three cottagers. There is a third part of a mill " rendering two fliillings, and fixteen acres of meadow, and as much of pafture. It " was worth fourteen fliillings, now thirty fhillings."*
" Odo Flandrenfis (or of Flanders) holds Timesberie. Gonuerd held it in the *' time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is four carucates. " There are two ploughs, and five villanes, and three cottagers,, and a mill of forty " pence rent, and forty acres of meadow wanting one, and thirty- nine acres of pafture. " It is worth three pounds.'""
In the time of Henry III. thefe lands were the property of the family of Waddone, of whom was Heniy de Waddone," and in the fucceeding reign of Edw. I. Humfrey de Waddone, who is certified to hold at his death the m.anor and advowfon of Tymmerefbarue of the King in chief by knight's fervice. His heir was Michael de Waddone.'' 28 Hen. VI. William de Paulton died feized hereof^ leaving for his heirs Joane the wife of John Kelly, and Agnes the wife of Nicholas St. Loe.° The St. Loes had this manor fome time, but alienated it, and it was afterwards poflefled by the Sambornes and the Pophams; it was lately purchafed out of Chancery by Jacob Mogg, efq; of High-Littleton, Mr. Crang of this parilli, Mr. Savage of Midfummer- Norton, and the late Mr. Alexander Adams.
The livihg is a reAory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfter, valued in 1292 at nine marks three fliillings and fourpence, out of which a portion of ten fliillings was paid to the monks of Farley.' It is in the patronage of Baliol College in Oxford, and the Rev. Mr. Wood is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall edifice pleafantly fituated, and furrounded with fir trees j it is fixty feet in length, and thirty-two in breadth. It cohfifts of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, and porch, all leaded} at the weft end is afquare embattled tower forty feet high, in which are fix bells.
On an old ftone tomb in the chancel is the effigies of a man in armour, and over it is a mural monument of ftone, the cornice of which is fupported by two fmall Corinthian columns at each end three feet high. Of the infcription on the tablet nothing more can be difcovered than that the monument was erefted to the memory of Sir Barnaby Samborne, who all his life fliewed his affedlion to his king and country.
On the left is a neat mural monument of white marble, infcribed on the tablet, " Without this wall lyeth the body of Thomas Samborne, efq; fon of Capt. Samborne.
' Lib. Domefday. *> lb. • Mag. Rot. 32 Hen. III. " Efc. 14 Ed. I. ' Efc. 28 Hen. VI. * Tax. Spirit.
He
Cbeto.]
T I M S B U R Y.
JJ3
He died Oiflober 23, 1723) aged 2^- Within the communion rails lieth the body of/ Rebecca Samborne, daughter of the faid Captain Sambornc. She died Jan. 20, 1747, aged 66."
On the fouth fide of the chancel is a very neat mural monument of white marble, infcribed: " Near this place lieth the body of Bartholomew Deeke, who was forty- two years reftorof this parifh. He died Jan. 16, 1731, aged 69. Alfo the body of Hannah, relift of the faid Bartholomew Deeke, who died Jan. 3, 1743, aged 80. Alfo the body of Bartholomew, fecond fon of the faid Bartholomew and Hannah Deeke, who died Feb. 17, 1721, aged 22, Alfo of Thomas their eldcft fon, who died May 25, 1763, aged 68."
In the fouth aile is a mural monument of ftone, infcribed,
" Within this aile lie part of the ancient family of the Sambornes.
Thomas, eldtft fon of Sir Barnaby, was
interred Jan. 30^ 1636. Mary Samborne, June 14, 1658^ Sufannah Samborne, April 3, 1663. Philadelphia Samborne, Feb, 24, 1667. Elizabeth Samborne, July 17, 1678. Mawdley Samborne, efq; Feb. 24, 1678.
Audry Samborne, March 4, 1700. Thomas Samborne, efq; Nov. "14, 17 15. Rebecca Samborne, his widow, Nov. 15,
1726. Elizabeth their daughter, 0(5t. 19, 1743. Mary their daughter, Feb. 3, 1746. Martha their daughter, Jan. 12, 1750."
Mary his daughter, Nov. 22, 1694.
In the porch floor is a ftone infcribed:
" Rev. James Crang, B. A. died July 30, 1779, aged 24."
Lands in this parifh formerly belonged to St. Mary Magdalen's hofpital in Bath.
Tlie annual number of chriftenings in this parifh is on an average feventeen, the burials fixteen.
Vol. II.
Q.
THE
[ "S J
THE HUNDRED OF
H E W T O N
Is divided into three feparate parts; the firft, containing a great number of pariflici, is fituated fouthward from the hundred of Chew; the fecond, containing only- one parilh, lies betwixt the hundreds of Wrington, RedclifF and Bedminfter, and Winterftoke; and the laft, containing alfo one parifli, is almoft environed by the hun- dred of Winterftoke, and fituated on the Briftol Channel. Its lords were thofe of the great barony of Chewton under Mendip. 17 Edw. III. it was found not to the King's damage to grant licence to Henry Fitz-Roger to give the bailiwick of the bedelary of the hundred of Chewton to Thomas de Panes, for the term of his life. And the faid bailiwick is certified to be held of the King in capite by the fervice of doing the King's executions, and the mandates of the fteward in the fame hundred.*
• Inq. ad quod damnum 17 Edw. III.
I
CHEWTON-MENDIP,
Or, The Town upon the Chew,
S additionally ftiled Mendip, by reafon of its fituation under that mountain, and to jL diftinguifh it from Chewton-Keynrtiam, fo called from its vicinity to tliat town. It lies in the great turnpike-road from Briftol to Wells, being fourteen miles and a half diftant from the former, and from the latter five, and confifts of one ftreet nearly a mile in length. The parifh itfelf is very large in its bounds, extending fome ways four, and others fix or feven miles. In that part of it which lies on Mendip hilk there arc many pits, where lead ore and lapis calaminaiis have formerly been dug in large quan- tities; but there are only two mines of the latter now wrought.
Q^2 This
•«
J i6 c H E vv T o N - M E N D I P. [<2:f)etoton»
This great manor was before the Conqueft the pofTefTion of Queen Editha, wife of Edward the ConfefTor;'' but it was foon brought into the Conqueror's hands, and held by him when the Norman Record was compofed.
" The King holds Ciwetune. There are twenty-nine hides. In the time of King " Edward it gelded for fourteen hides. The arable is forty carucates. Thereof in " demefne are eighteen hides, and there are nine carucates, and twenty fervants, and " two coliberts, and eighteen villanes, and twenty-five cottagers, with nineteen ploughs. " There are five mills, rendering thirty fhillings wanting five pence, and one hundred " acres of meadow. Pafture two miles long, and one mile broad. A wood one mile in " length and breadth. In Bath four burgelles pay forty pence. It yields fifty pounds " by tale. In the time of Queen Editha it yielded thirty pounds.
" The abbot of Jumieges holds the church of this manor with half a hide of land. " There are two carucates and a half, and two fervants, and two villanes, and eight " bordars, and eight cottagers. It was and is worth forty, fhillings.""
In the time of Henry II. Chewton was the land of Geffrey Martel, a perfon of eminence, being chief butler to the King, and of an ancient family chiefly feated in Dorfetfhire from the time of the Conquefl." To which Geffery fuccceded John, Ivo, William, and Roger Martel, whofe daughter and coheirefs Joan brought it by marriage to Reginald, younger fon of Reginald Fitz-Peter, who died feized of it 14 Edw. I. having held it of the King in chief by the fervice of half a knight's fee.'* After this we find the manor and hundred of Chewton in the pofTefTion of John de Vivonia, who died 7 Edw. II. and after him Joan de Vivonia is certified to hold the hundred and manor of Chewton, reverfionary to Reginald Fitz-Reginald and Peter Fitz-Reginald." Which Peter Fitz- Reginald foon after came to the whole pofTefTion of this manor, but died 16 Edw, II. and was fuccceded in his eftates by Henry Fitz-Roger, who had married his relation.^ 23 Edw. III. this Henry Fitz-Roger obtained a licence from the King to refound at his manor of Chewton under Mendip a certain oratory of the order of the Brethren of St. Crofs, near the Tower at London, and to give four mefTuages and three acres of land in Chewton to the prior and brethren of the faid order, for the celebration of divine fervice therein.* This Henry Fitz-Roger died 26 Edw. III. In the fucceeding reign the manor and hundJ^ of Chewton were held by Sir John Bonville, in right of Eliza- beth his wife, of the King in chief by mihtary fervice. He died 20 Ric. II. leaving by the faid Ehzabeth, WilHam his fon and heir. Which William was alio a knight, and having been in the wars of France in the times of Plenty V. and VI. had fummons to parliam.ent in 1449 by the title of Lord Bonville of Chewton, a title which ended with his life foon after the fecond battle of St. Alban's between the forces of York and Lancafter, where he loft his head. In his time great dilputes arofe between the tenants at Chewton and the prior of Greenoar cell upon Mendip within this parifh,'' concerning certain incroachments made by the miners, and fome outrages committed by the tenants. Thefe matters arofe to fo great a height, that a formal complaint was pre-i
• Lib. Domefday. "Ibid. « Cart, antiq. ''. Efc. e Ibid. ' Cart, antiq. Mnq. ad quod damnum. It was a cell to Glaflonbury Abbey, now an extraparoclual farm betwixt Chewton and Priddy.
fented
Cfietoton,] C H E W T O N - M E N D I p. 117
fentcd by the. prior to the King, who commanded Lord Chief Jiiftice Choke to go down into the county and compromifc the difference. This was the origin of the fctthng the laws of the miners ofMcndip, which are ftill obfervcd; and at this day a court is occafionally held here, called the JMinery Court, at which all difputes between the miners are tried and finally fettled. Any miner who finds himfelf aggrieved, com- plains to an officer called the Ledreeve, who is obliged by his office to attend to all fuch complaints, and to fiimmon a jury of twenty-four miners, who meet and hold a court, wherein all fuch caics are tried and adjudged by the laws of Mendip, from whence there is no appeal. Baniffiment from the hill is the higheft punifliment this court has power to infliftj they have fmaller of various kinds.'
This great barony of Chewton, coming into the hands of the crown, by the attainder of Henry Duke of Sufiblk, was granted by Queen Mary in the firft year of her reign- to Sir Edward Waldegrave, knt. one of her Majefty's privy council, and mafter of the great wardrobe. In 1554 this Sir Edward was elefted one of the knights for Somer- fctfliire, and having married Frances daughter of Sir Edward Nevil, knt. died Sept. i, 1 56 1, leaving ifllie Charles his fon and heir, and Nicholas Waldegrave of Borely in Eflex, as alfo three daughters, Mary, Magdalen, and Catherine.
Charles Waldegrave, his fon and heir, was of Staining-Hall in Norfolk, and of Chewton. He married Jeronyma, daughter to Sir Henry Jerningham, of Coffee-Hall in the county of Norfolk, knt. and by her had iffue Edward, who fucceeded him, and two daughters, Frances and Magdalen.
Edward Waldegrave received the honour of knighthood in 1607, and at the breaking out of the civil war behaved fo worthily in defence of the royal caufe, that King Charles I. conferred on him in 1643 the dignity of a baronet. He married Eleanor daughter of Sir Thomas Lovel, of Harling in Norfolk, knt. and was father of Sir Henry Waldegrave," bart.
Which Sir Henry was ftiled of Staining-Hall, and married to his firft vtifc Ann, daughter of Edward Pafton, efq; by whom he had Icven fons and four daughters. To his fecond wife he married Catherine, daughter of Richard Bacon, efqj by whom he had fix fons and fix daughters. He died Odl. 10, 1658.
Sir Charles Waldegrave, bart. his eldeft fon and heir, was by letters patertt bearing date Jan. 20, 1685-6, i Jac. II. created Baron Waldegrave, of Chewton in the county ofSomerfetj and in February the year following was appointed comptroller of the King's houfhold. Upon the revolution he retired into France, where he died at Paris hi 1689. He married Henrietta, natural daughter of James II. by Mrs. Arabella Churchill, and by her had two fons, James and Henry, and a daughter whofe name ■was Arabella.
James, the eldeft fon and heir, being a perfon of great honour and abilities, ferved their Majefties Geo. I. and II. in the capacity of ambaflador to feveral foreign courts; and whilft he was abroad in the fervice of his country, was, Sept. 13, 1729, created Vifcount Chewton and Earl Waldegrave. His Lordftiip married Mary, daughter
' The laws of the miners were printed at London 1687, izmo,
of
ii8 C H E W T O N - M E N D I p. [CljetotOttf
of Sir John Webb, of Hatherop in Gloucefterfliire, barl. and was father of three Tons, James the I'econd Earl Waldegrave, John who died in infancy, and John who fiicceeded his brother as third Earl Waldegrave; as alfo one daughter of the name of Henrietta. The above-mentioned James Earl Waldegrave died in 1741, at his feat at NavcftocTc in the county of Efiex, in the church of which he lies interred.
James Earl Waldegrave, the fecond of that name, fucceeded his father in titles and eftatcs; and having gone through divers important offices in the court of his late Majefty, died of the fmall-pox, April 28, 1763, and was alfo buried at Naveftock. He married Maria, fecond daughter of Sir Edward Walpolc, knight of the Bath, and by her had three daughters, Elizabeth-Laura, Charlotte-Maria, and Anna-Horatia. Deceafing without male iflue, his Lordfhip was fucceeded by his only furviving brother
John, third and prefent Earl Waldegrave and Vifcount Chewton, who inherits this manor, and pofTefles nearly the whole of the parifli. "His Lordfhip's arms are. Party per pale argent and gules.
There are certain fmall rents paid by fome tenants of this manor, called Sacrafield Rents, which probably originated from fome religious inftitution."
There is- a large hamlet belonging to this parifh, called North-Widcomb, lying near Hinton-Blewet, about five miles northward from Chewton, and containing about twenty houfes. The manor of this hamlet in early times belonged to the barons Beau- champ of Hatch, into which family it came widi many other manors in this county by the marriage of John de Beauchamp with Ceciha one of the fillers and coheirefles of William de Fortibus. This John de Beauchamp died 12 Edw. I.' By an inquifi- tion taken 48 Edw. III. it was found that Matthew Gournay and Ahce his wife held this hamlet for the term of their lives, of the grant of Alice late wife of John Beau- champ, who had it in dower."" The Gournays had it for fome time, and after them the Tiptots. Sir John TiptotLord Powis died feized of it 21 Hen. VI. John his fon and heir aged eighteen years. 23 Hen. VI. Edmund Duke of Somerfet held it at his death." Leland calls it Whitecoml/e, and tells us Gurney was lord of it, and of Riche- monte caftle by Mendepe."
We learn from Domefday-Book that there was a church at Chewton fo early as the Norman Conquert. This church, with the appendant lands, was held by the Abbot of the famous Benedidine abbey of St. Peter at Jumieges, in the diocefe of Rouen in Normandy, founded A. D. 664 by St. Phillibert and King Clovis II."" The abbot and convent of that monaftery for a long feries of years continu«d patrons of this rec- tory, with the chapels of Eafton-major and minor, Emborow, Farringtop, andPaulton; and upon the refignation of the reftor, Feb. 17, 1241, they prevailed upon Joceline, bifhop of Bath, to appropriate the redtory to them.'' When the alien priories were diflblved by a<5t of parliament, 2 Flen. V. and all their eftates vefted in the crown, the King granted this appropriation to the Carthufian priory of Jefus de Bethleme de Shene in the county of Surry, which he founded in the year 141 3.
■■ See Cowel's Interpreter. ' Efc. "> Ibid. " Ibid. " Lei. Itin. vij. 88.
f Account of the Alien Priories, i. ij. ' Reg. Well. iii. 183.
In
Cljetoton.] C H E W T O N - M E N D I P. 119
101292 this reftory was taxed at thirty-two marks and eightpencc halfpenny, and the vicarage at twelve marks. It paid a pcnfion of five marks to the priory of Haftyng in Normandy, which was a cell to die abbey of Jumieges.'
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Frome. The patron is Robert Kingfmill, cfq; and the Rev. Dr. Arthur Henry Annefley the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, (lands on a confiderable eminence on the weft fide of the ftreet, and makes a noble appearance, having one of the fined Gothick towers in the county, one hundred and twenty-fix feet high to the top of the battlements, and furmounted with beautiful Gothick pinnacles at the angles fifteen feet high above all. This tower contains a clock and five large bells. The church confifts, of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile, covered with lead.
At the eaft end of the aile is an old ftone tomb eight feet long, and three and a half high, whereon lie the effigies of William Lord Bonville in armour, and Elizabeth Lady Bonville his wife.
On the north fide of the chancel is an old ftone mural monument wFth the following
infcription: " Reverendus et afTidiuis Jefu Chrifti Minifter D. Edmiindus Quarks,
redlor de Chewton, hie fitus eft. Item reverendus dominus Solomon Quarks, redlor de Lambourn in agro Berkerenfi, Edmundi filius, hie fepultus eft. iJna. cum Maria Quarles, Edmundi nuper uxore,. et Solomonis Matre. Deponuntur etiam hie mortali- tatis exuvine Gualteri Brice, armigeri, RebekjE filias unicje D. Edmundi Quarles mariti; necnon domina; Anna; Brice, Guakeri et Rebekas uxoris filia?. Et D. Annabellas Coplefton, Joannis Coplefton, equitis aurati, qui Rebekas, Gualteri Brice armigeri-,, relifta:', nupfit, filias •. omnesque refurreftionem felicem una expedlant.
Edmund Quarles died Oft. 31, 1687. Solomon Quarles, Nov. i, 1671.
Mary Quarles, April 13, 1687. Ann Brice, April 2, 1680."
On a black ftone in the chancel floor: "Hie fitus eft Nathaniel Till Adam„
cujus mens fincera, lingua dofta, manus munda fijit: hunc unum, moribus gravem, et pietate infignem, hjec paiochia per annos ofco fidelem Dei miniftrum habuit. Obijt 23 Oa. 1705, a:tat. 23-"
In the aile and n.ive are feveral infcrlptions to the family of York, as alfo to Palmer, Adams, and Curtis.
Over the north door of the church is a fine Saxon arch of excellent workmanftiip.
In the church-yard there are two very old yew-trees in a decaying ftate. The body of one of them is nine feet in circumference.
A free fchool for teaching ten poor children has been founded here by the inhabi- tants of the place, who inclofed Chew-Down j the rents of which, being 81. a year, ace appropriated to this fchool, which, with forty Ihillings a year given by Lord W aide- grave, is the whole endowment.
! Taxav. Spiiitual.
A fair
"\
120 C H E W T O N- M E N D I P. C&etotOtt,
-A fair is annually held here on Holy-Thurfday, formerly for cattle, now for toys, 8cc.
Richard Jenkins, efq; has a very neat feat in this parlfh, on an eminence- near the roaH, built in a very elegant Gothick ftile of architedure.
B R O C K L E Y.
THIS Is a fmall parifh in the fecond fubdivifion of the hundred, nine miles fouth^ weft from Brillol, and three north from Wrington, in the turnpike-road from Briftol to Yatton and Gongerfbury. , The fituation is very pleafant, and confifts of great variety of furfaccj and from fome parts the profpeds are very beautiful.
About a quarter of a mile eaftlvard of tlie church is a very fine romantick glen, called Brockley-Cvmbe, about half a mile in length, and veiy narrow^ each fide being a fteep Hope formed of rugged rocks mixed with timber-trees, yews, foreft and other fhrubs, that grow out of the crevices of the ftone. 'In the deepeft part the trees are very lofty, and the rocks almoft inacceffible to the height of near three hundred feet, projefting in many places through, and towering above the tops of the branches, with a rude and aftonifhing grandeur. The fteep afcent and rligged furface of the rocks On each fide are rendered very romantick by the fantaftically twifted forms of the roots of many trees and ftirubs which fpring from the crevices, and fpread their branches in the moft pifturefque manner. Along the bottom is a fine gravel walk, and nearly in the center of the Combe is a neat cottage, where many refort to drink tea in the fummer feafon. If this fpot had the advantage of water, it would be a fecond Matlock on a fmaller fcale, but not lefs romantick and beautiful. It belongs to John Pigot, efq.
On the eaft fide of this parifti fome lead ore has been difcovered; and great quan- tities of a peculiar kind of ftone, compofed of a great number of columnar divifions, like the Giant's Caufewav in Ireland.
In this parifti there is a very ancient yew-tree, feventeen feet in circumference.
The manor of Brockley was never more confiderable than at prefent; indeed for feveral centuries it is hardly noticed as a manor. In the Conqueror's time a Saxon thane held it, as we read in the Norman record:
" Eldred holds Brochelie. The fame held it in the time King Edward, and gelded " for four hides. The arable is four carucates, and fo many there are, and fix villanes, " and feven cottagers, and fixteen acres of meadow. It is worth thirty ftiillings."*
19 Edw. ll. Peter de Sanfta Cruce, or St. Crofs, held half a knight's fee in Brockley, which was afterwards held by the family de Aftiton, who feem to have had
* Lib) Domefday,
the
CfjClXiton.l BROCKLEY. 121
die manor.'' 41 Edw. III. Sir Robert de Afliton died fcizcd of certain lands within this parifh, which defcended to the Berkleys.
By an inquifition taken at Langport 17 Odt. 20 Hen. VIII. it appeared that Richard the fon and heir of Humphry Harvey died Jan 4, 17 Hen. VIII. feizedofone third of the manor of Brockley, five mefluages, one cottage, one windmill, one dove-houfe, five gardens, twenty-three acres of arable, fifteen of meadow, eighty-eight acres of wood, and tenpence rent in Brockley, together with the advowfon of the church. Which premifcs were certified to be holden of the King as of his barony of Wigmore by knight's fervice. Nicholas Harvey, his fon and heir, was then of the age of eleven years.' Sir James Perceval was truftee of the family eftates in Brockley, Backwell, and Barrow, for the ufe of Richard Harvey above-mentioned.'' Of this family of Harve}' the manor of Brockley was at length purchafed by Thomas Pigott, of the kingdom of Ireland, efq; who married Florence, widow of Thomas Smyth, of Long-A(hton, efq; and it is now the property of his defcendant the prefent John Pigott, efq; who lias a pleafant feat near the church.
The Uving is a reftory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter, the patronage is In John Pigott, efq; and the Rev. Wadham Pigott is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a fmall ftrufture, confiding of a nave partly leaded, chancel, and two fmall ailes, and a porch tiled. At the weft end is a plain embatded tower, containing one bell. The fouth aile belongs to Brockley- Court, and under it is a vault of the Pigott family.
In the chancel floor there is this memorial: " Here lieth the body of Judith,
younger daughter of Nicholas Harvey, efq; of this parifh, who died the 29th of De- cember 1652, aged eighteen years." The arms of Harvey were. Sable, a fefle or,
between three fquirrds fejant argent, cracking nuts cr. Creft, a fquirrel fejant argent^ tail or, cracking .a nut of the laft.
On a black ftone in the middle pafTage there is a Latin infcription to the memory of William Stephens, A. M. reftor of Wellon-fuper-Mare, who died July 13, 1694, aged 43. Arms: Party per chevron, in chief two falcons volant.
Mr. Richard Durban gave to the parifh of Brockley 25I. the intereft thereof to be given in bread to the poor of the faid parilh, the Sunday after Chriftmas-day, and the Sunday after New-Year's-day yearly for ever. 1753.
' Lib. Feod. ' Coles's Efch. in the Britilh Mufeum. ^ Houfe of Yvery, i, 415.
Vol. II. R KINGSTON-
[ 122 ] t<^5ctoton,
KINGSTON -SEYMOUR.
WESTWARD from Brockley, but divided from it by the hundred of Win- terftoke, is Kingfton-Seymour, lying in the laft fubdivifion of this hundred, and contiguous to the Briftol Channel. It is a fmall ftraggling place, confifting of forty-two houfes and two hundred and fifty inhabitants. The lands are moftly arable, and very rich, being worth on an average thirty-five fhiUings an acre throughout the parifli. Two rivers here difcharge themfelves into the fea. From its fituation, this place has frequently been overflowed; and we learn from a tablet in the church, that on Jan. 20, 1606, there was a terrible inundation in this and many other adjoining parifhes. The fea-banks were broken down, many perfons drowned, and a great number of cattle and goods carried away by the violence of the waves, and entirely loft. The water in the church was five feet high, and the greateft part lay on the ground for ten days. The lands here are feparated by ditches more than hedges j there is but little wood, and elm the principal. There are many large orchards.
Of this place- we read the following account in the Conqueror's furvey:
" William holds of the Bifliop [of Coutance] Chingestone. Eldred held it in the " time of King Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is feventeen carucates. "In demefne are three carucates, with one fervant, and eighteen villanes, and four " cottagers, with eleven ploughs. There are forty acres of pafture. It was and is " worth fix pounds. Of the land of this manor Fulcran holds of the Bilhop one caru- " cate of arable, and has on it two cottagers. It is worth three (hillings.
" The fame William holds Chingestone of the Bifhop. Four Thanes held in the " time of King Edward, and gelded for four hides and a half. The arable is feven " carucates. There are nine villanes, and eight cottagers, with one fervant, having " [amongft them] fix ploughs and a half It was and is worth fixty lliillings. This " manor in the time of King Edward was afl'efled at only one hide.'"
In the time of Hen. II. the manor of Kingfton was the pofllelTion of the family of Malherbe, who were lords alfo of Shipham, Rowborough, and many other adjacent manors.'' But in the ninth year of Ric. I. Robert Malherbe, or de Malherbe, (as he is fometimes called) made a grant of this lordfiiip to Milo de Sanflo Mauro, or Seymour, from whom the place was afterwards called.'- This Milo was a Baron, and one of thofe who confpired in arms againft King John. His fon Peter de Sandlo Mauro lived in the time of Henry III. at Wefton in Gordano, in the hundred of Portbury, which manor he held together with this of Kingfton. His feal was a port- cullis quartered with two chevronels.'' He left ifllie one only daughter and heir, Maud de San6bo Mauro, who was twice married; firft to Walter de Wengham, who died 8 Edw. I. and fecondly, to Simon de Luflgate." By her firft huft)and fhe had four daughters, Joan the wife of Richard de Ken; Alice the wife of John de Wyke, who
» Lib. Domcfda}'. "■ Cart, antiq. 'Ibid. '' Seals from ancient deeds, f Houfeof Yvery, i, 356.
died
CfjCtDton.] KINGSTON-SEYMOUR. 123
died without iffuej Maud, the wife of Philip de Wyke; and another Joan, the wife of Sir Joiin de Boudon. By her fecond hufband, Simon de Ludgate, fhe had one fon, Laurence, furnamcd (according to the mode of thofe times) from his mother, by reafon of iicr noble extraflion, de Sanfto Mauro. Which Laurence, notwithftanding divers claims and litigations, inherited little of the patrimony; and this manor, together with the advowlbn of the living, was allotted to the daughters of Walter de Wengham. And ever after this the manor of Kingfton appears to have been divided. But there feems to have been another branch of the Seymours who poflefled lands in this parifh, and were moft probably defcended from Laurence de Sandto Mauro above-mentioned. For it appears from ancient evidences that Henry Seymour lived here in the time of Edw. 1 1. J and 26 Edw. III. John Seymour his fon leafed lands in this parifh/ By an inquifition taken 20 Edw. III. it was found that Maurice, the fon of Maurice de Berkley, was feized of a third part of the manor of Kingfton-Seymour, Thomas de Berkley his fon and heir.^
42 Edw. III. John the fon of Sir John de Boudon, knt. remitted to Elias Spelly, burgefs of Briftol, and Agnes his wife, and the heirs and afligns of tlie faid Elias, all his right in the manor of Kingfton-Seymour, and in the advowfon of the church of the faid manor. '' This was the fon of that Sir John Boudon who married one of the co- heirefles of Wengham above-mentioned. 11 Ric. II. Catherine the wife of Sir John Thorp, knt. died feized of another third part of this manor, which flie held of the King in capite by knight's fervice, together with tke right of a third turn of prefenting to the church of the faid manor.' 6 Hen. IV. John de Kenn pofTefled either the whole or part of this manor.'' A third of the manor was again in the Berkley family i Hen. VI, when Sir Maurice Berkley died feized of it.' 28 Hen, VI. Thomas Norton held a third part of the manor of Kingfton-Seymour, and was fuccceded by his brother W^alter Norton in his eftates."" Another third was held about the fame time, with the ad- vowfon of the church, by Robert Kenn, efq; whofe fon and heir 31 Elen. VI. was John Kenn, of the age of two years." By an inquifition taken at Yeovil 24 April, 6 Hen. VIII. it was found that Thomas Norton died feized of one third of this manor and the advowfon of the church ;" which premifes were inherited by Andrew Norton his fon and heir, who is certified to have held them 9 Hen. VIII. as of the dutchy of Lancafter, by the fervice of the third part of a knight's fee.""
By another inquifition it appeared that Robert Bulbeke died May 14, 16 Hen. VIII. feized of fix mefluages, four hundred acres of arable, meadow, and pafture, and five of wood in Kinglton-Seymour, the half whereof was held of John Kenn, efq; as of his third of the manor of Kingfton, by the fourth part of one knight's fee. The other half of the pren;ifes was held of Thomas Snygg, as of his third part of the manor of Kingfton aforefaid, by what fervice it was not known."* In the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth the manor was held by Chriftopher Kenn, efq; of the King as of the honour of Trowbridge, parcel of the dutchy of Lancafter.' Of late years it belonged to Mr. Vaughan of Shirehampton, who left at his death a daughter, who joined with
' Cart, antiq. ' Efc. " Rot. dauf. 43 Edw. III. ' Efc. * Cart, antiq. ' Efc.
"Ibid. "Ibid. ? Inq. port men. Tho. Norton. £ Lib, Feod, ! Efc. 'lb.
R 2 truftees
124 KINGS TO N-S E Y M O U R. [C^CtDtom
truftccs in felling the ellatc, which was bought by MelTrs. Hale, Worral, and Proffer j but now belongs two-thirds to John Pigott, efq; and one-third to Mr. John Filer.
The church of Kingfton-Seymour, which is a reftory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfter, was in 129a valued at twenty marks.' The gift is in Lord Paulet, and the Rev. Mr. Tudor is the prefent incumbent.
The church confifts of a nave, chancel, and aile on the fouth fide; at the weft end is a tower with a ftone fpire. The tower contains a clock and five bells.
On the north wall, in a frame, is " A memorandum of a law fuit happening in the year 1702, occafioned by the af- fcffors of Yatton taxing certain lands lying in this parifh of Kingftone-Seamore, called Colefree Land; the occupiers of which refufing to pay their rates, the other took diftrefs upon the faid lands, for which this parifli brought an aftion againft them the 15th and i6tli of March 170]-. This caufe was tried at Taunton, before Baron Price, when this parifli obtained a verdift againft the parifli of Yatton, and afterwards got
great cofts of fuit. Alfo, Nov. 27 enfuing, the inhabitants fuftained great lofs of
cattle, fheep, and corn, witli many mows both of corn and hay; the violent tempeft breaking down the fea-banks, let in the fait water."
" Benefaftion. Mr. Edward Sefs of this parifh gave twenty fhillings yearly on Twelfth-day, to be paid out of his land lying in this parifli for ever, viz. ten fliillings for the preaching a fermon, and the other ten fliillings to be given in bread to the fe- cond poor having no relief."
In the church-yard is an old tomb of one of the Bulbeck family.
' Taxat. Spiritual.
C A M E L Y.
THIS parifli lies in the large divifion of the hundred, and is fituated twelve miles weft from Bath, ten fouth from Briftol, and nine north from Wells, in a woody but pleafant country, agreeably varied with hills and vaUies, well cultivated and wa- tered. The number of houfes is forty-fix, and of inhabitants about two hundred and Jixty. Of the houfes thirty- four are in the hamlet calkd T£mpie-Ckudy the reft are Scattered round the church. The foil is moftly of the ftone-rufli kind, and a rich gravelly fand, with a little coarfe marl. The lands are moftly pafln.ire. In this pa- rifli are feveral quarries of excellent pennant ftone, confiderable quantities of which are fent to Bath for paving the footways in the ftreets. This ftone is found at about fix feet deep below the furface; the ftrata lie in a dipping pofition, and are more than twenty feet in thidknefs. Here are two large woods, containing upwards of one hun- dred and twenty acres, in which is a great quantity of large oak timber, and plenty
of
Cbetoton.] GAMELY. 125
of coppice wood. A little brook, callal Broadmead, rifes in this parifli, and, after pafllng through Littleton, joins the Cam at Camcrton, whence it goes tlirough Dyn- kerton and Midford to the Avon.
The manor of Camely was given by William the Conqueror to the Bifhop of Cou- tance, who, refiding for fome time in thefe parts, kept it in his own hands as demefne :
"The Bifliop himfelf holds Camelei. Two Thanes held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for nine hides, and half a virgate of land. The arable is nine " carucates. In demefne are three carucates, and thirteen fervants, and nine viilanes, ** and one bordar, and feven cottagers, with four ploughs. There is a mill of five " fliillings rent, and one hundred and twenty acres of meadow, and thirty acres of " pafture, and fifty acres of coppice-wood. It was worth feven pounds, now ten pounds.
" Of the land of this manor Humphrey holds one hide, and has there one carucate, " and three viilanes, and one cottager, with one plough. There are forty acres of mea- " dow. It is worth twenty fliillings.""
The next account that we meet with of this manor is a memorandum in the red book of Bath, now in the pofTefllon of Lord Weymouth, which fays that Alexander de Alneto gave the manor of Camely^ in the year 11 53, to the church of St. Peter at Bath.* This Alexander de Alneto, and Erneburga his wife, were buried in the faid church of St. Peter, and the following infcription is placed on the right hand of the entrance to their memory:
*' i^ic )acet aieran^e? De aineto, ct Crneburcja uror eju.st, et CuUug te aincto, filius eorum, et Lucia tie egarifciisi, fiUa eo?um, ct 3iorrianu0 5e s@arifci0, fiUus cjusDem Lucie, et ajaillclmii^ ce a^atifcig, filiu0 ejusDem 3io?riani."
It is not eafy to reconcile this grant of the manor with the other accounts of it, which for a length of time after tlie above date afTign its poficfllon to the family de Marifco, who intermarried with the above-mentioned de Alnetos, Dannos, or Dandos, (as they were afterwards written.) 12 Edw. I. William de Marifco held this manor, and after him Stephen de Marifco, or Marreys. 4 Ric. II. James Boteler was found to be heir to the eftate.' 7 Hen. V. James Boteler Earl of Ormond held it at his death, James his fon and heir being of the age of twelve years.* This manor was held in the time of Edw. III. and Ric. II. of the family of Burnell, as of their manor of Compton- Dando.' An inquifition taken at Wells 2id July, 4 Edw. VI. after the death of Richard Watkyn Vaughan, flicws that the faid Vaughan died 20 April, 2 Edw. VI. feized of the manors of Camely, Markfbury, Houndfl-reet, and Brean, leaving Polydore Watkyn Vaughan his fon and heir, then of the age of eighteen years and a half A manor in Camely Hkewife belonged to the monks of Glafl:onbury.' 13 Eliz. the manor of Camely, with divers lands and tenements were iicld by John Hippefley,'' and it k now the property of Henry Hippefley Coxe, efq.
• Lib. Domefday. " Codex ruber Bathon, MS. ' Efc. "Ibid. 'Ibid. ' Inq. poflmort.W. Vaughan. ' Roll of Glaftonbury Abbey, in Langtoft's Chronicle, ii. 362. " Ter. Sydenham, MS.
The
126
M E L Y. [Cfjetaton.
The church, valued in 129a at nine marks,' was appropriated to the abbey of St. Peter and Paul at Bath, and a yearly penfion of one mark was paid out of the parfonage to that monaftery. This penfion is now paid to the crown. It is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the patronage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Seccombe is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. James. It feems to have been built (or at leaft re- paired) by fome of the family of St. Loe, whofe arms, impaling a feffe between fix billets are at the weft fide of the tower, which is a handfome building, feventy feet high, ■and contains five bells. The church itfelf is a fmall building of one pace, and contains nothing remarkable. There is an infcription to the memory of Cadwallader Jones, efq; who died April 13, 1692.
' Taxat. Spiritual.
CHILCOMPTON.
CHILCOMPTON is a fmall parilh, eleven miles weft from Bath, on the great turnpike road to Wells and Bridgwater.
The name is evidently derived from the Saxon Eeald, cold, Combe, a valley, and ton, a town J which laft is fuppofed to come from rynan, another Saxon word figni- fying to inclofe or fortify. It has been written different ways at different periods, but, moft anciently, fimply Contitone, and Contone.
It is fituated partly on the turnpike road, and partly in a rich woody vale, wliich extends northward to Midfummer-Norton. The roads are good, the cottages very decent, and an air of neatnefs runs through the whole village. At the head of the valley, near fome romantick fhaggy rocks, feveral fprings arife, and at a little diflance from their fource form a rivulet, which, in its defcent through the village, is inter- cepted by many artificial falls, over which it pafTes along on the eaft fide of the ftreet, and has a pleafing appearance. This rivulet abounds with trout and eels, and after paffing through Norton, Radftock, and other places, empties itfelf iiito the river Frome, near Bradford.
The foil is various, but confifts principally of two kinds, diftinguifhed by the names
red ground, and marl ground. Thefe are both loamy good land, but the marl ground is
much the beft for pafture as well as corn. The marl grafs, (Trifelium Jipeftre of
Linnseus and Hudfon) now fo generally known, owes its origin to an inhabitant of this
parifh, who, about fifty years ago, when the lands here were moftly common fields,
collected the feeds from the Meres which divided the feveral properties, and increafed
it from year to year, fo as to fell large quantities j and as it was foon much approved,
its culture and circulation became general.
The
C[)e\t)tOn.l C H I L C O M P T O N. 127
The corn grate, and white lyas ftone, lie over the marl; and a'fpccies of calcarious ftone, called the red rock, is found in the vale, (which is all red ground) and contains calcarious fpar, and fmall quantities of iron ore. Thefpar is moftly found in nodules, or in the cavities and chinks of the red rock; but very little of it is tranfparent. A few cornua ammonis are fomctimes found here, and fome branches of coral embedded in the ftone, but fcarcely any other fofllls.
Under a bed of fire-ftone twenty yards thick, is coal, for raifing which, works were begun in 1779, and are now carrying on with fuccefs. There is alfo another coal- work in the fouthern part of the parilh, known by the name of Stock-hill.
The common fields were all inclofed about forty years fince, by mutual confent, without a(5t of parliament.
Part of the common called Old-Down is within the parilh, on which the occupiers of lands have a right to turn ftock without reftridion as to time, number, or fort of cattle.
This parifli contains about fixty houfes, feveral of which are very good dwellings, and nearly two hundred and fixty inhabitants; but there are only eight rcfident free- holders. Here are two woods, one rather large, belonging to Lord Weymouth.
Thisparifh is not deftitute either of antiquities or natural curiofities. Of thofe cir- cular cavities which run nearly in a line from Emborow to Mells, and are fuppofed to have been iron pits, two are within its boundaries; viz. one in a field between Broadway and Blacker's-Hill, the other under the rocks at the head of the valley. , About a mile foiith of the principal group of houfes, is an ancient encampment fituate on an elevated fpot, called Blacker's-Hill, near Stockhill coal-work, and one mile fouth-eaft of Old-Down inn. It is formed by the meeting of two very deep and fteep-fided vallies in a point, facing the fouth, and partly by a curvilinear double rampart and fofs to the north and eaft; of which the greater part is entire, and the whole in good prefervation. Its figure, altogether, is that of an irregular quadrant, and the area contains about fifteen acres. Of this encampment no account is to be found in any author. It is however obfervable, that Camalet (that is, Cadbury Caftle) commands a view of Mafbury Caflle on Mendip, and Mafbury of Chilcompton camp; hence it may be reaibnably inferred, that thefe three camps were probably formed either by tlie fame people, or at leaft about the fame time, they being all of a ciicular form.
Now that Cadbury camp is Roman (though thofe of that people wereufually fquare) has been fufficiently proved; and that Mafbury, and Blacker's-Hill, were works of the fame people may be fairly conjeftured — not to mention a fine brafs coin of M. Aurel. Antoninus, dug up at lefs than a mile diftance.
It is certain that the Romans were particularly fond of placing their encampments in the angle made by the confluence of two rivers, as by that means they faved the trouble of other fortifications. The fame reafon would induce them to pitch their camp at the meeting of two deep vallies ; efpecially when forming a fituation on high ground. The vicinity alio of the Roman way, called the Fofs, which paJTes through,
and
128 C H I L C O M P T O N. [CfjCtCton.
and gives name to the adjoining parifh of Stratton, furnilhes an additional proof that this encampment was a work of the Romans.
On that part of Old Down which is neareft this camp are feveral tumuli, or barrows; and a few years ago fome pieces of old fwords were dug up on this fpot. Within the area of this encampment is a natural fiffure in the rock, which lies under the furface of the earth. It is vulgarly called the Fairy Slatts, being from ten to twenty-one feet in depth, eighty-feven in length, and only two feet and a half in width, except in the middle, where it widens to near ten feet, fo that it affords an eafy paflage to a fingle perfon. The defcent into it is gradual, and the prominent parts on one fide are oppo- fed by correfponding hollows on the other; which feem to indicate that it was formed by fome violent concuffion of nature. The top is fhaded with bulhes and ilnall trees, whofe branches meet over it; and the filTures of the Hone in the fides abound with molTes, polypody, afpleniums, maidenhair, and fmall ferns, Ibme of which are curious.
In the time of William the Conqueror, this village was part of the revenue of the Bifhop of Coutance in Normandy, the cathedral of which diocefe was founded in 1047, the Norman Duke himfelf affifting at its dedication. The Bifhop, whofe name was Jeffery, was his particular favourite, and one of thofe clergy who came over with him to England to afTili him in his expedition with their prayers. He was rewarded with dhis ■manor; and we find it thus recorded in Domefday:
" The fame Bifhop holds Contone. Edric held it in the reign of King Edward the " ConfefTor, and gelded for ten hides. The arable is fourteen carucates; in demelhe is " one carucate; and there are four fervants, and fixteen villanes, and fix cottagers with " fix ploughs. There are two mills rented at twenty-five Ihillings, and fifteen acres of " meadow, and one hundred acres of pafture, and fifteen acres of wood. It was and is " worth ten pounds.""
By this record it appears that here was a mill of the yearly rent of twenty-five fhil- lings, a fum very confiderable in thofe days. It is obfervable, that mills are of the highefl antiquity : the ancient laws were very fevere againft thofe who did any injury to fuch ftrudlures, obliging the delinquent td" repair the damage within thirty days, and befides to pay thirty fhillings for the trefpafs.
Soon after the Conqueft, the family of Percy became polTefTors of the manor of Chilcompton, and held the fame for many fuccefTive reigns. In the time of Hen. V. it was the property of Sir Thomas Broke, or Brook, knt. who held it of the Bifhop of Salifbury, and died feized of it 5 Hen. V. leaving Thomas Broke his fon and heir, of the age of twenty-fix years."" 1 5 Hen. VI. Joan the wife of Sir Thomas Broke, held it in a fimilar way, and Thomas Chedder was found to be her heir." 7 Edw. IV. Joan the wife of Thomas Michelden was found feized of the yearly rent of thirty-one fhillings and two-pence, ifTuing out of the manors of Chilcompton, Hinton-Bluet, and Littleton.''
In the reign of Philip and Mary, the manor was the property of the family of Seward: and 34 Eliz. Richard Seward, efq; is certified to hold the manor, and twenty-four
f Lib. Domefday. ? Efc. ' Ibid, * Ibid.
mcfiliages,
Cfjetoton.] CHILCOMPTON. 129
mcnuages, two water mills, twenty-four gardens, three hundred acres (jf arable, two hundred of meadow, forty of pafture, thirty of wodd, forty of heath, and twenty fliil- lings rent, with the appertenances.' The lands of Seward came afterwards to the pof- feffion of the Stockers, and the manor is now the property of Lord Weymouth.
The manor-houfe, now converted into a farm, is fituated near the church, and is a fpacious old building of ftone in die form of an L. From a date at the caft end. May 4, 1612, and the Stockers arms, with the initials I. S. and M. S. it appears to have been in a great meafure rebuilt by fome of that ancient family. A fmall park belonged to the houfe, the boundaries of which may be eafily afcertained, a great part of the wall ftill remaining. It is now parcelled out into fields, one of which is called Park-Field. In the valley the veftiges of fome very large fifh-ponds are ftill difcernible.
There is in this parifli another ancient houfe which formerly belonged to the family of Werret, but is now held under Lord Weymouth. In the large centre window are the remains of fome curious painted glafs: ift. A creft very perfccSl, and well drawn ^ on a Marquis's coronet, an eagle difplayed proper charged on the breaft with a crefcent cr. 2d. Within a circle of foliage an efcutcheon with helmet, mantling, and the crefV as above, the whole much defaced and inverted; but the arms appear to be. Or, three eagles difplayed proper. 3d. Within a fmaller circle, vine leaves and a hare courant^ 4th. Foliage ftained yellow. On the wainfcot is the date 1636.
In the year 11 88, Gilbert de Percy, lord of this manor, made an oblation of the grant of this church upon the altar of St. Andrew in the cathedral of Wells to found a prebend therein, which was accordingly done; but in the fame year the bifhop and chapter exchanged it with the prior and convent of Bradenfloke in Wiltfhire, for the church of Chedder, of which the latter were patrons. The whole revenues of this church were confequently appropriated to the above-named monaftery; and in 1292. the redbory was rated annually at feven marks, out of which the church of Wells re- ceived a yearly penfion of two fliillings,'
The living is a perpetual curacy in the deanery of Frome, and is one of the feven peculiars belonging to the Dean of Wells. It is worth about 60I. per annum, and in the patronage of James Tooker, of Norton-hall, efq. The Rev. Nevill Walter, LL. B. is the prefent incumbent.
The church is an ancient ftrufture, eighty-four feet long, and twenty-one feet wide,, and ftands in the bottom of the valley at the northern extremity of the parifh, within a church-yard furrounded with larch trees. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptift, and confifls of a nave, chancel, fouth aile and porch, all covered with lead. At the weft end is a large embattled tower, fixty feet high, with fix bells.
., In the fouth aile (which formerly belonged to the Stocker family) is a vault and a- very handfbme old monument, built in that ftile of architecture (a mixture of the Grecian and the Godiick) which prevailed from the reign of Henry VIII. to James I..
' Ter. Sydenham, MS. ' Taxat. Spiritual.
Vol. II. S * inclufive.-
130 C H I L C O M P T o N. [Cljetoton.
inclufive. Over a large flat ftone which covers the tomb, is a flat canopy fupported by fix columns with Grecian capitals, and terminated by a cornice, the frieze of which is embelliilied with foliage. Round the edge of the tomb-ftone is this infcription:
Jt)eaeUet()etf)ct)oDiof iRicfiam^eUjartJ, cfquitc, tobofc fotole (^oD batf) 4?Donco, tofio Dieo t\)t rrrtb of Mli anno Domini a^oirrri.
Arms: a chevron ermine between three efcallops, the point charged with a crefcent.
In the wall over this monument are fome irons, which feem to have Aipported funereal trophies ; and a helmet of painted wood, with a wreath thereon, is ftill pre- fervedj as is alfo an old wooden frame, on which is cut the following infcription in capitals:— EX DONO JOHANNIS STOCKER, AR. 1658.
In the fouth-eaft corner oftheaile is a fmall mural monument offtonc, infcribed, - " Near this place Hes interred the body of John Trethewy, of Treneage in Cornwall, and Ditcheat in the county of Somerfet, efq; who, during the reign of King Charles II. having difcharged feveral confiderable employments with great integrity, died about the year of our Lord 167 1. And of Dorothy his filler, widow and relid of the Rev. James Tooker, of Bridifton in the county of Devon, clerk; and of Margaret his wife, daughter of Anthony Stocker, efq; and Margaret Cape). To whofe memory this monument was erefted at the charge of James Tooker, of Chilcompton, gcnt.Jn the year 1736."-. Arms: Sable, a chevron engrailed between three goats ftatant argent.
On a pillar in the aile is a fmall mural monument, with the following infcription: " Here lieth the body of Mary the wife of Benjamin Harjngton, gent, being fecond daughterj of Anthony Stocker, efq; and Margaret Capel his wife; fhe died December
1649." Arms: Sahiey zi\tt argent impaling three arrows barbed of the fecond.
Creft: on a torce, a talbot's head proper.
And on the floor below: " Here refts, in hope of a joyful refurredion, the body
of Anthony Stocker, who died the 27th of 061. 1757, aged 60 years; and alfo fix of his children."
On the floor within the communion rails: " Hie jacet corpus JohTs Tooker, de
Norton-hall, gent, fepult. Obiit 15 Feb. 17 14, fetat. fuae 50. Here lies the body of Bridget Tooker, wife of John Tooker, of Norton-hall in the county of Somerfet, gent, daughter of Sir Francis Leeke, and Dame Frances his wife, of Newark-upon-Trent in the county of Nottingham, knt. and bart. Obiit July 29, 17 12."
The arras cut on the ftone are, Five bars wavy, over all a chevron gutte raguly between three fea-horfes naiant, Tooker-, impaling on a faltier engrailed nine annulets, Leeke. Creft defaced.
On the north wall is a black frame, with an infcription, importing that Mr. Henry Werret, of Shepton-Beauchamp in this county, gave the intereft of lool. in ferptuum to the binding out of poor children apprentices; or for want of ftich, to the poor of Chilcompton, anno 168 1. On two old windows towards the foutheaft are fome remains of painted glafs, but imperfeft.
In
Cbetoton.] C H I L C O M P T O N. 13
In the churck-yard is a very fine large ancient yew-tree, and many monumental
ftones, among which only the following extraordinary infcription merits notice:
*' Hie jacet Jacobus Tooker, armiger, inconcuflae fidci Jacobita. Obiit die 13 Sept. anno 1737, setat. fuae 72."
The annual number of chriftenings in this parifli, taken on a ten years average, is ten, and of burials five.
COMPTON-MARTIN
IS a large parifh, lying under the eafl: and northeaft fides of Mendip, in a delightful; woody vale. From the fouth fide of the village, which is more than half a mile in length, confiding chiefly of one ftreet, the hills rife, finely vefted with wood, and- very high and fteep, the ridge being the top of Mendip. The principal part of the parilh is pafture, on which are feveral large dairies. Near the church rifes a fpring,. the fource of the river Yow, which runs hence to Ubley, Blagdon, and Wrington, and falls into the fea near Wick-St.-Lawrence.
The manor of Compton, ^anciently written Contone, was given by William the Conqueror to Serlo de Burci, whofe eftates here we have the following account of:
" Serlo Wmfelf holds Contone. Euvacre held it in the time of King Edward, and *' gelded for five hides. . The arable is five carucates. In demefne are two carucates, ** and two fervants, and five villanes, and fix cottagers, and five bordars, with four " ploughs. There are fifteen acres of meadow, and one mile of pafture in length, and *' two furlongs in breadth; wood eleven furlongs long, and nine furlongs broad. It *' was formerly worth one hundred {hillings, now four pounds. Of this land Richard ♦' holds of Serlo one virgate and one furlong, and has there one plough, with two bor- " dars, and five acres of meadow. It was formerly worth five fhillings, now fifteen *' fhillings."*
The family who gave this place its additional name, were of great eminence, and remote antiquity. The firft of the appellation that appears upon record is Martin de Tours a Norman, who, making a conqueft of the territory of Kemeys in the county of Pembroke, began the foundation of a monaftery for Benediftine monks at St. Dog- mael's within its precinds, and annexed it as a cell to the abbey of Tyrone in France;'' this monaftery Robert Fitz-Martln his fon endowed with lands in the time of Henry I.. He alfo gave the church of Blagdon to the monks of Stanley in the county of Wilts, and was a great benefadtor to other monafteries.
To him fucceeded another Robert, who 12 Hen. II. held three parts of a knight's fee of the Biftiop of Bath,'' and in the time of King John gave half a hide of land in Compton, and half a hide on Mendip, to the abbey of GoldclifFin Monmouthfliire.
* Lib. Domefday, ' Dugd. Bar. i. 729. « Lib. oig. Scac.
S 2 William
J32 C O M P T O N-M A R T I N. [Cl)Ctoton.
William his Ion and heir married the daughter of Rhefe ap Griffich, prince of ■South-Wales, from whom he received great injuries; for by force of arms he took from him his ftrong caftle of Llanhever in Kemeys-Land, contrary to his oath and folemn promife of peace and friendfhip. In the time of Hen. II. this William Fitz- Martin was fent as a juftice itinerant into the counties of Kent, Surrey, Middlefex, Berks, Oxford, Buckingham, and Bedford, to enquire into the condudt of the IherifFs, and odier officers, and corredl certain abufes complained of to the crown.
To him fucceeded William his fon and heir, who 1 1 Joh. gave three hundred marks for hveiy of his lands; he died 17th of the fame reign, and was fucceeded in his eftates by Nicholas Fitz-Martin, his fon and heir, whofe wardfliip was granted firft to Falk de Brent, and afterwards to Henry de Turbervillfe.
This Nicholas Fitz-Martin, befides the manor of Compton, was poflefTed of the lordfhips of Blagdon, Hummer, Weft-Lydford, and I^ovington, of which he died feized 10 Edw% I. He married Maud, daughter of Guy de Brien, by whom he had Sir Nicholas Martin, (who died in his father's life-time) Colinet, andRobert. Colinet Martin was father of another Sir Nicholas,- who married Eleanor the daughter of Herbert Fitz-Peter, by whom he had Sir William Martin, who was fummoned to parliament from 23 Edw. I. to 18 Edw.'II. when he died, leaving ifllie, by Eleanor daughter of Sir WiUiam de Mohun, William his fon and heir.
Which William was alio a knight; but he hved not long after the death of his father, and Eleanor his fifter, the wife of William' de Columbers, and James the fon of Nicholas de Audley, by Joan his other fifter, divided his eftates. But the name of Martin was ftill kept up by Robert Martin, a younger fon of Nicholas Martin by the^ Jieirefs of Guy de Brien, and from him are lineally defcended the Martins of Seabo- rough, and thofe of Athelhampfton in Dorfetfhire.
Of this family of Martin the manor of Compton was long held by the family of Wake. The inquifitions fhew us that in the time of Edw. III. John Wake became poflefTed of this manor and advowfon by feizin, on the following account: Alice the wife of Ralph de Wake, and mother of the faid John, whp held this manor in her demefne as of fee of William Martin, had been found guilty of felony in contriving the death of Ralph Wake her hufband, for which Ihe was tried and condemned to be burnt. Whereupon the premifes being forfeited. Sir WiUiam Martin, as capital lord, feized the manor and advowfon of Compton, entered on it as his efcheat, and continued the feizin for feven years, till the faid John Wake ejetfted him, but by what title was not known.'
This John Wake a little before Ijis death feoffed Ifabel the wife of John de Keynes, and others, of this manor with other lands and appertenances. Which Ifabel died ;^j Edw. III. feized of a third part of this manor, which (he held of James de Audley, to whom Compton had been allotted in the divifion of the Martin eftates. 34 Edw. III. John Wake held two parts of the manor, and 35 Edw. III. Thomas Keynes, fon of Ifabel above-mentioned, held that third. 7 Hen. V. John Keynes held at hia death
• -Some records fay Philip. ^ Efc. 22 Edw. III.
the
CI)Ctoton.l C O M P T O N-M A R T I N. 133
the manor of Compton-Maitln, and one acre of arable land lying in the Over-Court clofe there, togetlicr with the advowfon of the church, John Keynes his fon and heir.* Of late years this manor has belonged to the Chandos family; but the prcfl-nt Duke of Chandos fold it about the year 1779 to John Heniker, efq; who is the prefent pofleflbr.
Moreton is a tithing belonging to this parifh, fituated a:bout two miles north, and has been a place of very confiderable note. At- the time of the Conquefl it was one of the manors of Serlo de Burci, who held it in demefne:
" Serlo himfelf holds Mortone. Three Thanes held it in the time of King Edward " for three manors, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. Godric " holds of this land two hides, and Elric two hides. In demefne are two carucates, " and nine villanes, and eleven cottagers, with two ploughs. I'here is a mill of five " fhillings rent, and forty acres of meadow, and fifteen acres of wood. It was formerly ♦* and is now worth three pounds. Of the fame land Richard holds three virgates, " and Humphrey one virgate. There is one plough, and two villanes, and three cotta- " gers, and eighteen acres of meadow, and four acres of wood, and two acres of pafturc. " It was heretofore and is ftill worth fifteen fhillings."*
This place anciently gave name to a family which flouriflied in thefe parts for a con- fiderable time. 19 Edw. II. William Martin died feized of half a knight's fee in Moreton, which John de Morton held in demefne.'' A branch of this family was alfo feated at Milborn-St.-Andrew in Dorfetfliire. The family de Sanfta Cruce, or St. Crofs, likewife poflefled this manor for feveral dcfcents, and refided here; for the record above quoted fays that the fame William Martin, lord of Compton-Martin, had half a knight's fee in Morton and Bychemeftok, which Peter de Sandla Cruce and Robert Mulhrom held in demefne.' 3 Ric. II. Matthew Gournay and Alice his wife held themanor of Moreton of the heir of William de Staunton, as of his manor of White-Staunton.'' 15 Hen. VI. John Newburgh granted this manor to Robert Turges, WilHam Turberville, and John Eitz-James.' By an inquifition taken at Brewton 7 Hen. VIII. it was found that Sir Chriftopher Wroughton, knt. pofleflTed the manors of Moreton, Bawdrip, and Efton, and that he enfeoffed Henry Longe, John Brook, and others, of the faid premifes, to have and to hold to them, their heirs and afllgns for ever. Which enfeoffment the jurors faid was made by covine and collufion, in order to defraud the King of the wardfhip and marriage of the faid Chriftopher.'" 24 Eliz. the manor was granted to the Earl of Hertford and his heirs male." 39 Eliz. it belonged to Sir George Morton, knt. of Clenfton in the county of Dorfet, who feems to have been defcended from die family de Morton, who were lords of this place in the time of Edw. 11." He died 8 J ac. I.
One mile to the north of Compton-Martin is an ancient manfion called Bigfield or Bigfold, which formerly gave name to a family. The fame William Martin, of whom we have made lb frequent mention, poffeffed half a knight's fee in Bykefold, which Roger de Bykefold held."" It now belongs to Mr. Bridges of Briftol.
' Efc. « Lib. Domefday. " Lib. Feod. 'Ibid. " Efc. ' Hutchins's Dorfetdure, ii.455. "■ Inq. poll mort. Chrift. Wroughton, Mil. • Ter. Sydenham. " Ibid. ' Lib. feod,
The
134 C O M P T O N-M A R T I N. TOetotpn.
The benefice of Compton, with its chapel, was in 1292 valued at fourteen marks.' It is a reftory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bednninfter, in the patronige of the Duke of Chandos, and the Rev. Mr. Hofkins is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and is a hahdfome ftrufture, confifting of a nave and two fide ailes leaded. At the weft end there is a good tower feventy feet high, containing fix bells and a clock.
On the fouth fide of the chancel is a mural ftone monument, with the following in-
fcription: "Memoriae Thomas Symes, filii Caroli Symes, hujus parochias reftorisj
cohorris prasfedli fub Johanne Duce Marlborough, fefe immifcuit in multis prasliis, et non fine gloria militavit. Ejus reliquije juxta hunc locum depofitje funt. Obijt Nov. 21, 1724, aetat. fuas 35. Etiam Annas Chriftianas Symes, uxoris charje, quas obijt Mar. 4, 1732, astatis fuas 41. Etiam Ricardi Symes infantis, primogeniti filii. Hoc monumentum pofuit ejus filius Thomas Symes."
On a ftone in the chancel floor: " Here lyeth the body of the Rev. Mr. William
Symes, who departed this life the 18th of Sept. 1756, in the 66th year of his age."
On another ftone in the fame floor: " Here lyeth the body of George Roynon,
gent, the laft of the houfe of Bigfold. Hedcceafed Aug. 9, 1637, aged 79."
Mr. King of Moreton, at his death in 1776, left the intereft of lool. for eftablifhing a fchool for teaching poor children, with a provifo that theparifh would make it up lol. per annum. In confequence of this a fchool has been eftabliftied, and twelve poor children are taught.
The Duke of Chandos has added two guineas a year to this charity. Mr. Milner of Briftol, at his death in 1778, gave 20I. the intereft of which is alfo added to this charity.
" Taxat. Spiritual.
E M B O R O W.
''T'^HIS little parifti is fituatcd on elevated ground, under the north fide of Mendip X hills, in the turnpike-road from Bath to Wells, and five miles weft from the latter city. It lies in the three feveral hundreds of Chewton, Whitftone, and Kil- merfdon, and is divided into the tithings of Emborow, Dokon, and Afiiwick. The lands are in general light, and of lefs value than in fome of the neighbouring pariflies. The wood is moftly alh, elm, beech, and fycamore, which thrive well, particularly the two laft-mentioned forts, of which there are feveral trees of very large dimenfions in a. field adjoining to the court-houfe, the fpread of one of the beeches being two hundred and feventy feet in circumference. Here were formerly mines of coal and lapis calami- Daris, but of late the working them has been difcontinued,
On
Cbavton.l E M B O R O W. 135
On the fouth fide of the turnpike road, at the bottom of a deep declivity is a fine lake, called by the different names of Emborow and Leachmore pond, containing nearly ten acres. It lies in a vale extending almoft eaft and \veft, with a beautiful plantation of firs, becclies, and fycamores, on the fiopes of the hills on each fide. On tlic eallern boundary is a fmall cottage, and a boat-houfc; at the weft end is a marfli, and below that another lake much fmaller. Pleafant winding walks are cut through the plantations, which belong to Henry Hippefley Coxe, ofStoneafton, efq; and that on the weft fide abounds with many curious fdrns and moflfes among the rocks.
The Romans feem to have been occupied in all thefe parts, and feveral of their filver coins have been dug up in plowing a field near the church.
The Saxons called this place Atnelherge, a name which was continued by the Normans, when they came to the pofiTeflion of this kingdom. It then belonged to the Bifliop of Coutance:
*' Robert holds of the Bifhop Amelberge. Two Thanes held it in the time of *' King Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is four carucates. In de- " mefne are two carucates, and two fervants, and fix villanes, and four cottagers, with " five ploughs. There are twenty-nine acres of meadow. It was worth twenty fliil- " lings, now fcventy fiiillings."*
In the time of Edw. III. we learn from the inquifition that Simon de Trewithofe held at his death jointly with Cecily the daughter of John Filiol, who furvived him, this manor of Emborow, then written Emmeberghe. He alfo held two yardlands and a half, nine acres of meadow, and twenty fliillings rent in Wells, Kilmerfdon, Penne, Watercome, and Corfcombe, of William Tracy, by the fervice of five ftiillings per annum for all fervices. John de Trewithofe was his fon and heir of the age of forty years,'' 23 Edw. III. the manor of Emenebere is fet down among the knight's fees which belonged to Hugh le Diipencer deceafcd, and were held by him of the King in capite; and William Tracy is certified to hold one knight's fee in this manor under the faid Hugh le Difpencer,' 17 Edw. IV. Sir John Botiler, knt. died feized of the manor of Eneburgh, and three mefluages, one hundred acres of arable land, fixtecn acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pafture in Walcombe and Penne, which he held of Henry Tracy, elq; by the fervice of the third part of a knight's fee; and in which he was fiicceeded by John Botiler his fon and heir.'' Thefe Botilers, Botelers, or Butlers, (as the riame is now written) were defcended from Ralph, who in the time of Hen. I. was the fincsrna or butler in the houfliold of Robert Earl of Mellent and Leicefter. The chief refidence of the family was at Badminton in the county of Glocefter, now the feat of the Duke of Beaufort. By an inquifition taken at Brewton 17 June, 17 Hen. VIII. it was found that John Butler, of Badminton, efqj died 7 Jan. 15 Hen. VIII. feized of the manors ofEnborough, Walton, Walcombe, and Penne, all holden of William Tracy, efq; but by what I'ervice was not known.' His fon Ralph Butler died in his father's life-time, and Sir John Butler, fon of Ralph, fucceeded in the cftatcs.
Lib. Domefday, » Efc. 13 Edw. III. ' Lib. Feod. * Efc.
• Inq. poll mort. Johannis Butler, ar. 17 Hen. VIII.
This
136 EMBOROW. [C&etotOtt*
This Sir John married Silveftra daughter of Sir Anfelm Giilfe of Elmore, and died 5 Edw. VI. leaving a Ion William, who married Theophila, daughter of Sir John Newton. 13 Eliz. this manor was the property of John Hippefley, efq; from whom it has defcended with the other lands to Henry Hippefley Coxe, efq; the prefent pofTeflbr. The court or manor-houfe adjoins the church-yard, and bears evident veftiges of antiquity.
The living is a rediory in the deanery of Frome, and one of the four, whereof Chewton-Mendip is the mother clnirch; the three others being Ston-Eafton, Far- rington, and Paulton. The King is patron, and the Rev. Dr. Annefley the prefent incumbent. The great tithes belong to Robert Kingfmill, efq.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a fmall edifice, confifling of a nave, chancel, and north aile, covered with lead. The tower, which, though fmall, is very neat, flands between the chancel and the nave, and contains two bells.
On the fouth fide of the chancel are two fmall mural monuments of flone, the firfl
of which is infcribed, " Under lyes the body of Elizabeth wife of John Hippefley,
gent, who died Oftober 14, 1703. And alfo the bodies of three of their children, John, Elizabeth, and John, who all died in the years 1700 and 1702." Arms: Sable^ three mullets between two bendlets or, impaling three battle-axesy^iJ/i?.
On the fecond monument: " Near this place lye the bodies of Mary and John,
fon and daughter of John Hippefley, gent. John died May 12 Mary died
March 4
On the north fide of the chancel is a mural monument of black ftone with this
infcription: " George the leventh fbn of John Hippefley, of Ston-Eafl:on, efq; who
died the 9th day of May 1725, aged 84. Catherine his wife, who died the 8th of April 1733, aged 84. John their eldefl: fon, died Feb. 15, 175 1, aged 82. And Mary his wife died the 2d of May 176 1, aged 75."
On the north fide of the aile is a mural monument of fl:one, on which is this
infcription: " Underneath lies interred the body of Ann, daughter of Mr. Robert
Hippefley of this parifli by Margaret his wifej flie died Nov. 8, 1726, aged eight years and eight months."
At the weft end of the aile are three old mural monuments of black ftone.
On the firft is this infcription : " Near this place lieth the body of Mr. Edward
Hippefley, fen', who died May 29, 171 1, aged 6i,. Abigail his wife died the 27th of
April, 1723. Alfo of Edward, Richard, arid Chriftopher, three of their children."
Arms: Hippefley, impaling ^a/ej, in chief a x.2&iQX. fable trippant, in bafe three dger's heads erafed argent.
On the fecond monument: " Underneath lies the body of Mary the wife of Mr.
Robert Hippefley, fen'. She died March 4, 17 14, aged 62. Alfo the body of Hannah Bendel, who died Feb. 12, 1731, aged 66. Robert Hippefley, fon of Edward Hippefley, died Aug. 20, 1736, aged 85."
GEIjetoton.] E M B O R O W. 137
On the third monument: ** In memory of Mr. John Walter, who lies under- neath interred. He died Aug. 24, 1730, aged 32. Chriftus mihi vita."
On a flat ftone in the nortli aile :— — " Here lyeth the bodye of Trifl:ram Lane, who dyed March 6, 1606. Elinor the wife of Triftram Lane, died Aug. 14, A. D. 1642, Alfo here refteth the body of Catherine Hippidey, widdow, daughter of Triftram Lane and Elinor his wife, who died April 26, 1666."
On another ftone:— —"Here lyeth the body of Theodore Hippifley, gent, who died June 11, 1704."
FARRINGTON-GOURNAY,
SO called from its ancient lords, is a fmall parifh, three miles from Chewton-Mendip, and in the turnpike-road from Wells to Briftol, from which it is diftant thirteen miles. It contains about ninety houfes, and four hundred and fixty inhabitants. The country here is clofely wooded, and more on a level dian moft of the adjacent pariflics. There is a coal-work here, belonging to Mr. Mogg, of High-Littleton, who owns the greateft part of the parifti, and has two good houfes therein.
The manor o( Ferentom, or Farrington-, was one of thofe many which the Conqueror gave to the Bifhop of Coutances:
" Azelin holds of the Bifhop, Ferentone. Brifmar held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is feven carucates. In demefne are " three carucates, and four fervants, and feven villanes, and feven cottagers, with four _^
*' ploughs. There are one hundred acres of meadow. It was worth fifty fhillings, " now four pounds.'"
This Azelin, or Afcelin, who held the manor of the Bifliop of Coutances, was the progenitor of the family of Percival, of whom notice has been taken in the account of Caftle-Cary.'' He died in 11 20, 21 Hen. I. leaving feveral fons, of whom John, a younger fon, obtained of his father during his life the manors of Farrington and Harp- tree for his inheritance; and from the latter place, which he generally inhabited, he adopted the furname of de Harpetre. This John was father of William de Harpetre, who 12 Hen. II. upon the aid levied for marrying the King's daughter, certified that he held thirteen knight's fees and one half, and the fourth part of one knight's fee; and that he gave half of one knight's fee to Robert de Ferenton.^ To whom fucceeded John de Harpetre his fon and heir, baron of Harptree, of whom we find little mention in hiftory, fave that he was father of two fons, William de Harpetre, baron of Harptree,
• Lib. Domefday. * See page 52 of this vol. ' Lib. Rub. Scaccarii.
Vol. II. T and
138 FARRINGTON-GOURN AY. [Cbe^otT.
a(id John, who died without iflTiie. William fucceeded to the eftates, and aa Hen. II. paid a fine of one hundred pounds for trefpafling in the King's forefts in Dorfecfhire,* and 6 Ric, I. gave one hundred marlcs to make his peace with that King, fo that he might repoffefs his lands lying in tlie counties of Dorfet, Somerfet, Gloucefber, and Devon.' This William married Maud Orefcuilz, or Orcas, a Norman lady, who was a coheirefs with Alice Orefcuilz her fifter, and made partition of her inheritance by fine 10 Ric. I.' whereupon the faidWilHam obtained half a knight's fee with its apper- tenances in Sharncot in the county of Wilts. He died 16 Hen. III. leaving iffue Thomas de Harpetre, Pagan, and William. Thomas the eldcft fon married Eva de Gorniaco, or Gournay, filler and heir of Maurice de Berkely, (otherwife furnamed de Gaunt) and daughter of Robert, fon of Robert Fitzharding, by Alice the daughter and heir of Robert de Gaunt of Folkingham, brother and at length heir of Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl of Lincoln} which Eva, wife of the faid Thomas de Harpetre, was thus heir of the great houfes- of Fitzharding, Gournay, Gaunt, and Paganel. Their jfllie was Robert de Harpetre, lord of Harptree, Farrington, IngUfhcombe, and Overweare, This Robert afTumed the name of Gournay from his mother, and under that title 41 Hen, III. had fummons to be in. Briftol, in the octaves of St. Peter ad vincula,. well fitted with horfe and arms, to march into Wales. He was alfo fummoned to other places of rendezvous for a fimilar purpofe. For his afts of charity, he was founder of the hofpital of Gaunt, alias BiUefwicke, near Briftol, for the health of his own foul, and for the foul of Maurice de Gaunt his uncle i* and died ^3 Hen, III, leaving ifllie, by Hawifa de Longchamp his wife, Anfelm de Gournay, lord of Farrington, Eaft and Weft Harptree, &C.'' and John de Gournay, lord of Overweare and Netherweare in this county. Which Anfelm having done his homage for his father's eftate foon after his deceafe,' was returned by the jury of Winterftoke hundred to hold of the King in capite, the manor of Eaft-Harptree, by the half of one knight's fee, on which depended the manor of Weft-Harptree,'' He married Sjbilla, daughter of Hugh de Vjvoun, by whon;i he had iflue three fons, John, Robert, and Thomas de Gournay, to the laft of whom, being the youngeft fon, and unprovided for, he granted by deed 1 3 Edw, I. this manor of Farrington, to be held to him and the heirs of his body for ever, by the annual fervice of a rofe, to be paid upon the feaft of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptift,' And in the year following he granted tlie manor of Ingliftieombe to the faid Thomas his fon, under the fervice of twelve crofs-bow fhot." He died the fame year, and the next after John de Gournay did his fealty, and had livery of his lands." This John, who was a baron, married OJiva, daughter of Henry Lovel, baron of Caftle- Cary, by whom he had one only daughter and heir, viz. Eii?;abeth de Gournay, who, though but fixteen years old at her father's death, was then married to John ap-Adam j and he doing his fealty, had livery of all the lands of her inheritance, which was after- wards prcfufely fquandered away,
* Rot, Pip, '2 Hen, II, » Rot, Pip, 6 Ric, I, ' Fin, lev. «f . Winchefter, jo Ric, I.
p Tanner'j Notitia Monaftica, " Efc. 53 Hen. Ill, * Fin. 53 Hen, III. i
* J»c[, in bsga de Ragman. 4 Edw, I, Somf, rot, xi. • Efc, 13 Edw, I, ■" Cart, antiq. |
» Rot, Fin. 1? Edw, I, ji>. ?,
The
Cljetoton.] FARRINGTO N-G O U R N A Y. 139
The elder branch of this family being entirely extinft, we come next to Thomas dc Goumay, the firft of that name, youngeft fon of Anfclm de Gournay and Sibilla 3c Vivoun his wife, lord of Farrington, Inglifhcombe, and Weft-Harptree. But of hina all that is recorded is, that he was in the wars of Scotland a8 Edw. I. and that he was father of Thomas de Gournay, the fecond of that name, who fucceeded to the manors ^f Farrington, Inglifhcombe, and Weft-Harptree. This Sir Thomas de Gournay was one of thofe who had the cuftody of that unhappy prince King Edward II. after he had been depofedbythe contrivances of Ifabella his queen, and Roger Mortimer earl of March 5 and having confeqiiently been acceflary to his murder in Berkeley-Caftle, was obliged on the change of times to fly into foreign parts. But a price being fet on his head, he was feized at Burges in Spain, and commanded by Edw. III. to be brought over into England, notwithftanding which order, by fome fecret pradlices or other, his execution was performed privately at fea; and on account of his treafonable manoeuvres all his eftates in England were confifcated, and became vefted in the King's hands, who annexed them to the dutchy of Cornwall for ever, and at this day the manors of Farrington-Gournay, Weft-Harptree, Ingliflicombe, Widcombe, Curry-Malet, Shepton-Malet, Stoke-under-Hamden, Midfummer-Norton, Stratton- on-the-Fofs, Laverton, Milton-Falconbridgc in the parifli of Martock, (all parcel of the Gournay eftates) belong to the Prince of Wales, as Duke of CornwalL
Notwithftanding the decree of King Edw. III. though abfolute in itfelf, it is evident that favour was ftiewn to the children of this Thomas de Gournay, who was thus attainted. Thefe were, Thomas de Gournay, the third of that name; John de Gournay,. of KnoUe in Bedminfter; George de Gournay, who died without ifllie; and Sir Matthew de Gournay, a famous knight, and a perfon of moft conl'ummate fkill and reputations having dedicated himfelf to the ufe of arms, he was prefent in all the memorable engagements of the age he lived in, being recorded on his monument at Stoke-under- Hamden," where he was buried, to have ferved in the battles of Benamazin, Sluice, Crefly, Ingenny, Poiftiers, Nazaron in Spain, and in the fiege of Algezira, againft the Saracens. He married two wives, i. Alice, fifter of Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and rehft of Sir John Beauchamp of Hatch. To his fecond wife he married Philippa, fifter and coheir of John Lord Talbot. This Matthew de Gournay died without iflue at the age of ninety-fix, in the fixth year of Henry IV. A. D. 1405. Thomas de Gournay his brother, the third of that name, and after him his fon Thomas de Gournay the fourth, poflefled, under the royal grant, the manors of Farringtonj Inglifticombe, and Weft-Harptree, with all or moft of the other eftatesj which, their ifllie failing, the above-mentioned Matthew de Gournay, who was the laft of the Gour- 4)ays of this line, lucceeded to, and after his deceafe they reverted to the crown.
The living of Farrington is a vicarage in the deanery of Frome, and being annexed ito Cliewton, the Rev. Dr. Annefley is the prefent incumbent.
Tire church, which is dedicated to St. John the Baptift, is a fmall building, fur- ,Tounded with elm trees, twice tlie height of the tower, which entirely exclude it from vview, Jtconfifts of a fingle aile; the tower at the weft end.
• JSec Stoke-under-Hamden, in Tintinhull hundred.
T 2 ' Over
140 FARRINGTO N-G O U R N A Y. IClietOtom
Over the communion-table an old ftone monument commemorates Henry Hole, gent, who died Jan. i6, lyoSj and Mary his wife, who died April aj, 1689, as alfo three of their children.
On the north fide of the nave is a fmall mural monument of grey and white marble, infcribed to the memory of John Mogg, efq; who died March 4, 1728, aged 78 yearsj as alfo of Dorothy his wife, and Richard their fon.
At the weft end of the tower is the effigies in ftone of Thomas de Gournay, the third of that name, lord of this manor, who lived in the time of King Edward the third.
According to the regifter, the chriftenings in this parilh are ten annually, and the burials four, oi\ a feven years average.
WEST-HARPTREE.
A LARGE and neat village, fituated under the north fide of Mendip, in a valley well wooded, and watered by a rivulet, which ifluing from a fpring near the ftreet, called Pilefwell, runs hence to Chew-Magna. It confifts of about forty houfes, eleven , of which are farms, the reft chiefly cottages. There is a hamlet belonging to the parifh, called Down-Edge, about a mile weftward from the church, and confifting of eight houfes.
There are two manors within this parifti, dxftinguilhed by the names of Wefi-Havp- tree-Gournay, and JVeJi-Harptree-Tilly. The former belonged at the Conqueft to the Bifliopof Coutances, and is thus particularized in the Norman Record:
" Azelin holds of the Bilhop, Herpetrev. Edui held it in the time of King Ed- " ward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne is half a *' carucate, and feven villanes, and four bordars, and five cottagers, with three ploughs. " There is a mill of five fhillings rent, and fifty-eight acres of meadow, and forty-two ■" acres of wood. Pafture one mile long, and half a mile broad. It was and is worth «' forty ftaillings.'"
Who this tenant of the name of Azelin was, has been feen in the account of Far-
rington-Gournay, and there being no variation in the defcent of this manor from that,
^ fave that the one was held of the Lovels of Caftle-Cary, and the other of the Gournays
of Eaft-Harptree, the reader is referred to the foregoing pages for an account of its
poflTeflTors, the prefent one being the Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall.
The other manor was the land of Walter de Dowai, and is thus furveyed: "Ralph holds of Walter, Harpetrev. Eluvacrehelditin the time of King Edward, " and gelded for five hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne is one caru-
' Lib. Domefday.
"cate.
CbCtotOn.l W E S T-H A R P T R E E. 141
** cate, and two fervants, and five villancs, and two cottagers with t\vo ploughs. There " is a mill of five fliillings rent, and fifty-eight acres of meadow, and fixty-two acres of " wood. Pafture one mile in length and breadth. It was and is worth forty fhillings."''
The family of Tylly or Tilly, who afterwards poflefled this manor, was very ancient. 6 Ric. I, Henry de Tilli paid fourteen pounds fifteen fhillings as fcutage for the King's ranfom,' To him fucceedcd John Tylly> who gave to the abbot and convent of Bruerne in the county of Oxford one meflliage, and one yardland and a half, in his manor of Weft-Harptree-Tylly, in the time of Henry III. John Tylly, his fon and heir, was lord of this manor 16 Edw. I.** To whom fuccceded a fecond John, and to him Richard Tylly, whofe fon and heir William in the time of Edward III. was a benefadlor to Glaftonbury-Abbey, granting to the abbot and convent thereof one mef- fuage, one hundred and ten acres of arable land, feven acres of meadow, five acres of pafture, and five acres of wood, in Afhcot, Greinton, and Walton." This William had lands at the Barton, near Briftol, and one hundred (hillings re-nt in that city, wliich he held of the King in burgage.^ The next of this name that occurs is John Tilly, whole heir is fet down 23 Edw. III. as holding the fourth part of a knight's fee in Portifliead, and likewife the fourth part of a fee in Copeneden of Hugh le Difpenfer.* 10 Hen. IV. Richard Tilly held the vill of Hogfhole upon Quantock.'' To which Richard fuc- ceedcd Walter Tilly, who was lord of Salty or Salthay, in this county.' By his wife Joan, he was father of Lionel Tilly, lord of Salthay 13 Hen. VI.''
16 Edw. IV. Walter Rodney, the fon of Sir Walter Rodney, knt. releafed to William Raynon or Roynon, efq; all his right in the lands and tenements in Weft-Harptree- Tilly, which thefaid William Raynon had fome time before of the grant of Thomas Bayoufe.'
35 Hen. VIII. this manor being in the crown, was granted to John Lord Ruflely" who the fame year had licence to alienate it to John Buckland. 27 Eliz. Thomas Buckland was lord of this manor." Of this ancient family was Ralph Buckland, a celebrated Puritan in the time of James I. After ftudying in London the municipal laws for fome time, he in 1579 became a commoner of Magdalen college in Oxford, whence, by the inftigation of fome Roman-Catholick prieft, he went forthwith to the Englifli college at Rheimes, where, and at Rome, he fpent feven years in the ftudy of philofophy and divinity. He afterwards was made a prieft, and returning to his own country, Tpent above twenty years in the offices of his profeflion, during which time he wrote and publifhed feveral books in his own way, as " Seven Sparks of the Enkindled Soul." " Four Lamentations, which, compofed in the hard times of Queen Elizabeth, may be ufed at all times when the Church happeneth to be extreamly per- fecuted." It was thought, from fome fentences contained in thefe Htde books, which arc drawn out of the Holy Scriptures after the form of Pfalms, that the author paid fome little attention to the Gunpowder affair in 1605, which it is generally believed was concerted abroad fome years before its difcovery. Buckland alfo wrote, " Aiv
♦ Lib. Domefday. ' Rot. pip. 6 Ric. I. " Inq. ad quod damnum. 19 Edw. I.
• Ibid. 6 Edw. III. ' Efc. « Lib. Feod. " Efc. ' Ibid. " Ibid.
' Rot. claus. 16 Edw. IV. "' Ter. Sydenham. * Jbid.
Ambaflagc
J4a WEST-HARPTREE. [Cfietoton*
-Ambaflage from Heaven, wherein our Lord Chrift giveth to underftand his indignation againft all fuch as being catholickly minded, dare yield their prefence to the rites and public prayers of the malignant church." He likewife tranflated into Englifh a book entitled De Perfecutione Vandelka, written by Vi<5lor bilhop of Benferte in Africa; and the fix volumes of Surius De Vitis Sanctorum. He died in 16 ii, leaving behind him among the brethren, the character of a moft pious and fcraphical perfon, aperfon who went beyond all of his time for fervent devotion." The old manfion-houfe, wherein the Bucklands inhabited, ftands oppofite the fouth fide of the church, and over-againft it is another ancient houfe, the propeity of Goodenough Earl, efq; who inherits the manor of Wefl-Harptree-Tilly. On one fide of tlae porch are the arms of Buckland, viz. Three lions rampant, on a canton dexter a fret. On the other fide, two chevrons between three rofes. The arms of Tilly, as they were borne in the time of Henry VL were, a fefle bendy counter-bendy, in chief three fleurs de lis.
The church of Weft-Harptree, valued in 1292 at thirteen marks,' is a prebend in the cathedral of Wells. 11 Edw. III. Sir Walter de Rodney, knt. in commiferation of the poverty of the canons of Keynfliam, granted to them the right of patronage of this church,'' which the Bifhop appropriated to them in ijjy, ordaining the vicar hereof to take poffefTion of the reftorial houfes with garden and curtillage, and to re- ceive all kinds of tithes, oblations, obventions, and profits whatfoever, belonging to the faid church, excepting from the arable land, meadow, and wood of the glebe of the ■church, and common, as well in the wood of Lady JoandeGournay, as in other places and paftures appropriated to the feeding the cattle of the convent.' A new ordination of this vicarage was made in 1 344, whereby it was appointed, that it being judged more convenient and expedient for the vicar to have a houfe feparate from the parfon- age- houfe, and nearer to the church, the faid vicar Ihould have all the manfe belonging ro the church, fituated oppofite the parfonage gate, with competent curtillage, and a clofe adjoining thereto, with a hall, and two fitting rooms, and two cellars j one of the rooms with a cellar at the hither end of the hall, and the other room with the cellar at the further end of the hall, as alfo a kitchen, granary, fl:able for three horfes, and ;a pigeon-houfe; to be built within fix months, at the charge and expence of the abbot and convent of Keynfhamj but the vicar to ftand to repairs as often as found Jieedfiil. The vicar was likewife to have five acres of arable land, and two acres of meadow, contiguous to the faid hotife and tenement, with all its appertenances, viz. firce commonage of paflnjre for all forts of beafts at all times of the year, in the cham- pain, on the hill, and in all the common paftures of the village of Weft-Harptree j with the privilege of cutting heath upon Mendip, as much and as often as he pleafed. In confideration of which perquifites, two quarters of wheat, two of oats, two of barley, and three loads of hay, were to Jbe deducted from the firft ordination, and all other •matters contained therein to ftand as appointed. But if the houfe fhould not ht built within the time above Ipecified, or the vicar fhould not obtain the faid houfe and lands, the firft ordination to remain in full force. Dated at Wivelfcombe 5 kal. Dec. 1344.'
-• Wood's Athenae Oxonienfes, i. 374, 375.. » Taxat. Spiritual. < Pat. u Edw. III. p.i. m. 35.
f £xcerpt. e Regift. Wellen. ? Ibid.
The
CbcVoton.] WEST-HARPTRE# 143
The liviog is a vicarage in tiie deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter. The King ii patron, and the Rev. Mr, Haines is die prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and aile on the fouth fide, all covered with leacj. At the weft end is a fnnall tower, containing five bells and a clock, and js furnnounted by a fpire leaded.
On the north wall of the chancel is a fmall plain ftone monument with this infcrip-
tion; " Under this tombe are inclofed the bodys of John Buckland of tliis parifh,
gent, fonn of Charles Buckland and Bridget his wife, late of Lewes in SufTex, gent. He departed this life July 17. And alfo Bridget, the daughter of the faid John Buckland, who departed this life Jan, 17, both in the year 1696."
On the fouth wall of the chancel: " Under this tombe is inclofed Bridget the
daughter of John Reliffe, of Afhburnham in the county of Suflex, efq; and grand- daughter of Sir George Farewell, of Hill-Bifhops in this county; late wife of Charles Buckland, of this parifli, gent. She departed this life April the 8th, 1698, aged 58."
At the eaft end of the fouth aile is a handfome mural monument of ftone, and on the- tablet this infcription: — "Hicjuxta jacent Henrietta, uxor Willielmi Earle, arm. filia Smart Goodenough, arm. de Barton prope Taunton; nata 6 Martij, anno 1676, dcnata 31 Januarij 1703, - Robertus Earle, gent, filius natu tertius Willielini Earle, arm, natus 22 Januarij; denatus 7 Februarij, 1703. Willielmus Hall Earle, gen. filius natu fecundus Willielmi Earle, fervient. ad legem, natus 6 Julij, 1700; denatus 28 Julij, 172 1, Willielmus Earle, ferviens ad legem, filius natu quartus, Tho. Earle^ equitis aurati de Crudwell in agro Wilton, obiit 10 die Martij, anno a^tatis 78, Dom. 39,"
On the north fide of the chanCel is a mural monument of ftone with this infcription: "In the middle of this chancel lyeth interred Ann, daughter of John Brickdale, efqj who departed this life the 30th of April 1748, aged 32. And Ann, the wife of the faid John Brickdale, died the 15th of Feb. 1748, aged 56. Alfo John Freke Brickdale, efq; fon of the faid John Brickdale, who died June 4^ 1765, aged 47* Likewife the faid John Brickdale, efq; who died Oft. 25, 1766, aged 90."
Matthew Brickdale, efq; is impropriator of the great tithes of Weft-Harptree.
Mrs, Mary Buckland, by her will, gave a clofe in the parilh of Backwell, called Cockwell- Croft, to the ufc of the poor of this parifh, to bind out a poor child appren- tice. 1672.
John Buckland, efq; by a codicil annexed to his will, dated 23d of April 1675, de- vifed two clofcs in this parifti, called Clofcwell and Syms-Clofe, to the ufe of the poor of this parifh for ever. 1678.
John Plummer of tliis parifli, yeoman, by his will Sept. 24, 1725, devifed a copy- hold tenement lying in this parifh; the one half to the ufe of the poor of this parifli, and the odier half to the ufe of the poor of Priddy, He died 1736, aged 88.
William
144
% E S T-H A'R P T R E E. [<tt{)Ctotom
William Earle, fcrjeant at law, by his will dated the 17th of May 1739, 8=^ve 50I. to this parifhj the intereft thereof at four per cent, to be for ever applied to the ufc of , the poor.
By the regifter it appears, that on a fcven years' average, the births have been feven, the burials five annually.
In the church-yard are ten of the finefl yew-trees perhaps in the kingdom. They are dipt into cones, and the diameter of the largeft is at the bottom thirty-fix feet, the height forty; the body of the tree thirteen feet round. *
Of this church Dr. James Dugdale (a defcendant of Sir William Dugdale) was prebendary in the great rebellion in 1642, and was much perfecuted for his loyalty. He lived to fee die Reftoration.
HINTON-BLEWET, alias COLD-HINTON,
IS a fmall parifli, five miles fouthward from Chew-Magna, fituated on high ground in 2 pleafant well-wooded country. A fmall flream rifing in one of the neighbouring hills, runs dirough this parifh, turning two mills, and joins the litde river at Radftock. The Rev. Mr. Brookes has a neat houfe and garden near the church; another on the green is the property of Mr. Hutchinfon of Bath, who has a confiderable farrr* here, and an old ftable which has from time immemorial been called Abbot's Barn, from which fome have been induced to think it is the remains of fome religious foundation ; but. we have- no account of it in the monaftick books.
The name of this place in Britifh fignifies the Old Town; it is called in Domefday . Book Hantone, and thus defcribed:
"Ralph holds of William [de Ow] Hantone. In the time of King Edward it *' gelded for eight hides. The aiable is fix carucates and a half In demefne are two *' carucates and a half^ and four fervants, and feven villanes, and three bordars, and " four cottagers, with three ploughs. There is a mill of four fhillings rent, and fixry ** acres of meadow. A wood one mile long, and one furlong broad. It was worth ** fix pounds, now one hundred fhillings. Of dus land Hugh holds of WiUiam half a *' hide. It was -always wordi three Ihillings."*
In the time of Edw. II. lived John Bluet,'' and in that of Edw. III. Ralph Bluet is certified to hold 6ne knight's fee in Hinton of Hugh le Diipenler.' After him came feveral of the name of John,** who pofleflTcd this and divers other lands in this county and Dorfet. 5 Hen. V. Sir Thomas Broke, knt. held at his death this manor and the advowfon of the church, together with the manor of Stoneafton, of Lord le Dilpenfer.
• Lib. Domefday. ► Efc. « Lib. Fcod. 23 Edw. HI. " Efc. Hen. IV.
Thomas
I
Cfjetoton.] H I N T O N-B L E W E Tft J45
Thomas Broke his ion and heir of the age of cwenty-fix fears.* The Cheddcrs had before this fame property in die place. Joan the wife of die Uid Thomas Broke had diis manor in dower, and died lazed of it 15 Hen. VI. lamng Thomas Chedder her heir.' The £unijy of Bhiet or Bkwe^ had poOeflioo here ib late as j8 Hen. VIII.' Of late years the manor was die piopcitj of the SoxJcers of Chifconycoii, and bj them was kid to Mr. William James of Eaft-Harptre^ wiio now pofleflb k.
SocTH-WiDcoMBi is a handet bdong^ to this pariih.
The living of Hinton-Blewet is a redory in the deanery of Redcfiffand BedmioAcr, The RcT, Mr. Brookes is patron and innmubcnf.
Thedmrcfa is dedicated coAH-Saints, and coafifts of a nave, chanod, and north aik. At the weft end is a neat tower htdy rebailc
On a large Nac^ ftme in die middle poflage^ is die filming inicr^xioni—r-^ Sob hoc bpide jacent cmem Elizabeths, Joamm Hunt coqugis dcfideratiffima^ fifizque GuUelmi James, gen. de Widcoaab^ ht^ parocfaiae vico; ua^ cam doobus liberis, qui ' t teaera ztate vita dccdicnint. Obiic 18 Martii, 1772; aetatis 42."
The abbot of Keynlham received annually twenty-five fhillings oot of this redory.^
According to the parochial r^ifter, the chriftening^ here are on an average eig^ die burials five.
•Ek. ' Owl. « Ter. Sfdcuhaa. • Tzjol
HIGH-LITTLETON,
AParifli (o caOed to «<ilKiigiw<li it fiom another of a fimilar appeOadoo, is fimatrd on the lower road from Bath to Wcfls, from eacb of iriudi dties it is ten miles diftanc Inrhidiiig the large and andeiK hamlet of Hallatkow, it contains abooc feventy hooies, and four hundred inhabitants.
In this pariih is a very large coal-work belonging to Mr. Mogg, in which great quantkies of fine coals are railed, and ibid at the pt^s mouth for three-pence a bofbeL
Mr. Scradiey has ^ven us the foflowing oUcrvatioos on the ftrata in coal-mines in this part of the country:*
" For dilcovery of coals, diey 6A iearcfa for the ertpt wludi is really cool, though very fiiaUe and weak, and fomedmes zppaus to die day, as they term it; or elle for the cSffl which is dark or Uackifh rock, apd always keq» its r^jular coorie, as the cool does, lying obliquely over ic For all roal.Hrs fliehii^ like the tile of a hoofe, not perpendicufar nor bortzootal, unlefs it be broken by a ridg^ whidi is a parting of
• PIMbvfc. Ti^: Nou j6d, ^ 9G«. Vol. II. U clay.
J46 HIGH-LITTLETON. [Cf)etoton»
clay, ftone, or rubble j as if the veins by fome violent fhock were disjointed or broken, fo as to let in rubble, &c. between them. The obliquity, or pitch as they term it, in .all the works about Mendip hills, is about twenty-two inches in a fathom; and when it rifes to the land, is called the crop, but in the North bajfeting. In the works near Stowey, and likewife at Farrington, it rifeth to the north-weft, and pitcheth to the fouth-eaft; but the farther they work to the fouth-weft the pitch inclines to the fouth, and e contra when they work towards the north-eaft. So likewife they obferve, as they work to the fouth-weft, when they meet with a ridge it caufeth the coal to trap up, that is, being cut off by the ridge, they find it over their heads when they are through the ridge; but on the contrary, when they work through a ridge to the north-eaft, they fay it traps down, that is, they find it under their ktt.
" Coal is generally dug in valleys or low grounds. The furface in thefe parts is moftly a red foil, which under the firft or fecond fpit degenerates into malm or loam, and often yields a rock of reddifti fire-Jtone, till you come to four, five, and many times to twelve or fourteen fathom depth, when by degrees it changeth to a grey, then to a dark or blackifti rock, which they call the coal clives. Thefe always lie fhelving and regular as the coal doth ; but in thefe parts they never meet with free-ftone over the coal, as at Newcaftle, and in Staffordftiire. Thefe clives vary much in hardnefs, in fome places being little harder than malm or loam, in others fo hard that they are forced to IpUt them with gunpowder. So likewife in colour; the top inclining to red or grey, but the nearer to coal the blacker they grow; and wherever they meet with them, are fure to find coal under them; but they are not always worth digging.
" The firft or uppermoft vein at Sutton is called the Stinking Veir.-, it is hard coal fit for mechanick ufes, but of a fulphureous fmell. About five fathom and half (feldom more than feven fathoms) under this lies another vein, which, from certain lumps of ftone mixed with it like a caput mortuum, not inflammable, called Cafs-head, they call the Cat-head Vein.
" About the fame depth under this again lies the Three-Coal Vein, fo called becaufe it is divided into three different coals; between the firft and fecond coal is a ftone of a foot (and in fome places two feet) thick; but the middle and third coal feem placed loofe on each other, without any feparation of a different matter. Thefe three veins before- mentioned are fometimes worked in the fame pit; but the next vein which I am going to mention is generally wrought in a feparate pit, for though it lie the like depth under the other, the cliff" between them is hard and fubje<51: to water.
" Next under the Three-Coal Vein is the Teaw Vept, fo denominated becaufe the coal is figured with eyes refembling a peacock's tail gilt with gold, which bird in this country dialeft is called a Peaw. The cliff" alfo over this vein is variegated with cockle-ftiells and fern branches ; and thefe are always an indication of this vein, which is always fegrched for about fifteen fathom to the north-weft of the former.
" Under this again, between five and fix fathom, lies the Smith' s-Coal Vein, about a yard thick ; and near the fame depth under that, the Shelly Vein ; and under that, a vein of ten inches thick, which, being litde valued, has not been wrought to any
purpofe.
ebetoton.] H i G h-l i t t l e t o n. 147
piirpofe. Some fay there is alfo another under the laft, but that has not been proved within the memory of man.
" At Farrlngton they have the fame veins, which, as I am informed, agree in all parts with thofe of Bifhop's-Sutton before mentioned; but as Farrington lies four miles foutli-eaft from Bifhop's-Sutton, fo in the regular courfe they would lie a mile and a third deeper than thofe at Sutton. But as in fad they are dug near the fame depth, it follows there muft be a trap or feveral traps down, which in all muft amount to that depth between the faid works.
" Between Farrington and High-Littleton, the fame veins feem to retain their regular courfe, but at Littleton their undermoft and deepeft vein is the beft coal, which at Farrington proves fmall.
" On the other hand, in the parifli of Stanton-Drew, to the north-eaft of Sutton coal-works, about a mile diftant, and in the true courfe with thofe at Sutton, the fame veins are found again; but here they wind a little, and their courfe or drift runs almoft north, and they dip to the eaft. This winding is attributed to ridges, which the workmen have met with on both fides, and have difcontinued their working that way. At Stanton they have little of the red earth or malm on the furface, but come imme- diately to an iron grit or grey tile-ftone, which is a forerunner of the coal-clives -, in all other matters they agree with the works near Stowey.
" In the fame parilh of Stanton-Drew, a little to the eaftward, they have another coal -work, but the veins are in all refpefts different from the former. Their drift or courfe is to the eleven o'clock fun, as they term it ; they pitch to the five o'clock morning, and rife to land confequently to the five o'clock evening fun. They have feveral veins, but as yet only three are thought, worth working. The uppermoft, about three feet thick, is fmall lime-coal; the next is about three fathom under it, but two feet and a half thick, fit for culinary ufes; the undermoft is about the like depth under the former, only ten inches thick, but good hard coal.
" At Glutton, about two miles from thefe latter, in the fame drift, viz. nearly S. E. and by S. thefe laft veins appear again. The furface here is red, and fo continues to ten, and fometimes to fourteen fathom, and in other relpedls agree with the laft- mentioned works at Stanton-Drew.
" At Burnet, Queen's-Charlton, and Brifleton, they have four veins, which pitch nearly to the north, and confequently the drift lies almoft eaft and weft. The furface is red land, generally to the depth of four or five fathom. The uppermoft is from three to fix feet thick at Brifleton, but lefs at Charlton and Burnet. The next, called Pot-VeiHy is fix fathom under the former, eighteen inches thick, all hard coal. jdly. The Trench Vein, feven fathom under the other, which is from two feet and half to three feet thick, all folid coal. 4thly. Rock Vein, always diftinguiflied by a rock .of paving ftone called penant lying over it; which rock is fometimes twenty (ccx. thick, or more, and therefore this vein is never wrought in the fame pit with the former vein, but about two hundred yards more to the fouth, or to land as they term it. It is com- puted feven fatliom under the former.
U- 2 •' This
14-3 H I G H-L I T T L E T O N.' [CbetotOit,
" This is all I can fay in relation to the difFei-ent veins of coal and earth in the coal- works in thefe parts, wherein all agree in the oblique fituation of the veins; and every vein has its cliff or clives rifing over it, in the fame oblique manner. All of them pitch or rile about twenty-two inches in a fathomj and almofl all have the fame ftrata of earth, malm, and rock over them, but differ in refpeft to their courfe and drift, as alfo in thicknefs, goodnefs, and ufe.
" Now as coal is here generally dug in vallies, fo the hills which interfere between •the fevcra-l w6rks before-mentioned feem alfo to obferve a regular courfe in the ftrata of ftone and earth found in their bowels; for in thefe hills (I mean thofe only that are difperfcd among the coal-work-s before-mentioned) we find on the fummits a ftony arable mixed with a fpungy yeUowifh earth and clay, under which are quarries of lyas in feveral beds to the depth of eight or ten feet; and fix feet under that, through yellovvilh loam, there is a blue clay, inclinable to marl, which is about a yard thick. Under this is another yard of whitifh loam, and then a deep blue marl, foft, fat, and foapy, fix feet thick, only at about two feet thick it is parted by a marcafite about fix inches thick. Thefe beds of ftone and marl, different from coal, lie all horizontal."
The manors of Hallatrow and Littleton are found in the long lift of thofe which belonged at the Conqueft to the Bifhop of Coutances, and are thus furveyed together in the Norman record:
" Roger holds of the Bifhop, Helgetrev. Four thanes held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for five hides wanting half a virgate of land. The arable *' is fix carucates. In demefne is one carucate and a half, and four villanes, and three " bordars, and three cottagers, with two ploughs. There are twenty-feven acres of " meadow, and thirty-three acres of paft^re. It was and is worth fixty fhillings."
" Ralph holds of the Bifhop, Liteltone. Alwod held it in the time of King *5 Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are *' two carucates, with one fervant, and four villanes, and fix cottagers, with three ''ploughs. There is a mill of fifty pence rent, and thirty-two acres of meadow, and *' fixty-fix acres of pafture. In Bath one burgefs pays fifteen-pence. It was and is " worth fixty fhiUings.""
The manors of Hallatrow and Littleton compofed part of the eftate of the family of Gournay in the times of Hen. III. and Edw. I. but afterwards were annexed to the honour of Gloucefter. In the reign of Edw. II. John le Sore, of Backwell, held thefe hamlets of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucefter, by the fervice of one knight's fee;*" and in the fucceeding reign of Edw. III. Walter de Rodney held the fame; to whom fucceeded Richard de Rodney.'' 49 Edw. III. the abbot of Keynfham mona- ftery, founded by William Earl of Gloucefter A. D. 1170, Sir Walter Romefey, knt. and Maud Baffet, were certified to hoU 'a knight's fee in the hamlets of Hallatrow and Littleton." The lands which Keynfham abbey poffefTed here, continued in that monaftery till its diffolution, and the manor now belongs partly to Jacob Mogg, efq; ^nd partly to William Gore Langton, of Newton-St.-Loe, efq.
* Lib. Domefday; « Lib. Feod, 7 Edward IL ? Efc, f Lib. Feed.
The
ebctoton.] H I G H-L I T T L E T O N. , 149
The church of High-Littleton was appropriated to the abbey of Kdynfliam in I3a4{ the name of the abbot tJien prefiding was Nicholas/
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Redcliff and Bednninfter. The King is patron, and the Rev. Thomas Mogg is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and is a fmall but veiy handfome Itrufture, rebuilt in 1735, confifting of a nave, chancel, and fmall aile on the fouth fide, and a tower at the weft end containing three bells.
There Is an old ftone mural monument on the north fide of the chancel, infcribed
as follows: " Here lyeth John Hodges, buried May 2, 1584. Alfo his fon
Thomas Hodges, buried Od. 15, 1 6 1 9. And Thomas Hodges, fon of the above- faid Thomas Hodges, buried April 13, 161 6. And Thomas Hodges, fon of the fe- cond Thomas, buried March i, 1686; and his wife Joan Hodges. Alfo here lyeth Thomas Hodges, fon of Thomas and Joan Hodges, buried Dec. 26, 1692; George buried June 28, 1694; and Joan, buried June 26, 1694; fons and daughter of the laft Thomas Hodges."
The average chriftenings in this parifli are twenty-fix, and the burials twelve, an- nually.
' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
MIDSUMMER-NORTON,
Alias Norton-Canonicorum, or Norton-Friars.
AParifh fituated ten miles northeaft from Wells, nine weft from Bath, and fourteen fouth from Briftol. It is of large extent, being feven miles in length, from Nettlebridge to Rodford- Bridge near Camerton ; and contains about two hundred and ninety houfes, and upwards of fifteen hundred inhabitants, including tlie three following hamlets:
1. Welton, fituated northeaftward.
2. Clapton, noithweftward.
3. Downside, near Chilcompton, fouthweft.
The church and principal part of the parifh lies in a woody vale, fcreened from the north by a ridge of high lands, and watered by a pleafant ftream. The lands are inclofed, and divided between pafture and tillage; lome of the meadow is very rich, and confiderable part of the arable has been improved by marl. There are two coal- works in the parifh, in which many of the poor are employed. Thefe coals are fold at four-pence a bufticl at the pit's mouth. A fair for cattle, pigs, and pedlary-ware, is held here on the 25th of Aiiril.
This
\
#
150 MIDSUMMER-NORTON. [Cf)etotom
This was another of the Bifhop of Coutances manors, and held of him by Ulveva :
*' Ulveva holds of the Billiop Nortone. Alwold held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for five hides. The arable is eight carucates. In demefne is one caru- *' cate, and three fervants, and five villanes, and eleven cottagers, with three ploughs. " There is a mill of forty pence rent, and thirty-four acres of meadow, and fix acres of " coppice-wood, and one mile of wood in length, and as much in breadth. It was " worth one hundred fhillings, now fixty fliillings.'"
Some time after the conqueft of England by the Normans, we find this manor in the pofl'effion of Alured de Lincolnia, or Nichole, (as the French records call him) a perfon who reprefented a great and noble family, of high antiquity, and of which Alured was the ufual chriftian name before and after the time of the Conqueft, down to 48 Hen. III. Tvhen Alured de Nichole died feized, among other lands and poffellions, of the manor of Norton, and his neareft heirs were found to be Robert Fitzpaine, fon of Margery his eldeft fifter j Beatrix, his fecond fifter, married to William de Gouiz ; and Albreda, his third fifter." The manor of Norton was affigned in the partition betwixt thefe coheirs to William de Gouiz, huftsand of the fecond fifter, who had livery of it the year after Alured de Nichole's deceafe.' This William de Gouiz died 27 Edw. I. having pofTeffed half a knight's fee in Midfummer-Norton, which the record ftates he held in chief of John de Vivoniaj"" which moiety of a fee Laurence de Hameldon fometime held in foccage, paying to the faid WiUiam de Gouiz one penny a year for all fervices.' Joan and Alice were his daughters and heirs.' In the firft year of Edward the fecond, Adomar de Archiaco granted to John de Vivonia and Reginald his fon a fourth part of the manor of Midfummer-Norton, then certified to be a member of, and to appertain to the manor of Chewton-under-Mendip.* Some few years after, viz. 9 Edw. II. Joan de Vivonia, otherwife ftiled de Kyme from the name of her mother Maud's firft hulband, and who was the wife of Reginald Fitz- Peter, held a moiety of the manor of Norton."" This Joan de Vivonia had three fifters, all of whom had lands in this county and Dorfet, by inheritance from their father William de Vivonia, or de Fortibus, fecond huftjand of Maud de Kyme or Vivonia above-mentioned.' Cecilia the fecond daughter, and fifter of Joan aforefaid, married John de Beauchamp, of Hatch, and, together with her purparty of Midfummer- Norton, inherited the manor of TVelton, (anciently Welwoneton) in this parifti, which was part of the barony de Fortibus, and a vill, which gave name to a very ancient family, who had lands in Compton-Dunden and Albwick." Which manor of Welton continued for many defcents in the family of Beauchamp, as well as that portion of Norton which fell to their fliare as defccndants of the Vivonias. The other portions came to Peter Fitz-Reginald, and to Reginald Fitz-Reginald; the laft-mentioned died % Edw. III. leaving Reginald Fitzherbert his heir.' Which Reginald Fitzherbert died 20 Edw. III. and was fucceeded by Edmund his fon and heir.'" 48 Edw. III. Matthew Gournay, lord of Farrington-Gournay, had the manor of Welton, with its members of
f Lib. Domefday. * Gart. Antiq. « Rot. Claus. 49Hen. III. ' Efc. ' Lib. Feod. ' Efc. » Cart. Antiq,. ? Efc. \ See the Inquifition. !5 Cartular. Abbat. Glaflon. ' Efc. " Ibid.
Midfummer-
Cf)Ctoton.] MIDSUMMER-NORTQ^. iji
Midfummer-Norton and Widcombe, which paffing wirh the other lands of tlic Gournays to the crown," now belongs to the Prince of Wales as Duke of Cornwall. Edmund Fitzherbert above-mentioned held at his death, lo Ric. II. one meflTuage, and one carucate of land with its appertenances, together with the fourth part of a fair in Mid- fummer-Norton, of the King in capite by knight's fervice. He left ilTue a fon, named Edmund, who died without iflfue, and a daughter, Alice, married to Sir Thomas Weft, knt. anceftor to Earl Delawar, to whom fhe brought the patrimonial eftates. Sir Thomas Weft died 4 Hen. V. feized of a moiety of this manor, and a moiety of the fair, and was fucceeded by his brother Reginald." A moiety of the manor was held at the fame time by the family of Brook, and defcended from them to the Chedders, Newtons, Lord Lifle, and Sir Thomas Griffin.''
But befides thefe disjointed portions, there was yet another manor or re£torial manor in this parifti, which formerly belonged to the Canons of Merton in the county of Surry, from which circumftance it obtained the name of Norton-Camnkorum. This manor, after the diflblution of that houfe, was granted to Chrift-church college in Oxford, and now remains part of its pofleirions. It was formerly held under leafe by the family of Bull, (who bore for their arms. Or, three bulls' hcuds /aile, armed and langued gules) and now by James Tooker, efq.
Lands in Compton in this parifli were held 37 Hen. VIII. by Robert Longe, efq.'
The reftory of Norton-Canonicorum was valued in 1292 at twenty-five marks, and the vicarage at eight marks/ It was appropriated to the priory of Merton, which received from it a yearly pcnfion of thirty fhillings.*
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of the Dean and Canons of Chriftchurch. The Rev. Edward Ford is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. John Baptift, is a very ancient edifice, as is evident from the circular arched door-ways, with uncouth zigzag mouldings, and other fuch decorations, charafteriftick of the Saxon and Norman ftile. It confifts of a nave and fide ailes, with a handfome tower at the weft end of more modern ereflion than the reft, having been built in the year 1674. This tower contains a clock, and eight bells, three of which were given by King Charles the Second, whofe ftatue in a full-bottomed wig and regalia ftands in a niche on the fouth fide.
At the corner of the fouth aile ftands the wooden effigy of a man in armour, which formerly lay under the fingers' gallery, on a raifed tomb, long fince demoliftied. It is vulgarly called by the inhabitants Jack 0' Lent; but tradition fays it belonged to one of the name of Warknell. Many of the Harbords of Welton, and the Bulls, were interred here.
In the north aile is a fmall mural monument with the following infcription : " Hoc monumentum pofuit Johannes Landfdown, in memoriam Chriftopheri Hobfon, A. M. vicarii, qui obijt 1 1"° die Aprilis, Anno Domini 1762, setatis fu« 76.
" Sec page 139. " Efc. f See in Ubley, p. 156, and Chedder in Winterftoke hundred.
' 'I'er. Sydenham. ' 'I'axat. Spiritual. s Taxat. Temporal.
" Dum
1^2 MiJD SUMMER-NORTON. (.Cijetotom
** Dum vivens, moriens nemini fe gefllt jniquumj *' Sic vivens, moriens, fidat adire Deum. "Mary, the wife of Chriftopher Hobfon, died March 15, 1 7 37; and Jane their daughter, aged 42, died June 12, 1777."
In the middle of the church-yard ftands a very fine ancient yew-tree, whofe brandies form a circle of one hundred and forty feet.
PAULTON. .
NORTHWARD of Midfummer-Norton, and betwixt that parifh and High- Littleton, is Paulton, pleafantly fituated on the edge of a fruitful vale, which extends fouthward, and is well wooded and watered. The number of houfes is about one hundred and thirty, and that of inhabitants nearly feven hundred and fifty. Molt of the houfes ftand in feveral irregular ftreets near the church, and many of them are good fubftantial dwellings. In this parifh, which abounds with lyas flone, burnt in great quantities into lime for manure, are two large coal-pits, worked by fire-engines i the coals are very good, and fold at the pit at fourpence a bufhel.
We have no account of this place in the old record fo often quoted in this book,, it having in early times been member of fome other manor. In the time of Edw. III. lived John dc Palton," who was a knight, and engaged in the wars of that reign -, a ftone effigy in the chancel is faid to reprefent this man. To him fucceeded Sir Robert de Palton, and to him Sir William de Palton, fon and heir of Sir Robert, fucceffive pofTefiibrs of this manor." This Sir William de Palton, by his deed 6 Hen. IV. granted to Richard Lord St. Maur, and to Elizabeth the relidl of Wilham Botreaux, all his lands and , tenements in Camerton, Doulting, Glaftonbury, and Bath, with the advowfon of the church of Camerton, and a yearly rent of five fhillings, payable out of a tenement in Paulton, late the property of John Duricote, together with all thofe lands and tene- ments in Holcombe, which Sir John de Palton, his grandfather, purchafed of Juliana de Walton.' To which William fucceeded another William Palton, who was lord not only of this manor, but of Timfbury, Corlcombe, Camerton, Wichycombe, Elworthy, Brompton-Ralph, Holcombe, Wyche, and Bourbache, and alfo pofTefTed divers lands and tenements in other parifhes. At his death, 28 Hen. VI. Joan the wife of John Kelly, and Agnes the wife of Nicholas St. Loe, were found to be his coufins and heirs;'' and thus the name and line of pofTefTion became extindl. The lordlhip is now the property of Thomas Bury, elq,
Paulton is one of thofe chapels which belonged to the reftory of Chewton, with which it was given by Hen. V. to the priory of Shene. It appears by the regifters of
• Cart. Andq, » Efc, = Rot. claus. 9 Hen. VI. ? Efc. 28 Hen. VI.
Wells,
\
CDetoton.] MIDSUMMER-NORTON? 153
Wells, that two chaplains had ufually ferved the chapels of Paulton and Farrington ; but in 1494 an official decree was iflued out that Thomas Golwege, then vicar of Chewton, and his fucceflbrs, in confideration of the fmallncfs of the revenues of thofe chapels belonging to the vicarage, (hould not be bound to find two chaplains to fervc the chapels, but that one in future fhould alternately officiate in both.'
The church, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a handfome edifice, rebuilt in the year 1753, and the tower in 1757, of ftonc brought from the quarries at Doul- ting on Mendip, at the expence of the parifh. The church confifts of one aile and chancel, and the tower has a clock and five bells.
Sir John Palton's mutilated effigy lies on a low tomb on the fouth fide of the chancel. On the north fide is a plain mural monument infcribed to feveral of the Plumer family.
The average number of chriftenings in this pariih are nineteen, and the buriaJ&
nine annually.
• Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
STONE-EASTON,
Otherwife S T O N Y - E A S T O N.
THE original name of this village was Eafton or Eftone, fignifying the Eaji 'To-dvn, and given to it on account of its eafterly fituation from Chewton-Mendip, the hundred town. It was additionally denominated Stony-Eafton, by reafon of its abounding with thofe ftrata of ftone which run along the verges of the Mendip hills. There are other places in this county of a fimilar diftinftion, as Stony-Hinton, Stony- Stoke, Stony-Littleton, Stony-Stratton, &c. all or moft of which have fimilar reafons, for their additional prasnomen.
This village, confifting of a long Hreet of tolerably built houfes, is fituated in an inclofed woody country, in the turnpike-road between Briftol and Shepton- Mallet, and near the interfeftion of the road from Bath to Wells, at a point called Old-Down. This point is the weftern angle of a large common of that name, on high ground, and commanding an extenfive profpeft. Here are found divers varieties of i'par, and no- dules of iron -ftone, which are hollow, and filled with white amethyftine cryftals of tlic fame kind as thole at St. Vincent's rocks, near Briftol. At the interfeftion of the roads is a large accuftomed inn, known by the name of Old-Down Inn.
This place is of high antiquity, being ranked among thofe manors which were held at the Conqueft by Gefliiey Bifhop of Coutanccs. We have the following detail of it in the Norman furvey:
Vol, II. X " Azclin
154 S T O N E-E A S T O N. [CtetOton.
" Azelin [that is, Afceline de Percheval] holds of the Bifhop, Estone. Three " thanes held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for four hides and a half. " The arable is fix carucates. In denncfne are three carucates, and four fervants, and " five vilhnes, and four bordars, and two cottagers, with four ploughs. There is a '* mill which renders thirty pence, and forty acres of meadow, and forty acres of *' pafture. It was and is worth feventy fhillings."*
It had owners of its own name fobn after this period; but in the time of Henry II I. it became the prQperty of the family de Clifton, (fo named from Clifton, their priftine poflelTion in Gloucefterfhire) of whom were Ignatius de Clifton, and Gervafe de Clifton, fucceffive pofleflbrs hereof' They held one knight's fee here 24 Edw. I. another in Radftock, and another in Clifton before-mentioned." So did their heirs hold the fame 23 Edw. III.'' In this reign we find other poflefTions alfo in this parifh. 13 Edw. III. Simon de Trewithofe held at his death of the King in chief three acres and a half of arable land in Stony-Efton, (as it was then written)' and 20 Edw. III. Bartho- lomew Peytevyn is certified to hold in Stony-Efton in demefne, as of fee of the King in chief, one mcflfuage, two plough-lands of arable, fix acres of meadow, and fifty fhillings rent, by the fingular fervice of finding the King yearly at Chriftmas a fextary or a pint and a half of clove wine, (which was fopiethjng of the nature of hippocrasy or fpiced wine) and the faid land is reported to be worth ten pounds a year/ A fimilar cuftom prevailed in the manor o( Stert in this county, which was held of the King by the fergeanty of one gallon of wine, to be paid yearly at the King's exchequer.^ And another cuftom fomewhat fimilar to both, though more extraordinary, occurs in the tenure of the manor of Winter/low in the county of Wilts, the lord of which was obliged by his fervice, whenever the King fhould come to his palace at Clarendon, and make any ftay there, to go into the butlery of the faid palace, and draw out of any veflTel he fliould find, at his own choice, as much wine as ftiould be needful for making a pitcher of claret, which he was to make at the King's expence, and to ferve his Majefty with a cup of it, and after that he was to have for his pains the vefi'el he took the wine from, the remainder of its contents, and the cup that the King drank out of'
There feem to have been from very early times two manors in Stone-Eafton, or at leaft two vills within the precinfts of the fame parifti. For in the time of Edw. I. and II. the records mention an Eajlon-major and an Eajlon-minor. 2)2 Edw. III. Richard Greneville and John de Sutton releafed to John de Chinerefton the manor of Stone- Eafton, with lands in Midfummer-Norton and Compton-Dando.' Which John de Chinerefton by deed dated 44 Edw. III. granted to William Chedder and his heirs all his manor of Nether- Stony-Eafton, together with all his lands in Nether-Stony- Eafton, Compton-Dando, Chilcompton, and Midfummer-Norton.'' This manor con- tinued in the defendants of Brook and Chedder, till it came by a coheirefs in the time of Philip and Mary to Sir Thomas Griffin, knt.
» Lib. Domefday. " Cart. Antiq. 47 Hen. III. « Lib. Feod. * Ibid. ' Efc.
^ Plac. Coron. « Ibid. ? Efc. 50 Edw. III. Wilts. ' Ex Autog. " Ibid.
"^^ The
Cf)etoton.]
S T O N E-E A S T O N.
155
Tlie other manor in Stone-Eafton belonged to the priory of Brewton in tliis county which held it till its difTohition. 36 Henry VIII. the manor of Stone-Eafton, with its appcrtenances, was granted to John Hippifley, efq; whofe Ion and heir John Hippifley, 17 Eliz. is certified to hold tlie fame, together with the manor of Camely, and twenty mefluages and lands in Camely, Temple-Cloud, and Hinton-Blewet, by knight's fcrvicc. From him defcended Prefton Hippifley, efq; lord of this manor, whofe daughter and fole heir conveyed it with many other manors in this neighbour- hood in marriage to John Coxe, of Wiltfliire, efq; anceftor of Henry H^pifley Coxe, efq; tlie prefent polTeffor, who has a very elegant manfion, with fine plaautions on the north fide of the parifli church.
The living is a curacy in the deanery of Fromc, and is annexed to that of Chew- ton Mendip.
The church confifts of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a tower at tile weft end containing five bells. The arch which divides the chancel from the nave is Saxon, having zigzag mouldings.
In the aile, which is the burial-place of the Coxe family, there is an old mural monument with the following infcription:— — " To the memory of John Hippifley, efq; who departed this life the 28th day of October, Anno Dom. 1664. Alfo in me- mory of Ann the wife of Richard Hippifley, efq; who left this life the 20th day of November 1669." On the top of the monument are thefe armsj Sable, two bendlets between three mullets or-, Hippifley: impaling argent y a crofs azure. On the one fide of the monument, Hippifley j on the other /Irgent, a crofs gules.
In the church-yard, which is furrounded with larch-trees, are two remarkable old yew-trees, of aftonifliing girth."
John Stonejlorty probably a native of this parifli, was the laft abbot of Keynftiam."
■" See vol. i. p. 13, note z.
■ Archer 6i 8.
Vol. II.
X2
UBU£Y
^ •%
[ ij6 ] [Cbctoton*
U B L E Y
IS the laft parilh in this hundred weftward, and on the borders of Winterftoke, lying under the northern ridge of IMendip-hills, which rife very fteep and high imme- diately from it. The road from the hill into the parilh is down a fteep precipice, extremely narrow, winding among vaft fragments of rock interfperfed with coppice- wood, and in ^any places there are ftone fteps for feveral yards together.
In the time of Edw. I. the manor of Obbeleigh was the property of Ralph deWake; but in that of Edw. II, it was poffefled by Richard Damorie, grandfon of Gilbert de Aumari, of Winford in this county, who 12 Edw. II. procured from the Crown a licence for a weekly market here on Monday, and a fair yearly, on the eve, day and morrow of the feaft of St. Bartholomew the apoftle." This Richard Damorie, who ferved in all the wars of Edw. II. died 4 Edw. III. and was fucceeded by Richard his fon and heir, who 10 Edw. III. doing his homage had livery of his lands, and 15 Edw. III. after his return from the expedition made into Flanders the preceding year, granted this his manor to Matthew the fon of Nicholas Peche.'' Which Matthew Peche, by deed dated iri the eighteenth year of the fame reign, granted the manor of Ubley to Robert de Luccombe, and Nicholas le Bole. Thefe perfons fliortly after fold the manor to Nicholas Hufcarle, who 36 Edw. III. granted the fame to Sir Richard de Afton, knt. from whom it was conveyed to John Stoke, and from him to William de Chedder." Sir Thomas Brook died feized of it 5 Henry V. and Joan his wife held it in jointure.'' Thomas de Chedder was owner of it 2 1 Henry VI. and by the marriage of his daughter and coheirefs Ifabel to Sir John Newton, it paffed into his family. Richard his fon and heir left likewife two daughters coheireflJes, of whom Ifabel was the wife of Sir Giles Capel, who had this manor in her right, and from him it defcended to Sir Henry Capel his fon and heir, who had iflue Sir Arthur, firft knight of Queen Elizabeth, whofe iflue was Sir Henry Capel, father of Arthur lord Capel, and grandfather of Arthur earl of Eflex. In 1726 the Earl of Eflex fold it to William Pulteney, efq; afterwards created Earl of Bath j from whom it has defcended to William Pulteney, efq; the prefent poflfeflbr. In Thomas de Chedder's time, 21 Henry VI. there was a capital manfvon here, with a park containing one hundred and four acres, and one hundred and twenty head of deer.'
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter, and in the gift of the King. The Rev. Peter Grigg is the prefent incumbent. It was formerly appro- priated to the abbey of Keyniham.
The church is dedicated to St; Bartholomew, and confifts of a nave, north and fouth ailes, with a fquare tower and a Ipire at the weft end, containing four bells.
At the upper end of the chancel on the left hand is an efcutcheon cut in ftone, wi;h two coats . thereon impaled: i. Sable, a chevron ermine between three efcallops
• Cart. laEd. II. n. 58. ' Cart. Ami q. 'Ibid. * Efc. « Orig. Survey.
argent^
m
CfjetotonO u B L E Y. i^j
argent, Chedder. 2. Argent, three fleurs de lis gukiy a label with three points j and
over head ^cutum Domiiiae CtjcBncc/
In a window on the north fide of the church are two coats, viz. i. Argent, on a chevron azure, three garbs or, for Newton. The other is, Chedder, charged with a crefcent for difference or^
On a grave-ftone near the communion table is this irrfcription: " Hie jacet Gulielmus Thomas, ccclefix hujus reftor plufquam quadragenarius; qui populum docuit publice ac domatim fermone ac exemplo. Vitam, quam pro grege diutius infumere ut paftor non potuit, avidiflimo fummo paftori reddidit Nov. 15°, A. D. 1667°, i^itatis fuas 74."
According to the regifter, the annual number of chriftenings in this parilh is eight, and of burials five, on a feven years' average.
The intereft of about 1 81. given by Mr. Milner of Briftol, and Mr. Thomas Fry, belongs to the poor of Ubley. They have alfo the rent of a fmall paddock. 8 MSS. Notes, taken June 5, 1677. ^ Ibid.
Additional Remarks on fome" of the foregoing Parijhes, C A M E L E Y.
PACE 125, L. I.
THIS ftream is the fource of the little river Cam, from which the parifli has its name. The parifh is divided into two manors, viz. Cameley and Temple-Cloud, where they hold a court-leet, at which they choofe their own peace-officers, returning them to the hundred-court at Chewton. There are the remains of a large manfion built by the family of the Hippifleys. In the parilh regifler is the following account of an extraordinary murder : — " A. Dni 1573, the 21ft day of November was the murther of thea " Perfonnes:
" Thomas Frofter, parfon Margrett Jenying
" Ales Nayler, widdow Ifabell Plentye.
" The murtherers weare John Jenannies, William Malhie. They were executed at Chard the year following.'* NeariCameley is Chalivell, which feems to be the Cilele of Domefday-Book, p. 34.
E M B O R O W.
PAGE 134..
THIS pari/h lies in the hundreds of Chewton and Whitftone, and comprifes hvo manors, viz. Emborow
and Whittenhull. The former was the property of Sir Richard de Emmeberwe, knt. who by his deed;
without date granted it to his nephew Alexander de Mountfort. In the reign of Richard II. it was the
pofleffion of Sir Hugh de Berewyk, knt. whofe fon Thomas Berwyke dying without ilTue, Margaret his
fitter, the wife of Ralph Boteler, efq; became heir to the ellate. From the Botelers it pafled to the Byfle
family, and from them to the Roynons, who 13 Eliz. conveyed it to John Hippifley, efq; whofe family had.
before pofleffions in this pari{h.» .
» from original deeds in the poITcffion of Henry HippiUcy Coxe, efq.
a The
158 Mditiomi Remarks on preceding Pat ifies, [Cf)etotOtU
The manor of Whittenhull belonged to the families of Apharry, WalbeofF, and Gunter, and from the lail palled to Hippifley.
The Me or pond in this parilh was granted by John Boteler, lord of Emborow, to the Monks of Char- terhoufe-Hinton; after the diflblution of which monailery it was. granted by King Henry VIII. to Thomas Horner, efq; who conveyed i: to the Hippifley family.
Emborow and Ston-Eallon are chapels of eafe to Chewton, to the vicar of which church they pay vica- rial tithes. (
HINTON-BLEWET.
PAGE 145.
THE manor was fold .38 Eliz. by John Hippifley of Cameley, to John Stocker of Chilcomptonk
MIDSUMMER-NORTON.
PAGE 149.
THERE are four tithings in this parilh, viz. Norton, Welton, Clapton, and Downside. Inthe- tithing of Downfide is Norton-Hall, the feat of James Tooker, efq. And on the confines of the fame tithing, near the parifli of Stratton-Qn-the-FofTe, is ft well-built fquare houfe, now belonging to William Fookes, efq. This houfe, with fome lands adjoining, was lately fold to him by Henry Hippifley Coxe, of Ston-Eafton, efq; who now pofle/Tes other lands in this tithing, together with the manor of Bentor, which he enjoys by will of his relation M?s. Mary Hooper, eldeft daughter and coheirefs of Sir William Davie, of Crecdy, in the county of Devon, bart. who took it by marriage with the daughter of George Stedman, e(ii^.~ |t formerly belonged to the family of Plumley of Harptree.
STON-EASTON, Stony-Astonj or Stony-Eston,
PAGE 153,
CONSISTS of two hamlets, viz. Ston-Easton Major, and Ston-Easton Minor, ctherwife Hizy-JJreet, or High-jJi-eet, which lall place was formerly lands of Chaffin, then of Tooker and Mogg. They both now belong to the fame pofleflbr. Ston-Eafton Major was the property of Bartholomew Peytevyn, who had iflue Walter, who by Lucia his wife had iflue Gilbert, who 2 1 Edward III. granted the manor to Robert prior of Brewton, in which monaftery it continued till the diflblution, when coming ta the crown,. King Henry VIII. in the 35th year of his reign granted it in fee to John Hippilffey, efq; whofe family held it before of the prior of Brewton. This family had very large poffeflions in this and the neighbouring counties- of Wilts and Berks, and is the root from which three families of this name fprang: — the family of Lamborne, in Berks, which is now reprefented by the Rev. J. Hippifley, of Stow in the county of Gloucefter; the Stantoa branch, of which J. Hippifley Trenchard, of Abbot's-Leigh nearBriftol, is the laftheir male; and the family of Wanborough, which is now extinft; the two laft places being in the county of Wilts.
They were alt defcended from their common anceftor John Hippifley, of Ston-Eafton, efq; by Elizabeth daughter of J. Organ, of Lamborne, in the county of Berks, efq; which faid John Hippifley died in 1613. Henry Hippifley Coxe, efq; the prefent pofleflbr of this manor, is the immediate defcendant in the female line from Prefton Hippifley, efq; whofe daughter married John Coxe, of Baflet's-down in the county of Wilts, efq; which family came from Gloucefterlhire, where a branch of them now lives, and the elder branch in the adjoining county of Hereford.
Old-Doxvn in this parifti is now incIofed»
THE
[ 159 J
THE HUNDRED OF
CREWKERNE.
THIS hundred lies in the loweft part of the county fouthward, on the bor- ders of Dorfetfliire, having part thereof on its foutheaft angle. The pro- perty o^ it was anciently vefted in the Courtneys, Earls of Devon j its more recent pofleflbrs have been the Earls Poulet, of Hinton-Saint-George, a lordfhip contained within its precindts. It derived its name from Crewkerne, its chief town.
R E. W K
R N E,
A Very ancient town, known in the Saxon times by the name of Ej'ucej'ne, which is compounded of the words Efuce a crofs, and Gaj^ne a cottage, or place of retirement. There is no doubt that this name was applied to it in the early ages of Chriftianity, when churches were rare, and hermitages or cells were the ufual places of religious affociations.
It is fituated in a rich and fertile vale, well wooded and watered, and furrounded with cultivated eminences, which command extenfive and very beautiful profpefts. The •town confifts principally of five ftreets, and the parifli comprehends the viUs or hamlets «f Clapton, Hewish, Woolmiston, Furland, where was a chapel, Rowndham, and Laymore. The river Ax runs through the parifh, (and the Parret through part of it) turning a corn-mill in the hamlet of Clapton; ahother mill there is, turned by a ftream, which rifcs near the lodge in Lord Poulet's, and falls into the river near the county bridge, which is built of (lone, and confifts of three arches. Leland vifitcd this town, but faw nothing remarkable in it. " Crokehorn (fays he) is fette under the rootes of an hille. Ther I faw nothing very notable. Yet ther ys a praty crofle envi- ronid with fmaul pillers, and a praty toune houfe yn the market place.'" The market is held on Saturdays, and there is a fair for cattle on the fourth of September.
Icin, ii. 94.
In
r^o C R E W K E R N E. [CtCtufeetne,
In early times this was a royal manor, endowed with many privileges, and exempt from all taxations.
*' The King (fays the Norman Survey) holds Cruche. Eddeva held it in the " time of King Edward, but paid no geld, nor is it known how many hides are there, " The arable is forty carucates. In demefne are five carucates, and twelve fervants, " and twenty-fix coliberts, and forty-two villanes, and forty-five cottagers, with twenty " ploughs. There are four mills of forty fliillings rent, and a market rendering four " pounds. There are fixty acres of meadow. Pafture half a mile long, and four " furlongs broad. A wood four furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It yields " forty-fix pounds of white money.
" From this manor is fevered Estitam. In the time of King Edward it was of the " farm of the manor, and could not be feparated from it. Turftin holds it of Earl *• Morton. It is worth fifty ihillings.""
In the time of Hen. II. this great manor of Crewkerne came to the pofleflion of Baldwin de Redvers, baron of Oakhampton in Devonlhire, by his marriage with Alice," daughter and heir of Ralph de Dol in Berry,'' but he died without any iflue by her, as did Richard de Redvers his brother, who fucceeded him in this manor and in his honours in Devon. By whicli means the family poflelTions reforted to William uncle of the faid Baldwin, and Richard de Redvers. Which William, who was fur- named de Veryion-, from the place where he received his education, gave in the fixth year of King John the fum of five hundred marks, to be repofiefi^ed of certain lordfhips in Devonfhire, and to be acquitted of the annual rent of fourfcore pounds which he paid for this his manor of Crewkerne." But Ihortly after the faid William gave this manor to Robert de Courtney in free marriage with Mary his daughter.*^ To which Robert fucceeded John de Courtney, who died a Edw. I. leaving ilTue by Ifabel daughter of Hugh de Vere earl of Oxford, Hugh de Courtney baron of Oakhampton, his heir and fuccefibr. Which Hugh married Eleanor daughter of Hugh lord Difpenfer, by whom he was father of Hugh lord Courtney, the firft Earl of Devon- fhire of that name. He died feized of this manor 14 Edw. III.* leaving iflue by Agnes his wife, filler of John lord St. John of Bafing, Hugh de Courtney the third, and the fecondEarl of Devonftiire of that name. He married Margaret, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun earl of Hereford and Eflix, and dying 51 Edw. III. was fuc-
' Lib. Domefday. The manor oi Eaftham, (fo called todiftirguilh it from Rowndham) in another part of
the Record, is thus further furveyed :
" Turftin holds of the Earl [Morton above-mentioned] Estham. Goduin, the King's bailiff, held in the " timeof King Edward, with Cruche, a manor belonging to the King, and could not be fevered from the farm, " and gelded for two hides. The arable is two carucates, which are in demefne, with ten cottagers, and one " fervant. There is a mill of twelve fliillings rent, and twelve acres of meadow, and twenty acres of wood. It •' was and is worth fifty fhillings."
It afterwards went with the manor of Crewkerne ; the benefice was reftorial, now a fmeeure, the church being defboyed, and the village (formerly confiderable) depopulated.
• Sir WUiaro Pole's Survey of Devon, MS. * Dagd, Bar. i, 255. • Rot. Fin, 6 Joh. m. 8.
' Efc. » Ibid.
ceeded
CtetoRernc] C R E W K E R N E. i6r*
ceeded in this manor by another Hugh de Courtney, his eldeft fon, commonly called Hugh Courtney le Fitz, who married Elizabeth daughter of Lord Guy de Bricn, and hud illue Hugh, who married Joan daughter of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent, fiftcrto King Richard II. but had no ifllie by her. His father died in his grandfather's life-time, ami he fhortly after.*" Edward Courtney, eldeft fon of Edward Courtney, third fon of Hugh Earl of Devonfliire, fucceeded to the title and cftates. He was ftiled the blind Earl, and married Matilda daughter of Thomas Lord Camois : he died 7 Hen. V. feized of tl'.e manor and hundred ofCrewkernc, and theadvowlbn of the church of Crewkerne, and of the three portions in tlie faid church belonging to the manor, viz. the portion of the dean of the faid church, the portion of the fub-dean, and the portion of the chapel of Millerton annexed to the faid church j and the advowfon of the chantry of the blefled Virgin Mary in the faid church, and of the chantry of the blefled Virgin Mary in the cemetery thereof, appertaining to the manor of Crewkerne: all which property was held of the King in capite, by knight's fervice, as parcel of the honour of Plympton in the county of Devon,' given to Richard de Redvers by King Henry the firft.'' Edward, the eldeft fon of this Earl of Devon dying a year before his father,, Hugh, the fccond, fucceeded to the title and eftate, and had to wife Anne daughter of Richard Lord Talbot, and fifter of the celebrated John Talbot Earl of Shrewft)ury, by whom he had ifllie Thomas, and departed this life 10 Hen. V. then feized of thi.s and other large manors in Somerfet and Dorfet.' Thomas Courtney,^ fon of Hugh, fucceeded his father, and married Margaret Beaufort, fecond daughter of John Earl of Somerfet, by whom he had ifllie Thomas, beheaded at York by the command of Edward IV. in the year 1462, Henry, beheaded at Salifbury in 1466, and John, who was flain at Tewkeftiury in Gloucefterfliire in 1471. He had alfo feveral other chil- dren ; but Thomas the firft, and Henry the fecond fon, above-mentioned, being attainted for trcafon, Sir Humphrey Stafford was created Earl of Dcvonftiire, (who was alfo afterwards beheaded) and the lands and pofli^fllons of the family were feized by the Crown. This manor, with many others, was granted 18 Edw. IV. to -George Duke of Clarence. Notwithllanding this attainder of the Courtneys, and the extinftion of the firft line of that family, many of the lands were rcftored to their former channel, and the title renewed in the perfon of Sir Edward Courtney, knt. who was fon of Sir. Hugh Courtney of Boconnock, fon of Sir Hugh Courtney of Haccomb, younger fon of Sir Edward Courtney, and brother of Edward Courtney, third Earl of Devonlhirr. This Sir Edward Courtney had four fifters, whofe pofterity inherited the remaining lands of Edward the laft Earl gf the name of Courtney, who died ifllields, viz. EHzabeth, wife of John Tretlierf; Maud, wife of John Arundell of Talvarn; Ifabel, wife of William Mohunj and Florence, wife of John Trelawney. The part of Tretherf became afterwards the property of Vivian. 23 Eliz. John Arundel had the fourth part of the manor of Crewkerne Magna and Parva, and had licence to alienate the fame, with one hundred and forty mcflliages there and ellcwhere, to Sir Amias Paulett, who died feized of the fame Sept. 26, ifSJ. His defcendant, John Earl Poulett, now inherits this manor.
" Sir Wm. Pole. • F.fc. " Sir Win. Pole, ' Efc.
Vol.. II. y Thi^
•
162 CRE w K E RN E. [C?eto6erne.
This parilli, in the time of William the Conqueror, had a church, and large pof- lelTions annexed thereto, belonging to the abbey of St. Stephen of Caen, in the diocefe of Bayeux in Normandy, to which it was given by William Duke of Nor- mandy, the founder, who was buried there in 1093. To this abbey William was extravagantly munificent ; for befides the immenfe bounties which he in his life-time conferred thereon, he on his death was fain to give it all his favourite trinkets, the crown which he ufed to wear at high feftivals, his fceptre and rod, his cup fet with precious ftones, his golden candlefticks, and all his other regalia; nay, even the bugle horn, which he ufed to carry at his back, went to pot! It feems it was fome difficulty to recover thefe matters from the abbey ; for it is evident that it coft King William ■the Second the manor of Coker in this county, and a large parcel of exemptions, to
redeem what had been fo fooliflily fquandered. The Norman record thus defcribes
the lands belonging to that monaftery in this parifh:
" The church of St. Stephen holds of the King the church of Cruche. There are •" ten hides. The arable is thirteen carucates- Thereof in demefne are two hides, and •*' there is one carucate, with one fervant, and eleven villanes, and two coliberts, and " feventeen cottagers, with fix ploughs. There are ten acres of meadow, and half a " mile of pafture in length and breadth. Of thefe ten hides a knight holds of the " abbot three hides, and has there two carucates, with one fervant, and fix villanes, and •** two cottagers, with four ploughs. There is a mill of five fliillings rent, and ten acres " of meadow, and half a mile of pafture in length and breadth. It is worth to the abbot *' feven pounds, to the knight four pounds.""
The parfonage of the living is an impropriation belonging to the church of Win- chefter- William Huflfey, efq; holds the reftorial manor.
The church was anciently divided into three portions; the firft of which was in 1292 valued at fifty marks, (in 1554 at 55I. 12s. iid.) the fecond at fixteen, and the third at ten." I Edw, II. it was found not to the King's detriment to grant to Agnes de Monceaux a licence fettling the fum of 4L 4s. 3d. rent in Crewkerne pn a certain chaplain in this church to celebrate mafs daily in perpetuum." The laft incumbent of this fei-vice was John Godge, who in 1553 received the fum of four pounds three fhillings and fourpence, by way of penfion.''
The church is a large, lofty, and ftately Gothick buiTding, in the form of a crofs, ■in the center of which is a handfome embattled tower, ftanding on four maffive pillars. On each fide of the communion table is a door leading into a fmall room, which was formerly a confefllonal, or place where in days of Popery a reverend confeflbr fat in form to hear the declarations of his penitents, and to difpenfe abfolutions. The virtues and advantages of confeffion are not improperly expreffed by fome figures over the doors which lead into this apartment. That by which the penitents entered has two fwine carved over it, to fignify their pollution; over that by which they returned arfi two angels, to reprefent their purity and innocence.
" Lib. Domefday- » Taxat. Spiritual. " Inq. ad quod damnum, lEdw. II.
' Willis's Hill, of Abbies, ii. 202,
On
€rctoRc?ne.] CREWKERNE. 163
On the weft fide of the north end of die tranfept is a large mural monument of ftone, with two tablets, on which are thefe infcriptions :
"M.S. Johannis Merefield, fervient. ad legem, qui obiit vicefTimo fccundo die Oftob. A. D. 1666, et astatis fuse 75. Et Eleanors uxoris ejus, filiae Johannis Williams, de Herringfton in agro Dorceft. armig. quas obiit undecimo die Septembris
A. D. 1655. Hie juxta pofita eft Alicia filia et haeres Johannis Cofton, de Bower-
henton, armigeri, et uxor Roberti Merefield, armig. qu^e obiit 1 1 die April A. D. 1678, astat. fuse 29." The Merefields were of Woolmifton.
On the fame wall is another fmall mural monument of ftone, on which is a brafs
plate, with the following infcription: " SpeftatifTimi viri M. Henrici Trat, nuper
dum vixit ludi magiftri Crewkernienfis longe celeberrimi ; cujus dcfideratiffima; animae depofitum fubtus in Domino conquiefcit, defunftum primo die Maij, et fepultum fep-
timo-die, A.'D. 1679, 3stat. fuse 55." To which is added a long apoftrophe by one
of his fcholars.
On the north pillar at the northeaft corner of the tranfept is a mural monument of black and white marble. The tablet, fupported by two round detached columns bears
this infcription: " M. S. Thomas Way, qui, fi a:tatem provedtiorem attigiflet, ipfe
fibi exegiffet monumentum, marmoreo ifthoc tanto perennius, quanto ingenii opera manuum funt diuturniora. Eam enim a natura vim animo habuit infitam, quas doc- trinas, quibufcunqj puerilis astas imbui debet, faciles redderet, et jucundas: literarum tamen ftudium ea ftrenua fedulitate, quasvincit omnia, fint quamvis difficillima, profe- cutus eft. Erat etiam moribus innocuus, integer, fandtufq; condifcipulorum amans; obfequens doftoribus ; et matris viduas (cui filius erat unicus) obfervantifllmus. Augufti kalend. 16 anno a Xto nato 1723, astat. luae 18 ; variolis per oppidum Crewkernix turn mifere graffantibus, atrocifTimorum fymptomatum impetu corruptus eft. Et poftquam pia fortitudine vehementiore triduum conflidlaverat, quarto iniqui hujus certaminis die purpuream efflavit animam."
Under the eaft window is a plain mural monument of ftone with this infcription :
" Elizabeth Wyke, wife of John Wyke, of Henly in the county of Somerl'et, efquier, daughter of James Coffine, of Munckly in the county of Devon, efquier j was born Aug. 5, 1565, died May 21ft, and was buried May 28, 1613, being then of the age of 50 years; and had ifllie three daughters then living, EHzabeth, Rebecca, and Frances.
E nding on earth, to rebegin in heaven,
L oving my Maker dearer than my matej 1
I calmely in a quiet ocean driven,
S ayl'd to this port, where love admits not hate.
A nkor'd I have Co fafely, that I fcorne,
B e it with wind, tyde, weather, to be tome;
E clipfing fins, dark'ning bright virtue's fun,
T hat weave fuch webbs of woes t' intangle foulos,
H ave here no refidence, but downward run,
E arthy_ they are, Heav'u's judgment them controule?;
Y 2 <5od
1-64 c R E w K E R N E. [Cretofeeine»
God hath appointed firy ferapl-fins,
To ftand as fentinells 'gaynft death, 'gaynft fins. W ell came rpy death, that brought me unto life, I II gain my life, which would procure my death, K nowing the careful reft from combrous ftrife, E njoy I fhould with my Creator's breath;
For by fuch meanes fuch pow'r I do attalne.
Ever to live, never to die againe."
At the fouth end of the tranfept are three old ftone tombs ; one is infcribed as follows : *'Herelieth the body of Adam Martin, efq; of Seaborow, who was buried Dec. 20, J 67 8." The infcriptions on the other two are illegible.
Near the above, is a mural monument of black ftone, on which is infcribed:
^' In a vault underneath are depofited the remains of Elizabeth Trevelyan, daughter of John Trevelyan, of Minehead, efq; who died Nov. 6, 1776, aged 65."
On a brafs plate in one of the pillars in the nave, is the following account of benefadions to the poor:
/'Martha Mintern, of Crewkerne, gentlewoman, (obiit May 10, 17 12, astat. fuJE 90) in compafTion to the poor of the faid parifti, hath for ever given the lands called Tuxingdon's, part of the eftate of Robert Ford, gentleman, to the ufes following, viz. Two third parts of the clear yearly profits of the faid eftate to be divided among fuch poor people as the curate, churchwardens, overfeers of the poor for the time being, and the truftees for the faid lands, fhall think fit; to each poor perfon, every Candlemas- day, three fiiillings. And the other part of the clear yearly profit of the faid eftate to be employed in the education of fuch poor children as the perfons above-named ihall appoint."
On the fouth wall in a black frame, is the following account of other charities: " Mr. Mat. Chubb gave the old alms-houfe for eight poor people.
*' Mrs. Mary Davies gave the new alms-houfe for fix poor men and fix poor women, and half a hundred of wood to each yearly. And alfo four pounds to be given to the poor, one fiiilling each, on New-Year's day,
" Mr. Coffins gave 3L 1 2s, a year, out of Furington's, for the education of poor children.
" Mrs. Jane Reynolds gave 3I. to the poor of this town, and il. to the poor of Hewifh; one ftiilling each to be given Eafter-Monday, by the overfeers, paid out of the Grinham eftate.
"A. D. 1730. Mr. William Budd gave 20I. for theufe of two induftrlous tradef- men with bondfmen, four years without intereft.
"A. D- 1 762. Mrs. Ehzabeth Cookfon gave the ufe of 50I. for poor children to be taught to read."
A charity-fchool here, endowed by Dr. Hody, and other benefadors, ftill flourifhes.
This
Cretoherne.l CREWKERNE. 165
This parifh gave birth and refidence to a family of its name, who flourilhed in tlic times of Hen. IV, and V. in great profperity.
Weftward of Crewkerne, and between that town and Chard, is a hill called Rana- Hfll, on which was a chapel dedicated to St. Ranus, which contained his bones.'
» Irin. Willelmi dc Worceflre, 163.
MISTERTON.
SOUTHWARD from Crewkerne, and in the road into Dorfetfhire, lies Mifterton, in a low and flat fituation, but environed by a beautiful and rich country. The lands are moftly pafl:ure and meadow, and abound with a yellowifh kind ofrag-ftone, which is ufed for the roads, and for rough building. This ftone contains a few cornua ammonis, and fome fofTil fliells of the bivalve kind.
The manor of Mifterton has always belonged to the great manor of Crewkerne, for lychich reafon it does not appear in the Norman Survey. In all the records it is called Mifterton in the parifti of Crewkerne; and the church, which is a vicarage, formed one of the portions of that benefice. The Rev. Mr. Afh is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall edifice, without either tower, turret, or ipire, ' confifting of a nave, chancel, and fide ailes ; at the eaft end of the fouth aile are two fmall bells* It is dedicated to St. Leonard.
H I N T O N St. GEORGE.'
THIS parifti is pleafantly fituated three miles northweft from Crewkerne, the greater part thereof on rifing ground from the north, having the feat and noble woods and plantations of Earl Poulett on the fouth, part of which are on a fine eminence, and command a very extenfive and beautiful profpeft over the greateft part of the county, and the Dorfetftiire mountains to the fouth. In the upper part of the parifti, near the fourth mile ftone in the road from Chard to Crewkerne, both the north and fouth feas appear. A fine fpring rifes near the church, from which a rivulet runs to Merriot, and thence to Sourh-Petherton j another which has its fource in the park, after pafllng over a water-fall about fourteen feet high, runs through Dinnington, and afterwards joins the former near Lopeton, where it turns a corn-mill.
• " So caullid bycaufe the paroch chirch there is dedicate to St. George." Lei. Itin. ij. 94.
Thai
1 66 H I N T O N St. G E O R G E. [€xtmmt.
There is a hamlet within this parifh called Craft, and in old deeds Craft-lVarre, from its having formerly belonged to the ancient family of the Warres of Heftercombe.'' It lies fouthweft from Hinton.
The manor of Hinton belonged in the Norman days to William de Ow, and was then called Hantone.
*' William himfelf holds Hantone, In the time of King Edward it gelded for ** thirteen hides. The arable is twelve carucates. Thereof in demefne are five hides, ** and there are four carucates, and five fervants, and fixteen villanes, and twenty-four " cottagers with ten ploughs. There are two mills of feven fhillings and fixpence rent, '' aJid fixty acres of meadow. Wood one mile in length, and half a mile broad. " When he received it, it was worth twelve pounds, now fifteen pounds."'
The femily of Powtrell were ancient owners of Hinton St. George, of whom were John and George Powtrell, in the time of Richard I. and King John. Whether the former poffeiTed this eftate or not, is not certain j but the latter enjoyed it, and in the time of Henry III. devifed it to an only daughter and heir, married to John Giffard, who fometime refided here;'' but died without iflue male, and the lands defcended by Alice his daughter and heir to Sir Philip Deneband, of Pefcayth in Monmouthjhire, knt.' Which Sir Philip was father of William Deneband, who 29 Hen. III. gave to his younger brother Hamon a moiety of this manor, which was held of Roger le Bigod Earl of Norfolk and marfhal of England.' After many fucceffions of this family of Deneband, the manor of Hinton came, by the marriage of Elizabeth daughter and heir of John Deneband with Sir WilUam Paulett, knt. into that ancient family, who were afterwards ennobled with the barony.
The Paulets, or (as they are now written) Pouletts, had .their name from the village of Paulet near Bridgwater, The firfl that afllimed this name was Hercules, Lord of Tournon in Picardy, who came into England with Jeffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou, third fon of Henry II. His fon and heir. Sir William de Paulet, had his refidence at Leigh-Paulet in Devonfhire; and dying in 1242, was fucceeded by Sir William of the fame place, who died in 1281, leaving ifTue Sir WiUiam Paulet, who died in 1314, and was fucceeded by Sir Walter Paulet, who had his dwelling chiefly at Road in this county. This Sir Walter died in 1322, and was fucceeded by Sir William Paulet, who was alfo of Road; and after him came Sir John Paulet, knight, who was of Goathurft in this county.^ Which Sir John married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Reigni, or Reyney, of Rowd in Wiltftiil-e, and Sheerfton in this county; the arms of which family, viz. a pair of wings conjoined in lure, were ufed by his fuccelTor Sir John Paulet, 15 Ric. IL This Sir John "PaulcC, fon of Sir John, was one of thofe who engaged in the expedition under Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Buckingham, in aid of the Duke of Britanny againft the French;" and having married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir John Creedy,' of Creedy in the county of Devon, had ifTue two fons. Sir Thomas Paulet, knt. and William Paulet, progenitor of the
* See Kingfton in Taunton hundred. ' Lib. Domefday. " Cart. Antiq. ' Sir Wm. Pole's MSS. ' Cart. Antiq. « Ex Stemmate. " Hollinflied's Chron.ii. 426.
' Sir Wm. Pole fays William Credy, MS. Survey of Devon.
Pouletts,
€?Ctohcme.] 11 I N T O N-St.-G E O R G E. 167
Pouletts, Dukes of Bolton. Which Sir Thomas Paulet married Margaret, daughter and heir of Henry Boniton,'' and was father of Sir William Paulet, who married the heirefs of Dencband. This Sir William left ifTue one fon Sir Amias Paulet, and four daughters. Sir Amias was knighted for his gallant behaviour at the battle of Newark upon Trent, June 16, 1487. Rebuilt much at Hinton, but refided for the moft part in London, where he was treafurer to the Society of the Middle Temple. lie died in 1538, leaving ifTue, by Lora his fecond wife, daughter of William Kellaway, of Rockborne in the county of Southampton, efq; three fons and one daughter. Sir Hugh, the eldeft fon, was in the French wars in 1544, and 31 Hen. VIII, was made fupervifor of all the manors, mefliiages, and lands, lately belonging to Richard Whiting, abbot of Glaftonbury, attainted. 23 Hen. VIII. he had a grant of Upcroft and Combe in Crewkerne, and was fheriff of the county 29 and 34 Hen. VIII. and 1 Edw. VI. He married firft, Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Blount, efq; by whom he had no ifTue; and fccondly Philippa, daughter and heir of Sir Lewis Pollard, knt. by whom he had ifTue three fbns and one daughter. Sir Amias Paulet, the eldell fon, diedfeizedof Hinton-St.-George, Sept. 26, 1588, leaving ifTue by Margaret, daughter and heir of Anthony Harvey, efq; three fons, Hugh, who died in his infancy, Sir Anthony Poulett, and George Paulet, of Goathurft. He had alfo three daughters. Sir Anthony Poulett fucceeded to the title and eftate, and married Catherine, fole daughter of Heniy Lord Norris, Baron of Rycot, by whom he had ifTue two fons and two daughters. John the eldeft fon was in 1627 advanced to the dignity of a Baron, by the title of Lord Poulett, of Hinton-St.-George. He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Chriftopher Ken, 6f Ken-Court, efq; by whom he had three fons and five daughters, viz. John, his eldeft fon and fuccefTor, who was in 1640 elefted knight of the fhire for this county, and diftinguifhed himfelf for his loyalty during the civil wars. He died in 1665, at his manor-houfe at Court de Wick, and was buried at Hinton. He married firft, Catherine, daughter and coheir of Sir Horatio Vere, knt. Lord Verc of Tilbury, by whom he had two fbns, John and Horatio; and three daughters, Eli- zabeth, Vere, and Catherine. To his fecond wife he married Anne, fecond daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Brown, bart. by whom he had ifTue two fons, Amias, and Charles; alfo four daughters, Anne, Florence, Mary, and Margaret. John, his eldeft fon and heir, fucceeded him, and married EfTex, daughter of Alexander Popham, of Littlecot, efq; by whom he was father of two daughters, Catherine and Letitia; by his fecond wife Sufan, daughter of Philip Earl of Pembroke, he had ifTue his only fon and heir John Lord Poulett, created Viftount of Hinton-St.-George and Earl Poulett in 1706. His Lordfhip married Bridget, daughter and coheir of Peregrine Bertie, efq; and by her had ifTue four fons, John, who fucceeded him. Peregrine, buried at Hinton- St.-George, Vere, and Lord Anne, fo named by Queen Anne his godmother; as alfo four daughters, whofe names were Bridget, Catherine, Sufan, and Rebecca. John fucceeded his father, as fecond Earl Poulett, and dying unmarried, his eftate and tides devolved on his brother Vere Poulett, father of John Earl Poulett, the prefcnt Lord of Hinton-St.-George. His Lordfhip's arms are, Sal>le, three fwords in pile, dieir points in bafe, argent, pomels and hilts or. ,
* Burton, according to Sir William Pole,
The
i68 H I N T o n-St.-g E o R G E. [Cretokeme*
The living ofHinton, valued in 1292 at ten marks,' is a reftory in the deanery of Crewkeme, and in the gift of Earl Poulett. The Rev. Mr. Tudor is the prefent incumbent.
The chufch confifts of a nave and fide ailes, with a well-built tower at the weft end, containing five bells. The north aile or chapel belongs to Earl Poulett, and contains many monuments of that noble family. The arch, which divides it from the chancel, is filled up with a large Hone monument, on which, under a canopy, lie the effigies of Anthony and Catherine Poulett, and on the fides of it ten of their children kneeling;
the infcription is: " Hie jacet Antonius Poulet, miles et dux infulae Jerfey, qui
obiit 22 die Julij, Anno Dni 1600. Hie jacet Dna Katherina Pouler, uxor Antonii Poulet, mihtis, filia unica Henrici Dili Norris, Baronis de Rycot, qui obiit 24 die Martii, Anno Diii 1601."
Againft and within the north wall of this chapel lie the effigies of a knight in complcat armour, and his lady, with two plain coats of the Poulets carved over them, and this infcription: " Hie jacet Amifius Poulet, miles, qui obiit decimo die ApriUs 1537."
Adjoining to this is another monument of ftone, having thereon the effigies of a man and woman, he is in compleat armour, and the fame achievement as the former, in- fcribed, " Hie jacet Hugo Poulet, miles, qui obiit 6 die Decembris Anno Diii ....
At the eaft end of the chapel is a very ftately monument to the memory of John Lord Poulett, firft Baron of Hinton-St.-George, and John Lord Poulett the fecond.
Round a blue flat ftone in the fame chapel was the following infcription:
*' pti gift anelicifc tie ^aint Ciucntin iriUe %iu 3!of)an. s^utiatiew jTcme J|>crt)ert De ^egnt IXuentgn, Pne0 pur liii l\z Du tie s alme ejJt me?cg +"
Round a flat ftone in the chancel:
" JDic meet 9mo0 Poulet, milcsi, fiUuiSf fecuntiug 3ntonii Poulet, militia, qui o&iit vm tie S&mi 9iio ^ni 1626."
On the north fide of the nave, another of the family of Poulet lies in effigy on an ancient tomb of ftone.
On the fame fide is a white marble monument, with this infcription: " Rebecca
Poulett, youngeft daughter of John Earl Poulett, of Hinton-St.-George, by Bridget his wife, daughter and coheirels of Peregrine Bertie, fon to the Earl of Lindfay, died March 2, 1765. Many daughters have done virtuoufly, but thou excelleft them all. This monument is eredled to her memory by her fifter Sufan Poulett."
' Againft the eaft wall of the fouth aile is a monument of ftone, and over it on a brafs plate the effigies of Adam and Elizabeth Martin, with feveral of their children kneelin and a copy of indifferent Latin verfes.
' Taxat. Spiritual.
MERRIOT.
CrctoRerne.] [ 169 ]
M E R R I O T.
THIS parifli and village, formerly written Meriety lie at a fmall diftance north- ward from Crcwkerne, and eaftward from Hinton-St.-George, in a pleafant fruitful country.
Meriet is noticed in the general Survey as the land of two different perfons, Robert Earl of Morton, and Harding Fitz-Alnod, one of the King's thane«.
"Dodeman holds of the Earl, Meriet. Lewin and Briftward held it in the time ** of King Edward, and gelded for feven hides. The arable is feven carucates. In " demefne are two carucates, and fix fervants, and ten villanes, and fix cottagers, with " four ploughs. There are three mills of thirty (hillings rent, and twenty-five acres of *< meadow, and half a mile of pafliure in length and breadth. It was worth four pounds, " now feven pounds.'"
" The fame [Harding] holds Meriet. Goduin held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for five hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne are two cani- " dates, and two fervants, and nine villanes, and fix cottagers, with two ploughs. There " is a mill of five fhillings rent, and ten acres of meadow, and three furlongs of pafture^ " It was formerly worth one hundred fhillings, now it is worth four pounds.""
In this village, in the time of King Richard the firfl, lived a family who afllimed their names from it. Nicholas de Meriet had confiderable poflfefTions in this county in that reign, and was afTelTed at thirty-eight fliillings and nine-pence as fcutage for the King's ranfom.' He was fucceeded by Hugh de Meriet, his fon and fftir, who 14 Hen. III. paid 25 marks for his relief of his lands.''
• To him fucceeded Nicholas de Meriet, who 20 Hen. III. gave feven pounds ten fhillings for his relief of one knight's fee in Meriet, which his father Hugh held of the King in chief." Alfo 38 Hen. III. he accounted for the fum of thirty-feven fhillings and two-pence, in the aid for making the King's eldefl fon a knight.*^
To which Nicholas fucceeded John de Meriet, who died 13 Edw. I. feized of the manor of Meriet, and the advowfon of the church thereof, then certified to be of tlie yearly value of tv/enty pounds.^
John, his fon and heir, was a great warrior^ and had the honour of knighthood con- ferred upon him by King Edward I. in all whofe wars he was engaged, and from whom he obtained a charter of free warren, a market, and a fair in this manor. 28 ch of that reign he was one of thofe great men who had a fpecial fummons to attend the King with horfe and arms to march againft the Scots."" . He died fhortTy after,' and by his wife Lucia left ilTue John de Meriet, George, and William."
» Lib. bomefday. "Ibid. ' Rot. Pip. 6 Ric. I. " Rot. Fin. 14 Hen. III. • Rot. Fin, 20 Hen. Ill, ' Rot. Pip. 38 Hen. III. « Efc. ' MS. penes Edit. ' Efc. » Cart. .^ntiq.
Vol. II. Z John
3-70 M E R R I o T. , [CretoEetne.
John de Merictj tlie eldefl fon, was alfo a knight, and bore for his arms Barry of fix, furmounted by a bend,' He feems to have been in great favour in the court of Edw. II. but was of a turbulent temper, infomuch that he was excommunicated by John de Drokensford, biihop of Bath and Wells, for embowelling his deceafed wife."" He was afterwards pardoned, and died i Edw. III. leaving ifllie John his heir and fucceflbr, at the age of twenty years."
Which lafl- mentioned John died foon after his father, as did alfo George de Meriet, loid of this manor, whofe fon and heir by Ifabella his wife was
Another Sir John de Meriet, lord of this and other manors in this county, wherein he was fucceeded by
Walter de Meriet, who is filled of Comb-Flory." He was lord alfo of a manor in Long-Alhton, called Afliton-Meriet, from the name of this family. Dying without iflue 19 Edw. III. Simon de Meriet, his nephew, became pofTefled of the eftates.
Sir John Meriet, fon and heir of Simon, was a knight. He married Eleanor filler and coheir of John de Beauchamp of Hatch, by whom he had iffue
John Meriet, who fucceeded him in this manor, and pofTefled alfo the lordfhips of Lopen, Stratton, and Marflon-Magna, with the advowfon of the churches of Merriot and Buckland; all which, after his death 46 Edw. III. defcended to John Meriet liis fon and heir."
Which John Meriet was a knight, and of much reputation in the days wherein he lived. His wife's name was Maud, by whom he h^d ilTue one fon, George, and two daughters, viz. Margaret the wife of Sir Thomas Bonville, and Elizabeth the wife of Humphrey Stafford.'' George died iffuelefs, and a partition being made of the lands x)f Meriet betwixt the daughters, this manor was affigned to Margaret the wife of Sir Thomas Bonville/
Which Sir Thomas Bonville was father of Sir WilUam Bonville, who died in hj$ father's life-time; but left ilTue by Elizabeth, only daughter and heir of William Lord Harington, William Bonville, Lord Harington, who died in the life-time of his grandfather; and left ilTue by Catherine, daughter of Richard Neville, Earlof Salifbury, an only daughter Cecily, married to Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorfet. After the death of the faid Cecily, Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorfet, her fon, poffefTed it; and after him his fon Henry Duke of Suffolk; by whofe attainder it fell to the Crown. I Mary, the manor of Merriot, with lands in Merriot and Chefcombe, belonged to William Rice,* and it is now the property of Henry Rodbard, efq.
The church of Merriot, valued in 1292 at twenty marks,' was appropriated to the
abbey of Muchelney, A. D. 1382." It is a vicarage in the deanery of Crewkerne, and
in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Briftol. The Rev. Mr, Price is the prefent
incumbent, 1
' Seals from ancient deeds, Somerfet. ■» Excerpt. eRegift. Joh. Drokensford, Ep. B. etW. " Efc,
" Cart, Antiq. p Efc. ^ This or another t'l'zabeth is called ihe wife of Urry Seymour.
I Cart, Anti^, .; Ter. Sydenham. f Taxat. Spiritual. " Pat. 18 Ric. II. p. 2. m, z.
The
Ci-ctufeerne.] M E R R I O T. 171
The church, which is dedicated to All-Saints, is a neat ftrudure, and confifts of a nave, and two fule ailes. A tower at the weft end contains a clock and five bells. Here was a chantry, founded by one of the Meriets.
In the fouth aile is a neat mural monument of black and white marble, infcribed, " This monument is erefted to the pious memory of that worthy gendewoman Mary the wife of John Rodbard, of this place, efq; and eldeft daughter of Henry Henley, of Leigh, in this county, elq; by Catherine his wife, daughter and fole heirefs of Richard Holt, of Nurfted in the county of Southampton, efq; who died Jan. 7, 173 j, aged 2^. John Rotlbard, of Merriot, efq; died March 20, 1744, aged 55; juftly efteemed and lamented by his neighbours and relations. He left, by the above-mentioned Mary his wife, three fons and a daughter of agefufficient to remember and mourn fo good
a parent." Arms: Or, a chevron between three oxeny<?/'/i?; impaled with azar^, a
lion rampant argent, crowned or, within a bordure of the fecond, charged with eight rorteaux.
On another neat mural monument of white marble; "To the memory of Mary
daughter of John and Mary Rodbard, who died Oft. 20, 1745, aged 18. William Rodbard died Nov. 22, 1762, aged 32."
On a mural monument of white marble near the fouth door: " Near this place
lieth the body of John England, of London, efq; who died April 2, 1742, aged 59."
Arms: Gules, three lions argent, pafTant in palej impaling/«^/^, between two bends, fix leopard's heads cabofled or.
Benefactions to the Poor: James Hooper, efq; lool. Robert Gough, efq; 70I. Robert England, efq; lool. The intereft to be diftributed annually on Good-Friday and St. Thomas-Day, among the fecond poor.
SEABOROUG IT.
THIS parifli lies fouthweft from Crewkerne, on the borders of the river Ax, which on the fouth and eaft divides it from the county of Dorfet. Its ancient name was Seveberge, under which it is thus noticed in the Norman Survey:
" The Bifhop [of Saliftiury] holds Seveberge. Alward held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for a hide and a half. The arable is one carucate and a half. " Yet there are two ploughs, and twovillanes, and four cottagers, and two fcrvants. " There is half a mill rendering ten-pence, and nine acres of meadow, and ten acres of " wood. Pafture half a mile long, and half a furlong broad. To this manor is added " another Seveberge. Aluer held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for a " hide and a half. There are two ploughs, with one villane, and five cottagers, and
Z 2 " half
ij% s E A B o R o u G H. [Cretolicvne*
f half a mill rendering ten-pence, and nine acres of meadow, and ten acres of wood. ** Pafture half a mile long, and half a furlong broad. Thefe two lands are not of the ''biflioprick of Saiiflierie, Bifliop Ofmund held them for one manor, and Walter of " him, They were and are worth fixty fhillings. In the time of King Edward they f' belonged to Crewkerne, the King's manor, and they who held them could not be fepa- '* rated from it, and paid to Crewkerne a cuftomary rent of twelve flieep with their *• lambs, and one pig of iron from every freeman.'"
Soon after this account was written. King William the Conqueror gave this manor with other lands to Le Sieur de Vaus, or Vallibus, who came over v/ith him from France;'' the Bifhop of Sarum was then the capital lord, and the feudal fervice due from the manor was that of one foldier. In which family of De Vallibus, Seaborough defcended through many generations, but the names of the feveral poflefTors do not all occur. In the time of Henry III. Ralph de Vallibus being obliged to fend men in the fervice of that king, when he undertook a crufade to the Holy Land, amongft others difpatched one John Gole out of his manor of Seaborough, who went accord- ingly to Jerufalem, and was prefent at the fiege of Damieta, where he fought valiantly, and after his return, as a reward for his merits, this Ralph de Vallibus gave him an eftate in Seaborough (by deed ftill extant) about A. D. 1229.
This Ralph de Vallibus had an only daughter and heir named Grecia, who about the year 1 245 married Eudo de Rochfgrd, and by that marriage the manor and eftate were transferred to the Rochford family, having continued in that of de Vallibus for one hundred and eighty years. This Grecia, though thus married to Eudo de Rochford, jn all her deeds made after marriage, ftill retained her maiden name, according to the cuftom made ufe of in France to this day; and under that title 51 Hen. Ill, A. D. 1 267, joined with her hufband in a grant of this manor, and the advowfon of the church, together with a pound of pepper, and a pound of cummin-leed, payable annually by the abbot of Ford, unto their fon Ralph and his heirs for ever. But J4Edw. II, John, the fon of this Ralph de Rochford, fold the whole of this manor and eftate to John Gold of Seaborough, who was in all probabiHty a defcendant of that John Gole, or Gold, the crufader above-mentioned.
The manor, eftate, and advowfon, thus transferred from the Rochford family, (in which they had continued about feventy-fix years) to the Golds, were delivered down jn a lineal and dircft defcent in that family from father to fon for almoft three hundred years. The laft of the family was John Gold, who was killed in a field on Flenley farm near Seaborough, in the beginning of the reign of Queen Mary, as he was pur- iliing his favourite diverfion of hawking at harveft time. Mr, Weeks, the then owner of the farm, (between whofe family and that of the Golds there had exifted an ancient animofxty) being in the field at the fame time, ordered fome of his workmen to beat Mr, Gold ofFhis horfe, which one of them did with a rake, and killed him. For this murder Mr. V/eeks and two of his men were tried at an aftlze held at Crewkerne upon the occafjon, and being found guilty, were condemned and executed.
» Lib, Doiuefday, » Battle-Abbey Roll.
John
CretoKenie.] 5 E A B o R o u G h. 173
John Gold thus dying, the eftate, manor, and advowfon of Scaborough, became tlie property of his widow Elizabeth, who lived near thirty years after his deceafc They having no ifilie, Seaborough fell immediately on the death of the faid Elizabeth to John Gold's licirs, who were four fifters, Margaret, Catherine, Alice, and Anne. Margaret the eldcft married with Richard Martin, efq; fecond fon of Sir WiUiam Martin, of Athelliamflione in the county of Dorfet, knt. Catherine the fecond mar- ried Mr. Henry Hofkins; Alice the third married with Mr, John Bale, (whofe family lived afterwards at Seaborough near one hundred years) ; and Anne the youngeft filler married with William Stretchley, of Dcvonfliire, efq. Catherine furvived her hufband, but died a widow at Seaborough without ifilie, 20 March 1586, and by her death one fourth part of Seaborough reforted to the three furviving fifi'ers, whofe hufbands, Martin, Bale, and Stretchley, in 1589 divided the demcfne lands in Seaborough by lot. Mrs. Strechley furvived her hufband, and being willing to part with that pro- portion which had fallen to her fliare, Mr. Martin and Mr. Bale were competitors for it; but Mr. Bale prevailed, and by the purchafe became pofit;fled of two third parts of the houfe and demefne lands. The families of Martin and Bale inhabited each their refpeftive parts of the dwelling or manfion-houfe. But they were too near neighbours to continue long good friends, and the ways to each other's grounds became alfo matter of contention. Wherefore Mr. Hugh Martin, grandfon of Mr. Richard Martin, who married the eldeft fifiier of the Golds, pulled down his third part of the manfion, and carrying ofi^ the materials, built the houfe in Seaborough in 1591, in which fome of the Martins have dwelt ever fince ; and foon after they fettled their ways to their refpeftive grounds. The two third parts continued in the family of Bale till about the year 1682, when Mr. James Bale fold them to Sir John Strode, of Parnham, knt. and from him they have defcended to his relation Sir William Oglander, hart, the prefent poflfefiibr. The third part of the manor Mr. Bale fold in fee to the refpedlive tenants, and the heirs of Mrs. Stretchley did the like. A. D. 1586, afurvey was made of fuch lands as the Widow Gold died poflfefled of; from which furvey it appears that John Wills was a freeholder in the manor of Seaborough, and alfo held lands of the lord thereof. His freehold and other lands have ever fince been in the lame family, being now the property of the Rev. John Wills, D. D. warden of Wadham- college in Oxford. There were other free tenants, but their lands have been all fince purchafed by the Martins, and the property of the parifli is now in the hands of Mrs. Martin, Sir William Oglander, and the Rev. Dr. Wills,
At fome of the courts held by the lords of this manor we find very fingular prefent- ments and orders made. 3 Ric. III. two women, viz. Ifabella, the wife of William Pery, and Alianore Slade, were prefented for common fcolds, and fined in one penny each, which two-pence were the whole perquifites of the court. And at the fame time an order of court was made that the tenants of the manor fhould not fcold their wives, under pain of forfeiting their tenements and cottages., 23 Hen. VII. an order was made that tenants' wives fhould not fcold, under the penalty of a fix and eight- penny fine, half to go to the repairs of the chapel, and tlie other half to the lord of the manor,
Northcaft
174 SEABOROUGH. CreMemc]
Northeafl: from iSeaborough ftands Henley, the place where John Gold was mur- dered by Mr. Weeks's labourers. Its name fignifies the ancient leigh or pafture, fram the Britilli word Hen, fignifying old, and the Saxon LeaJ, a pafture or field. It was formerly fo confiderable as to give name to an eminent family, who had large poflef- 0ons in this county, Dorfet, and Devon, and bore for their arms. Azure, a lion rampant argent, crowned or, within a bordure of the fecond, charged with eight torteaux. Of this family Robert Henley was Iheriff of the county in 1612, His grandfon Robert Henly was created a baronet June 30, 1660. The title is now extinft. Of this family was alfo Anthony Henley, efq; that friend and ornament to mufick, poetry, and jovial fociety, in the reign of Queen Anne, who died in Auguft 17 11.
The living of Seaborough is a reftory in the deanery of Crewkerne; the patronage is in the family of Martin, and the Rev. Dr. Wills, prefented by Adam Martin, efq; in 1779, is the prefent incumbent.
3 Hen. V. John Golde of Seaborough gave, by licence from the King, to John Thredder, parfon of the church of Seaborough, a certain parcel of land in the village, containing one hundred itct in length, and fixty feet in breadth, for the building a new church there.' This church being in the latter end of the fixteenth century found too fmall for the inhabitants, an additional building was made to it on the north fide; but A. D. 1728, the old part of the church being damaged in the roof and walls, and this additional building being found defeftive and inconvenient, a faculty was obtained for pulling down that part thereof, and for erefting in its place an aile twelve feet fquare, which was accordingly done, and the church was new roofed, new feated, and handfomely adorned.
In the chancel is a mural monument of ftone with a white marble tablet, whereon
is the following infcription: " M. S. Adami Martin, armig. qui, tanquam femper
moriturus, vivens; tanquam femper vidurus, mortuus eft, die 15° Jan. 1738, jetat.66." On the top of this monument is placed a buft, large as life, in a robe gathered clofe below the fhoulders, and a flowing curled periwig. This Adam Martin was father of the late Adam Martin, who died and was buried at Wootten in Warwickfhire in 1784.
The parfonage-houfe was built by the prefent reftor; on the fouth front is the fol- lowing infcription: " Johannes Wills, S. T. P. hujus parochise redtor, necnon
Collegii Wadhami apud Oxon. Guardianus, hanc domum fua Impenfa sedificandam curavit A. D. MDCCLXXXIV."
' Inq. ad quod damnum.
WATFORD.
CreUj&c?ne.] [ ^75 ]
W A Y F O R D.
A PARISH fituated on the foutheaft flope of a rifing ground to the fouth of Crewkerne, and a little to the right of the turnpike-road leading thence to Lyme Regis in Dorfeifhire. It confifts of two tithings, WAVfORU and Oathill. The land is moftly pafture and na<;adow.
No notice is taken in the Conqueror's Survey of either Wayford or Oatiull, both having been included in the manor of Crewkerne. The manor is now the property of John Bragg, of Thorncombe in the county of Devon, efq.
The living is reftorial, and in the deaneiy of Crewkerne; John Pinney, of Broad- Windfor in the county of Dorfet, efq; is patron, and the ReV. John Corpe the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall edifice, confifting of a nave leaded, and a chancel and porch tiled J with a wooden turret painted white, at the weft end, in which are two bells.
In the chancel are two mural monuments of white, black, and Sienna marble, containing thefe infcriptions :
" Near this place are depofited the remains of Azariah Pinney, of Bettifcombe in the county of Dorfet, efq. He departed this life May 21, 1760, aged 53. His daily benefaftions and univerfal benevolence to the poor, by encouraging honeft induftry, ■will be a more lafting memorial than this monument."
" In memory of John Frederick Pinney, of Bettifcombe in the county of Dorfet, efq; who reprefented the borough of Bridportin two fuccelTive parliaments, and behaved with the freedom and dignity of a Britifli fenator. In private life he was juft, humane, and generous; of much humour and pleafantry with his friends; of a flowing courtefy to all men. Firm in affliftion, he for years bore the fevereft pains of the gout with uncommon fortitude; and relying on the mercy of God, died with ■ the hope of a chriftian Nov. 11, 1762, aged 44." Arms: Gules, three crefcents, each griping a croflet fiche, or.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bragg gave in 17 1 9 the fum of fifty fliiUings a year for the fchooling of poor children within this parilh, payable yearly to the minifter and churchwarden, out of the profits of her eftate called Afhcombe, by the tenant or occupiers thereof.
A charity of five pounds per annum was given to fuch of the poor as did not receive alms, by Daubeny Turbeville, M. D. by deed bearing date May 2, 1723,
The chriftenings in this parifli are ten, the burials four. This difproportion prin- cipally arifes from many children belonging to the parilh of Crewkerne being baptized here, and none buried but the inhabitants.
THE
It,
[ ^17 ]
THE HUNDRED OF
NORTH-CURRY
Is a long narrow traft of land, lying between the hundreds of Abdick and Bulfton on the fouth, and Andersfield and part of Somerton on the north. On either fide are two large moors, called Stanmoor and Weft-Sedgmoor, which are a dead flat, extending to the foot of that ridge of hills, which runs from Curry-Rivel weft- ward to Bickenhall. The weft, northweft, and fouthweft parts are inclofed, and interfpeifed with cultivated hills and fruitful vallies. It contains five parilhes, of which the principal is North-Curry, whence it derives its name.
NORTH-CURRY
IS a parifli of large extent, feven miles nearly eaft from Taunton, and ten fouth from Bridgwater, including a town of its name, and feveral tithings and hamlets.
The principal part of the town is an irregular ftreet near the church, which ftands on an elevated fpot, and commands from its tower a finely varied profpedb of woody in- clofures, and extenfive level moors, fkirted with a lofty ridge of hills to the eaft and fouth. Weft-Moor, Curry-Moor, and Hay-Moor, are all included within the precinfts of the parilhj and the inhabitants have a right of common on Weft-Sedgmoor, Stan- moor, Wamnoor, and Weft- Wall, adjoining to the Ille of Athelney, where the com- monage is unlimited for all forts and numbers of cattle throughout the year.
The river Tone runs through this parifti under a ftone bridge of one arch, in its way to Boroughbridge, where it mingles with the Parret.
Here was formerly a market on Wednefday' long fince difcontinuedj but a fair of anticnt ftanding is ftill held on the firft of Auguft.
* Cart. 7 Joh. n. 52. Vol. II. A a This
^•,J78 N o R T H-C U R R Y. [Jl5ortb=Curr^
This place was of very confiderable note in former days, and not unknown to the "Romans. In July 1748, on ploughing up ji field in which an old hedge had flood, an urn was found, containing a quantity of filver coins of Gratian, Valentinian, Valens, Theodofius, Honorius, Conftantine, Conftans, Julian, and many others. When the Romans left this iQand, it became the property of the Saxon Kings, and when WjUiam the Conqueror came to the crown, he himfelf referved it in demefne. In his time it had the following defcription :
" The King holds Nortcuri. Earl Herald held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for twenty hides. The arable is forty carucates. Thereof in demefne are *' five hides, and there are five carucates, and eighteen fervants, and twenty-three co- ■" liberts, and one hundred villanes, wanting five, and fifteen cottagers with thirty *' ploughs. There are fixty acres of meadow, and fifty acres of wood. Pafture two " miles long, and one mile broad. To this manor belong five burgefles in Langporth, *• rendering thirty-eight pence, and eighteen fervants, and four fwineherds, and two " cottagers. The whole renders twenty-four pounds of white money. There is 21 ^' fifheryi.but it does not belong to the farm, and feven acres of vineyard.
*' The church of this manor Bifliop Maurice holds, with three hides of the fame f land. He has there feven villanes, and eleven cottagers, and two fervants, with four r^|k *' ploughs, and eighteen acres of meadow, and five acres of pafture, and twelve acres of
■'' wood. It renders fixty fhillings.
" Of the fame land of this manor Anfger holds one hide of Earl Morton. It is ^' worth twenty fhillings.""
It continued in fhe crown from this date till the time of Richard the firft, who In 1189 gave the hundred, manor, and advowfon of the church of North- Curry, with the land of Hatch, Wrantage, and all its appertcnances, to the church of St. Andrew in Wells;' and in the year 11 90, Reginald, then bifhop of Bath and Wells, fettled it by licence from the King on the canons of that church, which appointment was fujjy confirmed by King John in the firft year of his reign.'' The dean and chapter have ever fince held this manor.
14 Hen. II. Robert, provoft of North-Curry, paid the fum of forty fhillings aid for marrying the King's daughter. The reft of the men of North-Curry paid fix pounds thirteen fhillings and fourpence.'
The tithings and hamlets within this parifh are. Knap, LiLtisDON, Wrantage, HiLLEND, Newportj and MooRDON. The firft of thefe, viz. Knap, was granted by Hameline de Godely, 35 Edw. I. to the Dean and Chapter of the church of St. Andrew in Wells, and their fuccefTors for ever. The faid Hamehne held it of Cecilia <le Beauchaaip, by the fervice of fixpence per annum, and doing fuit at her three weeks court at Dunden. Cecily held it of the abbot of Glaftonbury, and the abbot pf the King.'
'• Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. Antiq. Wharton's Anglia Sacra, Godwin de Praefulibus, &c.
' * Cart. > Joh. p. j. m. 6. n, 44. ' Mag. Rot. 14 Hen. II. ' Inq. ad quod damnum, 35 Edw. I.
LlLLlSDON
I
Jl3ortf)-Cutrp.] NORTH-CURRY. 179
LiLLiSDON was in the time of Edw. I. the land of Baldric de Nonington, who held it of the King, as of the honour of the caftle of Carifbrook in the I fie ofVv ight.* 3 Edw. III. John Brodhome granted to Richard de Stapl'don a moiety of the manor of Lillifdon for life.*' It was afterwards polTefled by the Bonvilles, Wykes of Ninehead, and the Beauchamps; and now belongs to John Collins, of Hatch-Beauchamp, cfq; who 'is lord alfo of Huntham cum Slough.
MooRDON, or MooRDOW^f, is the property of Henry William Portman, efq.
Newport was anciently diftinguifhed as a borough, having its privileges and pecu- liar officersj it now only retains the name. Neither of thefe places are noticed in the Norman Survey. At Knap, Lillifdon, Wrantage, and Newport, were formerly chapels.
There is alfo a manor here belonging to Warwick Colmady, efq.
A. D. 1293, the temporalities of the Chapter of Wells in North-Curry were valued at forty- five pounds, and thofe of tlie abbot of Athelney at twenty-fix fhillings and eight-pence.'
The vicarage was rated in 1 292 at twenty marks.'' It lies in the deanery of Taunton. The Rev. Canon Wilfon is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a large Gothick ftruc- ture, built in the form of a crofs, confifting of a nave, chancel, two fide ailes, and a tranfept. Over the interfeftion of the tranfept with the nave ftands an hexagonal embatttled tower, containing a clock and five bells.
At the fouth end of the tranfept lie two effigies in ftone of a man and woman, but without any memorial.
On a brafs plate in the floor; " Heere lyethe the bodye of John BuUor the
younger, of Lillefdon, efquier, who was buried the a9th of Februarie 1598."
In the floor of a pew which formerly belonged to the fame family, is another brafs,
infcribed, " Here lyethe the bodye of Elizabethe Bullor, late the wife of John
BuUor the yonger, of Lillifdon, efquier, who deceafed the 29th pf Januarie 1587."
The fecond poor receive the intereft of forty pounds, being the remains of a much larger donation, now loft.
• Efc. * Cart. Antiq. ' Taxat. Temporal, ^ Taxat. Spiritual.
A a 2 WEST-HATCH.
[ i8o ] [JI3ort!)»Cutr^.
W E S T - H A T C H,
SO called on account of its wefterly fituation from Hatch-Beauchamp in the hundred of Abdick and Bulftone, is a fmall parifli containing forty-five houfes, moft of which are fmall farms and cottages. The country is rather flat and woody; the chief wood oak and elm, of which there is a large coppice, confiding of ten acres. The only common land is Shutwood-Green, containing five acres -, and Stoley' s-Green, con- taining twenty acres.
The manor is included in the grant of King Richard the firft to the church of Wells, and now belongs to the Dean and Chapter. The following ancient cuftom is ftill obferved here. The reeve, or bailiff to the manor, provides at the lord's expence a feaft on Chriftmas-Day; and diftributes to each houfholder a loaf of bread, a pound and a half of beef, and the like quantity of pork, undrefled; and the fame evening treats them with a fupper. ^
The living is appendant to North-Curry, not mentioned in the taxations, or other fimilar records. The church confifts of a nave, chancel, and porch tiled, and a large old tower, forty-one feet high, with three bells.
On the north wall of the nave is this infcription: " In memory of John Knowles,
gent, who departed this life the 1 6th day of June 1724J and in his laft will gave five pounds, to be left in the churchwardens' hands for ever, and the intereft of the fame to be given to the fecond poor in bread on Chriftmas-Day."
STOKE-GREGORY.
THIS vill, denominated from the dedication of its church, is fituated in the moors weftward from North-Curry, being almoft furrounded by Stanmoor on the north, Weft-Sedgmoor on the fouth, and North-Curry-Moor and Hay-Moor on the weft. On all thefe moors the tenants have a right of common. For driving the moors a reeve is appointed annually.
This parilh contains the following hamlets :
1. Mare-Green, one mile northweft.
2. Woodhill-Green, bordering on Weft-Sedgmoor.
2- CuRRYLODE (corruptly called Curlwood-Green) adjoining Stanmoor.
4. Moorlands.
5, Warmoor.
6« Staeth, on the river Parret,
None
jeoctb'Curt?.] STOKE-GREGORY. i8i
None of thefe places occur in the Norman Survey, they having in early times been members of fome adjoining manors, or perhaps depopulated by hoftile depredations. The abbot of Athelney had pofleflions in Currylode foon after the Conquell, as alio in Staeth, together with free commonage in Stathmoor, Stanmoor, Haymoor, and Currymoor.' 7 Edw. VI. the demefnes and manor of Currylode were held by Thomas Reve and George Cotton, and by them alienated to Valentine Brown."*
Moorlands belonged to the family of Tilly, and thence pafled to the houfe of Perccvcd,'
The manor of Staeth was part of the barony of the ancient Barons de Moels.*
The manor of Stoke-Gregory is parcel of the pofleflions of the Dean and Chapter of Wells, who are alfo patrons of the benefice, which is appendant to North-Curry.
The church is built in the form of a crofs, and has at the weft end an oftangular tower with a low fpire, and five bells.
In the fouth tranfept are two monuments of ft:one, infcribed,
".Here under lyetla the body of Edward Court, of Lillifdon in this county, efq. He departed this life Oft. 26, 1682." With feveral of his family.
" Here lieth the body of Alexander Court, of the parifli of North-Curry in this county, gent, youngeft brother of the abovefaid Edward Court, fen. efq;. who died Aug. 10, 1705, Alfo the body of Margaret Court, one of the daughters of the faid Edward Court, fen. who died at the city of Bath, July 21, 1710."
• Regift. de Athelney, MS. ' Ter, Sydenham. « Efc. " Lib. Feod.
T H O R N - F A L C O N,
Anciently THORN-FAGON, or THORN-PARVA,
IS a fmall parifti four miles eaflrward from Taunton, and in the road from that town to Salifbury. It is called in Domefday-Book Torne, being the property of Robert carl of Morton:
" Anfger holds of the Earl, Torne. Algar held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for fix hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne are two carucates, " and three fervants, and five villanes, and four cottagers, with two ploughs. There " are eight acres of meadow, and two acres of coppice-wood. It was and is worth
tlu-ee pounds."*
• Lib. Domefday,
This
^
J 82 THORN-FALCON. [II30ttl)^Curt^»
This place had for a long fpace of time owners of its name, who held the manor under the caftle of Dunfter, and did fervice to that court. 14 Edw. I. William de Thorn is certiBed to hold two fmall fees in Thorn-Fagon of John de Mohun, lord of Dunfter " After him feveral other Williams held the fame. 44 Edw. III. Richard de Afton was lord of this place/ 22 Ric. II. Roger de Mortimer, earl of March, held one knight's fee here, as of the honour of Merlhwood. 5 Hen. V. Sir Thomas Brook poffeffed this manor, and from him it defcended to the Chedders and the Capels It afterwards came into the poffeffion of the family of Burridge, of Lyme in Dorfetfhire, of whom it was purchafed by Mr. Nathaniel Butler Batten, of Yeovil, the prefent poffelfor.
The reftory of Thorn-Falcon was rated in 1292 at ten marks.' The lords of die manor have always been patrons; the Rev. Mr. Newcomen is the prefent incumbent.
The church is of one pace, having a tower at the weft end which contains three bells. In the chancel is a memorial to the Rev. Benjamin Jouxton, redor ofthisparifti twenty-four years, who died Sept. 27, 1739, aged 72.
•> Lib. Feod. ' Efc. ' Taxat. SpirituaU
THURLBEER, or THURLBURY.
THIS parilh lies on the borders of the hundred of Taunton-Dean, in a woody country agreeably diverfified with fmall hills and vallies. Its ancient name was Toriahrie, and it is fo called in the Norman Survey.
« Drogo holds of the Earl [Morton] Torlaberie. Ulviet held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is nine carucates. In de- " mefne are two carucates, and five fervants, and twenty-one viUanes, with feven « ploughs. There are fifteen acres of meadow, and twenty acres of wood. It was " and is worth fix pounds.'"
This Drogo, or Dru, was furnamed de Montacute, and was progenitor of the Barons Montacute, and the Earls of Sarum, of whom we fhall fpeak hereafter. In diis family the manor of Thurlbeer long condnued, and 11 Edw. II. William de Montacute, eldeft fon of Simon lord Montacute, procured from the King a charter of free warren in all his demefne lands within this parifh." 9 Hen. VI. Cecilia the wife of Sir William Cheyne, knt. polTefied this manor, and held it of the King in capita by the fervice of the fourth part of a knight's fee. It was alfo fome time in the poffeffion of the Bonville family, i and 2 Phil, and Mary, the manor and demefne lands here were
• Lib. Domefday. ? Cart, n Edw. II. n. 65.
granted
Bom-€m]^.] THURLBEER
^Tl.?,,^'"!,"" J^'-d Howard, of Effinghan,, who the foUowin- year fold rh. r
Here is a fmall hamlet, called Greenway.
now (wi,l, S.oke-Sainc-Ma^ annexed) a reZy X^eonhe ,tf„ 'tV"' ''■"' patron, and the Rev. Charles RufTell the prefent incumbent. '""' "
The church confifts of a nave, chancel, and porch tiled „;,!, , ,i .• tower a. d-e weft end, containing four bel,;. It fs dedlcatd'toTt Tl'olat "'""
' Taxat, Spiritual.
I
THE
^
[ i85 ]
THE HUNDRED OF
F R O M E,
I^HIS hundred lies on the eaftern verge of the county, having that of Wellow on the north; KHmerfdon, with the liberties of Hill-houfe, Mells, and Leigh, on the weft} and the hundreds of Brewton and Norton-Ferris on the fouth. It con- tains one market-town, and feventeen parifhes. The country is finely diverfified with hills and dales, and in many parts truly romantick.
This hundred was formerly held in ferjeanty by the family of Braunch, and others.*
In the time of William the Conqueror it confifted of two hundred and ninety-eight hides."
From the third penny of Frome, William de Moion, then IherifF, paid the crown • Efc. ' Exeter Domefday. ' Ibid.
five {hillings.
FROME
IS a large populous market-town, pleafantly fituated on the northeaft declivity of H hill in the foreft of Selwood, whence it has frequently that appendage to its name. Its fimple appellation arofe from the river Frome," (in Saxon Fjiom) which pafles through the lower part of the town, under a ftone bridge of five arches, befides which it has over it three other bridges within this parifh, called Wall-bridge, Blatch- bridge, and Bradford's-bridge. The market is on Wednefdays, and four fairs are annually held; but only two of any account, which are on the feafts of St. Matthias and St. Catherine. This town contains thirty-eight ftreets, thirteen lanes, and twelve courts, bartons, &c. Moft of the ftreets are narrow and irregular, without paving, except fome narrow foot-ways on one fide of rough ftone, with which the houfes are chiefly conftrufted. It has long been famous for the manufacture of woollen cloth,
• This river h.ns its fource about five miles foutlieaft from tlw town, at YamfieU-Conuiion, bordering on on the county of Wilts,
Vol. II. B b which.
i86 F R O M E. [JTlome*
■which of late (it is faid) has been rather declining than increafing. But from an ac- curate infpeftion lately made, it appears that one hundred and fixty thoufand yards are annually made, of which four-fifths are broad-cloths, and the reft narrow-cloths and cafTimeres. In the above manufafture, one thoufand four hundred and fifty packs of wool, of two hundred and forty pounds weight each, are employed.
From a late furvey the town was found to contain one thoufand three hundred and forty-eight families, and fix thoufand three hundred and forty-two inhabitants j feven hamlets within the parifh contain fixty-fix families, and three hundred and fifteen inhabitants; and two hundred and feventy detached houfes, one thoufand four hundred and forty-eight inhabitants :— in all, one thoufand fix hundred and eighty-four fiimilies, and eight thoufand one hundred and five inhabitants. The hamlets arc as follow:
Tytherington, two miles and a quarter fouth. RoDDENBURY-HiLL, three miles foutheaft. Fricgle-Street, three nearly eaft. Little-Keyford, one fouthweft. Eggford, one mile and a quarter weft. Oldford, one mile and a half north. CimK, one mile northeaft.
The parifh is divided into three tithings, viz. the Town tithing, the Weft-Woodlands^ and the Eaft- Woodlands. The principal peace-officers are two conftables and a ti thing- man for the town tithing, annually chofen at the court-leet of the Earl of Cork and Orrery; a conftable and tithingman for the Weft-Woodlands, chofen at the court-leet of Lord Vifcount Weymouth; and a tithingman for the Eaft- Woodlands, chofen at the hundred court of Frome.
The firft account we have of Frome commences with the reign of Ina, king of the Weft-Saxons, whofe kinfman Aldhelm, monk of Malmfbury, and afterwards bifhop of Sherborne, founded here a monaftery to the honour of St. John Baptift about A. D. 705. The monks that compofed this fociety were obliged to difperfe on account of the perfecutions of the Danes during their inroads into thefe parts, and they never feem afterwards to have been reafTembled; but the church exifted fo late as the reign of King Stephen, as we learn from William of Malmfbury, who tfeUs us, that in his days it was ftill ftanding, and by its durability had defeated the fhock of ages.*" There are fome veftiges of this old building ftill remaining in that part of the town which is called Lower-Keyford, and are now converted into fmall tenements for poor families. At the interfeftion of two ftreets near thefe remains ftood an ancient oftagonal crofs, on a fquare pedeftal, which being ruinous, was lately taken down.
In a part of the town called Hill-Lane, once ftood an old building, by tradition a priory, of which there now remains but a fmall part, which is converted into a cellar within a houfe built by Mr. Bull, and ftill in the polTeffion of that family. And on the
* Wjlhelmi Malmfb. de Vita Aldhelmi, in Angl. Sacra, torn. ii. p. 8.
top
jFiome.] F R O M E. 187
top of a ftreet called Catherine-hill, was a finall cell of nuns, dedicated to that Saint, the chapel whereof, which was of confiderable capacity, is now converted into fcveral tenements.
The Norman Survey furnilhes us with the following memorial concerning this ancient place:
" The King holds Frome. King Edward held it. It never was aflefled, nor is it " known how many hides there are. The arable is fifty carucates. In dcmefne are *• three carucates, and fix coliberts, and thirty-one villanes, and thirty-fix cottagers, with " forty ploughs. There are three mills rendering twenty- five fhillings, and a market " rendering forty-fix fhillings and eight-pence. There are thirty acres of meadow, *' and fifty acres of pafture. Wood one mile long, and as much broad. It renders ** fifty-three pounds and five-pence, every ore being of the value of twenty pence.
" Of this manor the church of St. John of Frome holds eight carucates of land, and " alfo held the fame in the time of King Edward. Reinbald is priefl: there.""
In the time of Henry II. the greateft part of Frome was in the pofTcffion of the family of Fitz-Bernard,'' of whom were Hameline, William, and Richard, which laft held his property of Dru de Montacute.° He had a fon called Ralph Fitz-Bernard, who by Alianor his wife was father of Joan his fole daughter and heir. This Joan, about the time of King John, married with William Branch, or Braunche, (as he is fometimes written) who in her right became pofiefl'ed of the hundred, manor, and town of Frome, with other property in this and the neighbouring counties ; and 23 Hen. III. paid one hundred fhillings for his relief of che lands of his wife's inheritance/ This William bore on his feal a flcur de lis, furmounted widi a file of three points.* He died 8 Edw. I.*" and was fucceeded by Nicholas Braunche, who with Robcrga his wife held the manors of Frome and la Valiccy with the hundred of Frome,. by the fervdce of one knight's fee, 7 Edw. II. Sir Andrew Braunche, fon and heir of Nicholas, 19 Edw. III. granted two mills in Frome, and the bailiwick of the bedelary of the hundred of Frome, to Robert Adymot for life, which mills and bailiwick were certified to be held of the King as parcel of the manor of Frome-Braunche.' He died 2j Edw. III. leaving ifTue Thomas his fon and heir; but he dying in his minority, the manor became the property of Richard Winfiade, who had married Alianor filler of the faid Andrew Braunche, and who held at his death feven mefTuages, one hundred and fixry-two acres of arable land, eighteen acres of meadow, eighty acres of pafture, fifty-one acres of wood, fixteen fliillings rent, and the third part of a mill with appertenanccs in Frome, Raddea, and Marfton- Bigot." Ta Richard Winfiade fucceeded Stephen his fon and heir, who granted the manor of P>ome-Valleyfe to John Payne, of London, armourer, for life, and died 6 Hen. IV. feized of the manor and hundred of Frome, leaving Elizabeth the wife of Edmund Leverfege his daughter and heir.' Which Edmund Levcrfegc bore for his arms a chevron between three dolphins." Robert Leverfege, 4 Edw. IV. died feiz«d of the manor and hundred of Frome, and had for his fucceflbr William his fon
• Lib. Domcfday. * Cart. Antiq. « Lib. nig. Scac. 5. 94. ' Rot. Pip. 23 Hen. III.
• Seals from ancient deeds. " Efc. ! Cart. Antiq. " Efc. ' Ibid. ?• From old deed*.
B b 2 and
i83 FRO M E. [jrrome,
and heir." By an inqiiifition taken at Selwood, aj 0£t. i Hen. VIII. it was found that Edward Leverfege died 7 Sept. 24 Hen. VII. feized of the manor and hundred of Frome, and the manor of BromJiam in the county of Wilts, leaving by Eleanor his wife one Ion, Robert Pofthumus Leverfege, who fucCteded him, and two daughters, Anne and Margaret." Eleanor his wife furvived him, and married to her fecond hufband Sir Hcniy Long, knt. At her death 35 Hen. VIII. fhe held this manor and hundred, and the advowfon of two chantries in the church of Frome.'' Robert, fon and heir of the faid Eleanor, by Edward Leverfege her former hufband, fucceeded to the lands, and died feized thereof 29 Aug. 3 Edw. VI. leaving ifllie William his fon and heir. In the inquifuion taken after his deceafe, it was found that the lands were extended, and in extent for five hundred marks not yet fatisfied."" William Leverfege, fon and heir of Robert, lived at Vallis-houfe in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and from him the manor and hundred of- Frome defcended to Edmund Leverfege, efq; who 3 Jac. I. fold part thereof, being the manor of Eaft-Woodlands, together with all his lands in Eaft -Woodlands, Weft-Woodlands, Vv'all-Marfh, Clink, and in the foreft of Sclwood, to Sir Thomas Vavafour, knt. who in the 8th year of that reign fold the fame to Sir Thomas Thynne, knt. From Sir Thomas thefe poffefllons, with many others, defcended to his fon and heir Sir Henry Frederick Thynne, created a baronet 17 Car. I. Whole eldeft fon Sir Thomas was created baron Thynne of Warminfter, and Vifcount Weymouth, 34 Car. II. and was fucceeded by his coufin Thomas Thynne, father of Thomas Lord Vifcount Weymouth, the prefent pofleflbr. His Lordfhip's arms are, Barry of ten, or znd fable, \
But the other parts of the Leverfedge eftates in Frome, confifting of the manors of Frome-Branch and Vallis, and the hundred of Frome, continued in that family till the year 1706, when Roger Leverfedge, who was the laft of the male line, deviled them to Lionel Seaman, dq; who had married Frances his only daughter. Mr. Seaman at his death deviled the fime to his relation the Rev. Lionel Seaman, D. D. vicar of this parilh, who in 1751 fold diem to John Earl of Cork and Orrery; from whom they defcended to Hamilton his fon, who dying without ilTue in 1764, they paffed to Edmund his half brother, the prefent Earl of Cork and Orrery, whofe arms are, Party per bend, crenelle, argent and gules.
Vallis-house, the ancient feat of the Leverfedges, is fituated about a mile weft- ward from the town, and is converted into a farm-houfe. It is called in the old records, Falois, Faleisy Valeis, la Valaife, and la Falice, all which are a corruption of la Falaize, an old French word fignifying a bank or floping hill. Very near the houfe there is a delightful romantick vale, called Vallis-bottom, deep, narrow, and winding in a ferpentine direftion through the pariHi of Elm to Mells. The fides are fteep, and full of craggy projefting rocks, intermixed with trees and coppice-wood.
The manor of West-Woodlands was parcel of the ancient pofTefllons of the abbey of Cirencefter in Gloucefterftiire ; and, after the diflblution of that houfe, was, together with the advowfon, prefentation, donation, free difpofition, and right of patronage of
• Efc. • Inq. poft Mort. » Coles's Efcheats. < Ibid.
the
jrromc] F R o M E. 189
the vicarage of the church ofFrome, parcel alfo of the faid monaftery, granted by James I. by letters patent, bearing date the fourth year of his reign, to Sir Thomai Thynne, of Longlcat.
Within the laft- mentioned manor was another fmall manor tailed Langley, or St. Algars, from a chapel formerly there dedicated to that faint, wherein his bones were buried, and "of late tymes (fays Leland') fuperftitiudy foute of the folifch com- " niune people." This manor is now confolidated with the Weft- Woodlands.
The manor of Keyford, or Cayford, is alfo within this parifh, and is taken notice of in the Conqueror's furvey:
" Norman holds of Turftin [Fitz-Rolf] Chaivert. Leuedai held it in the time *' of King Edward, and gelded for half a hide. The arable is half a carucate, which is " in demefne, with four cottagers. There are four acres of meadow, and four acres of " pafture. It is worth feven (hillings.'"
In the time of Edward I. this village was the poflefllon of William Polayn;' but afterwards became the property of the ancient family of Twyniho, who had their names from Twinhoe or TwLney in this county, where they had eftates. Of this fa- mily, who bore for their arms, a chevron between three lapwings /^^/i?, there were feveral branches, feated at Steeple-Afliton in Wiltfhire, Shipton and Cirencefter in Gloucefterfhire, and Turnworth in Dorfetfliire. They refided at Cayford fo early as the reign of Henry IV. and held that manor of the lords ofFrome. The following curious petition in parliament will fliew how one of them was ferved in the time of Edward IV. ,
" To the right wyfe and difcrcte Communes in thisprefent Parh'ament afTcmbled: * " Lamentably in mofl pituoufe and humbiewife, complayneth and (hewitli unto your grete ■wirJojnes Roger Twynyho, coufyn and heire of Ankerettc, late tiie wiff of Wiliam Twynyho, of " Cayforde in the counte of Somerfet, Squyer; that is to fay, fon of John, fon of the feid Wiliam and Ankarette. That where the faid Ankarette, the Saturday the xiithe day of the moneth of Apryil, in the XVIIth yere of the reigne of our moft dredde Sovereigne Lorde the Kyng that now ys, was ill her manoyr at Cayforde aftbrefeid, in Godd's peafe and our faid Sovereigne Lord's, one Richard Hyde, late of VVarwyk in the counte of Warwyk Gentleman, and Roger Strugge, late of Beke- hampton in the counte of Somerfet, Towker, accompayned with diverfe riotoufe and myfgoverned perfohes, in maner of werrc and infurreftion, arraied and aflembled to the nombre of XXIIII per- fones and moo, by the commaundement of George Dtike of Clarence, of his fubtile conjedled yraaginations, withoute grounde or mater, ayenft all right, trouth, and confciencc, cntendyng the utter diftrudlion and deth of the faid Ankarette, came to Cayforde afForefeid, aboute II of the clokke after none, the day and yere abovefeid; and then and there with grete fury and wodenefic, ayenft the Kyng's peafe, the houfe of the fcid Ankarette with force bracke and entered, and the fame Ankarette (beyng of goode name and fame) then and ther toke and emprifoned, withoute writtc, warraunt, or any other laufull audorite; and immediatly fro thens the feid Ankarette fo in prefon, the fame day with grete violence caryed and conveyed unto the cite of Bathe in the fame counte, without abode, not fufFeryng her to tary in her ownc houfe to take eny convenient cafe, nor fo that any of her fervauntes mought accompany her, and in femblable dureflc her caried and conveyed from Bathe biforefciJ, the Sonday then next folouying, to the towiie of Circeter in the fliirc of
' Idn, vii. ic6. • Lib, Doraefdar, ' Perarob. Forefts dc Selwode.
Gioucetcr,
J90 F ROM E, [jnome,
Glouceter, and from thens in like wife conveid her to the towne of Warrewyk in tlie counte of Warrewyk, and theder broughte her the Monday then nextfolowyng aboute VIII of the clokke at afternone, which towne of Warrewyk is in dillance from the feid manoyr of Cayforde LXX miles. And the feid riotoufe perfones, by the commaundement of the faid Duke, immediately then ther toke fro the feid Ankarette all fuch jewelx, money, godes, and catelx, as fhe there hadd; and alfo then and ther, in the faid Duke's behalf, as though he had ufed a kyng's power, commaunded and ftreitely charged Thomas Delalynde, Squyer, and Edith his wiff, doughter of the feid Ankarette, and other their fervauntes, which folowed the feid Ankarette to have attended upon her, to avoyde from the faid towne of Warwyk, appon payne of deth, and to logge them at Stratforde apon Avyn that nyght, which is VI mile fro thens; by force of which commaundement, and for fere of deth, the feid Thomas Delalynde and Edith his wifF, and ther feid other fervauntes, then departed from thens, withoute abode or taryeng, not fufFred to fpeke with the feid Ankarette, and fo left her alone ; and the feid Duke the famtf Ankarette in fuch prifon and durefle wrongfully there kept unto the houre of IX before none, the Tuefday the next morrowe then folouyng, that is to wite,. the Tuefday next after the clofyng of Pafche; and then with like force and violence caufid the faid Ankarette to be broughte to the Gyldhale at Warrewyk beforefeid, bifore diverfe of the Kyngs Juftices of the peafe of the feid counte of Warrewyk, ther then fittyng in the Kyngs generall ceflions of peafe in the fame counte; and then and ther the feid Duke, in accomplifhyng of his feidfubtile conjeited yma- ginations, untruly and ungoodly, ayenft all trouth and confcience, labored and caufid her to be endited by the name of Ankarette Twynneowe, late of Warrewyk in the counte of Warr' wydowe, of fic that the feid Ankarette, late fervaunt of George Duke of Clarence and IfabcU his wifF, malici- oufly and dampnably entendyng the diftru£lion and deth of the feid Ifabell, at Warrewyk biforefeid, the Xth day of OtSobre, the yere of the reigne of oure feid Soveraigne Lorde the XVIth, falfly, traiteroufly, and felonefly, yave unto the feid Ifabell a venymoufe drynke of ale myxt with poyfon to drynke, to poyfon and flee the feid Ifabell, of the which drynke the feid Ifabell fekenyd fro the feid Xth daye of Odtobre, unto the Sonday next before the feft of the Natyvite of oure Lorde then next folowyng, which Sonday fhe then and ther therof dyed ; and fo the feid Ankarette the fame Ifabell the feid Sonday ther falfly, trateroufly, and felonoufly flewe. And incontinent the fame day, the feid Juftices thercf arraned and put to anfwere the feid Ankarette; wherappon fhe pleded that fhe was not therof gylty, and therappon by procefiemade by the feid Juftices the fame daye, ajurre appered, and founde the feid Ankarette gylty of the mater conteynid in the feid inditement, and therappon it was confidered and demed by the feid Juftices, that the feid Ankarette fhulde be ladde from the barre ther, unto the Kyngs gaolc of Warrewyk biforefeid,, and from that gaole fliulde bs drawe thorowe the mydds of the feid towne of Warrewyk, unto the galowes of Myton, and ther appon the feid galowes to be hanged untill flie wer dede ; and commaunded the ihiref of the feid fliire ther then beyng, to do therof execution,, and fo he did: which enditement, triell, and judg- ment, were hadde, done, and youven, within thre houres of the feid Tuefday, the fame Joftices contynually in the fame ceflion then ther fittyng, none adjourneraent of the feid celTions for that tym» hadde; a copie of alle which recorde is herto annexid. Which jurrours, for fere and drede of grete menaces, and doute of lofle of their lyvesand godes, foimde the feide verdit coiUrarie to thfir owne entents,. trouth, and confcience; in prove wherof, diverfe of the famejurre, after the feidjugement yoven, came to the feid Ankarette, havyng grete remorce in their confciens, knowvng they hadde yoven an untrue verdyt in that behalf, humbly and pituoufly aflced foryevnes th-^rof of the faid Ankarette. Pkafe it youre feid grete wifdomes, confideryng the feide fubtile conjcdted ymaginatl- ons ot the feid Duke, as well as hi' grete myght and flirenght, the unlaufi»ll takyng, durefTe, empry- fonarnent, conveyaunce, and caryyng of the feid Ankarette thorowe the feid III feverall fliires, the feid inordynat hafty procefle and jugemcnt, and the lamentable and pituoufe conveiaunce to deth, and deth of the fame Ankarette, and the gode, vertuoule, and true difpoiltion of her all the ^yme of her lyfF, as it is openly knowen within the feid counte of Scmerfet, and the coufites ihcrto adjoynyng>
where
jrreme.]
R
M
E,
191
where fhc was the more parte of her lyff duellyng and converfaunt; to praic the Kyng cure Sove> Tcigne Lorde, to ordcyne and ftablyfhe, by th' aflent of the Lords Spirituclx and Temporelx in this prefcnt Parliament aflembled, and by auftoritc of the fame Parliament, that the recorde of the feid inditcment, the procelTe therappon made, the verdit and jugemcnt therappon yoven, and all tbyngs dependyng appon the fame, and the recorde therof made, be caflcd, adnulled, voyde, repealed, and of no force nor of none efFede. And forafmochc as all the premifcs were done by the commaunde- ment, myght, and ftrcnght of the feid Duke, and in no otherwyfe, that therfor it be ordeigned by the feid au6torite, that none of the feid Juftices, Shiref of the feid fliire, nor the Underftierif of the fame, nor their miniftrcs, nor eny other perfone, be fued, vexed, nor greved, for the takyng, cmpry- fonament, jugement, nor execution of the feid Ankarette." Rot. Pari. 17 Edw. IV.
Which petition being read in Parlianaent, anfwer was returned, ** Soil fait come il efiJe/ire."
There was a church In Frome in very early days, dedicated to St, John,' of the revenues whereof the following account is given us in the Norman Record:
" Relnbald [the prieft] holds the church of Frome, with eight carucates of land- ** In demefne are two carucates and a half, and four fervants, and eight villanes, and " twelve cottagers, with fix"ploughs. There is a mill of five fhillings rent, and thirty- *' five acres of meadow. Wood fix furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It is worth *^ fix pounds."*
This Reinbald was chancellor to King Edward the Confeflbr, and a great favourite with King William, who gave him large pofleflions in England, and an eftate called from him Reinbervillet near Rouen in Normandy.*^ He held alfo divers other offices fcoth in the time of Edward and William, and in his clerical line v/as dean of the prc- bendal college at Cirencefter in Gloucefterfhire, founded by Alwyn, a Saxon, in the time of King Egbert," in the church of which he was buried, and his monument of white marble remained till the time of Henry VIIL' On his death, all the lands which he had poflefled reforted to the crown, and King Henry I. in the thirty-fourth year of his reign, granted the reftory of Frome, as alfo Standerwick, Milborne-Port, Marfton-Bigot, and Wellow, with divers lands in this part of the county, to the abbey of Auftin Canons at Cirencefter in Glouccfterftiire, which he had founded on the ruins of the old Saxon college above-mentioned.'' In 129a this redory was valued at twenty-five pounds, and the vicarage at eleven marks and a half. The abbot of Cirencefter had a penfionout of it, of twenty fhillings,' 16 Hen. VIII. the vicarage was rated at twenty-two pounds.'' Lord Weymouth is patron, and the Rev. John Rofs, D, D. bifhop of Exettr, is the prefent incumbent.
The church ftands in the foutheaft part of the town, and within the tithing and manor of the Weft- Woodlands. It is a large and handfome pile of building, one hundred and fifty-two feet long, and fifty-four wide; confifting of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, four chapels, a vefb-y-room, and two porches. On the fouth
" See the ancient Survey of the manor. « Lib. Domefday. " Annales Abbat. de Bee. MSS.
* ChronicQn Abbat. Cirenceft. MS. penes Edit. • Lelaud's Itin. v, 66. ' Tanner's Notitia MonafUca.
' Taxat. Temporal. * Lib. Valorum.
fide
192 F R O M E. [jFrome,
fide of the entrance to the nave from the chancel, ftands a quadrangular tower, with a handfome ftone fpirej the whole one hundred and twenty feet high. This tower con; tains eight bells, a clock, and chinnes.
In a chapel built by the Leverfedges, are feveral memorials of that, as well as of the Cork family, whofe pro'perty it now is. In the middle of it, on an open tomb, lies the effigy of a man almoft naked, and in an emaciated appearance. On an adjoining ftone is this infcription: " W. L. Recordare Creatoris tui diebus juventutis tuse."
Arms, a leopard's head jeflant Heur de lis, (the arms more recently ufed by tlie family of Branch, and adopted by the Leverfedges) impaling, a griffin fegreant.
On another ftone near it: " Rogeri Leverfidge, armig. exuviae hie deponuntur,
qui obijt 23 die Februarij, Anno Domini 170I, setatis fuas 63." Arms: Leverfedge, as before, impaling on a chevron between three martlets as many mullets.
On the next ftone: " Reconduntur hie cineres Francifcje, unicas Rogeri Lever- fedge, armigeri, filiasj Edmundi Seaman generofi nuper uxoris, quae obiit vigefimo die Decembris, Anno Domini 1726, jetatis fuse 44. Hie etiam jacet fepultum corpus prsedidti Edmundi Seaman, gen. fato qui occubuit vicefimo die Septembris, Anno Domini 1730, astatis fuse 50." Arms: On an efcutcheon between three pole-axes. Branch, impaling Leverfedge.
On a flat ftone within the fame chapel: "Margaret Countefs of Cork and
Orrery, died Nov. 28, 1758, aged 48. Charles Lord Vifcount Dungarvofi died Sept. ^5> ^759j ^gctl 30. John Earl of Cork and Orrery died Nov. 16, 1762, aged 55."
On another plain ftone: "Hamilton Earl of Cork and Orrery died Jan. 17,
1764, aged 34. Anne Countefs of Cork and Orrery died Dec. 11, 1785, aged 43. Richard John Lord Dungarvon, Honourable Hamilton Boyle, died infants."
Near the northweft corner of the church is a mural monument of ftone, having an open pediment, at the bottom of which lie the effigies of two infants hand in handj on
the tablet this infcription: " Near this place lie the bodies of Henry Bull, gent, who
died the 3d of Auguft 1738, aged 59 years; and Margaret his wife, who died the 26th of July, 1752, aged 71 years. Here alfo lieth the body of James Bull, their fon, who died the nth of February 1747, aged 30 years. Together with fix others of their children, who all died infants." Arms : GuleSy three bulls' heads caboflTed, or.
In the principal aile is a brafs plate with this memorial:
*' IPcag for tf)e foulcs of i^cmg Cf)ampencp0, fqupr, anD 3[ane W toifc, tobpc&e iDenrg ueceffeli t&e riiij Dayc of 3uguft t&c i>ere of ouccilotn mu uj, on tulbofc foulc0 311)u tjatie mcrcg* Slmcn,"
In a fmall chapel by the north aile is a ftately marble monument, infcribed, •
" Here lyeth --he body of George Locke, of this place, gent, who departed this life the third day of November, A. D. 1735, '^"'^ i" ^'"'^ 72dyear of his age. To whofe me- mory his forrowful widow hath erefted this monument. Alio, here lyeth the body of Sufannah, the wife of the faid George Locke, who departed this life Feb. 18, 175 1,
aged
jrvome.] F R O M E. - 193
a^ed 90 years." Arms: 'Per (cffc, nzur^ And or, a pale counterchanged, three hawks with wings endorfcd of the laO, im])aHng or, on a fefle engrailed azure, between tlircc horfes' heads erall'd/rfi^/i?, as many llcurs de lis of the firft.
In the windows of this chapel are the following coats in painted glafs. i. Sal>k, a horfe eredt, argent, bridled, or-, impaling, a chevron between three dolphins embowed, argent; on a cWit^ gules a leopard's head jefTunt fleurs de lis or. 1. The horfe as before, impaling, argent, a pillar between two human heads rcfpeding or. 3. The horfe, impaling a text \$t. and a bell or, being a device for the name of Cabell, a family who had ponilTions in this parilli.
On the fouth fide of the chancel is another fmall chapel, which belonged to the family of Smith, formerly of this parifh, and in which divers of them lie interred.
Robert Smith, gent, died July ij, 1703; Dorothy his daughter, Sept. 9, lyooj and John Smith, of Stoney-Littleton, efq; Jan. 9, 1768.
There are thefe arms in a window of this chapel, viz. i. Argent, on a chevron, /rf^/^, between three lapwings proper, a mullet of the firft; impaling, tierce in girons arondi, argent, or, and gules. 1. Chevron and lapwings as before, impaling, ermine, a hzr /able. 3. Quarterly, firft and third, argent, a bend gules, on a chief of the fecond, two mullets or; Iccond and fourth, gules, a bar or, between fix martlets, 3, 2, and i. 4. Ermine, a hid- fable, impaling, vert, a nautilus or.
In another chapel on the nordi fide of the chancel, on a flat ftone, whereon were figures and an infcription in brafs, (now removed) are arms as follow: i. Quarterly, firft and third, a lion rampant; fccond and fourth, on a chevron three crofles moline. 2. On a chevron between three maitlets five bezants.
In the veftry-room, on a monument of alabafter, aie the effigies of a man and woman Ivneeling, and on two tablets below, infcriptions to the memory of the Rev. Anthony Methwin, vicar of this church, who died July 6, 1640, aged 66; and of Jane his wife, who died March a, 1640, aged 61. Arms: firft and fourth, rtr^i?«/, three wolves' heads erafed proper, 1 and i. Second and rhird argent, a. chevron fable, between a crofs patec giiks in chief, and a heart of the laft in bafe, impaling, 7^^/^, a lion paflant argent.
Adjoining to the eaft end of the church is a burial place wherein lies the body of Biftiop Kenn, who died A. D. 17 11, whilll on a vifit to Iiis friend and patron Lord Weymouth, 4t Longleat, in which noble manfion he had fpent the greateft part of his life after his deprivation of the fee of Batli and Wells.
To the church of Frome appertained divers chantries, endowed with lands of confi- derable value.
22 Edw. IIL a licence was granted by the King to Robert Kaynes, Thomas the fon of Lucas Webb, John Honywood, and John the fon of William de Whatcombe, to give two mefTuages aad feventeen acres of land in the parifti of Frome to a certain chaplain to perform divine fervice in the chapel of the blefled Virgin Mary of Frome- JJraunch, every day for ever.'
* Inq. ad quod Damn. 22 Edw. III. Vol. IL C c i Ric. IK
194- F R O M E. [JFlome,
I Ric. II. John de la Mare, knt. gave one meflfuage, and one acre of land; John la Wode, one mefluage and two acres; Walter Bychewode and Joan his wife, one mef- fuage and two acres; John Whitcomb, two acres; and Argentine Horfleghe, four- teen acres, all fituated in Frome; to Laurence Walflie, chaplain of the chantry of St. John in the parifh church of Frome for ever.' John Lyrpole was the laft incumbent of this chantry, and had allowed him in 1553, a penfion of five pounds.*
The chantry of St. Andrew had lands in Frome, Rodden, and Nunney de la Mare;*' the laft incumbent, John Burley, had a penfion of five pounds.* 5 Edw. VI. this chantry, and that of St. John the Baptift, were held by Sir John Thynne, knt. and Laurence Hyde, in foccage.''
The chantry of St. Catherine had lands In Frome given it 4 Ric. II.' Its laft incumbent was John Frye, who at its diflblution was fent away with a penfion of five pounds."
Within that part of the parilh which is called the Woodlands, about three miles fouth- ward from the town, ftands another church or chapel, called the New-Church; which, was built in the year 171a, by Thomas Lord Vifcount Weymouth, and endowed with fixty pounds per annum, out of an eftate at Pennard in this county, to fuch mi- nifter as fhould officiate there, to be by him, and his fuccefTors to the eftate at Longleat, nominated and appointed. This endowment was made by his Lordlhip, by virtue of and under the direftion of the laft will and teftament of his deceased brother, the Hon. Henry Frederick Thynne; the faid Vifcount himfelf augmenting the ftipend with thirty pounds per annum, and alfo with five hundred pounds, which fum was by his executors laid out in the purchafe of ftock in the funds, and vefted in the hands of truftees. The intereft thereof was paid to the minifter for fome years; but in the year 1752, the truftees with 373I. 18s. ^d. part of the faid 500I. purchafed an eftate called Codrington's, lying within the parifh of Frome, which now lets at 21I. per annum, and fettled the clear profits thereof alfo on the minifter of the faid church. The firft minifter appointed to it was the Rev. Mr. Beauchamp in 17 14. The Rev. John Rofs, D. D. is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a handfome building, fixfy-eight feet long, thirty-four broad, and twenty-eight high. At the weft end is a fquare tower and odtagonal fpire, feventy feet high, with two bells.
The Woodlands around this church are now the only part of the ancient foreft of Selwood, which bears any refemblance to its former ftate; and have been, within the memory of man, the notorious afylum of a defperate clan of banditti, whofe depredations were a terror to the furrounding parifhes. One of their evil praftices, and which perhaps was far from being the worft, was that of coining money; but the cutting down large trafts of wood, eftablifhing fmall farms, and building the church, have been the means of deftroying their haunts, and obliging the pofTeflbrs to feck fubfiftence in honeft and uleful labour.
' Efc. I Ric. II. ' Willis's Hift. of Abbies, ii. 202. » Pat. 6Hen. V. ' Willis.
» Ter. Sydenham. ' Pat. 4 Ric. II. " WiUis.
The
jrtome.J FRO M E. 195
The name oftliis foreft is very exprefTive of its fize and confequence in ancient times, Sel fignifying in the Saxon language great, and Fob a wood; in like manner as Silbury- Mill in WiltOiire fignifies the great barrow or hill; and Silchefter in Hampfliire, the great city; the epithet Sel being applied to thefe places by way of eminence and dif- tinflion. This foreft lay at tlie eaftern extremity of the county, on the confines of Wiltfhire, and extended itfelf fouthward from Frome towardi. Dorfetfliire. In the time of Edward the firft it was formally perambulated by commidioners appointed for that purpofe, and its bounds were afcertained to be as follow: " They began at Suth- bruham bridge, which is the fartheft water of the Bryw, and thence. proceeded along the road to the Barwe; and thence along a certain road to Bruke Heujfi and thence leaving the faid houfe on the right hand to the gate of the King's-hall ; and thence by Hay ham to Frome-lVater ■; and thence along a certain water, leaving it on the right to fValedich bridge ; and thence along the fkirts of Selewode thicket to Burtynghburg, above Noble houfe; and thence leaving that houfe on the right hand to JVytecofte; and thence to Radeneye, on the confines of the counties of Somerfet and Wyltes; and thence by a certain water-courfe to IVeremeneJyre woodj and from the faid wood by Trencham- tnouth, along a road called Hunterfweye to la Gahcre; and thence by Balmeton wood, leaving it on the right, to a place called Kyngejfeckci and thence along a way to Penburi, leaving all Norton wood on the right, which wood is in the county of Somerfet; and, thence to Penne; and thence along the King's way by the middle of BitrJDode, as a fmall ftream called Standebrok, coming from Staverdale mill, diredlsj and thence leaving the faid mill on the right, along a road without Forjhefe park to the eaft; and thence by the highway to Bruhatn church, leaving it on the left; and thence to Suthbruham bridge, where the bounds firft began,""
Keepers of this Forefti
William de Wrotham, 7 . , . r-,,- t y
Richard de Wrotham, \ ^" '^' ^""^ °^^*"S J"^"*.
William de Placetis, 35 Hen. IIL
Richard de Placetis, 2 Edw. I.
Sabina Peche, 24 Edw. I.
Nicholas Peche, 17 Edw. I L
Richard Peche, ?^t-j ttt _, D u C^ Edw. III.
Thomas Peche,)
Matthew Peche, 9 Edw. III.
Sir Richard D'Amori, knt. 10 Edw. III.
Matthew de Clivedon, 18 Edw. III.
Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, 34 Edw. IIL
Sir John Arundel, knt. 3 Ric. II.
Reginald Lord Cobham, 4 Hen. IV.
Edmund Lord Ferrers, of Chartley, was woodward 14 Hen. VI.
Sir John St. Loc, knt. 26 Hen. VL
Sir Walter Hungerford, knt. 27 Hen. VL
James EarlofOrmond, 38 Hen. VL
" Excerpt, e Regift. Wellcn.
The
ig(> F R O M E. [iTrome,
The office was afterwards united to the crown, and there continued till die beginning of the reign of Charles I. who granted commiflions to certain Lords of his Privy- Council and others, for the difafforefting the foreft of Selwood; empowering them to deal, agree, compound, bargain, and contraft, as well for the difafforefting, as for all the woods, ground, and foil, of the faid foreft, with all the deer therein, in fuch manner as they fhould think moft convenient to his Majefty's profit. By virtue of which autho- rity, thofecommiffioners contrafted with the lords and commoners of the manors withia the foreft, in manner following, viz. That his Majefly and his fucceffors fliould have, hold, and enjoy, one third part of •■lie feveral waftes and commonable grounds withia the faid foreftj that one other third part ftiould be held and enjoyed by the lords and owners of the foil; and the other third part Ihould be left to the feveral commoners, having right of common for depafturing their cattle.
It was in this great foreft that King Alfred convened a general council of his nobles preparatively to his memorable attack, upon the Danes, and his fignal viftory over them at /Ethenduney or Edington in Wiltftiire."
There was a houfe of Lepers in fome part of this foreft, to which Hugh de Wells, biftiop of Lincoln, bequeadied in his laft will and teftament, made A.. D. 121 2, a Jegacy of three marks.""
Several charities have at different times been conferred on the parifhioners of Frome^
In the time of Edward the fourth, William Leverfedge, efq; founded in die town of Frome, an alms- houfe for poor widows, and endowed the fame with lands amounting to the yearly value of three pounds ten fliiilings.
Mr. Thomas Smith gave lool. that fourteen widows in that alms-houfe might an- nually receive the fum of five fhillings each on St. Thomas-day.
The Rev. Richard Jenkins gave alfo to the faid charity loL Which fums were laid out in lands, now amounting to the yearly rent of 81. 10s.
John A'Court gave 20s. annually to the fourteen widows, payable out of a tenement in Nunney.
Jane Hippie gave land of the value of 61. los. per annum, for the fame purpofe.
John Afh gave half the yearly rent of three houfes in Beckington, value 3I. i6s. towards clothing the fourteen widows.
James Wickham and Jane Hippie gave to the fame foundation, land of the yearly value of 32I. 2s.^ 6d.
Sufannah Locke gave land to the fame purpofe, of the yearly value of 14I. 12s. 6d Richard Coombe gave land of the yearly value of 2I. js. 6d.
Betty Hippie and others gave fundry fums of money, with which lands of the annual value of 61. 10s. were purchafed, for the ufe of the faid fourteen widows.
f Vide Affer. Annal. rer. geft. ^Ifridi Mag. Et Chron. Saxon. A. D. 878. ' txcerpt. e Regill. Wellen.
Alexander
jrrome»] F ROME. 197
Alexander Stafford gave to them fundry houfcs in the parifh of St. Milford, Lon- don, amounting to die yearly value of 2 81.
Mr. Thomas Jeffcr gave one hundred pounds to the poor of this parifli, the intcreft tiiereof to be paid on St. Thomas day, to fuch as do not receive relief othcrwife.
John Wadman gave for the fame purpofc al. los. annually, payable out of lands in this parilh.
Jane Methwyn gave to fourteen poor men, and ten poor widows, a fixpenny loaf on every Good-Friday, payable our of a houfe in Briftol.
Sundry bencfadions were laid out for the ufe of the charity- fchool, in the purchafe of knd and llock. in the funds, of the yearly value of 62L
Mrs. Hippie gave money towards apprenticing boys out of the charity fchool, with' which (lock was purchafed of the annual value of 1 5I.
The charity-fchool ftands near the bridge, and is a large handfome freeftone building, . with a turret and clock on the top. About the year 1720, a fubfcription was fet on foot within the town, for raifing a fum of money to build a fchool-houle, &c. which foon amounted to 1087I. and together with fome former donations, was found fufficient for building and endowing the Hud fchool. The building thereof was carried on under the patronage and dire^lion of Mr. James Wickham, attorney at law, of the town of Frome,, who became a principal truftee. In 1728, certain lands were purchafed by the faid James Wickham, and he foon after dying, fuch lands were by Mr. John "Wickham, his brother and heir at law, granted to twenty truftees; the rents and profits thereof to be applied to the clothing and teaching twenty, or as many more boys as they fbould • think fit, to read and write, and to be educated in the knowledge and praftice of the chriftian religion, as profeflcd and taught in the Church of England; and fuch other things as niould be further fiiitable to their condition, and to the paying a mafler in fuch manner as the trullees {hould think fit. In 1748 the truftees found it expedient to apply to the Court of Chancciy for a decree, the more firmly to eftablifli this charity, . which was readily granted.
The fchool is now endowed with twenty-four pounds per annum falary to the mafter, a fchool-houfe, &:c. for teaching twenty poor boys reading, writing, arithmetick, ^c. who are clothed and thus educated four years, and then apprenticed out to ukl'ul trades, by monies arifing from the benefactions before mentioned. This fchool is now governed by Mr. Abraham Crocker. Adjoining to it is the Widow's Alms- Houfe, referred to in the foregoing lift of charities.
Here is alfo a free-fchool, of the foundation of Edward VI. endowed with fix pounds- a year, to which about five pounds annually have fince been added.
The Rev. Mr. Langham bequeathed 60I. towards ercfling an altar-piece in the church of Frome; other inhabitants contributed about lool. morcj and the altar was cretftcU > and the chancel repaired and beautified in the year 1762.
Mr. John A'Court of Rodden, gave the treble bell, i-fiS^.
Mrs. Anne Smith gave one brafs candleftick, 1685,
The-
5 98 P R O M E. [JTronie,
The Rev, Mr. Prigge gave aol. to be laid out for a communion flagon > and lol, to be laid out in bibles for poor families.
Mrs. Joan Avury gave twelve buckets.
The chriftenings in this church from January 1778 to January 178.5, were 1347, -being on an annual average 192. The burials during the fame period io6o, being annually on an average nearly 151.
Jofeph Glanvillj the noted author of the book on witchcraft, was fome time vicar of this parilh.
BECKINGTON
IS a village conHfting of feveral ftreets, fituated in the turnpike-road between Bath and Frome, from the former of which it is diftant ten miles, and from the latter three. It was formerly a town of confiderable importance, and carried on a large manufafture of woollen cloths, of which at this day about feven hundi'ed are made here yearly.
The name of this place may have been derived either from the Saxon words Beacen a beacon, and Ton, a town; or from Becc, a torrent or rivulet; or from Bece, the beech-tree. Bilhop Beckingtonj who was a native of the place,* feems to have fa- voured the firft etymology^ having for his device, (till to be ken in many parts of Wells, a beacon with a tun or vefTel. It is called in Domt(da.y-'Book. Becbiniane, ^nd is furveyed as the property of Roger Arundel, to the following effed :
" Roger himfelf holds Bechintone. Ailuert;held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for ten hid,es. The arable is ten .carucates. In demefne are two caru- " cates, and nine villanes, and feven cottagers having fix ploughs. There is a mill of *' twenty fhillings rent, and twelve acres of meadow, and eight acres of pafture, and *' one hundred acres of wood. It was worth when he received it ten pounds, now *' fix pounds."''
Its molt, confiderable poflTefl^ors, after .the Conqueft, was the family of Erleigh, or de Erlega, fo called from a lordlhip near Reading in Berkfliire, who had large pofl"effions in this county, viz. the manors of Beckington, Durfton, Babcary^ Michael's-church, the manor and hundred of North-Petherton, and the manor of Somerton-parva, deno- minated from them, Somerton-Erle, or Erleigh. The firfl: of the name that appears in this county is John de Erlegh, who 7 Hen. II. paid five marks for the fcutage of his lands in this county.' This John died 11 Hen. II. and in the fame year Adela his widow paid the fame fcutage.*
• " Beckingtona mihi dedit ortum ; Balnea, Pontes, ;
*' Fafces," Lelandi Comment, de Scriptor. Britann. p. 447. See <rf" this prelate in Wells.
' Lib. Domefday. • Rot. Pip. 7 Hen. II. " Ibid.
He
jrcome.] B E C K I N G T O N. 199
He was fuccecded by William de Erleigh his fon, who is certified to hold a knight'3 fee in capite of tlie King, and that by his fee he had a right to be his chamberlain.* This William was tlie founder of a priory at Buckland in this county, to which (among divers other property) he gave the church of Beckington.*
John de Erleigh, fon and heir of William, 6 Ric. I, paid fcutage for his lands in this county and Berklhire. i Joh. he held the manor and hundred of North-Petherton, at- an annual rent to the King of one hundred fhillings.
William do Erleigh his eldeft fon, i Joh. paid fcutage for lands he had in Berklhire and Somerfetlhire, in his father's hfe-time. He left two fons, John and Henry, of whom the former married Ifolda, (who furvived him) and died without ifllie 12 Hen. III. whereupon Henry his brother became his heir. He was flieriff of this county and Dorfet that fame year. This Henry married two wives, i. Egelina de Candos, by whom he had a fon called Philip. 2. Claricia, by whom he had John and Bartholomew.
Philip de Erleigh died foon after 8 Edw. I. leaving ifllie by Rofa his wife, daughter and heir of Peter de Marifco, and Maud his wife, lady of the manor of Babcary, John, Philip, and Roland; and a daughter married to Richard de AiSon. His wife furvived him, and had to her fecond hufband Sir Geffrey de Wroxall.
Which Johh de Erleigh, eldeft fon of Philip, was in the Scottlfh wars in the reign of Edw. I. and 9 and 16 Edw. I. was fheriff of this county and Dorieti and 2 and 6 Edw. II. was knight of the fhire for Somerfet. Ele died 17 Edw. II. and was fuc^ ceeded by his fon John, leaving another fon called Roland.
This John died 1 1 Edw. III. being then feized of the manors of Beckington, Somerton-Erle, Durfton, Babcary, Michael's-Church, the manor and hundred of North-Pctherton, and fcveral other lands in this county; leaving by Elizabeth his wife, John his eldeft fon, then four years old, Richard, and three daughters, viz. Catherine priorefs of Buckland, Elizabeth wife of Sir John Stafford, and Alice wife of Sir Nicholas Poines, knt.
John his fon and heir was a knight, and 40 Edw. III. attended the Black Prince into Spain, and was prefcnt at the battle of Naziers, and feveral other engagements in that kingdom, in one of which he was wounded and taken prifoner; and being put to a great ranfom, was forced to fell the beft part of his ancient inheritance. By Margaret daughter of Sir Guy de Brien, knight of the garter, he left iffue John, Richard, and Philip, and three daughters.
John his eldeft fon fucceeded in this manor of Beckington. He was alfo a knight, and married Ifabel, daughter of Sir JohnPavely, by whom he leftoneonly daughter his heir, married to John fecond fon of Sir Richard St. Maur, knt. afterwards to Sir Walter Sondes, knt. and thirdly to Sir William Cheney, knt. She died 21 Hen. VI.
The faid John St. Maur was fucceeded by John his eldeft fon, who, having married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Thomas Broke, was father of Sir Thomas St. Maur; who,, by Philippa daughter of Sir Edmund Hungerford, had another John; which Joha
• Lib. Feod. • Cart. Antiq.
married
20O
B E C K I N G T G N. liTromC
.married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Richard Choke j and had three children, viz. Sir William St. Maur, who lucceeded him; and two daughters, Margaret wife of William Bampfylde of Pokimore, and Anne wife to Robert Stawcl^ efq.
Which Sir William St. Maur married Margaret daughter of Sir Richard Edgecombe, knt. and was father of Margaret his heir, who dying without children, the defcendants of his fillers became his heirs, which were the families of Stawel and Bampfylde. The manor of Beckington became the poffeffion of Bampfylde.
8 Edw. II. John de Erlcigh bore on his feal three efcallopsj' which arms were ufed by his defcendants within a bordure engrailed, and tinftured gules and argent.
In' the beginning of the laft century this manor was purchafed by John Aflie, efqj -who pofTefled a very large eftate in this and the adjoining county of Wilts; and lies buried withfeveral of his family in a vault under the fouth aile of the parifli church of Beckington. At his death in 1658, diis manor, with that of Teffbnt-Evias in the county °of Wilts, devolved to John Aihe, efq; his fecond fon, who devifed it by will to his nephew John Methuen, fon of his filler Grace, wife of Paul Methuen, efq. This John Methuen was Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the refgns of King William the Third and QMufren Anne; and was frequently employed in embaffies to Poitugal. He ■was fucceededin this manor by his only fui-viving fon, the late Right Honourable Sir Paul Methuen, knight of the Bath; aperfon eminently diftinguiflaed by his embaflies abroad to the Emperors of Germany and Morocco; and the Kings of Spain, Portugal, and Sardinia; and filled with equal honour at home many important offices as fccretary, offtate,, treallirer of the houlhold, &c. In the year 1709, he fold this manor to his uncle Anthony Methuen, efq; whofe grandfon, Paul Methuen, of Corfham in Wiltfiiire,, efq; is the prefent pofleflbr.
The manor-houfe flill bears the name oi Seymour' s-Court, from its old inhabitants. There was formerly a chapel here near the Old Court, which the common people thought had once been an hermitage or cell;^ and in a field about a quarter of a mile from the houfe, called Mount-Pleafant, were dug up, about twenty years ago, feveral humaa"^ Skeletons, the innocuous tenants of fome long-forgotten cemetery.
At the north end of the town of Beckington, in a deep vale, finking immediately from the high road to Batli, Hands an old houfe called Cliffords-, once the refidence of that family, from whom it had its iiame.
The living of Beckington is reftorial. It was appropriated to the priory of Buckland, and rated in 1292 at fevcnteen marks and a half." It lies in the deanery of Frome; William Sainfbury, efq; is patron, and the Rev. John Evans the prefent incumbent. The Prior and Brethren of the hofpital of St. John of Jerufalem had from this church .an annual penfion of twenty fhillings.'
The church is dedicated to St. Gregory,'' and is a fubftantial ancient flirufture, {feveral of the window-arches being finilhed with zig-zag mouldings) confifting of a
•* .Seals from »ncieat decids. « Notes taken 1671. " Taxat. Spiritual. > Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
"• Eaton fays St. George.
nave,
jrromcl B E C K I N G T O isr. 201
nave, chancel, two fide ailes, and a veftty-room leaded; with two porches tiled. At the weft end is an embattled tower, with a clock and fix bells.
On the north fide of the chancel lie the effigies of John St. Maur, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir Richard Choke; and on a brafs plate in the floor is the following
infcription: — '' {^ic jacct 3\o\)td ^cgntmau?, a?miff. ct OBU^alietba uror eju0, qui quioem 3Io!)C0 obiit M' Die ©ttobr. a. 2:)fii. miUnto ccccljcrrtj. Cujujj aie ^pcictu? 2:)cii0. amen."
In a pew within the eafl: aile, belonging to Paul Methuen, efq; is this mennorial:
*' Pcag fot tbc fotoleg of 3!o&n Compton, anD CDptt) fiis toife, \ia\)ic\) Jofjn Deceflen tbe riii nag of ©ftotiet tfje i^eaic of oui Hoto s^cccccr, upon ioljofc fotoleg 3Il)ri Ijatje me?cp. amen."
John Cooper, anceftor of the Coopers earls of Shaftefbury, being of this place, by his laft will and teftament, made Auguft 29, 1498, ordered his body to be buried be- fore the high altar of St. John Baptift, in the church of St. Gregory of Bekynton, tA which church he bequeathed the fum of forty fhillings.'
Againft the north wall of the north aile is a mural monument to the memory of Daniel, the poet, infcribed with the following words: — ■ — " Here lyes, expeftinge the fecond coming of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, the dead body of Samuell Danyell, efq; that excellent poet and hifterian j who was tutor to the Lady Anne Clifford in her youth, fhe that was fole daughter and heire to George ChfFord, earl of Cumberland; who in gratitude to him eredted this monument to his memory a long time after, when fhe was Countefle Dowager of Pembroke, Dorfet, and Montgomery. He died in Odlober, An. Dom. 16 19." He was a great favourite in the court of James I. and fucceeded Spenfer as poet-laureat to Queen Elizabeth. He was author of a variety of pieces hiftorical, dramatical, and mifcellaneous, into all which he feems to have infufed the refinements of a court, and in his language to have anticipated the elegant expreffions of the prefent age.
On a flat ftone in the chancel floor is the following infcription: " Sub hoc
faxo reconditum jacet corpus Alexandri Huifli, hvijus ecclefi« olim recloris, qui obijt decimo quinto die Aprilis MDCLXVIII." He was of the Huiflies of Donniford, and grandfon of William Huifli of that place. He was one of the editors of the Polyglott Bible, and efteemed one of the moft confiderable men in Europe in all parts of learning, efpecially the knowledge of the Oriental languages. He was a great fufferer by the rebellion in the time of Charles I.
On another ftone: " Here lies the body of William Sainfljury, late reftor of this
parifli, who died March 10, 1730, aged 45. Alfo Elizabeth his wife, who died March 13, 1752, aged 71. Eleanor Sainft)ury, wife of William Sainfbury, reftor of this parifh, died March 10, 1772, aged 41. Alfo William Sainft)ury, late reftor of this
parifli, died July 8, 1778, aged 65." Arms: Within a bordure engrailed, a bend
fufilly.
' Ex Regift. Home, in Cur. Prserog. Cant,
■^'oi. II. D d . At
202 ' BECKINGTON. [jTrome*
At the weft end of the fouth aile is a mural monument of white marble, infcribed, ** James Edgcll, gentleman, died the 21ft day of June, Anno Dom. 1729, in the 71ft year of his age, Harry EUigell, eldeft fon of James, is near this place alfo interred, who departed this life, which he fteered through with honour and integrity, May 22, 1743, setat. 4j. Ehzabeth, widow of Harry Edgell, died July 7, 1761, aged ^^ years." Arms: Argent, on a chevron embattled/(?^/i?j between three cinquefoils ^«/a, as many bezants; impaling, argent, on a bend wavy, cottifed ^«/fj-, within a bordure azure be- zanty, three lions' heads erafed of the firft.
The font is oftagonal, fupported by eight plain pilafters, furrounding a central ihaft, ell Ipringing from an ocbagonal bafe.
This parifli, including the hamlet of Ridge, on the borders of Wilts, contains one hundi-ed and eighty-fix houfes.
Thomas Webb, efq; in the 20th of Ehzabeth, gave 5I. per annum to be diftributed quarterly amongft the pooreft and moft needy inhabitants of this parilh.
Chriftopher Brewer, in 1673, gave for the like purpofe 2I. annually.
William Yerbury, in 1700, gave 5I. annually to be diftributed amongft the poor in bread on every Friday for five weeks in Lent.
B E R • K L E Y
IS a fmall parifti, three miles weft of Frome, containing feventy-fix houfes, thirteen of which are fituated near the churchj ten others in the hamlet of Oldfordj and the others are fcattered throughout the parifti. The number of inhabitants is four hundred and two. The lands are moftly pafture, the foil various; fome parts being heavy clay, others ftone-rufti, and the reft a rich mellow loam, very fertile.. The pafture worth from ten to thirty fliillings per acre, the arable from eight to fixteen fliilhngs.
The river Frome wafties this parifti on the north-weft fide, in its way from Frome to Beckington.
The manor of Berkley belonged at the Conqueft to Roger Arundel, and is thus furveyed :
" Robert holds of Roger, Berchelei. Toui held it in the timie of King Edward, *' and gelded for two hides and a half. The arable is three carucates. In demefne " are two carucates, with one fervant, and three villanes, and four cottagers, with one " plough. There is a mill of twelve ftiillings and fixpence rent, and fix acres of mea- " -dow, and feventy acres of wood. It was and is worth forty fliiUings."'
* Lib, DomefUay.
This
Jiomc] BERKLEY. 203
This place was the ancient feat of the family of Fayroke, who refided at Fayrokc in this pariflij from whom by intermarriage it defcended to the houfe of Carent or Carwent, fo denominated from the townof Caer-Went in Wales, where they were more early refident. From this family it came by an heirefs to the poflefTion of the New- boroughs, of which ancient houfe the following account is given on a monumental Horrc in the parifli church here, tracing its defcent from the time of William tfie Con- queror to the year 1680.
" Sacred to the memory of the family of the Newboroughs, defcended from Roger de Btllomont, lord of Pont- Audemer in Normandy, and Adelina his wife, daughter to Waleran carl of Mellent in France, coufin and councellor to William the Conqueror, with whom he came into England. Which Roger had two fons; Robert the elder was earl of Mellent and Leicefter, and married Elizabeth, daughter to Hugh the Great, fon to Henry the ift of France. The fecond fon was Henry de Novo-Burgo, (fo called from a caftle in Normandy where he was born) who was made earl of Warwick by the Conqueror,- and that earldom continued in his pofterity through feveral noble and royal branches, till it was extind by the death of Ambrofe Dudley, fon to tiic Duke of Northumberland, in 1589. Henry de Novo-Burgo, fecond fon to the faid Henry earl of Warwick, fettled in Dorfet, where Roger his fon founded the abbey of Byndon in 1172. From him in a Hneal defcent came John Newburgh, of Lulwortlj- Caftle in Dorfet, who married Alice, daughter of WilHam Carwent of Fayroke, and widow of John Weftbery of Berkley, and was poffefled of this manor in 1 45 9. Several of this family reprefented the county of Dorfet in parliament.
" In the reign of Henry VIII. Chriftian, daughter and heirefs to Sir Roger Newburgh of Lulworth, a lineal deicendant to the aforefaid John, carried off a great eftate to the Lord Marney, whofe daughter and coheirefs married Thomas Howard, fecond fon to the Duke of Norfolk, who was created Vifcount Bindon. Thomas Newborough, coufin to Sir Roger, and heir male to this family, was the firft who fettled at Berkley, and was buried in this church in ifijj from him in a direfb line defcended Roger Newborough, the laftof this name, who was buried here in 1680, whofe eldeft daughter and coheirefs Anne married John Prowfe, of Compton-Bifhop, efq. She died in 1740, and is buried in that church. In honour to this family, now extinft, this infcription was placed here by Abigail, widow of John Prowfe, fon and heir to the above-named John
Prowfe and Anne Newborough, in the year 175 1, when this church was rebuilt."
The arms on this monument are. Or, tJiree bends -azure within a bordurc engrailed gules. Newborough.
The lall of the Prowfe family was Thomas Prowfe, efq; Icnight of the flvire for this county, who died about the year_i767, leaving two daughters his coheirs; one of whom wedded Mr. Mordaunt, a gentleman defcended from a collateral branch of the family of Mordaunts, earls of Peterborough ; and the other, who now rcfides at Berkley, married in 1783 the Rev. John Methuen Rogers, LL. B. the prefent owner of this manor.
The refidcnce of the Cxirenrs was at Fayroke, a manor they derived from the flimily of Fayroke, to wliich this ancient village (now depopulated) gave its name. It had
D d 2 parochial
204 B E R K L E Y, [JTrOltte.
parochial rights and cuftoms; but the benefice in 1460, on account of the fmallnefs of its revenues, was, with the confent of Williann Carent, efqj patron of the church of Fayroke, and John Newburgh, in right of Alice his wife, patron of Berkley, united and annexed to the church of Berkley.''
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of the Rev. Mr. Rogers J the prefent incumbent is the Rev. Ambrofe Kent, D. D.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a veiy neat modern edifice, built in the year 175 1. Its dimenfions are forty-one feet 'fquare, and the roof twenty-one feet high. Over the centre of the building is an oflagonal dome fuppprted by four Ionic columns, and terminated by a Iky-light. At the weft: fide of the church is a neat tower with a balluft;rade railing.
Near the chancel rails a flat ftone bears the following infcription ; ■- " Underneath lie the remains of Anne, wife of Nathaniel Kent, of Fulham in the county of Middlefex, gentleman, who died Oft. ift, 1780, aged 47 years. This fl:one is not placed here fi-om a vain defire to chronicle the dead, but to guard her afhes."
Without the church is a fmall mural monument erefted to the memory of Roger Newburgh, efq; the laft of that family, who died in 1680.
This parifli gave birth and name to Alexander de Berkley, or Barcley, an elegant writer of the fixteenth century. He was educated at Oriel college in Oxford, and was one of the collegiate priefts of St. Mary Ottery in Devonlhire. He afterwards entered into the order of St. Benedift, and next became a Francifcan; he was alfo a monk of Ely, and on the diflTolution of that monaft:ery, was prefented to the vicarage of Wokey in this county, and afterwards to that of Badow-Magna in the county of Efl^ex, He had alfo the reftorfhip of All-hallows, Lombard-fl:reet, and died at Croydon in Surry. He was efteemed a very polite writer, and a great refiner of the Englilh language. One of his books is entitled " Navis Stultifera, or the Ship of Fools;" a curious aflem- blage of original and tranflated fentiment, illufl:rated with wooden cuts.
* Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
I
iTroine,
jf tome, anb ^^art of f^ilUjoufe ^ihttt^.
C L O F O R D
IS fituated five miles fouthward from Frome, on a litde flream, rifing at Hitching- green in the parifh ofWanftraw, and comprizes the two hamlets of LE19HTON and HoLWELL, the latter romantically fituated in a deep and narrow valley. Here is a very large wood, called Pojilebury, anciently Pojlbury, the only remaining vcftige of what by tradition was once a confiderable Roman villa.
At the time of the Conquefl: the Earl of Morton was poflTefled of Cloford:
" Alured holds of the Earl, Claford. Five thanes held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for ten hides. The arable is nine carucates. In demefne are " three carucates, and two fervants, and three cottagers, and twelve villanes, and feven- " teen bordars, with feven ploughs. There is a mill of three fhillings rent, and twenty " acres of meadow, and three hundred acres of pafture, and one hundied and fixty ** acres of wood. It was worth feven pounds, now ten pounds."*
In the time of Edw. I. II. and III. the villages of Cloford and Poftbury were pof- fefled by the family of Flory. Giles de Flory was living in thefe parts the beginning of the reign of Edward I." After him came John'Flory, lord of Cloford and Poftbur}', a6 Edw. I.' To whom fucceeded John and Richard Flory, which laft 3 Edw. III. gave one meflliage and two acres of land in Cloford to a chaplain to fay mafs for the foul of him the faid Richard, and for the fouls of his progenitors, in the parifh church of Cloford every day for ever.'' 1 Ric. II. Thomas Flory held the third part of a kniglit's fee in High-Church near Hemington.' 18 Heri. VI. John Flory died ftized of lands and tenements in Orchardleigh, leaving John his fon and heir.' The manors of Cloford and Leighton have been for many generations in the poflefiion of the family of Horner, fome of whom had their refidence here in the manfion near the church. Thomas Horner, efq; is the prefent owner.
The hamlet of Holwell, in this parilh, is called in old writings Holy-JValcrs, and Holy-Fathers, from a well there, over which was a chapel or cell, much vifitcd by pilgrims.
The church of Cloford was appropriated to the abbey of Keynfliam, the tempora- lities whereof in this parifh were in 1 193 valued at fixty-five fhillings.'^ It is a vicarage in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of the lord of the manor j die Rev. Mr. Wells is the prefent incumbent.
* Lib. Domcfday. " Cart, .-intiq. ' Perambul. Foreft. '' laq. ad quod Damn.
« Lib. Feod. ' Efc. • Taxat. Temporal.
The
fio6 c L o F G R D. [jTiome, anti part of
The churcli is dedicated to St. Mary, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and fmall aile or chapel belonging to the Horner family. At the weft end is a modern-built tower, <X)ntaining two bells.
In the chancel is a ftately and elegant mural monument of freeftone, in the centre of ^hich ftand the ftatues of a man and woman in the drefs of the laft century; and on a
black tablet is this infcription : " Sir George Horner, knt. fell afleepe Feb. 9th,
and was buried Feb. r9th, 1676. ^tat. fuse 72." Arms: Sable, three talbots paflant, argent; Horner: impaling, azure, femee of fleurs de lis or, a lion rampant argent, langued gules. This monument is faid to have been put up in the life-time of Sir George and his lady, who occafionally fat for their likenefs whilft the fculptor was at work.
On a large ftone tomb in the chapel is an infcription to the memory of Maurice Horner, fon of Sir John Horner, knt. who died Feb. 21, 1621. And of his children, Thomas, Margaret, George, and Edward.
Part of the ancient liberty of Hillhouse lies within this parifh; another part is in that of Elm. Both the manor and liberty of Hillhoufe, or Helehoufe, (as it was fome- times written) were formerly part of the eftate of the Gorges family of Wraxal, and afterwards paffed to that of Horner, with whom it ftill continues.
E L M,
Saxon 6LM, from the quantity of that wood formerly growing there.
A SMALL parifh, three miles north weft from Frome, pleafantly fituated on the edge of a deep woody vale, winding through feveral parifties^ and exhibiting fome very beautiful and romantick fcenery. It includes a hamlet called Little-Elm, and contains about forty houfes, and two hundred inhabitants.
Near a place called Murder-Combe m the foutheaft part of the parifh, is an encamp- ment, fituated on the edge of a precipice, and fevered from the other part of the hiU by a vallum on one fide only; fbuth of it runs a rivulet. The name of this ancient work is Tedbury ; and here, in 1691, was dug up a pot of Roman coins, moft of Conftantine junior."
The manor of Elm is not noticed in the Norman Survey. It has been the property of a variety of families. 23 Edw. III. Sir Thomas de Gary, knt. fon and heir of Thomafine de C?.ry, relcafed to John de Edyndone all his riglit in the manor and ^vowfon of the church of Elm." 7 Hen. V. Elizabeth the widow of Reginald de
• Stukeley's Itin. cun i. 149. .* Rot. claus. 33 Edw. III.
Brecon
rpiHf)OUfe iLibectg.3 ELM. 207
Brecon died feized of a moiety thereof.' 36 Hen. VI. John Panys, fon and heir of John Panys, of Newbury in the county of Berks, granted a leafe of this manor for the term of forty years to Thomas Clerk and Margery his fifter." 9 Edward IV. Humphry Stafford, earl of Devon, died feized of it.' 33 Eliz. Henry lord Compton had this manor of Elm. From him it came to Spencer, who fold the fame to Robert Webb and Alexander Chocke, who fold it to Thomas Hodges, cfq/ from whom it has defcended to Henry Strachey, efq; the prefent polTeflbr.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome. The Rev. Mr. King is patron and incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a fmall ftrufture, having only an aile, chancel, and a chevron-roofed tower, with three bells.
On a fmall mural monument in the chancel, there is this infcription: — -" Here lies the body of Ann, daughter of Jofeph Francis, redtor of this place, who died June 19, J727, aged twelve years. Alfo the body of Jofeph Francis, reftor, who died June 2,, 1764, aged 84."
' Efc. * Rot. Claus. 36 Hen. VI. ' Efc. ' Licence to alienate.
%ii)txt^ of C^anmore,
L
EAST-CRANMORE
lES under the foutheaft end of Mendip, in a long valley, bounded on either fulc'
f by high land; the flopes covered with hanging woods. In the bottom, a fmill
ftream fifing at Weft-Cranmore runs along the meadows.
The name fignifies marfliy ground infefted by cranes, from the Saxon Cpan a crane, and COene a marfli or lake. To confirm the propriety of this etymology, it is to be obferved, that the eaftern extremity of the valley, through which the rivulet nins, (which doubtlefs was formerly marlliy, and would be fo now, were not the channel kept clear) is at this day diftinguifhed by the name of Mere-head, and the adjoining meadow Mere- Mead; and although cranes are not fo abundant as anciently, when multitudes, were among the dainties provided at many publick entertainments mentioned on record, yet of late years thofe birds have been obferved here in greater numbers than in moft other places.
We have early memorials of the village and manor o( Cramnore. In the year of our
Lord 956, TElphege, one of the domcfticks of King Edwy, gave with his conlent the
^ manor
2o8 E A S T - C R 'A N M O R E. [liWg of
manor of Cranemere, then confifting of twelve hides, to the monks of Glaftonbury.* This grant was afterwards confirmed by Edwy, Edgar, and other monarchs. When King William the Conqueror came to the throne, he continued the abbey in its pof- fefllons here, which in his time were thus recorded:
" Harding holds of the abbot Crenemelle. He likewife held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for twelve hides. The arable is ten carucates. Thereof " in demefne are fix hides, and there is one carucate, and fix fervants, and eight vil- *' lanes, and two bordars, and feven cottagers, with three ploughs. There is a mill of *' thirty pence rent, and fifty acres of meadow, and fixty acres of pafture, and one hun- " dred acres of wood.. It is worth four pounds. This land cannot be feparated from -" the church.'"
Upon fome pretence or other King William Rufus felzed this naanor, and appointed one Ernulf his fteward to fuperintend the fruits and profits thereof." But upon the petition of abbot Herlewin in iioi, it was reilored, and King Heniy I. erefted this diftrid, including Eaft and Weft-Cranmore, (as they are now diftinguiflied) into a liberty of itfelf, exempt from all fuits and fervice to the hundred courts. It was not long, however, that the monks had quiet pofTeffion of this manor; for in the great conteft between them and Joceline bifliop of Bath and Wells, concerning the union of their abbacy to that fee, Cranmore, with many other good pofl:effions, was by way of pacification given up to the bilhoprick.'' 41 Hen. III. Bifhop William Bitton obtained a charter of free warren in this his manor;" and his fuccefibrs enjoyed it till the time of Edward VI. when it is found among the poflenions of Edward Duke of Somerfct, in ■whofe fchedule it is valued at 23I. 8s. id.' It was foon after jointly purchafed by Mr. Horner, and Mr. Bradford. The moiety purchafed by Mr. Horner has defcended in a regular fuccefiion in the male line to the prefent Thomas Horner, efq. The other moiety continued in the Bradford name till the year 17 13, when Benjamin Bradford, dying without ifllie, devifed it to Mr. John Moore, his filter's grandfon, whofe daughter and only child married William Jones, efq; in whofe filler, Mrs. Mary Jones of Stowey, it is now veiled in fee. Some time after the joint purchafe of the manor, a deed of partition was made, and the manor-houfe, a large fquare building, which appears to have undergone but little alteration in its outward form fince that time, the offices being built in the form of a crofs, and fl:ill retaining the.name of the Crofs-Houfe, became part of Bradford's fliare, and palTed in hke manner with that moiety of the eftate. The arms of Bradford were. Azure, a fefie between three griffins' heads erafed argent.
In the year 1770 an aft was paflfed for inclofingthat part of Mendip lying within the parillies of Eaft and Weft-Cranmore, which, it is faid, was the firft inclofure made in
• Johan. Glafton. Hift. de rebus Glafton. 126. •" Lib. Domefday. ' R«gift. Abbat. Glafton.
" Johan. Glafton. et Ad. Domerham Hift.
* Cart. 41 Hen. III. m. 5. There is extant a curious deed, printed in Upton de Studio Militari 1654, wherein one Henry de Fernbureg engages for the fum of thirty marks fterling, to be always ready to fight as the Abbot of Glaftonbury's champion, in defence of the right which he had in the manors of Cranmore and Pucldechurch, againft the Bifhop of Bath and Wells ; the Dean of Wells, and all other his champions whaifoever. Dat. Lond. 38 die Apr. 42 Hen. III.
' MS. Valor. that
#
Cranmoce.] E A s t - c R A fl M o R e. 209
tiiat forcft under fuch a fanftion. A bank thrown up between the parifhes of Eaft- Cranmore and Downliead, and known by the name of Rou^Jb- Ditch, was confideicd as the boundary between them ; but the fame bank being continued at intervals through other pariflies, where it certainly is no boundary, towards Mafberry-caftle, it is fiippofed to have been in fomc refpe<5t appertcnant to that encampment. From its terminating at a very high point, whence an enemy might be feen Wa lary great diftance, it is proba- ble that it was an out-poft of obfcrvation, defended by a ditch and bank as a breaft-work.
Eaft-Cranmore is a chapel of cafe to Doulting; and the inhabitants dying have their burial at Weft-Cranmore, The chapel is a neat fmall building dedicated to St. James. It has an elegant mural monument of marble, infcribed to William Jones, cfq; and another to James Moore, of Chilcompton, gcift. The number of houfes is ten.
W E S T - C R A N M O R E.
CONTIGUOUS to ESft-Cranmore, but within the confines of the hundred of Wells-Forum, lies Weft-Cranmore, in a flattifli vale, bounded on the north, fouth, and eaft, by high lands. It is tolerably well wooded, and watered by feveral rivulets from fprings rifing in the parifh.
Tliere is no furvey of two places of the name of Cranmore in the Norman record, tho' the monks of Glaftonbury had pofleflions in both. The manerial property of Weft-Cran- more has been for ages vefted in lay hands; and now belongs to John Strode, efq; who has a Ijandfome feat on a fmall eminence fouthward from the church, called South-Hill.
This family derive their defcent from Warine de la Strode, lord of Strode in the county of Dorfet in the time of William the Conqueror; in whofe retinue he is faid to have come into this country out of Bretagne in France. He was father of Sir William de Strode, knt. who was of Strode, and bore for his arms. Ermine^ on a canton ya^/f an etoile of five points argents To him fucceeded Hugh de Strode his fon and heir, who was living 8 Henry I. and had iflue two fons, ^ir John Strode, knt. and Robert. Sir John the eldeft was of Strode aforefaid, and was father of Sir Hugh de Strode, knt. who had ifllie a fon named Henry, who married iVIaud Fichett Bea<j)pre, and by her had. two fons, Hugh and Edward. Hugh the eldeft married Beatrice, one of the daugluers and coheirs of Sir John de Button, knt. by Ilawife daughter and coheir of Sir Matthew deFurneaux, by whom he had iflue Henry de Strode, who married Elizabeth daughter and heir of John Brent, and was father of Richard Strode, who fucceeded to the eftates. He was thrice married; his firft wife was Margaret daughter and heir of John Gerard, efq; by whom he had ifllie William de Strode, who married Alice daugjjspr and heir of Roger de Led red, of Somerton in this county, and by her had two fons, William and John. William the eldeft fon v/as of Chalmington in Dorfetlhire, and was pro- genitor to the Strodes of Parnham in that county. John the fecond fon was feated at Shepton-Mallet in this county, and married Joan daughter of John Okie, by whom he had iflue Walter Strode, who fucceedtfd iiim in the cftate at Shepton-Mallet, and was father of Thomas Strode, who had two fons, John and Edwaid.
Vol. II. E e John,
f
I
«
r
L'
"_Whr
2IO W E S T-<?R ANM O RE. [Ctatimoit.
John, the eldefl: Ion of Tlionias Strode, left iflfue a fon named Stephen, who married Mary daughter of Richard Hodges, and was father of Thomas Strode of Shepton- Mallet in 1623. Which Thomas was twice married j his firft wife was Alice daughter of Maklin Bulliford, of the county of Devon, by whom he had a daughter Alice, who
died without ilTue; to his fecond wife he married Anne, daughter of Lane, of
Mells, by whom he had two daughters, Abigail and Hannah.
Edward Strode, fecond fon of Thomas Strode abovementioned, married Alice daughter of Robert Whiting, brother of Richard Whiting, abbot of Glaftonbuiy, and by her had iffue three fons, Thomas, who is ftiled of Batcomb in this county, and William and Edward, both of Shepton-Mallet.
Thomas the eldeil fon, by his wife the daughter of Blanchard, efq; had iffue two
fons, viz. John, who married a daughter of John Hippifley, of Camely in this county, efqj and James, who married Amy daughter of Richard Pitt, efq»
William, the fecond fon of Edward and Alice Strode abovementioned, was of Shepton- Mallet; he married Elizabeth daughter and heir of Geffrey Upton, by whom he had three fons, Geffrey, George, and William; and two daughters, Mary and Thomafine. Geffrey the eldefl was of Shepton-Mallet; he married firfl Elizabeth, daughter of William Filiol, of Marnhull in the county of Dorfet, by whom he had William" his fon and heir, George, John, Geffrey, Edward, Jofias, Elizabeth, and Anne. His fecond wife was Sarah, daughter of John Barnard. George, the fecond fon of William Strode, was of London, and by his wife Rebecca, daughter of Nicholas Crifpe, of that city, efqj had ifTue three fons, Thomas who fucceeded him, George, and William, and two daugh- ters, Rebecca and Anne. William, the third fon of William Strode, was of London, and married Joan fole daughter and heir of Edward Barnard, of Downfide, efq;'' by whom he had iffue Edward Strode, who was father of James Strode, who by Amy his wife, tlie daughter of Edward Court, had iffue four fons, Carew, John, George, and Edward, and a daughter named Betty. Garew Strode, by his wife Elizabeth the daughter of — Skinner, had iffue James, Edward, and Elizabeth. James the cldeft married the daugh- ter of Head, efq; of Berkfliire, but had no iffue, and was fucceeded by Edward,
father of John Strode, who married Maty daughter of Simpfon, efq; of Penrith in
Cumberland, and was father of John Strode, who married Sophia daughter of Sir Harry Parker, bart. and aMl of Edward, Elizabeth, Anne, and Hervey.
Edward, the third fon of Edward and Alice Strode beforementioned, married Alice, daughter of Philip Pore, of the county of Wilts, efq; and had iffue Edward, who inhe- rited the eftate, and George, who was of Milbrook in this county; which George mar- ried Margery, daughter of Richard Smith of the Ifle of Wight, and had iffue by her, James his fon and heir, John, Philip, Thomas, and Mary.
The family arms are. Ermine, on a Clinton fabler a crefcent argend
The living of Wefl-Cranmore is a curacy in the deanery of Cary, and like Eafl- Cranmore, a chapel of eafe to Doulcing. The Rev. Dr. Bifliop is the prefent in- cumbent. The church confifls of a nave, chancel, and a north aile. At the weft end is a handfome tower, containing five bells.
• Col. William Strode, one of the five members demanded by King Charles I. out of the Houfe of Commons.
* See vol. iii. p. 464, . JpUnDteD
#
#
[ 211 ]
guntjreb of jTrome*
LAVERTON
IS fituated in a pleafant vale, finely wooded, to the north of the town of Frome. The number of families the parifh contains is thirty, and of inhabitants about one hundred and fixty. Here are fome confiderable Woods, and elm and alh timber grows in great plenty; fome very large, particularly in a field near the church, where there are feveral elm trees upwards of eighty feet in height, and the trunks (three feet above ground) from eleven to fixteen feet in circumference. One of them fpreads two hundred and forty feet. A fmall river runs under a ftone bridge, and emptier itfelf into the Frome.
The Domefday Survey tells us this manor was the property of William de Owi
" Herbert holds of William, Lavretone. In the time of King Edward it gelded *' for ten hides. The arable is ten carucates. In demefne are three carucates, and *' two fervants, and fix villancs, and eight cottagers, with four ploughs. There are " twelve acres of meadow, and fixty acres of pafture, and fixty acres of wood. When *' he received it, it wis worth feven pounds, now eight pounds.'"
It was of tHfe fee of Roger le Bigod, earl of Norfolk, and marflial of England, and was held of that honour for feveral generations by the family of Panes. 35 Edw. I. Thomas de Panes held it by the fervice of one knight's fee.'' 36 Edw. III. Robert de Panes poflTcflt'd the fame, and was fucceeded by his fon John de Panes, who died i Ric. II.' 6 Ric. II. the manor was the property of Edmund Moigne, to whom fucceeded Edmund his fon, and to him his brother John Moigne.'' It had formerly given name to a family ofwhich divers are mentioned in the early records, butwereoffiiort duration in thefe parts. After the Panes and other polTeflbrs, it became the eftate of the Gournays, and thence was attached to the dutchy of Cornwall, w hereto it now belongs.
The living, valued in 12^2 at ten pounds,' is areftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of the bifhop of the diocefe. The Rev. Mr. Keate is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Bartliolomew, is a fmall ftruflure, 52 feet long, and 20 wide. At the weft end is a tower, eight feet high, containing three bells.
Againft the fouth wall there is a handfome monument of fi»ne, " To thfe
memoiy of John eldeft fon of John Yerbury, of Frome in this county, gent, by Mary his wife, daughter and coheircfs of John Brent, of Winbornc in the county of Dorfct, efq. He married Joan Ralins of this place, and died J\ily i, 1691, aged 35. To the memory alfo of John, eldeft fon of the above John and Joan Yerbury, who died
• Lib. Domefday. » Lib. Fcod. ' Efc. "^ Ibid. ' Taxat. Spiritual.
E c 2 oa.
212 L A V E R T O N. rjTromc.
Ofl. 1 8, 175 1, aged 70. To the memory of Ann, wife of John Yerbiiry : fhe died Jan. 24, 1756, aged 74," Arms: Quarterly, firft and.fourth, per feffe or and argent, over all a lion rampant «z«r^: Yerbury. Second and third, _g-«/^j, a wivern fegreant, the tail nowed, argent: Brent.
\ The Rev. John Farwell was minifter of this parifh in the troubles of the laft century, and was fequeftered from his living, but afterwards r^ftored.
L U L L I N G T O N
STANDS three miles north from Frome, in the centre of a rich vale well wooded and watered. The houfes are thirty in number, moftly farms, and cottages of rough ftone thatched, and the inhabitants one hundred and fifty-four. The whole ■parifh contains feven hundred and ninety acres of land, chiefly pafture, and worth from fifteen to thirty (hillings an acre. The river Frome wafhes the lower part of the parifli.
It was formerly written LoUgtone, and belonged to the Bifhop of Coutances, as wc read in the Norman Survey:
" The Bifhop himfelf holds Loligtone. Earl Harold held it in the time of King ** Edward, and gelded for feven hides. The arable is five carucates. In demcfne arc " two carucates, and two fervants, and feven villanes, and ten cottagers with four " ploughs. There is a mill of twenty fhillings rent, and twenty acres of meadow. " Wood fix furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was wortli four pounds, now " one hundred fhillings.'"
The manor, with the advowfon of the church, held of the Duke of Lancafter as of the manor of Trowbridge, was afterwards conferred on the priory of Longleat in the county of Wifts, the temporalities whereof here were valued in 1293 at fixty fhillings."" At the diflblution of that priory 29 Hen. VIII. it was granted to John, prior of the Carthufian monaftery at Hinton in this county; but the fucceeding prior of that monaftery (Edmund Hord) furrendcred it to the King, who, in the thirty-fecond year of his reign, granted the fame to the Earl of Hertford. Which faid Earl the year following fold it, together with the Longleat eftate, to Sir John Thynne, from whom it has defcended through feven generations to the prefent Lord Vifcount Weymouth, who is now lord of the manor.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, (valued in 1 252 at fix pounds") and in the patronage of Lord Weymouth. The Rev. Mr. Mayfon is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to All-Saints, and is a fmall (Irufture of Saxon archi- tei5ture, Imving a large embattled tower in the cenD'e containing one bell. The
• Lib. Domefday. ' Taxat. Temporal. ' Taxat. Spiiitual.
four
i
jrrome.3 L u L L r N c T o N. 213
four corner pillars which fiipport this tower are cluftered, fome of die members wrought in wreaths; and tlieir capitals ornamented with grotefque figures of birds and ftrange beafts. The arch which feparates the nave from the chancel is zig-zag. On the nortli fide of the church is an elegant door-way (long fince clofed) of very fine Saxon workmajilhip, having over it on a corbel the ima^^c of the Virgin and the Holy Child,
In the church-yard is a tomb infcribed to the memory of Joan King, Richard Pob- jay, William Oborn, and Mary Oborn. Mrs. Oborn gave by deed forty fliillings per annum, payable out of land at Frome, to be applied to the repairing of this tomb; and the furplus to be laid out in bread for the poor at Chriftmas.
MARSTON-BIGOT
IS fituated two miles northeaft from Frome, in an open country, and on the foutheaft flope of an eafy hill, oveilooking a fine vale, about three miles broad, beyond wliich the view is terminated by a range of lofty hills from Warminfter to Stourton. A ftream rifing near Stourton forms a little brook, which runs through this parifh in its way to the Frome, and has over it feveral fmall ftone bridges, kept up by theparifli.
The manor of Marfton is of great antiquity, having belonged at the Conqueft to Roger Arundel, one of the loyal attendants on the Norman Conqueror. His cftate here has the following defcription:
" Roger himfelf holds Mersitone. i^luert held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for three hides and a half. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is " one carucate, and two fervants, and five villanes, and fourteen cottagers having five " ploughs. There is a mill of fix fliillings rent, and fixteen acres of meadow, and one " hundred acres of pafture. Wood one mile long, and as much broad. It is wortli " feven pounds."''
The Bigods, or Bigots, who gave the cognomen to the vill, were a branch of the earls of Norfolk of that name, and earls marflial of England. Before their time the manor had been poflefled by the family of De Wandeftrie, feated from very ancient times at Wanftraw, in this neighbourliood, from which they had their name. There appear on record fix generations of that name," the laft of whom was Odo de Wan- deflrie, who 9 Joh. gave to the King ten marks for his livery of half a knight's fee in Marfton.' But in the fucceeding reign the whole parifli became the property of the Bigods. Walter de Bigot was lord of it 43 Hen. III.'' and was fucceeded by Richard tie Bigod his fon, who, incurring the difpleafure of King Edw. II. by fortifying his manfion liei'e without licenfe, and difrcfpefting the King's meflenger, forfeited his land
' Lib. Doraefday. ' Cart. Antlq. . ' Rot. Pip. 9 Joh. ■" Rot. Pip. 43 Hen. III.
here
214 MARSTON-BIGOT. CiTrome.
here to the crown, and it was affigned in truft for a certain time to William de Meriet, John de Meriet, and others.' In the time of Hen. V. it was held by the Orchard family of the lords of Wanftraw; and in that of Edw. IV. by William Lord Stourcon.' The manfion of its ancient lords is ftill known by the name of Marjion-Moat -, but not a ftone thereof remains. The ground within the moat is about forty yards by thirty- fix. The moat is about twenty feet broad; the rampire without, in the middle, about ten feet high, but lower at the comers. Near this fpot is a meadow called Conqueror' s-Meadj a name commemorative of fome ancient battle, and in it a tumulus, or burial place.
To this ancient ftrufture has fucceeded (though in a different fituation) a moft ele- gant and fplendid manfion, built by the Earl of Cork and Orrery, the prefent owner of the manor. It is fituated on a rifing ground, which commands an agreeably diver- fified profpeft over an extenfive vale of pafture land. Alfred's tower, which ftands on the pleafure-grounds of Stourhead, forming a fine termination on the fouthweft; the place of his Grace the Duke of Somerfet at Bradley, and that of Lord Weymouth at Longleat, with the weftern downs of Wiltfhire, bounding the view on the fouth
and foutheaft.^
' Cart. Antiq. ' Efc,
« The houfe is of modern conflruflion and great extent, being 365 feet long. The principal entrance is into a fpacious hall, 43 feet by 21, of the Dorick architefture, four pillars and as many pilafters of that order fupporfing the middle part of the ceiling. The floor is of black and white marble, intermixed with blue Kennton ftone. T'his room is enriched with a variety of good portraits of the ancient and honourable family of the Eoyles, and their connexions of affinity, among which is a very good one of Richard the firft Earl of Cork, and Lord High Treafurer of Ireland, who was created a peer in the reign of James I.
The Eating-Room is a handfome apartment eaft of the hall, 30 feet by 20, enriched with a Corinthian cor- nice with carved modillons painted green and white, alfo a chimney-piece of marble purely white. It is further ornamented with many very good paintings, among which are
Sufanna and the Elders, by Guercino da Cento The Afcenfion, by two difciples of Raphael
Lot and his Daughters, by the fame and
The Death of Cleopatra, by Carracci An Old Woman, by Rembrandt.
The Anti-Room, leading to the Drawing-Room, isa handfome apartment weft of the hall, 27 feet by 13, in which is a well-wrought chimney-piece of white. Sienna, and various coloured marble; and is enriched with a variety of very good paintings, among which are the following:
The Virgin and Child, by Guido Aftxon and Diana, by FrancefcO Mola
Hippomenes and Atalanta, by Pouffin A Head, by Holbein
Two Landfcapes, by Zaccarelli Difcovery of Achilles, by Vandyk
The Finding of Mofes, by Polemburg A Head, by Carlo Dolci ; and <
Two Converfation Pieces, by Teniers, fen. A Head of a Turk, by Vandyk.
The Drawing-Room is an elegant apartment, 20 feet by 19, with a recefs of three feet, behind four Ionic pillars on circular pedeftals and fquare plinths. The chimney-piece is of white marble, bordered with green and black, enriched with eafy fculpture in ftrong relievo. The ceiling is of elegant ftucco, handfomely painted in diftemper. Every piece of painting in this room is truly valuable; the fubjedts are as follow: A Piece of Architedlure, by Viviano A Head, by Rembrandt
Jacob and Rebecca, by Paul Veronefe The Holy Family, by Perugin
Two Landfcapes, by Bartolomeo John the Baptift, by Cirro Ferri
A Boy c.itching Fleas, by Murillio A Child brought to Chrift, by Lanfranco; and
Abraham offering up his fon, by Teniers The Marriage of St. Catherine, by Carlo Maratti.
The Lisa ARY is 26 fejt by 24, fitted up and furnifhed in the moft elegant ftile, and enriched with a choice CJllcilion of the ."nod e.'tecmed authors, TIk; cafes are ornamented with fluted pilafters, and thecor..ice enriched
wiih
iTiOme.] M A R S T O N-B I G O T. 215
In the pleafuie-ground belonging to this feat, is a neat little cottage of one room •only, fitted up by the prefcnt Earl, in commemoration of the following anecdote.—— Upon the death of King Charles the Firft, Roger Earl of Orrery quitted die lervice of the Parliament in Ireland, and retired to this his feat at Marfton, wliich his father had purchafed of Sir Jolin Hippifley. The parifh church was veiy near the manfion-houfc, and Lord Orrery never failed to go thither on Sundays ; but having one day lat there fome time, and being difappointed of the then qualified minifter, his Lordfhip was preparing to return home, when his fteward told him a perfon in the church offered to preach. His Lordlliip (though he looked on the propofal only as a piece of enthufiafm) gave permiflion, and was never more furprized or delighted than with the fermon, which was filled with learning, fenfe, and piety. His Lordfhip would not fuffer the preacher to efcape unknown, but invited him to dinner j and enquiring of him his name, life, and fortune, received this anfwer: * My Lord, my name is Asberrv; I
* am a clergyman of die church of England, and a loyal fubjeft to the King. I have
* lived three years in a poor cottage under your garden wall, within a few paces of your
* Lordfhip's houfe; my fon lives with me, and we dig and read by turns. I have a ' little money, and fome few books, and I fubmit cheerfully to the will of Providence/ This worthy and learned man (for fuch Lord Orrery always called him) lived fome years longer at Marfton, under an allowance of thirty pounds per annum, which his Lordfhip obtained for liim, without an obligation of taking the covenant, and died there defervedly lamented.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of Lord Weyfnoudi. The Rev. Mr. Clarke is the prefent incumbent. It was anciently appropriated to the abbey of Cirencefter in Gloucefterfhire, and valued in 1292 at ten marks."
The church (which has lately been taken down, and another eredling) was a fmaH ftrutture, dedicated to St. Leonard, and contained no monuments.
with various bufls and figures in marble and bronze. The volumes, which amount to near feven thoufand, are of elegant binding and in choice prefervation. In this room is an excellent portrait of that indefatigable philofophcr and truly good man, the Honourable Robert Boyle, efq; whofe communications to the world are fuch an inelli- mable trcafury of knowledge as does honour to the wifdom of human nature, and will be held in reverence as long as any refped is paid to the merit of fcience. Here is alfo the original Orrery, invented by Charles Earl of Orrery, the grandfather of the prefent Earl. This inftrument is thirty inclies in diameter.
Adjoining this apartment is an elliptical Dressing -Room, 26 feet by 17, in which are the following paintings : Mars and Venus, by Jean de Rein A Fox breaking cover, by Elmer
The Queen Mother, by Vandyk and
King Charles lit. a copy by ditto A Girl with a baflcetof eggs, by Pond.
The little Breakfast-Room is iSfeetby 17, in which are feveral modern pieces of painting, on game and hunting fubjefts. Hereis likewifean Air-Pump, of the invention of the Hon. Robert Boyle, before-mentioned; which is the fecond of that valuable machine that was made, the firft being by himfelf prefented to the Royal Society. It works with one pifton only; yet, confidering the few improvements which have been made in this machine fmce its invention, the original will be viewed by philofophers as a capital effort of genius, and jullly worthy of attention .
BeCJes the rooms above dcfcribed, are a State-Room, %o feet by 22 ; another elliptical Drefling-Room, 22 feet by II, with a recefs of 5 feet ; and a Billiard-Room, 30 feet by 17 ; io each of which a true talle of archi- tediire prevails.
* Ta.xat. Spirituil.
In
2i6 M A R S T O N-B I G O T. [JTrome*
In the church-yard is a fine old yew-tree, twenty-three feet in circumference at the height of four feet above the furface of the ground.
Within this parifh is a hamlet lying a nnilq northweft from Frome, called Br adford's- Bridge; as alfo an ancient and depopulated vill, called Ham, or Monks-Ham, by reafon of its having formerly belonged to the monks of Witham, to whom the manor was given by Edmund earl of Cornwall. After the diflblution it was granted to William lord Stourton, who fold it to Sir John Thynne, knt. anceftor to Lord Weymouth.
N U N N E Y
IS a large parifh fituated three miles fouthweft from Frome, and fifteen fouth from Bath, in a dry and healthy fpot, partly hilly and partly plain. The lands are chiefly pafture, and in value from ten to forty fhiUings an acre; the foil at fix or eight inches depth is either a bed of clay, or ftratum of ftone. Of the latter there are feveral quarries of fine blue lyas, fo hard as to take a fine polilh, and is equal to many of the Englilh marbles. The parifh abounds with oak timber, which here thrives well, and there are fome curious mofTes on the fhaggy Hopes of the hills. In the adjoining parifh of Cloford a fpring rifes, called Holywell, or Hol'ivell, from which a brook rtins through Nunney, in its way to Whatley, Elm, and Bradford's-Bridge, where it joins the river Frome. This flream contains excellent trout and eels, and has a bridge of tliree arches over it in the ftreet of Nunney village, through which it runs.
The village is confiderable, and confifls of a long ftreet, containing fome good and pleafant dwellings. On the north fide of it, but feparated from it by a moat, flands the caftle, which, though not large, is a fine veftige of antiquity.
This edifice was raifed by Sir John Delamere, lord of this place, about the end of the thirteenth century. Its form is a double fquare, with a round tower at each corner. The following are its dimenfions:
Length from eaft to weft 64 feet, breadth 27 ktt;
Circumference without the walls, 240 feet;
Corner towers 16 feet in diameter within;
The fide walls 8 feet and a half thick;
Walls of the towers 7 feet thick;
The entrance door, which is on tlie northweft fide, 4 feet wide and 9 high;
The towers and fide walls 63 feet high.
Upon thefe towers are four turrets, two tliirds the height of the former, rifing fifteen feet above them, and moftly covered with ivy, as alfo are the upper parts of fome of the towers, on the tops of which are feveral afh trees, and other Ihirubs, fome of them
rifing
k
jrromcj N U N N E Y. 2«7
rlfing above the broken tops of the turrets, exhibiting a fine pifturefquc fcenc of defolated grandeur.
This caftle confifted of four ftories, but the floors are all fallen in. On the call fide of the ground floor are two chimney-pieces twelve feet wide; and in the northweft tower are the remains of a grand ftaircafe, whicli reached to the top of the caftle.
An elliptical moat, twenty feet wide and ten deep, furrounded the whole building; but is now almoft filled up with weeds and rubbilh. It communicates with the river, and formerly had an embattled wall round it twelve feet high.
Leland, who wrote in the reign of Henry the Eighth, gives us the following account of the ftate of this building in his days: " Ther is a praty caftle at the weftc end of tiie paroche churche, havynge at eche end by northe and fouthe 2 praty rownd towres gatheryd by cumpace to joyne in to one. The wauUs be very ftronge and thykke, the ftayres narow, the lodginge within fomewhat darke. It ftanditlie on the lefte ripe of the ryver devidithe [deviding] it from the churche yarde. The caftell is motyd about, and this mote is I'ervid by watar conveyed into it owte of the ryver. There is a ftronge wauUe withe owt the mote rounde about favinge at the eft parte of the caftell where it is defendyd by the brooke."*
In the civil wars of the laft century this caftle was garrifoned for the King, and had in it a large magazine; but was taken Sept. 8, 1645, by the Parliament army, together with all its ftores, and burnt, to prevent its future fervice to the King. The efFefts of the fiege are ftill vifible in the fliattercd walls.
Near the fouth end of the caftle is a large old manfion, called Cajlk-houje, now in a ftate of decay, and uninhabited, excepting a few back rooms which are occupied by a farmer. At the entrance of the court-yard are large iron gates, and over them a coat bearing, in chief guttee a lion paflantlanguedj in bafe three lions' heads erafed langued.
A fair for cattle, flieep, and pigs, is held here on the i ith of November.
This parifli includes a hamlet and manor called Trudox-Hill, a name which be- Ipeaks it of fome antiquity; but it is not mentioned in Domefday, and but httle noticed in the records of fucceeding reigns. It is now the property of the Earl of Egremont. A revel is held in this hamlet on Holy Thurfday. It formerly had a chapel, long fince deftroyed, but is ftill fo confiderable as to contain fifty houfes. As they were finking a well here fome years fince, they met with a vein of talky ifinglafs, which fplit into large laminae or flakes, very tranfparent and of a rhomboidal figure. There are few other natural particularities.
The ancient name of this parifli is Nunly (frorti Nunne a Nun, and Ga a Rivulet, there haying been in Saxon times, according to tradition, a nunneiy on the little ftream here) as appears from the charter of King Edrcd, brother of King Edmund, made to the abbey of Glaftonbury, wherein he grants to the monks of that houfe part of, viz,
• Lei. Itin. v. 7. p. 99. -
Vol. II. , ■ F f ' the
ai8 N U N N E Y. [JTrome*
two hides in this vill. At the Conqueft it either loft its former name, or was very much corrupted by the tranfcribers of the Norman Survey, in which nothing Mice the original name occurs, fave Noiun, thus defcribed as the property of William de Mohun: " Turgis holds of William, Noivn. Colo held it in the time of King Edward, and " paid gild for five hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one carucatc, *' and four fervants, and three villanes, and eight cottagers with one plough. There is •* half a mill, which yields thirty pence, and twenty acres of meadow, and as many of " pafture, and one hundred acres of wood. It was worth formerly forty fliillings, now «' fixty Ihillings.'"
The Delameres were very early pofleffed of the chief manor in this place, and gave it the addition of their name. Of this family there were four branches, who were feve- rally feated in the counties of Wilts, Oxford, Hereford, and Somerfet.'' Nicholas de la Mere was lord of Nunney in the time of Henry III.' and was fucceeded by another Nicholas, who lived here in the time of Edward I. and had feveral children, of whom Elias de la Mere was a great warrior, and was the firft projeftor of the caftle here, which was finiflied by his fucceflbrs. He died about 2 Ric. II. leaving iflue Sir Thomas de la Mere, knt. who 7 Hen, IV. gave lands in Kington St. Michael in the county of Wilts, to the abbey of Bradenftoke in the fame county.* He married two wives, Joan and Margaret. By the former he was father of Sir Peter de la Mere, knt. whofe eftatc amounted (as we are told by Leland) to twelve hundred marks per annum.' He was father of Richard de la Mere, who fold lands in Nunney to Andrew Braunche of Frome, and dying without iflue male, was fucceeded in the eftate by his uncle Sir John de la Mere, knt. by Margaret, the fecond wife of Thomas his grandfather. This John was lord of Nunney 46 Edw. III.' His fon John de la Mere was fheriff of the county of Wilts i Ric. II. and then bore on his feal two lions paflant.^ This John and his younger brother Jaques finilhed the caftle, embelliftiing it with Ipoils brought from abroad, which had been won in the wars of France. Philip de la Mere his fon fucceeded to the manor of Nunney Delamere, and was father of feveral children; of whom Sir Elias de la Mere knt. was ftieriff" of Wilts 1 Hen. V. but died without iflue, and Eleanor his eldeft lifter became heir to the whole eftate lying in Somerfetftiire. This Eleanor was married to William Paulet, efq; ferjeant at law, fecond fon to Sir John Paulet, of Melcombe in this county. He died in 1435. ^7 this marriage Nunney caftle came into the family of Paulet, and the grandfon of the pair was the celebrated William Powlett, the firft Marquis of Winchefter, who died in 1571, and ■whofe great grandfon was William the fourth Marquis of Winchefter, whofe very gallant defence of his feat called Bafing-Houfe in Hamplhire, againft the Parliament forces, is recorded in the annals of that time. He defended it againft the molt defperate attacks from Auguft 1643 to Oftober 1645, when at length it was taken by Cromwell in perfon, who ftormed it, and found therein a booty of two hundred thoufand pounds. Nunney caftle was ftormed and ruined about the fame time, nor did the eftates this
* Lib. Domefday, ' Inquifirionespaffim. ' Cart. Antiq. ■■ Regifl. Priorat. de Bradenftoke MS.
* Itin. vi. 36. ' Efc. « Seals from ancient deeds. * Ter. Sydenham.
' Taxat. Temporal. ' Efc,
family
jrromc] NUNNEY. 219
family poflefled long remain unalienated. This nobleman died in 1674, being Aicceeded by his fon Charles, who in 1689 was created Duke of Bolton, and whofc grandfon Charles, the third Duke, was fucceeded by his brother Harry. To whom liicceeded Charles his fon, who died in 1765, having for a fucccflbr his brother Harry, die fixth and prefent Duke of Bolton, born 1720, but who has no male iflue.
It has already been obferved that the abbey of Glaftonbury very anciently poflefled a manor in this parifli. This manor was called the manor of Nunney-Glafton, for the fame realon that the manor we have been defcribing was called Nunney-Delamere, and was granted 19 Eliz. with lands in Nunney, Trudoxhill, Thorpftiawe, Mells, Leigh, and MaHlon-Bigot, to Richard Parker.'' The prior of Longleat had likewife property in the parifli, which was valued in 1293 at fix flaillings.'
But the chief manor of Nunney, after having for many ages continued in the fami- lies of Delamere and Powlet, pafled in the time of Henry VII. into other hands. la the 24th of that reign Sir Richard Mawdley, Knight of the Bath, died feized of the manor of Nunney, and the advowfon of the church, together with the manor of Trudoxhill, and other lands in thefc parts, leaving John Mawdley his fon and heir of the age of fifty years.'' The name of Mawdley occurs in the parifli regiflier from the year 1545 to 1674. From tliem the manor came to the Sambornes, and after them to the family of Whitchurch. At the beginning of the prefent century William Whitchurch, efq; was lord of it, and was fucceeded in it by William his fon; after whofe death it was fold to difcharge fome debts and legacies; but was afterwards repurchafed by Elizabeth the relidt of the faid William Whitchurch, who left it by will in 1749 to James Theobald, of Waltham-place in the county of Berks, efq; the prefent proprietor.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome; the patronage has been always annexed to the manor. In 1292, the reftory was valued at fifteen marks and a half.' The prefent incumbent is the Rev. Samuel Whitchurch. There are about fifty or fixty acres of glebe. The parfonage-houfe, now uninhabited, was partly rebuilt by the late Rev. Samuel Whitchurch; who was prefented to the living by the guardians of William Whitchurch, a minor, in the year 1734.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter, of which Saint there is the common emblem of a key within a circle on the tower; and there is a feafl: or revel kept in the parifli on St. Peter's day. It confifl:s of a nave leaded, two fide ailes, a chancel, and a porch tiled. At the weft: end there is a handfome tower fixty-three feet high, with four pinnacles twelve feet high, and a turret at tlie foutheafl: corner. This tower contains a clock and fix bells. The length of the church is ninety-fix feet, and die breadth thirty-four.
In the north aile is the burial-place of the lords of the manor, of whom there arc many efligies on raifed tombs. On a tomb under the window lies the figure of Sir John De la Mere, knt. the founder of the caftle, having a lion at his (eett and
* Tex. Sydenham. ' Taxat. Temporal. •• Efc, ' Taxat. Spiritual.
F { 2 above,
220 N U N N E Y. [jrrome*
above, an efcutcheon bearing the arms of that family, two lions paflant gardant. The next tomb has five efcutcheons on the fide and end, daubed over with white-wafh. Two of them are now illegible; the other three are, i. Quarterly, firft and fourth, four mullets; fecond and third two lions rampant addorfed. 2. In chief, a lion couchant; in bafe three wolves' heads erafed. 3. A gate. Upon this tomb lies the effigies of a knight in armour, with his lady by his fide, reprefenting odiers of the fame family. On the third tomb are two fimilar effigies. The man has a military belt and fword, and on his breaft a fhield or coat charged with a lion couchant. The lady is attired in a loofe veil or robe flowing from her head, and open before. At the top are a key and lion intermingled; the arms, i. Quarterly, firft and fourth, three daggers in pile, Poulet: fecond and third, two lions, Delamere. 2. Two lions couchant gardant. Arms on the fouth fide: i. In chief two mullets. 2. Quarterly, firft and fourth, barry of ten, over all a bendlet, impaling two lions ftatant. 3 as i, impaling a lion eredl:. 4. Two lions ereft. 5. A lion eredt'impaling three anchors.
The fouth aile formerly belonged to the family of Samborne, which is now extinct, the heirefs thereof marrying with one of the family of Flower. This aile contains fix mural monuments, with the following infcriptions :
" Here lieth Richard Mawdley, John Mawdley, Roger Mawdley, and Richard Mawdley, efquires, 1600."
<* Mawdley Samborne, gent, fon of Mawdley Samborne, late of Tymfborough, efq; who died Dec. 7, 1690. Here lieth the body of Mary Samborne, widow of Mawdley
Samborne, late of Timft)orough, efq; who died Nov. 13, 1690." Arms: a chevron
between three mullets, impaling as many bugle horns. Creft, a mullet; another a ftag lodged, regardant, with a branch flipt in his mouth.
" Here lieth the body of Mawdley Flower, who died Sept. 27, 1728, aged 28 years and 10 months. Alfo the body of Robert Whithear, gent. Obiit 17 April 1761, jetat. 66." Whithear married the heirefs of the Flower family.
*• Near this place lieth the body of Edward Flower, gent, who died July 18, 1728, aged 27." Arms: a chevron between three mullets. Creft, a mullet.
" Underneath do reft the body of Sarah wife of Edward Flower, and daughter of Mawdley Samborne, efq. She departed this life in the faith of Jefus Chrift the 19th of July 1708: — ^And alfo nine of their children."
" Near this place lieth the body of Edward Flower, clothier, wlio died April 6, 1727, aged 61 years."
Againft the fouth wall is an elegant mural monument of white and Sienna marble,
the tablet whereof is thus infcribed: *• Under the communion table are depofited
the remains of Elizabeth and James, alfo near the reading defk thofe of James-Wadham, the beloved curate of this parifh, who was called off the 5th day of January, 1776} fons and daughter of Samuel Whitchurch, reftor, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Thomas Coward, of Spargrove, efq; in the latter of which graves their affeftionate parents hope in due time to reft, in confolatory expeiflation of a joint rcfurredtion to
eternal
jrrome.] N u N N E Y. 221'
eternal life, through the merits and mediation of their blefled Redeemer." Arms: Gules, three talbots' heads erafed or-, on a chief arg-^w/, guttec de fang, a lion paflknt/a^/^.
On the floor are the names of Hodinot, Pickfat, Hifcox, Lydford, Grines, and Popjoy.
On a table at the call end of the nave is this infcription: " James" Singer, of
this parifh, gent, gave lOol. the intereft whereof to be diftributed by the minifter, churchwardens, and overfeers of the poor; one half on Eafter-Monday, and the other on the 26th of December for ever, to fuch honeft and induftrious middle poor as do not receive alms of the parifh."
This church has been fuppofed (but wrongly) to have been built by one of the Marquifles of Winchefter, lord of the manor here.
In this church was formerly a chantry, the laft incumbent of which was allowed in 1553 a penfion of five pounds." The chantry-hoiife and manfion, with a garden and orchard adjoining, fituated within the precinfts of the caftle, and two tenements or cottages, one yard-land of arable, and three acres of meadow in Trudoxliill, wirh a rent of 61. 3s. 4d. iflliing out of the manor and reftory of Fifnerton-Delamere in the county of Wilts, belonging to the faid chantry, and other lands and hereditaments- in Nunney, were granted by Queen Elizabeth, in the third year of her reign, to Wil- liam Marquis of Winchefter.**
In the church-yard are the remains of an old ftone crofs.
The annual number of chriftenings in this parifli is on a feven years average twenty- fix, and of burials twenty-three. In the regHter, among the chi iftenings, againft the name of Chriftopher the fon of Roger Starr, baptized Dec. 17, 1604, is the following curious entry: " He clymed up a ladder to the top of the houfe, 23 Oft. 1606; being feven yeeks and odd days lefs than two years old."
Adjoining to the church-yard is a very ancient houfe, called the Court-Houfe, now in ruins, which tradition fays was erefted out of the ruins of a nunnery that formerly flood upon the (pot, from which circumftance the village was denominated.
" Antiq. Notes fay John. • Willis's Hift. of Abbies, ii. 203. ' G.'ants from the Crown,
CRCHARDLEY.
[ ■ 222 ] [jFiome,
ORCHARDLEY
IS a very fmall parifli, one mile and a half north of Frome, containing only five houfes, and twenty-eight inhabitants. The river Frome wafhes this parifli on the fouth. The lands are in general good, much thereof being water-meadow, worth three pounds per acrcj the reft, which is chiefly pafture, worth on an average twenty Ihillings per acre.
The living, valued in 1292 at nine marks,* is a redory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of Sir Thomas Cliampneys, bart. The prefent incumbent is the Rev. Mr. Ames.
The church is fifty-one feet long and feventeen wide, containing one door, feven 'windows, and fix pews. There is no tower or turret, and but one bell. The com- munion-table is a marble flab, the window over it is a compound of various fragments of good ftained glafs without any regularity or defign.
There are in the church the following monumental infcriptlons :
'*' Here lieth the body of John Champneys, gent, who departed this life April 11 th, .1742, aged 42."
" Here lieththebody of Richard Champneys, efq; who was born Jan. 15th, 1698-9, and died Dec. 7, 176 1."
" In memory of Sarah wife of Richard Champneys, efq; daughter of Sir William Daines, knt. who died Jan. 4, 1733, aged 22"
This place is called in die Domefday Survey Horcerlei:
" The Bifliop [of Coutances] himfelf holds Horcerlei. Three thanes held it in " the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is four carucates. ** In demefne are four carucates, and two fervants, and three villanes, and nine cot- " tagers with two ploughs. There is a mill of twelve fliillings and fixpence rent, and " twenty-four acres of meadow. Wood fix furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. *' k was and is worth four pounds."''
In the time of Hen. II. this manor was held of the King In capite by the fervice of one knight's fee, by Henry de Cultura,' or Colthurft, Which Henry de Cultura was Succeeded by Robert de Cultura, who 10 Hen. III. paid two marks and a half for his relief of his lands here." He had ifllie by JuUan his wife Ralph de la Culture, who 50 Hen, III. is certified to hold in Orchardleghe half a knight's fee worth fifty fliilfings per annum.' To whom fucceeded Henry de la Culture, his fon and heir, who trans- ferred his eftate in this place to Sir Henry de Merlaund, knt. in the time of Edw. I. This Henry de Merlaund died 12 Edw. II. feized of this manor and advowfon, leaving another Henry his fon and heir, who died 30 Edw. III. and was fucceeded in this eftate Jby Henry de Merlaund his fon and heir, the third of that name. Which Henry was a
• Taxat. Spiritual. » Lib. Domefday. ' Lib. Ni£. i. 97. * Rot. Pip. 10 Hen. IIL ' Lib. Fcod.
knii^ht
jrjome.] O R C H A R D L E Y. 223
knight and celebrated warriori he died 45 Edw. III. and Joan his wife furviving him, had this manor in dower/ John de Merlond, fon and heir of Henry de Merlaund, was living in the beginning of the reign of Ric. II. and feems to have been the laft of the name that poffefled this manor; for 7 Hen. VI. William Romefey, efq; was lord thereof, and after him Walter Romefey, father of another Walter,* whofe coufin and heir was Joan the wife of Thomas Paine, afterwards married to Henry Champneys, efq; defcended from a family of the fame name, who came over with William the Conqueror, and whofe defcendant Thomas Champneys, of Orchardley, efq; was created 7 Geo. III. a baronet of Great-Britain, by the name and title of Sir Thomas Champ- neys, of Orchardley in the county of Somerfet, bart. His arms are. Party per pale, argent and fable, within a bordure of the fame engrailed and counterchanged, a lion rampant or.
' Efc. • Ibid.
R O A D^
FOUR miles northeaft from Frome ftands Road, formerly a lai-ge market-town, now only a village, confifting of one hundred and feventy families. ,J'his parjlh and that of Wolverton compofe one tithing.
In the time of King Edward the Confeflbr it was held by feven different lords, and- in that of William the Conqueror by Geffrey bifliop of Coutances, for three diltindt manors, as appears from the following record:
" The Bifhop holds Rode for three manors. Seven thanes held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for nine hides. The arable is nine carucates. Thereof " holds of the Bifhop, Robert one hide; Moyfes half a hide; Robert one hide and a " half; Roger two hides and a half; Sirewold two hides and a half; Richard one hide. " In demefne are fevcn carucates, and fix fervants, and three villanes, and twenty-nine *' cottagers with four ploughs and a half. Out of the mills iffucs a rent of twenty-feven ** fliillings. And there are thirty-three acres of meadow, and thirty-three acres of " wood, and twenty-five acres of paflure. The whole was worth feven pounds and " ten fhillings} now amongft them all it is worth eight pounds and five fhillings."*
After the death of Geffrey bifhop of Coutances, this land was beflowed upon one Ranulf de Farfy, a Norman," in whom it continued till the fixth year of King John, when the eftates of the Normans in England being fcized, this manor refortcd to the Crown, but being again difpofcd of, became the property of the ancient family of St. Maur. Milo de St. Maur was the firfl of that name who refided here, and his defcendant Laurence de St. Maur obtained (torn Edw. I. a grant for a market upon'
* Lib. Domefd'ay. * Rot. 6 Joh. de terrif Norm. 70.
the
224- R o A D. [jTrome.
tbe Thuifday of every week in this his manor of Road; and a fair there yearly, on the eve, day, and morrow of St. Margaret the Virgin.' From which family of St. Maiir the manor pafled to that of Zouche in like manner, as did Caftle-Cary, and other lands of the St. Maurs. But in the time of Hen. VII. this manor is found to be the joint property of tlie families of Stawell and Bampfylde, defcendants of the fifters of Sir W^illiam St. Maur, knt. lord of Beckington and Babcary, 8 Eliz. a moiety of the manor was fold by John Stawell, efq; to Thomas Webbe, who afterwards became poffefled of the whole, and 31 E.li'/;. fold it to the Hungerfords. It was afterwards in the pofTeflion of the Hortons of Chatley-houfe in W^olverton, who fold it to Robert Holton, of Farley, efq; who fold it to the grandfather of Edward Andrews, of Man- gotsfield in the county of Gloucefter, efq; the prefent pofleffor.
The reftory of Road was in 1292 valued at feven marks.* It is now confolidated witli Wolverton, and in the patronage of Sir Edward Bayntun, of Spy-Park in the Jcounty of Wilts, bart. whofe fon, the Rev. Henry Bayntun, is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Laurenc?, and is compofed of a nave and fide ailes, with an embattled tower at the weft end, containing fix bells.
On the north fide of the chancel is a ftone to the memory of James Hillman, reftor of this parifli, who died Nov. 24, 1738, aged 53 years. There is likewife a memorial to John Hellierd, gent, who died Dec. 13, 1623, and to Nathaniel Hellierd, redor of Road, who died Nov. 20, 1650.
The -annual number of chriftenings is forty; and of burials thirty-eight.
Thomas Webb, efq; in the 20th of Elizabeth, gave one pound yearly to be diftri- buted among the pooreft inhabitants.
William Yerbury, in 1703, gave a rent charge of 2I. los. per annum, for the payment of ten ftiillings on every Friday for five weeks in Lent, to be diftributed amongft the poor.
Henry Whi taker gave a chief rent of eight Ihillings for the benefit of the poor.
* Cart. II Edw. I. n. 7. " Taxat. Spiritual.
WOLVERTON
LIES to the weft of Road, eight miles from Bath, and in the turnpike-road from that city to Frome. In ancient times it was a member of the manor of Road, or rather one of thofe three manors which are defcribed in the Norman Survey undej- that appellation. In the more modern records it is ftiled TVolfrington, and in the time of Edw. IV. was held by the family of Turney. 19 Edw. IV, Walter Turney died feized of this manor, which he held of John Wadham, efq; leaving iffue Philip
Turney
JFrome.] WOOLVERTON. 225.
Turney his fon and heir.» This family bore Argent^ a chevron between three bulls paflant/a^/^, attired or. They were lords alfoof Telsford. By an inquifition uken at Norton, i July> 6 Hen. VIII. it was found that Philip the fon of John Turney, by Elizabeth his wife, died that year feizedof the manors ofWoolvercon, Weke, Telsford, Chatley, and Swainfwick, and that John Turney was his brother and next heir, of the age of twelve years."" The manor of Wolverton was then held of Walter Hungerford, as of the manor of Farley-caftle. After this it got into the fame hands as Road, and now belongs by inheritance to Edward Andrews, efq.
Chatley-Uouje in this parifli, fituated one mile north from the church, belongs to Kingfmill Bury, efq.
The church of Woolverton was valued in 1292 at one hundred fhillings.' It is a reflory in the deanery of Frome, and being confolidated with that of Road in 1739, has fince been held by the following incumbents:
The Rev. John Rolt, firft reftor of the united pariflies Rev. Mr. Ofwald Rev. Mr. Beatfon
Rev. John CoUinfon, of Bromham, co. Wilts Rev. Mr. Yefcomb Rev. Henry Bayntun.
The church is a fmall ftrufture of one pace, with a tower at the weft end, in which are three bells.
On the north fide of the church-yard is an old tomb, encompafled with an iron railing, to the memory of Edward Horton, efq; and feveral of his family.
• Efc. * Inq. poll mort. Philip Turney. f Taxat. Spiritual.
R O D D E N
IS fituated northeaft of the parifh of Frome, through the lands of which the turnpike roads, leading from that town to Warminfter and Weftbury in the county of Wilts, pafs. It is not of very confiderable extent, being but little more than two miles long, and fomewhat lefs than a mile broad; containing about one thoufand acres. The foil is various, fome being good loam, fome clay, others ftone brafh. The lands confift chiefly of meadow and cow-pafture, with a fmall proportion of arable. The meadow is worth from thirty to fifty {hillings, the pafture twenty Ihillings; and the arable (in which is chiefly cultivated wheat and barley) from fifteen to twenty fliillings per acre.
Twenty-feven houfes, moftly detached from one another, compofe the whole parifli, which contain about one hundred and lixty inhabitants. Five of thefe houfes are firuated at Oldford, between Frome and Beckington.
Vol. II. G g ■ Through
S126 HODDEN. [JI'i:om&;
"Through this parifh nins a rivulet (called Rodden Trout-ftream) formed from two iprings; one rifing near the parifh church of Cordey in the county of Wilts, and the Other near Horningfham in the fame county, the ftreams of which unite near the chapel of this parilh; whence it proceeds about a quarter of a mile, and drives a grift mjllj near the road fide from Frome to Warminfter; proceeding a quarter of a mile farther, it falls into the river Frome, near another mill of the fame kind, within this . pariih. A ftone bridgfe of two arches is over it near the firft-mentioned mill.
King William the Conquei-or gave the land oiReddene, with Wefton and Tickenham, to Ernulf de Hefding, one of his attendants.
" Ingelramn holds of Ernulf, Reddene. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, •' and gelded for one hide. The arable is three carucates, which are in demefne, and *' three fervants, and twenty-eight cottagers. There are two mills rendering fifteen " fhillings, and twenty acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture. Wood one mile *' lortg, and as much broad. It was and is now worth four pounds."*
In very early times this place conferred its name on a family of diftinflion. Walter de Raddon lived in the time of King Stephen."" His fucceflbr Richard de Raddon was flieriffof this county and Dorfet, i, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 1 1 Hen. 11." In the aid levied for marrying the king's daughter 12 Hen. II. William the fon of John de Harpetre certifies that he holds Raddon of the king, being one knight's feej but complains that ■Richard de Raddon withholds from him the fervice thereof, alledging that he owes him no fervice of the fee of the Earl of Moreton."* This Richard de Raddon held the /ame year two knights' fees of the Bifhop of Exeter." In the time of Edw. I. Rodden was the eftate of Walter GifFard, who dying without ifTue 5 Edw. I. was fucceeded by his brother Godfrey GifFard, archdeacon of Wells, and bifhop of Worcefter. He died A. D. 1302, and^iad for his fuccelTor John the fon and heir of William GilFard, bro- ther of the faid Godfrey.*^ This manor was then held of the dutchy of Lancafter. 35 Edw. III. Henry Duke of Lancafter held one knight's fee in Rodden, which John ,de Clyvedon held of him, and two knights' fees in the fame place hoklen by the heir .of John Sydenham.^ 6 Hen. IV. Sir Peter Courtney, knt. held this vill, and after him, 6 Hen. VI. John Stafford is found feized of the fame."" It foon after was vefted in the Lords Botreaux. 9 Edw. IV. Fridefwide, the daughter of Robert Lord Hungerford -and Molyns, fon of Sir Robert Hungerford, knt. and Margaret his wife, daughter and heir of William Lord Botreaux, releafed all her right in the manors of Rodden and Standerwick, and in all the lands which belonged to the faid Lord Botreaux in Stock- wood and Camely, to Sir Richard Choke, knt. to whom Lord Botreaux had given this jnanor.' Sir John Choke, knt. grandfon of the faid Richard, fold the manors of \Rodden and Flintford 22 Henry VII. to Giles Lord Daubeny. 10 Ehz. John Horner, ,efq; was lord of this manor; and it now is the property of the Rev. Mr. Rogers in right of his wife, who purchafed it of Mrs. A'Court Afh, relid of Pearce A'Court Afh, of Heytefbury in the county of Wilts, efq. The ancient manfion of the A'Court family here is now converted into a poor-houfe.
• iiib. Domefday. •• Cartujar. Glafton. MS. "^ Rot. Pip. fub. iisdem annis. " Lib. Rub. et Lib. Nig. Scac •Ibid. 'Efc. «Lib. Feod. " Efc. ' Rot. Claus, 9 Edw. IV.
The
jTrome.] r o D D E N. 227
. Irhe priory of Longleat had lands in Redden, valued in 1 293 at ten (hillings.''
Redden, ecclefiaflicaljy confidered, is a chapelry to Boynten in Wilts. The chapel is a decent little building, fifty-four feet long, and feventeen broadj having a turret with one bell. '
Near the reading-defk, on a fmall fquare blue ftone, is this infcription: " Here
lyeth the body of James A'Court, merchant, who dcceafcd the 4th of Dec. 1692."
In the chancel, near the communion-table, are three memorial ftones, having the following infcriptions:
" Depofitum mortale Johannis A'Court de Redden, generofi, qui Cal. Feb. anno jerae Chriftian^ MDCXCI, animam placide Deo reddidit, poftquam in corpore pere- »rinata eft an. Ixxii."
tl
Hie jacet corpus Lidiae Court, nuper uxoris Johannis Court, de Redden generofi, ([ux obijt vicefimo fexto die Decembris, anno a^tatis fuse 64', annoque Dom. 168 1."
" Reponuntur hic exuviae Johannis A'Court, armiger, qui exceflit e vivis, 27 die Oftobris 1 70 1."
This chapel was built at the expence of the Tithing, about the year 1640, by the then reftor of Boynton in the county of Wilts, purfuant to an order obtained of the Archbilhop of Canterbury by fome perfons unknown, to which the faid reftor annexed the chancel. The endowment is about twelve acres and a half of glebe in lieu of great tithes, and about fix pounds a year paid by the inhabitants, in lieu of all ether tithes and dues.
The prefentation, or nomination, to the living, is ftill with the reflor of Boynton for the time being. The prefent incumbent is the Rev. Mr. Rogers, lord of the manor before-mentioned.
* Taxat. Temporal.
STANDERWICK
TS a fmall parifh, pleafandy fituated on the fouth fide of an eafy flope, from whence -•- the view finely opens to the wcftern downs of Wiltfhirej Eddington and Weftbury hills terminating the view on the foutheaft; the feat of Lord Vilcount Weymouth, and Stourhead, on the fouthweft. This parifli is bounded on the north and northweft by Beckingcon, and on the fouthweft by Berkley.
The number of houles in this parifti (iricluding five at Oldford near Frome) is eleven only; one of which is a handlbmc edifice, the feat of Harry Edge!!, efq. The inha- bitants are about fixty.
Here is an extenfive common, where the inhabitants have a right to departure as much ftock in the fummer, as they can otherwife keep through the winter.
G g i Stair rxicbef
Z28
STANDERWICK.
[JFrome*
Stalrewiche, in the Conqueror's time, was held by Roger de Corcelle, as we read in Domefday-book:
" Robert holds of Roger, Stalrewiche. Smewin held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for a hide and a half. The arable is three carucates. In de- « mefne is one carucate, and two villanes, and feven cottagers. There are fix acres of " meadow, and four acres of wood. It was worth fifty fliillings; now twenty Ihillings."*
5 Edw. II. William Malherbe held two knights' fees in Standerwick, Shipham, and Chedder.*" 6 Hen. IV. Peter Courtney, knt. died feized of Standemick.' 5 Hen. V. Richard Kayton releafed to William Lord Botreaux all his right to this manor, which the faid Lord William foon after gave with other lands to Richard Choke.* The Hungerfords poffefled nearly the whole of this parifh, and were bene- factors thereto; for, whereas there lay a dirty flough in the common of Standerwick, which much incommoded travellers through Somerfet and Wilts, Sir Walter Hunger- ford, knt. Lord of Heyteft)ury, and Treafurer of England in the time of Henry VI. for the health of his own foul, and for the foul of Catherine his wife, made an highway in the faid marfh for the accommodation of pilgrims and others." The prefent lord of the manor of Standerwick is Harry Edgell, efqj by whofc grandfather it was purchafed under a decree of the court of chancery, after the death of Mr. Sturton, who had the manor by purchafe of Mr. Upton.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, appendant to that of Beckington, thefe two livings having been confolidated about the year 1660. The advowfon thereof formerly belonged to the abbot and convent of Cirencefter in Gloucefterlhire.
The church has long fince been demolifhed.
Lib. Domefday. ' Lib. Feod.
Efc.
" Rot. Claus. 2 Ed. IV. ' Dugd. Bar. ii. 20J.
w
N
R
W
IS a confiderable parifh, lying fix miles fouth from Frome, and containing feventy houfes, and three hundred and forty inhabitants. There is a hamlet half a mile to the fouth called Weston, or fVeJion-l'own, which contains ten houfes. A fmall river runs through this parifli in its way to Frome, and has over it two fmall bridges of a , fingle arch each. The fituation is low and woody j the foil a cold clay, and the lands chiefly pafture.
It was anciently called Wandejirev, and is defcribed in the general furvey in two portions, one belonging to the Canons of Wells, the other to Turftin Fitz-Rolf, lord of Witham, the two Cadburys, Dunkerton, and other manors in thefe parts.
" The Canons of St. Andrew hold of the Bifhop, Wandestrev. The fame held f* it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for four hides. The arable is four
*' carucates.
jrromej WANSTRAW. 229
" canicates, of which in demefne are two hides, and there are two canicites, and four " fei-vants, and five villanes, and two cottagers, witli three ploughs. There are twelve *' acres of meadow. Wood three furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It is wortU *' three pounds."
" Norman holds of Turftin, Wandestrev. Alwold held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five caracutes. In demefne arc " two carucates, and four fcrvants, and four villanes, and four cottagers, with one " plough. There are thirty-fix acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafturc. Wood " one mile long, and half a mile broad. It was worth three pounds, now fix pounds."*
The moft confiderable part of the parifhwas afterwards poflefled by a family of its name, of whom was Odo de Wandeftrie and otliers; but it feems always to have been divided as to its owners. One part thereof being called Eaft-Wanftraw, or Church- Wanftraw; another Weft-Wanftraw, Wanftraw- Rogers, and Wanftraw-BuUers, from its different owners. 22 Edw. I. William de Ifle held the chief manor in Wanftraw of Lord Roger de Moels,*" which property being afterwards divided, was held 26 Edw. I. by John de Afton, and Elizabeth de Clyvedon; and 9 Edw. II. by John de Clyvedon, Odo de Afton, and John de Berkeley of Arlingham.' a Edw. III. Emmelina de Clyvedon, Idonea de Beauchamp, Odo de Adon, James de Wylton, and James Lovel, held a knight's fee in Wanftraw of Jolin de Moels.'' 50 Edw. IIL Edmund de Clyvedon died fcized of the fourth part of the manor of Wanftraw, which he held of Thomas Peverel in chief, leaving Edmund Hogftiaw his next heir. After the death of the faid Edmund the eftates were divided between Thomas Lovel and John Bluet, wlio had married the coheirefles of Hogfliaw, and the fourth part of the manor of Eaft-Wanftraw was allotted in the partition to Thomas Lovel, who held it 1 Hen. IV. Thomas Lovel his fon and heir held the fame 6 Hen V. William de Beauchamp at the fame time pofleffing another portion.' 20 Hen. VI. John Rogers held at his death the fourth part of the manor of Wanftfaw, with the fourth part of the advowfon of the church there of Bartholomew Kylbeck.' 20 Eliz. the faid manor called Wanftraw-Rogers was granted to Newdigate and Founteyne.* i Hen. VII. John Buller held lands in Wanftraw of the Abbot of Muchelney, which lands after the diflblution of that monaftery, coming into the hands of Hugh Sexey, efq; were given by the name of the manor of BuUer's-Wanftraw, to his hofpital at Brewton. The other part of Wanftraw, defcending to the family of Baynard, was of them purchafed of late years by MelTrs. Bethune and Spillowby, and is now the property of the Rev. Mr. Bethune, of Rovalt near Eaft-Grinftead in the county of Suflex.
The living is a reftory in the deaner)' of Frome, and was valued in 1292 at ten marks."" The Rev. Mr. Bethune is patron and incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a neat edifice, confifting of a nave and two fide ailes. On the fouth fide ftands a low fquare tower, chevron roofed, and containing five bells. In the fouth aile is a vault belonging to the Baynard family.
The annual chriftenings in this parifti on an average are feven; the burials five.
•Lib.Domcfday, " Efc. ' Lib. F«Qd, '' Ibid, « Ibid. ' Ek. « Ter. Sydenham. " Taxat. Spirit,
WHATLEY.
[ 230 3 tjrrome*
W H A T L E Y,
A Lang ftraggling parifh, fituated on high ground, three miles weft from the town of Frome, in a pleafant and airy country, diverfified with hill and dale, and not encumbered with wood. On the northeaft fide of the parifli is a continuation of that fine romantick rocky glen, which runs through Elm and other pari£hes. The road fi-om hence to Mells is cut through a ridge of fine rocks, abounding with fpar and fome few foffils.
Near the above-mentioned romantick valley, and In the hamlet of Eggford, part of which is within this parilh, is a houfe, which was fometime the refidence of the in- genious and pious Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe. She was' born at Ilchefter in this county, Sept. II, 1674. Almoft from her infant cradle fiie difcovered a remarkable tafte for painting and the finer arts, with which Ihe amufed her leifure moments till very near her death. But the ftrongeft bias of her mind was diftinguiflied in her love of lite- rature, and efpecially poetry. In this delightful retreat, preferring the humble pleafures of retirement to thole higher walks of grandeur to which flie was repeatedly invited by her noble acquaintance at Longleat, fhe Ipent the prime of a life confecrated to religion and virtue. Here ihe wrote moft of her pieces both in profe and verfe, and was an example of piety, 'as well as of learning and refined abilities.
A. D. 940, Edmund king of the Weft- Saxons gave the manor ofWhatley, then written Watelegey or the land of Watel, a Saxon lord, and confifting often hides, to the church of Glaftonbury.'' The monks thereof held it at the Conqueft, and as lords paramount till the diflblution of their houle.
" Walter holds of the Abbot in Watelei four hides. Ulgar the monk held it in *' the time of King Edward, and it was unalienable from the church. The arable is *' four carucates. Thereof in demefne are two hides and a half, and there are two " carvicates, and four fervants, and eight villanes, and five cottagers, with two ploughs. *' There is a mill rendering five ftiillings, and fix acres of meadow, and fifty acres of *<■ pafl^ire, and fourteen acres of wood. It is worth feventy ftiillings. In the fame " manor John holds of the abbot one hide of the villanes' land. The arable is one *' carucate, and there are two villanes with it. It is worth fifteen ftiiUIngs."''
A fmall portion of land in Whadey was held at the fame time by William de Ow, furveyed thus:
" William de Ow holds of the King, Watelece. In the time of King Edward \t *' gelded for one hide. The arable Is one carucate. There are two villanes, and fix »«- furlongs of wood In length, and four in breadth- It is worth ten fliiUings.'"
A moiety of the demefne lands here was given by Hen. III. to Sir Robert Waleran, governor of the caftle of Briftpl, who foon after the grant did fult to the abbot's court for the lands which he held in this parlfti.'' 52 Hen. III. this Robert de Waleraa
•GuUel. Malmef. et Jo. Glafton.HilU ' Lib. Domefday. 'Ibid. " Car.tular. GMon.
granted
4ftomc.] W H A
Y.
23'
granted all his pofl*efrions here, with lands in Wilts and Dorfct, to Alan Plugenet, fon of his fifter Alice, to hold to him the faid Alan, and to the heirs of his body, paying yearly to'bim the faid Robert, and his heirs, one hundred and twenty pounds, at four terms in the year.' This manor was for fevcral fiicceffions held of the abbey of Glaftonbury by the family of Brent/ By an inquifition taken 14 Hen. VIII. it was found that William Servington died feized of the manor ofWhatley, which he held of the Abbot of Glaftonbury, as of his manor of Doulting, and it was worth per annum twenty pounds bcfides all reprifes.* Nidiolas Servington was his fon, and heir of the age of oine years. The Servingtons were of Mageftone In Dorfetfhirc. The prefent lord of this manor is Thomas Horner, ofMells-Park, efq.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Dr. Bifliop is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated, according to Edon, to St. George. It confifts of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile, with a tower furmounted by a fpire at the weft end.
In the fouth aile on a raifed tomb lies the effigy of a knight in armour, crofs-legged and Ipurrcd. His hands are in a fuppHant pofture clofed on his breaft; on the arm is a fhield, whereon is a chevron charged with three bucks' heads cabofled. This effigy re- prefents one of the family of Servington, tenants of this manor under Glaftonbury-abbey.
In this aile is alfo a plain mural monument of ftone, with a black marble tablet, bearing an infcription to the memory of Richard Shute, who died April 3, 1757, aged •85; and Philippa his wife, who died February 12, 1737, aged 68. As alfo to feveral of their children.— —Arms; Per chevron, /al>le, ind or} in chief two eagles difplayed of the lafl:.
In the north wall of the chancel is a ftone thus infcribed: " Here lieth the body
of Morgan Jones Clarke, reftor of this church, who departed this life Jan. 21, 1628."
On a fmall monument againft the fame wall: " In perpetuam memoriam cafta?,
fidelifq; uxoris M"°. EHzabetha: Welfteed, quas obijt Jan. 17°, astatis fua2 3i, A. D. 1679, H. W. M. hoc erexit: Digna fuit haec luce diuturniore, nifi quod luce meliore digna." Arms: A chevron between three fleurs-de-lis.
Elizabeth Shute in 1784, gave il. 5s. a year to be laid out in clothes for the ufe of the fecond poor.
In 1636 a perfon, whofe name is not now remembered, gave il. per annum for the benefit of the poor.
' Cart. 52 Hen. Ill, ' Efc. « Inq. poft Mort.
ILifJcrtp
[ 232 ] [iLibettg of
Eitert^ of lEit|iam jftiat^*
WITHAM-FRIARY, or CHARTERHOUSE-WITHAM,
IS a large village fix miles fouthweft from Frome, fituated in an extenfive and rich vale of good land. The parifh contains in the whole eighty-eight houfes. Thirty-feven of thefe form the village near the church; nine others are fituated at Gear-Hill, a mile fouthward; and fix in a hamlet called Charterhouse, near Blagdon on the Mendip Hills, at a vaft diftance from the village. The reft are fcattered throughout the parifh, which is computed at near fix thoufand acres.
Before the Conqueft this place was a member of Brewham; but it was feparated by the Conqueror, and granted partly to Roger de Corcelle, and partly to Turftin Fitz- Rolf, whofe feparate eftates are thus furveyed:
" William holds of Roger, Witeham. Erlebald held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for two hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one caru- *' cate, and two fervants, and four villanes, and three bordars, and four cottagers, with *' two ploughs. There are twenty acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture. Wood " one furlong long, and half a furlong broad. It was worth twenty fhillings, now " thirty Ihillings. This land in the time of King Edward lay in Briweham, the manor '• of WilHam de Moion, and could not be alienated thence."
" Butolf holds of Turftin, Witeham. Chetel held it in the time of King Edward, ** and gelded for one hide. The arable is two carucates. In demefne is one carucate, *' and fix cottagers with one plough. When he received it, it was worth fifteen Ihil- " lings, now twenty IhiUings."
*' To this manor is added one hide in Wltune, which Chetel held for a manor in " the time of King Edward. The arable is one carucate, and there are with it one " ferv'ant and fix cottagers. There are two acres of meadow. It is worth ten fliillings. " When he received it, it was worth thirty fhillings. This land is added to the lands " of Alwold, which Turftin holds.'"
After the death of the faid Roger de Corcelle and Turftin Fitz-Rolf, owners of thefe lands, the territory of Witham reforted to the crown, and there continued till the time of Henry II.
That Prince, upon his introduftion of the Carthufian monks into England, A. D. 1 18 1, founded, upon his demefne lands in this place, the firft houfe of that order in this kingdom, which he dedicated to the honour of the blelTcd Virgin Mary, St. John
* Lib, Domefday.
Baptift,
mimm'-fximl W I T II A M - F R I A R Y. 233
Baptift, and All-Saints, and endo\ved with this manor ofWitham, and other valuable
poUefTions, Iiaving the following boundaries and delcription: " In the firft pbcr,
fiom the Park-Ditch northward to Uacbjloch; from the llachjloch of Poftkrry, by the dike o( Birwa to the King's-meail, and tiirough the middle of the mead to Hachnveie. From Hache-zveie beyond Humburne to Rugalege-, from Rugalege to fValetctte-, from pyaletonehy Ilanefda to Luthbroke; from Luthbroke hy the water-courfe to Pennemere; from Pennemere to the Mare of William Fitz-Peter, and thence to Kincput; from Kincput near the bridge to Wodccroft-Peter -, from Wodecroft-Peter to Fraggemere -, from Fraggemere to Cleteweie-, from Cleteweie to Fleiftoke; from Fleijloke to Unepjuedefweiet from Snepfuedefweie to RuggefcUva-heaved; thence to Cheljledefweie ; from Chelfledejweie by the flopc of the hill to Fijborne-Ueafole \ thence by a water-courfe to the park; thence by the park ditch to Fromweie, and from Fromweie to Hachjioch."
Thefe were the dimenfions of the demefnes of Witham; befides which Flen. IL beftowed upon this his recent foundation land for pafturage at Cheddenford^ called Harechine in Hindcomefende, reaching to Lecherberg., and thence to Sternberg, Hoppewelle, Staberge, Sgaldeberege, Stanamlane, and thence to a perforated rock by the middle of a pit; and from the perforated rock to Chimindeclive, and thence by the valley to Robber's Falde; and thence to KhtgJonefweJiende, and from Kingdonefwejiende hy the valley eaft- waid to the way leading from Pridy to Chederford; and thence above the meadow of John Alarejcall to Pembelejionie Rock; from Pembelejtorne by the road to the top of Malherbe mead, and thence to Harejlone, between the King's-mead and Malherbe mead; and from Hareftone to the ftone in the road leading to Hiridejgrave; and from Hindejgrave to the broad way, and thence to a fmall thorn fence, to Hedewoldefling; and thence to a pit between the King's-mead and Rugaberge mead; from that pit to Rademere, to the ftone which forms the boundary betwixt thofe two meads; and from that ftone to another ftone, and thence to CUve ftone, and from Clive ftone to tlie broad ftone ; thence to Melejirejende, Stanrode, Begefethle, UJkveie., and Sigodesfield; and thence by Smelecume vale to Roger' s-Croft; thence to Rugelege and Clotlcg to Meleweie crofs, and up Smelecume to Lejiwiefmere ; thence to Snedelejputte, Eilfiejmede, Biktvelle, and Suthemejle Rodbergi thence to the Forks ; and from the Forks by a hollow du6t to a ftone in the way to Uorjuaelle; from Ilorjwelle to Hindefjuelki and thence to Wdborge and Harechman^
The grants of thefe lands were confirmed by King Edward 1/ Befides which, they had divers lands in Selwood and Mendip forefts;'' the priory and manor of Tofts in Norfolk; the priory and manor ofWarmington in Warwickiliire; the xnanor and advowfon of Spettifbury in Dorfetfliire; a clofe in Rodden called Barbour' s-mede; Monkftiani; divers mefluages and fliops in the city and lubuibs of Briftol; lands and tenements in Chilthorne-Vagg, and Chilthorne-Domer; the manor of Afton in the county of Bucks; fourteen melftiages, one hundred and twenty-four acres of arable, meadow, wood, and headi, in Fonthill-Gifford in the county of Wilts; lands in , Chedder; the manor of Chart€rhou/e-Hydo)i, and the grange called Bel/erica. The prior had yearly fix quarters of fait from the manor of Canford;° and the lead miners
* Mon, Angl. i. 959. ' Cart. 22 Ed. I. n. 42. " Pat. i Ed. III. n. 28,
' Efc. 14 lien. VI. poft mort. Joan. Com. Bedford.
Vol. II, H h digging
234 W I T H A M - F R I A R y. [WtJettg Of
digging in their foil on Mendip, had one hoglhead of wine allowed them annually from the port of Briftol/
The firft prior of this houfe was Hugh, Bilhop of Lincob.
Walter was prior 131 8.
John de Evercriche 1387.
Nicholas de la Felde 1402.
John Pefter 1458. He and the convent obtained a licence to lay out a
Cemetery, about the chapel in the Friary, to bury the fecular perfons who lived in their diftrift, and to have a font in the chapel, and a chaplain to officiate.^
John de Witham, a native of the place, was prior A. D. ^539. He and twelve monks furrendered their monaftery to the King Feb. 15, the prior having a yearly penfion of 33I. 6s. 8d. and a gratuity of 81. 6s. 8d. In 1553 the following penfions remained in charge, viz. To John Clyffe 61. 13s, 8d, and to John Swynnelhowe al." The revenues of this priory were valued in 1534 at 215I. 15s.
After its diflblution, the manor of Witham, tlie fcite of the building, with its apper- tenances, and a grange and meflliage called La Frarie, as alfo the reftory of Witham, and all tithes of grain and hay, in and arifing from Witham, Weftbarrow, BcUerica, and La Frarie, were granted by Henry VIII. in die 36th year of his reign to Robert Hopton, efq. This Robert Hopton was father of Sir Ralph Hopton, knt. who died, feized of Witham 15 Dec. i4Eliz. From him defcended another Sir Ralph Hopton, knt. who for his eminent fervices to Charles I. during the civil wars, in which he was one of his generals, was by that King created Lord Hopton, of Stratton in the county of Cornwall. His wife was Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Arthur Capel, grandfather of Arthur Lord Capel; but having no iffue by her, the eftate came into the family of Wyndham, by the marriage of Catherine, his eldeft filter and coheir, with John Wyndham, efq. Which John Wyndham by the faid Catherine his wife was father of feveral children, a younger one of whom was named Hopton, and pof- feffed this manor; but dying without iflue it reforted to the elder branch of the family. William Wyndham, eldeft fon of John and Catherine, was created a baronet in 1680. He died in 1683, and was fucceeded by his fon Sir Edward, whofe fon and fuccefTor was Sir William Wyndham, bart. who reprefented this county in parUament in the reigns of Queen Anne and George I. and even to the time of his death in 1740, when he was fucceeded by his fon Sir Charles Wyndham, the late Earl of Egremont, who died in 1763, having before fold the manor of Witham to William Beckford, efq; Lord-Mayor of London, whofe fon William Beckford, of Fonthill in the county of Wilts, efq; is the prefent owner of the manor, and patron of the living, whereof the Rev. Mr. Mitchell is incumbent.
The ruins of the monaftery were taken down about the year 1764, excepting a fmall part connefted with the eaft end of the church. A farm-houfe, and another building,
Tat. J I Ric II. p. I. m. 39. « Regift. Beckin. 233. " Willis's Hifl. of Abbies, ii. 201.
* Itin. Will, de Worcefter, 285.
have
mmm'-Sxiaxi^^ W I T II A M - F R I A R Y.
235
Juve been ercdVed on the fcite, by which it appears to have been an extenfive edifice. The dofmitoiy was erefted in the tinne of Bifhop Beckington.'
At a little diftance, an elegant feat was begun by the late alderman Beckford, and had it been finiflied, would have been a fuperb pile. It was fituated in the upper part of what was intended an extenfive and beautiful lawn, with nearly a foutheaft afpefl. The principal entrance was nobly defigned, having two feinicircular columns of fine proportion and elegance, one on each fide the door, which reared their rich and lofty capitals almoft to the top of the edifice. The whole building was to have been of Purbeck or Portland ftonej but fince the founder's death, which happened in 1770, it has been totally ncglefted, and is at length taken down.
At about a mile diftance from this fpot ftands the church, which belonged to the monaftery. It is a fmall ftrufture, confifting of one aile, the cieling fupported by ftone arches which concentrate in a very fingiilar manner. Within, on the north wall, is the pafiage by which the monks entered the church. This entrance is clofed by the back of one of the pews, which being pulled down in order to explore it, a very difagreeable effluvia exhaled from the paflfage, occafioned probably from the non- admiffion of frefh air into a place on which perhaps no human foot had trod fince the year 1539. This paflfage winds in a femicircular direction round to the eaft end of the church, where the monaftery joined it.
On three grave-ftones are the following infcriptions :
"Here lyeth the body of Thomas Wyndham, efq; of this parifh, fonn of John Wyndham, efq; of Orchard-Wyndham in the county of Somerfet, who departed this life the i6th of December, A. D. 1689."
" Here lieth the body of Hopton Wyndham, efq; who departed this life Feb. 13, A. D. 1697." Arms: A chevron between three lions heads erafcd.
" Here lieth the body of Jane Codrington, the wife of John Codrington, efq; of Codrington, and relift of Hopton Wyndham, efq; who died Feb, 6, 1702." Amis: Wyndham, impaling ten roundlets.
There was a chantry in this church, called Childes-Chauntery, endowed widi ten marks per annum.*"
To another chantry here belonged two mefliiages, and one hundred and ninety acres of arable land, meadow, paftureand wood, in Witham and Wikham.*
A Mr. Payne gave ten fhillings a year to the fecond poor of this parifti.
Charterhouse on Mendip was a cell to this priory, and was granted as part ofits poflTeftions 36 Hen. VIII. to Robert May, efq. 44 Eliz. it was the feat of John May, efq; flieriff of this county. In die beginning of the prefent century it belonged to Mr. Gore, who purchafed it of the May family. It was fold by the prefent John Gore, efq; to Welbore Ellis, efq; the prefent owner.
Pat. 28 Hen. VI. p. 2. m. 4.
' Pat, 21 Ric. II. p. I. m. 39,
Hha
HVDOK
236
WITHAM-FRIARY. [mitfjam^JFtiarg;
Hydon Grange, foutheaft from Charterhoufe, belonged alfo to Witham-Friary, and was included in the grant to Robert May abovementioned. In the old terriers it is called Temple-Hydon and Charterhoufe-Hydon.
Southward from Hydon is Billerica, another ancient grange of the fame mona- ftery, which after the diflblution was held by Edward Duke of Somerfet, and in the fchedule of his eftates was valued at 14I. 12s. 8d. per annum." 21 Eliz. the capital mefluage or farm of Billerica, two hundred acres of arable and meadow land, thirty acres of pafture, and one hundred acres of wood, with appertenances In Billerica, within the parifh of Frary (as Witham is often called) were beld of the crown by John Aylhe, efq.°
f» MS. Valor.
f Efc. 21 £li2.
'I
GLASTON
^
[ 237 ]
G L A S T O N
TWELVE HIDES.
THIS Is a long narrow traft of land lying between the hundreds of Wells-Forum to the northeaft, and Whitney to the fouthweft. The river Brew traverfes it lengthwife from Baltonfbury to its junftion with the Yeo, and thence falls into the Parret near Burnham, commixing foon after with the channel. The foil is fenny, having formerly been overflown by the waters of the fea, which retiring, and being excluded by fluices and fea walls, the marlhes have from time to time by much in- duftry been drained and reduced to profit.
The boundaries of thefe Twelve Hides were anciently diftingiiifhed in the following
hianner:* They begin at Bruiafche, at Strete bridge, on the fouth fide of the faid
bridge, and proceed eaftward in the fouth part of the marlh, to the fouth head of Baltenejberge bridge, and from Baltenejberge on the north part from the houfe of Wlgar cum barba, who was the conftruftor of that bridge in the time of St. Dunftan abbot of Glaftonbury; and fo above the caufey to the further fide of Pinnelake, by the middle of the marfli to the houfe of Norman at Baltenejberge mill. And fo up to the road which comes from that church into Reholte as far as la Lupiwite in the eaftern part of the houfe of Ofgar Attaholte. And thence into the road which leads through the middle of that Holte direftly to Keneward bridge over St. Dunftan's dike. And fo into the rivulet coming from Colehuri. And fo up againft the water-courfe to the houfe of Ojward de la Bunie. And thence over-againft the Btofie to the court-houfe of AilmeTt fteward at Bradelee. And fo up from that Burne into the road which lies before his houfe. And fo on the fouth fide of that church, eaftward as far as Stoke, into the high road. And fo athwart the road over-againft tFithelee hill, into that path which hes on the fouth fide of Chulebury. Then into a certain jsath as far as JVmdeiete, into the bounds of Bikenham and Ferlege. And fo downwards through the middle of Pilton park to the further fide of the way which goes acrofs the ftone bridge into the road
' Juhannis GlaflonienAs Hiiloria de Rebus G!allonien£bu;, torn. I. p. 13.
leading
238 GLASTON TWELVE HIDES. mmiU
.leading to Wottone, and fo along a patli to Fukhroc. And thence in the fovth part of that church to a rivulet, and as far as Loffellegethe. And fo down into the moor as far as Hocchye, and thence through the middle of the moor to Sowye, and into the dike bounds on the north fide of Bachinwere. And fo by the bank, and along an old water- • courfe to Bleckney bridge, and fo by the middle of that bridge to Litlenie, which is the .bounds of ilf<jr/^/;^«. And fo about that iflajid.asfar as Sadelby, and thence by the bank, and along a water-'Courfe to the dike which lies between the moor of Stoke and WithrichcJImm-y and fo in the Wynerdlake. And thence by the bounds oi Andredejci ifland, and from Draicote up over-againft tlie hill to Horejlone. Then in the Wyare- paihe, and fo down as far as Upfer Batecumhe. And fo by the bounds of Ceddre to Greneballe. And fo to Litellakweyy thence to Laymerwinel. Thence diredly through the middle of an alder-grove to Horetvythege^ and fo as far as Munekenelegh. Thence to a certain trench called Bitwynevorde, and fo to Scearpehorde. Thence to N^tepulk^ and Ylake, and fo ^iong Tlake down to Twere. And from Ywere ^\ong' Abedefdiche, up to Langby^ thence into the great water-courfe, and along it eaftward into the bounds of WethemorCy and from Northilade as far as Tunfingwere. Thent;e to Kinp'wgmere, thence to Mtddelmede; thence beyond the hill to Cumejham. Thence into Lithlake, and through the middle-of the moor, as far as the bounds of Mere and Pouldone. And fo by thofe bounds eaftward, in the fouth part of the moor till underneath Scherfham. And fo thence under Hundewode eaftward to Bruiafche, where the bounds began.
Within this diftridt were contained the following places, viz. The ifland of Glajlotty with the fields, woods, meadows, and moors, belonging thereto; the ifland o{ Heortiy with a fine and extenfive grove of alders, meadows, and fruitful paftures. After this a great part of Pz7/c»^ park; then Bekinham with Stikelingh. After thefe Withcle and Colnbufiy with all Wefipennard, fields, meadows, and paftures thereto belonging. Then the Burne and Kyneard, with their fields and meadows. After, great part of Balteneflierghy with its fields, meadows, large paftures, and with all the alder groves, and moors weftward, on the north fide of Buddeclee, as far as Brutajche on the fouth fide oi Strete bridge. Then Edgarlegh, with its fields and meadows. Then the ifland of Beokery, with its appertenances; and from Brutafche abovementioned, the whole of tiie marfli weftward, whicli lies on the north fide of Hundejwode and Scherphattiy as far as the bounds of, Pouldon and Mere into Lkhelake. The ifland alfo of Mere and iVeJihey, with their fields, meadows, woods, and fpacious moors ; the ifland of Godeney, with its lands and very large moors; the ifland of Badenebeorge and Northilade, with arable lands, meadows, paftures, moors, and ample woods ; the ifland of Andredejey, jexcelling all the reft in pleafantnefs of fituation, with its lands, woods, meadows, and large moors; and the ifland of Martinepey-, with the lands, meadows, and paftures .appertaining thereto. And near Meindepe hill is Batecumb, with all its lands and paftures
upon
(5laflonO GLASTON TWELVE HIDES, 239
upon the hill thereto belonging. All thefe places, continues my author, contained within the bounds of the twelve hides, and belonging to Glaftonbury, enjoyed all the immunities of regal dignity, from ancient times and from the firfl: eftablifhment of Chriftianity in this land -, and they were confirmed to the church of Glaftonbury as well by the Britilh as the Englifh and Norman kings.*" Of the immunities and powers which appertained to that church, one was very particularj which was, that by the grant of King Canute, no fubjeft could enter this diftrid without the leave and per- miffion of the Lord Abbot of Glaftonbury. It now includes the following parifhes:— Glaftonbury St. Benedifb, Glaftonbury St. John, Baltonftjury, Bradley, Mere, Weft- Pennard, and North- Wotton.
Hpw this territory obtained the appellation of the twelve hides, we learn from tlie monkifti writers of the foil, who have carried the annals of their houfe to the remoteft ages of chriftianity, and arrogated to it an honour unallowable to any other fociety or place in Britain.
When St. Philip the Apoftle, after the death of our blefled Saviour, was In Gaul, promulgating the do(Strine of the Chriftian Religion, he was informed by certain re- fugees, that all thofe horrid-fuperftitions which he had obferved in the inhabitants of the country, and which he found fo much labour and difficulty in overcoming, originated from a little idand, at no great diftance from the continent, called Britain. Thither he immediately refolved to extend the influence of his precepts, and in the place of barbarous and bloody rites, long exercifed by bigoted and befotted Druids, to introduce the meek and gentle fyftem of Chriftianity. Accordingly he difpatched twelve of his companions and followers, and appointed Jofeph of Arimathea, who not long before had taken his Saviour from the crofs, to fuperintend tlie facred embafly. Britain was wild and uncultivated, its inhabitants rude and inimical to ftrangers; yet withal, its king Arviragus could fofter a few itinerants, whom he knew not how to hate, nor wilhed to love. In confideration of their hard and laborious journey, he xlilpofed their habitation in a fmall ifland, then wafte and untillaged, and furrounded by bogs and morafles; alTigning to each of the twelve a certain portion of land called a hide, fufficient for one family to live upon, and compofing in all a territory, deno-. niinated to this day THE TWELVE HIDES OF GLASTON.
' Johannes Glafton. De loth friiKipalibut infra Juodecim biiioit.
GLASTONBURY.
[ Uo 1
[•siaaotti
GLASTONBURY.
THE fpot was at this early period called by the natives jipllftogtrptt, or the GlafTy- I (land, either jjiecaufe its furface reprefented a. glajlen, or blue green colour; or becaufe it abounded with the herb called Glaji, or woad, with which they were ufed to tinge their bodies. In after times it received the fancied rwme oi Avalon, or the I fie of Apples; or the land where Avalloc, a Britifh chief, firft pitclied his refidence. The Saxons finally called it Eilaeprinja-bynj.
Here, according to the monaftick annalifts, St. Jofeph eredled to the honour of the blefled Virgin Mary, of wattles and wreathed twigs, the firft Chriftian oratory in Eng- land; which being decayed by time, was rebuilt by St. Phaganus and Diruvianus, two legates of Pope Eleutherius, who came into this ifland about one hundred years after the death of Jofeph, Lucius then being king of the country. They alfo built another oratory on the top of the hill called the Torr, to St. Michael the Archangel, " That he there might have honour on earth of men, who, at the command of God, Ihould bring men to eternal honours in heaven." St. Patrick the apoftle of Ireland, A. D. 439, vifited the ifland of Ynjwytryn, which was by that time become a noted fchool of fanftity, and a regular congregation of monks, and repaired the two ruinated chapels of St. Michael and the blefled Virgin. St. Benignus, his fucceflbr in the fee of Ar- magh, followed his example, and retired to this place, then newly named Avalon, where he prefided over a few religious till his death. About the year of our Lord 530, St. David, archbifhop of Menevia, accompanied by feven of his fuffragan bilhops, took a journey to Avalon, and expended large fums of money in adding to the build- ings of the church. This laft-mentioned faint was uncle of the renowned K ing Arthur, who in his time, A. D. 542, having been mortally wounded in the rebellion of his coufin Mordred at the battle of Camlan, was carried to this abbey, that he might prepare himfelf for his departure out of life in the fociety of the religious, and be interred among fuch a number of faints as repofed there from the beginning of Chrifti- anity. He was accordingly here buried, and his bones remained unmolefted in the monks' cemetery for fix hundred and forty years, when being found in digging a fepul- chre, the relicks were removed into the prefljytery of the church, and reinterred with the following infcription by Abbot Swanfey:
'* J^icjacct art!)uruiS, flog iRcgum, gloria regni, £iuem mores, pro&itag, commenuant laune perenni,"
The common tradition was, that he fuffered only a temporary kind of death, and that he would come again to reaflfume the fceptre:
* ' iBut foi fje sfeapeD g^ 6ateU j)' togs, 'Bretons arm Cornpfcf) fegetb tf)U0, Cfeat !)c let)gt!) 5ut peroe, ^no fcljall come ano 6c a iftgng age*
at
flJIflflon.] GLASTONBURY. 241
at (Slaftpngburp on tfje queer, i!!:\)t]^ nivitjc actec'0 tombe tbcr, 3nD torotc tnitb Largn ticr0 tbus
Hicjacet Arthurus, rex quondam^ i-exquefuiurus."^
But to fay no more of this illuftrious warrior, than that five different epitaphs are attributed to his tomb, we return to the church of Glaftonbury, which in the year 605 was inftituted into a more regular fociety by St. Auguftine the monk, who was fent into England by Pope Gregory the Great, to preach the faith to the Englilh Saxons. Twenty-five years after this St. Paulinus, bifliop of Rochefter, (but before that the firft archbilhop of York) refided in this monaftery, and about this period the place adopted the name oi Glajleinbyriy by which, with fome little variation of orthography, it has ever fince been called. Tliis Paulinus was a great benefadlor to the abbey, the buildings of which he enlarged, built the old church witli timber, and covered it with- out, from top to bottom, with lead,""
Celric, Ceolwlph, Kenewalch, Kentwine, Cedwalla, and other kings, were great benefactors to the abbey, and enriched it with valuable lands and poflefiions; but when Ina came to the throne, he excelled all his predeceflbrs in his munificence. For in the vear of our Lord 70S he pulled down the old ruinous buildings of the monaftery, and rebuilt it in the moft fumptuous and magnificent manner, to the honour of Chrift, and the Apoftles St. Peter and St. Paul; adorning the edifice with a coltJy chapel, garnifhed and plated over with two thoufand fix hundred and forty pounds wtight of filver; and an altar with two hundred and fixty-four pounds weight of gold.' Befides which he gave rich ornaments thereto, as chalice, cenfer, candlefticks, bafon, bucket, images, and pall for the altar of incredible value, with precious gems for the em- broidery of the celebrating robes.
Nor did his liberality reft here; for he beftowed on the abbey a great extent of territory; and, by his charter granted A. D. 725, confirmed to the monks whatever had at any time been given by any of his predeceflbrs, and amongft other immunities exempted from epifcopal authority the church of Glaftonbuiy, and the following churches fubjcift thereto; viz. Sowy, Brent, Moorlinch, Shapwick, Street, Butleigh, and Pilton. The jurifdidlion, however, over thefc feven parifties was the fubjedt of a four hundred and fifty years' controverfy between the monks of this monaftery and the bifliops of the diocefe. They afterwards compofed the archdeaconry, and aj-e ftill called the Jur'ifdiSiion of Glajknbury .
Succeeding Monarchs withheld not their gratuities, but were zealous in ratifying, confirming, and adding to all the grants that had precedently been made to tliis illuftrious foundation. In fliort, (to ufe the words of a Glaftonbury hiftorian) Kings and Queens, not only of the Weft-Saxons, but of other kingdoms of the heptarchy; fcveral Archbiftiops and Bifliops, many Dukes, and the nobility of both fexes, thought themfelves happy in increafing the revenues of this venerable houfe, to obtain them a place of fepulture therein.''
' Dc gcftis Arthuri in Libro Rubro Bathonia:, penes Prihon.Vicecom. Weymouth. ' Job. Glaflon. Hill. i. S9, ' Ibid. 9j. * Hiilory and Aiuiijuities of Glailonbury, by Cbatles Eyftoo, p. 31.
Vol. IL I i However,
342 G L A S T O N- B U R Y. [©laflom
■s.
However, during the dreadful depredations of the Danes, both the monaftery and town of Glaftonbuiy began to drop their fplendour, and exhibit the appearance of ruin and diftrefs. To reftore it to its ancient dignity was the bufinefs of King Edmund, who appointed St. Dunftan abbot over it, and permitted him to make free ufe of his regal treafury to enable him to rebuild it. A new foundation was laid in the year of Chrift 942, and the offices were built after a model brought from France, whence alfo . he introduced a new congregation of Benedidtine monks, and, aided by the liberality of his Monarch, reftored the abbey to its former luftre.
W To add thereto, and to render the religious refpeftable in the eyes of the laity,
King Edmund, in the year 944, granted to St. Dunftan and his monks a charter, confirming all former ones, and difcharging them from divers .burdens, duties, con- ti-ibudons, and fubjedtions; and giving them a right and power to receive fines, punifti malefadors, and to enjoy all their lands and poffeffions as free irom all claims as he • enjoyed his own;
King Edgar granted the monks feveral charters, conveying to them additional pri- •wileges and pofTefTions. Among the former, were the liberty of determining pleas, and corredting delinquents ; fanftuary within the limits of the hundred; the appropriating hidden treafure to their own ufe ; that the monks fhould always be eledlors of their own abbot, and that all controverfies whatfoever within their jurifdiftion fhould be jdetermined in the abbot's court.
The lands, which at this period, or at leaft before the Norman Conqueft, the monaftery of Glaftonbury poftefted by the grants of different kings and others, were immenfe in number and in value.
Arthur King of the Britons gave Brent-Marjh and Polden, with many other lands, which the Anglo-Saxons feized, but afterwards reftored. Kenewalch gave Ferramere, \vith the two iflands on each fide the lake; viz. Wefthay and Godney ; as alfo the iflands of Beokery, Martinjey, and Andredjey. King Kentwine gave Monckton, confifting of twenty hides, with the fame number of hides in Cary^ and three- in Crewkerne. Baldred gave Pennard fix hides, Logarejburgh (afterwards called Mont acute) fixteen hides, and IVeJl- vtere, A^^ith the fifhery of the Parret, Bifhop Hedda gave Leigh upon Mendip fix hides, confirmed by King Cedwalla. King Ina gave the twenty hides of Brent, Soivy or Middlezoy of twelve hides, Pilton twenty hides, Doulting twenty hides, in Livig juxta Tamer twenty hides, and the fame in Roalt. St. Wulfrid, archbifhop of York, gave Wedmore fixty hides, and one hide in Clewer. Biftiop Forther gave Bledanhead one hide. Abbefs Buggu, with the confent of King Ina, gave Oar three hides. King Athelard gave Poholt fixty hides, and in Toric ten hides. Fridogida his Queen gave Brumpton five hides. King Cuthrtd, Ure three hides. Lulla, a maiden, gave Bal- icnjbury and Shapivick ten hides. King Ethelbald, Gciffick and Bradley four hides. Kinelwulph, Wotton five hides, Compton five hides, and Houndjborough. Ethelard his fteward gave three hides in Chedder, viz. Ellenborough and Comb. Sulca, a maiden, gave Cidlum eleven hides. King OfTa, Inelworth ten hides. Ethelmund, Huntjpil, Edglfil, Butleigh twenty hides. King Athelwulph gave Uffcolum twenty-four .hides, £ucland five, Pennard nine, and confirmed the grant of Earl Ethelftan of Chit ton ten
hides;
<S!afion.] GLASTONBURY. 243
hides; and of Enulph, Bitchet, Lottijham, and Uornhlottcn. King Ethelbald gave Blanc' tninjier ten hides. King Athelftan granted and confirmed, of tiie gift of Duke Athchii, Markjbury ten hides; of the gift of archbifhop Wulfhelm, Deverel tvftnty hides; of the gift of Ofric, Ovcr-Deverel or Monkton ten hides; of the gift of Elfleda, queen of King Edward, IVinterburne ten hides; of the gift of Duke Ethelllan, tVrington twenty hides, IVefton or Fojscot five hides, and Lyme in Dorfetfhire, fix hides; and of the gift of Widow UfFa, Stoke five hides. King Edmund gave Chrijlian-Malford twenty hides, Kingjlon eight, Wotton five,. Whatley ten, Pucklechurch thirty, Eaftford, with the fifhcry, half a hide; Doinerham, Merton, and Pendritb, one hundred hides; "Stone eight hides. He confirmed alfo the grant of Elfreda, King Edward's Queen, of Acfordy Bucklandy andPiais, confifting of twenty-feven hides; Hannirtgton fifteen hides; of the gift of Wulfrid, Kington thirty hides, Grittleton ten liides, Turnworth five, and 2lrw//;?>?'«// five hides; of the gift of Elfi, Bat combe twenty hides; of the gift of Earl Ethelftan, Af(?//j twenty hides; of the gift of Segewulph, y/^^(?//2'»r)' five hides; of the gift of Wulfec, Lfl«^^/ori two hides. King Edred gave Badbury twenty-five hides; two hides in Chrijlchurch, Turnock, and Staplewell; two in Nunney, and one in Ellen- borough. He granted likewife the large manor of Afabury, confifting of forty hides. King Alfred gave Camerton five hides. iF.lfgitha, a nun, gave Pennard-Minjier ten hides. King Edwin gave Pamborough two hides, and Blackford fix. He confirmed alfo Elphegus's grant of Crmmore, containing twelve hides; Efericus's, oiWidcontbe fix; Alwin's, of eight hides in Stourtcn; Brithric's, of Yeovilton five hides; Brithere's, of Wyneat, King Edgar gave 6'/<?ar thirty hides, Milton-Puddimore two, JLuccombe two, , Blackford five. Ham feven, Bunden five, and Wheathill three. He confirmed Duke Alphar's grant of Wefibury forty hides, and of Otbery five; Alwin's, o{ Grittleton twenty- five hides, Nettleton twenty, and Horton ten; as alfo alderman Alphar's grant of twenty hides in Badcombe-, Ealdred's, of C/^o«; Elflem's, of Durborough -, Athelflede's, of Han- ningion ; Queen j^lfwith's, of Winjcombe fifteen hides, Idmifion ten, Streaton fix, and Andredfey )\z\( a hide; of the grant of Edred, Middleball fikccn hides; of Brithfige, Hilton five hides. King Egelred ga.ve Aujlcliff iix hides, Sidborough one, FiJljwere-f^nA a houfe in JVilton. And King Edmund Ironfide gave Newton-Caflle in Dorfetfliire, confiftinff of feventeen hides."
's
At the coming in of the Conqueror the abbey was ftript of many of thcfc pofieffions, but they ftill retained the following manors in this county, viz. Glaftonbury, Mere,- Pamborough, Andredfey, Winfcombe, Milton, Lydford, Shapwick, Middlezoy, Cof- fington, Durborough, Blackford, St6wel, Walton, Afhcott, Pedwell, Budley, Dunden, Greinton, Leigh, Ham, Butleigh, Lotterford, Pilt9n, Shepton, Pennard, Baltonflaury, Doulting, Badcombe, Weftcombe, Mells, Whatley, Wrington, Monkton, Markfbuiy, Ditchet, Hornblotton, Camerton, Cranmore, Brent, Downhead, and fome fmall parcels of land, not diftinguifhed in the general furvey of that period.
Their polTeffions in the town and environs of Glaftonbury are thus furveyed:
*' The church of Glastonbury has in that vill twelve hides, which were never " afleffed nor taxed. The arable is thirty carucates. In demefnc are ten hides wanting
♦ Johan. GJafton. Hift. i. 41, 42, 43, 44.
I j 2 " one
244 GLASTONBURY. t<g5!at!om
"•' one virgate. And there are five carucates, and feventeen fervants, and twenty-one '' villanes, and twenty-three cottagers with five ploughs. There are eight fmiths, and " tliree arpents of vineyard, and fixty acres of meadow, and two hundred acres of *• pafture, and twenty acres of wood, and three hundred acres of coppice wood. It is " worth twenty pounds.
" To tlais manor adjoins an iiland called Mere, where are fixty acres of land. The " arable is one carucate, and there are ten fifhermen, and three fifheries, which pay " twenty pence, and fix acres of meadow, and fix acres of wood, and two arpents of " vineyard. It is worth twenty fhillings.
" Another ifland belongs thereto, which is called Padeneberie. There are fix " acres of land, and three arpents of vineyard, and one cottager. It is worth four " ilaillings,
" A third ifland adjoins thereto called Ederesige, in which are two hides, which *' never paid geld. There is one carucate, with one bordai;, and two acres of meadow, •** and one acre of coppice wood. It is worth fifteen fhillings. Goduin holds it of >*' the abbot. "«
The knights who held lands of the abbey in the times of Henry I. and Henry II. were,
Walter de Scireburne, who held one knight's fee, and after him Earl Patrick.
Walter Waleran the elder held one fee, and after him his fon Walter.
Robert Malet held ten fees, and Hubert de Sanfta Sufanna held thereof two fees,
and afterwards William Malet held the whole for twelve knights' fees. Alured de Lincoln the elder, five; afterwards Alfred. Robert de Candos and Walter his fbn, one. Anfketil de Cofinton, one; his grandfon after him. ;GefFrey de Coveflon, one; and afterwards Geffrey Fitz-Adana. Hugh de Grainton and his grandfon, half a fee. Sanfon de Spercegrave and his fon, one fee, AV alter de Abbodeflon and Robert his fon, one fee. Richard Fitz-Urfe and Reginald his fon, one and a half. William Fitz- Walter and Robert Fitz-Martin his fon, five* Odo Baucans, and afterwards Geffrey his grandfon, one. William de Hwatelei, one. Alberick, and after him Roger Folioth, one. Ralph Hufe, one.
John Fitz-Hamund and William his grandfon, one. Geffrey Tortefmains, and afterwards Robert Pukerel, one. Ofbert de Lifuns, and afterwards Henry de Newmarch, one. Roger de Berkeley, one. Henry Orefcvill and Helias his fon, one.
' It appears from an old terrier of this abbey of the time of Edward III. that there was then a vineyard in <Glaftonbury of five acres, and another in Pamborough of three. The arpent was a meafurc made ufe of in Kormandy, and was equivalent to our furlong.
* Xiib. Domefday.
Ralph
eiaQon.] GLASTONBURY. 245
Falph BafTft, and the heir of Ralph BafTet junior, one.
Aiulf and William Fitz-Richard his fon, half a fee.
Rembald Ufcarl, and after him Robert de Win(hore, one.
Richard Cotele held twenty pounds value of land, which belonged to the demefncs
and to the table of the monks, and did no fervicc therefiom. Baldwin de Effecote held one fee, and in the time of Hen. II. the heir of Ywan hia
fon held the fame.*"
For all which fees the abbot paid to the King the fum of twenty-fix pounds thirteen fliillings and four-pence.' And 32 Hen. II. in the efcuagc or fcutage charged for the army of Galway to thofe barons who did not attend the King in his expedition, the fame abbot was aflefled at forty pounds for the fees above recited.'' The fame fum was likewife paid in the aid levied for the ranfom of King Richard I. when he was taken and imprifoned in his return from the Holy Land.'
In the taxation of Pope Nicholas, made A. D. 1293, the Temporalities of the abbot within this county were thus charged:
Deanery of Redcliff. ^. V. d,
Wrington Thg abbot of Glafton — 41 o o
Markfbury The fame — — — — 15 10 o
Deanery of Frome. Mells — — — — — 16 II o
Deanery of Carv.
Doulting — — — — — — 21 00
Pilton — — — 42 o o
Ditchet — — — 50 6 10
Pennard ■ — — — — 1888
Batcombe — — — — -— 21 15 o
Deanery of Ilchester.
Ham — — — — 33 o o
Milton — — — 14 12 o
Deanery of Taunton. Weft-Monkton Chamberlain of Glafton — — — 30 o o
Deanery of Poulet. Greinton — — — — — — - 7^3
Withyes — — — — — — 8 4 9
Deaneiy of Axbridgi. Brent, South-Brent, Eaft-Brent, Lymplham, and Berrow 130 4 o
» Lib, Nig. Scac. i. 87, 88, 89. > Mag. Rot. nHen. II. r. 10, a. " Mag. Rot. 33 Hen. II. r. iz, a.
• Mag, Rot. 6 Ric. I. r, 13, b.
Jurifdidlion
246
GLASTONBURY.
f<85Iaflon*
|
Jurifdiftion of Glastonbury. |
£. s. d. |
||
|
Glaftonbury. The abbot of Glaftonbury — — |
- |
51 13 10 |
|
|
The portion of the prior of Glafton ■ |
— |
- |
46 a 0 |
|
The portion of the almoner — — |
- |
8 3 0 |
|
|
The portion of the cook — — — |
— |
- |
19 3 4 |
|
The portion of the pitancer — — |
- |
19 15 4 |
|
|
The portion of the gardener — |
— |
-. |
0 50 0 |
|
The portion of the infirmarer |
- |
628 |
|
|
The portion of the hoftler — |
— |
- |
400 |
|
The portion of the prjecentor — — |
- |
0 54 4 |
|
|
Ferhng-Mere. — The abbot of Glafton — — |
— |
- |
20 0 0 |
|
Baltonftjury — — _ -_ |
- |
26 0 0 |
|
|
Butleigh — ^— *- |
— |
- |
37 0 0 |
|
Street — — — — |
- |
29 0 0 |
|
|
Walton |
— |
- |
28 0 0 |
|
Afchot — — — — |
— |
- |
16 15 0 |
|
Shapwickr ■' |
— |
- |
30 2 6 |
|
Sowy, Wefton, Middlezoy, and Othery — — |
- |
104 I 8 |
|
|
The hundred of Whitleigh — |
- |
- |
800 |
|
The. hundred of Whitftone — — — |
- |
600 |
|
|
Andrefey — The fexton of Glaftonbury — |
- |
- |
10 0 0 |
|
f-, n f S '^^^ abbot — — — |
__ |
0 60 0 |
|
|
^ (The chamberlain ■■ |
- |
- |
0 lOO 0 |
|
The Quinzieme of the King from the liberty of the abbot of Glaftonbury, with |
|||
|
twenty pounds of advance, aflefled 8 Edw. III. |
Advance. |
||
|
£- |
s. |
d. |
£• s. d. |
|
Glaftonbury, with the twelve hides — 1 2 |
6 |
8 |
I 10 0 |
|
Hundred of Whitleigh. |
|||
|
The village of Wefton — — 9 |
0 |
I |
060 |
|
Middlezoy — — 8 |
2 |
4 |
0 13 4 |
|
Othery — 8 |
14 |
3 |
. 0 13 4 |
|
Moorlinch — — i |
I |
2 |
060 |
|
Greinton — i |
10 |
0 |
030 |
|
Afticot — — — 2 |
10 |
4 |
050 |
|
Shapwick — — — i |
9 |
4 |
040 |
|
Walton — — I |
5 |
4 |
050 |
|
Street — — ' — 1 |
12 |
8 |
0 10 0 |
|
Butleigh — — — — I |
14 |
4 |
078 |
|
Milton — 0 |
19 |
8 |
020 |
|
Blackford — 0 |
14 |
4 |
020 |
|
Wheathill 0 |
6 |
8 |
008 |
|
Gary — — 0 |
10 |
0 |
0 0 12 |
|
Dunden — — — . . 2 |
16 |
0 |
050 |
|
Catcott — — I, |
0 |
0 |
030 |
•Silaflon.]
GLASTONBUR
The village of Edington — — —
Chilton — — ■
Coflington — — —
Stawell — — ■
WoUavington — — —
The Hundred of Whitstone.
The village of Corfcombc — — • — —
Shcpton — — — —
From which to the Lord Abbot's men at Ham — —
The village of Doulting — __ —
Charlton — — •
Batcombe — — —
Lamiat — —
Ditchet — — —
Alhampton — — —
Hornblotton — — —
Pennard — — — —
Pylle — _- —
Bradley — ■
Rookfham — — —
Baltonfbury — — — —
Pilton — — —
Compton •— — — —
Wotton — — — •
Downhead — — — — The Hundred of Brent.
The village of South-Brent — —
Berrow — — ■■
Lympfham — • — — Eaft-Brent — ■
The Hundred of Wrington. The town of Wrington — — " —
The manor of Mells — —
The manor of Ham — — , —
The manor of Monkton — —
Markfbury — — — « —
The fum of the taxation of the goods fpiritual and temporal of the abbot and con^ vent of Glaftonbury, in and out of the county of Somerfet, was 1571I. 14s. i id. The tenths 157I, 3s. 6d. Qiiinzieme or fifteenths of the principal taxation 104I. 15s. Sd."
|
Y |
247 |
|||
|
Advance. |
||||
|
£' |
s. |
d. |
c |
s. d. |
|
I |
I |
I |
0 |
2 0 |
|
0 |
13 |
8 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
I |
7 |
4 |
0 |
2 0 |
|
0 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
0 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
A |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
3 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
7 0 |
|
10 |
II |
4 |
I |
0 0 |
|
I |
10 |
0 |
0 |
3 10 |
|
5 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 0 |
|
2 |
8 |
10 |
0 |
5 0 |
|
4 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
8 0 |
|
I |
4 |
4 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 6 |
|
0 |
IS |
4 |
0 |
5 0 |
|
0 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
2 0 |
|
5 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
10 0 |
|
2 |
I |
Q |
0 |
4 0 |
|
I |
3 |
8 |
0 |
4 0 |
|
I |
5 |
0 |
0 |
3 6 |
|
2 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
5 0 |
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 0 |
|
3 |
14 |
8 |
0 |
2 0 |
|
3 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
6 0 |
|
0 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
3 0 |
|
4 |
17 |
8 |
0 |
13 4 |
|
9 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
U 4 |
|
5 |
18 |
II |
0 |
13 4 |
|
10 |
7 |
II |
I |
0 0 |
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
I |
12 0 |
|
4 |
6 |
8 |
I |
10 0 |
|
3 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
15 0 |
|
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
15 0 |
|
0 |
12 |
I |
0 |
2 0 |
"■ Adam, de Domerham, Hift. U. 675 in Auftario,
King
248 GLASTONBURY. [(Slafiort.
King Henry II. confirmed to the abbey all its poffeffions, liberties, and privileges j and King Edw. Ill, ratified the famej and granted it a charter of free warrren for°the following manors, viz. Glaftonbury, Meer, Baltonfbury, Pilton, Doulting, Mells, Batcombe, Ditchet, Pennard, Butlejgh, Milton, High-Ham, Wefton, Middlezoy* Othery, Greinton, Shapwick, Alhcot, Walton, Street, Brent, Wrington, Markfburv' and Monkton." ^*
Befides this manerial property, the abbot and convent were poflefled of a great number of rectories and advowfons; as Lympfliam, Marklbury, Wrington, Batcombe, Ditchet, Mells, Street and Walton, High-Ham, Puddimore-Milton, Greinton, and Monkton. The churches alfo of the following vicarages were appropriated to them, and they prefented the vicars:— Doulting, with the four chapels of Eaft and Weft Cranmore; Downhead, and Stoke-Lanej Eaft-Brent, Eaft-Pennard, Bradley, But- leigh, Bajtonfbury, Meer, Moorlinch; widi Catcott, Chilton, Edington, and Sutton • Middlezpy, Odiery, Wefton-Zoyland, Shapwick, and Aflicot.
And the whole profits of thefe curacies were appropriated to them, St. John and St. Benignus in Glaftonbury, and Weft-Pennard.
The abbot and officers of the monaftery had penfions paid them yearly in money irom feveral churches in their manors, by the grants of the Bifhops of Bath and Wells. To the fexton, from St. John's in Glaftonbury, fix marks. To the fame, from the church of Doulting, four marks. To the fame, from Batcombe, twenty fliillings. To the fame, from Moorlinch, feven marks and a half. To the fame, from Shapwick, twenty ftiilllngs. To the abbot, from High-Ham, forty fliillings. To the fame, from Camerton, one mark. To the fame, from Ansford, forty fliillings. To the fame, from Street, fixty fliillings. To the fame, from Wrington, forty fliillings. To the fame, from Ditchet, forty fliiUings. To the fame, from Monkton, two marks. To the convent, from Norton-under-Hamden, forty fliillings. To the keeper of the infirmary, from Puddimore-Milton, ten fliillings. To the fame, from Berrow, thirteen fliillings and four-pence. To the fame, from Eaft-Brent, thirteen fliiflings and four-pence. To the fame, from Lympfliam, thirteen fliillings and four-pence. To the mead-maker, from Lympfliam, five fliillings. To the fame, from the church of St. Peter in Ivelchefter, half a mark. To the fame, from Shapwick, forty-three fliillings and four-pence. To the prascentor, from Winfcombe, two marks. To the almoner, from Middlczoy, four marks.
dat^ed^l'D''^^'*"''^'''^''^"^ of Canterbury, confirmed thefe penfions by his charter
" Cart. 4 Ed. III. in Regift. Abbat. Glafton. pen. Prsehon. Vicecom. Weymouth.
We
Claflon,]
GLASTONBURY.
249
We now come to a catalogue of the Abbots that prefided over this ancient and rich monaftery from its eredlion to its diflblution,
1. Jofeph of Arimathea, head of the twelve anchorites.
2. Phaganus and Diruvianus.
3. St. Patrick.
4. St, Benignus.
5. Worgret, 601.
6. Lademund.
7. Beorgret.
8. Bcrthwald, 670. He was afterwards archbifhop of Canterbury.
9. Hemgifd, prefided twenty-five years.
10. Berwald fucceeded in 705.
11. Albert, 712.
12. Echfrid, 719.
13. Cengille, 729. .
14. Cumbert, 745.
15. Tican, 754. He was buried at Glaftonbury, with this infcription :
*' Cumba fiacc micifico fiilgct fabiicata Dccore, *' Oefupct ftculptum conDit fu6 culmine Cican."
16. Cuban, 760.
17. Waldon, 772.
18. Bedwolf, 794.
19. Cuman, 800.
20. Mucan, 802.
21. Guthlac, 824.
22. Edmund, 840. 2 J, Hereferth, 859,
24. Sty ward. He was a great Icourge to the monks, and was therefore denized in
the windows at Glallonbury with a large befom in his hand
25. Aldhun, 891.
26. ^Ifric.
27. St. Dunflan, who prefided here twenty-two years, was fi.ft made bifliop of Worcefter, afterwards of London, and at length archbifhop of Canterbury. He was
pr?"'!/''^^"'^/''^ ^"' '^''"'y ^y ^'"S Edwin, and one Elfius (who is filled Pfeudo-Abbas, or die ufurper) placed in his ftead. This faid Dunftan was famous
him^fuccTd"^ ""^ ""^'■"^'^ P"^^' ^'"^ °^ ^''"'" ^'^^"g^- ^^ ^ied 988. To
28. Egelward: he flourimed in the happy days of King Edgar, who during his abbacy granted and confirmed a number of immunities to the church of Glaftonbury.
29. iElfstan occurs in 966.
30. Sigegare, 970.
^°'"^^' J^ ^ 71. Beorthred^
2^0 GLASTONBURY. [^Mon.
31. Beorthrcd, 986. He died 1017, and was fucceeded by
32. Brithwin, afterwards bifhop of Wells. After him came
23 Egelward in 1027, who prefided twenty-fix years, and died A. D. 1053. U Egclnoth became abbot 1053. He was efteemed one of the principal men m the Lion t the time of the Norman Conqueft, and for thisreafon KingWilham Conqueror, being jealous of his newly acquired fubjefts, earned him, with many of he princTpal men in^he nation, over into Normandy, and depofmg him from his dignity, appointed in his ftead
.c Turftin, or Thurftan. He was reckoned by the brethren of the convent a weak but withal a bufy, prodigal man, having (hamefuUy wafted the revenues of the Ibt; and perverted M J its ancient ftatutes. He fo tyrannifed over the poor monk that they on a certain occafion refuled obedience to his power Whereupon Zt:^^ a'party of f^ldiers to bring them to order, who impetuouny forced thar way into the chapter-houfe, drove the religious into the great church, -^^^^'^^TZ ovJrfetting Ihrines and images, killed two monks at the alt-, and wounded ou t^en .others who had defended themfelves with benches ^^\''ff'^'.}^^J^^l^ „,any monks left the monaftery. and did not return till the death of Turftm, which Lppened in i loi, when the abbey began to revive under the prudent management of 36. Herlewin, who fucceeded. This Herlewin laid the old church level with the ■ground, and expended the fum of four hundred and eighty pounds on the founda^n of a new fabrick. He made a crofs of wonderful workmanihip, and gave nine palls, le copes, one carpet, five veftments, three albs, and an altar, to theufe of the church. He died in 1 1 20.
V. Sigfrid, a monk of St. Martin de Seez, and brother to Ralph, the Nornaan archbifhop of Canterbury, became the next abbot, and governed the monaftery (on which he beftowed a pall and veftment) fix years; at the expiration of which being made biftiop of Chichefter,
38. Henry de Blois was appointed his fucceflbr. This Henry was brother to Theobald earl of Blois, nephew of King Henry I. a man much efteemed for his litera- ture and pohte behaviour. During his abbacy he was promoted to the biftiopnck of Winchefter, and executed the office of the Pope's legate throughout England; but ftiU retained the government of Glaftonbury, to which he was a veiy great benefador. He rebuilt many manor houfes, and, in the monaftery itfelf. he built from d.e very foundations the belfry," the chapter-houfe/ the cloifter,^ the lavatory, the refedory,^
• More properly a bell-houfe. There were twelve large befls in the abbey.
b This building generally adjoined to the cloifters. It was a large apartment where the monks met to acknoidge and'correa their faults, to confer on fpiritual matters, and fettle fuch other affa.rs as required the general aiTent of the monaftery.
. The cloilier was a fquare place with walks or allies round i' ''"PP^^^^i,^-* P'""^' ^"^r'ajS^ windows, and in the fquare was a flower garden. The chief «fe of U was for the monks to make their pro- ceflions, and to inter fome of the lower order of their fociety.
• The place where the monks w^Ihed their hands before meals, fumifhed with a ciftem, towels, P«ffts,^rd «ther convenience?.
eiaflon.] GLASTONBURY. 251
the dormitory/ the infirmaiy* with its chapel, a large and magnificent palace near the church, the outward gate, the great brewhoufe, and fevcral ftables for horfes, all con- ftru(5tcd with an air of grandeur befpeaking the fpirit of the donor. He likewife beftowcd feveral very handfome ornaments on the church, viz. nine veils,'' fome of which were of the moft coftly diaper, and fome of fattin; a rich carpet and cufhion; nine copes' interwoven with gold and ftone; two chcfiplcs,'' one of green fattin and another of purple; a coftly Hole' and maniple;™ two albs ;" a large banner interwoven with gold;" a filvcr crucifix' gilt and adorned with precious ftones. He alfo gave a large piece of embroidery to adorn the altar; and an ivory ihrine, containing, among a variety of other curious and religious remains, pieces of St. George, St. Cofmas, St. Indraftus, St. Benignus, St. Audomar, and St. Hilda; fome of St. John the Evange- lift's fleeve; fome oil of St. Catherine's tomb; and a large bone of St. Nicholas.** When he had continued forty-five years in the paftoral charge of the church of Glaftonbury, this pious prelate died A. D. 1171, and was buried in the church of Wincheller.
' The refeftory was a great hall where the monks ufed to eat their meals. In it were fcven long tables, and about them benches adjoining to the wall for the religious to fit on. The table at the upper end was for the. abbot, the priors, and fuperiors of the houfe ; the two next for the priefts ; the two next for the acolytes, or fuch as were in orders, but not inverted with priellhood ; and likewife for fuch as w ere intended for the miniftr)' ; the other tables were for the lay brethren. In one part of this hall was a defk, at which one of the monks flood every day during the repall of the others, and read fome pafTages out of the Old and New Tellament.
' The dormitory was that part of the monaftery where the monks flept in fmall fcparatc apartments over the cloifter and gallery. This part was under the care of the camcrarius or chamberlain.
' To this apartment belonged a chapel, feveral chambers with furniture proper for fick people, a feparate common room, a kitchen, and a chamber for laying out the de.id. The name of the officer who fuperintended it was hifirmaiius. Eefides the above-named apartments, there were in moft monafteries the facrify or veftry- room, where they kept the facrcd veftments ; the treafury, wherein were depofited the reliques, crofters, cru- cifixes, church-plate, &c.; the fratery, or apartment for the novices; the libraiy, to which belonged a firiptorium, or room where the monks tranfcribed or compofed their books ; the luardrobe, where the monks' clothing and bedding were kept; the common room, where was a fire for the monks to come and warm them- felves at ; the common treafury, or receptacle of the monaftick charters, regillers, and leiger-books ; die buttery, cellar, and other offices common to houfes in general.
" The veil was of two kinds, one for the covering of the abbot and chief monks; the other as a covering fbr the altar.
' The largeft garment for the prieft, with its tires, white girdle, fleeves, and other appertenances.
* The chefiple, or cafula, fo called becaufe it was a fort of cafe covering the whole body of the prieft at mafi. Hence came, as it is thought, the modern caffock,
' An inferior kind of garment ufed chiefly by the acolytes.
"* A fcarf worn about the wrift by the prieft at the time of mafs.
" A white garment and head-doth, fo called ab albo colore.
" The banner or flag was ufed in folemn proceffions.
' A crofs generally of filver, but fcmetimes of gold, having thereon the image of our S.tviour on the crofs.
' One of the chief matters which promoted the reformation, was the difcovery of the number of cheats and counterfeits in the reliques fliewn in Romifti churches. The bones of the fame fai.it were (hewn in twenty dif- ferent places; St. Urfula had three heads ; and the teeth of St, .ApoUoni.!, which were ufed as remedies for the tooth- ach, amounted to more than a bujnel in quantity.
K k 2 39. Robert,
2-5^2 GLASTONBURY. [vSlafiOlt,
39. Robert, prior of Winchcftcr, fuccceded. A man accompllflied in virtue, a lover of the poor, and a great benefadlor to his abbey, over which he prefided kven years, and dying in 1178^ was buried on the fouth fide of the chapter-houfe. After
..bis death, the abbey fell into the hands of King Henry II. who deputed the truft of it to one Peter de Marci, a monk of Cluni, who died in 1 184. In which fame year the ■whole monafteryj except part of the abbot's lodgings and the fteeple, was by an acci- dental fire reduced to afhes. The King, taking compaffion on the monks under this Ijteavy difafter, fent Ralph Fitz-Stcphen, one of his chamberlains, to infpeft their affairs, celieve their wants, and appropriate the monaftick revenues towards rebuilding the jjbbey. This was done with great expedition, and the new church of St. Mary was dedicated by Reginald, bifliop of Bath, on the feaftof St. Barnabas A. D. 1186.
40. Henry de Swanfey was the next abbot, who obtained of Pope Celeftine the jirivilege of ufing the mitre and ring, gloves, dalmatick, tunick, and fandals, and of .blefTing facerdotal vcftments. In his time King Richard I. on his return from the Holy Land, was craftily taken prifoner in his way through the Duke of Auftria's do- minions, at the inftigation of Heniy VI. the then Emperor of Germany. In order to bis releafe the following condition was among others impofed. That one Savaricus, the Emperor's cliancellor and kinfman, wlio was then in England in the capacity of arch- deacon of Northampton, Ihould by him be forthwith appointed to the biflioprick of Bath and Wells, and tlie abbacy of Glaftonbuiy annexed thereto, for its aggrandifement and •improvement. Upon this Henry de Swanfey was prom.oted to the fee of Worcefter, then vacant by the death of Bifliop Robert Fitz-Ralph, and Savaricus to that of Wells, to which lie immediately annexed tlie abbey, and affumed the title of Bilhop ofGlaftonbury.
41. This proceeding of courfe occafioned great confiifion among the religious of ithe monaftery, and they in 1 199 elefted William Pike for their abbot, who was forth- with excommunicated, and feveral monks committed to prifon for contempt. Upon which an apoftolick mandate was obtained, direded to the Bifliop of Ely, the Abbot of St. Edmunds', and the Prior of Chrift-church at Canterbury, for regulating the priory, and dividing the poffeffions of Glaftonbury between the Bifliop and the Monks. Thefe delegates, after fome debate, having fummoned tlie parties concerned, afilgncd to the Bifliop a fourth part of the eftates, viz. the manors of Meare, Pucklechurch, Winf- combe, Badbury, Aflibury, Buckland, Lyme, Blackford, Cranmore, Kington, and Qiriflijan-Malford; as alfo the lodgings in the abbey, which had till then been appro- priated to the abbots and priors of Kilcumin in Ireland. In the mean time abbot Pike died at Rome not without fufjiicion ofpoifonj and Bifliop Savaricus did not long fur- vive him. But the difl^ention terminated not with their deaths; for Joceline, who Succeeded Savaricus in the fee of Wells, found thefe poffefllons too valuable to part ■with, without better arguments than the monks were able to produce in behalf of .their own caufe, now grown defperate to a degree. After a number of applications and petitions to ithe court of Rome, tlie matter liowever was finally adjuftcd by the mediation of Richard bifliop of Sarum, and Pandulphus elecb bifliop of Norwich; and the partiescame to an agreement, That there fliould remain to the Bifliop and his .fuccelTors for ever the manors of Winfcombe, Pucklechurch, Blackford, and Cranm.ore, (Wjth ,all their appertenancesj but that the other remaining manors of the Bifliop's
portion
}
Elation.] GLASTONBURY. 253
portion, viz. Mcare, Buckland, Hinton, Chriftian-Malford, Badbuiy, and Aflibury, excepting the advowlbns of all tliofe churches f;ive diat of Meare, fhould be rcftorcd to the monks. This compromife was conchided A. D. 12 18. Soon after which
42. William Vigor, the monk, who had been aftive in the debates before recited, was inftalled abbot by the convent, now by the Pope difengaged from the union of the biflioprick, and at liberty to elcft an abbot according to their own regular obfervances. This William prefided five years, and died in 1223. He was buried on die north fide of the chapter- houfe; and had for his fuccelTor
43. Robert, prior of Bath, Vho governed the monaftery with difcretion eleven years, and returned to Batli with a penfion allowed him of fixty pounds yearly.
44. Michael of Ambrefbury fucceedcd in 1235. After having prefided with great reputation feveral years, beflowed liberal fums on the buildings of the abbey, and reftored to it many of its priftine poflelTions, he on account of old age refigned his office in 1252, and dying the year following, was buried in the abbey churcli* with this epitaph :
*' jSDiui fcrpcntinag frautiesf $ Dincla refoltjit, Eeilituitque oUiOiig Debita tura fuis : l^oflQuam tucOiDa tranquillaflct tcmpota, faro €ccc fuD boc abbas integituc 90icbacU"
45. Roger Fordc, a native of Glaftonbury, and a man of great literature and famous fer the eloquence of his fpeech, fucceedcd. The church of Glaftonbury had not yet altogether regained its tianquility, and it was the misfortune of this good man to em- broil himfelf in its troubles. He was oppofed in all his meafures by the Bilhop of Bath and Wells, and by his own monks, and was at length killed at the Bilhop of Ro- chefter's palace at Bromley in Kent, on a journey which he had undertaken to defend tlie rights of his church, A. D. 1261, and was buried in Weftminfter-abbey.
46. Robert de Pedcrton, a native of North-Petheiton, and of a veiy ancient family, fucceedcd him; he died in 1274. His chief charadter was paying the debts of his predecefTors, which was noted on his tomb in the abbey church of Glaftonbury:
" JLiberat opprcflbs IPeUreton ab acre alieno, Demum f)ac compofita pace quicfcit bumo."
47. John de Taunton, monk of Glaftonbury, was the next abbot. He gave a large quantity of books to the library, and of veftments to the church. He died in 1290, at the manor-houfe of Domerham in Wiltftiire, and being brought to Glaftonbury was there buried, with the following epitaph :
" a:itmulto tanucm fumptu multoquc labore jFit pafioi-, jamjam commoDa multa parat. ■ JRura edit Cfjcifli, Docct et pcaeccpta Jobanncg?, £0ox animi cruiiias conDit in boc tumulo."
48. John tie Cancia, or John Kent, fucceedcd, and having benefited the abbey, by the gift of a number of crofles, images, cenfers, banners, copes, albs, chcfiples, and
other
254 GLASTONBURY. [<SMon»
other furniture, died in the thirteenth year of his prelacy, A. D. 1303, and was buried in a funnptuous tonnb which he had built for himfelf on the north fide of the high altar. His fucceffor was
49. GefFry Fromund, a great benefactor to the abbey, the church of which he caufed to be newly dedicated, and enriched witli the following furniture, viz. Two embroi- dered copes, and a third plain j one grey, with moons and ftars, called the velvet, another of green fattin with images, and the third of white fattin. Three fuits, one called the trelles, another yellow unembroidered, the third of white fattin; fix veft- ments, the firlt called chufmgbury^ accompanied with the ftole and maniple; the fecond with images, and ground of gold; the third of red fattin, adorned with parrots, [the arms of the abbot's family;] the fourth interwoven with gold, called the terrilytZy. with the ftole and maniple of the fame workmanlhip; the fifth called the velvet, of the fame device; as alio the cope without ftole or maniple, and the amice of another fort; and the fixth of white fattin, with a ftole and maniple of the fame. He likewife gave enchafed work called the G, a filver cenfer with a boat for the frankincenfe, and the Ipoon. Six carpets, one green called the doJeeZi with the feveral arms of his prede- ceflbrs; three fmaller of the fame colour, with a Iliield of the fame length and breadth; and two yellow, charged with parrots and rofes intermmgled; alfo a very rich chefiple, and two good chefiples, with dalmaticks and tunicks fuitable thereto; together with one plain chefiple, with a dalmatick and tunick, for the ufe of the chapel of St. Mary. He in like manner demifed to the monaftery certain filver veflels, coftly rings, and other jewels, to the value of two hundred pounds; and expended upwards of one thoufand pounds on the buildings of the abbey, the great hall of which he began, and laid the foundation of that noble chapter-houfe which ftood till the difiblution of the abbey; he died in 1322, and was buried in the conventual church. After his death,
50. Walter de 'Taunton fiicceeded xa the abbacy, who died on the eleventh day after the folemnity of his benediftion; but during the fhort time of his abbotfhip he caufed to be ma,de the front of the choir, and otherwife adorned tlie abbey-church. He was fucceeded by
51. Adam de Sodbury, who adorned the high altar with a large image of the bleffed Virgin Mary, and a tabernacle of moft excellent workmanfliip. He built the altar of St. Silvefter and St. George, adding a number of images, a chalice, filver cruets gilt, veils and veftments, and many other ornaments ; he vaulted the greateft part of the body of the church, and very curioufly embellifhed it with paintings of faints, martyrs, kings, and benefaftors. He employed one Peter Lightfoot, a monk of the abbey, to ereft an aftronomical clock, with a variety of machinery, part of which was calculated to move certain figures of knights, as it were, in tilts and tournaments. After the diffolution of the abbey, this clock was removed to the cathedral church of Wells, where it ftill remains a monument of antiquity, neither common nor incurious. He alfo gave an organ to the church of incredible fize; caft eleven great bellsi fix of - which he caufed to be hung in the church tower, and the other five in the clock tower. The faid Adam de Sodbury died in 1335, when
52. John
^mnon.] Glastonbury.
255
52. John de Brcinton, or de Brimpton, fuccccdedj who, at thecxpence of a tliou- fand pounds, finifhed the abbot's great hall, which two of his j)redecenbrs had begun, and carried up to the clofing of the windows: lie built the kitchen, the long gallery, the abbot's chapel, and a long range of out-offices: He died in the year 1341. To him fuccceded
53. Walter dc Monington, who made the vault of the choir and of tlie prefbytcryi to which he added a couple of arches; and dying 1374, was fucceeded by
54. John Chinoc, who rebuilt the mined cloifter, the dormitory, and frateiy, and likewife finiflicd the buildings of the great hall and chapter-houfe, begun by abbot Fromund. He died 1410, and was interred in the faid chapter-houfe.
55. His fuccefTor, Nicholas de Fromc, (fo called from the place" of his nativity) prefidedover the abbey thirty-five yearsj and dying 1456, had for his fucceffor
56. Walter More, eledled May 7th of the fame year, at whofe elcftion there were prefent fifty-tliree monks. He died Oft. 0.1, J456, and was fucceeded by
57. John de Selwode, who was eledted abbot Nov. 15, 1457, at which time there were forty-eight monks refident in the monaftery; he was a native of the Eaft- Wood- lands, near Frome, in the foreft of Selwood, where his progenitors (who were of the name of Edmonds) hadconfiderablepoflefTionSi he died July 8th, 1493.
58. After his death, a monk of this monaftery, of the name of Thomas Wafyn, was elecSled abbot; but foine contention enfuing thereupon, he was dilplaced Nov. la, 1492, by Richard Fox, bifhop of Bath and Wells; and
59. Richard Beere fucceeded him the January following. This Beere built at a great expence a fuit of apartments, called 'The King's Lodgings, and another fuit for fecular priefts; lie built Edgar's chapel, vaulted the eaft part of the nave of the abbey- church, and adorned the high altar with an anrependium of fiiver gilt. Adjoining to the north fide of the nave he conftrufted a chapel of our Lady of Loretto, and in the fouth end the chapel of the Sepulchre. He built A. D. 15 12, a fmall ahnshoufe for ten poor women in the north precinfts of the abbey, and the manor-houfe of Sharpham- Park, which before his time was nothing but a poor lodge: he died Januaiy 20th, 1524, and was buried in the fouth aile of the abbey church. On his death forty-ieven monks devolved the eleftion of their abbot to Cardinal Wolfcy, who declared Richard Whiting, then chamberlain of die houfe, their abbot.
60. This Richard Whiting, who was the laft abbot of Glaftonbury, finiflied Edgar's cliapcl, and much enlarged the buildings of the monaftery. He prefided over this abbey in thofe unpropitious days to monks and religious focieties, when the accumu- lated treafures of many ages, which had been derived to the church from the bounty of kings and nobles, were appropriated fo fecular purfes and avaricious interefts. Whiting was unwilling to furrender his abbey to the King, or to lend an ear to any of die (blicitations which were offered him; whereupon, by falfe pretence, they feized on him at his manor-houfe of Sharpham, A. D. 1539, and without much formal procefs as to law or equicy, he v.as dragged on a hurdle to the Torr hill; where, witiiout the leafl:
regard
256 GLASTONBURY. [(5Mot1»
regard to his age, his fandlity, or his entreaties to revifit his convent,, he was hanged; his head fet upon the abbey gate, and his quarters fent to Wells, Bath, Ivelcheller, and Bridgwater/
He was head of the moft ancient abbey in England,' whereof the governor had prece- dence of all the abbots in England till the year 1 1 54, when pope Adrian IV. gave that honour to the abbot of St. Alban's, in confideration of having received his education in that abbey, and becaufe our proto-martyr St. Alban fuffered there. He was always a member of the upper houfe of convocation, and a parliamentary baron; being fum- moned by a particular writ to fit among the elders and barons of the realm. His apart- ment was a kind of a well-difciplined court, where the fbns of noblemen and gentlemen were lent for their virtuous education, and returned thence excellently accomplifhed. After this manner Abbot' Whiting bred up near three hundred pupils, befides others of a meaner rank, whom he fitted for the univerfities at home. His table, attendants, and officers, were an honour to the nation; lie is laid to have entertained five hundred perfons of fafhion at one time, and that upon Wednefdays and Fridays weekly, all the poor of the (!'ou'nti7 were relieved by his particular charity; and when he went abroad, (which he feldom did but to national lynods, general chapters, and parliamentary conventions) he was attended by upwards of one hundred perfons.
The 'fate of 'the abbot and the abbey together being thus decided, the buildings and revenues of this houfe, which had flourifhed for fuch a length of time, became the objefts of depredation. Thofe riches which had flowed from the treafury of monarchs>
■ .J
■■ He was accufed of treafon, and of having embezzled the con ycntaal plate. Concerning his execution the following letter is ftill extant.
" Right Honourable and my verry good Lorde,
♦' Pleafeth youre Lordefhipp to be ndvertyfed, that I have receyved youre Letters dated the lath daye of this preafent ; and underftond by the fame youre Lordediipps greate Goodnes towardes my Friende the Abbott of Peterborough, for whome I have ben ofte bold to wryte unto youre good Lordlhip, mofte hartely thankynge your Lordefhipp for that and all other youre Goodnes that I have founde at youre good Lordelhipp's handes, even fo defjering you my Lord, longe to contynew in the fame.
" My Lorde thies Ihalbe to afferteyne that on Thurfdaye the 14th daye of this prefent Moneth the Abbott of Glafionburye was arrayned, and the next daye putt to Execucyon wyth 2 other of his Menkes for the robbyng of Glaftonburye Churche, on the Torre Hyll next unto the Townc of Glaftonburye; the feyde Abbot's Body being devyded in fower partes and Hedde ftry ken off; wherofoone Quarter llondy the at Welles, another at Bathe, and at Ylchefterand Brigewater the reft; and his headuppon tht: Abby-Gate of Glaftonbury.
" And as concernyng the Rape and Burghlary comytted, thofc Parties are all condempned, and fower of theyn* put to Execucyon at the place of the Aft don, which is called the I'i'ere, and there adjudged to hange flyll in chaynes to th' enfample of others. h%iox Ccpon, cone of the feyde offenders, I have reprived according to your Lordefhipps Letters, of whome I ihall further fhcw unto you at my nexte repayre unto the Ccurte. And here I do fende youre Lordefliipp the names of th' enqueft that palled on Ji'hytyng the feid Abbot, which I en- fure you my Lorde, is as worlhippfull a Jurye as was charged here thies many y eres. And there was never feene in thies parts fo greate apparunce as were here at this prefent tyme, and never better wylyng to ferve the Kyng. My Lorde I enfure you there were many by lies putt up ageynil the ..'Abbott by hys tenaunts and others for wronges and injuryes that he had donne theym. And I comytt youre good Lordeil)ipp to the keapyng of the bleffed Tryntye. From Welles the i6th Day of No-^<embre [1539]
" Your owen to coramande J. RUSSELL."
■ Hift. of Glaflonbury, p. 98.
and
(^laflon.] GLASTONBURY. • 257
and thofe ftru£tures, which had outbraved the fliock of time, and the inclemency of ages, funli together. The eftates of the monaftery, devolving to the crown, were cither granted or fold away. The revenues in 1444, were valued thus; Mbas Glajlon. cum officiariis ibidem, et mm ecckfta de Strete, mdccxxvii marks xs. i, e. 1 151I. 63. 8d. and in i534> 26 Hen. VIII. at 33 iil. 7s. 6d. the tenths 33 il. as. 9d.
In the firft year of Queen Mary, viz. A. D. 1553, the following penfions remained in charge to twenty-five monks, which was about half the number of the religious of this abbey before its diffolution: — Thomas White 61. 13s, 4d. Nicholas Andrewe 61. John Hayne 61. Tliomas Waye 61. Thomas Aflieby 61. William Huchyns 5I. Thomas Dovell 5I. John Tanner 5I. Thomas Nicholas 5I. John Watfon 4I. 6s. 8d. John Chynne 4I. 6s. 8d. John Grundell 4I. Martin Noble 4I. Robert Cowker 4I. John Sheperd 4I. John Pyddefley 4I. William Gryce 4I. John Waye 4I. John Downe 4I. W^illiam Byfshope 4I. John Houfley 4I. Simon Outerdon 4I. Jonn Golde 4I. Thomas Carry 4I. Ariftotle Webb 4I.'
The monks had fome hopes of regaining their abbey under the aufpices of Queen Mary, who hadreftored feveral religious orders to their ancient manfions; and for this purpofe a few of them, placed at Weftminfter, Nov. 21, 1556, prefented a petition to tlie lord chamberlain, praying him to put the Queen in mind of her promife concerning the reeftablifhment of the great monaftery of Glaftonbury;" but either by reafon of the fhortnefs of that Queen's reign, or the imprafticability of the projedt, the petition had not its defired effeft.
After the diflblutioa, the following furvey of the manor of Glaftonbury and its appertenances was taken upon tlie certificate of Richard Pollard and Thomas Moyle, general furveyors of the King's lands.
" Th£ LoRDESHir OF Glastonburye.
" Demaynes kept in the Abbatt's handes. " The demaynes which don apperteyne unto the fayde late monafterye attaynted, beyng allwayes kept in the handes and occupation of die faide abbat and convent, unto the time of th' attaindure thereof, over and befydes certayn other demayne landcs, letton to divers perfons by indenture for tcrme of theire lyves, (die parcells wherof in die particular boke of furvey, at thisprefent tyme tlierof made, feverally don appere) ar of die yercly value of 48I. los. 8d.
" Rentes of Jffise and Cujlomary Tenants.
" The rente of affise of the freeholders appeiteyning unto the fayde lordelhip of Glaf- tonburye, allways payable at the feafts of th' Annunciation of oure Ladye,' Mydfomcr, Michelmas, and Chriftnias, is of the yerely value of 35s. 6 id.
" The rente of cuftomarye tcnaunts and copiholders apperteyning unto the fayde lordelhip, with the workes and cuflomes, which they are bounde to doe by the tenure of theire landes, is of the value of 262I. 15s. 6d.^
' Willis's Hid. of Abbies, i. 108. " Burnet's Hi.1. of the Reformation, ii. 306.
Vol. II. ' LI •• Vemaynfj
2.58 ^ GLASTONBURY. [^Mm
" Demaynes lett oute to Fermes. '*' The demaynes apperteynyng unto the fayde lordefhip, beyng lett to ferme to dyver« perfons, for terme of theire lyves, by the fame late abbat and convent, long before his attayndture, with the herbage of the parks of Norwood, 26I. 13s. 4d. Wyrrall i6s. and Sharpham 40s. are of the yerely value of 49I. iis. 8d.
■** Wood and I'ymbre.
" Within the parke of Norwood there arc clxxii acres of woodde, of the age of xx yeres, and heretofore have allwayes been ufed to be felde and folde every xvi yeres, every acre therof at this prefent furveye worth xxs.
" Alfo within the parke of Wyrrall is Ix acres of fayre tymbre, eftemed to be worth 289I. I OS.
** Alfo within the parke of Sharpliam tTiere arc Ixxx acres of wood, well fct with okes, aflies, and maples, whiche alweyes have ben ufed to be felled and folde every xiv yeres, and every acre is worth at this prefent tyme vis. viiid,
'*' Alfo within the fame parke there ar cc okes fytt for tymbre, «very oke eftemed to be worth as. Oute of the coppices and underwoods of the fayde woods, there may a yerely wood fale fee made, not hurtyng nor fpoyling any of the tymbre or under- woddej but the fayde weodes allwaies to contynewe as good as they ar now, to the v^lue of jSal. 2s. id.
" North-wood, Wyrrall, and Sharpham Parkes.
" Northwood Parke conteyneth in circuite iiii myles, the pales were repayred, th* erbage verye good and fwete, wherin are 800 deer, wherof there ar of dere of auntler 1 60, dere of rafcall 640.
« Wyrrall parke conteyneth in circuite one myle and one quarter, the pales have nede to be repayred, th' erbage vsry good and fertyle, with a roning ftreme throwe the .fame; 100 dere, wherof are of dere of auntler 15, dere of rafcall 85.
" The parke of Sharpham conteyneth in circuite ii long myles of good meade and pafture, twitfi ii fayre pondes in the fame; wherin are 160 dere, wherof are of dere of auntler 20, dere of rafcall 140.
*' Commons.
*' Alfo there is apperteynyng unto the fayde lordefhip one fayre common, called Glaftonburye Moore; the pafture therof is very fertile, and in effect as good as meade, ■wherin the tenaunts doe common with theire catal at all feafons of the yere, and it .conteyneth in circuit 1 6 miles.
" Able Men tojerve the King. "" Alfo ther ben of tennents and other able men, reciaunt and inhabiting within the prccindte of the fayde lordefhip, beyng in redynes to ferve the King's high Majeftie, when-focver they Ihall be called upon, to the nombre of 1 13.
" Bondmen. '" Alfo there are apperteynyng unto the faid manor certayne rnen called bondemen, whofe bodeyes and goodes are allwayes at the King's pleafure, as lorde therof, to the nombre of 14.
tfi-
A* 259
<S5Iaaon.3 GLASTONBURY. Jl^' 2^9
* Perquyfttes of Courtes. " The profitts commyng of the pcrquyfites of the courtes, with the fynes of landes, are this prefent yere, as appercth in the bokcs of accompts, 18I. 17s. Sd.""
The manor of Glaftonbury being thus vefted in the crown, was, together with the houfc and fite of the monaftery, churcli, cloifters, and church-yard belonging to tlie fame, granted by King Edward VI. in the firft year of his reign to Edward duke of Somerfet/ i Eliz. thehoufe, fite of die monaftery, Wearyall-Park, a meffuagc called Le Galley, fite of the manor of Bride, a mcflijage called the New-Bairie, and other lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with all their rights and appertenahces ii^^fton- bury, were granted to Sir Peter Carew, knt.'"^',k4Eliz. the fame premife^f^^^^ntcd to Thomas earl of SuflTex and hi» heirs male,* 38 Eliz. the Earl of Safiex fold the manor and fite of the monaftery to William Stone, who 41 Eliz. fola the fame to William Cavendifli, efq.*" The manor was afterwards purchafed by Mr. BnKon, from whom it came to the Strodcs of Dorfetftiire. William Strode, efq; Hi thr begin- ning of the prefenr century, Jeft it in partition betwixt feven daughters, coheireftes, who afterwards difpofed of their feveral fhares, referving to tiiem and their heirs a fee-farm or chief rent of 240I. payable yearly out of the faid manor. Of the feven (Tiares, Peter Berry, efq; became pofitfTed of four, and fold the fame to Williarh Reeves, clq; mer- chant of Briftol, from whom they came by fucceftive purchafes to Henry Burgimi, and George Miller, efqrs. Miller's eftatcs being fold in Auguft 1785, the four fliares. abovementioned were bought by Mr, Brook of Bath 5 the Tor part of th.e eftaCe was purchafed by Rrciiard Colt Hoare, efq^j two parts of the feven are inherited by John Mofs of the city of Wells, efq; and the laft fingle ftiare is now the property of Lucas Pulsford, efq. Courts baron and leet are held yearly in fucceffion by the refpe<^ive 9 %
lords. The manpr-houfe is frtuated in th^ northweft part of the town, and belongs to Mr. Brook abovementioned.
This abbey was fituated on the fouth fide of the High-ftreet leading from Wells to
Bridgwater, and was furrounded on all fides by a high wall of wrought freeftone. The *^ *
buildings had frequently undergone thofc ckvaftations which the aflTaults of time, or the W
rage of fire, lavifli unfparingly on the moft pompous ftrudtuies. ^
The foundation plot of ground on which the abbey and its offices were eredtcd, comprifed no lefs than fixty acres within the walls. The nave of the great church, from St. Jofcph's chapel to the crofs, was in length two hundred and twenty feet; the ^
choir was one hurKked and fifty-five (ecr. long, and each tranfept forty-five feet irt"fength; the tower was alfo forty-five feet in breadth. The chapel of St. Jofeph of Arimathea, contiguous to the weft end of the great church,) was one hundred and ten feet long, and twenty-four feet broad; under the floor thereof was a large and handfome fepulchral vault, having at the fi>uth€aft etMTier an arched paflage Ic^dihg to- the Tor, which has been traced a confiderable way. Under the body of the church there were three large vaults, fupported by two rows of ftrong mafiive pillars, in which lay entombed many corpfes of the moft illuftrioiu* perfonnges'. The cloift€ts adjoined to the church on
» Langtoft's Chrpn. ii. 346. ■^ Pat. 1 ffit Vf. p« 4. * Pat. i ElCz. p, 7.
•" Pat. 14 Eliz. p. 4. " Licence to afiAjtre.
L 1 a the
i
«
1
n
260 #H GLASTONBURY. [<&laaom
the fowBRe, and were a fquare of two hundred and twenty feet. The whole church, including the chapel of St. Jofeph, was five hundred and thirty feet in length. It contained five chapels; St. Edgar's, which flood jufl behind the choir; St. Mary's, in the north aile; St. Andrew's, in the fouth ailej on the north fide of the nave, the chapel of our Lady of Lorctto; and at the fouth angle, the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre. The floors were inlaid with Norman tile, infcribed with fcripture fentences, and the names of Kings and benefaftors.
But to give the reader a competent idea of the whole of the buildings of this ftu- pendous abbey, it will be necefTary to recur to
^^ Hj^. 3n 31ntientorg of tf)e C&ambers, 2Dffice0, uc
H Taken about the time of the Reformation:
Tlie great chamber, leventy-two feet The high chamber, called the King's
long, and twenty-four feet broad. Lodgings,
The abbot's chamber. The wardrobe, under the King's.
The fecond chamber. The fecond chamber, next to the King's.
The third chamber. The third chamber.
The fourth chamber. The fourth chamber.
The fifth chamber. Two chambers, called the inner chambers.
Cbe IPtior'S HoUgings.
The chapel. The prior's chamber.
The buttery. The inner chamber.
Cf)e jracmcrar'iEi SDffice*
The kitchen. The inner chamber.
The chapel. The cook's chamber.
Ctje almoner's i|)oufe.
The buttery. The new chamber. The chamber over againft it.
31n anot&ec Office.
A chamber. A chamber called Paradije. The inner chamber.
Cfje jFriac'0 Cbamfter,
The chapel. The monks chamber.
The buttery chamber. The parlour.
Cf)c ^erton's fi)ffice^
The chamber hanged with green fay.
Clje BlutJilcc'g ©ffice C|)e jTtiarg Office.
The dairy houfe.
C&e ^ulJ»aimonet*;S Office.
The bake-houfe belonging to the The bifhop's chamber.
The hall. The kitchen.
The hall. The buttery.
The Inner chamber.
A hall.
The doftor's chamber. The bifhop's chamber.
The bake-houfe.
The flill-houfc.
fub-almoner's office.
The inner chamber.
The
^■
f?W:-
©fafton.]
GLASTONBURY.
261
The cellarer's chambers.
The red chamber.
The green chamber.
The broad chamber.
The chamber next to it.
The white chamber.
Paulett's chamber.
The fourth bed-chamber.
The middle chamber.
The next chamber.
The doctor's chamber.
Another hall.
The mill-houfe.
The bake-houfe.
The brew-houfe
The armory, where was a great number of fwords, guns, bullets, and other materials belonging to that office.
The convent's kitchen, 40 feet fquare.
The archdeacon's office.
The gallery.
The fextery.
The kitchen.
Another chapel.
The little parlour under the gallery.
The great hall on the fouth fide of the cloifters, 1 1 1 feet long, and 5 1 feet broad; hung at the upper end with a great piece of arras.
The pantry.
The buttery.
The abbot's pump-houfe.
The abbot's ftable, where were eight horfes. Horfes, mares, and colts, kept at Sharp- ham, and other parks, in number 44.
In the great tower fcven large bells.
In the high church a number of coftly altars.
In the new chapel a very fair tomb of King Edgar, copper gilt.
The altar fet with images gilt.
The broad court belonging to the abbey, contained in lengdi 491 feet, and in breadth 220 feet.
Of this immenfe range of buildings fcarce a veftige now is to be fcen; and all that remains of this once magnificent pile, are fome fragments of the church, St. Jofeph's chapel, and the abbot's kitchen. The reft is reduced to a heap of rubbifh, loading the furface of its fcite with unfeemly ruins. Some of the fouth walls of the choir are ftill ftanding, as are alio fome pieces of St. Edgar's, St. Andrew's, and the Loretto chapel, with the two eaft pillars of the tower, and a weft arch leading into St. Jofeph's chapel. This laft-mentioned chapel, except the roof and floor, is pretty entire. It was a moft elegant ftrufture, having on each fide fix windows, under which were very rich compart- ments of zigzag arches of five pillars, and their fpandrils adorned with rofes, crefcents, and painted ftars. The fouth door has ornaments of flower-work, and hiftoiyj and the north, which is very rich, is decorated with flouriflies, foliage, and figures.
The abbot's kitchen,'' built by Whiting, the laft abbot, is odtagonal, having in the angles four fire-places fixteen feet long. In the flat part of the roof riles an arched oftagonal pyramid, crowned with a double lantern, one within another. In a fmaller pyramid hung a bell to call the poor people to the adjoining almonry. In 1667, this kitchen was hired by the Quakers for a meeting-houfe.* In the north wall there is ftuck up the effigy of an abbot, attired in his robes; which in 1780 was up in the north ailc of the abbey-church. Other effigies have at different
dug
>' 33 Edw. I. William Pafturell held twelve ox-gangs of land in Glaftonbury, of the abbot thereof, by the fc: \'ice of fuiding a cook in the kitchen of the faid abbot, and a baker in the bake-houfe. £fc,
"■ Notes by Savage.
times
#'*
262 GLASTONBURY, mmon,
times emerged from the ruins of this monaftery, which contained the bodies of kings, bifhops, abbots, priefts, and nobles.
In the church were buried King Arthur, and his Queen Gurnev-er; King Cbel the fecond,^ father to St. Hellen, and grandfather to Conftantine the Great; Kentwin King of the Weft Saxons, King Edmund I. King Edgar, and King Edmund Ironfide; the Dukes Alpher, Athelftan, Elwin, and Humphry Stafford, Duke of Devonfliire;. Bifhops, Hedda, third of the fee of Winchefter; Brithwold, eighth bifhop of Wilton; Brithwyn, twelfth bifhop of Wells ; and SefFride, twenty-ninth bifhop of Chichefter. Abbots,, Ambrefbury, Pederton, Taunton, Kent, Fromund, Walter de Taunton, Sodbury, Breinron, Monington, Chinock, Frome, More, Selwood, and Beer. In the Lady Chapel lay Sir John Byconel, and Sir William Seymour, knight of the Bath;, and in the fouth tranfept Sir Thomas Stawel, knt. and Hugh Monington, S.T.P.. brother to Abbot Monington. In the fame aile lay the effigy of an armed knight unknown. 1 9 Edw. III. one John Blome, a citizen of London, procured licence from the King to fearch among the buildings of the monaftery for the body of St. Jofeph of Arimathea; but the body was not found.
We are now to fay fomething of the town of Glaftonbury itfelf, which owed its origin to the abbey we have been defcribing. It lies in a low marfhy country, five miles nearly fouth from Wells, and in the great road from that city to Exeter.. It was built in the reign of King Ina, about A. D. 708, and was endowed by that King., ■with a variety of privileges. About the year 873 it was ruined by the Danes; but was re-edified by King Edmund, the ninth Saxon Monarch, who exempted it from all impofitions and opprefTions, and rendered it entirely fubjeft to and dependant on the abbey. In this ftate it continued till the year 1184, when both it and the abbey were confumed by fire. It was again rebuilt by the liberality of King Henry III.; but on the eleventh of September 1276 it was once more deftroyed by that dreadful earths- quake which precipitated the church of St. Michael from the Tor hUl, and greatly endamaged other ftruftures in the country. It now principally eonfifts of two ftreetSi the chief of which runs from eaft to weft, where ftands the market crofs, the other from the crofs fouth and almoft north, and is the road to Bridgewater and Exeter.. In both thefe ftreets many houfes are either entirely built or patched up with ftones from the abbey. Out of the ruins of the old abbot's lodging on tlie eaft fide of the fecond fbreet above-mentioned, the houfe now called the Abbey-Houfe was conftrufted in 17 14, with arms and ornaments in very ftrong relief: viz. the arms of Edward the Confeflbr, France and England, quarterly; the initial letters of the abbots. Beer and Fromundj a crofs between two cups, being the device of Beer; an ear of barley for the fame, with pelicans, rofes, pomegranates, two birds with expanded wings, encindured with a mitred garland^ fymbols of the Evangelifts, &c.. Tlie great gate, which formerly led into the abbey and' the great church, is now become an inn. In this houfe was not long fince fhewn the abbot's bed, a clumfy piece of furniture. The George inn, in the High-ftreet, was formerly an hofpital for the entertainment, of pilgrims reforting to the fhrine of St. Jofeph of Arimathea, and to thofe other religious reliques which drew fuch a number of itinerant devotees to this hallowed fpot. This houfe v.'as given A.D. 1490 by Abbot Selwood,, together with two clofes.
oti
iJlatlon.l GLASTONBURY. 263
on the north fide thereof to the then chamberlain of the abbey; the front of the houfc is very curioufly ornamented with arms, niches, and entablatures. Over the gate there is a chevron engrailed azure between three crofles gules; per pale vert and azure-, per pale azure and gules. It was formerly decorated with figures of the Twelve Caefars, two of which, with a mutilated figure of Charity, ftill remain. Underneath this houfe is a vault which comes out quite under the town, and leads to the abbey, fo low that a man muft crawl on his knees to pafs it; but there are benches, or little narrow places to reft the elbows on, in order to eafe the knees. It comes out into a large vaulted place, ufed for a cellar, tod after about five or fix paces turns afide to the right into another pafl!age high enough for a man to walk upright; this paflage is about five or fix paces long, and leads to a flight of fteps which conducted privately to the abbot's chamber, wherein was a large handfome bedftead, on which King Henry VIII. once lay.
In the place of the Porter's Lodge was ereded a good dwelling-houfe, the owner of which in the laft century pulled down an old mantle-piece, and placed k in the ftreet, where it lay for feveral years. He was once ofi^ered three (hillings for it, but would not fell- it under three and four-pence. At length his daughter going to build a fmall chamber, got a workman to faw it out to make ftairs; when in a private hole, which had been purpofely made in it, the mafon found near a hundred pieces of gold, of the time of Richard II. and Edw. III. and of the value of about eleven {hillings each.* .
Above the George is another houfe with a ftone bay window called the Tribunal, which was formerly filled with painted glafs, confifting chiefly of coats of the Abbots, Kings of England, and the different benefaftors. On the fouth fide of the fame ftreet is the hofpital or alms-houfe of Abbot Richard Beer, founded and endowed in 1512 for ten poor women. Adjoining thereto is a chapel, the entrance to which is from the High- ftreet near the crofs, through an ancient gateway, wherein is a room paved with Roman bricks. At the eaft end of the ftreet is an old chapel or cell dedicated to St. Mar- garet, founded by one of the ancient abbots. In the other ftreet on the weft fide of the road, ftands the hofpital of St. John, founded, or rather augmented, for ten poor and infirm people by abbot Michael, A. D. 1246.
The town of Glaftonbury comprehends two parifties, (the patronage of both formerly belonging to the abbey) St. John Baptift, and St. Benignus or Benedift, which within their precinfls contain \ipwards of three hundred and fixty houfes.
The church of St. John Baptift, valued in 11^2 at twenty-four marks,* and of which the Rev. Mr. Pratt is the prefent incumbent, ftands on the north fide of the High-ftreet, and is a very neat, light ftrudture with a fine lofty tower.
In the chancel are two ancient tombs, one on each fide; that on the north fide was erefted to the memory of one Richard Atwell, who died in the year 1472. This ArwcU contributed to the repair of the church, and gave thereto feveral buildings ir» the High-ftreet. In the odier tomb, which is conftrudted in a fimilai- manner, lies Joan his wife, who was a benefaftrefs to the abbey.
• MSS. Notes by Savage, 1677,. » Taxat. Spiritual,
Againft
264 G L A S T O N B U R Y. [(S5Iafion>
Againft the fouth wall ftands an old tomb of one John Camel, purfe-bearer to one- of the abbots, whofe name is punned upon in divers reprefentations of camels, and fcroUs of Latin verfes, now not wholly intelligible.
On the floor is a blue ftone infcribed to the memory of Alexander Dyer and Catherine his wife, of Street near Glaftonbury. He died March 7, 1633; fhe Sept. 26, 1650. As alfo to the memory of Captain John Dyer, who died April 24, 1670, Arms: Argent^ dancettee.
On the north fide of the communion-table there is a mur^I monument infcribed to the memory of Mary Trent, who died April 20,^ 1753, aged '^'^i' Arms: Azure, three chevronels or, in chief two rofes argent, impaled with, paly, argerit d^nd fable, two fleurs- de-lis couaterchanged.
On a flat fl:one is an almoft obliterated infcription to the memory of the Rev. Edmund Byron, M. A.
The church of St. Benedift, or the lower church, ftands in the Weft-ftreet, and was built by Abbot Beer, the initials of whofe name are carved in a flaield between a gar- land furmounted by a mitre for the abbey over the north doori and on a battlement above is a crofs with two cups and IR, 15. at the bottom.
Within the church, in a pew belonging to the Golds' family of Sharpham-Park, is a flat ftone with this infcription:
" En depofitas, Ledtor, fub hoc marmore reliquias integerrimi viri Henrici Gold, de villa SJiarphamienfi equitis aurati, Banci Reginenfis Jufticiarii prudentiflimi : cujus anima, corporis domicilio foluta, adDeum creatorem remigravit Martij die xxvi, anno AnnsReginae ix°. astatis fu£e lxvh, redemptionis noftrjE MDCCX." Arms: Azure, a lion rampant or, between three fcrolls argent, Gold j impaling, on a bar betwee;^ three lions pafTant, as many croITes patee.
Not only the town, but the environs of Glaftonbury, abound with religious reliques. The moft confpicuous is the Tor or Tower of St. Michael, ftanding upon a very high hill, northeaftward from the town, on which poor Whiting met his imtimely end. On this bleak and defolate fpot the faints Phaganus and Diruvianus ereded a fmall oratory to the honour of St. Michael the archangel,' which was re-edified by St. ' Patrick, and beautified by fome of his fucceflbrs. The fucceeding abbots enlarged upon the ancient plan, and here built not only a large and elegant church and mona- ftery; but alfo other buildings, dwelling-houfes, and offices; and obtained many grants of privileges from feveral of the kings; one of which was from Henry I. to the pre- centor of the church of Glaftonbury, appointing him to have yearly a fair at the monaftery of St. Michael de Torre in the ifle of Glafton, belonging to the chantry of -the abbey of Glaftonbury, to laft for fix days, viz. for five days before the feaft of St. Michael, and on the day of that feaft, in ,the fame place where the fair ufed to be held for two days only, viz. on the eve and day of the fame faint; with all liberties and free cuftoms ufual.ly belonging to fairs of like fort, provided the faid fair be not to the detrinaent of other fairs in the neighbourhood.'' The witnefles to this charter were,
' See the former part of this account, and vol. i. p. 76, note '. ' " Cart. 27 Hen. I.
William
«!anon»]. GLASTONBURY. 265
W illiam Longefpee, Jolm Fitz-Gefferey, Pliilip BaflTct, Hugh de Vivon, Alan h Zouche, John de PleflTcto, GefFerey Difpencer, Robert de Miifccgros, Paulin Peyner, Nicholas de Bolewil, Walter de Luytone, and others. The whole of the buildings which had been ereded on diis hill by feveral abbots, at a vaft expence, the labour being very great to convey materials up the inimenfe afccnt, were totally deftroyed by tlie earthquake which happened in, 127 1, but afterwards more Iplendidly rebuilt, anj that church erefted, of which the tower ftill remains, and lifts its head into the clouds, an objcft of admiration to travellers, and an ornament to the furrounding country. At the weft end of it is carved the figure of St. Michael the archangel, holding in his ■ hand a pair of fcales, in one of which is the bible, in the other a devil, and another devil hanging by ftriving to make weight; but are both too light. This curious remnant of antiquity is the property of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, bart. who has refcued it, as well as that of King Alfred's tower at Stourton, (both in view of each other) from oblivion, by the annexed plate.
At the foot of this hill is the hamlet of Edcarlev, where was a chapel dedicated to St. Dunftan; but at the diflblution converted into a barn.
rn the Ifle of Biokery was lilcewife a chapel to the honour of St. Bridget, now entirely in ruins.
Southweft from the town Is Wearyall-IIill, an eminence fb called (if we will be- lieve the monkifh writers) from St. Jofeph and his companions fitting down here all weary with their journey. Here St. Jofeph ftuck his ftick into the earth, which, aldiough a dry hawthorn ftaff, thenceforth grew, and conftantly budded on Chriftmas-day. It had two trunks or bodies, till die time of Queen Elizabeth, when a puritan exterminated one, and left the other, which was of the fize of a common man, to be viewed ia wonder by ftrangers; and the bloiloms thereof were efteemed fuch curiofities by people of all nations, that the Briftol merchants made a traffick of them, and exported them into foreign parts. In the great rebellion, during the time of King Charles I. the remaining trunk of this tree was alfo cut downj but other trees from its branches are ftill growing in many gardens of Glailonbury, and in the different nurferies ofthi.^ kingdom. It is probable that the monks of Glaftonbury procured this tree from Paleftine, where abundance of the fame fort grow, and flower about the fame time. Where this thorn grew is faid to have been a nunnery dedicated to St. Peter, withouc the pale of Weriel-Park, belonging to the abbey.
Befides this holy diorn, there grew in the abbey-church-yard, on the north fide of St, Jofeph's chapel, a miraculous walnut-tree, which never budded forth before the feaft of St. Barnabas, viz. the eleventh of June; and on that ver)' day fliot forth leaves and flourifhed like its ufual fpecies. This tree is alfo gone, and in the place thereof ftands a very fine walnut-tree of the common fort.
It is ftrange to fay how much both thefe trees were fought after by the credulous; and though the former was a common thorn, and die latter not an uncommon walnut, Queen Anne, King James, and many of the nobility of the realm, even when the times of monkifli fuperftitioii had ccafcd, gave large fums of money for fmall cuttings from the original.
Vol. II. M m Nor
:-^u G L At]S-:T:;OC^N b u r y. t^anon.
Nor did the rage of foperftkion ceafe to harrafs this ancient but defolated place till the year 1751, when thoufands of itinerants found reafon to complain of tlieir journies hither, and in heavinefs returning, lament tlieir ill-drawn purfes.'
One Matthew Cliancellor, a parifliioner of North-Wotton, near the town, who had been afflifted with an afthma thirty years, ga.ve out upon oath, that about the middle of October 1750, having had in the nigiit-tirne a violent fit, and afterwards falling afleep, he dreamed that he was at Glaftonbury, fome way above Chain-gate in the horfe track, and there faw fome of the cleareft water he ever faw in ail his life, and that he kneeled down on his knees and heartily drank thereof. As foon as he flood up, there feemed to be a perfon Handing before him, who, pointing with his finger to the fpring, addrefled him thus: — " If you will go to that freeftone fhoot, and take a clean glafs, and drjrik a glafs full fading feven Sunday mornings following, and let no perfon fee you, you will find a perfeft cure of your diforder, and then make it publick to all the world." He aflced him, ''Why feven Sunday mornings?" and was anfwered, that "^ the world was made in fix days, and on the feventh God Almighty refted from his labour and blefled it above other days. Befides (continues he) this water comes frorrt Qutof the holy ground where a great many faints and martyrs have been buried." He further told him fomethingj:oncerning our Saviour's being baptized in the river Jordan, but that he could not remember it diftinftly when he awoke. In confequence of this converfation, the m.an went the Sunday morning following to Glaftonbury, which is about three miles from the place where he lived, and found it exaftly according to his dream; but it being a dry time, and the water not running veiy plentifully, he dipped the glafs three times into the hole under where the Ihoot dropped, took up to the value of a glafs full, and drank it, giving God thanks. He continued to do lb feven Sundays, and perfeftly recovered from his diforder.
It is incredible how eagerly this ridiculous ftory was credited. People of all deno- :minations flocked hither from every part of the kingdom, to partake of the waters of this falubrious ftream. Every inn and houfe in Glaftonbury and its environs were crouded with guefts and lodgers, and it is a faft well authenticated, that the town in the month of May 175 1, contained upwards of ten thoufand ftrangers. If the reader would wjfti to know the fuccefs which thefe itinerant invalids experienced from their yifit, he muft be informed that this fpring, difcovered by a vifion in the night feafon, was no more than a fpring of common fair water, poflljffing no medical properties whatever; and that the whole ftory was defignedly trumped up with a view of bring- ing cuftom to the town, which had ftrangely dwindled fince the demoUtion of its abbey. The fpring is in the road to Shepton-Mallet under the Tor hill.
Before we conclude our account of this place, we muft not omit mentioning the very jwcient pyramids which are recorded by William of Malmeftjury to have ftood in the
• Mr. Aftimole, the Roficrucian of noted memory, tells us, that Edward Kelley, the famous Worcefler necro- mancer, and his friend and companion Dr. Dee, had the good fortune to find a large quantity of .the Elixir, or Philofopher's Stone, in the ruins of the abbey. This Elixir is faid to have been fo furprilingly rich, that a great (Jeal was Ipft in ivials and projeftions before they difcovered the force of its virtue. Biog. Di£t. vii. 513. Art. K-elley.
abbot's
(5la(!on.]
GLASTONBURY.
267
abbot's church-yard about the farcophagus of King Arthur. The tallefl:, and that, which flood neareft to the church, was twenty-fix feet in height, and confifted of five courfcsor ftories. In the upper courfe was the figure of a bilhop; in the fecond a King, with this infcription, HER. SEXI. and BLISVVERH. In the third the names WEMCRESTE,. BANTOMP, WENETHEGN. In the fourth, HATE. WVLFREDE and EANFLEDE. In the fifth and loweft the figure of an abbot, . with the following infcription, LOGVVOR WESLIELAS, and BREGDENE, . SVVELVVES, HWINGENDES, and BERNE. The otiier pyramid was eighteen feet higli, and confifted of four ftories, whereon were infcribed', in laige charac- ters, HEDDE Epifcopus, BREGORRED and BEORVVALDE/ Thefe pillars» ■which have for many hundred years been buried in the duft, commemorated fome of the early abbots, who were interred. underneath them.
The feal of the abbey was differently charged : One -coat was Vert, a crofs botonnce arg^aty on^ a canton of the laft the Virgin Mary and Child: . The other, Fert, a crofs - botonnce argent; on the dexter chief quarter tlie Virgin Mary. holding the Infant inhei- dexter. aiTTi; and in the finifter a fceptre cr; in each of the otlier quarters a ducal . crown of the laft.
In. the terrier* of Richard Beere, the laft abbot of Glaftonbury but one, we find an account of the ftate of the town, its government, and other matters, in the time of Henry VIII.
" In the town of Glaftonbtiry is a certain hall, lately built by Richard Lord Abbor> for courts and feffions, and meetings of the fherifFs and juftices of the peace, within the liberties of the twelve hides; under which is a gaol for the confinement of prifoners. A ftieriff's court is held there once at Hock, and again at the feaft of St. Michael; at which courts attend all the free tenants within the twelve hides. At the lame attend '- the underwritten tithings, and pay their common fines, viz. ^
" The tithing of Pathenbbrgh pays in common fines to the faid courts o
The tithing of NortUode
The tithing of Mere pays no fine, but fuit
The tithings of Wotton and Wefthome, the fame
The tithing of Weft-Pennard, common fines
Bradlye pays no fine, but fuit
Baltonefborgh per annum in fines ■ ■ ■
Eftrete —
Edgarly -— — •— ■ —
4 3
o 12
o o
o o
o
8 2 6
o o o
Sum total per annum — 0350
•' The ftierifFs of the twelve hides hold their meetings from month to month.
" There are alfo two coroners eleded by writ of the Lord Abbot, and amoveable at his pleafure, who infpeft all mifdemeanors within the twelve hides, receive the
' Guilielin. MaJmclb. Hiih « Johan. Glafton. Hift. de Reb. Glafton. ii. 306I
M m 2 . abjurations
268 <J L A S T O N B U R Vr [^Mw.
abjurations of felons, and record fudh things as belong to the coroner's office, -before the itinerant juftices and others within tlie hides.
" There is a market kept every week on Wednefday.
'' There is alfo^ certain portmote twice a year, viz. at Hock, and at the feaft of St. Michael, in which all forts of weights and meafures of fellers and buyers within the twelve hides are tried and proved; and all fellers of bread and ale contrary to the aflizc tried and punilhed.
" There is a fair on St. Dunftan's day, now not in ufe. There is a certain fair on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Crofs, which is now alfo difcontinued.
« There is alfo a fair at the Torre on the feaft of the Nativity of the BlefTcd Virgin Mary, wliich lads generally for fix days, the toll for which is eftimated at a6s, 8d. per snnum. A fair is likewife kept there on the feaft of St. Michael.
** There is a certain pafture under the fouth fide of Wyrehall-Park, called V^ne^ard, confifting of five clofes very pleafantly fituated.
** There is another park called Si'erphame, containing with fome mead inclofures ,jn the circuit thereof three hundred and eighty-two acres. In this park Abbot Richard lately built at his own expence a very handfome manor-houfe, with a chapel, hall, parlour, chambers, ftorehoufes, kitchen, and other rooms and offices, having a ftone wall on one fide and oak:pales on the other, with an orchard and fiftiponds. In which park might be kept four hundred deer, and forty large <:attle.
*' There is a moor, called Hultemore, with the alderwood, containing two hundred and eighty-three acres.
*' Another moor is called Heiimore, containing with the heath eight hundred acres.
** A third moor'is called Southmore, or Alkrmore, containing one thoufand and forty acres, the herbage of which is .yfcd in common by the different tenants, and all the firing appertains to the monaftery; in which tnoor no chace could formerly be made by reafon of the tliicknefs of the alders, and the depth of the moraffes.
" A fourth common moor is called Northmore, and contains fix hundred antl forty acres.
" The laft common moor is called Kynrr^ard-More, containing by admeafurement ■four hundred and thirty acres.
■** There is hkewife a new water-mill, fituated at Northover, anderciled by Abbot Richard, which mill brings in yearly ten pounds, one hundred fhillings of which are appropriated to the fupport of the poor women in the hofpital, founded by the faid abbot, at the outward abbey gate; and ten fliillings to the fexton for the tithe of die mill.
*' There is another .mill called Becary mill, and a new fulling-.mill lately erefted by ;the faid Lord Abbot; as alfo a water-mill in the town, and a wind-mill above it."
Sharpham-Park gave birth to that elegant and humorous writer Henry Pielding, April 22, 1707, His father Edmund Fielding, efq; who was a younger fon of the
Earl
V
<fi5la(lon.j GLASTONBURY. 269
Earl of Denbigh, was id the army in the rank of lieutenant-general; and his mother was the daughter of Judge Gould, and aunt to the prefent Sir Henry Gould, of Sharp- ham, one of the judges of the common-pleas. His dramatick works arc very numerous and all comick, but his novels are moft efteemed, and perhaps no writer ever painted human life in ftronger colours than he has in moft of them. He died at Lifbon in 1754, in the forty-eighth year of his age.
The title oX Aualortt the ancient appellation of the diftrift wc have been defcribing, was granted by King Charles II. July 10, 1659, 'o John Mordaunt, fecond fon of John Earl of Peterborough, who married Elizabeth, daughter and fole heir of Thomas Carey» fecond fon to Robert Karl of Monmouth, and by her had Charles third Earl of Peter- borough, and father of the prefent Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough and Monmouth, Vifcount Avalon, &c.
BALTONSBURY.
SOUTHEAST from Glaftonbury, on the river Brew, ftands Baltonfbury, the manor of which was A. D. 745 given to the monks by one LuUa, a devout lady, and great benefadlrefs to the abbey.' In the Conqueror's time the church held jt in demefne:
" The church itfelf holds Baltunesberge. In the time of King Edward it gelded *' for five hides. The arable is fix carucates. Thereof in demefne are four hides, and " one virgate. And there are two carucates, and four fervants, and five villanes, and *' nine bordars, and three cottagers with two ploughs. There is a mill of -fiveniillings *' rent, and diirty acres of meadow. Wood one mile and a half long, and lialf a mile *' broad. It was and is worth fix pounds.*"' ,
The mill mentioned in this account was broken down by Joceline bifliop of Bath, •which was one of the complaints exhibited by the monks againft that prelate in their contentions about the government of the abbey." There is yet a mill ftanding upon the ruins of the old one on the river Brew.
The tithing of Baltonfbury paid yearly eight ftiillings to the abbot's torn at Glafton.*
After the diflblution the manor was granted to Edward Duke of Somerfet, in whole fchedule it is valued at 39I. 1 8s. 5 id. per annum j' and on his attainder Edw. VI. gave it to John Ryther, efq. 8 Eliz. a moiety of it belonged to "William Hungate, of Saxton in Yorldhire. In the fame reign Sir William St. Loe held lands here. TJie fee-farm rents of the manor now belong to John Codrington, efq.
The roll of Glaftonbury furveys this manor of Balronft)ury, as follows:
» QmlirUn. Malmcf. ap. Adam. Domcrham, i. 62. *■ Lib, Domefday. * .4.dara. Domerham. u, 452.
« Fin. Com. Somerr, ' MS. Valor,
« The
270 BALTONSBURY. [eiaSom
** The Manor of Baltesborough. " Rentes and Demaynes.
" The rentes of affife, cuftomarye tennantes, and demayhes, perteynyng to the faidc manour, are of the yerely valew of loil. 7s. iO;id,
" Perqutfites of Courtes and Fynes. " The profitts of the courtes, fynes, and other cafualties, as appereth in the hokes of accompts of this yere, are 33I. 16s. 3d.
" TFocdes. " Alfo there are two woodes pertaynyng unto the fayde manour, called Southwoode and Northwoode, contaynyng eight hundred acres, well fett with okes, bothe olde and yong, which have allwayes ben ufed to be folde to the tenauntes, worthe to be folde40ol» wherein there may be a yerely wood-fale made of 63s. 6d. 138I. 7s. 7^d.
" ^ble Men toferve the King. " Alfo there are within the fayde lordeJhip certayne tenauntes, and able perfons to do the King fervyce, to the nombre of 23,
" Bondmen. " Alfo there be within die fame certayne bondemen, beyng in fervytude both of bodye and goodes, at the King's pleafure, in nombre 7."'
The parifli of Baltonfbury contains fix hamlets, viz.
Martin-street, Southwood,. Lubbon, and
HaMSTREET, TitLAM-STREET, WeST-TOWN,
moft of which are mentioned in the ancient terriers of Glafton; but contain nothing remarkable.
The living is a chapel to Butleigh, with which it was in 1292 conjoindy valued at twenty-two marks.^
The church is dedicated to St. Dunftan, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and porch, with an embattled tower containing five bells.
Under the north wall of the chancel is an old tomb with this infcription:
*' Ricardo Wakono, homini fandtiflimo, ftemmate claroque fatis, manfuetudinis et mifericordias incomparabilis, Thomas Waltonus, A. M. amatifiimo patri pofuit. Obt. SJulijifSi." In the ftone are cut thefe coats, i . A fleur-de-lis. 2. A chevron between three boars' heads. 3. The fame quartered.
On a brafs plate above " Here under entombed doc lye the bodies of Richard
Walton, of Baltonfborough, efq; and Alice his wife, one of the daughter^ of Ralphe Hanam, of Evercreech in this countle of Sommerfett, gent, deceafed ; and alio the bodie of Thomas Walton, fonne and heir of the faide Richard Walton; who having fpent his youth in the ftudies of learning in the \iniverfitie of Oxford, and in the inr.s
•^Langtoft'sChiui. 11.356,357. « Taxat. Spiritual.
of
<?iaaon.] baltonsbury
ofcourt in London, and his riper yeares in the praftife of pietie and vcrtue com mended h>s foulc .nto thclunds of Almightie God the i8th day of Feb. 1600, kavZ' one fonnc and three daughters by Eh^abeth his wife, the only daughter of Phhn Cottington, of Godmanfton in the faid countye, cfcjuicr. ^
« A fliroude, a coffin, and a marble ftonc,
Are dead men's due; and may the living teach That when to ripenefs they are fully growen.
Death will tlie beft and faireft flowers reach. For coulde a pioufe life have llay'd death's force, Hee yet hadd lived thatts here a lifelefs corfe." '
On this plate are two coats : i . A chevron between three fleurs-de-lis. 2. On a fefle between three rofes as many bugle-horns. -f- «-'n a telle
A black (lone in the eaft wall commemorates Thomas Martin, cent who w« buned Dec. .1, 1714. and Mary hisonlydaughter, who died July 4"\6^5t*^t«. 17
BRADLEY.
'pmS panfli lies four miles foutheaft from Glaftonbury, (having th. parifh of
JsTs t:;T' ^'""' of Glaftonbury by King Ethelbald, and at the Conquell
" half, and there^re on it feven X L Thte le fracresV" T'^'' T' * - acres of wood. It is worth ten fhillings.". ''" °^ "''"^^^^ ^"^ "^^
The manor now belongs to the Rev. Mr. Keate, of Wookey.
Bradley is a chapel to Eaft-Pennard in the Deanery of Carv Th. p rt Fofter is the prefent incumbent. ^ ^' ^^^ ^^^- ^^
The chapel h a fmall ftrufture, containing neither monument nor infcription.
* Lib. Doracfday.
MERE.
[ 273 3 r<Slafion.
MERE.
THIS parlfh Is fituated three miles northweft from Glaftonbury, in that vaft wild of moors or meres, from which (and from a very large mere or pond here) is iuftly derived its name, and which being formerly overflown by the fea, three iflands were formed called by the ancient natives Fcnamere or Ferhngmere, Godet,ete, znd mileie The former of thefe conftituted the village of Mere itfelf> the manor of which confifted of about two thoufand eight hundred acres, and now belongs to the reprefen- tatives of the late Mr. Thomas Moore of Briftoi. Godney contains about two thoufand acres inclofed, and about one thoufand two hundred acres of moor, not yet mc ofed, belonging to Mr. Brown of Street, mjlhay-moor has of late years been inclofed, and comprifes about one thoufand feven hundred and fixty acres. That part of Mere called Mere-pool, which was formerly a ftagnant water, contains about four hundred- acres, and by draining is rendered valuable. In this pool, which according to the Glaftonbury legends was inftantaneoufly formed by the prayers of St. Bemgnus, was a- large fifhery referved entirely for the abbot's ufe, and the amufement of his fnends ;» behdes which there were feveral other pools or lakes in this diftnft called' Hacch^u^ere and Bordenwere, in which was an celery; Lichclake and Ccckejwere, the latter of whicb was rented in 1 516 by John Gyblat at twenty fhiUings per annum. And there was alfo another pool csWtdi Jamejwere, rented at thirteen fhillings and fourpence in the time of Henry VII. but at the above date was in the hands of the Lord Abbot. 1ft thefe pools were kept a great number of fwans/ herons, and other fowl.
Infome of the moors are found quantities of large old yews, alders, birches, and willows, lying in all direftions, at the depth of from one to five feet beneath the Unface, with the largeft branches and roots remaining; but which being expofed to air foon crumbk into pieces. The moors alfo abound with the myrka, or fweet gale, a low fhrub with fpear-fhaped, ferrated leaves, bearing catkins and a dry berry, _ The northern nations formerly ufed this plant inftead of hops. The catkins boiled in water throw up a waxy fcum, which will make candles. And from another fpecies of this plant, which is a native of warmer climates, the myrtle candles are prepared. Gathered in autumn, it dyes wool yellow; and it is likewife ufed in tanning calfskins. Horfes and goats eat it. A fine aromatick plant called here cinnamon laver, (the calamus- aromaticus of the fhops) or fweet-fcented flag, grows in Godney moor.
Kenewalch, the feventh king of the Weft-Saxons, gave Ferramere with the two iflands lying on each fide the lake, called Godney and Wefthay, to the abbey of Glaftonbury, and the grant was confirmed by fucceeding kings. Towards the Conqueft it altered its name, and was fimply called Mere, being furveyed in the Norman record under that title among the poffeffions of Glaftonbury-abbey."
• Terrar. RkardiBeereinJohan. Glafton.Hift. ii. 3»7. "Ibid. "^ Ibid.
< The Glaftonbury Roll mentions forty-one couple of fwans found here after the diffolulion of the abbey.
f See page 244 of this vol. ^ Aftef
©laflott.]
M
E
R
E.
27s
After the di/ToIution, King Edw. VI. in the firft year of his reign, granted the manor oi Mere with divers other pofrefTions of the church to Edward Duke of Somcrfet and it was valued at 73I. as. 4d.' After whicli it pafled to Gilbert Prynne, cfqj and other hands, til] it became veiled as above-mentioned.
The manor-houfe, wherein the abbot kept his court, and whereto he frequently reforied with his friends, ftill exifts, and is known by the name o( Mere- Farm, being a very ancient ftru6hire, exhibiting the marks of time. It was built by abbot John Kent about the year 1300, but was greatly improved and beautified by abbot Richard Beere about the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. and the precinfts, including new offices, gardens, and orchards,'were then furrounded with a high and thick wall, enclo- fing three acres and one perch of ground.^ This manfion had a fair large hall, partly covered with lead and partly with flate, widi eight fair chambers, a chapel, kitchen, buttery, and pantry, and all other offices fuitable. « Fynally (fays the old furvey) the howfe IS fitt for a man of worlhip, but th'ayer thereof is not very holfome, favyng to fuche as have contynued long therein.""
Neither the manors of Godney, nor Wefihay, are noticed in the Norman record. The former is a confiderable village, divided into two parts, called Upper and Lower Godney, fituated about a mile northeaft from the parifh church of Mere. In this village a chapel was erefted in ancient times to the honour of the Holy Trinity, and the oblations were appropriated to the vicar of Ferlingmere. Of this chapel a notable miracle was recorded; that notwithftanding the environs, by reafon of the thick groves of trees, were conftantly defiled by the ordure of different forts of birds inhabiting the branches, yet this chapel was never known to be violated in like manner, or in the leaft to be touched by any of thofe pollutions.' In the place of the old chapel ftands one of more recent conftrucftion, a fmall but neat building, thirty-one feet long, and twenty-eight broad, having this infcription at the weft end: " This chapel (facred to the Holy Trinity) was rcftored to its ancient ufe by Peter Davis, recorder of Wells, efq; in the year 1737." At the eaft end are cut in the ftone, in two coats, the Holy Lamb and Eagle.
Among the ruins of Glaftonbury-abbey there was found, in the year 1754, a feal, on which were reprefented the figure of St. Dunftan mitred and holding a crofier, and addreffing himfclf to certain figures in a congregation oppofite; at the bottom, the figure of a perfon kneeling and praying to tiie faint j and round the whole this Wend: ©. Come CapCllani "^Zi 31nfUla. This Thomas was chaplain of Godney, or God's Ifland, (as it was heretofore called) and is fuppofed to have been defigned by the figure at the feet of St. Dunftan.
Westhay ftands half a mile nearly weftward from the church, and contains about • twenty-five houfes, wliich is nearly the fame number with thofe in Godney. Here alfo was a chapel long fince ruinated.
Vol. II.
MS. Valor. « Johan. Glaflon. ii. ^16. " Glaftonbury Roll above quoted.
' Johan. Glafton. Ilifl. ii. 315.
N n Another
274 M E R E. I'^mon.
Another village called Stilvey, or Stiveleigh, ftands half a mile foutheaft from the church, containing a few farms.
The church of Mere, vajued in 129a at fix marks and a half," was appropriated to ■the abbey of Glaftonbury, and a vicarage ordained A. D. 1351, when it was inftituted that the vicar fhould have the parfonage-houfe, with all the arable land and meadow which the redtor holds in demefne, with common for all kinds of beafts with the abbot of Glaftonbuiy's tenants in all parts within the bounds and limits of the parifh of Mere, and common for four oxen and one heifer with the oxen of the religious in the places ufual to the redor of Mere. He was alfo to receive all oblations to the faid church arifingfrom anniverfaries and legacies; the tithes of calves, pigs, geefe, flax, hemp, milk, cheefe, wool, lambs, eggs, gardens, or curtilages, reed-walks, mills, pullets, and pigeons, from the tenants of the abbot and convent, parilhioners there; as alfo the large and fmall tithes of two tenements, called Pauneburgh, and Martenejey, and the tithes of the meads called Monekemede and Ameverejmedey and the dairy there; but the vicar to have or claim no tithes whatfoever from the fruits or goods in the lands, or places, or water, in the demefnes of the faid religious, or of the animals there depaftunngj or of the fifhes in the fillieries there, except as above expreffed. Nor Hiall the abbot and convent receive any tithes from the arable lands or meadows affigned to the vicar .for his portion, or from his animals ; but all mortuaries, church dues, and all other things not affigned to the vicar, and belonging or due to the faid church of Mere, the abbot and convent of Glaftonbury fliall wholly receive and enjoy. It fliall alfo be incumbent on every vicar to find bread, wine, incenfe, proceffional candles, and other lights in the faid church, bind the books ufed therein, wafh the veft-ments, and repair thofe and all other ornaments belonging thereto, which had ufually been done by the redor. The abbot and convent to fupport all other burdens either by right or cuftom incumbent on the faid church, as well ordinary as extraordinary. Dated at Banwell 15 Kal. Oft. 1351.' The living of Mere is a vicarage in the jurifdiftion of Glafton, and in the gift of
Mrs. Cook, . Brown, efq; and John Strode, efq. The Rev. Robert Purcel is the
.prcfent incumbent.
The church which is dedicated to St. Mary, and ftands on a fmall eminence, is a large Gothick ftrufture, confifting of a nave, chancel, and two fide ailes, al] except the cliancel covered with lead. At the weft end is a large embattled tower, containing fix bells and a clock.
The eaft window of the north aile contains very fine old painted glafs, in which are feveral hiftorical groups of fine figures; but much obfcured by dirt. The principal are the adminiftration of Baptifm, the Lord's Supper, and Extreme Unftion. In feveral other windows there is alfo fome painted glafs ; but defaced by time. The whole upper part of the great arch which divides the nave from the belfry is filled up with an ancient painting, on the top of which is the crofs triumphant in the clouds, furrounded by the celeftial choir founding inftruments of mufick. In the lower part is
» Taxat. Spiritual. ' Exerpt. e Regift. \VclIen.
Peter
^laaon.]
M
R
E.
t7S
Peter with the keys, Mofes and Aaron, David playing on his harp, Hope with her anchor, Juftice with the fword, and feveral other figures. In the center U a cherub holding open the New Teftannent.
Some of the monks of Glaftonbury are faid to have been buried herej but none of their memorials remain.
In the ftreet at the corner of the church-yaid Hands an old ftone crofs.
WEST-PENNARD
LIES three miles eaft from Glaftonbury, and in the turnpike-road from that town to Shepton-Mallet. It is fituated on the weftern flope of a hill, in a woody country, fiear the fide of the moors; but the fouthern part of the parifli is high land, being a ridge of hills running from Pill to within one mile of the Tor at Glaftonbury. From thele high lands there is a fine profpeft. It confifts of five hamlets :
I. East-Street, one mile northweft of the church.
a. New-Town and Laverley, along the turnpike road leading to Pilton.
3. Higher and Lower South-towk, half a mile fouth.
4. Sticklings, or Sticklinch, half a mile northeaft.
5. Woodlands, one mile fouthweft.
The manor of Pennard was given to the church of Glaftonbury by Baldred king of Kent, and confifted of fix hides. It is included in the great Norman fiirvey under Pennarminjire, or Eaft- Pennard, with which it was held till the diflblution of the mo- naftery, and was then granted to the Duke of Somerfet, being of the yearly value of 361. IS. id."
The church of Weft-Pennard was annexed to the churches of St. John and St. Benignus in Glaftonbury, and the reftories thereof were after the diflblution vefted in the crown till the year 1547, when WilHam bifiiop of Bath and Wells obtained of King Edward VI. the church and reftory of St. John Baptift in Glaftonbur>', and the reftory or the chapel of St. Benignus within the town of Glaftonbury; as alfo the redories or chapels of Bradley and Weft-Pennard, and the churches and reftones of Northlode, Eaft-Brent, Eaft-Pennard, and Wefton, and the advowfon and right of patrona're of thofe churches, with all their lands, tithes, profits, and revenues, in confideration of conceding to the King the manors of Claverton, Hampton, I.ydia.d, Chard, Chedder, Huifli, and other polfeffions in this county, in Glouccfterftiire, and in the city of London."
>» MS. Valor.
" Rymer Feed. torn. xv. p. i?!.
Nn*
The
276 WEST-PENNARD. [^laflotu
The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, and is a large Gothick edifice, one hundred feet in length, and forty-four in breadth, having a nave, chancel, and fide ailesj covered with lead, and a large tower at the weft end containing five bells.
In the church are divers mural ftones to the memory of the families of Grant, Walter, and Surges.
In the church-yard is a fine yew tree, and a well-preferved ftone crofs.
Here is a charity-fchool, endowed by Robert Slade, efq; about the year 1756, with ..ten pounds per annum for teaching ten poor children to read.
I
NORTH-WOTTON
S a fmall parilh fix miles eaft from Glaftonbury, pleafantly and pidturefquely fituated in a narrow warm vale enclofed on all fides, except the weft, by lofty fteep hills cultivated and wooded. The hills towards the north are called Lancelfy-Hills; and to the eaft is (Vorminjier-Hill, a. fine flieep flade. The fiopes of thefe hills are very fteep; and thofe towards the fouth are in many places fiflTured from their tops. The gutters, or cliafms, are too deep to have been formed by land floods, and bear evident jnarks of antiquity; on the edges and flopes of them are old pollard trees and flirubs, with deep channels in the ftone, feeming to be the venerable veftiges of the general delude.
'tj^
A fmall brook, formed by feveral fprings which rife in the parifti of Pilton, runs through and turns two overfliot grift-mills in this parifli, continuing its courfe through the moors to Mere river. The lands are moftly pafture and meadow; and here arc feveral quarries of blue lyas ftone.
In the year of our Lord 760, Kinulph, king of the Weft-Saxons, gave to Guban abbot of Glaftonbury, who prefided two years over that monaftery, the manor of Wudetonet confifldng of five hides :' which five hides in fucceeding times were afterwards incorporated into the great manor of Pilton, and at the Conqueft were held by one Adret, Eddret, or Aldred (as he is fometimes called,) a thane of diftindion, who at the coming in of the Normans, was retained in the court of King William; but after- wards difmiflTed with the gratuity of divers lands in the weft of England."
" Of the fame land of this manor [Piltone] Adret holds of the Abbot five hides in Utone.'"
The manor belongs to Wilham Gore Langton, of Newton St. Loe, efq.
• .Guilielm. Malmefbur. de Antiq. Glafton. Ecckf. in Adam. Domerham. i. 63. » Excerpt, e Chronic. Glafton. MS. • Lib. Domefday.
The
(!5lanon.]
NORTH-WOTTON.
277
The living is a vicarage In the deanery of Cary; and has always been annexed to Pllton, which is the mother church. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall building of one pace, wherein nothing remarkable occurs as to monuments or particularity of conftrudion. An embattled tower at the weft end contains three bells.
At Syckedon in Devonfhire certain lands of the yearly rent of 26s. 8d. and fix acres of land in Pilton, were given for the fupport of lights in the chapel of Wotton; which lands were fold by commifTioners, appointed by Queen Mary, in 1557, to Henry Portman, efq.*
In the church-yard is an old yew-tree.
The average births in this parifh annually are nine; the burials four.
The parifh confifts of about forty houfes, and nearly three hundred inhabitants.
* Harl. MS, 606, p. 4j.
THE
E 279 ]
THE HUNDRED OF
HARECLIVE and BEDMINSTER.
PARTLY within the parilh of Barrow, and partly within that of Winford, is a rock or cliff", called Hare-Clive, or Cliff, which gives name to the Hundred now united with that cf Bedminfter. At this fpot the courts for the Hundred were formerly held, and the ufual bufinefs tranfadted; it being cuftomary in ancient times to convene publick meetings in fome one of the mod confpicuous places in the diftridt over which any particular jurifdicStion extended. The name is obvioufly derived from the Saxon t)ej-e, which fignifies an army, and Ehp, a fteep or craggy rock. In this neighbourhood there is alfo a road called Hare-Lane, having the fame fignification ; the former exprefling the military rock, the latter the military way. Through thefc parts pafled in its track towards the Severn fea, that ancient famous boundary called IFanJdike, formed by Belgick warriors previous to the invafion of this kingdom by the Romans." And confidering the many battles which muft have been fought, upon a rampart raifed by a foreign enemy to repel the Aborigines, or ancient natives of this country, who were equally fierce and warlike with themfelves, and very tenacious of the fmalleft part of their territories ; it is not to be wondered why this cliff" and this lane, both featedon this important boundary, obtained the appellation of Harec/iffznd Harelane. A family of fome account derived tlacir name from Hareclive, from which we may conclude this fpot was once peopled with inhabitants.
With regard to the property of the conjoined hundreds of Hareclive and Bedminfter, it is to be obferved that they originally were parctl of the crown. In the hundred of Bedminfter were fix hides, from which the King received a tribute of twenty-four ftiiillngs, as for four of thof? hides; OftDcrt Giff"ard held a fifth in demefne, and Turftin the fixth in free alms.'' The hundreds were afterwards held of tlie honour of GIou- c -fter by the Fitz-Hardings and the Beikeleys, and thenceforth by the fucceflive lords of the manor of Bedminfter, where the court for that hundred is now held; but tlie court for that of Hareclive is held at Long-Aftiton. A conftable is chofen for each.
* See vol. i. p. 170.
' JnquiCtio GbeWi in Sumerfeta.
Thefc
2«o HARECLIVE AND BEDMINSTER. [l^ateditJC anU
This hundred, which is fituated in the northern verge of the county, extending from Chew on the eaft, and Wrington on the weft, to the city and county of Briftol, contains the following parilhes:
Bedminster Barrow Nemnet
LoNG-AsHTON BuTcoMBE and
Backwell Chelvy Winford,
Of which we fhall treat in order.
BEDMINSTER.
THIS parifh, which in ancient times confifted of only a few cottages, is now grown fo populous and crowded with buildings, as to form a very confiderable fuburb to the city of Briftol, the principal ftreet being the great road thereinto from the weftern parts of England.
Bedminfter was formerly parcel of the pofleffion of the Saxon kings, and was never alienated from the crown till after the Norman Conqueft. The Domefday furvey thus defcribes it:
" The King holds Beiminstre. King Edward held it. It never was afleffed to *' the geld; nor is it known how many hides it contains. The arable is twenty-fix *' carucates. Three carucates are in demefne, and there are three fervants, and twenty- *' five villanes, and twenty-two cottagers, with ten ploughs. There is a mill of five " fhillings rent, and thirty-four acres of meadow. Wood two miles long, and one *' mile broad. It pays twenty-one pounds, and twopence halfpenny, every ore being " of the value of twenty pence.
" The prieft of this manor holds land to the amount of one carucate, and it is worth . " twenty fhillings.
" Of this manor the bifhop of Coutances holds one hundred and thirteen acres of " meadow and wood.'"
King William II. when he conferred the honour of Gloucefter on Robert Fitz- Hamon, who came into England with William Duke of Normandy his father, granted him this manor and hundred, with divers other large eftates, to fupport that dignity, whereto he willed them to be annexed for ever. Robert left only four daughters, the eldeft of whom, Mabel, being the wife of Robert the natural fon of King Henry I. he in i loo, was created Earl of Gloucefter, by the name of Robert of Mellent, and died in 1147.
* Lib, Domefday.
Of
^enminftec] BEDMINSTER. 281
Of this Robert the manor of Bedminfter was held by Robert Fitz-Harding, the fon of Harding, governor of Briftol in the time of William the Conqueror, a pcrfon of high extraction, being defcended from the Kings of D||mark. This Robert Fitz- Harding was progenitor of the Berkeley family, and dying in 1 170, was buried in the abbey-cliurch of St. Auguftine in Briftol, which he himfelf had founded.''
- Mai-irlce iiis fon, furnamed dc Berkeley, from that his lordfhip in Gloucefter/hire, was a great benefaftor to his father's, as well as to other religious foundations. He died in 1 189, and was fucceeded by Robert his eldeft fon.
"Which Robert de Berkeley founded In the village of Bedminfter, to the honour of St. Catherine, an hofpital for. a mafter, or warden, and feveral poor brethren, which his brother Sir Thomas de Berkeley confirmed, and gave to it lands and tenements in Biftiopworth within this parifli.'^ This Robert alfo founded a chantry in his manor- houfe here, and another in his chapel at Portbury."*
Thomas de Berkeley, his brother and heir, acquired himfelf a name from his piety and religious benefadions. He died in 1243, and was buried in St. Auguftine's abbey.
Maurice, his eldeft fon, had livery of this manor 28 Hen. III." and 46 of the fame reign obtained of the King a charter of free warren in all his lands lying in Bedminfter, Portbury, and other places.'^ 31 Henry III. this Maurice gave a mill and lands in Bedminfter to the monaftery of Whitland in the county of Brecon, for the fake of his own foul and the foul of Ifabel his wife. He died 9 Edw. I. feized of this' manor, and Redciiff-ftreet without Briftol belonging thereto, leaving iffue Thomas his fon and heir then thirty years of age.^
Which Thomas fortified and embattled his manfion-houfe at Bedminfter, and en- larged the buildings of the hofpital.'' He died in 1 321, and was fucceeded by Maurice de Berkeley his eldeft fon.
This Maurice de Berkeley 23 Edw. I. was fummoned to parliament by the title of Lord Berkeley, of Berkeley-caftle In the county of Glouccfter. 10 Edw. II. he bullc a priory on the Flat-Holmes in the Briftol channel, and gave thereto lands In his manor of Portbury.' He died in 1326, 19 Edw. II.
Sir Thomas Berkeley, his eldeft fon, fucceeded to the title and eftatej and 4 Edw. IIT. had a full confirmation of the manor of Bedminfter widi all its appertenances."" 1 1 Edw. III. he gave an annual rent of thirty IhlUings out of this manor for a prieft to fing In the abbey-church of St. Auguftine's In Briftol, for the foul of Margaret his wife, his own foul, and all the faithful deceafed.' He likewlfe founded a chantry in the chapel of St. Catherine in Bedminfter, 19 Edw. III. for a prieft to fay mafs for Lord Ma\irice his father, and for Margaret his wife, and himfelf after his deceafe: which chantry he endowed with lands in Bedminfter and Portbury.™ ai Edw. III. he eredled
' Tanner's Notitia Monaftica. , ' Itin. WiUelmi dc Worcelbe, 294, 29;. " Dugd. Bar. i. 352.
' Rot. fin. 28 Hen. III. ' Cart. 46 Hen. IH. « Efc. " Pat. 25 Edw. I. ' MS.Notes by Savaje. * Cart. 4 Edw, III. n. 62. ' Pat. n Edw. III. p. 2. ro. 3. "" Rot. daus. 19 Edw. III. Vol. II. O 0 . aa
2S2 B E D M I N s T E R. [^ateditie aitti
an hermitage in Bedminfter, and gave to the matter of St. Catlierine's hofpital a parcel of land near it to pray for the foiils of his father, mother, and wife." He died in 136 1, leaving iflfue, *il
Sir Maurice, the third Lord Berkeley, who was alfo a great founder of chantries; attending the Black Prince into Gafcoigne, he received fiich wounds at the battle of Poidiers, as ended his days June 8, 1 367, being then feized of the manors of Bedminfter, Portbury, and Portifhead; as alfo the hundred of Hareclive and Bedminfter.
His fuccefTor was Thomas the fourth Lord Berkeley, who was the laft of the family that pofleffed this manor; for dying in 1416 without ifllie male, Elizabeth his only daughter and heir transferred it with many other eftates to her hufband Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick.
The faid Richard Beauchamp, at his death in 1439, ^^^^ three daughters his co- heireffes, viz. Margaret, wife of John Talbot earl of Shrewfbury; Eleanor, firft married to Lord Roos, and afterwards to Edmund Beaufort marquis of Dorfet and duke of Somerfet; and Elizabeth wife to George Nevil lord Latimer. The manor of Bedminfter came to Eleanor the fecond coheirefs, whofe daughter Margaret was married to Humphry earl of Stafford, father to Henry duke of Buckingham, and grandfather to Edward duke of Buckingham, who all fucceflively poflefled this manor and hundred. But the laft-mentioned Duke being attainted in parliament 13 Henry Vin. it became confifcated to the crown, and that King the fame year, March 12, granted it to Henry' Bourchier earl of Eflex, and the heirs male of his body. The faid Earl was killed March 13, 1539, by a fall from his horfe, and leaving no iflue male, the manor of Bedminfter reverted to the crown, and was granted in 1553, i and 2 Philip and Mary, to Edward Nevil and his heirs. From him it defcended to Sir Henry Nevil his grandfon, fon and heir apparent of Edward lord Abergavenny, who in 1605 ^'^^'^ '^^ ^^ Sir Hugh Smyth, knt. from whom it has pafled, in like manner with Long-Afhton, to Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. and Edward Gore, efq; the prefent pofleflbrs. A patent of confirmation of tliis manor was granted to Sir Hugh Smyth, 7th of Dec. II James I.
St. Catherine's hofpital, founded by Robert de Berkeley, lord of this manor, flood on the weft fide of the ftreet near the bridge called Bright bow -Bridge, and was fome- time lince a glafs-houfe; but is nOw converted into fmall tenements. Nothing remains of the original building except the eaft end of the chapel, where there is a Gothick window blocked up. The body of the chapel was forty-nine feet long, and twenty- one feet wide; the chancel twenty-feven feet long, and fixteen wide.°
16 June, 29 Eliz. the fcice of this hofpital was granted to Edward Heron and John Nicholas, and their heirs, who the next year fold it to Henry Nevil, efq; by whofe family it was conveyed to Sir Hugh Smyth, knt. and it is now the property of Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart.
The regifters of Wells inform us, that it was not a houfe of religious at its firft foundation; and that heretofore the warden or mafter had with liim at a time three
" Dugd. Bar. i. 359, from papers in Berkeley-Caftle. • Itin. Willelm. de ^yorceftre, 294.
or
'BeDminflecJ B E D M I N s T E R. 283
or four priefts or brethren, who always wore the habit of fecular prlefts; except that inftead of the outer veft, they ufed a cope or mantle of black or burnet, with a St. Catherine's wheel of cloth of another colour fewed to the left breaft. The revenues of this hofpital never exceeded the yearly value of twenty-four pounds, out of which it paid to the reftor of Bedminfter an annual penfion of fix (hillings and eightpencc, and to the fame church, on the feaft of St. John the Baptift, two wax candles of a pound weight each."" In 1534, the revenues were valued at 21I. 15s. lod.
The lords of the manor were the fucceflive patrons; the mailers were,
John, of Babcary, elefted April 25, 1325.
Richard, of Borefordefcote-Wyke, Sept. 30, 1327.
John Randolph, of Colefhill, April 11, 1332.
John of Malmcfbury, Oft. 22, 1338.
John of Eggefworth, Dec. 10, 1348.
WilHam of Fofton, April 14, 1349.
Walter of Eaft-Ham, April 19, 1351.
John of Kilmerfdon, Odl. 29, 1353.
John DifFord, 1373.
Nicholas de Barnftable, refigned 1413.
John Worthy, April 21, 141 4.
John Dyer, Nov. 19, 141 4.
John Corifcomb, 1420.
Thomas Fulford, D. D. a preaching friar, June i, 1425.
Jacobus Akadenfis Epifcopus, Oft. 1 1, 1432.
Henry Abyndon, mufician of the king's chapel, 1478.*
Thomas Cofyn, B.D. Sept. i, 1491 and 1497.
John Lloyd, April 21, 15 13.
Richard Waldegrave, gentleman, a layman. May 12, 1523.
William Clarke, a layman, April 14, 1543.
John Aungel, 1566.
James Bond, B.D. Aug. 23, 1568.
John Bridgwater, canon refidentiary of Wells, Nov. 23, if?'-'*
Edward Mo wcro ft, 1572.
Francis Nevil, May 26, 1573.
The prior of Stanley in Wiltfhire had in 1444 an eftate in Bedminfter of the yearly value of two marks ten {hillings. The abbot of Bruerne in Oxfordfhire, had alfo three marks; and the abbot of Whitland in Brecknockfhire one mark from the manor of Bedminfter.
The revenues of St. Auguftine's-abbey here were in 1293 valued at 81. 15s/
In this parifti are fix tithings. East, West, and North tithings, Knolle, Bishop- worth-Arthur, and Bishopworth-Lions.
» Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. ' He preCded here when William of Worcefter wrote.
' Ta.\at. Temporal.
O02 The
284 B E D M I N s T E R. [Ipareditje atiu
The tithing and hamlet of Knolle are fituated foutheaft from the village of Bedminfter. In the time of King William the Conqueror the manor of Knolle, then written Canole, was held by Ofbern Giffard of the crown.
" Ofbern holds of the King, Canole. Alnod held it in the time of King Edward, •*' and gelded for two hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one caru- ** cate, and five villanes, and fix cottagers, with two ploughs. There are fixteen acres " of meadow, and twenty acres of pafture. Wood two furlongs and a half long, and " half a furlong broad. It was formerly worth thirty Ihillings, now forty fhillings."*
The manor of Knolle was afterwards held of the Berkeleys by the family of Gournay,
of whom John de Gournay 26 Edw. III. obtained licence of the King to grant a piece
of land in Knolle, eighteen feet in length, and as many in breadth, in which there lay a
certain fountain called Raven/welly to the prior and brethren, of St. Auguftine in the
.city of Briftol, for a fubterraneous aqueduft to the houfe of the faid prior.'
Here formerly was a chapel, long fincc ruinated. 3 Edw. VI. it was granted with . all lands and tithes to Richard Roberts.
BisHOPwoRTH lies fouth from Bedminfter, and in the partway from the city of Wells to that of Briftol. It belonged at the Conqueft to the Bifhop of Coutances, as we read in the furvey:
" Azeline holds of the Biftiop, Biscopewrde. Edric held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one hide and a half. The arable is two carucates, and with " it are four villanes, and four bordars, and four cottagers. There are ten acres of *' meadow, and forty-five acres of pafture. It was worth twenty IhillingSj now thirty " ftiillings.""
This manor (fometimes written Buiftiport) was fornaerly the property of a branch of the family of the Arthurs, of Clapton in the hundred of Portbury. Thomas Arthur was lord of it in 131 2, and it continued in that family till the year 1558, when John Arthur dying without ilTue, it defcended to Thomas Crofs and Henry Manfewer, his neareft heirs, of whom it was purchafed 12 Eliz. by Hugh Smyth, of Long-Afliton, -cfq; whofe reprefentatives. Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. and Edward Gore, efqj now inherit it.
In this manor is an ancient houfe called Inyti's-Court, which in 1353 belonged to John Onewyn. Sir John Inyn was owner thereof, and died 1439. From him it defcended to the Kenns of Kenn-Court, and by the marriage of Elizabeth coheirefs of Chriftopher Kenn with John the firft Lord Poulett, pafled into that family, and is now the property of the prefent Lord Poulett. In this houfe are thefe arms in painted glafs: — A k& azure, between four unicorns' heads, three in chief and one in b?.fe; im- paling azure a chevron ermine, between three lions rampant, argent.
Another eftate in this manor belonged to St. John's hofpital at RedclifF-pit in Briftol, and i-s now divided among feveral freeholders. The Lyons of Whitchurch
' Lib. Domefday. « Inq. ad quod damnum, z6 Ed. III. " Lib. Domefday.
had
iBeDminfler.] bedminster.
285
had likewife eftates here, which'now belong to Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. by piirchafc; and an eftate alfo here belonged to St. Catherine's hofpiral, now James's and l-Iipdey's.
John Arthur, lord of this manor, built a chapel on his wafte lands in tJiis village, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, by virtue of a licence from Gilbert de Dunftcr, canon of Salifbury, and prebendary of Bedminfter." The building is now converted into a dwelling-houfe.
The church of Bedminfter has flourilhed ever fince the Saxon days, and has been endowed with large revenuesj at the time of the Conqueft, the then officiating prieft here held within the manor and parifla one carucate or ploughland (amounting t-j about one hundred and twenty acres) worth twenty fhillings, or three pounds of our money; but which would now be worth three hundred pounds. In 1292 the church of Bed- minfter with its chapel, and the penfion which it received from the vicarage, was rated at feventy marks, and the vicarage at eight marks.'' It is a prebend in the cathedral church of Salifbury, and a court-baron is held here for the fame. The Rev. Mr. Whifh is prebendary of Bedminfter, and the prebendal manor is held for lives under " him by the college of Winchefter. The Rev. Mr. Spry is the prefent incumbent of the vicarage, with the annexed chapels of Abbots-Leigh, Redcliff and St. Thomas in the city of Briftol,
I'he church is dedicated to St. John Baptift, and ftands a little fouthward from the village, confiding of a nave, chancel, and north aile. At the weft end is a large fquare tower, with open balluftrades at top, containing a clock and two bells. On this tower once ftood a fteeple, which was thrown down in 1563.
' Per iftud fcriptum indentatum fciant omnes ad quos prefens'fcriptura pervenerit, quod ego G. de Dunfterre, canonicus Sarum, 5: prebcndarius ecclefia: de Bedmynftre, conceffi libera & quiete parochianh meis de Byfhop- wourth, pro ayfamento illorum & commoditate divina audienda, capellam & cantariam in villa eorum conftru- endam, fuper terram Roberti Arthur, ubi ipfi difpofuerunt, in honore apoftolorum Petri & Pauli impcrpetuum. Habenda iftis diebus in ebdomoda mifla cum fervicio diei ; fcilicet diebus Dominicis, diebus Veneris & Mercurii per capellanum meum de Bedmynftre ; ita videlicet, quod fi aliquis iftorum dierum aliquo legidmo impedimento foerit impeditus, diem ilium in ebdomoda proxime fequetiti illis fideliter reftaurabit. Ad exhibicionem autem capellani qui ilUc rainiftrabit, parochiani predidli conceflerunt de terris fuis Deo & Ecdefiae fandli Johannis de Bedmynftre, videlicet; Robertus Arthur illam placeam ubi capella eft conftrufta & edificata; cum illo ferlyngo terrc & mefluagio quod Ifgod tenuit, in omnibus rebus, pratis, & ceteris pertinentiis fuis; Galfridus de Bello monte unam acram in uno campo, & unam acram in alio campo; Robertus Ruf'y i acram fingulis annis ; Amulfut del Brock i acram fingulis annis; Galfridus Byfchop 1 acram fingulis annis; fub hoc tenorc, cantariam pre- diflam illis conceflaai, ut illi qui de terris fuis predidle ecclefie ejus occafione dederunt, ipfi & fui in perpetuum participium omnis honoris, quern in illam capellam fient, habeant, & divinorum ibi celebrandorum communioncm. Ceteri autem ab illo participio funt exclufi, & ad matricem ecclefiam, ficut folebant, rcvertantur. Et fi contingat predifta cantaria effe fubftrafta, omifla, vel deferta per unum menfcm quando .nblit excufacio ; turn liccat didlo Roberto Arthur, & heredibus fuis, omnia predida, terras & tenementa, ad didam cantariam et datam el con- ceflara, omninoingredi, ct in feodo pollidere, fine aliquo impedimento vel calumpnia aliquorum fucceflbrum meorum. Ut vero hec conceflio et impcrpetuum rata & inconcufTa permaneat, earn figilli mei appoficione robo- ravi. His T. Johanne abbate de fanfta Auguftino, Willielmo abbate de Eynfham, A. decano Wellenfi, O. decano. de Ferliga, Henrico Lufel, Willielmo capellano de Redecliva, Mauricio Luvel, Ricardo Luvci, S. perfona de Winfrod, Hunfrido capellano de Aftona, Rogcro capellano de Leia, Hugone capellano, fcriptore prefentis carte, & multis aliis. Datum quinto die Maij anno rcgni re^is Henrici quinto." The feal appendant to this deed has on it the rcprefentation of a perfon praying, and round it 'J 'Jus efi amor meus.
Taxat. Spiritu.il.
There
286 B E D M I N s T E R. [l^atecUtie atiD
There are feveral modern monuments and infcriptions in this church. The only ancient one is on a flat ftone in the chancel for the family of Grinfield, whereon it is faid that they fettled in this parifh in the fecond year of Edw. I. The arms on the ftone are quarterly, i. A fword in pale. 2, Two fpurs leathered. 3. Two efcallops in chief. 4. A fefs lozengy.
By an inquifition taken on the goods of foreigners pofTefled of benefices within this diocefe A. D. 1317, there were found in the parfonage-houfe of Bedminfter, the fol- lowing goods and chattels, belonging to Mafter Gerald de Tylleto, redor of the pre- bendal church of Bedminfter, viz. ^ ^_
" In primis 30 quarters of wheat at 6 8 per quarter.
20 quarters of beans 3 3
10 quarters of barley 4 o
1 5 quarters of oats 2 o
Rents of alTize due as follow, viz. At Bedminftre — ^William Sprente i8d. Adam de Vycheler 7d. John le Lom yd. John Coky i2d. John Jorthelane gd. Walter Cogel 9d. Thomas Doulay gd. Wilham le Couk aid. Richard HoUoker aod. Richard Tobbe 1 2d. Ifabell Tony y^d. John Forft y.^d. John Hole Weye i8d. Walter Buryman 9s. Richard Calbac gd. Walter Buryman 8|d. John Bac 3s. gid. The mafter of the houfe of St. Catherine 2od. Thomas Lovel of Legh 2od.
" Redclyve — William Wyt Wode 2s. Walter Faber 2s. George le Barbour i8d. The vicar of Redeclyve for his penfion loos. Item for ftraw fold los. Of which Henry de Afton, redtor of the church of Heie-rifynden, in the diocefe ofWorcefter, farmer of the faid church of Bedmynftre, received 18I. ys. 8d. and by the hands of the vicar of Redeclyve 100s. for his penfion.'""
The ftate of the church and chapels in Bedminfter at the time of the Reformation appears
- " 3ln tfte CertpfgCatC of sir Thomas Speke, knight. Sir Hugh Pawlet, knight. Sir John Seyntlowe, knight. Sir Thomas Dyer, knight. Sir John Rogers, knight, Robert Kelwaye, efquire, George Lynde, efquire, William Moryce, efquire, Wilham Hartegyll, efquire, comiffioners afligned by the letters patents of our Soveraigne Lord Edward the Sixt by the grace of God King of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England, and alfo of Ireland, in earth the fupreme hedd, bearing date the xiiij"' day of February in the fecond yere of his moft gracyous reignc to them direfted for the furvey of all and fingular colliges, chauntryes, free chappells, guylds, fraternityes, brotherydes, anniverlaris whatfoever within the faid countie [Of ^OlltCtfEt,] gyven unto his highnefie by vertue of an adt of parliament made in the firft yere of his Majefties reigne in that behalfe provyded. Amongft others it is conteyned as followeth, viz.
» Excerpt, e Regift, WeUen.
2:>ecanatuiei
latominaer.] bedminster.
287
TBeumpCiei.
^tt jFree ^ofpital of tine tfjerc
<
Cfje jTrcc CbapeU of<( mnolle
Becanatus be Belim^fitcr*
"Is yerely worth in IflnDW, tents and hercditam" in the tenure of londiy pfones as nnay appere perticulerly more at large by the rcntall of die fame xxjl, xv0. iiijU. whereof in rents refohite payd yerely v0, iiijU. And fo remayneth clere xxjl. xS.
Plate and 7 A chalice of filver waying viijoz. dT. ornaments. 3 Ornaments prayfed at iiijS, yjU, Bell metal ell).
"William Gierke, gent, (as it is faid) maifter of the fame hofpital by the kings b-cs patents not yet fhewed.
There be noe poore people maynteyned or releved
with the.pmifes faveing that the faid Matter Gierke afTign-
^ t eth iij cottages pcell of the fame hofpitall worth yerely
em ran ^ ^^^^ ^^^ charged in this value for the poore men to dwell
in, and other relief tliey have none, but as God fendeth.
The prieft alwayes incumbent before him was bound to fay mafle there thryfe every weke.
No fundacon fhewed.
"Is yerely worth in latlDSt, tents, tythes, hereditaments, and other prof- fers in the tenure of fondery perfons as may appere pticulerly more at large by the rentall of the fame lxvj0, viijD»
Plate and 7 ornaments, j
Bell-metal dT. G.
None but a chalice ix oz.
Memoran''
y
Is yerely worth in CftC rent of the fame chapell in the occupying of tlie pyfhenors there xijD,
7 John Bradley Gierke incumbent there. The chapel is jdiftant from the pyfhe churche a quarter of a myle.
Cbe Cf)a=' VtW fcituate tDitbin tf)C PatiQje
pcrue tbcte j
Che Crha-r ^^ y^'"^^/ worth in C&C rent of the faid chapell with a pece of grounde urn nf Sfcf 1 ^"^'o^^^ wherein the fame chapell is fcituate xxD* li9etet of S Plate and 7 A chahce of filver waying xixoz. dT. ClE'PfDOrte I ^''"^rncnts. j Ornaments prayfed at vi0, ijD,
Bell-metal dT. G.
288 B E D M I N S T E R. [©ateclitje an5
!Are yerely worthe in ® flE annuall rent to be levyed and received of the iflues and revenues of the lands and tenements of John Kemys of KnoUevijD. ^ The pfonage there is of the yerely value of xxviij I, whereof y Henry Williams Gierke is now incumbent. ■yr n J The vicarage there is of the yerely value of xl. whereof
\ Nicholas Sampford Gierke is now incubent, who findeth / one prieft to helpe to minifter ther.
ptakers of the Lord's Holy Soop there cccxx pfones^
LONG-ASHTON.
THIS parifh, fo denominated from its prolixity, adjoins to that of Bedminfter weftward, and is three miles diftant from the city of Briftol. Its fituation is extremely pleafant, being chiefly a rich and wooded vale, having the lofty ridge of Dundry on the fouth, and on the north a bleak pidlurefque range of hills, which, beginning at the disjointed cliffs of St. Vincent on the eaft, extend weftward' through the parifhes of Leigh, Wraxal, Tickenham, and Glevedon, and as they pafs are differently denominated.
The river Avon, over which is a ferry at a place called Rownam, feparates this parifh and county from Gloucefterfhire and Briftol. A fmall ftream, formed by a fpring rifing at Dundry, after having traverfed the vale of Afh.ton, empties itfelf into the Avon near the abovenamed paffage. Another fpring, having its fource in Barrow, compofes a fecond rivulet, which purfues a different courfe, winding through Wraxal and the moors towards the Severn fea.
Againft the foutheaft flope of Aftiton-hill, ftretching in a lengthwife direftion from eaft to weft, hes the village of Long- Aftiton, throughout which and the whole parifli, a fine gravel road is cut, which in many places forms a terrace, overlooking a moft pleafing fuccefTion of fine meads and paftures, intermingled with wood, and having in view part of the city of Briftol, Glifcon, Dundry, and the hills and fcattcred villages on the other fide the Avon.
, The eaftern point of Afhton-hill overlooks the Avon and the Hotwells, which lie below at an immenfe depth. This point is rudely interfperfed with wood and foreft fhrubs, fpringing from amidft the crags, which are in fome places almoft, and in others quite perpendicular, having here and there a cavern hollowed by the hand of nature, and exhibiting a very romantick and magnificently wild appearance. On the verge of thefe cliffs are two very ancient Roman encampments, known by the
names
ae^eumlnfler.] L o N G - A s H T o N. 289
names of Burwalh and Stokekigh. The forntier is triangular, conforming to the fliape of the cliff, and confifts of three ramparts, placed on the hill fide weftward, the paits next the river being guarded by the precipice. The inner rampart is eighteen feet high, and is compofed of a ftrong cemented mafs of limeftone rubbilh, fo hard as fcarcely to be broken by any tool.
Stokekigh ftands northward from Burwalls, being divided from it by a very deep narrow dell, clothed on the north fide with wood. It is of an oval form, and confifts of two ramparts, the inmoft of which is very thick and ftrong. They feem to have been thrown up more with a view of obfervation than defence, and to have ferved as a Ipeculum over the pafs between the Belgas on this, and the Dobuni on the other fide the river.
The parilh of Long-Aftiton contains about four thoufand two hundred acres, and is divided into the tithings of Ashton-Dando, Ashton-Lions, Ashton-Philips, and Ashton-Alexander." The lands are generally pafture and meadow; there being no more than twenty acres of arable land in the whole parifh. The chief employment of the common people is gardening, and vaft quantities of all kinds of vegetables and fruits (particularly ftrawberries) are raifed here for Briftol market and the Hotwells, which are alfo fupplied with milk and butter from the dairies. In the valley fouth- ward from the village are feveral coal-mines, where at the pit's mouth coal is delivered at three-pence per bufliel.
In many of the gardens Roman coins have been dug up, from which it may be concluded that the Romans were acquainted with this territory; but we know not by what name they diftinguiftied it. The Saxons called it Gapcon, on account of its caftern fituation from Portbury, which was in their days the principal town on this fide the river. It was written by the Normans EJiune, and under that tide it is fucveyed in Domefday-Book, immediately after the town of Porbeiie, or Portbury, above- mentioned. The whole place had previoufly to the Conqueft belonged to three Saxon thanes; but was then the property of GefFerey bifliop of Coutances in Normandy.
" The Bifhop himfelf holds Estune. Three thanes held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for twenty hides. The arable is thirty carucates. In demefne ** are two carucates, and five iervants, and twelve villanes, and fix cottagers, with feven *• ploughs. There is a mill of forty pence rent, and twenty-five acres of meadow. " Pafture one mile long, and half a mile broad, and one hundred acres of wood. It " was worth twelve pounds, now ten pounds.
" Qf the land of this manor Roger holds of the Biftiop feven hides, and has there in " demefne two carucates, and four fervants, and eight villanes, and ten cottagers, with •' five ploughs. There are eighteen acres of meadow, and thirty acres of wood. It is " v/orth feven pounds.
" Of the fame land of this manor Wido aprieft holds three hides, and has there t\>o " carvicates, and two fervants, and three villanes, and two cottagers, with two plouglis. " It is worth one hundred fiiillings.
' This p.irifh finds » conftabic for the Hundred of KarccUve evrry fourth year.
Vol. II. . P p "To
290 L o N G - A s H T o N. [^atecUije ano
" To the church of this manor appertains one virgate of the fame land."''
This Gefferey, bifhop of Coutances, died in 1093, and his lands reforting to the crown were differently difpofed of. The firft perfon that appears upon record to have enjoyed any confiderable pofleflions in this place, is Adam de Heyron or Herun, who lived in the time of Henry I. and bore on his feal three herons, in allufion to his name." He died about the beginning of the reign of King Stephen, and his property defcended by his only daughter and heirefs to Alexander De Alneto, or De AIno, a name a:fter- wards corrupted into De Auno, Danno, and Dando.
^yhicll Alexander de Alneto, in the twelfth year of Henry II. upon the aid levied for marrying the king's daughter, certified that he held his lands by the fervice of one knight's fee.'' He was a benefaftor to the monks of Bath, and among other donations gave to them the manor of Camely, and dying about the beginning of the reign of King John, was buried near the weft entrance of the church of St. Peter at Bath."
To this Alexander fucceeded Robert, Henry, Fulk,-and Geoffrey De Alno, which laft, 43 Hen. Ill, held two carucates of land in Alhton/ and dying that fame year, was fucceeded by
Alexander De Alneto, or De Alno, the fecond of that name, who gave to the hof- pital of St. Catherine in the village of Bedminfter, the Burwalls on Aflaton-CHff, and a meffuage in the hamlet of Boure-Afhtonj and to the hoipital of Billefwick in the city of Briftol, a meffuage and lands in Long-Afhton, fituated oppofite the prefent vicarage-houfe.^ The territory which this family poffeffed in Afhton, was ever after called by their name, and at this day conftitutes a tithing of the appellation of Ashton-Dando.
> .But this branch of the De Alnos faihng about the time of Edward I. another family fucceeded to the eftates, of the name of Lions, or De Lions; defcended from a houfe which originated from Lyons, the capital of Lyonnois, a province in France, from which countiy they emigrated into England foon after the Norman Conqueft.
Of this family was Nicholas de Lions, who in 1252 held the office of reeve of the city of Briftol."
His eldeft fon's name was William, who improved the patrimonial eftates by pur- chafe from Agnes the widow of Alexander de Alno, and William de Aftitonj infomuch- that at his death 5 Edw. II. he held in this parifh a capital meffuage, (the fame in all probability which is ftill partly ftanding) a hundred and forty-feven acres of arable land, forty-four acres of meadow, and feparate parcels of pafture, with a windmill, two fulling- mills, and divers other poffeffions.' By Maud his wife he left iffue three fons, Adam, Thomas, and Edmund.
Adam de Lions, the eldeft fon, was born in the year 1287, and fucceeded to this cftate; but lived only one year after the death of his father, and
» Lib. Domefday. ' Seals from ancient deeds. " Lib. Nig. Scac. i. 98. ' Lib. Rub. Bathon. MS. 'Efc. » Cart, antiq. " Notes by Savage MS. ' Efc.
Thomas
•TBcuminfier.] long-ashton. 291
Thomas the fecond fon of William, and brother of Adam, inherited this manor, and paid thirty-tliree fhillings and four-pence for his relief This Thomas, dying alfu without ifilie in the year 1328, was fucceeded by his only furviving brother
Edmund de Lions, born in 1 303, 32 Edw. I. This Edmund, the year after his coming to the eftate, made a grant of Stokeleigh, parcel thereof, to the abbey of St. Auguftinc in Briftol.'' Befides his hereditary poflefTions, he had lands in the hamlet of Kevcot in this parifh, granted him by Gefferey de Alta Villa, or Hautville, which before had belonged to Thomas de Gatcombe} 17 Edw. III. he held the parfonage of Afhton by leafc from John de Irford, prior of the monaftcry of St. Peter at Bath," and died 40 Edw. III. leaving iffue two fons, William and Thomas.
William de Lions, the eldeft fon and heir of Edmund, dying without ifllie in 1 370, was fucceeded by his brother Thomas, who 15 Ric. II, obtained a charter of free warren, and liberty to inclofe and make a park in his manor of Long-Afhton," which from this family henceforward afllmned the name of Ashton-Lions, and ftill denomi- nates a tithing in this parifli. His wife's n^me was Margaret, but he left no iflue, and all his eftates defcended to Alianorc Hulle his coufin and neit heir.
Which Alianorc Hulle, who pofTcfled confiderable eftates in the lower parts of this county, being a great heirefs, by deed bearing date A. D. 1454, conveyed all her right in Long-Alhton to Richard Choke of Stanton-Drew, efq; afterwards Lord Chief Juftice of England, a perfon of very great eminence in the days wherein he lived. He kept his chief houfe here, having (in Leland's words) great furniture of filverj" and dying feized of this manor A. D. i486, was buried in the parifli church of Long-Afliton, in which he had founded a chantry, and endowed the fame with lands in Long-Afliton-, Keynfliam, Inglifhcombe, and Wookcy, for the fupport of fix priefts to attend his
•■ Cart, Antiql ' Ibid. , •" Ex. Autog.
" " Rex Archiepifcopis, Epifcopis, Abbatlbus, Prioribus, Ducibus, Comitibus, Baronibus, Jufticiariis, Vice- comitibus, Prepofitis, Miniftris, et omnibus Ballivis, et Fidelibus (uis falutem. Sciatis nos de gratia nolir'a fpeciali conceQiflc et hac carta nollra confirmane dileiflo armigero noflro Thoma; Lyons, quod ipfe ct luuredes fui imperpetuum habeant liberam warennam in omnibus terris fuis quas tenet de nobis in mancrio dc A(hton-Lyons juxta Briftolliam, dum tamen terra; ills non fint infra metas Forefts noftrx. Ita quod nullusintret terras illas ad fugandum in eis ; vel ad aliquid capiendum, quod ad warennam pertincat, fine licentia et voluntate ipfius Thomi, vel hajredum fuorum, fub forisfadura noftra decem librarum. Quare volumus, et firmiter prxcipimus, pro nobis et heredibus noftris, quod predidlus Thomas, ct hcredes fui, imperpetuum habeant liberam warennam in omnibus terris fuis prediftis ; dum tamen terra; illx non fmt infra metas Forell.-c noftra:. Ita quod nullus intret terras illas, ad fugandum in eis, vel .ad aliquid capiendum, quod ad warennam pertineat, fine licentia et voluntate ipfius Thoma:, vel heredum fuorum, fub forisfaiflura noilra decern librarum, ficut prediftum eft. Conccflimus infuper, et liccntiam dcdimus, pro nobis et heredibus noilris, quantum in nobis eft, prcfato 'I'homa;, quod ipfe prcdiftas terras cum fofl'atis ct haijs includere, et pareum inde facere, et eafdem ternis, cum foflatis ct haijs fjc inclufas, et pareum inde faflum, habere et tenere poffit, fibi et hsredibus fuis imperpetuum, abfque impetitionc noftri, vel heredum noftrorum, feu minittrorum noftrorum quorumcunque. Hijs teftibus, venerabilibus patribus, W. Archicpifcopo Cantuur. totius Anglix Primate ; Th. Archiepifcopo Ebor, Anglis Primate, Cancellario noftro; R. London, W. Wynton, T. Sarum, Thefaurario noftro, Epifcopis; Johanne .Aquitann. et Lancaflr. Edmundo Ebor. et Thoma Glouceftr. Ducibus. Avunculis noilris carilTimis, Edwardo Rotell, Rico Arundell, Thoma Wiirr, Henr. Northumbr. comitibus ; Thoma de Percy, fenefcallo hofpitij nollri ; M.igiftro Edmundo de Stafford, cuftode privati figilli noftri j et alijs. Dat. per nianum nollram apiid Wellm. xx" die Aprilis," Cart. 15 Ric. II. n. 21.
' Jtin. vii. K4.
P p i. obit.
292 LONG-A.SHTON. [©arcclitjc attB
obit/ He was twice married; his firft wife was Joan the daughter of William Pave/, of the city of Briftol, efq; by whom he had three fons, John, who fucceedted himj Richard, fettled in Berklhire; and William, who was a prieft and prebendary of Bed- minfter; as alfo two daughters, Joan, and Elizabeth. His fecond wife was JVIargarec Morres, who furvived him, and was living in 1478.
John Choke, fon and heir of Sir Richard, married Eiiza:beth daughter of Sir John Wroughton, knt. by whom he had feveral children, and dying in 1491, was fuc- ■ceeded by
Sir John Choke, knt. his fon and heir. This Sir John, in the year 1495, gave the houfe called the Church-houje^ fituated near the church-crofs in the village of Long- Afhton, and lands, to feoffees in triift for the parilh, on condition that on Sunday for ever prayer fhould be offered xy^from the pulpit of Ajhton churchy for the fouls of himfelf and his anceftors deceafed.' In 1506, 21 Henry VII, he fold the manor of Long- Alhton, and the advowfon of the chantry, to Sir Giles Daubney, knt. lord Daubney, the King's chamberlain; whofe fon Henry Daubney earl of Bridgwater, in the year 1 541, 32 Henry VIII. conveyed the fame to Sir Thomas Arundel, knt. by whom, in 1545, both the manor and advowfon of the chantry of Long-Alhton W£re finally fold to John Smyth, efq.
The family of Smyth was for many generations feated at Aylburton, near Lidney, in the county of Glouceiler. John Smyth was living there the beginning of the reign of Henry VI, and was father of Robert Smyth of the fame place, who had a fon named John, living alfo at Aylburton the latter end of the fame reign, viz. 27 Henry VI. 1449.
Which John was father of Matthew Smyth, who married Alice daughter of Charles Havard, of Herefordfhire, efq; and died in 1526, leaving iffue one fon John, the pur- chafer of Long-Afliton, and a daughter married to Thomas Phelips, of IVIontacute in this county, efq.
After the faid purchafe of this manor, John Smyth feated himfelf principally at Long-Aftiton. In 1532 he was fheriff of the city of Briftol, and mayor thereof in 1547, and again in 1554. He married Joan the daughter of John Parr, efq; and both lie buried in the north aile of St. Werburgh's church in Briftol. They left iffue two fons, Hugh, and Matthew.
Hugh Smyth, the eldeft fon, was born A, D, 1530. He married Maud, daughter and coheir cJf Hugh Biccombe, of Crowcombe in this county, efq; and dying in 1580, was buried at Long-Afhton. They had iffue one only daughter and heir, married to
f This chantry, (of which the laft incumbent was Henry Rowe, who in 1553 had a penfion of 61.) and the lands belonging thereto, were, after the diflblution 18 April, 3 Edw. VI. granted to John Smyth, efq; together with fundry lands in Huntfpill, Stone-Eafton, and Aftiton, formerly given by Nicholas and Henry Choke, younger brothers of Sir John Choke, and granJfons of the Judge, for the fupport of a chaplain to celebrate mafs in the chapel of the Virgin Mary, called Meriet chapel in Long-A(hton.
' This houfe is now a publick -houfe, the fign of the Angel, on the fouth fide of the ftreet.
' From original papers in the poffeflion of Sir J, H. Smyth, bart.
Edward
-Ketimfnfier,] l O N G - A s H T o N. 293
Edward Morgan, efq; fon of Sir William Morgan, of Lanternam in the county of Monmoutli, knt.
Matthew Smyth, the fecond fon of John, and heir male to his brotlier Hugh, fuc- ceeded to the eftates. He married Jane, elded daughter and coheir of Thomas Tewther, of Ludlow in Shropfliire, and rclift of Bartholomew Skerne, of the county of Lincoln, by whom he was father of a fon, Hugh, and a daughter, Anne,_ married to George Rodney, efq; fon and heir of Sir Maurice Rodney, knt. He died in 1583, and was buried with his lady at Long-Afhton.
Hugh Smyth, their only fon, was a knight, and married Elizabeth, eldeft daughter of Sir Thomas Gorges, knt. by whom he had ilTue one fon, Thomas; and two daugh- ters, Mary, the wife of Sir Thomas Smith, of Hough in the county of Chefter, knt. and Helena, the wife of Sir Francis Rogers, of Canningfon In this county, knt.; Sir Hugh Smyth died 15 April 1627, and was buried at Long-Alhton. His widow was married to Sir Ferdinand Gorges, knt.
Thomas Smyth, eldeft fon and heir of Sir Hugh Smyth, was eledled one of the reprefentatives in parliament for the town of Bridgwater, Feb. 28, 1627. He was alfo chofen one of the knights of die fliire for this county, with Sir Ralph Hopton, March 30, 1640; and Feb. 8, 1640-1, was re-ele£ted for Bridgwater in the room of Edward Wyndham, efq. On the breaking out of the civil war, he engaged himlelf in the Royal caufe, and was at Sherborne with the Marquis of Hertford, and with him retreated into Wales, where he was taken ill, and died at Cardiff in that principality in 1642. His remains were interred in the church of Long-Alhton. By Florence his wife, daughter of John lord Poulett, he had iffue one fon, Hugh, and four daughters, Florence, Mary, Helena, and Anne. His widow furviving him, was married fe- condly to Thomas Pigott, of the kingdom of Ireland, efq; the purchafer of the manor of Brockley.
Hugh Smyth, fon and heir of Thomas, was in 1660 created a knight of the Bath, and the fame year eleded knight of the fhire for this county with George Horner, efq. In the following year he was made a baronet of England, and again, in 1678, was eledted knight of the fhire for Somerfet. He married Anne fecond daughter of the Hon. John Aftiburnham, of Afhburnliam in the county of Suffex, groom of the bed- chamber to King Charles I. and II. by whom he had three fons. Sir John Smyth, bart. Hugh, and Charles, (of whom the two laft died unmarried) and alfo three daughters, vrz. Elizabeth, Florence, and Anne. Sir Hugh Smyth died in 1680, and was fuc- ceeded by
Sir John Smyth, his eldeft fon, who was elefted knight of the Ihire in the firft par- liament of James II. and again in 1695. He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Samuel Aftry, ofHenbury in the county of Gloucefter, knt. by whom he had iffue three fons. Sir John; Hugh, who died unmarried, and was buried at Long- Afhton; and Samuel, who died and was buried at Taunton ; he had alio five daughters, the eldeft of whom, Anne, died in 1760 unmarried. Elizabeth, the fecond, died unmarried alfo. Aftrea, the third daughter, married Thomas Cofter, efq; member of parliament for the city of Briftol; but died without iffue. Florence, the fourth
daughter.
294
LONG-ASHTON. [i^areclitie am
daughter, was married firft in 1727 to John Pigott, of Brockley, efq; and fecondly, in i73i-'2, to Jarrit Smyth, efq; (only fon of John Smyth, of Briftol, efq;) who was eledted one of the reprefentatives in parliament for the city of Briftol in 1756, and again in 1761; and was Jan. 27, 1763, advanced to the dignity of a baronet of Great- Britain. Arabella, the fifth and yonngeft daughter of Sir John Smyth, and Elizabeth his wife, married Edward Gore, of Flax-Bourton in this county, efq; by whom Ihe had iflue two fons, John Gore, now of Barrow-court, efq; and Edward Gore, now of Kiddington in the county of Oxford, efq.
Sir John Smyth, eldeft fon of Sir John Smyth abovementioned, inherited the family eftates, and married Anne, daughter of Mr. Pym of Oxford; but leaving no ifllie at his death in 1741, the title became extinft; and this manor, with the other patrimo- nial inheritance, defcended to his three furviving fitters, Anne, Florence, and Arabella. Anne, the eldeft, dying unmarried, left her portion thereof to Edward, fon of Edward Gore, of Flax-Bourton abovementioned. The fecond ftiare became the property of Sir Jarrit Smyth, bart. in right of his wife Florence, the fecond furviving fifter and coheir of Sir John. And the third fliare, being pofiefl^ed by Edward Gore, efq; the hufband of Arabella the other fifter and coheir, defcended to John Gore, of Barrow- Court, efq; who fold his third fhare in the feveral manors and in the hundred of Hareclive and Bedminfter to Sir Jarrit Smyth, bart. Sir Jarrit died Jan. 18, 1783, at the age of ninety -years, leaving ifllie by Florence hjs wife, two fons, Sir John Hugh Smyth, the prefent baronetj^^ and Thomas Smyth, now of Stapleton, efq. On his death Sir John Hugh Smyth became poflcfled of two-thirds of the manors, and the other is now vefted in Edward Gore, of Kiddington, elq.
Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. married in 1757 Elizabeth only daughter and heir of Henry Woolnough, of Pucklechurch in the county of Gloucefter, efq.
Thomas Smyth, fecond fon of Sir Jarrit, married, in 1767, Jane only daughter of Jofeph Whitchurch, of Stapleton in the county of Gloucefter, efq; by whom he has iftlie two fons, Hugh, born July 4, 1772; and John, born Feb. 9, 1776; as alfo two daughters, Florence, and Mary.
The family arms are. Gules, on a chevron between three cinquefoils argent, as many leopards' hctsjahle. Creft, upon a wreath, a griffin's head eraied gales, charged on the neck with a bar gemel, beaked and eared or. This creft was granted 2>(> Hen. V^III.
The manfion-houfe, called Ajhton-Court, is a noble old ftrudture, partly erefted by the family of Lions, who inhabited it, and whofe arms and devices ftill remain therein. It is fituated on the foutheaft Qope of Aftiton-Down, and comimands a very pleafing profpeft. The front of the houfe was built in 1634 by Inigo Jones, who intended to have modernifed the ancient edifice, and to have made it a regular pile of building. This fiont is in length one hundred and forty-three feet, and confifts below of three rooms; the weftern one of which is a fine apartment, ninety-three ieet long, and twenty feet wide, and contains feveral family and other portraits. The back part of the houfe is very ancient, and the court leading to the park weftward is called the Caftlc-Court, from its having been embattled, and ft:ill retaining an old gate-way, fimilar to thofe
■ • adopted
TBeDminflecJ L O N G - a S II T O N. .o-
adopred in baronial manfions J the fecond court contains fome of the offices, and its entrance from without is under a low door-way between two lofty turrets' one of which contains a bell and clock. The (tables and correfpondent offices in the front Cwirt arc of ancient date, and the whole conftitutes a very venerable and piaurefque buiWing. Adjoining to the houfe is a park well ftocked with deer.
; We now proceed to an account of the other manors in Long-Afhton, and tiicir different pofleflbrs.
. ^Within the precinfts of the great park ftood an ancient manfion, now entirely demo- hflied, the refidence of a family of the name of Theyne, lords of a diftina manor denominated after its pofleflbrs the manor of Ashton-Theynes. '
In the court of the Saxon kings were kept a certain fort of fuperior attendants or officers, called Thanes, from the word Dejnian, fignifying fervice, whofe bufincfs h was to wait on the king's perfon, and conduft fuch matters of ftate as more imme- diately concerned die houfliold of the palace. A progenitor of the family in queftion was a perfon of this defcription, and in all probability one of thofe three thanes who jointly held this manor in tlie time of King Edward the Confeflbr; and being of fome- what greater confequence than the others, or arrogating to himfelf fome fuperior authority, he acquired tlie title of k Theyne, or the Thane, which title his pofterity retained till late in tiie thirteenth century.
In the time of Henry I. Girard le Theyne was jiving at Littleton in Wiltfhire, in which village he held lands of Peter Fitz-Albert.'
To him fucceeded Ofbert le Theyne, who feems to have been of this county, being found in tlie number of thofe who in the reign of King Stephen were engaged in the defence of the city of Briflol.
After him we find Matthew, Roger, and William le Theyne, fucceffive polTefTors of a fmall manor in Long.AHiton, on thedemefnes of which they had their refidence. Wilham le Theyne was living here in I3ia,-and was father of Henry le Theyne, who was lord of Afiiton-Theynes in the year 1329, and whofe widow Edith held it for her !i, . /"^^ "^''^ pofTefTor was Richard le Theyne, who lived in the time of Edward the Third. Leaving no ifTue male, his eftates defcended to John Power, a perfon of no great account, who was living in 1385.
The next polTeflbr of this manor that we meet with, is Sir John Inyn, knt. who relided at Billiopworth in Bedminfter. This Sir John Inyn was recorder of Briflol, and afterwards chief baron of the Exchequer. He died March 4, 1439, leaving ifTue by Ahce his wife, William his fon and heir, who at his death left one only daughter and hetr, firft married to Robert Bowring, and fecondly to John Kekewich, efq. But dying without ifTue May 20, 1529, John Kenn, grandfon of Ifabel, the daughter of bir John Inyn by John Kenn, efq; became her heir. To this John, who was livino- in 1 545> fucceeded Chriflopher Kenn, his fon and heir, who, in 1584, fbld all the manor of Afhton-Theynes, except the capital mefTuage and the demefhes (which had lome little time before been conveyed to Jane widow of Matthew Smyth, efqj) to
^ Notes of Wiltihire MSS,
William
296 L o N G - A s H T o N. [^atetliifle an5
William Clerk, of Minchin-Barrow, whofe fon Chriftopher Clerk fold the fame to Sir Hugh Smyth, lent, in the year 1603. Since which it has been blended with the capital manor of Afhton-Lions.
William de Wyttington was owner of an eftate within this manor in 13 10. In which name and family it continued till fo late as the year 1653, when it was fold to John Tovey, the coheirefles of which family were married to Obadiah Webb, efq; and Mr. Richardfon, whofe refpeftive defcendants now poffefs it.
Rownam-Ferry is within this manor of Afhton-Theynes. Here was formerly ai» hermitage and a chapel; the latter flood on the river fide, near the fci'te of the ruinated fmeking-houfes, northward of the pafiage-houfe.
Another manor and tithing within the parilh of Long-Afliton, is called Ashton- pHiLiPs. Its moft ancient pofleflbrs were a family of very great account, who derived their names from the village of Afliton, being called Afton, de Afton, de Aefton, Ayfton, and de Alhton. Sir John de Afton, a famous knight in the time of Henry III. was owner hereof, and was refident here A. D. 1230. To him fucceeded Sir Adam de Afton, who was living in 1259. His fon's name was John, who was alfo a knight, and is ftiled in old writings Sir John de Aefton. This Sir John was- the founder of the old manfion-houfe of Afliton-Philips, as appears by a.paflage in the regifters of Wells, in domicilio quod ipfe conftruxerat^ This building was finiftied before the year 1265, at which time he had a difpute with the reftor of Aftiton, concerning a chantry which he had founded in the chapel of his manor-houfe here without due licence." His fucceflbrs were John de Alhton, lord of this manor in 1290; William de Afhton in 1308, and Sir Robert de Aftiton,' knt. who died in 1384. This Sir Robert was the laft of his name that poflefled this rrtanor; for after his death it was held in moieties, one of which became vefted in a perfon of the name of John Teyfant, whofe fon John fold it to Robert Poyntz, of Iron-A6ton in the county of Gloucefter, 6 Henry V. 141 9. Two years after which, viz. 142 1, the faid Robert Poyntz fold the fame to Roger Lyveden of Briftol, whofe widow Ifabella had it in jointure in 1450. ' After her death Thomas the fon of John Wythiford, and grandfon of Roger Lyveden abovementioned, inherited this manor, and fold it about the year 1490 to Richard A'Merryck.
The other moiety of this manor, after the death of Sir Robert de Aftiton, was pof- feffed 19 Ric. II. by Margaret Wefton. Richard Wefton her fon enjoyed it in 1422, and about 1425 fold it to Roger Lyveden, the owner of the other moiety.
After which this fecond moiety of the manor became alfo divided by the marriage of Lyveden's two daughters, coheirefTes, one of whom, Jane, was married to Richard Wymbufti. Which Richard had a fon named William, living about the year 1450. He died without ifiue male, and his eftates came to Ifabella his fole daughter and heirefe, the wife of Richard Seymour, of Oxfordftiire, efq; who poflefted this manor in her right, and was living in 1470. Humphrey Seymour, his fon, fucceeded him in 1490, and in 1503 fold it to Richard A'Merryck.
' Excerpt, e Regift. Wcllen, • Ex Aulog.
TliC
iBctminaero L o N G - A s H T o N. 297
Tlic other half of the fecond moiety of this manor, pafled by Agnes, the other daughter and coheircfs of Roger Lyveden, by marriage to John Wythiford, from whom it dcfcendcd to Thomas his fon, and was by him in 1491 fold to Richard A'Merryck, •who thus became feized of the entire manor.
Jane, fole daughter and heirefs of this Richard A'Merryck, was married to John Brook, ferjeant at law, in 1494. He died in 1522, leaving iffue two fons, Thomas and David. Thomas fucceeded to the manor of Afliton-Philips, and was living in 1524. Hugh Brook liis fon and heir was refident here, and, dying in 1586, was buried in the parilli church of Afliton. He left four daughters his coheireffes, viz. Elizabedi, Frances, Sufan, and Alice.
Elizabeth, the eldeft daughter, was married to Giles Walwyn, of Herefordfhire, efq; who in 1593 fold that part of the manor which had fallen to his fliare in right of his faid wife, to Jane Smyth, widow of Matthew Smyth, of Long-Afhton, efq.
Frances, the fecond daughter, was the wife of William Clarke, of Minchin-Barrow, efq; whofe fon Chriftopher Clarke, in i6oj, fold his portion to Sir Hugh Smyth, knt.
Suflin, the third daughter, was wife to Hugh Halfwell, efq; by whom fhe had a fon named Thomas, who inherited this portion of the manor, and in the year 1600 con- vej'ed the fame to Sir Hugh Smyth, knt.
Alice, the fourth daughter and coheirefs, was married to Thomas Vatchell, of Can- nington, efq; and they in 1593 fold this laft remaining portion of the manor to Jane the widow of Matthew Smyth, efq. By which feveral difpofals the whole property of the manor, centring in the family of Smyth, has defcended like the other eftates in Afhton.
The manor-houfe of Afhton-Philips (called Lower-Court) is fituated in the valley fouthwefb from the village. It was formerly a very large and grand ftrufture for the times in which it was erefted. But little now remains except an eaft wing of the dwelling-apartments, in which is a large room wainfcoted, and the edges of the pannels gilt. At the fouth end of this building ftands the chapel, which is entire, being twenty- two feet in length, and ten in breadth. The altar is of ftone, and ftill remains in its prilline flate. The pulpit ftood on the left fide of it, and in the fouth wall is a niche or receptacle for holy water. A fmall bell till of late years hung in an arcade over the entrance.
The family of de Afhton, who bore for their arms, Jrgent, two hzrs/ai/le, over all a bend gules, were lords ulfo of another manor in Afhton, called, after its fubfequent owners, the manor of Jj7jion-Meriet, by which appellation it is diftinguifhed to this day. William de Alhton, fon of John de Afhton, lord of this manor, and that of Eaft- Copeland in this county, granted all this his faid manor to Sir John Meriet, knt. and Elizabeth his wife, and the heirs of the faid John. Shortly after this grant, viz. 13 Edw. II. Sir John Meriet procured from the King a charter of free warren in all his demefne. lands in the manor of Afliton, and in the maiiorj of Hcftercombe, Leigh-
VoL. IL Q^q F.ory,
29S L O N G ► A S H T o N. [^amliuc aiio
FI017, Eail-Copeland, and Combe-Flory, in this county." He left two fons, John and Simon. John tlie eldeft, after the death of Elizabeth his mother, fuccccded 10 the manor, and fold it to Walter de Meriet, clerk, his uncle, who dying without iflue, it defcended to Simon, fecond fon of Sir John Meriet, his ^nephew and heir, who was living in 1347. In the year 1375, ^^^^ truftees of this Simon de Meriet obtained of Thomas de Berkeley, lord of the hundred of Haredive, a licence to grant this manor to the priory of St. Peter at Bath/ The prior and convent of that monaftery had long before been in pofleffion of the manor of the parfonagc of Alliton, as well as the ad- vowfon of the vicarage, the former being held of them by the families of Lyons and Choke. In 1344 Edmund de Lyons was the leflee thereof under the faid prior and convent. Sir Richard Choke, knt. Dame Margaret his wife, and William Choke, clerk, held the fame and the manor of Afhton-Meriet by leafe dated July 2, 1478, for fixty years. Sir Richard Choke's leafe was furrendered, and another leafe granted 20 March, 6 Henry VIII. of the fame manor and parfonage, with rents, moruiaries, tithes of corn, hay, and wool, to Nicholas Choke, Maud his wife, George their fon, and John Chapman, clerk, for fixty-one years j the faid prior and convent referving to themfelves the ufe of the hall, chamber, kitchen, and ftable, for their convenience at thefeafon of holding their courts here. Maud Choke and John Chapman furvived the other leflees, and 9 Henry VIII. affigned the remainder of the faid term to Marmaduke Mauncel, brother of the faid Maud, .in trull for her ufe for life, and after her deceafe for the ufe of her nephew Alexander Mauncel during the remainder of the faid term; on condition that he Ihould every year, during the faid limitation, hold a dirge to be fung by note, and one mafs of requiem to be alfo fung by note, in the parifh, church of Long-Afhton, on the vigil of St. Laurence, for the fouls of the faid Maud, Nicholas her hufband, George th-eir fon, and for the fouls of her father and mother, and for all Chriftian fouls. He was appointed to allow the prieft, clerks, and other minifters of the faid fe'rvice, ten fhillings., and a fimilar fum to fuch poor people as Ihould aflcmble at the faid celebration.^ In 1293, the temporalities of the Bifhop of Bath, in Afhton, were valued at twenty pounds." By the diflblution of that priory the manor of Afliton- Meriet, with the redborial manor, and the advowfon of the vicarage, became veiled in the crown, and King Henry VIII. by letters patent bearing date 21 June, the 38th year of his reign, granted the faid premifes to John Smyth, efqj and his heirs.
Within the manor of Afhton-Meriet, flood a chapel,- at a fmall diflance from the northeafl corner of the church-yard, in a field flill bearing the name o( Meriet' s. It •was for fome time let as a cottage; but taken down in the year 1774, and nothing of
' Rex Archiepifcopis, &c. falutem. Sciatis nos ad inftantiam diledi confanguinei et fidelis noflri Thomae Comitis Lancaftr. conceffiffe, et hac carta noftra confirmafie, dilefto et fideli noftro Johanni de Meriet, quod ipfe, et heredes fui imperpetuuin habeant liberam warennam in omnibus dominicis terris fuis de Heftercoumbe, Legheflory, Eftcapelond, Coumbeflory, et AQiton juxta Briftoll in com. Sumerset. Dum tamen terra: illae non fint infra metas Forefta; noftrae. Ita quod nullus intret terras illas ad fugandum in eis vel ad aliquid capiendum, quod ad warennam pertineat, fine licentia et voluntate ipfius Johannis, vel heredum fuorum, fuper forisfafturam noftram decern librarum, &c. Hijsteftibus venerabilibus patribus W. Aichiepo. Ebor. Anglije primate; T. Elien. Epo. Cancellario noftro; Johanne de Britann. comite Richmond. Ricardo de Grey ; Hugone de Audele, feniore, et alijs. Dat. per manum noftram apud Ebor. ix" die JuJij." Cart. 13 Edw. II. n. 35.
'' Cart. Antiq. * Ex, Autog. • Taxat. Temporal.
it
QBetimmQer.] L O N G - A s H T o N. 299
it now remains. It was dedicated to the blefTcd Virgin Mary; and was endowed with lands by divers of the Choke family, for the fupport of a chaplain to celebrate divine fervice therein.''
The parfonage or reftorial houfe, ftands on the weft fide of the church-yard. The old hall is ftill ftafiding, and forms a weft wing, now converted into a cellar. The room above ftairs where the abbots' courts were held is alfo entire, and is now ufed as a repofitory for lumber. Its window opens to the garden fouthward. The reflorial or abbot's barn, is a very large old ftrufture, and of the kind generally ufed in mona- ftick granges.
The redtory of Long-Aftiton was in 1 292 valued at feventeen marks.' The benefice is vicariftl, in the deanery of RedclifF and Bcdminfter. The lords of the manor are its patrons, and the Rev. John CoUinfon the prefent incumbent. The vicarage-houle ftands near the road fide, about two furlongs wcftward from the church. It had here- tofore a fmall chapel, which was taken down about thirty years ago on the alteration of the old building.
Of the vicars we preferve the following names:
Robert Coker, 1329. William Parr, 1591.
John de Bradford, 1340. James Nichols, 16 18.
Richard Cooke, 137 1. Thomas Tucker, 1623.
John, 1387. Adam Holland, 1638.
Robert, 1398. Richard P'orfter, 1 639.
Thomas Heynes, 1428. Richard Smith, 1681.
Jolin Spore, 1484. Elidni Trat, 1695.
Thomas Draper, 1495. Thomas Wickham, I72'5.
John Rought, 1547. John Wickham, 1754.
William Parfons, 1571. John Collinfon, 1787.
The church, which is dedicated to All-Saints, is a handfome ftru6ture, built by one of the family of Lyons, whofe arms are cut in ftone on the weft end of the tower on the outfide, and are likewife blazoned on the ceiling of the nave, viz. ytrgent, a chevron Jabkj between three lions dormant coward gules. It confifts of a nave, north and fouth ailes, chancel, with a chapel on each fide, and a tower at the weft end containing fix bells, one of which is very ancient, and has the following circumfcription : ^anftC 31Ot)annC0 XaptiftC Ora ptO nOt)i0. On another bell is this memorial: Sir John Smyth, baronet, for whose name i will loudly speake. William Brittin AND Henry Murford, churchwardens. T.Bilbie, f. 1767. The nave is fepa- rated from the ailes by two rows of neat cluftered pillars fupporting pointed arches, and from the chancel both ailes and nave are divided by a beautiful Gothick fcreen of flower and fret-work painted and gilt, and of moft admirable workmanfliip. On the roof between the nave and the chancel is a linall arched turret, which formerly held a tiint'ii bell. In the eaft window are thefe arms: viz. i. Quarterly, firft and fourth
* Sec page 292, ' Taxat. Spiritual.
i
00 L a N d - A s ^i T o N. [JDatcclitic ann
.</r^e«/, three clnquefoils per pale -czar^ and ^«/«, Choke. Second and third, argent, three bars wavy gules. %. Azure, a St. Andrew's crofs or, impaUng, azure: a St. Peter's key double warded or. 3. Clioke, quartered with Lyons. On a window of the nordi aile are the arms of De Afhton; and in the windows of the north cliapel are fcveral figures, viz. An abbot with his mitre and crofier, a cardinal, and the portraitures of Kins Edward the Fourth and his Queen Elizabeth Woodville.
In this chapel, againft the north wall, (lands a very elegant monument of ftone richly decorated with Gothick tracery, and imagery much fuperior to moft fimilar works of the age wherein it was erefted. Under a fine canopy lie the effigies of Sir Richard Choke, and Margaret his wife; he in his judge's robes, and fhe in tiie drefs of the- times; two cherubs fupport tlieir heads; at his feet a lion, at her's a dog. On the back of the monument above the figures, are two angels fupporting, in well-drawn attitudes, a Glory, in which was formerly the reprefentation of our Saviour on the crofs, but which is now effaced. Above thefe, on a fcroll, reaching from end to end is the
following fentence: 3[}u fot t})i ^tetc pctg Of out fgnues t)at)C mcccg t anB for
tbe lOUe of pi paffion brgng OC fOUlCg to falloado. On another fcroU underneath, a^ifCriCOrS I'te fili Dei MiSSi mifCrere nOflri. At each corner are arms: On the dexter fide. Or, a faltire gules, on the finifter. Or, a crofs gules. On the front of the tomb are thefe coats: i. Choke, impaling ermine, on a feffe gules, three martlets or; a crefcent for diftindion, PaVy. 2. Choke, impaling Argent, two chevrons /a^^/f between three rofes gules, feeded or. 3. Choke, impaling Lyons.
Againft the northeaft corner of this chapel is a white marble monument, infcribed: — " Juxta requiefcit, ac femper in pace requicfcat, quod mortale fuerat Dn£e Annse Smyth Dhi Johanriis Smyth, baronetti, uxoris dileftiffime ; fasmina omni laude digna; venuftate corporis ornata, fuavitate morum ornatior; animi virtutibus ornatiffima: sequalem fortafhs invenias le£bor, fuperiorem nuUibi. In egenos etenim Jiberalis, erga omnes benevola, Qualis fuiflet unico verbo difcas ; optima arnica, optima conjux, Chriftiana optima. Exegit fibi monumentum £ere perennius — hocce marmoreum, vir fui amatiffimus, a fe merito amatus, extrui curavit. Obdormivit die Septembris nono, A.D. MDCcxxxni, zetat. XXXVI. Abi et fac fimiliter."
In the chapel oppofite to this, againft the fouth wall, is a large ftone monument, erefted to the memory of Hugh Brooke, of Lower-Court, efq; who died 30 Eliz. and was buried Feb. 23, 1556. There is no infcription on this tomb, it having been left unfiniftied. The arms of Brooke were Gules, on a chevron or three lions rampant y«^/ft.
On the floor round the verge of a ftone enfculptured with a crofs flory is the follow- ing legend :
" J^icjacet Domina augncta lemon cunts anime^picicturC^cuiS. amen."
Againft the fouth wall there is a niche for holy water; and on the walls fome rem- Jiants of banners, and other infignia of Sir Hugh Smyth, knt. and bart. are fufpended.
In the chancel on the north wall is a monument of white marble: " In memory
cf the moft vertuous and pious Dame Elizabeth Smyth, late the dear wife of Sir John
, Smyth,
li5cnmfnflcr.l L o N o - a s H T o N. 301
Smythj of this parifh, baronet. She was eldcft daughter of Sir Samuel Aftry, late of the parifli of Henbury in the county of Gloucefter, knt. and Dame Elizabeth his wife. She departed this life the xvth day of Septemb. in the year of our Lord mdccxv, aged near xlvi years. They had iflue three fons^ John, Hugh, and Samuel; and fivf daughters, Anne, Elizabedi, Aftriea, Florence, and Arabella. Sir John Smyth, ban. ob, xixth of May, mdccxx;vi, astat. lxvi." Arms, Smyth, impaling Barry wavy of fix, argent and azure; on a chief gules three bezants : Aftry.
On a fimilar monument againft the fouth wall: " To the memory of Sir Jlugh
Smyth of this parifh, knight, of the hon'"'' order of the Bath, and baronet, who departed this life the 28th day of July, in the year of our Lord mdclxxx, aged xlviii years.
" Alfo of Dame Anne Smyth, his vertuous lady. She was fecond daughter of the Hon. John Aflibumham, of Afliburnham in the county of SufTcx, efq. She departed this life the twenty-fixth day of June, in the year of our Lord mdcxcvh, aged about Lx years. They had ilTue three fons, John, Hugh, and Charles; and three daughters, Elizabeth, Florence, and Anne." Arms, Smyth, impaling gules, a fcffe between fix mullets argent, Afhburnham.
On die floor: " Here lieth the body of the Rev. Richard Forfter, vicar of this
parifh, who died the 13th of December 1680, aged 72."
" Under this flone lieth the body of the Rev. Robert Stillingfleet, D.D. prebendary of Durham, and mafter of Sherburne-hofpital near Durham, who departed this life Aug. 3, 1759, aged 53, with a hope full of immortality through the revelation of the Gofpel of Jefus Chrifl:. He was third fon of the Rev. James Stillingfleet, D.D. dean, and grandfon of the Right Rev. Edward Stillingfleet, D.D. bifhop of Worcefter. In his life-time he was beloved and refpecfbed, and in his death fincerely lamented by all his relations, friends, and neighbours.
" Here alfo lieth the body of Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Wickham, vicar of this parifli, by Elizabeth his wife, niece to Dr. Stillingfleet. She died March loth, 1775, aged 14. In fure and certain hope of a joyful refurredlion through tlie merits of Jelus Chrifl:.
" Here alfo lieth the body of the Rev. John Wickham, vicar of this parifh near thirty-three years, who departed this life March the 5th, 1787, aged 70, in hope of a bleflTed immortality through the merits of Jefus Chrift."
On another ftone: "Hie dormit Anna, uxor Elidni Trat, vie. quae animam
Creatori fuo religiofe reddidit 28 Julij, A.D. 17 16, stat. fuse 47.
" Hie etiam requiefcit corpus Elidni Trat, hnjus ecclefias per ;}2 annos vicarij, qui obiit Septembris 3, anno falutis mdccxxv, aetatis fu^e lx.
" Mr. TiTomas Wickham, vicar of this parifh thirty years, died the 1 2rh day of May, in the year of our Lord 1754, aged 65 years."
In the body of the church, within the memory of people now living, flood a raifed tomb, containing the reliques of Thomas de Lyons the founder of the church. On
the
302 L o N G - A s H T o N. [l^atecUtje ano
the top was a large ftone, whereon was the figure of a man lying in a fideways attitude on a long pillow, his head attired with a Janizary's cap, and a lion at his feet. Round the verge of the ftone was this infcription: ^K jacet Cf)Oma0 IpOflg mUC0, jttUg 15enCDiftU0 DCU0, 3niCn. Both tlie figure and the infcription were inlaid in a ftrong coat of terras cemented to the furface of the ftone, a method of decking the coverings of fepulchres firft introduced into this country from France. The raifed tomb being removed for the purpofe of levelling the floor, this ftone was placed therein among others as a paving ftone, and ftill remains in the middle paflage between the chancel and the belfry. On turning it up fometime fince the arms of Lyons were found carved on a feparate ftone underneath.
At the weft end of the nave, near the organ loft, is a neat marble monument — " In memory of Joan the fourth daughter of James Sparrow, of Flax-Bourton, gent, and Rachel his wife, who died the a6th day of Nov. 1745, aged 48 years; and was interred near this place. Beloved by her friends, knew no enemy, in health cheerful, patient
in pain; and as Ihe lived, fo Ihe died, a Chriftian. In the next grave lie the remains
of Sarah, the fecond daughter of the faid James and Rachel Sparrow, who died the 24th day of January 1750, aged 61 years, endued with every focial and Chriftian virtue." Arms: Urgent, three rofes gules, feeded or, barbed vert: a chief of the fecond.
Under an arch in the wall at the end of the fouth aile is an old tomb, wherein was interred one of the family of de Gatecombe, who had their name from and their refi- dence in a place called Gatecombe or Gatcombe within this parifh, about two miles weftward from the church; where in ancient times there having ftood a gate, ferving as a chief entrance. into the combe or valley from the hill, it thence derived the appel- lation of Gatecombe. Of the owners of this place were
William de Gatecombe, who occurs in 1296.
John de Gatecombe, 1308.
Thomas de Gatecombe, 131 2.
John de Gatecombe, 1323.
John de Gatecombe, 1377.
William de Gatecombe, 1398.
Nicholas de Gatecombe, 1430. Catherine the fole daughter and heirefs of this Nicholas de Gatecombe, about the above date was married to Richard Halfwell, efq; who became poflefled of Gatcombe in her right, and whofe defcendant Sir Nicholas Halfwell, knt. fold it to William Cox in the year 1623. Francis, fon of the faid William Cox, dying in 1667, left iflue two daughters his coheirs; Rachel, wife to James Sparrow, efq; and Sarah, wife to Mr. Richard Cooke, between whom the eftate was divided. Jofeph, fon of Richard Cooke, fold his moiety thereof to Richard Grimfted, and he to John Combes, efq; whofe nephew Ricliard Combes, of Earnlhill in this county, efq; fold the fame to Francis Sparrow, efq; father of James Sparrow, efq; the prefent proprietor of Gatcombe, who married La£titia daughter of Thomas Popham, of Weft-Bagborough in this county, efq.
At the weft ^nd of the fouth aile there is a fmall mural monument of ftone to the memory of one of the cohejrefles of Francis Cox, of Gatcombe, in the following words:
" Spe
^Bcnminflcr.] L o n G - A s H T o N. 303
*' Spe refurredtionis ad gloriam Sarah uxor Richardi Cooke, gen. mulier, bonis moribus et virtiitibus ornata; omnibus placida et benigna; vitam mortalcm pro imniortalt niutavit 29° die Novembris, anno Dom. 1704." Arms: In chief three cocks' heads erafed, in bafe a fpur leadiered.
Againfl the north wall of the north aile, near the door, there is a neat mdnument of
black and white marble, infcribed as follows: " Near this place reft the mortal
remains of William Fenn, of this parilh, efq; who died June i ith, 1788, in the forty- fecond year of his age, univerfally lamented. — The goodnefs of his heart, which was ever open to all, but particularly to the poor, the reftitude of his conduft through life, were juftly approved by men. — His unaffe(51;ed piety, and his chriftian refignation ut the hour of death, endeared him to his God."
In the church-yard, under die north wall of the tower, lie the effigies in ftone of a man and a woman, fuppofed to reprefent two of the family of Lyons. Their feet are turned to the eaft; at thofe of the man is a lion ftanding up, at thofe of the woman a dog. On the edge of the ftone, fculptured in Gothick charafters, is the following remnant of an infcription : DG 8 ALCOG GYT COGRCI A[COeN.
Benefactions to this parish:
" 1660. Mrs. Mary Smith gave 300I. for the purchafe of a houfe and land, the rents thereof to be given to four poor people of this pariftj, as the owner of the upper- court, and the minifter of the time being, fliould think fit. With this money lands at Kingfton-Seymour were purchafed, and the rents applied to the ufes abovementioned.
x66i. Francis Derrick gave four acres of land called Gajlons, the rents to be thus applied: — los. to the minifter for a fermon on Good-Friday; los. to the poor on Good-Friday and St. Thomas's-day, by equal portions; and the overplus of the faid rent for the fchooling of poor children, according to the difcretion of the minifter and churchwardens for the time being yearly for ever.
" 1709. Mr. George Whiting gave 300I. laid out in lands at Lawrencc-Wefton in Henbury ; of which rent are applied i os. to the minifter of the parifti to read divine fervice, and preach a fermon on All-Saints-day yeaily for ever; — 7I. to buy yearly for ever coarfe woollen cloth, to be given to fuch poor people and poor children, as arc that day at divine fervice and fermon, at the difcretion of the minifter and church- wardens ; — fo much of the rent as is neceflary to be laid out in keeping in good repair fix freeftone tombs, a head-ftone and a foot-ftone, being altogether on the fouth-eaft fide of the chancel ; — and the refidue of the rents and profits to be laid out in ten loaves of fixpenny bread to be given to ten poor people that are at divine fervice every Sunday after All-Saints' day, until all be difpofed of; except the fum of los. to be laid cut in twenty fixpenny loaves, and difpofed of on Good-Friday to twenty poor people yearly for ever-
" 1726. Sir John Smyth, bart. gave 5I. yearly for ever to be diftributed equally to forty poor people; 20s. for preaching a fermon, and 5s. to the clerk yearly for ever on St. Thomas's-day.
« 1748. Mri.
304 L 6 N G - A s H T o N. [i^areclitie anH
" 1748. Mrs. Arabella Gore gave a handfome pair of filver candlefticks for the ufe of this church.
" 1760. Mrs. Anne Smyth gave a rent charge of lol. per annum, payable out of Whitchurch farm, for teaching poor children to read and knit, or binding out poor children apprentices, at the difcretion of the minifter and churchwardens.
" 1779. Mrs. Anne Pomroy gave 50I. the intereft to be applied to fuch charities as Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. and his heirs fhould think fit."
There were anciently feveral crofles in this parifh, as
I. Horesham-Cross, which flood on Horefham green, near the interfedlion of the roads leading from Bedminfter to Long-Afhton, Pill, and Portbury.
Northweft from this point is Boure-Ashton, a hamlet fo called within the manor of Afhton-Lyons, and containing feveral neat tenements. Oppofite an inn in the high road, called tlie Coach and Horfes, there formerly flood a chapel dedicated to St, John, in a field ftill called Cbapel-Acre.
1. Lyon's-Cross. This flood fomewhere near the manor-houfej but the exaft fpot is not afcertained.
3. Theyne's-Cross, in the park, near the fcite of the old manfion of Theyne's- Court.
4. Church-Cross, flill partly Handing in the flreet oppofite the parfonage-houfe, and at the wefl end of the old church-houfe. There was alfo a crofs in the church- yard on the fouth fide.
5. Rayene's-Cross, near the hamlet of Lampton, or Lamington, a mile and a half wellward from the church. This hamlet is fcarcely ever mentioned but in ancient deeds. It notwithflanding gave name to a confiderable family.
6. Kencot-Cross. This crofs, confifting of two rows of fteps, and a pedeflal (the pillar being quite gone) Hands on the declivity of A.fhton-hill above the hamlet. of Kencot. This hamlet is beautifully fituated in a narrow glen, between that hill and fome fmall eminences on the north fide of the road from Long-.\fhton to Bourton. At the bottom of the vale runs a fine ftream, through fertile meadows thickly clothed with wood. The hill to the north exhibits a real pidlure of wild uncultivated nature; being compofed of fhelving fears, romantickly difpofed, intermingled here and there with herbage, and expofing on their acclivities a number of antiquated yew-trees, fhrinking their withered heads from the weflern blafts, which here blow flrongly in the winter feafon from the channel.
At Yanleigh, anciently Yonlech, a hamlet fituated between Afhton and Dundry, have been difcovered the foundations of ancient buildings, fuppofed to be Roman.
The chriftenings and burials in this parifh from the year 1700 to 1710, and from the year 1770 to 1780 inclufive, have been as follows:
Chriftenings.
|
juminfier.] |
L |
ONG-ASHTON. |
1 • |
|
|
Chriftenings. |
Burials. |
Chriftenings. |
Burials. |
|
|
1700 — 17 |
1700 — 11 |
1770 — 11 |
1770 — 6 |
|
|
1701 — 15 |
1701 — 9 |
1771 — 20 |
1771 — H |
|
|
1702 — 13 |
1702 — 14 |
1772 — 12 |
1772 — 18 |
|
|
1703 — 14 |
1703 — 15 |
1773 — 15 |
»773 — II |
|
|
1704 — 18 |
1704 — 16 |
1774 _ ,8 |
1774 — 15 |
|
|
1705 — 18 |
1705 — 8 |
1775 — 14 |
1775 — 22 |
|
|
1706 — 16 |
1706 — 11 |
1776 — 10 |
1776 — 18 |
|
|
1707 — 16 |
1707 — 18 |
1777 _ 20 |
1777 — 19 |
|
|
1708 — 20 |
1708 — 11 |
1778 — 15 |
1778 — 17 |
|
|
1709 — 18 |
1709 — 10 |
1779 — 14 |
1779 — 12 |
|
|
1710 — 7 |
1710 — 14 |
1780 — 22 |
1780 —. 18 |
|
|
cal — 172 |
Total — 137 |
Total 171 |
Total 170 |
305
B
K W
L.
AParifh feven miles fouthweft from Briftol, the principal dwellings thereof ftanding in the turnpike-road from that city to Yatton; but there are a few houfes near the church half a mile toward the fouthweft. The fituation is very pleafant, having eminences to the fouth and eaft; a rich country to the weft; and the fine range of hills which run along the hundred of Portbury to the north and northweft at about three miles diftance. The hills eaft and fouchward from tlie church are in a romanticlc man- ner wildly feared with rocks, and patched with Ihrubs and foreft trees, with deep winding glens between them, in which fome of the houfes are pifturefquely fituated. Thefe hills are compofed of vaft maftes of calcarious ftone, very hard, of a reddifti colour, with blue and white veins, and fufceptible of a ver)' good polifli. A brook from Long- Alhton pafles through the parifti under a ftone bridge of a fingle arch.
A market was formerly held here on Mondays by a grant made to Sir Richard de Rodney, lord of this manor, 1 1 Edw. II.' and confirmed 18 Hen. VII.; and a fair, of royal charter alfo, is ftill held here Sept. ai, for cattle and pedlary ware. There was alfo a charter of free warren for this manor. King William the Conqueror gave the place to the biftiop of Coutances, of whom it was held by two domefticks of the name of Fulcran and Nigel.
" Fulcran and Nigel hold of the Biftiop, Bacoile. Turchil held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for ten hides. The arable is fourteen carucates, occupied " by thirty-two villanes, and twenty-one cottagers, and two fervants. There is a mill " of four ftiillings rent, and twenty-four acres of meadow, pafture one mile long, and " half a mile broad. Coppice wood one mile long, and two furlongs broad. It was " and is worth eight pounds."""
* Cart. II Edw. II. * Lib. Domefday.
Vol. II. R r When
3o6
B A C K W E L L.
[rjjarccUtje anB
When this manor fell into the handi of the crown by the bifliop's death, it was divided into two portions; one -of which the Emprefs Maud, daughter of King Hen. I. gave, together with the manoirs of Lamyat and Hurleftone, and divers other lands in this county, to Walter de Rodney, anceftor of the Rodneys of Rodney-Stoke in ^ the hundred of Winterftoke.'
This moiety of the manor, in regard it was fometime held by the family" of Bayoufe
or de Baiocis, was denominated Backzvell-Bayoufe -, as the other moiety was called
.BiU'hvcll'Sore, from its ancient pofTeirors of that denomination. And to this day the
two tithings into which theparifh is divided retain the names oi Backwell-Bayoufe and
■ Backwell-Sorss.
47 Henry. III. Thomas de Baiocis and Mary his mother are certified to hold eight
knights' fees in the different parifhes of Backwell, Twiverton, Saltford, Winford, and
Stoke;'' all which were held 24 Edw. I. by Joceus de Baiofe of the honour of Glou-
cefter." 47 Henry III. William le Sor held the other part of the parilh of Backwell,
L'Confifting of one knight's fee; and alfo the manor of Claverham/
The family of le Sor, which lafled but a very fhort period in thefe parts, were of fome diftinftion, being allied to the Clares earls of Gloucefter. There were two Williams
. and one John Le Sor, who fuccefTively pofTefled this eftate. 3 Edw. I. Ifabel Sore, or Soore, lady of Clare, was in poflefRon of a moiety of the manor of Backwell, and that year granted to Richard Rodney and his heirs for ever a certain piece of land lying on Backwell-Hill.' The fame lady had alfo a moiety of the advowfon of the church,*" But In the beginning of the reign of Edw. III. this fartiily became extind, and this moiety of the manor paffed to Elizabeth Wickham, one of the coheirefles of Le Sor, who conveyed all her right herein to Sir Walter Rodney, who thus became lord of the whole undivided manor, and in whofe defcendants it continued till the time
. of Queen Elizabeth.
This family, of whom more particular mention will be made in that parifla to which they gave their name, polTefled alfo a variety of other manors. An inquifition taken 6 Edw. IV. fets forth that Sir Walter Rodney, knt. died feized of the manors of Con^refbury and Badgworth; lands in Draycot; the manor of Lamyat with lands therein; the manor of Backwell, and the hamlets of Felton, W^inford, and Farley, meiTibers and parcel of the faid manor of Backwell, with the advowfon of the churches of Backwell and Winford; the manors of Stoke-Rodney, Hallatrow, Twiverton, and Saltford, and lands and tenements in Chard and the city of Wells.'
The feal of John de Rodney lord of Backwell 21 Edw. III. was three fpread eagles."
From the family of Rodney the manor paffed to that of Fitz-James, and after- wards to Sir John Churchill, knt. mailer of the Rolls, and was, about the year 17 10, purchafed of the truftees and coheirs of Sir John Churchill by guardians for the Vik of Thomas Thynne, efq; anceftor of Lord Vifcount Weymouth, the prefent pof-
'Harl. MS. No. 1153. p. 40. " Lib. Feod, 'Ibid. 'Ibid.
•Cart. Antiq. * £fc. ' Inq. poll. mort. Walter Rodney, mil. " Seals from ancient deeds.
feffor,
'laenminfter.j B A C K W E L L. 307
feflbr. The manor-houfe, which ftood eaftward from the church is taken down, and nothing of it remains excepting a fmall wing near the church yard. Againft the front were the arms of Sir John Churchill, Sabky a lion rampant argent, debruifed with a bendlet gules, impaling argent a chtYxon Jable, over all a fUe with thiec lambeaux gukst for Prideaux.
The hamlets belonging to this parifh are, „
1. West-town, pleafantly fituated near a mile weftward from the church, con-' taining feveral good houfes.
2. Farley, in the turnpike-road, half a mile north.
3. Moor-side, a mile northweft.
4. Down-side, near two miles foutheaft, Joceus de Bayoufe gave lands in diis hamlet to Keynfham-abbey.
There was a park at Backwell, containing one hundred and forty acres, belonging to the Rodneys.
A. D. 1292 the value of the redory of Backwell was certified at fifteen marks," Soon after which valuation, viz. A. D. 1306, it was granted by Ralph de Salopia, bilhop of Bath and Wells, to the brethren of the hofpital of St. John the Baptift at RedclifF-pit in Briftol, they reprefenting to him their being in a ftarving condition.' 9 Od. 1343 the bifhop admitted a vicar to the faid church, who was prefented thereto by the mafter of the above hofpital, the true and undoubted patron thereof." The reftory is now a finecure belonging to Mr. De Beft, who is appropriator of the vicarage, of which the Rev. Mr. Wake is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a very handfome ftrudure of fine {lone and excellent mafonry, confifting of a nave, chancel, two fide ailes, a chapel, veftry-roomi porch, and belfry, all leaded except the chancel. At the weft end ftands a very elegant tower, embattled, with open turreted pinnacles, and containing five bells.
The chancel is decorated with a very fine altar-piece given by the Rev. J. Markham, reftor of the living, in the year 177 1. This altar-piece formerly ftood in the old church of St. Leonard in Corn-ftreet, Briftol, and when diat church was taken down, it was purchai'ed by Mr. Markham, and placed here. The font is circular, and is removed into the church-yard under the wall of the fouth aile.
On the north fide of the chancel is a large ancient Gothick tomb, on which lies the effigy in ftone of one of the Rodney family, whole burial place was in the adjoining chapel. Above the effigy on a long fcroll is the following infcripcion:
" umyin tYji% cMpel Ipetb (2EU?at)etb tfje firft founoerps of tljis cljapdl* anQ of tbe flofee of Hiepe to tl)C quarter tgrnes" lat ftnpgbt, anu before
^ Taxat. Spiritual. ' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. " Ibid.
" This infcription was either written by a Frenchman, who underftood not Englifli, or tranilated by an EngKfh- man who underftood not French. To the quarter tymes is an ungrammatical tranflaiion of the French A le qiiaire terns, a term in that language ufed for the Ember Weeks, or four feafons of the year appointed for fading ; at which leafons this lady here interred, might have inllituted either fome publick fervice in the church, or particular benefadion to the poor.
R r 2 t|)at
3o8 BACKWELL. [^atcclitie antj
tfjat toyff to ^c m^twc IRotmcp knggbt anu fgftut to ^t £i(Hgnj)am Compton iinpgfjt toljgcbe CU^abetb Depcctcfi tf)c in tt)c gc?e of 0?ace mTccccrrrtJi."
On the tomb above and below, and alfo within the chapel, are the arms of Rodney, and the family alliances.
Within the chapel, on the eaft wall, is an old ftone monument with a brafs plate, having rhcreon the portraitures of a man and woman kneeling at an altar face to face with three children behind each of them j the infcription is as follows :
" Here lyeth the bodies of Rice Davis, efq; who reedified this chapel, and died 2 Sept. 1638, and Dorothie his wife, daughter to Morice Rodney, efq; and fifter and coheir to Sir George Rodney, knt. Shee died the 12th of Jan'*' 1604, and had iflue betwene them 3 fonnes deceafed, and three daughters now livinge, viz. Johan, Elizabeth, and Margaret." Arms: Quarterly, firft and fourth. Gules, a griffin fegreant or; fecond and third, /aMe, a chevron or between three fpears' heads, argent.
On a fmall marble againft the fame wall : " Elizabeth the daughter of Edward
Harvey, efq; and Elizabeth his wife, of Brockley- Combe, under this fubjacent ftone lieth depofited.
Thy life was like thyfelf, a fpan.
In meafure ended as began.
Short in dimenfion, fhort in ftay,
Five days induc'd, reduc'd thy clay."
Arms: Sahle, a feffe or between three fquirrels fejant argent.
In the fouth wall of the chancel are three of thofe niches commonly called tabernacles.
This church was pewed, paved, and ornamented, A. D. 1771. Samuel Filer,
churchwarden. In the church-yard near the fouth door is an old crofs quite per-
feft, with a dial on the top.
BARROW
IS a parifh of one tithing, denominated after its ancient owners Barrow-Gournay, Htuated fix miles fouthweft from Briftol, and one mile eaft from Backwell. The ■greater part of the houfes ftand fcattered in a kind of ftreet half a mile diftant from the church; but the environs of the church are called Barrow- Minchin, from a houfe of Minkenes', or nuns, which ftood there on the fcite of the prefent manfion-houfe ; a pleafant, but expofed fituation, commanding an extenfive view over the city of Briftol, and the hundred of Portbury.
The whole place belonged in ancient times to that monopolizer of property Geffrey bifhop of Coutances, as we learn from the following furvey:
• Sax. MiNicENE, Monialis, a nun.
i " Nigel
IBetiminflcr.] BARROW. ^09^
" Nigel holds of the bifhop, Berve. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for ten hides. The arable is fourteen carucates. In demcfne are two " carucates, and three fcrvants, and fifteen villancs, and kvtn cottagers. There is a mill " of five Ihillings rent, and thirty-five acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture. *' Wood one mile long, and one furlong broad. It was and is worth ten pounds."'*
When it reforted to the crown, King William Rufus bellowed it with other lands in thefe parts on Robert Fitz-Harding; from whom it defcended to Plvahis grandaughter and heir, the wife of Thomas de Harpetree, fon of William de Harpetree, who 7 Ric. I. paid fifty marks for this his inheritance,"
Robert, the fon and heir of this Thomas de Harpetree, adopted the name of Gournay, and annexed it to this his manor, in order to diftinguilh it from the other Barrows in this county.
To him fucceeded Anfelm and John de Gournay, fucceffive owners of this manor: which laft, by Oliva his wife, daughter of Henry lord Lovel, of Caftle-Cary in this county, (who had this manor and that of Eaft-Harptree in jointure) left ifiue one only daughter and heir Elizabeth, married to John Ap-Adam, who had livery of his faid wife's lands 19 Edw. I."* and 24 Edw. I. had a charter bf free warren in the manor of Barrow." He died 11 Edw. II. and was fucceeded by
Thomas Ap-Adam, his fon and heir, who 4 Edw. III. conveyed this manor to Thomas de Berkeley and Margaret his wife^ and in their defendants, the Berkeleys of Beverftone, it continued till the reign of Hen. VIII. when we find it in the pof- fefiion of the family of Compton.
34 Hen. VIII. Peter Compton was lord of the manor of Barrow-Gournay.^ His wife's name was Anne, who furviving him was married fecondly to William Earl of Pembroke. After his death it was fucceflively held by Francis Compton, Sir Henry Compton, and William lord Compton, all living in the time of Queen Elizabeth. 38 Eliz. William Lord Compton fold this manor to William Clarke, efq; who, jointly with truftees, in three years after, fold alfo the fame to William Hanham and others; and they about i Jac. I. conveyed it to Francis James, L. L. D. 11 Car. I. Francis and William, the fons of Dr. James, difpofed of the fame to Robert Cottercl, whofe daughter and heirefs, the wife of Hazle, fucceeded to the poflefnon of it.
Which Hazle by his faid wife had one daughter Magdalen, married to Benjamin Tibbot, who enjoyed this eftate, and left it to his fon John Tibbot, who died feized of it in 1674. Ruth, daughter of this John Tibbot, and firft wife of William Gore, efq; inlierited this manor, and left ifiue a daughter Mary, married to Anthony Blagrave, efq; by whom fhe had two fons, John and Anthony, whofe coufin and heir ' John Blagrave, efq; is the prefcnt poflfeflror.
In this parifh, on the hill weftward from Barrow-Gournay, one of the Fitz-Hardings, lord of the manor, founded a Benediftine nunnery to the honour of St. Mary and St.
" Lib. Domefday. ' Rot. Pip. 7 Ric. I. " jlot. Fin. 19 Edw. I.
• Cart. 24 Edw. I. ' Cart. Antiq. « Efc.
Edwin ;
310 BARROW. [i^areciitje antr
Edwin J but which at the Reformation was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Leland*" attributes its foundation to one of the Gournays, but it muft have been before either of their times, as it is noticed fo early as the reigns of Richard I. and King John J particularly in the will of Hugh bifhop of Lincoln, made A. D. 121 1', wherein he leaves to the houfe of nuns at Barrow ten marks j Domui Monialium de Berwe 10 man.'' 35 Edw. III. Sir Richard de A6ton gave lands in Barrow-Gournay to the priory of Minchin-B arrow. 44 Edw. III. Sir Richard de Afton and others gave a meflliage and feventy-nine acres of land in Barrow-Gournay to the fame priory. 2 Hen. IV. Gilbert Hareclive gave to Joan Panes, priorefs of Barrow, and her fuc- ceflbrs for ever, a meadow in an inclofure called Chappelmeade, in Barrow-Gournay, containing two acres.' The nuns had alfo a penfion of two marks out of the reftory of Twiverton near Bathj™ and the fame fum out of the appropriated tithes of Barrow-Gournay.
Thomas de Berkeley was patron of this priory, the ad vowfon of which belonged to the manor of Barrow-Gournay in 131 6.
That fame year, Johanna de Gurney was elefted priorefs of this houfe, Od. 4, and refigned in April 1325.
Agnes de Sanfta Cruce, elefted 1325. She died 1328.
' Itin. vii. 88. ' Godwin de Prasfulibus, 289.
" '' Test AMENTUM Hugonis Episcopi Lincoln. Lego pro animaniea 500 marcas ad fabricam eccles. Lincoln.; & 500 marcas ad emendas terras redditus & poffeffiones ad augmentandum commune ejufdem ecdefix, Vicariis Line. Ecdes. 60 marcas ; ec 300 marcas ad diftribuendum per domos religiofas Epifcopatus Line. ; et 100 marcas ad diftribuendum per domos leproforura ejufdem Epifcopatus ; et 100 marcas per domos hofpital, epifcopatus ejufdem ; et 300 marcas diftribuendas ecclefiis quas habui ad libros & ornamenta emenda. Domui de Stanleg. 30 marc. Domui de Quarrer 20 marcas ; Domui de Polefton. 30 marc. Domui de Fernleg, 10 marc. Domui de Plinton. 100 marc. Ad hofpitale conftruendum pro anima Jordani de Turry, vel ad alias elemofynas pro anima fua faciendas, 300 marc. Domui leproforum de Selwod 3 marc. Domui monialium de Berwe 10 marc. Domui de Berlich 3 mar. Ad fabricam ecclefiae de Bokland 20 marc. Domui de Caninton 5 marc. Ad con- ftruendum hofpitale apud Well. 500 marc. Hofpitali Bath 7 marc. & dim. Domui leproforum extra Bath 3 marc. Leprofis extra Ivelceftr. 3 marc. Monialibus de Stodleg in Oxenfordfire 7 marc. & dim. Magiftro Johi. de Ebor. nifi a me beneficiatus fuerit, cent. marc. Filiabus Wijlielmi de Stratton. 300 marc, ad eas maritandas Puellae de Sco Edward 150 marc, ad fe maritandam. Puero de Evpcrich40 marc, ad eum exhibend. Paupe- ribus de confanguinitate mea 100 marc. Volo autem quod rellituantur hominibus meis tam militibus quam aliis, fafta mihi reftitutione qus me & eos contingit, omnia qux ab eis capta funt injufte in hoc interdidto. Item lego Canonicis de Morton zo marc. Canonicis de Sea Barbara 20 marc. Pro anima filii Stephani perfons de Doke- mersf. 7 marc. & dim. Autem teftamenti mei executores conftituo Dominum Bath. & Magiftrum Hel de Derham ad recipiend. omnia & diftribuend. ut prasdixi, & Dominum Cant. & confratres & co-epifcopales meos rogo, quatenus pro Deo & honore ecclefias Dei, & pro falute animarum fuarum & meae cum requifiti fuerint confi!;am & auxilium efficax apponant ut hoc teftamentum meum compleatur. Quod autem ultra hsc omnia pra;difta remanferit tam de his qus mihi reftituenda funt, quam de aliis bonis mcis & his qux mihi debentur, volo quod per pra;diftos executores mei teftamenti diilribuantur pro anima mea tam pauperibus per Epifcopatum Lincoln, quam alibi ficut magis vidcrint expedite. Ad hxc lego ad fabricam Ecclefix Well. 300 r.iarc. & ad commune ecclefix ipfius augmentandum tam ad opus Vicariorum quam Canonicorum 300 marc. ; et 40 marc, diftribuendas Vicariis ecclefis memorat». A61. apud Sanftum Martinum de Garenn. in die Sci Bricii pontificatus mei 3'% prefentibus Dno J. Bath Epifcopo, magiftro Hel de Derham, magiftro Joh. de Ebor. magiftro Rcgin. de Ceftr. magiftro Williclmo Rogero & Hel capellanis, Petro de Cic. & Will, de Ham."
' Inq. ad quod Damn. "^ Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
Eafilia
»•
ISttminftctJ BARROW.
31^
BafUia de Sutton fucceeded the fame year, and died June 13, 1340.
Juliana de Grandy was defied Aug. 1 2, 1 340.
Agnes Walim, priorefs elecft, confirnncd Oft. 20, 1348.
Joan Panes was priorefs 1400.
Margery Fitz-Nichol, refigned Sept. 2, 1410.
Johanna Stabler, May 20, 1432.
Agnes Leveregge, 1463.
liabella Cogan, March 2, 151 1. -
The revenues of this priory were valued in 1426 at four marks, and a6 Henry VIII. at 23I. 14s. 3d.
After its fupprefllon King Henry VIII. in the 28th year of his reign granted the houfe and the demefne lands to John Drew of Briftol, efq; for twenty-one years at the rent of 5I. is. 8d. This Drew converted the old building into a good dwelling-houfe." 22 May, 36 Henry VIII. the King granted the reverfion of the above premifes, and alfo the manor of Minchin- Barrow, and the reftory of Minchin-Barrow and Barrow- Gournay, with the advowfon of the church and the rent before referved, to William Clarke, efq; and his heirs. Chriftopher Clarke, fon and heir of the faid William Clarke, 9 Nov. 44 Eliz. fold the above manor, &c. to Francis James, LL.D. and Blanch his wife, and the heirs of the fald Francis. 13 July, ii Car. I. Francis fon of the faid Francis James conveyed the fame to Sir Francis Dodington, knt. and John his fon, and the heirs of the faid John. 16 July 1659, Sir Francis Dodington and John his fon fold the above to William Gore, efq; and his heirs.
Which William Gore was fecond fon of John Gore, of Gilfton in Hcrtfordfliire, efq; and died July 10, 1662, leaving ifluc
Sir Thomas Gore, knt. his fon and heir. He married Philippa daughter and coheir of Sir Giles Tooker, of Maddington in the county of Wilts, by whom he had two fons, William and Edward.
William died in 17 18, and left iflu6«another William, who died in 1769 without iflue.
Edward Gore, the other fon of Sir Thomas married Arabella daughter and coheir of Sir John Smyth, by whom he left ifllietwo fons, John and Edward.
John, the eldeft, is the prefent pofleflbr of Barrow-Court, and refides in the manor- houfe, a good old building near the church.
Edward Gore, the fecond fon, is of Kiddington in Oxfordfhire. He married Barbara, the daughter and heir of Sir George Browne, bart. and relift of Sir Edward Moft}'n, of Talacre in the county of Flint, bart. by whom he has living three fons, William Gore Langton, John, and Charles. The arms of Gore are, Gules, afeffe between three crofs croflets fitchee or.
The living of Barrow is a donative in the deanery of Redcliffand Bedminfter, and in the patronage of John Gore, efq. The Rev. Mr. Goddard is the prefent incumbent.
" Lei. Itin. vii. 106.
The
312 BARROW. [5)amnt)e anD
The church is a fmall building, confifting of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile. At the weft end is a tower containing three bells.
In the upper window on the north fide of the altar are thefe arnms; i. Barry wavy of fix argent and gules: Bayoufe. 2. Argent y two chev\:ons, fable, between three rofesj-a/f/, feeded or: Drew. 3. Argent, three cinquefoils, per pale azure and gules: Choke. Argent, a chevron fable between three lions dormant coward gules : Lyons.
In the window over the altar, i. Quarterly per fefle indented argent zni. azure, in the firft quarter a mullet ^«/i?j : Adon. 2. Effaced.
Over the north porch, and eaft window, on the outfide of the church, are two fhields, bearing on a bend between two lions rampant three efcallop fliells: Clarke.
Againft the eaft wall of the chancel is a handfome marble monument with the fol- lowing infcription : —
" Under the altar are depofited the remains of Edward Gore, efq; fon of Sir Thomas Gore, knight, (by Phllippa, fifter and coheirefs to Sir Giles Tooker, bart. of Mad- dington in Wiltftiire) and fecond in paternal defcent from Sir John Gore, knight, of
Gilfton in Hertfordftiire, who was lord-mayor of London 1624. PFhitleigh and
Aldrington in Wiltfliire were the ancient feats of the Gores, from the 5th year of King Edward the Third for many centuries; from this ftock fprung feveral flouriftiing branches, particularly the Gores of Hertfordftiire, who received the honour of knight- hood for their diftinguiftied loyalty, and firm attachment to King Charles the Firft.
" In a grave adjoining is alfo interred his wife Arabella, fifter and one of the coheirs of Sir John Smyth, of Long-Afhton, baronet, who by maternal extiaftion was lineally defcended from Mowbrey firft Duke of Norfolk, and the Earls Poulett and Aftiburnham families.
" Edward and Arabella Gore were both eminently confpicuous for their piety, be- nevolence and charity, refignation and humility, and all thofe Chriftian graces, which eclipfe the luftre even of an honourable anceftry. He died Sept. 18, A. D. 1742, set. 70. She, Oft. 27, 1748, aet. 48. They left ifTue two ions, John and Edward."
Arms: Quarterly, firft and fourth. Gules, afefTe between three crofs croflets fitchee, or for Gore. Second and third, vert, on a bend engrailed argent three body-hearts, gules : Tooker. On an efcutcheon of pretence, gules, on a chevron between three cinquefoils argent, as many leopards' hc.ts fable: Smyth.
In the fouth aile is a monument of white, grey, and Sienna marble, whereon in two arched recefTes are the effigies of Dr. Francis James and his wife kneeling; he in a counlelior's robe and large white ruff, with four boys behind him, and over him on a ftiield, Sable, a dolphin embowed between three croiTes botony or : James. She is attired in black, and has five girls kneeling behind her, and above. Sable, three gaunt- lets, «r^^«/. Underneath is this infcription :
" Here lieth the body of Francis James, Dr. of Lawe, one of the mafters of the
Jiigh ccurt of chancery, judge of the court of audience of the lord archbilhop of
^ Canterbury,
^ctJminncr.l BARROW. 313
Canterbury, and chancellor of the diocefe of Bath and Wells j who living was wor- thily beloved of all honeft men, and dead hartely of them deplored. He died 26 March, 16 16; in whofe rememberancc Blanch James his beloved wife did erc<5t this monument."
On an old mural monument of ftone againft the eaft wall: " M. S. Gemmulam
viator, quam hie fubtus capfulatam cernis, Catherina Bampfyldia eft, ex honeftiffima Sydenhamorum familia oriunda, nupta non data Jofepho Bampfyld, facratiffima: Caroli Britannici Majeftati A Chiliarchis: femina, Deo fuo chariffimaj bonis omnibus defideratiflima; utqui pietatis omnis religionisque, maximum, fi non exemplar unicum. Quas poft plurimas temporum fortuharumque viciflitudines, poll maximas morborum segritudinumque procellas; poft labores mafcule exantlatos, omnes et fingulos; hie tandem in Diio placide obdormit. Ob' Aug. 12, 1657." Arms; On a bend three mullets, Bampfyld: impaled with three rams paflUnt, Sydenham*
B U T C O M B E
STANDS on the fide of a lonely valley, about three miles weft from Chew-Stoke, and the fame diftance eaft from Wrington.
This parifti comprehends feveral manors j whereof that of But combe belonged at die Conqueft to the biftaop of Coutances, and was thus furveyed:
" Fulcran holds of the bifhop, Budicome. Elward held it in die time of King " Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is " one carucate, and two fervants, and eleven villanes, and fuur cottagers, with five " ploughs. There is a mill of twenty pence rent, and ten acres of meadow, and thirty *' acres of wood. It was and is worth four pounds."»
After this manor lapfed to the crown by the demife of the biftiop of Coutances, it was granted to one of the name of Bodicombe, of whom Walter de Budecumbe and Robert his fon poflefled it before 1 1 13, whence pafiing into the family of Mohun, it was about the year 1200 given to Sir Richard de Perceval, anceftor of the Percevals of Wefton in Gordano, in marriage with the daughter of William de Mohun, lord of Dunfter, and afterwards Earl of Somerfet.'' John de Perceval, grandfon of this Sir Richard de Perceval was a great patron and benefadtor to monafteries, and among other donations granted to the monks of the Ciftertian abbey of Thame in Oxfordfiiire, one yard-land in this village, adjoining on the north fide to a certain plough-land, which the faid monks received formerly of the gift of Richard de Perceval, his grandfather, in pure and perpetual alms, for the rebuilding a certain houfe there belonging to the abbot and convent, for die welflire of King Henry, fon of
* Lib. Domefday. * Cart. Antiq.
Vol. II. S s John
314 BUTCOMBE. [Damlitic antj
John his lordj and that of all his predeceflbrs and fuccefibrs, that he and they might be partakers of all the benefits and alms which had been, or ihould be made from the days of the apoftles to the end of timej willingly and firmly enjoining, that the faid alms Ihould be free of all fecular fervices whatfoever. This deed bears date at Stowell, and was witnefled by Robert and Hugh, brothers of the faid John de Perceval, Robert de Chen, Edward de Bofco, Roger, John, and Afcelin, his fons; Mafter Thomas de -Kenn, and others/
In this family of Perceval the manor of Butcombe continued in the male line till the
■time of King William III. when it fell to Anne, fole daughter and heirefs of Thomas
Perceval, who being twice married, firft to Evan Lloyd, of the county of Salop,
tefq; and afterwards to Thomas Salifbury, of Flintfhire, efq; confented at different times,
.in favour of her two hufbands, to part with her inheritance/
The, manor of Butcombe was held by the fervice of half a knight's fee of John le Sor, and the profits of the manor in the time of Edw. I. are fet down at the fum of awo fhillings/
The jnanor of Thrubwell, or Trobbewell, partly in this parifh, and partly in that -of Nemnet, and fo called from Thrub-JVell, a fpring rifing in the latter, came into the .family .of Perceval by the marriage of Joan, the daughter of Sir John de Britalhe, with Roger lord Perceval, in the time of Edward I. The hamlet had been the habitation of the family of Britalhe, or Bretefche, for many generations. They are faid to have proceeded originally from a younger branch of the ancient Counts of Guifnes in Flan- ders j but they probably derived their appellation from a fmall manor in the parifh of Street near Glaftonbury called Brutejayjhe, where once they had the chief of their pof- feflions. 24 Henry II. Richard de Bretefche, lord of this manor, was fined ten marks .for trefpafies committed by him in the King's forefts.' He died 10 Ric. I. A.D. 1 198, leaving iiTue
John de Bretefche his fon and heir, who married Margaret, widow of Warin de Ralege, and daughter of Lord Boteler of Overley. 3 Hen. III. he is found entering into a compofition with Adam Gianne and Anne his wife, concerning certain lands in Crewkerne, part of the dowry of the faid Margaret from her former hufband.^ In the fame reign he was witnefs to a charter of Richard earl of Cornwall, the King's brother, whereby he granted Uberty throughout his whole eftate in Cornwall to the abbot and monks of Cleve in this county."" In the 23d year of the fame reign he exchanged his right of common in Heygrove, with the mafter of St. John's hofpital in Redclifi^-pit,' for one yard-land in Thrubwell, formerly held by Walter Fitz-Norman, and for half a yard-land, which the faid John held of the gift of Elias Fitz-William, agreeing to pay ten (hillings and fixpence to the faid mafter, in lieu of all fervices otherwife due for the faid lands. 27 Henry III. he is recorded for non-appearance before the juftices itine- rant, in the hundreds of Chew, Wellow, Portbury, Hareclive, and Chcwton,'' in all ' which hundreds he poffeffed eftates. Not long after this he occurs witnefs to a deed
' Cart. Antiq. in Bibl. Cotton. " Houfe of Yvery, i. 455. ' Efc. ' Rot. Pip. 24 Hen. II. e.Rot. Fin, 3 Hen. IIL ' Mon. Angl. i. 531. ' Fin. Somers. 23 Hen. Ill, " Plac. Coron. 27 Hen. III.
of
QBeBminacr.]
B U T C O M B E..
3^5
of Geoffrey de Craucombe, whereby he granted his manor of Craucombe in this county to tiie church of the blefled Virgin Mary of Studley in the county of Oxford.'
Tohinn fucceeded John de Bretefche his fon and heir, lord of the manor of Thnib- well, which he held of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucefter, by the fervice of half a knight's fee." The profits of the court were valued at two fliilhngs. This John 42 Henry III. prefented William de Sodden to William Briton, chief juftice of the foreft, to be his woodward of the foreft of Winford, who was admitted accordingly." 47 Hen. III. he joined with his wife Engeretta in a grant to William Bozun and his heirs of one melluage and three furlongs of arable land in Heathfield in this county, as alfo two furlongs and a tenement in Fordj referving an acknowledgment of two barbed arrows, or in lieu thereof one penny, to be paid annually at Eafter.° He died 15 Edw. I. leaving ifllie one fole daughter and heir, Joan, married (as above faid) to Roger lord Perceval of Butcombe, progenitor of the prefent Earl of Egmont. The arms of Bretefche were. Sable, a lion rampant argent, double queued, crowned or.
The family of Clevedon had alfo pofTeffions in Thrubwell and Butcombe, as had alfo the abbot and convent of Flaxley in Gloucefterfliirej and the hofpital of St. John in RedclifF-pit in Briftol had alfo a manor within this parilh, which after the difTolu- tion was granted to George Owen, efq; the King's phyfician,'' together with the reftory and advowfon of the church of Butcombe belonging to the fame hofpital. After which the manor and advowfon of Butcombe were in the family of Bufli, and pafled by the widow of John Bufh, efq; in marriage to William Mann, of London, efq; whofe grandfon Francis Mann, of Kidlington in Oxfordfhire, efq; fold the fame, 29 Sept. 1735, to Mr. Richard Plaifter, whofe fon John Plaifter conveyed it to John Curtis, efqi whofe fon fold it, with the advowfon of the living, to John Savery, efq; the prefent pofleflbr. The manor-houfe, fituated near the edge of Broadfield-down, was nearly demolifhed in the rebellion of the laft century.
The manor of Aldwick, anciently yfldvic, or the old town, is alfo partly within this parifh and partly within that of Blagdon. It belonged in the time of William the Conqueror to Serlo de Burci, who was likewife lord of Blagdon :
" Walter holds of Serlo, Aldvic. Almar held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for two hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one carucate, " and two fervants, and four villanes, and one cottager. There is a mill of three " fhillings rent, and fifteen acres of meadow, and forty-nine acres of wood. It was *' formerly and is now worth forty Ihillings.''
It was afterwards held by the Martins, lords of Blagdon; but in the time of Hen. V. it was held by Sir Thomas Brook, of the abbey of St. Mary of Graces near the tower of London. Of the fame abbey it was held 21 Henry VI. by Thomas de Chcdder} but afterwards of the Duke of Exeter.' By a cohcirefs of Thomas de Chcdder it pafled in marriage to Sir John Newton, knt. and from him defcended to Richard
' Mon. Ang. i. 487.
• Rot. Fin. 47 Hen. III.
" Lib. Feod. ° Plac. Foreft. in com. Som. 42 Hen. III.
f Ter. Sydenham. « Lib. Domefday. ' Efc.
S s 2 Newton
3r6 ^ B U T C O M B E. [^ateciitie an0
Newton his fon,.whofe coheirefs carried it in marriage to Sir Giles Capel, knt. It 13 now the property of Samuel Baker, efq.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminftcr, and in the gift of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Here is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and is a fmall ftrufture, confifting of a nave, chancel, and chapel on the fouth fide, leaded. Gn the fame fide is a ftrong em- battled tower, containing three bells.
Againft the fouth wall of the chancel is a fmall monument to the memory of Richard Humphreys, redor of this church, who died Nov. 15, A. D, 1716. And in the floor, a memorial for Thomas Powell, another reftor, who died Feb, 23, 1681, aged 90.
At the eafl: end of the chapel is a monument of white marble to the memoiy of «' Richard Plaifter, gent, who died Jan. 14, 1756, aged 65. Alfo three of his children by Ehzabeth his wife, viz. Martha, Henry, and Rebecca. Alfo of John Plaifl:er, eldeft fon of the above Richard Plaifter, who died Feb. IQ, 1760, aged 36. Alfo of Elizabeth, relidt of the faid Richard Plaifter, who died Jan. i, 1767, aged 71.
In the fame chapel there is alfo another marble monument, — ** In memory of Mary wife of Richard Plaifter, who died the nth of March 1777, aged 29 years. Alfo of :three of their children, John, Richard, and Mary, who died in their infancy."
In the chancel windows are fome good figures in painted glafs, and the initials W. R,
.In the church-yard ftands an old decayed crofs.
C H E L V Y.
THIS parifh, the name of which has been written Calviche, Chehinch, Cheveldlynkhe, and Chelvy, lies one mile tothe right of the feventh mile ftone, in the road from Briftol to Yatton. Its fituation is in a woody flat; the lands good, and moftly pafture.
It was, anciently the land of Matthew de Moretaine, and was held of him by one Rumaldus, a perfon probably fubfervient to him in his domeftick affairs:
" Rumald holds of Matthew, Calviche. Torchil held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for one Jiide. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is ''one carucate, and two fervants, and three villanes, and four cottagers with two " ploughs. There are fix acres of coppice wood. It was and is now worth forty " fliillings.
From this manor is taken away one virgate of land, which Torchil held with the land abovementioned. The bilhop of Coutances holds it.""
Sir Richard de A£lon, knt. was pofleffed of Chelvy in the time of Edw. III." He was a great bencfaftor to the monaftery of Barrow." He left iffue William de AiSton, » Lib. Domefdajr. " Efc. 35 Ed. Ill, « Pat. z6 Ed. III.
whofe
'Betiminflcr.] c H E L V Y.
whofe daughter and heirefs Alice brought it to the family of Perceval. In which it con tmued f«r!^f"y8^"7tions In the reign of Henry VH I. it was in the family oi"
t ' n' c. .• i ^'^'''' ^^ ^''■S^'"'' ^'' ^'^^ ^^' f'^^'^^'- °f J"hn and Hugh. John the eldeft, died rj Aug. 32 Henry VIII. feized of this manor. Midghill, Tickenhar^* and Compton B.n.op,Meaving iffue one fun John, and two daughtcfs Joan nd Ma"* John married Ifabe Je daughter of Sir Edward Gorges, km. and Hfter of W
prrinT cLfch '"'"' '^^^ "'' P"'^'^'^' "^^ "^"^'-^ ^"'^ ^- ^-«1 - th"
T J^'/^'l/;?'^'''^ •'^f r "^''i^ '" '^'9, leaving iflue five fons. and two daughters John the eldeft married Jane, daughter and heir of Hugh Halfwell, of Halfwell in this county, D. D. and was father of ^
Halfwell Tynte, efq; created a baronet of Great-Britain by Charles II. He married Grace, daughter and coheir of Robert Fortefcue, of Filleigh in the county of Devon andRobfrr ^^^"B'^^^"-' Grace, and four fons, Halfwell, Fortefcue. John, '
The two eldeft dying without IfTue, John the third fon fucceeded to the title and eftate on the death of his father in 1702, and married Jane eldeft daughter of Sir Charles
wTnlV^'''?"^'^^'",.'^' '°""^>^ of Glamorgan, bart. He died m 17 o leaving ifTue three fons, Halfwell, John, and Charles-Kemeys, and one daughter Jane.
Sir Halfwell Tynte, bart. his eldeft fon and fucceflbr, was elefted i Geo IT :, reprefentanve in parliament for Bridgwater. He married Maiy, daughter and heir of John Walters, of Brecknock, efq, by whom he had iffue two daughterf, who both died young, and was fucceeded in title and eftate by his eldeft brother
Sir John Tynte, bart. who was reftor of Goathurft in this county, and died un-
Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte, bart. LL.D. who was elefted knight of the fhire for this county m feveral parliaments, and was colonel of the fecond battalion of the Somerfet m.litia. He married Anne, daughter and coheir of the Rev. Dr. Bu/by! but dying without ilTue m 1785, the eftate became vefted in John Johnfon, efq- who
rr:;e;f T^n":."' "' '' ^'^ p"'^" ^^"'^'^^ ^^ ^^'^ '"^"°'- ^^ ^^ ^^"^
.n7^7'"'"■f °"/''- ^"^'"^^'^^ '"^"^'^"'^ ''y ^^^ Tyntes, is a very large old ftrufture and had a park adjoining thereto, a warren, and a fwanery. all now appropriated to '
h tr '^'^^"^'^ ''''' ''' "^^"y ^'"^ ^pmnr^L, well wabfcoU wiS
t ndlrKr^r ^'1''^^'''^'^' ^-""g^^ but they are all now locked up, and th^ "
rwrot:;et^t ' ""' °' ' '^^"^ ^"'^'^"'' ^^ ^^ ^^^^'^^ ^- ^'-^---'-
Midghill was the land of the bilhop of Coutances:
' Inq. poft mort. Joh. Aifshe. < For the Arms of Tynte, fee vol. i. p. 83.
" Lewin
3i8 CHELVY. [^atecUtie antj
** Lewin holds of the bifhop, Megele. Almar held it In the time of King Edward, ** and gelded for one hide. The arable is two carucates, and there are two villanes, *' and three cottagers, and one fervant, and fix acres of meadow. It was worth four *' Ihillings, now twenty fhillings."
It afterwards defcended with the manor of Chelvy.
The church of Chelvy is a reftory, in the deanery of RcdclifFand Bedminfter. The lord of the manor is patron, and the Rev. Mr. Parfons is the prefent incumbent.
It is dedicated to St. Bridget, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile (belong- ing to the Tynte family) covered with tile. A fquare tower ftands at the weft end containing one bell. There are fome fmall remains of painted glafs in the windows.
On the floor arethefe infcriptions : " Here lyeth the body of Edward Tynte, efq;
lord of this manor by his own purchafe, who married Anne the daughter of Sir Edward Gorges, of Wraxall, knight; by whome he had ilTue 5 fons and 2 daughters. He departed this mortal lyfe the i6th of Dec. 1629, in the 59th year of his age.
*' Here refteth the body of Anne the wife of Edward Tynte, efqj and daughter of Sir Edward Gorges, who deceafed Dec. 24, 1660.
" Here refteth the body of Robert Tynte, gent, who knowing God in his youth, made hafte to his Redeemer; May 13, 1636, aged 16."
In the chancel floor: " Depofitum Gulielmi Gregorii, artium magiftri, reftoris
iftius ecclefias, qui mortalitatem exuens, coelo natus elt die 28 Odlob. A. D. 1667. JEtat. 77."
N E M N E T.
THIS place (like moft others) has been varioufly written, as Nimet, Nempnett, Nemlet, Emnet, and Emet, the etymology of all which is extremely uncertain. It is a parifli fituated twelve miles fouthweft frcfrn Briftol, and fix eaft from Wrington, on high land, but full of deep hollows pleafingly intermingled with wood. Here are two hamlets:
1. West-Town, ftanding a mile and a half weftward from the church; and con- taining three houfes.
2. Whitling-Street, fouthweft, feven houfes.
In this parilh, but on the borders of that of Butcombe, and at a fmall diftance caftward from that parifh church, ftands a large tumulus, or barrow, fixty yards in length, twenty in breadth, and fifteen in height, and covered on its top with afli-trees, briajs, and thick Ilirubs. On openi.ng it fome time ago, its compofition throughout
was
I^eominacr.] N E M N E T. 319
was found to be a mafs of ftones, Aipported on each fide lengthwife by a wall of thin flakes. The diilance between the two walls is about eiglit feet, and the intermediate fpace is filled up with two rows of cells, or cavities, formed by very large ftones fet edgewife: Thefe cells, the entrance into which is at the fouth end, run in a direftion from north to Ibutli; and are divided from each other by vaft ftones placed on their edges, and covered with others ftill larger by way of architrave. In one of them were found feven fculls, one quite perfect; in another a vaft heap of fmall human bones, and horfes' teeth. All the cells are not yet opened; and as no coins, or any otlier reliques but the abovementioned, have hitherto been difcovered, it cannot be afcertained at what period this receptacle of mortality was conftrudted; however, it undoubtedly is one of the nobleft fepulchres of the kind in Great-Britain j and pro- bably contains the fragments of many brave chieftains, whom fome fatal battle near the Ipot forbad to revifit their natal country. The field in which this barrow ftands has from time immemorial been called the Fairy field ; and the common people fay that ftrange noifes have been heard underneath the hill, and vifions, portentous to children, have been leen waving in the thickets which crown its fummit.
The village of Nemnet is not mentioned in the Conqueror's furvey. It was always heretofore an appendage to the manor of Regilbury in this parifh, and held by the families of Martin and Perceval for feveral generations, of the abbot of Flaxley, chief lord of that manor. After tlie dilTolution of monafteries, that manor, with lands and appertenances in Nemnet, Blagdon, Winford, Butcombe, and Regilbury, was granted by King Henry VIII. in the 34th year of his reign to Sir Anthony Kingfton, whofe fon Edward Kingfton 7 Eliz. fold it to Edward Barnard, efq; and he the year following conveyed the fame to Edward Baber, efq; ferjeant at law, and his heirs. From him defcended Edward Baber, efq; who lived in the beginning of the prefent century, and tranfmitted this with other eftates to Sir Halfwell Tynte his next heir; from whom it defcended to the late Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte, bart. and his heirs.
The manor-houfe is a large old building, called Regilbury-houfe, and is famous for being Ibmetime the retirement of Sir William Wyndham.
On the confines of this parifh and that of Chew-Stoke is an old manor called Beaucham-Stoke (corruptly Bichen-Stoke) from the family of Beauchamp, or de Bello Campo, who once pofTefTed it. It was always held of the honour of Gloucefter. In the time of Edw. I. Robert de Walton and his heirs held the tenth part of one knight's fee here.* 1 9 Edw. II. William Martin held a fourth part of a knight's fee in Bycheme- ftok, which Peter de Sanda Cruce formerly held in demefne.*" 123 Edw. III. the heir of John de Leycefter held the tenth part, and Philip le Walleis the fourth part of a fee in Bichenftoke. By an inquifition taken at Wells 23 Oft. 4 Henry VIII. it was found that Thomas Ive died feized of the manor of Bechenftok, and that he held the fame of the King as of the honour of Gloucefter." Mr. Page, now or late of Briftol, is the prefent lord.
• Lib. Feod. ' Ibid. ' Inq. poll mort. Tho. Ive.
Nemnet
320 N E M N E T. C^atcclitic ano
Nemnet is a chapel toCompton-Martin; the church, a fmall ftrufture, dedicated to St. Mary, confifts of one pace, with a tower, newly rebuilt, at the weft end, which con- tains five bells.
" By the laft will of Madam Florence Baber, bearing date the 3d of April, 1713, was given to this parifh the fum of 50I. to be placed out at intereft; and the increafe and profit thereof to be enaployed in binding out poor children apprentice to fome honeft calling, the fanne to reniain for ever."
W I N F O R D,
(Anciently a Forest)
STANDS north from Nemnet, in a deep narrow vale, bounded by high hilly grounds, well cultivated and wooded on every fide. It comprizes three tithings, viz. WiNFORD, Regil, and Felton.
The former is furveyed in Domefday Book as the land of the bifiiop of Coutances:
^^ « The Biftiop holds Wenfre. Alwold held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for ten hides. The arable is twenty-two caiucates. Of this Roger holds I* four hides, Folcran five hides, Colfuain one hide. In demefne they have five caru- " cates, and there are feven fervants, and nineteen villanes, and twelve cottagers, with ** fourteen ploughs. There is a mill of forty pence rent, and twenty acres of meadow. « Pafture two furlongs long, and one furlong broad. Wood one mile long, and two " hirlongs broad. The whole was worth nine pounds and five Ihillingsj now twenty " Ihillings more.
^^ « To thfs manor is added one hide, which Aluric held in the time of King Edward. " Now Colfuain holds it of the bilhop, and has there two ploughs, and two cottagers. " It was and is worth twenty-five Ihillings."*
In the time of Henry II. this manor was in the pofleffion of Gilbert D'Amorie, or De Aumari, who gave fifteen marks for the livery of his lands within this parifli." To him fucceeded another Gilbert, Nicholas and Richard De Amorici but in the time of Henry III. and Edw. I. Winford was the eftate of the families of Bayoufe and Sor. 7 Edw. II. the heirs of Edmund Baffet held a moiety of this manor with the alternate prefentation to the living, by the fervice of one knight's fee of the honour of Gloucefter, and the other moiety was held in a fimilar manner by the heirs of John Le Sor.= After which both moieties came into the family of Rodney, who are certified to hold the hamlets of Winford and Felton, as members and parcel of the manor of Backweil, together with the advowfon of the church of Winford, lands called •»
r Lib. Domefday. » Rot. Pip, 15 Hen. II. « Lib. Feod.
Flakker's-
IBeDmitmet.] W i n f o r n
baronet, and whofe great grandfon Ifaac Eicon, of Staplcton', er,!'is the ^rlntXer The manor of Regil was in the Conqi,eror's time the land of Serb de Burci- "Guntard holds of Serlo, R^cou Four thanes held it in the time of Kinp- Edward, and gelded for two hides. The arable is two carucatL Th r ^
;; one carucate, with one fervant, and one viUane T^e arelTuJs o^^^^^^^ and five acres of coppce wood. It is worth thirty killings. *
" To this are added one hide, and one vireate of hnd A thn... u ^A ■ r . •
;;eheti.e of King Edward. The arable is ti;feeca',!:l wtr hotdV;; oflJrb and has there one plough, and four fervants, with one villane. a d one c^^^^^^^^^^ There are three acres of meadow, and three furlongs of wood in length and breSh
« ll rj,lr.-' """^ "" ""'''''' "^" ^^'"^ ^^"-^-- This land°did nottlol!^
in %lur^''t'^''T P."] f '^'' ^^''' ^'' g'^^" '^ ^^ Ciftertian abbey of Flaxlev Z^UU r' r^'"^ ^^ ^°g^'- '''^ «f Hereford in the time of King Henr^ j and thus thas place became a cell to that monaftery. In the time of Edw III r^; a bot thereof held the fourth part of a knight's fee in Regil, a7the efr of H rber de St. Qumtm the moiety of a fee in the fame village of Hugh Le Difpenfer" Th. convent feems afterwards to have accumulated large pofTelons in rp^lfl^eJof Winford, Nemnet, Butcombe, and Stoke, and to have held moft of d.em ifdlmefne.
This hamlet ftands on Broadfield-Down between Winford and Nemnet.
The living of Winford is a redtory in the deanery of Redcliffand Bedminfter and
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary and St. Peter, is a handfome ftrufture
rf-hfwerndt?::^^:^^^^^^^^^ ^" --- -^ -^ - --^
to tVia"okcef T"'" ^f ^'^^^""t ^' V-"^^^ly ft«°d a monument (now removed
5 h d V on';;i7^n !J " ' r ^°5 \^^°'" '''^"'*'="' S^"^'^'^^"' -ho deceafed the
elbuier caufed L-. ^"'■' ' u ^'i^'""' ^°"'""' ^'^^ "'^^^ of Tnllram Cottrell, eiquier, cauled this monument to be made in the year i6 13."
the'^t'omb wlfT- ' ^'""^ t"^''" fix efcallops/.^/.. Under the ftatue in the work of t^:t;^^:::2i^'::! ^- '-''-' ^^^^^ -^^ -^-^ i- ^he d^ef and bafe of
-Efc..8Ed.IV. -Lib.Domefday, ' 'Lib.Feod. • Taxat. Spiriu
Vol. II. T- * '
T t -In
322
W I N F O R D.
[^ateclitie, nt*
In the upper window of the chancel a coat in a round, viz. Gules, a faltire between four faces like nnoons or.
On a table hanging in the church, is the following lift of benefadions to this parifh:
£. s. d. £ s. d.
4 8
i668. Williani Yorke — 500 John Norcot of Barrow 2 o o
Mr. John Cottrell — — 6 13 John Bufh of Regell — 2 6 Edward Bufh of London 2 o o
By the church-yard rifes a fine fpring which never fails, fornning together with fome fnialler fprings a little river, which turns a gunpowder-mill and a fnufF-mill, and then runs through Chew-Stoke to Chew-Magna in its way to Keynfham, where it joins the Avon.
THE
T 3*3 ]
THE HUNDRED OF
HOUNDSBOROUGH, BERWICK, and COKER,
FORMERLY three diftinft hundreds i now only one, in the fouthern part of the county, bordering on Dorfetfhire. The pariflies which conftitute this now undivided diftrift, were anciently diftributed as follows, viz.
1. HouNDSBOROUGH Hundred contained Odcombe, Eajl-Chinmcky Middle-Chimock^ JVeJl-Chinmck, Chiffelborough, Ha/elborough, Norton-under-Hamden, and Nortb-Parret.
2. Berwick. Hundred contained Berwick, and Chilton-Cantelo.
3. CoKER Hundred contained Eajl-Coker, Wefi-Coker, Clofworth, Hardington, Pen- domery and Sutton-Bingham.
The appellations of the two laft hundreds are obvious from the parifties they recently diftinguifh ; but that of the firfl: was derived from a place, now altogether depopulated, and almoft unknown, lying within the parifh of Odcombe, between which place and Yeovil there is ftill a fpot called Houndjhorough-Crojs -, and near it a houfc and farm of the name of Houndjlon or Hounfden. The ancient name was Hunefberge, and Huneref- burgh; and in the year of our Lord 787, Kenulph, king of the Weft-Saxons, gave it to Tican, abbot of Glaftonbury, under the defcription of a vill, fituated on the eaftern ripe of the Petride or Parret.* King WiUiam the Conqueror took it from the abbey, and ganted it to Robert earl of Morton, whofe fon "William endowed his monaftery at Montacute with both the church and manor of Hunefberge.''
» Johan. Glallon. Hift. i. 107. '' Mon, Angl. i. 669.
T 1 1 ODCOMBE
O D CO M B E.
THIS is a confiderable parifli, three miles weft from Yeovil, and fix northeaft from Crewkernej it forms only one tithing, but is divided into four hamlets, viz.
1. Hicher-Odcombe, in which ftands the church. This part contains forty- fix houfes.
a. Lower-Odcombe, a,ftreet of about thirty-fix houfes.
2. Woodhouse, half a mile weft, three houfes.
4. Westbury, half a mile fouth, two houfes.
The whole number of houfes is ninety-two, and of inhabitants nearly five hundred: the parifh is rated at about eleven hundred pounds per annum. The bailiff for the hundred is always chofen out of it, and here alfo is kept the pound for eftrays.
In the Conqueror's time this village belonged to the Earl of Morton, as we find it recorded in the furvey:
" Anfger holds of the Earl, Udecome. Edmer held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are two caru- " cates, and four fervants, and ten villanes, and fixteen cottagers, with three ploughs. " There is a mill of the rent of feven fhillings and fixpence. There are twenty acres *' of meadow, and twelve acres of pafture, and one furlong of coppice wood. It was *' and is worth one hundred fhillings."
It was one of thofe manors which were held by barony of the honour of Oakhampton, and in the time of Henry II. was poffefled by William de Briwere, or de Briewer, a noble baron, whofe father, as Camden in his Britannia writes, was fo called becaufe he was born on a briteritim or heath. This William de Briewer having much intereft at court, and being a particular favourite of Richard I. and carefled and refpedted by all, raifed a large eftate, and his daughters (on the death of his fon without ifllie) by mar- riage with the families of Breofe, Wake, Mohun, La-fert, and Percy, carried large pofTefTions into thofe families.''
This manor in the divifion of the eftates came to William de Breofe, a perfon of great diftindtion, who was murdered by Llewellin prince of Wales. He left iffue four daughters his coheirs, of whom Maud the wife of Roger Mortimer, in her life time, enfeoffed Sir William Mortimer, her third fon, with this manor. He married Hawife daughter and heir of Robert de Mufcegros, and, dying without iffuc, left Edward lord Mortimer of Wigmore, his elder brother, heir to his eftate, which continued in the male defcendants of the faid Edmund till 3 Hen. VI. at which time, on the death of Edmund the laft Earl of March without iffue, it paffed by an heir female to the houfe of York. Whence it paffed to the Lords Zouch ofHarringworth, and after the attainder of John lord Zouch, was granted by Henry VII. to Queen Margaret for her dower." It feveral
• Lib. Domefday. * Britannjain Somcrfetniire, new edit, by Mr. Gough, p. 56. • Rot. Pari.
times
IBettoicli (J Co&er.] o D c o M B E. 325
times afterwards reforted to the crown, and was granted to the Duke of Northumber- land, the Earl of Hertford, (in whofe fchedule it is vahied at 5I. 2s. Sd/) and ytheis. The manor is now dilperfcd among the freeholders and tenants.
HouNDSTON in this parifli was formerly thus furveyed among the other poflefllons of the Earl of Morton :
" Anfger holds of the Earl, Hundestone. Three thanes held it in the time of ** King Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is one carucate, which is in *' demefne, and two fervants, and two villanes, and tiiree cottagers, and three acres and " a half of meadow. It was worth ten (hillings, now twenty fhillings.'"
6 Edw. I. Roger de Potfordheld half a knight's fee in Hounfden, of John de Mohun/
The church of Odcombe was appropriated to the priory of Montacute, and was valued in 1292 at thirty-four marks.^ It is a redory in the deanery of Ilchefterj the dean and canons of Chrift-Church in Oxford are the patrons, and the Rev. Mr. Burt is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It Is a plain ftrufture of one alle, with a tower between the nave and chancel. It ftands on an elevated (pot, com- manding a moft beautiful and extenfive profped:.
There are memorials to the Rev. Mr. Barrj', clerk, M. A. reftor of this parifli, who died Jan. 11, 1 7 8 1 . To the Rev. Mr. Edmund Brickenden, rcftor, who died Feb. i $, 1707. To Fridefwide, wife of Mr. Brickenden, and daughter of Dr. Robert Creyghton, who died Feb. 19, 1708; and to Fridefwide their daughter, who died an infant.
In the chancel lies interred George Coryar, re(5tor of this church in 1570, and pre- bendary of Warthill in the cathedral of York, 1594,* a perfon highly celebrated for his fine tafte in Latin poetry, and other writings. I le died in the parlbnage houfc here on the fourth of March 1606, and his fon I'om, of wliom we fliuU ibon fpeak, kept his body above ground till the fourteenth of April following.
This Thomas Coryat, fon of George above-mentioned, was a moft extraordinary genius, and, for his whimfies and abfurdities, acquired himfelf a name, which feems likely enough to laft till the end of extravagance. He was born here in 1577, and became a commoner of Gloucefter-hall in Oxford in 1596, where he attained to the knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages. Hence he returned to Odcombe, where he fpent fome time; but afterwards left it for the metropolis, and was there received into the family of Henry Prince of Wales, which gave him an introduftion to all the wits of tiiofe times, who, by way of diverting themfelves, expofed him to lidicule. In 1608, he rambled to France, Italy, Germany, &c. and at his return pubiiflied his travels under the title of " Crudities haftily gobbled up in five months' travels in France, Savoy, Italy, Rhetia, Helvetia, fome parts of High-Germany, and the Netherlands." This book was printed in quarto in 161 1, and reprinted in 3 vols. O(ftavo, 1776. In 161 2, after he had taken leave of his countrymen by an oration fpoken at the crofs in
* MS. Valor. ' Lib. Domcfday. ' Lib. Feod. • Taxat. Spiritual. " Athenx Oxon. i. 335.
Odcombe,
326 ODCOMBE. [i^ountJstlioroujf),
Odcombe, he undertook a long journey, with an intention not to revifit his native country till he had fpent ten years in travelling. The firft place he vifited was Con- Hantinople, whence he took occafion to view the feverat parts of Greece, making his remarks on the two ancient caftles of Seftos and Abydos, on Smyrna^ Alexan- dria, and the pyramids near Cairo. From thence he went to Jerufalem, and fo on to the Dead Sea, to Aleppo in Syria, to Babylon in Chaldea, to the kingdom of Pcrfia, and to Ufpahan the refidence of the Perfian king. Thence to Seras, anciently called Shufhan; to Candahor, the firft provmce northeaft under the fubjeftion of the Great Mogul, and fo to Lahore, the chief city but one belonging to that empire. From Lahore he went to Agra, where, being well received by the Englifli faftory, he made a halt, till he had acquired the knowledge of die Turkifh and Arabian languages. He likewife made himfelf mafter of the Perfian and Indoftan tongues, which were of great ufe to him in travelling up and down the Great Mogul's dominions. In the Perfian tongue he made an elaborate harangue to the Mogul; and in the Indoftan he had fo great a command, that he is faid to have undertaken a laundry-woman of that coun- try, who had fuch a liberty and freedom of fpeech, that flie would fometimes fcold, brawl, and rail from fun-rifing to fun-fet; and to have fo filenced her by eight o'clock in the morning, that ftie had not one word more to fpeak, to the great aftoniftiment and diverfion of the company. After he had vifited feveral places in that country, he ■went to Surat in Eaft-India, where he fell ill of a flux, of which he died in i6 17. What became of all his notes and diaries no one knows; but many of his obfervations, letters, and harangues, were tranfmitted to England, and publifhed; among the reft was his oration, " Purus, Putus Coryatus; QuinteflTence o^ Coryate" fpoken extempore, when Mr. Rugg dubbed him a knight on the ruins of Troy, by the name of Thomas Coryate, the firft Englifli kjjtght of Troy.' His journies were moftly on foot, and he always lav in his clothes to fave the trouble and expence of fliifting them. But notwitftanding all his oddities, he had certainly merit as a traveller, linguift, antiquarian, and hiftorian.
Humphrey Hody, an eminent divine, was another native of this place, of which his father was redtor. He was born here Jan. i, 1659, was educated at Wadham-college in Oxford, and at the age of twenty-one diftinguiflied himfelf by a " DiflTertation againft Arifteas's hiftory of the Seventy-two Interpreters."" His fubfequent publications were both numerous and learned. He was in 1698 appointed Regius Profeflbr of the Greek tongue in the univerfity of Oxford, and inftituted to the archdeaconry of Oxford in 1704. He died Jan. 20, 1706, and was buried in Wadham-college chapel.
This Humphrey Hody, or another of his name, left lands to the amount of five pounds per annum, for the purpofe of binding out poor children apprentices'. To which benefaftion Mrs. Clarke of Houndfton farm added forty fliillings, and Mr. Ring of Yateminfter in Dorfetfliire, twenty fliillings more.
The chriftenings in this parifli are on an average ten; the burials, nine. ' Athens Oxon. i. 426. ■■ Biog. Di£l. vii. 160.
EAST-CHINNOCK
o»
ClBctluicfe (J Co&crO I 327 ]
EAST-CHINNOCK
LIES eaftward from Crewkerne, and in the turnpike-road betwixt that town and Yeovil. There is in this parifh a fait fpring, about a mile weft from the church. It is in a meadow of deep rufty red and yellowifh rich loamy earth, covered with a thick fine turf The fpring forms a pool of water, in which are reeds and other aquatick plants, with divers Ipecies of confervas j but none of them of the marine kind. This Ipring never fails in dry, nor overflows in wet feafons. From the pool narrow drains are cut to a houfe eredted for the purpofe of making fait with the water thereofj in which the proportion of fait feems to be about one-fortieth part; for with this water they can make one pound of fait in forty more than they can with other water, under a fimilar operation, and with a like quantity of rock fait.
There are three villages of the name of Chinnock; it is therefore difficult to diftin- giiiAi thein in the old Domefday furvey, where they are thus defcribed:
" The Earl himfelf [i. e. of Morton] holds Cinioch. Edmer held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for feven hides. The arable is feven carucates. In de- " mefne are three carucates, and four fervants, and ten villanes, and twelve cottagers, with " four ploughs. There is a mill of fifteen pence rent, and fixty acres of meadow, and " twenty acres of pafture. It was wortlj^one hundred fhillings; now twelve pounds.'"
" Malger holds of the Earl, Cinioch. A thane held it in the time of King Edward, *< and gelded for three hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one ca- " rucate, and three fervants, and twcrvillanes, and nine cottagers, with one plough. " There' are thirty-fix acres of meadow. It was worth four pounds, now three " pounds.""
" Alurcd holds of the Earl, Cinioch. A thane held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for four hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne are two ca- " rucates, and five feryants, and five villanes, and ten cottagers, with two ploughs. " There is a mill often fhillings rent, and forty acres of meadow, and two acres of " pafture. It is worth four pounds."'
"William, the fon of this Robert Earl of Morton, whofe lands are here recited, gave both the manor and church of Eaft-Chinnock to his monaftery at Montacutej the prior whereof 37 Hen. III. procured a charter of free warren for all his lands here,-* which were in 1293 valued at ten pounds."
After the diflblution of the priqry, of Montacute, King Henry VIII. in the thirty- feventh year of liis reign, granted the manor of Eaft-Chinnock, with that of Clof- worth, Park-Wood, Weft-Grove, Whitecliapel-Wood, and St. Auguftine's-Grove, all belonging to the fame priory, to Sir Richard Moryfon, knight, and Bridget his wife, who 4 Edw. VI. fold it to Stephen Hales, efq; and he, 3 Elizabeth, to Henry
• Lib. Domefday. " Ibid. 5 Ibid. " Cart. 37 Hen. III. ro. 8. ' Taxat. Temporal.
Portman,
328 EAST-CHINNOCK. [l|>OUnD06oroU0lJ,
Portman, efq; in which family it continued in a lineal male defcent till the time of "William III. when Sir William Portman, bart. and knight of the Bath, entailed his whole great eftatc on his coufin Henry Seymour, efq; William Berkeley, efq; and feveral others; on condition of the fucceflbrs' alTuming the name of Portman, Heijfy Portman Seymour fucceeded in it accordingly, but died without ilTue; whereupon it came to William Berkeley Portman, efq; and after hrnn to his eldeft fon, Henry William Portman, one of the knights of this county in parliament; whofe fon, Henry William Portman, efq; now enjoys it.
The reftory was taxed in 1292 at fifteen marks/ The King is patron of the vicarage of this living; the Rev. Henry Gould theprefent incumbent.
The church has in it nothing of account; the chriftenings annually are twelve} the burials eight.
Mr. Wilham Salisbury, of Barking inTrflex, who lies buried in the chancel here, gave to this pariih a large filver cup gilt, for the uie of the altar; and five pounds a year to the poor for ever. He alfo left ten fliillings to the minifter to preach a fermon on the eighteenth day of June, to be paid out of his eftate lying in the foreft of Neroche, and in the pariih of Barrington in this county.
' Taxat. Spiritual.
MIDDLE-CHINNOCK
ADJOINS to Eaft-Chinnock on the north, and contains twenty-one houfes, moft of which are farms. Confiderable quantities of hemp and flax grow here and in Eaft-Chinnock; and the poor are generally employed in fpinning and weaving fail- cloth, &C.
17 Edw. I. William de Albemarle held this manor at his death, and was fucceeded hy Geffrey his fon and heir." From which family it came by marriage to that of Maltravers. John lord Maltravers, of Hooke in the county of Dorfet, died feized of it 9 Richard II. *" leaving Elizabeth his daughter and coheirefs, married to Sir Humphrey Stafford, knt. whofe defccndant, Humphrey Stafford earl of Devon, died feized of Middle-Chinnock and Weft-Chinnock, 9 Edw. IV. leaving three female coulins his coheirelTes, of whom Eleanor, the wife of Thomas Strangeways, inherited this eflate. From this Thomas defcended Giles Strangeways, who held this manor, and that of Weft-Chinnock, 35 Henry VIII.. and they continued in his defcendants till the time of George I. when Thomas Strangeways, efq; dying without ilTue male, left two lifters hiscoheirs; the eldeft of whom, Sufannah, was married to Thomas Horner, of Mells, efq; the other was fecond wife to the duke of Hamilton. The eldeft fifter iiadthis manor and that of Weft-Chinnock fettled on her and her heirs; and had by
• Efc. » Ibid.
the
OBertoicft, ^ Cofeer.] MIDDLE-CHIN NOCK. 329
the faid Thomas Horner an only daughter, Elizabeth, married to Stephen Fox, efq; afterwards created Lord Ilchefter, wliofe fon Henry Thomas Fox, the prefent carl of Ilchcfter, is lord of this manor, as well as that of Weft-Chinnock.
The living is a reftory, in the deanery of Ilchefter, valued in 1292 atfixteen marks.* The patronage thereof belongs to the manor, and the Rev. Mr. Wighfwick is the pre- fent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Margaret, according to Mr. Willis; but according to others to St. Luke; it is a fmall ftrudure apparently very ancient, the arch over the fouth door being of Saxon architefture. Under the fide feat in the porch is an arched niche, in which ftand the head and fhoulders of the ftone ftatue of a female; the reft is beneath the pavement. Images of faints were frequently placed in church porches for a memento to devotees.
John Strangeways, efq; gave to this parifti twenty pounds, the intereft to be paid annually to the fecond poor. To this benefaftion the Rev. Mr. Clarke added five pounds.
William Good, an ecclefiaftick of this place, but native of Glaftonbury, got himfelf a name by a book (now very fcarce) which he publiftied under the tide of Ecckfia Anglkana: Tro^phaa, printed at Rome in 1584. He died at Naples, July 5, 1586.*
« Taxat. Spiritual. " Athens Oxon. i. 226.
W E S T - C H I N N O C K.
THIS parifti and Middle-Chinnock are but one tithing; the churches are about half a mile diftant from each other. There are fifty-two houfes, and two hun- dred and feventy inhabitants. Moft of the houfes are fmall farms, and ftand near the church. Five are in a hamlet called Snail-Hill.
The manor belonged in the tiine of Edw. III. to the family of Marftiall, whereof Ra]])h Marftiall held it at his death 20 Edw. III. leaving Herbert his fon and heir. It afterwards pafled in the fame manner as Middle-Chinnock, and now. belongs to the fame lord. *
The living is annexed to that of Chiflelborough. The church has nothing re- markable.
Vol. II. ' U u CHISSELBOROUGH
[ 33° 1 C!^ountJ0&orou0tj,
CHISSEL BOROUGH
STANDS north from Weft-Chinnock, in a pleafant woody country, furrounded on all fides, except the weft, by fine lofty and well cultivated hills, which rife very fteep, and afford from their fummits, rich and extenfive prolpefts over the weft and northweft parts of the country, the Briftol channel and coaft of Wales. The village coiififts of a long ftraggling ftreet near the church. A large fair is held here on the a^th of 0(5tober for horfes, cattle, and toys.
The Earl of Morton had ahb this manor, which is called in Domefday book Ceolfeberge.
" Alured holds Ceolseberge. Two thanes held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one carucate, " and two fervants, and ten villanes, and twelve cottagers, with four ploughs. There " is a mill of fifteen ftiillings rent, and thirty-eight acres of meadow, and three acres " of coppice wood. It was worth fixty flullings, now one hundred ftiillings.'"
It was afterwards given to the Montacutes ; from which family it came to that of Andham, or Aldham, by the marriage of Jfabel, one of the daughters and coheirs of William de Montacute, with Thomas de Andham, 31 Henry III. This Thomas was fucceeded by Baldwin de Andham, who died i9Edw. I. leaving ifliie Francis de Andham, Francis died i Edw. III. leaving John, the fon of John de St. Clare, his coufin and next heir.*" This John de Sti Clare died feized of the manor and advowfon X)f the church of Chiflelborough, 10 Edw. III. and was fucceeded by John his fon and heir. To which John fucceeded another John, who died 10 Ric. II. feized of the manor and advowfon of the church, leaving Philip de St. Clare his fon and heir," who pafled it to the Chidiock family; from whom it came to the Staffords of Hooke, one of whofe heirefles, Eleanor, carried it into the family of Srangeways, of whom Giles Strangeways, efq; 5 Edw. VI. fold it to John Wadham, efq; and it is now by inherit- ance dividedly the property of the Earls of Ilchefter and Egremont, and Col. William Wyndham; and one fliare belongs to the freeholders of the parifli.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Ilchefter, and in the prefentation of the lords of the manor alternately; the Rev. Mr. Wightwick is the prefent incumbent.
The prior of Montacute received an annual penfion of five pounds from this redory, which was valued in izg2 at twenty marks.''
The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul: it confifts of a nave and chancel, with an intermediate tower, containing four bells. The chancel has an infcription to the memory of the Rev. Nicholas Baker, reftor of this pariftij who died Jan. 8, 1747$ and feveral of his family.
. Mrs. Strangeways gave thirty pounds to this parifli, the intereft to be applied to the fecond poor for ever.
• Lib. Domefday. ' Efc ' Ibid. * Taxat. Spiritual.
HASELBOROUGH.
OBectoicft, (J Cofecr.l [ 331 ]
HASELBOROUGH.
THIS is a confiderable parifli two miles eafl: from Crewlcerne, in the turnpike- road to Yeovil, pleafantly fituated in a fine inclofed fruitful country; the number of houfes that compofe it is one hundred and ten, ninety-five of which ftand in two irregular flreets, which meet at a right angle, forming an L, near half a mile in length, on the turnpike road. The reft ftand a little northward of the church. The whole parifh is rated at about 700I. a year, and is divided into about forty fmall farms. The river Parret runs through this parifli under a ftone bridge of one arch, dividing it from the parifli of Crewkerne.
In this place, about the year of our Lord 1146, lived Wulfric, a celebrated faint, hermit, and prophet. He was born at Compton-Martin in this county, and applying himfclf to religious ftudies, became prieft of Deverell, near "Warminfter in Wihfliire. Hence he removed to a fmall cell near the church of Hafelborough, where, clad in iron raiment, he indulged the aufterities of an eremitical life. In this retirement he was vifited by fome of the greateft perfonages, and amongft them by King Henry I. to whom he foretold his death, as he did to Stephen that he fhould fit upon the throne. He died in an advanced age, A. D. 11 54, and was buried in his own cell by Robert bifliop of Bath; but his body was afterwards removed to one fide of the altar of the parifli church of Hafelborough. The monks of Montacute had petitioned his body for interment in their chapel, but Ofbern, then officiating prieft at Hafel- borough, oppofed them, and his reliques were fuffered to remain in a fmall aile or chapel adjoining to the chancel, anS ftill called Wulfric' s Aile, where his tomb was vifited by pilgrims for many ages.*
The pofl"eflbr of the manor of Hafelborough, at the time of the Conqueft, was one Brifmar, a Saxon thane: the place was then called Halberge.
" Brifmar holds Halberge. He alfo held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for ten hides. The arable is eight carucates. In demefne is one carucate, " and two fervants, and eight villanes, and fixteen cottagers, with five ploughs. " There is a mill of five fliillings rent, and thirteen acres and a half of meadow, and " half a mile of pafture in length and breadth, and as much wood. It is worth eight " pounds.'"
In St. Wulfric's days William Fitz-W alter was lord of this town, and here founded and endowed a monaftery, for regular canons," which was deftroyed in the baronial contentions. To this William fucceeded a fecond William, who afliimed the name de Hajeberge from this his place of refidence.'' 12 Henry II. in the aid levied for. marrying the King's daughter, William, the fon of William de Hafebergc, accounted for three knights' fees of the old feoffment, or thofe which were held in the time of Heniy the Firft, from which William Fitz-Terric owed him the fervice of two
• Leland's CoUeflanca, II. 445. ' Lib. Domerday.
, - ' Tanner's NotiUa Monaftica in SomcrfctlTiiie. * Cart. Antiq.
_.. ' U u 2 knights'
;;)2 n A ii U L B O '^ -■ n G !l. C<53UnS^ii;n;gu|jy,
i< nights'- fees.' He himrdf acknowledged tlie fervice of one fee for his'dcmefnes at ilafelboroughj and had nothing to do with the new feoffment/ This William de Jlaf.'berge had for his fuccefibr anotlier WjUiam, vvhofe Ton, Richard de Hafeberge, was the iall of the name that enjoyed this manor; for having; joined a mutinous fo- ■ciety in arms againft King John, his perfon and property were felzed, and he was hanged at Sherborne/ The manor comiing by thefe means into the King's hands, w-as granted to John Marfliall, nephew to William Marfhall carl of Pembroke, then keeper of thecaltle of Sherborne, where the faid William de Hafeberge was executed.'' Which Jolui Marlhall was one of King John's favourites, and moft fleady adherents. Of him he obtained a variety of lands in different parts of England, and was fuc- •ceffn-ely appointed to the government of the feveral caftles of Ofweftry, Hawarden, Norwich, Oxford, Dorchefter, Worcefter, Devizes, and Sherborne, Befides which 'he heW many other offices of importance; and lo Henry III. was one of thofe who were deputed from the King, then lying ill at Marlborough in Wiltfhire, to the great ■council held at Weflminfler, to forbid them to fubjesfl: their lay-fees to the church of Rome.' He died 19 Henry III. leaving iffue John his fon and heir, who the fame jear had livery of all his lands in this county, Norfolk, and Southampton." Which John died 27 Henry III. then feized of this manor, leaving William his fbn and heir.' William was a knight, and 45 Henry III. took part with Simon de Montfort earl of Leicefter, and other rebellious barons, againft the king," who confequently deprived •him of his eftates, and this manor, being part thereof, was granted to Alan Plugenet," defcended from a family, who in the tim.e of Henry II. were feated at Lambprne in "the county of Berks, 49 Henry III. diis Alan was, after the defeat of the barons at Evefnam, conftituted governor of Dunfter-CaCtle in this county; and 14 Edw. I. he procured a charter for a weekly market to be held here on Mondays, and alfo for free warren in this and all his manors." He died 27 Edw. I. leaving Alan his fon and heir, who that year had livery of his lands. This Alan was made a knight 34 Edw. I. and attended that king in his expedition into Scotland. 5 Edw. II. he was fummoned to parliament, and 9th of the fame reign, for contumelious behaviour, incurred the fentence of excommunication from the bifliop of Bath and Wells.'' He died foon after with- X)ut iffue, leaving Joan de Bohun his fifter heir to his eftates. She alfo dying iffuelefs, I Edw. III. Richard de la Bere, her coufin, fucceeded to the inheritance. Which Richard died feized of this manor 19 Edw. III. leaving, by Clarice his wife, Thomas his fon and heir. Which Thomas forfeited it to the crown, and it was thereupon granted to Ingelram de Ghifnes, fometimes called de Couci,' and again reverting in the time of Ric. II. it was beftowed on John de Holland, third fon of Thomas earl of Kent, afterwards created Earl of Huntingdon.' The faid Earl being attainted in par- liament, his manors were confifcated to the King, but foon after reftored, and Richard, fon and heir of John earl of Huntingdon, died feized of this manor 4 Henry V.j the fame year alfo John his fon and heir was reftored in blood, as heir to John his father
' Lib. Nig. Scac. i. 95. f Ibid. « Hutduns's Hift. of Dorfet, :. 94. Efc. et Rot. Pari.
* Cart. Antiq. ' Dugd. Bar. i. 600. " Rot. Pip. 19 Hen. III. • Efc. ■» See the Englifh Hillories.
» Cart. Antiq. "■ Cart. 14 Edw. I. n. 42. " Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
? Cart. 41 Edw. III. ' Dugd. Bar. ii. 70.
Eail
TJJjViUicli, 1 CcfeJl'O M A S E L B O R O U O II. 333
Earl of Huntingtlonj and 21 Henry VI. was by letters patent, bearing date at Windfor Jan. 6, advanced to the title of Dulce of Exeter. He died feized of this manor 25 Henry VI, anil was buried in St. Catherine's chapel near the tower of London. By Anne his firft wife, daughter of Edmund carl of StaffoiKl, he left idue Henry his fon and heir, who fiicceeded to both title and eftate. He married Anne, daughter of Richard duke of York, a.nd fifler to King Edw, IV. After the overthrow of the Lancaftrian party, this Earl was attainted in parliament ; and the crown becoming again pofleflcd of this manor, granted the fame in 1489, 4 Heniy VII. to Thomas Stanley, firft Earl of Derby, who died poflbfled of it in 1504. George, the eldeft furviving fon and heir of the faid Earl, had fummons to parliament by the title of Lord Strange, 22 Kdw. IV. to the time of his death, Dec. 5, 1497, when he was fucceeded by Thomas liis eldeft fon, who in 1 504 had livery of his father's lands, and in the fame year fuc- ceeded his grandfather as fecond Earl of Derby. At his death in 1522, he was found feized of this manor, and thofe of Wcft-Lydford and Blackdon, in which he was fucceeded by E,dvvard his fon and heir. Heniy earl of Derby held it 16 Eliz. but it pafled afterwards into the family of Portman, and is now the property of Henry William Portman, efq.
The church of Hafelborougli is a prebend in the cathedral of Wells, and was valued in 1292 at fifteen marks." It is in the deanery of Ilchefter. The Rev. Thomas England is the prefent vicar.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and north aile, or chapel of St. Wulfric. At the weft end is a plain tower with five bells.
Againft the fouth wall of the chancel is an elegant monument of white and Sienna
marble, infcribed as follows: " In a vault underneath lies the body of William
Hofkyns, late of this parifli, gentleman, who died the 12th of Oftober 1760, aged 52 years. Alfo the body of Joan Hofkyns, his wife, who died the 21ft of May 1776, aged 62 years." Arms, Per pale gules and azure, a chevron engrailed or, between three lions rampant argent.
There are likewife two monuments : i. To the memory of Chriftian, daughter of the Rev. Mountrich Hill, reftor of Weft-Camel, who died Jan. 21, 1753, aged 31 ; and 2. To John Draper, who died Sept. 26, 1768, aged 94. Elizabeth his wife died Nov. 6, 1764, aged 89: and two of their children. Arms, Gules, three bends OTy a chief per fefle, ermme and argent, in chief three mullets /<?^/(?.
The chriftenings in this parifh are on an average fixteen; the burials, fifteen.
• Taxat. Spiritual.
NORTON-
[ 334 ] [it)ounti0ljocou0ft,
NORTON-UNDER-HAMDEN.
AParifli pleafantly fituated under the north and northeaft brow of Hamden and Chiffelborough hills; the fornner rifing with a fteep afcent behind it. This hill Hands in the different parifhes of Norton, Stoke, and Montacute," diftinguifhing the two former by the addition of its name. " Hamden Hille is a fpecula ther to vewe a great peace of the contrye therabout."" It has been noted for many ages for its quarries of fine ftone, whereof there are four on it lying within the precinfts of this parilh. The furface of the hill, for about a foot in depth, is a light fandy foil, yielding a Ihort fweet herbage for depafturing fheep. From thence to about the depth of fixteen or eighteen feet, is a loofe fmall ftone fit only for repairing roads. Six or eight feet lower is aftratum of good tile ftone; and under that, for the depth of forty feet, are different ftrata of a fine hard ftone, lying one on another, without any intervening earth. Thefe ftrata are from one foot to three feet in thicknefs ; the lower weighing a hundred and a quarter by the folid foot. TJie perpendicular filTures, or what the quarrymen call gullies, are from ten to thirty feet apart. Some quarries on the fouth- eaft fide of the hill have, at the depth of about twenty feet below the furface, a ftratum of yellow fand ochre of three feet thicknefs.
The foil of this parifti is a deep and fruitful loam, and the country is well wooded and watered. A fmall river called Credy, rifing near Mifterton, runs under a ftone bridge of two arches at the weft end of this parifti, dividing it from South-Petherton. The village confifts of about fifty houfes, befides which there is a hamlet called Eastern End. Matthew Quantoc, efq; has a good houfe in this parifti.
The manor of Norton belonged in the Conqueror's time to the Benediftine abbey of Greftein, in the diocefe of Lifieux in Normandy, to which it was granted by Robert earl of Morton, and held under him when the Norman furvey was drawn up.
" The church of St. Mary of Greiftan holds of the Earl, Nortone. A thane held " it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five caru- " cates. Thereof in demefne are two hides, and there is one carucate, and five " fervants, and eight villanes, and fix cottagers, with three ploughs. There are two " mills of twenty ftiillings rent, and twenty-five acres of meadow. Wood two fur- " longs long, and one furlong broad. It was and is worth one hundred ftiillings.'"
After the fecond Earl of Morton's difgrace, it fell to the crown, and was granted to the family of Montacute, of whom John de Montacute, refiding at the neighbouring manfion of Montacute, poflefled it in the 13th year of King John.*" It feveral other times lapfed, and was at length fettled in the family of the Dukes of Suffolk, who enjoyed the fame for feveral fucceftive reigns, till by the attainder of Henry duke' of Suffolk in 1553, it became forfeited, and thence pafling through feveral unknown hands, is now the property of the Earl of Weftmoreland, in right of his lady, the daughter of the late Robert Child, efq.
' See Montacute in Tintinhull Hundred. " Lcl. Itin. vi. 64. "^ Lib. Domefday. " Rot. Pip. 13 Joh. ,
The
Xcttoicft, ^ Coftcr.] NORTON-UNDER-HAMDEN.
(j>
The abbey of Greftein had property in this parifli in 1293, to the amount of 12I. 3s. 4d.° And the abbey of Glaftonbury received from the manor a penfion of forty ihillings/
The church was appropriated to the abbot and convent of Greftein, and valued in 1292 at twelve marks,* the faid abbot and convent having therefrom a penfion of three marks.*" It is a reftory in the deanery of Ilchefter, and in the gift of William Lock, efq. The Rev. Mr. Ford is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary, confifts of a nave, chancel, and fide ailes, with a tower at the weft end, containing a clock and five bells.
There is in the chancel an old monument of ftone infcribed to the memory of Anne Conftantine, who died A. D. 1696. Another commemorates Anne the daughter of John Conftantine, clerk, and Philippa his wife, who died July 7, 17 135 as alfo the Rev. John Conftantine, reftor of this parifti thirty-five years, who was a native of the county of York, and married one of the daughters of Matthew Quantoc, of this
parifti, efq. He died Feb. 7, 1724, aged 62. Philippa his wife died May 30,
1741, aged 74.
The average chriftenings are annually ten ; the burials feven.
* Taxat. Temporal. 'Regift. Abbat. Glafton. « Taxat. Spiritual. " Ibid.
NORTH-PARRET,
SO called from its fituation on that river, is a fmall parifti on the borders of Dorfet- fliire, and about two miles foutheaft from Crewkerne in this county, confiflung of eighty-three houfes. It was anciently the eftate of the Earl of Morton, and was written Peret.
" Brctel holds of the Earl, Peret. Algar held it in the time of King Edward, and " gelded for ten hides. The arable is eight carucates. In demefne is one carucate, " and two fervants, and eight villanes, and twelve cottagers, with three ploughs. There " are two mills of fourteen fliillings rent, and eighteen acres of meadow. Wood fix " furlongs long, and three furlongs broad. It was and is worth feven pounds."*
15 Henry III. this manor belonged to Mabel Rivel, lady of Stoke and Swell in this county; from whofe family it pafled by the marriage of an heirefs to that of L'Orti or de Urtiaco, whofe refidence was chiefly at Curry-Rivel, which manor they had by virtue of the fame match.*" Maud the wife of Sir John Lorti, knt. died feized of North- Parret, 7 Henry V. leaving Alice the wife of Walter Buckham her fifter and heir.' Buckham did not hold it longj for in the next reign, it became the property of Weft
• Lib. Domefday. " See vol. i. p. 26, < Efc.
lord
33^
NORTH-PARRET. [J^ounliieiliorougti,
lord De la Warre. It went afterwards to the crown, and 1 5 Eliz. was granted to Thomas lord "Wentworth, 24 Eliz. the manors of North-Parret, Chlllington, and Southarp, were granted to the Earl of Hertford, and in his fchedule this manor is fet down at the yearly value of 32!. Ss/ It is now in the polTeffion of William Pitt, of Dorfetlhire, efq; who has it by inheritance.
The benefice was valued in 1292 at ten marks." It is a reftory in the deanery of Ilchefter, and in the patronage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Dr. Taunton is the prefent incumbent.
The church, according to E£lon, is dedicated to St. Martin; it is built in "the form of a crofs, having in the centre a plain tower about fifty feet high, containing a clock, chimes, and five bells.
There is neither monument nor infcription in memory of the dead; but in the belfry we find the following curious old articles of bell-ringing, in Sternholdian metre:
*' He that in ringing takes delight.
And to this place draws near, Thefe articles fet in his fight
Muft keep if he rings here.
The firft he muft obferve with care:
Who comes within the door, Muft, if he chance to curfe or fwear.
Pay fix-pence to the poor.
And whofoe'er a noife does make.
Or idle ftory tells, Muft fix-pence to the ringers take
For mending of the bells.
Young men that come to fee and try.
And do not ringing ufe, Muft fix-pence give the company.
And that ftiall them excufe.
He that his hat on's head does keep
Within this fiicred place, Muft pay his fix-pence ere he fieep.
Or turn out with difgrace.
The annual average chriftenings in this parifti are twelve; the burials, nine.
Near the church is a handfome ftone niianfion, newly built, the feat of Thomas Hofkyns, efqj witli a good garden, and neat plantations.
If any one with fpurs to 's heels
Rings here at any time. He muft for breaking articles
Pay fix-pence for his crime. If any overthrow a bell.
As that by chance he may; Becaufe he minds not ringing well.
He muft his fix-pence pay.
Or if a noble-minded man Comes here to ring a bell,
A tefter is the fexton's fee. Who keeps the church fo well.
Whoever breaks an article.
Or duty does negleft; Muft never meddle with a bell.
The rope will him corredl."
'MS. Valor.
Taxat. Spiritual.
BERWICK.
Q5crt»ic&, (J Co&crO
[ 337 ]
BERWICK.
THIS parifli, which formerly gave name to a hundred, is fituated two miles fouth- weft from Yeovil, bounded on the north by Brimpton, on the weft by Eaft and Weft-Coker, and on the eaft and fouth by the county of Dorfct. The country is very pleafant, being a mixture of gently- rifing hills, and fine fruitful vales j the whole in large inclofures, and not encumbered with wood.
The village of Berwick is compofed of nine houfes, and the hamlet of Stoford, a mile to the fouth, of thirty-two houfes. The number of inhabitants amounts to about two hundred and forty. Stoford was a very, confiderable town in former times, and belonged to the lords of Berwick, by whom it was erefted into a boroughj but its privileges have long fince been loft. Neither Berwick nor Stoford are mentioned in the Norman record; the ancient appellation of the former was Berezvyke. The manor foon after the Conqueft came into the pofleflion of the family of Courteney, of whom was William de Courteney, the founder of the priory of Woodfpring, A. D. 1210. In die 26 Henry III. the lands of Robert de Courteney, lord of this manor, were divided between Vitalis Engain and William de Cantilupe; and in that partition Berwick was allotted to the lattei-, who died feized thereof 35 Henry III. leaving William de Cantilupe his fon and heir." Which William had livery of his lands the fame year; he married Eve, daughter and coheir of Walter Marefchal earl of Pembroke, by whom at his death 38 Henry III. he left ifllie one fon, George, who died without iftue, and two daughters, viz. Millicent, firft the wife of John de Montalt, and aftei-wards of Ivo le Zouch; and Joan, married to Henry de Haftings.*" g. Edw. I. partition being made of the lands which he left at his deceafe, the manors of Berwick, Stoford, and Marfton- Parva, with the borough of Stoford, were afligned to John de Haftings, fon of Joan and Henry de Haftings." This John de Haftings was in all the wars of Edw. I. and had fummons to parliament as a baron of the realm. He married Ifabel fifter and coheir of Aymer de Valence earl of Pembroke, by whom he had iflue three fons; John, who fucceeded him; and William and Henry, who died without iflue; as alfo three daughters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Margaret. He died 6 Edw. II. and Ifabel his wife furviving liim had this manor in dower. John his fon and heir was in the Scottifh wars, of the retinue of Aymer de Valence earl of Pembroke, and 16 Edw. II. was appointed governor of Kenilworth-caftle in Warwickftiire. He died 1 8 Edw. II, leaving iftiie by Julian his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas de Leyburne, Laurence his fon and heir. Wliich Laurence, by reafon of his defcent from the coheir of Valence earl of Pembroke, was, by King Edw. III. in the 13th year of his reign, advanced to the dignity and title of that earldom."" He died in the 2 2d year of that reign, having married Agnes, daughter of Roger Mortimer earl of March; by whom he had ifllie John'lord Haftings, who fucceeded him in title and eftate, and was made alfo knight of the garter. He married Anne daughter and heirefs of Lord Manny, founder of the Charter-houfe in London; and died in France, as it was fuppofed, by poilon.
• Efc. Vol, II.
Dugd. Bv. i. 732, 733.
' Rot. Fin. 2 Ed. I. Xx
" Pat. i3Ed. III. m. 12.
49 Edward
338 BERWICK. [^ountsborougS,
49 Edward III. leaving iflue John earl of Pembroke, his fon and heir. This laft- mentioned Earl was in 1390, 13 Ric. II. unfortunately killed at a tournament held at Woodftock in Oxfordfhire, being then feized of the manor of Berwick, with the advowfon of the chantry there, and the borough of S to ford; as alfo the manors of Odcombe, Milverton, and Marfton-parva, all in this county.' Upon his death, Reginald Grey, of Ruthen, was found to be his next heir, as lineally defcended from Elizabeth, fifter of John de Haftings, father of John, great-grandfather of the Earl laft- mentioned. 21 Ric. II. Richard earl of Arundel held, as of the dowry of his wife Philippa, late widow of John de Haftings earl of Pembroke, this manor of Berwick,^ in which parifh 12 Henry IV. Elizabeth, the widow of John Holland earl of Kent, held two knights' fees, pofTefled afterwards by John Rogers.^ Sir John Nevil and Sir Ralph Nevil were fubfequently lords paramount of this manor. 20 Henry VI. John Rogers held at his death the manor and hundred of Berwick, with the advowfon of the church, and the borough of Stoford, of John earl of Somerfetj and left ilTue John Rogers his fon and heir."" 26 EHz. Andrew Rogers and Mary his wife, and John Rogers, gent, fold the manor, with the hundred, and advowfon of the church of Berwick, and the borough of Stoford, to William Symes and his heirs, in which family it continued for feveral defcents, and is now poflefled by John Newman, efq; who has a good feat here, with a fine park and plantations.
The living is a rectory in the deaneiy of Marfton. The patronage belongs to the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Warry is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, and is a very good neat building, confifting of a nave, chancel, and fide ailes, with a tower on the north fide thereof con- taining five bells. There is a handfome altar-piece of white flucco. At the weft end of the north aile is a plain monument of white marble, infcribed,
" Heic fubter fepultus jacet Thomas Symes, armiger, annos natus 46, a febri ereptus 22 die Novembris, anno Verbi Incarnati 1681, mceftiffimam reliquit viduam Merillam, filiam natu minorem Johannis Horner, de Mells, in agro Somerfetenfi, equitis aurati: per quam filiumunicum Johannem, et unicam filiam habuit, quorum hasc infans 6° die Septembris 167 1, occubuit, heic etiam fepulta: ille, una cum matre fuperftite monumentum hoc pofuit; pientiflima conjux, memoriam mariti fui pie colens, hunc etiam fui locum fepulchri ftatuens, cum Deo Opt. Max. vifum fuerit." Arms: Azure, three efcallops in pale cr, Symes: impaling, /«^/f, three talbots paffant argent, two and one, Horner.
• Efc. * Ibid. » Lib. Feod. » Efc.
CHILTON-
'IBcttoicli, « Co6er.] [ 339 J
C H I L T O N - C A N T E L O.
THIS parifh, although belonging to the hundred of Berwick, is fituated in a nook between the hundreds of Somerton and Horethorn, at foine diftance from its proper hundred, whereunto it was added by the lords Cantilupe its owners, from whom it received its name.
This parifh contains twenty-eight houfes, and about one hundred and fifty inhabi- tants. Moft of the houfes form two ftraggling ftreets near the church ; the fituation is low and woody; but the lands are ftrong clay, very good, and worth on an average from thirty to fifty fhillings an acre. A fmall flream, rifing at Sandford-Orcas, runs under a flone bridge of one arch, and turns a grift-mill in this parifh.
It is uncertain to whom the manor belonged at the Norman Conqueft, there being feveral places of the fame name entered in the furvey, and not diftingiiiflied by fituation or locality.
It was anciently held of the manor of Berwick by a younger branch of the family of Cantilupe, by the fervice of one knight's fee.* Richard de Cantilupe held it I Edw. I. John de Cantelo died feized of it aj Edw. III. leaving two daughters his coheireffes, of whom Emma the wife of Walter Parker had this manor, and brought it to her faid hufhand, who died feized of it 35 Edw. III.'' In the time of Edw. IV. it was in the family of Wadham, and afterwards in that of Parham. i Mary, Richard Parham held a moiety of the manor from Sir John Rogers, knt. whence it came to the Strodes, of Parnham in the county of Dorfet. After the death of Sir George Strode, A. D. 1702, a partition was made of his eftates between Francis lord Broke, and Frances countefs of Hertford, in purfuance of a decree in chancery 16 April, 1729, wherein the manor of Chilton-Cantelo, rent 164I. 15s. was allotted by the adfc to the Countefs of Hertford. It now belongs to J. Goodford, of Yeovil, efq; whofc mother purchafed it of the Earl of Northumberland, who had it by his lady, a daughter of the Earl of Hertford.
The living is a redlory in the deanery of Marfton, valued in 1292 at fifteen marks.* The Rev. Mr. Hill is both patron and incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. James; it is built in the form of a crofs, having at the weft end a well-built tower of Hamdon-hill ftone, feventy feet high, with three bells. In the fouth wall of the chancel are three tabernacles, and a niche for holy water.
At the north end of the tranfept is a ftone with this infcription : " Here lyeth
the body of Theophilus Brome, of the Bromes, of the houfe of Woodlowes neere Warwick towne in the county of Warwick; who deceafed the i8th of Auguft 1670, aged 69. A man juft in the aftions of his life; true to his friends; forgave thofe that wronged him; and dyed in peace." Arms, Sabk, on a chevron argent three fprigs of
' Lib. Feod, » Efc. * Taxat. Spiritual.
X K 2 Broom
340 CHILTON'CANTELO. f^ountgbotougjj,
Broom proper. — N. B. There is a tradition in this parifli, that the perfon here interred requefted that his head might be taken off before his burial, and be preferved at the farm-houfe near the church, where a head, chop-fallen enough, is ftill, fhewn, which the tenants of the houfe have often endeavoured to commit to the bowels of the earth but have been as often deterred by horrid noifes, portentive of fad difpleafure; and about twenty years fince (which perhaps was the laft attempt) the fexton, in digging the place for the fcull's repofitory, broke his fpade in two pieces, and uttered a folemn afTevera- tion never more to attempt an ad fo evidently repugnant to the quiet of Brome's head !
EAST-COKE R.
THIS parifli lies fouthward from Berwick, and comprifes a village of its name, and a hamlet called North-Coker, in which was formerly a chapel, lately taken down to make room for a workhoufe fince erefted on its fcite.
This parifli, although at a confiderablc difl:ance from the old foflTe road, abounds with vefliges of Roman antiquity. In the year 1753, in ditching in a field belonging to Mr. Forbes, (a great coUedtor of curiofities) the foundations of a Roman dwelling- houfe were difcovered, confifl:ing of feveral rooms, one of which was floored with a mofl: beautiful teffelated pavement, reprefenting in ftrong colours a variety of figures, among which was a female lying on a couch in fuU proportion, with an hour-glafs under her elbow, and a cornucopia in her hand; over her head a hare flying from a greyhound, jufl: catching her in his mouth j and at her feet a bloodhound in purfuit of a doe jufl: before him. Another female appeared dreflid in her Roman fl:ola with the purple laticlave; and a third, much damaged, helping to affix a robe round a naked perfon on a couch. Under this pavement was a hypocauft; and a great quantity of bricks, burnt bones, and corroded pieces of iron, were found in other apartments. Not a piece of this pavement is now left, the whole of the field wherein it was found having been ploughed up, and the antique fragments difperfed among curious vifitors.
There are three places of the name of Coker, viz. Eafl:-Coker, Weft-Coker, and North-Coker, which are all defcribed under one title in the Norman furvey:
" The King holds Cocre. Ghida [mother of Earl Harold] held it in the time of " King Edward. There are fifteen hides, and it gelded for feven hides. The arable " is fifteen carucates. Thereof are in demefne five hides and a half; and there are " three carucates, and feven fervants, and four coliberts, and thirty-five villanes, and " forty-two cottagers, with twelve ploughs. There is a mill of five fliillings rent, " and one hcindred acres of meadow. Pafl:ure one mile long, and half a mile broad. " Wood eight furlongs long, and fix furlongs broad. It yields nineteen pounds and " twelve-pence of white money.""
• Lib. Domefday,
King
^ettoicR, ^ Cofecr.] E A S T - C O K E R. 341
King William Rufus granted the manor of Coker to the abbey of St. Stephen at Caen in the province of Normandy, founded, A. D. 1064, by William duke of Nor- mandy, who was buried there in 1093.''
This was only part of the great manor of Coker j the refidue whereof belonged to the families of Courteney and Mandeville, 7 Joh, Robert de Mandeville held one knight's fee in Eaft and Weft-Coker, with the hundred of Coker, of which this was the principal town.' 4 Edw. I. John de Mandeville was lord hereof, and after his death Clemence his wife held it in dower."* To him fucceeded another John, whofe font Robert de Mandeville was outlawed 34 Edw. I. and the manors of Eaft and Weft- Coker were in the king's hands for a year and a day.' 9 Edw. III. Maud the wife of Sir William de Falconberge, knt. fifter and heir of Robert de Mandeville, fon and heir of Sir John de Mandeville, releafed to Hugh de Courteney, fon of Hugh de Courteney earl of Devon, all her right in the manors of Eaft-Coker, Weft-Coker, and in the hundred of Coker, in the county of Somerfet. This deed of releafe was dated at Stoke-under-Hamden.*^ Elizabeth, the wife of the faid Hugh Courteney, held the ijianor for life, and died feized of the fame 49 Edw. II I. ^ After her death it was inherited by Hugh Courteney earl of Devon, who died 51 Edw. III. leaving ifltie Edward his fon and heir, Margaret his wife having Eaft and Weft-Coker, with the hundred of Coker, the advowfon of the church of Weft-Coker, and ten acres of meadow in Burefmulle, within the manor of Weft-Coker, in dower for life. She died 15 Rig. II. "■ I'he faid Hugh de Courteney earl of Devon, her huft)and, founded, 18 Edw. III. a chantry at the altar before the high crofs, in the church of St. Michael the Archangel, at Eaft-Coker, for a chaplain to celebfate divine fervice every day for ever, for the good eftate of him the faid Hugh, Margaret his faid wife, and William de Middleton, parfon of the church of Eaft-Coker; and- gave four mefiuages, fixty acres of arable land, and ten acres of meadow, with appertenances, in Eaft-Coker, North-Coker, and Weft-Coker, for the convenient and proper fupport thereof Sir Philip Courteney, knt. held at his death 7 Henry IV. the manor of Eaft-Coker, and was fucceeded by Richard Courteney, bifhop of Norwich, his fon and heir. This Richard died 3 Henry V. leaving Philip Courteney, fon of Sir John Courteney, knt. his brother, heir to his eftates. 7 Henry V. Edward Courteney held the manor and hundred of Coker, and after him Hugh his fon and heir. i Henry VI. Hugh Courteney earl of Devon died feized of three knights' fees in Eaft-Coker, North- Coker, and Elardington, which the heirs of John de Maundeville and John and Clement de Montalt formerly held in thofe places; as alfo the advowfon of the church of Weft-Coker, worth per annum 20I.'' 23 Eliz. William Courteney had licence to fell this manor to Bartholomew Trevilian.' It afterwards came into the family of Symes, and now belongs to William Hcllyar, efq; in whofe family it has been for fome generations. The feat of Mr. Hellyar adjoins the church-yard, and is fituated on an eminence which overlooks the town, and commands a fine prolpeit to the north and eaft.
^ Account of the Alien Priories, i. 125, 127. ' Rot. Pip. 7 Joh, * Efc. 4 Ed. I. ' Efc. 3 Ed. II. ' Sir William Pole's Book of ancient Evidences. ' Efc. " Ibid. ' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
" Efc. ' Licence to alienate,
The
342 EAST-COKE R. [l^OUnDiSborougt),
The manor of NoRTH-CoKER belongs to the bifhop of Exeter. In 1553 the chapel here, and lands belonging to the chantry in Eaft-Coker, were granted to Edward Nevil and his heirs.
The benefice of Eaft-Coker, valued in 1292 at twenty-four marks," is an appropri- ation in the cathedral of Exeter. It is a vicarage in the deanery of Marfton. The Rev. Mr. Free is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael, and is a light handfome ftrufture in the -form of a crofs, with a tower in the centre, containing a clock, chimes, and eight rmufical bells.
In the chancel by the fide of the north wall, is the mutilated efEgy in ftone, of a female of the Courteney family, many of them having been interred within this church. There is alfo a ftone to the memory of Robert Paul, minifter of this parilh, with the following curious infcription:
" Hie acquiefcit corpus Domini Roberti Pauli, M. A. nuper hujus parochi. eccle. paftoris ornatiflimii obijt Aug. 22, An. Dom. 1673. Occidifti, poffidiftij fed quid ? xorpus non animam : et veniet aliquando Chriftus cum poteftate et majeftate carnem illam qujerere, et corpus ifl^d cadaverofum confignare corpori claritatis fuae.
An AcROSTicK.
B eatier not tticep, to {)ear tbe Qot?
©f t)i0Beceafe, toasCofeec'Sfflorg? -
T6 emoan tbpfclf, ann feneto f)ccc lies
(B ntomtJ'D a tccafure of great pri?e:
JR. icber or more celeliial Dud
C imz ftarce ijatb left to eartf) in tn:fl»
IP repar'D f)is fetier'D foul is pn
a loft, its ^©SD© to tuait upon,
U pftraiDing Dice, it coulD not (lag
£ onger fteloto, fo fleu atoag." Abijt, non Obijt.
Rol'eri } . ^ Jpi
Paul \ "^^^' ) Labourer.
Apt labourer, dear faint! all thofe that knew Thy works, can fay, fuch labourers are few: Indeed there's none could yet out-labour all His fellow-workmen, fave triumphant Paul Thy predeceffor: yet thou wert, I know. So apt a labourer, that death to Ihew Thy worth, hence fetch'd thee upon angel's wings As an apt chaplain for the King of Kings.
" Taxat. Spiritual.
Ah
IBettoicft, (J Co&er.J E A S T - C O K E R.
Ah mihi! quid dicam? Paulum te flemus ademptum,
In faufta eft nobis mors tua faiifta tibi: Dicam, Paule, vale: tua fama perennior xre
Durabit, nullo ftat moritura die. Et quod in asternum regem celebrabis Olympi
Cokero nuUus poftea Paulus erit."
In the eaft window of the chancel are thefe arms; viz. i. Arg„tt on a bezant a crofs tau or. 2. Jrgent, a crofs gules. 3. Azure, a faltier or. 4. Argent, tliree efcallops or.
In the north aile is a very ancient tomb in a niche of the wall, but without any memorial. In the eaft wall of the fame aile is a benetoire for holy water; and in the north window thefe coats, i. A chevron between three garbs or. 2. Or, three torteaux in pile furmounted by a label of three points azure, each charged with as many bezants The arms of the Courteneys, and their intermarriages.
In the fouth window of the fouth aile are the arms following, viz. i. Quarterlv firft and fourth .r three torteaux in pile, fecond and third, or, a lion r^mp^t. zure 2 Azure, a crofs flory or, between four etoiles gules, impaling argenf, on a bend W three plates pierced. 3. Gules, zfv^ordznd key in hhkc, argent and or. 4. Ouarterlv Firft and fourth, /aMe, fix martlets, 3,2,1, argent; fecond and third, azure, a^end or 5. ArgeMt, a Mure gules, impaling argent, tiiree greyhounds ftatant/r?^/^.
Near the church is an alms-houfe, founded by an anceftor of the prefent lord of the manor, and endowed with an eftate at Whitchurch in Dorfetlhire, which furniflies two Ihiilings a week to twelve poor widows.
At NoRTH-CoKER in this parifh is an old manflon, in which are the following arms painted in the windows: i. Argent, a chevron between three geefe >^/.; impaling bendy, argent ^nd gules, a martlet for diftindbion. 2. SaUe on a bend argent, between fix falcons, three Catherine wheels or. ^ "ciwccn
Not far from hence ftands another very large and ancient building called Najh-boufe.
A well-refpeaed family of the name of Coker dwelt in former a^es in this oarifh and were beholden to ,t for their appellation. They bore for their a°rms ^-Hn a bend ^«/.. three leopards' heads or, within a bordure engrailed>^/.. In the time of Henry [. Robert de Cocre was a witnefs to a charter of Robert de Mandeville, con- ' Z7ll '" Eaft-Coker. His fon Matthias de Cocre was founder of a chantry at Wembdon in this county, 19 Edw. II. His fon Richard de Cocre gave lands in
f \ u , '^ ' ^."'''■y °^ ^''"^''°"' ^"^ °^'^"" ' 9 Edw. III. Matthias de Cocre his Ion held lands in Coker in the beginning of the reign of Henry IV. and by Mar-erv his wife had ifTue John de Coker, who was of Weft-Coker. Bartholon.ew his fon°had adaughter, Elizabeth, who married John Seymour, of Wolf-hall in the county of Wilts, greatgrandfather to Edwaid Seymour duke of Somerfet, which family ftill
"IXl u'Tu r^":^'"' ^'■'' ^'''^°"' ''^^ ^°'^"'-^- This lady was heirefs to the elder branch of the Cokers. William de Coker, of Rolfton and Bower in this county. occurs 49 Edw. III. and was brother of Matthias, the fecond of that name. He
married
344
EAST-COKE R. [I^ounustjotou&tj*
married Elizaberfa, daughter and heir of John Norris, of Pentelyn in the county of Glamorgan, by whom he had Robert de Coker, of Bower, who married the daughter and heirefs of John Wallys, of Work in this county. He was fheriff of Somerfet and Dorfet I Henry VI. and was father of John, anceftor of the Cokers of Mapouderin the county of Dorfet." Of this family alfo was the Rev. John Coker, the ingenious author in- the laft century of a Survey of Dorfetftiire, publifhed in 1732, fol.
• Hutchins's Hift. of Dorfet, ii. 263.
WEST-COKE- R
LIES to the northweft of Eaft-Coker, and a little to the fouth of the turnpike-road leading from Crewkerne to Yeovil. This parifh contains about one hundred houfes, moft of which compofe two or three irregular ftreets about the church; the reft are in two hamlets, Fontenoy, half a mile foutheaft, and Bridwell, near Eaft- ■Chinnock, This parifh is rated at about one thoufand pounds per annum.
Upon the grant of King William Rufus of part of his demefne lands in Coker to tTie abbey of St. Stephen, at Caen in Normandy, the abbot and convent thought fit to •tranfmit hither a certain number of monks to fuperintend their eftates. Thefe in pro- cefs of time eftablifhed a cell here, and the convent enjoyed their property in this place till the difiblution of alien priories in the time of Henry V. when they were given to the priory of Montacute. The manor (formerly belonging to the Courteneys) is now poflefled by Henry William Portman, efq.
The church, valued in 1292 at eighteen marks and a half," is a reftory in the deanery of Marfton, and gift of Thomas Prodtor, of Pointingdon, efq. The Rev. Mr. Bifhop is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is a neat edifice, confifting of a nave, chancel, and fouth aile tiled. The tower is newly built, and holds fix bells.
In the aile, now ufed as a veftry-room, is a handfome mural monument of ftone, having in a recefs under an arched canopy the effigies of two hdies kneeling, and below
this infcription : " Grace, third daughter of Sir John Portman, knt. and baronet.
Elizabeth, eldeft daughter of Sir John Portman, knt. and baronet. .
Grace crowns her youth, y' glads her parcts deare. Death ftrikes her heart, 'this ftrikes theirs alfo neare."
Arms: i. Or, three fleurs-de-lis vert. 2. Azure, three taus or. 3. Azure, a chevron- argent, between three gauntlets or. 4. Argent, a chevron, the upper part engrailed between three rofes gules. 5. Argent, three ttoilts fable. 6. Argent a clievron
* Taxat. Spiritual.
ermine
O0ectoicfe, ^ Colter,] W E s T . c o K E R. 345
ermine between three moors' heads. 7. y^rgent, a bar gules ermine between three annulets of the firft; impaling, argent, ten torteaux 4, 3, 2, i. The fame aims arc on the front of the manor-houfe.
On the left hand of the communion table is a ftone monument to the memory of John Perry, M. A. redtor of this church, and Mary his wife; he died Feb. 25, 1727; Ihe April 11, 1705.
Near the eaft window is a monument of white marble, infcribed, " William
Ruddock, of this parifh, gentleman, departed this life Nov. 30, 1685; Edidi, his wife, died Jan. 30, 1688 ; Deborah, their daughter, left this ftate of mortality Feb. 21, 1706: who all reft here in hope of a refurredion. This marWe being infcribed to their pious memory by the executrix of the faid Deborah, who by her will gave lool. to purchafe lands for the ufe of the poor in this parifh." Arms: Gules, a bend lozengy argent.
On the north wall of the chancel is an elegant monument of different forts of
marble, containing this memorial: " To the memory of Henry Moore, (and his
anceftors) of this parifh, gent, who died in the year 1679. Alfo Henry Moore, his fon, who died the 17th of April 1743. Alfo Elizabeth, wife of the laft-mentioned Henry Moore, who died the 2 2d of November 1755. Alfo the Rev. Thomas Moore, B. A. who died July 4, 1759. ^^^'^ Henry Moore, who died Jan. 11, 1762. Alfo Jane, wife of the Rev. Charles Morgan, who died Sept. 24, 1769, whofc remains lie interred in the chancel of the parifh church of High-Ham in this county. Alfo John Moore, who died Nov. 2i, 1769, (which faid Thomas, Henry, Jane, and John, were the fens and daughters of the faid Henry and Ehzabeth Moore.) And alfo Henry Talbot Moore, fon of the faid John Moore, by Eleanor his wife, daughter of Henry Talbot, of Butleigh in this county, who died Feb. 4, 1777, aged 29.
" What though flioit thy date.
Virtue, not rolling funs, the mind matures."
Arms: Argent, two bars engrailed between nine martlets 'yJ?^/^.
On another handfome monument of white and grey marble on the fame waU:— — " Near this place lie tlie remains of Thomas, the eldeft fon of Thomas Prodtor, efq; of Rock in the county of Northumberland. He married Mary, younger daughter of John Hall, ofPitcombe in the county of Someriet, efq; by Mary, fifter of William Ruddock, efq. He died Sept. 5, 1748. And of John their fon, who died July 20, 1752." Arms, Argent, a chevron gules between nine crols crodcts /aile. Over all an inefcutcheon quarterly, firft and fourth, argent, a chevron between three orles; fecond and tliird, gtdes, a bend laguly argent.
On the north wall of the nave is a white marble monument, with this infcription: — " Gulielmus Ruddock, hujus parochis armiger, fundator domus Eleemofynaria; in hac parochia, obijt decimo die Novembris, A.D. 1718. Qns£ domus (immediate poft mortem fundatoris) erefta fuit per Johannem Hall, armigerum, cxecutorem le- cundum effedlum ultimas voluntatis tcftatoris."
Vol. II. y y This
in
346 WEST-CbKBR. JDounti0botou0lj,
This almshoufe was founded for the maintenance of five poor perfons in the parifli of Weft-Coker, by the faid John Hall, in purfuance of the will of the faid William Ruddock, here interred, who laid a perpetual rent-charge of ten fhillings a week upon all his eftates for that purpofe.
Mrs. Deborah Ruddock, by will dated 1706, left one hundred pounds to the poor of this parilh, to be laid out in lands for their benefit.
Thomas Taylor, by will, dated 1677, left twenty pounds in money, the yearly intereft to be paid'by his executor to the poor of Weft-Coker.
A fimilar fum was left by Henry Moore in 1679, '^^ intereft to be paid in like manner at Chriftmas.
CLOS WORTH.
THIS is a fmall pariJk, fituated on rifing ground in an inclofed and woody country, fix miles fouth from Yeovil, and divided on the foutheaft from Dorfet- fhire by the river Ivel, which paffing under Boarden-bridge, a mile eaftward from the church, runs to Yeovil. The number of houfes in the village is twenty, which are fcattered about round the church. In the hamlet of Netherton, one mile north from the church, are ten houfes j in that of Weston, half a mile weft, eight houfes. The inhabitants are about two hundred.
This manor was one of the Earl of Morton's, at the time the following furvey of it was drawn up:
** The Earl himfelf holds Clovewrde. A thane held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for feven hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne " are three carucates, and three fcrvants, and ten villanes, and feven cottagers, with " three ploughs. There is a mill of fifteen fiiillings rent, and twelve acres of " meadow. Wood four furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was and is worth " feven pounds.'"
William the fon of this Earl of Morton endowed his priory at Montacute with this among many other manors and eftates, and the prior had a charter of free warren in all his lands here 37 Henry III." It continued in the pofifeffion of the faid priory till its difiblution, when it was granted to Sir Richard Morifon, who fold it i Mary to Stephen Hales, who 3 Eliz. fold it to Henry Portman, efqj in which name and family it ftill continues, Henry Wilham Portman, efq; being the prefent owner. The lands of the prior of Montacute in this parifli were valued in 1293 at thirteen pounds.'
• Lib. Domefday. » Cart. 37 Hen. III. m. 8. * Taxat. Temporal.
The
16ectofc6, (J Coker.] C L O S W O R T H, 347
The church is a fc6bory in the deanery of Marfton, valued in 1292 at ten marks/ It was appropriated to the priory of Montacute, and the patronage is now veiled in the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Bartlett is the prefcnt incumbent.
The church is dedicated to Ail-Saints, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and tower containing five bells.
Againft the north wall of the chancel ftands a fmall monument of white marble,
with this infcription: " Underneath lie the remains of Elizabeth Knight, daughter
of Mr. Ambrofe Seward, of Yeovil, who died Oft. 23, 1730. Alfo the body of Thomas Knight, gent, who died May 20, 1748. This marble was eredted, in the higheft fenfe of duty and gratitude to the bell of parents, by their eldeft daughter Anne Knight, who defires to reft in the fame grave, and to be made partaker with them of a joyful refurreftion." Arms: Paly of eight. Argent., three pales ^«/m on a canton Jahle, a ipur or. Knight. Impaling, Argent., on a fefle giiles^ between two chevrons ermine, three rofes of the firft.
" Taxat. Spiritual,
HARDINGTON
IS a parifh lying fouthward from Weft-Coker, in a bleak and cold fituation, con* taining feventy hoiMes, and near four hundred inhabitants.
This manor was the demefne of King William the Conqueror, as we read in the general furvey;
" The King holds Hardintone. Gunnild (fifter of King Harold) held it in the " time of King Edward, and there are ten hides, and gelded for five hides. The " arable is ten carucates. Thereof in demefne are five hides and a half, and there are " two carucates, and (^wen fervants, and fixteen villanes, and fixteen cottagers, with " eight ploughs. There are forty acres of meadow. Wood five furlongs long, and " four furlongs broad. It yields twelve pounds and fourteen Ihillvngs of white filver."*
After the Conqueft this manor was annexed to the barony of Marlhwood in the county of Dorfet, and held as parcel thereof by the noble family of Mandeville or de Magna Villa, who came over with King William,'' and obtained large poflcffions in this country. Hence this place was named Hardington-Mandeville. In the aid levied for marrying the Kijig's daughter, GefFerey de Mandeville certified that he held the manor of Herdinton, confifting of one kniglit's fee, of his Lord the King in Sumerft^te." To which GefFerey fucceeded William, and to him Robert de Mandeville, whofe fon Robert paid ten marks 7 Joh. for his relief of this manor."* John de Mandeville occurs lord of this manor 4 Edw. I." Robert his fon 13 Edw. II. paid
■ Lib. Domefdiy. ' Chron. Norman. • Lib. Nig. Scac. i. loi, * Rot. Pip. 7 Joh. • Efc.
y y 2 the
348 " H A R D I N O T <!> N. [^OUnTlSboroUQ^.
the fum of forty fliillings for licence to enfeoff Alexander, the fon of Andrew. Luttrell, with this manor/ Whence it pafled to the families of Fauconbergh, \Vadhann7 and Strangeways, and is now the property of the Earl of Ilchefter.
The living of Hardington, valued in 1292 at twenty marks,* is a reftory in the deanery of Ilchefter, and in the gift of William Hellyar, efq. The Rev. Mr, Daubeny is the prefent incumbent.
The church confifts of a nave, chancel, north aile, and tower at the weft end, con- taining five bells.
At the eaft end of the chancel are two ftone monuments, infcribed, " Here refteth
the body of Samuel • Hood, M. A, reftor of this church upwards of fifty-one years. He died April 10, 1728, atat. 80."
[Then follows a long lift of fourteen of his children, and the date of their deaths.]
" Here refteth the body of Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Hood, reftor of this .church, and mother of thefe children, and four more, whom God preferve ! She dieci March 30, 17 18, aetat. 63."
Near the chancdl door, on a brafs plate, is a long bombaftick and ridiculous in- fcription in Latin profe and Englifh verfe, commemorating a former reftor of this parifti of the name of Blagden, who died Jan. 13, 1675, aged 67.
In this parifti are the remains of an ancient chapel of elegant workmanftiip, con- verted fome time fince into a weaving fliop.
f Rot. Pip. 13 Ed. II, * Taxat. Spiritual.
{
PENDOMER.
THIS parifti ftands on the fouth fide of Hardington, at the eaft end of a flat vale more than a mile in width, and fkirted with high lands to the north and fouth. Hence its original name Pemsy which fignifies in old Britifti a head or fummit ; and is particularly applied to elevated points of land. About half a mile eaftward from the church, which ftands on a fine eminence, is Birt's-Hill, or Abbot' s-Hilh a large fwelling knoll of high ground, the fides of which are finely ftriped with hanging woods. From the fummit there is a very extenfive profped into both Somerfet and Dorfet.
This is ranked among the manors of the Earl of Morton, under the following <iefcription :
" Alured holds of the Earl, Penne, Alwald held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for fiive hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are three
*' carucates.
'13ertoicft»(tC0Rer.3 P E N D O M E R. 349
" canicates, and two fervants, and five villanes, and ten cottagers, with four ploughs. " There are ten acres of meadow, and four furlongs of pafture in length and breadth. " Wood kvch furlongs long, and three furlongs broad. It was wordi forty fliillings, " now fixty (hillings."*
Its principal lords after the Conqueft were the family of Domer or Dunimer, tlie effigy of one of whom lies in a Gothick niche under the north wall of the . church, in armour, with his Ihield on his left arm, and his military belt and fword ; his head bare, lying on his helmet. At his head and feet (land the effigies of his two ions, who fupport an arched canopy above. The manor now belongs to Earl Pouletr, who has it by inheritance from many generations.
The living is a redtory in the deanery of Ilcheder, and in the patronage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Webber is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a ffnall Gothick building of one pac€, with a turret, containing two bells, at the weft end.
In the chancel window are thefe coats, i. A crofs argent. 2, A bend or between fix plates. 3. The fame as 2, with the addition of a mullet for diftindion. 4. Or, on a chevron argent a mitre of the firft.
Againft the fouth wall of the chancel is a fmall monument, infcribed: " Near
this place lieth the body of Thomas Taylor, 37 years reftor of this parifh. He died Dec. 12, 1720, aged 66." Arms, i. Argent, a bar counter-embattled between fix fleurs-de-lis fable. 2. Sable, a lion palTant argent. 3. Argent, three Catherine- wheels gules.
The font is circular, very krge and clumfy. The chriftenings in this parilh arc five, the burials three, on an average annually.
• Lib. Domefday.
SUTTON-BINGHAM
IS a fmall parifli of very few houfes, in a little valley, between two hills, on the foutii fide of Eaft-Coker. The lands are moftly arable, and produce fome hemp and flax. The river Parret rifes a little to the fouth, and turns a mill in this parilh. This ftream contains trout, eels, roach, and dace.
The manor of Sutton was given by the Conqueror to Roger Arundel:
" Roger [BuiflTel] holds of Roger, Sutone. Ulward held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. There are fix " bordars, and four cottagers, and a mill of fixteen Ihillings rent. There are twelve
" acres
350 SUTTON -BINGHAM. [!^OunU0botou5l), ijc»
*' acres of meadow. Pafture three furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was ** worth one hundred Ihillings, now thirty Ihillings.'"
This Roger Buiffel was progenitor of the family of Bingham, who refided in this place, and gave it the addition of their name. Sir John de Bingham, knt. was living here in the time of Henry I. to whom lineally fucceeded Silvefterde Bingham, GefFerey de Bingham, Auguftine de Bingham, William de Bingham, Ralph de Bingham, Sir Ralph de Bingham, knt. and Sir William de Bingham, who refided in this place in the time of Henry III. and left iffue Margaret his daughter and heir, married to Ralph lord Biffet, in whofe defcendants the manor long continued.
Another branch of this ancient family, defcended from Sir Ralph de Bingham, was feated at Eaft-Melcombe in the county of Dorfetj and bore for their arms, Azure a bend cotifed between fix crofTes formee or. Another branch was feated in Warwick- fhire, and others in Kent, Herts, and Nottinghamfhire j and divers defcendants of the feveral families are ftill exifting.
The manor of Sutton-Bingham is now in the poffelTion of Wyndham Harbin, efq.
The living was valued in 1292 at feven marks;"' it is a reftory in the deanery of Marlloni and in the gift of Wyndham Harbin, efq. The Rev. Mr. Barjew is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall building tiled, with two bells lianging in a hole of the wall at the wefl end. Between the chancel and the nave is a fine Saxon arch.
A flat flone has this infcription: " Here lyech the body of Nicholas Stone,
minifter of Sutton-Bingham, who deceafed June 3, 1674." And over it on the wall, " Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Joane Stone, a great example of all Chriftian virtuesj who was buried Dec. 8, 1667."
* Lib. Domefday. ' Taxat. Spiritual.
THE
I 35» ]
THE HUNDRED
O F
HORETHORNE.
THIS hundred, fitiiated in the foutheaft extremity of the county, on the borders of Dorfetftiire, derived its name from a down in the vicinity of Milborne- Port, called Horethorne-Down, in regard of its once having a remarkable thorn, on the fpot w^here in prifline times the hundred courts were held : which tree, being confpicuous to the furrounding country, was denominated by the Saxons )3eaji-Dopn, or the High Thorn. On this down, which is common land, and con- tains about two hundred and thirty acres, rife fevcn fprings clofe together, and uniting their waters, form a rivulet, which palTes through the parifli of Pointington, and at Sherborne falls into the river Yeo.
The hundred and manor of Horethorne were anciently vefted in the kings of England, and continued in their poffefllon till the time of Edw. II. That king, by his charter, bearing date Sept. i6, the 7th year of his reign, granted the faid manor and hundred to Robert Fitzpaine, lord of the manor of Kingfbury in the parifh of Milborne, in exchange for that of Norton, which at the fame time was reftored to Walter, bilhop of Coventry and Litchfield,'
In the time of Edward IV. the manor and hundred were held by Sir Thomas Stanley, knt. and Margaret iiis wife, countefs of Richmond. ''
• Rot. Pip. 13 Ed. II. et ap. Cart. Antiq.
» Efc. 14 Ed. rV.
MILBORNE-
I 3^^ ] ' [^om!)orne»
MILBORNE-PORT
Is a borough town, ten miles foutheaft from Ivelchefterj and two miles eaft from Sherborne in Dorfetfhire. The fituation is very pleafant, being in a vale nearly furrounded with fine hills, and in a healthy foil. It confifts of four ftreets; the prin- cipal one is called High-ftreet, and is tolerably wide, but irregularly built. In this ftreet is the guild-hall, an ancient building, having a door-cafe partly of Saxon and partly of Norman ftrufture. In the middle of the town ftands an old market-houfe, now converted into a warehoufe, and the arches clofed up. Here are confiderable manufadures of woollen, linen, and hofiery, which employ moft of the poor in this and the neighbouring parifhes. The principal markets for the goods are London, Briftol, Bath, Salifbury, and Exeter.
This parifh contains about four thoufand acres of land, and feeds annually about two thoufand five hundred fheep. The inclofed part is moftly arable, and produces good crops of all forts of grain ; the foil is a ftone-rufli. There is marie, and ftone for rough building, and for repair of the roads; but it is of a foft kind, and quickly turns to dirt. It contains few (if any) foflils.
In the high ftreet of the town is a well called 'Town-Well., which fupplies moft of the inhabitants with water. Another fpring, called Bath-Well., rifes behind the church. A third fpring, rifing at Bradley-head, forms a brook, which turns a corn-mill in the hamlet of Milborne-Wick.
From the circumftance of thefe fprings and rivulets, and from there having been formerly in this parifti more mills than in moft other parifhes of the county, the Saxons gave this place the name of COyllbujtn, which is compounded of COyll, or COylen, a mill, and Bupn, a torrent; and from the circumftance of its being a borough and market-town, the moft confiderable in thefe parts, it obtained the additional name of Popt:, fignifying a town or incorporated vill, by which it is diftinguiftied to this day. Its importance in early ages may be collected from the following record :
" The King holds Meleburne. King Edward held it. It never paid geld, nor is " it known how many hides there are. The arable is fifty carucates. In demefne are ** four carucates, and five fervants, and feventy villanes, and eighteen cottagers, with " fixty-five ploughs. There are fix mills paying feventy-feven ftilUings and fixpence; <' and one hundred and feventy acres of meadow. Wood two miles in length, and " nine furlongs in breadth. Pafture four furlongs long, and two furlongs broad, and " one mile of moor.
" In this manor are fifty-fix burgefles, and a market paying fixty fhillings.
" The whole of Meleburne, with its aforefaid appendages, pays fourfcore pounds " of -^hite money, wanting nine fiiillings and five pence. In the time of King Edward " it was accountable for half a night's entertainment for the King, and one fourth.
" Reinbald
?5omt)orne.] M I L B O R N E-P O R T. 353
»
" Reinbald holds the church with one hide. He has there one plough. It is wortb »* thirty fliillings/
" Of the third penny [of the county] Meleburne pays twenty fliiliings.^
" Warmund holds of the Earl [of Morton] in Meleburne one hide. The arable " is one carucate, wliich is in demefne, with two cottagers, and two fervants, and eleven " acres of meadow there, and a mill rendering fixteen pence, and five burgefles pay *' three flaillings. The whole is worth twenty fhillings.'
Not long after the Conqueft this town feems to have loft a great deal of its former confequence, but ftill retained its market, and its privilege as a borough; returning burgefles a6, 28, 23^ ^^^ 35 Edw. I. after which it ceafed to be reprefented in par- liament till 15 Car. I. when it was reftored to that franchife, and was fummoned by the Houfe of Commons to return members. The borough is governed by the owners of nine bailiwicks, who are the lords thereof, hold a court-leet, and are aflifted by two deputy bailiffs, two conftables, an ale-tafter, a fearcher and fealer of leather, befides the parifl^ officers. There is alfo within the borough a corporate body of nine perfons, confifting of two ftewards and feven afllftants. In this body feveral parcels of lands are vefted, the rents and profits of which are appropriated to the fecond poor of the borough.
The arms of the borough are, a Hon paflTant gardant with the letter R in bafe.
The manor of Kingsbury-Regis, a tithing in this parifh, belongs to the Earl of Uxbridge. 2 Edw. 1. John de Burgh gave this manor to the King, whence it received its additional title.^
King Henry I. in the thirty-fourth year of his reign, granted to the abbey of Ciren- cefter in Gloucefterfhire certain of his demefne lands lying within the parifh of Milborne- Port, together with the redlory of Milborne-Port, and the advowfon of the vicarage of the famej" all which lands and premifes were held by the faid abbey till its diflblution, and were then granted to Wykeham College in Winchefter, to which they now belong.
The abbot of Cirencefter had an annual penfion of two marks out of the refkory. Bifliop Savaricus wifhed to have made the redory a prebend in the cathedral of Wells, to be enjoyed by the abbot of that convent and his fucceflbrs for everj but his propofal, which was made about the year 1 198, was not acceded to.'
The fellows of Winchefter College are the patrons of the vicarage. The Rev. George Ifaac Huntingford is the prefent incumbent. In 1292, the reftory was rated at twenty-five marks, and the vicarage at eight, out of which a penfion ©f two marks was paid to the redor.^
The church is dedicated to St. John the Evangelift. It is an ancient ftrufture in the form of a crofs, over which is a large quadrangular tower, fupported by two pointed, and two femicircular arches, and containing fix bells.
* Lib. Domcfday. i- Ibid. ' Ibid. " Pat. 2 Edw. I. in. 24. ' Cart. Aiuiq.
' Ai Cher's .Account of Religious Houfes. « Taxat, Spiritual.
Vol. II, Z z Againft-
354 MILBORNE-PORT. [i^otet|jorne.
Againft the eaft wall of the north aile is a neat monument of white marble, infcribed,
" In a vault underneath is depofited the body of Thomas Medlycott, of Abingdon in the county of Berks, efq; juftice of the peace, and deputy-lieutenant of the faid county, who departed this life Dec. 13, 17 16, aged 88 years, 9 months, and 15 days.
" In the fame vault is alfo depofited the body of James Medlycott, efq; fon and heir of the faid Thomas Medlycott, and in feveral parliaments one of the reprefenta- tives of this borough, who died May 2, 173 1, aged 73. Here alfo lyeth the body of James Medlycott, gent, fecond fon of tlie faid James Medlycott, who died Feb. 14, 1729, aged 26." Arms, Quarterly, guks and azure, per fefle indented, three lions rampant argent.
On the north wall of the fame aile: " This facred marble is eredled in memory
of George Medlycott, gent, firft lieutenant in Colonel Moreton's regiment of marines, who died in the Weft-Indies, and the debt he owed to nature paid his country.
" Near this place lyeth the body of Thomas Medlycott, gent, only fon of Thomas Medlycott, of Venn*", in the county of Somerfet, efq; who departed this life June 13, 1741, in the loth year of his age."
The fingers' gallery was ereded by Sir Thomas Travell, knt. and James Medlycott, efq; in the year 17 12. .
In the chancel floor is a ftone with this infcription: *' Here lieth the body of
the Rev, Mr. John Hall, vicar of this place, who died Feb. 25, 1765, aged 45 years."
Againft the fouth wall of the chancel is a ftone monument, infcribed,
" Near this place lyeth the body of John Noake, who dyed Feb. 19, 1701, aged 71. And alfo Elizabeth his wife, who dyed July 16, 1708, aged 87. She was the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of 66 children.
" Here likewife are interred John Noake, grandfon of the abovementioned, and Mary Noake, his wife, with four of their children, who all died young. John Noake -died Jan. 23, 1737, aged 51 years. Mary Noake died April 18, 1727, aged 39 years."
Above this, on afquare tablet of white marble: " Near this place lies the body
of Ehzabeth Noake, who died Aug. 4, 1775, aged 54. Alfo the body of Catharine Noake, who died the ift of November 1776, aged 50 years."
On a large old tomb in the church -yard: " Here refteth the body of Thomas
Prankerd, bachelor, interred the 3d of Januarie 1609, which gave by his will to the people of M. P. 40 povnds to be and remaine to them for ever: And I will and appoynt and by thes jjiites doe ordaine and make my kinfmen Robert, Thomas, John, and William Prankerds, joynte overfeers to rule and govern the ftock to the poore; and the profit quarterly to be diftributed to the faid poore.
" Here alfo refteth the body of James Prankerd, bacheler, who dyed the 21ft of January 1699, aged 35 yearsi who was the fon of Edward Prankerd, who dyed the
* Venn Iks north from Milborne-Port, and is the manor and feat of the prefent T. H. Medlycott, efq,
29th
^orctbomc] milborne-port. 355
29th of April 1692, aged 74 years: — And the faid James Prankerd, to his everlading remembrance, gave unto tlic poor of Milbourn-Port the intereft of 60 pounds, to be paid unto them in Cliriftmas week yearly for ever; at the difcretion of Edward, John, and Thomas, brothers of the faid James Prankerd, and Edward Prankerd their kinf- man, in whofe hands the faid 60 pounds are to remaine fo long as they fhall live; and when it fliall plcafe God that either of them fhall dye, the furvivours of him fo dying fhall proceed to chufe another of tlie faid name in his ftead, as further appears in — ^ Prankerd's will.
On another tomb: — " Here lyes the body of Jofeph Lewyes, who dyed March 22, 1767, aged 81 years; who gave fifteen pounds to the poor of this town."
In the garden of Mr. Noake, adjoining the church-yard, on opening the ground fome years fince for the foundation of a building, near fixty bodies were found, lying twenty in a row, with their heads to the north. In one of the rows were men, women, and children. No remains of any coffins were found; and it is fuppofed they were buried liere in the time of the great plague, when (as tradition fays) 1 500 died here within one year.
"When Cromwell's foldiers were in this town they robbed the church of the bible; but in their return were attacked by the town's people, who, armed with quarter-ftafFs, refcued the bible, and put the Oliverians to flight.
Milborne-Port gaVe name to an eminent family. Sir William de Milborn was living in the time of Edw. III. Sir John de Milborn in 141 3, 2 Hen. V. and Ralph de Milborn was fleward of the monaftery of Glaftonbury. Their defcendants were feated at Monaftow in the county of Monmouth.
King Richard II. granted this place a charter for holding a two-days fair annually; and a confirmation of its weekly market. A fecond fair is held by prefcription, as it is fuppofed, no grant of a charter being to be found. Tlie fairs are, June 5, and Od:, 28.
I
CHARLETON-HORETHORNE, or CHARLETON-CAMVILLE j
The former, from its fituation; the latter, from its old pofTefTorsj*
S a parifh north of Milborne-Port, in the turnpike-road between Wincanton and Sherborne, pleafantly fituated in a rich vale, inclofed and well cultivated.
It belonged at the Conqueft to Robert Fitz-Gerold, a Norman :
" Robert the fon of Girold holds of the King, Cerletone, and Godzeline of him. *' Godman held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable
• In fomc old writings it is called South-Charlton, and Charlton-under-Horethorne.
Z Z 2 "is
356 CHARLETON-HORETHORNE. |l>om!)Ottte»
" is twelve carucates. In demefne are three carucates, and feven fervants, and four " villanes, and fifteen bordars, and three cottagers, with eight ploughs. There is a " mill of five flilllings rent, and fifty acres of meadow. Failure four furlongs long, " and three furlongs broad. Wood half a mile long, and as much broad. It was " worth ten pounds, now fix pounds,'""
Soon after this general furvey, this manor was in the pofleffion of the family of Camville, or Canvill, or de CampvHla, of whom, in the 5th year of the reign of King Stephen, Gerard de Camville gave two parts of the tithe of this parilh to the Cluniac abbey of Bermondfey in Surrey.^
To this Gerard fucceeded Richard de Camville, who was the founder of the abbey t)f Combe in Warwickfhire, and 12 Stcph. was witnefs to the agreement between that King and the Duke of Normandy, touching the fucceffion of the crown. This Richard, for the fake of his own foul, and the fouls of his anceftors and fucceflbrs, granted in perpetual alms to the church of St. Mary of Kenilworth in the county of Warwick, the church of St, Peter of Cherletone within that his manor, with all lands and tithes, meadows and paftures, and all liberties and other appertenances. To this rharter many of the family were witnefles, and therefore the deed itfelf is fubjoined.* He died at the fiege of Aeon, in which expedition he had attended King Richard I.
Gerard de Camville, his fon, fucceeded him. He married Nicola, daughter and ■coheir of Richard De la Hay, by whicli, and his other connexions, he became pof- fefled of a large extent of property in this and other counties. But for fome difloyal praftices his pofleffions were feized by the crown, and himfelf adjudged to be banilhed the kingdom. However, upon interceffion, and the payment of two thoufand marks, he was reinftated in his lands, and reftored to favou •.
Richard^ his fon and heir, married Euftachia, daughter and heir of Gilbert Baflet, relift of Thomas de Verdon. 16 Joh. he had livery of part, and 2 Hen. III. of all his paternal inheritance. He left iflue by his faid wife one fole daughter and heir, named Idonea, who was married to William de Longefpee, fon of the Earl of Salifbury, ■who 10 Henry Ill.-Jifter the death of the faid Richard, had livery of his lands, as he had 15 Henry Hi. of ail thofe lands which had been held of the honour -of Camel in
' Lib. Domeflsy. ' Cart. 5 Steph.
" Roberto, Dei Gratia, Bathonienfi Epifcopo, et Roberto Archidiacono, et unlverfo Bathonieniis Ecclefia; Capitulo, Ricardus de Campvilla in Domino Salutem. Sciant omrfes pra;fentes et pofteri, quod ego Ricardus de Campvilla, pro falute animae meae, et meorum praedeceflbrum, et fucceflbrum, conceffi, etin perpetuam elemofmam donavi, ecclefiae Sanflae Maris de Keningwrda, et canonicis ibidem Deo fervientibus, ecclefiam Sanfti Petri de Clierletona, in manerio meo in Sumerfeta ; cum terris et decimis, et omnibus ad eandem ecclefiam pertinentibus ; falvo jure monachorura et monafterii de Bermundefeia, ad quorum jus antiquum pertinent duae partes decima- tionis, tam de agricultura, quam denutrimentis animalium de dominio meo: Quare volo, et.iirmiter ftatuo, ut prsdifti Canonici prxnominatam ecclefiam de Cherleton habeant, et teneant bene, et in pace, et honorifice, folutam ct liberam, et quietam ab omni fervitio et exaftione feculari, ficut fupradiftum eft, cum terris et decimis, gratis et pafcuis, et omnibus pertinentiis et libertatibus fuis; et ut nuUus heredum, vel hominum meorum, huic jneae donation! co'ntrarie, vel earn in aliquo temere perturbare preefumat. Hiis teftibus, Gerardo de Campvilla, Hugone de Campvilla, Willielmo de Campvilla, Ricardode Campvilla, Millifenta Marmiun, WalterodeCampo Avene, Philipjode SanOo Ligero, Ranulpho de Chent, Humfredo Clerico, Ricardo Clerico."
this
IDorctbotnc.] charleton-horETHORNE. 357
tliis place and Hcnftridge by Nicola De la Hay, and by hereditary right belonged to the faid Idonea.
Which William de Longefpee was the fon of the celebrated Ela coiintefs of Salifbury, who executed the office of flierifF for the county of Wilts for feveral fuc- cefllve reigns, being the only female to whom fuch a pubhck and very adtive charge was ever before committed.
This William de Longefpee was flain abroad by the Saracens, A. D. 1250, and was fuccecded by his fon and heir William de Longefpee, who 36 Henry III. did homage and had livery of his lands. He married Maud, the daughter of Sir Walter Clifford, lent, with whom he had in marriage a portion of twenty- eight pounds eight Ihillings, and two-pence per annum; a fum confidered large enough in thofc days of rfiodciation. He died 41 Henry III. leaving iflue by the faid Maud feveral childien, whereof Margaret inherited the eftate.
Which Margaret was married to Henry, fon of Edmund de Lacy earl of Lincoln, who 22 Edw. I. procured a charter for a weekly market to be held on this his manor, and a fair yearly on the eve and day of St. Thomas the martyr.' He died 4 Edw. II. leaving Alice his daughter and heir, the wife of Thomas earl of Lancafter, fon and heir of Edmund earl of Lancafter, brother to King Edward I.
Of which Alice it is reported,'' that on the Monday before Afcenfion-day, A. D. 1317, being at Great-Canford in the county of Dorfet, fhe was violently feized by a certain knight of the family of John earl of Warren, and carried away, in fight and delpite of her hufband, towards the Earl's houfe at Ryegate in Surrey; but her conductors feeing in their paflage in the road betwixt Holton and Farnham certain ftreamers and banners through a hedge, which they thought belonged to people who had been fent to refcue her, but which really belonged to fome priefts going in pro- cefRon; they fled, and left her all alone; but when they found their miftake, they quickly returned, and brought with them a perfon of a very low ftature, lame, and hunch-backed, called Richard de St. Martin, who challenged her for his wife, and afterwards perfifting in his infolence, laid claim to the earldoms of Lincoln and Salifbury in her right.
It was not allowed; and fhe, furviving her hufband the Earl of Lancafter, granted the reveriion of this manor to the crown, after the death of John earl of Warren. She married to her fecond hufband Eubulo le Strange, and died 22 Edw. III.
The manor of Charleton being thus in the hands of the crown, the reverfion thereof was granted by King Edward III. to William de Montacute earl of Salifbury, whofc fon William died feized of it 20 Ric. II. Elizabeth the wife of the faid William had it in dower, and held it till 2 Henry V, when again efcheating, it was granted by that King to his brother John duke of Bedford, who died feized of it 14 Henry VI.
In an old writing' are the following documents relating to the early ftate of this manor:
' Cart. 22 Ed. I. * Tho. Walfingham. Hlft. p. 85.
' Jlawjinfon's Book of Inquifidons, MS. in the Harkian Library.
« To
358 CHARLETON-HORETHORNE. [^omfiortie.
" To the manor of Charlton-Horthorne belong Horfington, Cheriton, and fome land in Wyncaukon, and a meadow in Stowell. This Charlton with the apperte- nances was purchafed of one Nicholas Edmond, lord thereof."
" Sciant, &c. quod ego Riciis de Camvile, aflenfu &c. Girardi Patrls mei dedij et concefll Roberto filio Mychel & hasredibus fuis 2 car. & dimld. terr. in maner. de Cheriton cum omnibus pertin. fuis, &c pro hac donatione prsed. Robertus dedit 60 marcas argenti." No date.
" Anno 7° Hen. III. Ricardus de Camvile p finem levat. concedit cuidam Willo Longefpee, & Idoneas uxori ejus quandam partem manerii de Charlton & hasredibus fuis, &:c. Ifta fuit filia & hjeres difti Ricardi. Ifte Willus habuit exitum Ricardum Longefpee Dnum de Charlton-Camvile."
The arms of Camville were differently borne j as, an eagle difplayed, and three lions paflant."
The manor is now the property of the Earl of Uxbridge.
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Marfton. The reftory was rated in 1292 at twenty-five marks, and the vicarage at nine." The canons of Kenilworth had lix marks out of it annually. The Rev. Mr. Peddle is the prefent incumbent.
There was a chantry chapel within the manor, wherein the prior of Kenilworth found a chaplain to officiate three days in the week."
The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, confiiling of a nave, chancel, lide ailes, and a tower at the weft end containing four bells. There are four fteps from each door down into the church.
At the eaft end of the fouth aile is a mural monument of marble, infcribed:
*' Near this place lyeth the body of John Wright, efq; fecond fon of Sir Nathan Wright, of Cranham-Hall in the county of Effex, bart. who departed this life March
27, 1726, aged 2^. As a lafting teftimony of his affeftion to this p^rifh, he gave
to the vicar for the time being, and for ever, the yearly fum of 40s. for a fermon to be preached in this church on the 27th of March annually. To the Clerk 20s. for tolling the great bell, and attendance on that occafion ; and to fuch poor people as have no relief, five pounds, to be equally diftributed among them." Arms: Azure two bars argent, in chief three leopards' heads or, Creft, out of a ducal coronet or a dragon's head proper.
The average chriftenings in this parilh are thirteen i the burials nine, annually. ■ Seals from ancient deeds. » Taxat. Spiritual, " Efc,
ABBOTS-
5>omf)ome.l [ 359 3
ABBOTS-COMBE, otherwife ABBAS-COMBE.
IS a parifh fituated in the eaftern part of the hundred, on the river Cale, five miles foutli from Wincanton. It had its name from the combe or valley in which it lies, and its additional name from its having formerly belonged to the abbey of Shaftfbury in Dorfetfliire. It is alfo fometimes called Combe-Porter.
" The church of St. Edward holds Cumbe. In the time of King Edward it gelded ** for five hides. The arable is five carucates. Thereof in demefne are two hides and " a half, and there are two carucates, and four villanes, and feven cottagers, with two " ploughs. In Meleburne fix burgefies pay fifty pence. Meadow four furlongs long, " and two furlongs broad. Wood three furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. " Failure two furlongs long, and one furlong broad. It was and is worth fix pounds."*
In 1293 the temporalities of the abbey of Shaftfbury in this parifh were valued at ten pounds,"" and the abbefs received a penfion of fifteen marks out of the manor.
After the diflblution of that monaftery the manor of Abbots-Combe, with the advowfon of tlie church, was granted by King Henry VIII. in the 34th year of his reign to William Sherrington. In Queen Elizabeth's time Richard Duke, efq; was owner of the fame manor and advowfon, and dying left one fole daughter and heir, Chriftiana, married to George Sprint, who in her right held die fame by knight's fervice.' The manor now belongs to the Earl of Uxbridge.
Adjoining to Abbots-Combe is a hamlet called Temple-Combe, from the circum- ftance of its having been pofiTefled by the fraternity of knights-templars, to whom about the year 1 185 the whole village was given by Serlo Fitz-Odo. In confequence of this donation, the place became a preceptory or commandery of that order. But after the fupprefllon of the templars, the knights of St. John of Jerufalem, or hof- pitalers, became poflefl'ed of their lands. Thele were alfo fuppreflTed by parliament, A. D. 1540, and this manor of Temple-Combe, with the fcite of the preceptory, was granted 34 Henry VIII. to Richard Andrewes and Leonard Chamberlain. The year following the manor was granted to Lord Clinton. 15 Eliz. it belonged to Richard Duke before-mentioned. In the beginning of this century it was the feat of Sir William Wogan.
The revenues of the free chapel of Temple-Combe, (the buildings whereof have long fincebeen in ruins) were valued 26 Henry VIII. 1534, at 107I. i6s. iid.
The church of Abbots-Combe is recSkorial, in the deanery of Marfton, and was valued in 1292 at fourteen marks." The Rev. Mr. Bilhop is the prefent incumbent.
The building is fmall, and confifts of a nave, chancel, fmall fouth aile, and porch tiled. On the fouth fide is an embattled tower, with a clock and five bells.
The chriftenings here are eleven j the burials fourteen, annually.
• Lib. Domcfday. * Taxat. Temporal. * Ter. Sydenham. " Taxat. Spiritual.
NORTH'
4 *
[ 3^0 ] [IDoretl)ome»
NORTH-CHERITON
LIES in the north part of the hundred towards Wincanton, and includes the hamlet of LoTTERFORD, Or Lodcrford. Cheriton is recorded in the Norman furvey, as follows:
" Bernard holds of William Fitz-Wido, Cherintone. Alwold held it in the time ** of King Edward, and gelded for fix hides. The arable is fix carucates. In demefne " are two carucates, and fix fervants, and five villanes, and four bordars, and two *' cottagers, with three ploughs. There are one hundred and twenty-five acres of " meadow. Paflure five furlongs long, and three furlongs broad. Wood feven fiar- *< longs long, and as many broad. When he received it, it was wortli one hundred *' fhillings, now fix pounds.
*' Of this fame land Alwold bought five hides of the abbot of Cernel for his life *' only, and after his death the land is to return to the church."*
In procefs of time this manor became annexed to that of Charlton-Camville; but in the time of Edw. II. was part of the barony of Nicholas de Moels, and held of him by GefFerey de Freethorn.'' 20 Edw. III. John de Handlo lord Burnell died feized of two parts of this manor, and the advowfon of the church, which he held in right of Maud his wife, the widow of John Lovel," and in the fame year two other parts were held by the family of Dannay.'' The whole was aftei-wards in the Ible poflfeffion of the family of Lovel, lords of Sparkford and Upton-Noble, from whom it pafled to the Rogers' and the Gorges. Richard Gorge died feized of it 20 Edw. IV. leaving Marmaduke Gorge his fon and heir.° Richard Gorge, a defcendant of this Marmaduke died 3 Henry VIII. feized of this manor and that of Horfingtoni by Maud his wife (who was afterwards married to Henry Roos) he had ifllie Marmaduke who died in his father's life time, but was married, and left iflue two daughters coheirefles, Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Shirley, and Maud. Francis Shirley, I Eliz. fold all his property in North and South- Cheriton, and Horfington, to Edward Ludlow, from whom it pafled to the families of Levefon, Fitz-James, and Goldinge; and the manor is now the property of the Rev. Thomas Watfon, M. A. who is alfo patron of the living.
The living is reftorialj it lies in the deanery of Marfton, and was valued in 1292 at fix marks and a half.'
The church is dedicated to St. John Baptifi. It is a fmall fl:rudure of one pace, with a tower at the wefl: end containing four bells.
On the floor is this infcription: " The buiying-place of Thomas Watfon, efq."
Againfl: the north wall: " Thomas Abbot, gentleman, gave the two higher wefl:
fie Us, lying and being in the parifli of North-Cheriton, containing feven acres or there- abouts, towards the fecond poor for ever."
* Lib. Domefday. ' Lib. Feod. ' Ei§. * Ibid. ♦ Ibid. ' Taxat. Spiritual.
CORTON-
^ret&otne,]
[ 361 J
CORTON-DINHAM
IS the next parifh to Charlcton-Horethorne weftward, very plcafantly and picflurefquely fituatcd in a valley under a ridge of high hills, extending in a curve to the eaft and fouth, and commanding from one part an extenfive profpeft of all the middle part of the county, quite down to the channel. Here is a large tree called Corton-^Jh, which is a fea-mark; and near it once flood a beacon.
In the year 1772, as fome labourers were digging in the common field, in order to make an inclofure, they found an urn, which contained about two quarts of Roman coins, chiefly of Valerian, Gallienus, Aurelian, Tacitus, Florianus, and Probus: moft of them were fair and plain, and depofited in the hands of the Rev. Thomas Nalh, reftor of the parifli.'
The Romans were therefore acquainted with the place j but the earlieft account we have of it does not much antecede the Norman Conqueft, when it was held by King William in demefne.
" The King holds Corfetone. In the time of King Edward it gelded for (evtn " hides ; the arable is feven carucates, of which in demefne are three hides and a half, " and one ferding, [ten acres,] and there is one carucate, and three fervancs, and ten ** villanes, and eight cottagers, with three ploughs. There are fix acres of meadow. ** Wood two furlongs long, and one furlong broad. It was and is worth feven pounds."*
The manor obtained its additional title from the family of Dinham, its future owners. Oliver de Dinant came into this country with the Conqueror, out of Britanny in France, where, at a place called \D/«««/, was the baronial caftle of this ancient houfe."
It does not appear when they became poflefled of Corton ; but we find that in the fixth year of King John, Hawife de Dynant, and Sibyl her fifter, gave to the King a horfe of price, for having a precept againft Oliver de Dinant, returnable before die King in 3 feptiman. Michael, for the manors of Corton and Buckland (afterwards called Buckland-Dinham) both in this county, and Hardand in the county of Devon.- 1 5 Joh. the faid Oliver de Dinant gave a fine of threefcorc marks for livery of his lordlhip of Buckland.'
Gefferey Dinant, fon of Oliver, inherited the manors of Corton and Buckland; and for the latter 24 Henry III. obtained a charter for a market on Tuefday, and a fair yearly for three days, viz. on the eve, day, and morrow of the feftival of St. Michael,^
* Stuk. Itin. Curiof. i. 149. This Mr. Nafli was reiflor of Nether-Compton in Dorfetfhire, and fubdean of Sarum for fixty years. H« was tutor to Mr. Addifon, and publilhed fome very elegant fermons on raofick, in which he particularly excelled. He died May 1755, aged 85, and was buried in Corton church.
' Lib. Domefday.
' Rot. Norman. It is atfo faid that this family had their name from the caflle of Dinan, ilnce called Ludlow in Shroplhire. See Dugd. Bar. i. 513,
' Rot. Fin. 6 Joh. • Rot. Pip. 15 Joh. ' Pat. 16 Ric II. n. ij. per infpex.
Vol. II. A a a 41 Henry
362 . . C O R T 0 N - :D 1 N H A M. _Woxtthou\t.
41 Hejiry III. hehad fummons, among many others, to repair to the King at Briftol, on the oiftaves of St. Peter, well fitted with hor-le and arms, to, march againft the .Welch.^ He died 43 Hen. III. leaving ifllie two fons, Oliver and Geffrey.
Oliver, his fon and heir, ha:d livery of his lands, and is certified to hold his manor of Buckland of the King in chief, as a member of his barony of Hartland. 14 Edw. I. he procured a charter of free warren for that manor,'' and having been fummoned to parliament among the barons, died 27 Edw. I. leaving Jofce his fon and lieir^ twenty- four years of age, who doing his homage had livery of his lands.
Which Jofce died two years after, viz. 29 Edw. I. He married. Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir Richard Hydon, by whom he was father of Sir John and Sir Oliver -Dinham.
Sir John Dinham fucceeded him, and rtiarried Joan daughter of Sir Guy de Brian, ■ by whom he had ilTue another Sir John, who inherited the family eftates.
. ■ ■■^'' . .
This Sir John married Muriel, one of the daughtersand coheirs of Sir Thomas
.Courtney,' and by her had iffue a fon of his own name. v
Sir John Dinham, the third of that name, married Elizabeth the daughter of John Lord Love), and poffeffed the lordlhips of Buckland and Corton, with lands in Corton, . and the advowfon of the church of Corton, which he held of the King by knight's fervice.''
He was fucceeded by the fourth Sir John Dinham, who married Jane the daughter .and heir of Sir Richard de Arches. 8 Hen. VI. being then a knight, he was retained to ferve the King in his wars of France, with eleven men at arms, and thirty-fix archers. So likewife 14 Henry VI. to ferve him again for the relief of Calais, with eleven men at arms, and feventy-two archers. He died 36 Henry VI. leaving John Lord Dinham his fon and heir, twenty-eight years of age, who fucceeded him in the cftatei Margaret, wife of Sir Nicholas Carew; Catherine, wife of Sir Thomas Arundel of Lanherne; Elizabeth, firft married to Fulk Bourchier lord Fitz- Warren, and .fecondly to Sir John Sapcotesj and Jane, wife of John lord Zouche.
John lord Dinham married Elizabeth, the widow of Sir John Radcliff, daughter and heir of Walter lord Fitz-Warren, and had ilTue Henry, who died childlefs. And fo this manor, with the reft of his lands, came to the heirs general of his four fifters.
After this extinftion of the name of Dinham, the manor of Corton was diflipated into a number of other poffeffors; it is now the property of Henry William Portman, efq.
A mile eaftward is a hamlet called Witcombe.
The church is a reftory in the deanery of Marfton, rated in 1292 at twenty marks.' The patronage is in the lord of the manor; and the Rev. Dr. Wyndham is the prefent incumbent.
« Claus. 41 Hen. III. m. 6, " Cart. 14 Ed, I.
• Sir William Pole's Survey of Devon, in Hartland Hundred. "fife, ' Taxat. Spiritual.
It
^oretljome.] CORTON-DINHAM, 363
It is dedicated to St. Andrew, (lands on a rifmg ground, and confifts of a navr, chancel, and north aile, covered with tile. On the north fide of the nave is an embattled tower containing five bells.
Divers of the families of Brickenden and Nafli, reftors of this parifh, were buried here.
G O A T H I L L
IS a fmall parilh fituated in a nook of the county, furrounded on the eaft, fouth, and weft, by Dorfetfliire, and bounded on the north by Milborne-Port, The fpot is romantick and pleafing, being in a low bottom, environed by fteep hills, fome of which are clothed with hanging woods, and others are fmooth and bare. To the fouth lies part of the fine park and plantations of Lord Digby. Here are only three farm-houfes, and one cottage; the whole parifli being rented at only three hundred pounds per annum.' A little fouthward of the church, in the road, are two fprings, about eight feet diftant from and oppofite to each other. That on the weft fide is fine water, and deemed ferviceable for diforders of the eyes. The other is a chalybeate, ftrongly tinftured with iron, and is faid to be of a purgative quality ; the ground and Hones where it rifes are of a lively yellowifh ruft colour, and leaves an ochry fubftance on die hands -, a thin greafy pellicle floats at top.
The place is called in Domcfday-Book Gatelme, and is there recorded to be held of the Earl of Morton :
" Hunfrid holds of the Earl one hide in Gatelme. Godric held it in the time of ** King Edward. The arable is two carucates, and there are with it two villanes, and " three cottagers. There is a mill of ten fliillings rent, and fifteen acres of meadow, " and fifteen acres of wood. It is worth thirty fhillings.'"
King Edw. I. granted this manor to Simon de Montacute, in the eighteenth year of his reign;" and in that fame family it continued till the time of Heniy V.; when, upon the attainder of John earl of Sarum, it came to the crown. It was however fhortly after regranted to Thomas Montague, the fourth earl of Salifbury, and pafled by the marriage of Alice his fole daughter and heir to Richard Neville, fon of Ralph the firft Earl of Weftmoreland, who was created Earl of Salifbury by King Henry VI. This Richard Neville was a knight of the garter, lord chancellor, and a great promoter of the intereft of the houfe of York. In 1458, he beat the Lancaftrian forces at Blore- Heath in Staffordfliire, and again in 1460 at Northampton; but in the month of December the Hmie yeai-, in that battle at Wakefield wherein Richard Duke of York was defeated, he fell iiito tlie hands of the enemy, and was by them beheaded. He left illijc Ricliardearl of Warwick, and John, who, in 1464, was by King Edward created
* Lib. Domefdiy. ► Cart. 18 Ed. I. n. 73.
A a a 2 Earl
^':-
364 G o A T H I L L. [I^orct^otne,
Earl of Northumberland, in the room of Percy, who was (lain at the battle of Towton, and attainted. His fidelity, however, being fomewhat fufpefted, the people were fain to petition the reftoration of young Percy to his family title and dignity: this was granted, and Neville, furrendering that title, was in lieu thereof made Marquis of Montacute, This Marquis, and his brother Richard earl of Warwick and Sahfbury, were two of the greateft opponents to the marriage of King Edward, and joining all their forces to dethrone him, were both killed in the battle of Barnet, A. D. 1472. John marquis of Montacute married I fabel daughter of Sir Edmund Ingolfthorp, and had iflue by her two Tons, George and John. The former, after his father's attainder, was ftript of all his honours and pofleflions, reduced to great poverty, and died without jfllie; and John the other fon, being dead before, this manor was held by I fabel, rehdt of the Marquis, for the remainder of her life. Upon her deceafe it became the pro- perty of John Stoner, fon of Sir WiUiam Stoner, who had married Ann her eldeft daughter, and heir of her other daughters by the faid Marquis, and from him it defcended to his fon William Stoner, who died feized hereof 10 Henry VII.' leaving John his fon and heir, who likewife poireffed this manor. After which it was divided into feveral parts, and held by different owners, as Baggart, Long, North, and Hannam," till in the 1 9th year of Queen Elizabeth, the whole manor became veiled in John Hannam, efq; and it is now the property of Henry lord Digby.
The living, which is a reftory in the deanery of Marfton, was rated in 1292 at fix marks and a half." Lord Digby is patron, and the Rev. George Hutchins is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter, a fmall ftrudure of one pace, containing no- thing worthy of remark.
* Inq. " Ter. MS. ' Tzxzt. Spiritual.
HENSTRIDGE.
AN extenfive parilh on the borders of Dorfetfhire, which bounds it on the fouth and eaft, comprifmg a little town of three ftreets, wherein are fome very good dwellings} and the ftreets being wide and clean, render it a very pleafant place. The fituation is on a little declivity to the north, commanding a fine extenfive view of Wincanton, Stourton-Tower, and the country northward, as well as to the eaft and weft. There are alfo three hamlets, viz.
1. Yeanston, fituated one mile north.
2. Whitchurch, the fame diftance north-eaftj and
3. BowDEN, nearly two miles weft.
In
ij)OtCtl)Otne.] H E N S T R I D G E. 365
In the Saxon and Norman times the whole parifh compofed two manors; the firft was demefne of the crown, and liad this defcription :
" The King holds Hesterige. Earl Harold held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for ten hides. The arable is fixteen carucates. Befides thefe ten hides, *' there is arable to the amount of eight carucates, which never paid geld. There arc " in demefne five carucates, and eight fervants, and thirty-feven villanes, and fifteen " cottagers, with fixteen ploughs. There is a mill of thirty-pence rent, and one •* hundred and fixty acres of meadow. Pafture one mile long, and half a mile broad. *' And wood of the fame dimenfions. It pays twenty-three pounds of white money.
" In this manor a freeman held nine acres of land and two acres of wood. It was *' worth thirty-pence. He could not feparate himfelf from the lord of the manor."*
The other manor is furveyed under the title of ne land of Earl Hugh, [i, e. Hugh de Abrincis, earl of Chefter.]
" The church of St. Sever holds of the Earl, Hengesterich. Ednod held it in " the time of King Edward, and gelded for four hides. The arable is three carucates. ** Thereof in demefne are three hides and a half. And there are two carucates, and " four fervants, and fix cottagers, with one plough. There are thirty acres of meadow, " and thirty acres of pafture. Wood four furlongs long, and one furlong broad. It is *' worth four pounds and ten (hillings."''
The church mentioned in tliis record was a Benediftine abbey in the town of St. Sever, in the diocefe of Coutances in Normandy, founded about A. D. 558, by Severus bifhop of Avranches. Being deftroyed by fire, it was rebuilt and endowed with lands by Hugh de Abrincis, Vifcount d' Avranches, afterwards Earl of Chefter, A. D. 1085.'
Which Hugh de Abrincis, befides the manor of Henftridge, was at the time of the Conqueft pofleffed of Tedintone, Sandford, and Aller, in this county, and various other lands in different parts of England."* He was nephew to William the Conqueror, and, from the ferocity of his difpofition, was furnamed Lupus. The earldom of Chefter was given him to hold as free by the fword as the king held England by the crown. He died about i Henry I. having been a great benefaftor to foreign and Engliili monafteries, particularly to that of his own foundation, the abbey of St. Sever, to which he gave all his lands in Endejlon, now Teanjlony in the parifh of Henftridge, where he founded an alien priory of Benedidine monks, and made it a cell to the abbey of St. Sever abovementioned. This priory was granted 7 Edw. IV. to Eaton- college in Buckinghamfhire, which received a rent from it ef 7I.* But by Edw. VI. it was exchanged away for Bloxham and other lands.' And 1 Edw. VI. the farm and barton of Yeanfton, and divers lands and tenements in Yeanfton, and Henftridge, were held by Sir Thomas Bell, knt.*
Henftridge was the manor and eftate of Henry Laci carl of Lincoln in the time of Edw. II. from whom it pafTed, in like manner with Charleton-Horethorne, to Thomas
• Lib. Domefday. •> Ibid. ' Account of the Alien Priories, ii. i, ' SeeDomefday-Book. ' Alien Priories, ii. 154. ' Tanner's Notitia Monaftica. • Ter. Sydenham.
carl
366 H E N S T R I D G E. [I^om&omc.
earl of Lancafter, and the titles of Warren, Montacute, Bedford, and Clarence. 36 Henry VIII. the King granted to Richard Duke the manor of Henftridge, being parcel of the eftate called Warwick's-Lands, to be held in capite."" There was a meflliage in Henftridge fituated on a certain pafture called the Eaji-Park, and another pafture called the Weft-Park, both occupied by the fantiily of Duke, and which feem to have been the territory which WilHam de Montacute had licence from the King to environ with a fence and wall.' The manor now belongs to the Earl of Uxbridge.
An ancient manor lies within the parilh of Henftridge called Toomer, Bummer, and Toomer-Park, which was for many generations the property and the refidence of a family of diftindion to whom it gave its name. The firft of the family that we find in thefe parts is Nicholas de Dummere, who in the time of Henry III. gave lands in Saltmere to the abbot of Athelney in this county.'' To him fucceeded John de Dommere, lord of Chilthorne-Domer, who was living a8 Edw. I. and then gave lands in that lordftiip, with the advowfon of the church, to Thomas biftiop of Exeter.' John de Dummer fucceeded him, and 18 Edw, II. is certified to hold the hamlet of Dummer of Elias de Aubeney; and the Iheriff that fame year accounted for eight fhillings and eight- pence ifluing out of the faid hamlet,"" The next of this family was Richard Dommere, or Tommere, who 9 Edw. III. held the fourth part of one knight's fee in Chilthorne." He died that year, and was fucceeded by John de Tomere, who 20 Ric. II. bore on his feal three bars wavy." To him fucceeded Richard Tomer, (for in all thefe ways the name is written) who is flnled armiger, and died 2 Henry IV". feized of Toomer, and lands in Henftridge and Hinton St, George, leaving John his fon and heir of the age of eight years."" Which John Tomer, dying without ifllie, was fucceeded in this inheritance by Edith his lifter, who alfo dying childlefs, 10 Henry IV. it reforted to Alice her aunt, the fifter of Richard Tomer abovementioned,' This Alice was married to Sir WiUiam Carent, knt. who in her right became poflefled of Toomer, and by this match (according to Leland') the Carents' lands were moft augmented. She and her huftjand lie interred in Henftridge church.
1
-"o^
The family of Carent is of great antiquity, being defcended from Owen de Carwent, TS;ho in the time of Henry 1. was owner of a territory in Caerwent, a townftiip fo called, near Chepftow in Monmouthfhire.' They firft feated themfelves chiefly in this county after the intermarriage with the heirefs of Toomer, and made this the principal place of their refidence; although they had another feat at Fayroke in this county, which they inherited from the family of Fayroke; and a third at Swanwich in the county of Dorfet; which laft to this day retains the name of Carent" s -Courts
Alexander de Carwent, 2 Edw. III. conveyed lands in Newent in the county of Gloucefter, to William de Fauconberge, who is called his coufin." The name after this Vas generally written Carent; but fometimes de Carent, and Caraijnt.
" MSS. Carew, pen. Jac. Bernard, efq. ' Pat. 19 Ric. II. '' Cart. Antiq. ' Inq. ad quod damn,
"• Rot. Pip. ;8 Ed, II. "■ Lib. Feod. ' Seals from ancient Deeds. f Efc. ' Ibid.
' I«fl. vii. no. » Rot. Walliae. • Hutchins's Dorfet. i. 222. » Cart. Antiq.
This
IDorCtbomeJ HENSTRIDGE. 367
This Alexander was fuccecded by John, and he by William Carent, whofe fort's name was alfo William.
Which laft mentioned William, jointly with Joan his wife, poflTened the manors of Kington and Weft-Marfli, as alfo lands in Hinton St. George, and other places in this county; and the manor of Fifchide, and lands in Todbere, Marnhill, Burton, and Afli, in the county of Dorfet." He died 12 Edw. III. leaving iffue
William his fon and heir, who 36 Edw. III. was in ward to the king.'' He was living 10 Ric. II. bearing then on his fcal three tortcaux, having on each as many chevronels.'' He was lord of the manor of Great- Wifliford in the county of Wilts.
Sir William Carent, knt. fucceeded him, and left ifllie by the heirefs of Toomer, William, who married Margaret daughter of William Stourton by Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of Sir John Moigne, of Maddington in the county of Wilts/ and pOfleflcd the manor of Toomer in the time of Henry V.
John Caraunt, fon of William, was the King's efcheator in this county 8 Hen. V. He married Joan daughter of Sir Thomas Brook, and had ilTue William Carent, lord of Toomer, and fherifF of this county and Dorfet, in the 6, 13, 19, 25, and 29 Hen. VI.; 38 Henry VI. John Caraunt, jun. executed the fame office: he had before, viz, 31 Henry VI. reprefented the county of Dorfet in parliament.
William Carent died foon after, 2 Edw. IV. Catherine his wife furviving him, had In dower the manors of Speckington, Yeovil, and Mere. She died 13 Edw. IV.""
William Carent fucceeded to the manor of Toomer, where he refided, and added to the buildings of Toomer-Court. He died 16 Edw. IV. feized of the faid manor and of divers lands in Henftridge, Whitchurch, Venn, Milborne, and Pointington, leaving John Carent his fon and heir.
This John died foon after, and was fucceeded by William Carent, who died 19 Edw. IV. leaving John his fon and heir.
To which John fucceeded Sir William Carent, knight of the Bath, who was fheriff of this county and Dorfet 14 Henry VIII. and dying, left iflue a fon of his own name, who 35 Eliz. was refident at Toomer-Park.
There were many other fuccefllons of this family of the name of William, who pofTeffed the manor we are fpeaking of; till in the beginning of the prefent century, .^^ it was purchaled with other lands by James Medlycott, efq; a mafter in chancery, -and then member for Milborne-Port, of the laft of this family father and fon, who were both ufhers of the black rod. The two Mifs Carents of Salisbury are now the only reprefentatives of this ancient family; whofe arms fomewhat differ from the ancient bearing, being Argent three torteaux or roundels gules, each charged with two chevronels of the firft.
Thomas Hutchins Medlycott, efq; grandfon of the abovementioned James Medlycott, cfq; is the prefent proprietor of Toomer, now called Toomer-Farm.
"Eft. > Ibid. » Seals from ancient Deeds. ' Collins'a Peerage, vi, 390. ' Efc.
The
368 H E N S T R I D G E, [^Otetliornc*
The living of Henftridge is a prebend in the cathedral church of Wells. It was valued in 1292 at twenty-five marks.' The prefentation of the vicarage is in Mr. Wefton, Lord Francis Seymour is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, and is a large ftrufturCj confifting of a nave, chancel, and north aile, covered with tile. An embattled tower at the weft end contains a clock and fix bells.
On the north fide of the chancel is a finall chapel, which has been from time imme- morial the burial-place of the Toomer and Carent families, and has always been repaired by the poffeffors of Toomer-park. In this aile or chapel, under an elliptical arched canopy, is an altar tomb of freeftone, having thereon the effigies of Sir William Carent in armour, and cropt hair; and Alice his wife, the laft of the Toomer family. On the north fide underneath in niches are fmall ftatues of the twelve apoftles, much mutilated. The following lines are painted round the arch:
" Sis tejlis Xte, quod non tumulus jacet iftcy
" Cor'pus ut ornetur, fed Jpiritus ut memoretur."
On the cornice, as on the knight's furcoat, are thefe arms: viz. Argent y three torteaux charged with three chevronels, for Carent. Gules, three bars wavy argent, Toomer. Sable, a bend or, between fix plates. The firft quartering the fecond; the firft impaling the fecond twice.
On the fouth fide are fix women, and a fpace boarded up, whereon there was once an infcription. Above the head, the feet, and the north fide of the arch, in gilt letters, Mene wel and truly. Dieu k vult.
On the fouth wall of the chancel is an elegant mural monument of white and grey
marble, infcribed, " Within the communion rails lie interred the remains of Baptift
Ifaac, B. D. 15 years vicar of this parifh, and prebendary of Compton-Dundon; only fon of John Ifaac, redtor of Whitwell in the county of Rutland, and Mary his wife. He left ifilie three fons and two daughters, by Jenny his wife, the only furviving daughter of Richard Wright, M. D. and Mary his firft wife, daughter of William Wefton, efqj of Hargrove. He died June 20, 1772, aged 48 years. His unfliaken integrity, and engaging hofpitality, endear his memory, whilft they add weight to his lofs; which is particularly felt by her, who with a true fenfe of gratitude erecfled this monument."
Oppofite is a fmall oval of white marble, fufpended by a fillet, infcribed, " To
the memory of Phipps Wefton, D. D. vicar of this parifti, and redor of Ruflial], Wilts; who departed this life 23 Nov. 1777, aged 64 years. How he difcharged his duty to God and man will beft appear at that day when the fecrets of all hearts ftiall be difclofed." Arms, Or an eagle difplayed /a^/i?.
On the fouth wall of the nave is a mural monume nt of grey and white marble,
infcribed,- " This monument was ereded by Mr. Shadrach Hobbs, for his family,
who are buried underneath. Sufanna, his mother, died Sept. 6, 1749, aged 6a. Thomas, his father, died Jan. 13, 1759, aged 70. Sufanna, his firft wife, died July ^8> i755> aged 33. Mary, his fecond wife, died July 29, 1767, aged 34. With four of his children. Alfo Mr. Shadrach Hobbs, who died Nov. 3, 1775, aged 54."
« Taxat. Spiritual. HOLWELL.
!55owtbornc.] [ 3^9 3
II O L W E L L.
THIS is a long parifh belonging to this county, to the civil jiirifdidion xvhfieof it is fubjeft, although fituated in the foreft of Blackmore in Dorfetlliire, and furrounded by that county on every fide, being more than three miles diflant from the neareft part of tliis. Here ftood the principal lodge of the foreft of Blackmore.'
9 John, A. D. 1209, an agreement was made at this place, on Thurfday before the nativity of the Virgin Mary, between the King and Amph. Fill, for his redemption, which was ten thoufand marks, and ten horfcs, each worth thirty marks, or fo much for every horfe."
Reginald earl of Cornwall, bafe fon of Henry I. gave this manor to William de Bikclege, or Bickleigh, fo denominated from Bickleigh in this county, where he had confiderable pofTeffions. His fucceflbr was Huard de Bikelege, who 1 2 Joh. is certified to hold eight librates of land in Holewale.' William de Bikeley was owner of the manor 35 Henry III. and after him William and Henry de Bikeley, who lived in the time of Edw. I." In the fucceeding reign of Edw. II. Thomas Luda poflefled the manor in right of his wife, the daughter and heir of Henry de Bikeley, and foon after granted it to the abbey of Abbotfbury in Dorfetfhire, the abbot whereof 10 Edw. III. obtained a charter of free warren in all his lands lying within tlie fame.' After the difiblution of that houfe, it was purchafed by Sir Giles Strangeways, who con- veyed it to Humphry Watkins, efq; who refided here in the time of Queen Elizabeth.*^ His fon Richard Watkins left one only daughter and heir Mary, married to James Hanham, of Purfe-Candel in Dorfetfhire, whofe pofterity fold it to Thomas Gollop, of Strode, efq; but he fhortly after reconveyed it to the Hanhams; and from them it came to the Henleys, of Grange in the county of Hants. It afterwards belonged to the Earl of Northington, and is now the property of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, bart.
About a mile fouthweft from Holwell is Buckshaw, now only a fmall hamlet and &rm; but formerly a manor of fome note, belonging for many generations to the family of Guldene, of Langton in Dorfetlhire. Sir Henry le Gulden, knt. died 8 Edw. III. feized of Buckfliaw, and had ifllie Sir Alan le Gulden, who at his death 35 Edw, III. left one fon, Roger, and a daughter. Amice, the wife of Sir Stephen Derby, knt. who held this manor, and left it to his fon Robert.* He died 9 Henry V. without ifTue, and was fucceeded by William Derby his nephew, who was living in the time of Henry VI. By an inquifition taken 6 Edw. IV. it was found that Elizabeth Cryklade held at her death the manor of Buckfhaw of Richard earl of Warwick, and that Ann the wife of Richard Cowdray, efq; was her coufin and next heir."" By another inqui- fition it appears that Agnes the widow of William Wheatley, and formerly the wife of William Combe, died 14 Edw. IV. feized of the manor of Bucklhaw, which fhe held of Lord Stanley and Margaret his wife, as of their manor of Horethornej reverfionary
* Hutchins's Hift. of Dorfetfture, ii. 49J. ' Hutchins ut fupra, ex Rymer. Feed. i. 146. « Lib, Rub. " Efc. ' Cart. 10 Ed. III. n, 41. ' MS. Survey. ■ « Efc. " Ibid,
Vol. II. B b b . after
370 H O L W E L h, if(>OUtmnt,
after the death of the faid Agnes to Avice late wife of William Cowdray, but then the wife of Morgan Kidwelly, as coufin and heir of Roger Gulden, efq. Thomas Combe was the heir of the faid Agnes."" 39 Eliz. it was held by James Hanham, efq; and afterwards by John Herbert, efq; defcended from a family feated in the county of Glamorgan in South- Wales, who built a feat here about the year 1730. It now belongs to Mifs Herbert.
The fcite of the manor of Buckfhaw belonged to Sir Robert Henley, lent, in the year 1692, and was fold by his fon Anthony Henley, efq; to William Grandy, gent, whofe defcendant William Grandy fold the (ame in 1734 to John Elbridge, efq; and now a moiety thereof belongs to Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. in right of Elizabeth his wife, great niece of the faid John Elbridge, and the other moiety to Thomas French, efq.
About a mile northeaft from Holwell ftands another little hamlet and farm called WooDBRiDGE, which fomctimc belonged to John Rich, efq.
All thefe places are entirely environed by Dorfetlhire, and there was a particular road that connefted them to the county of Somerfet.
There are various reafons affigned for parcels of one county being encompafTed by an- other, and fometimes widely diftant from that to which they belong; the moft prevalent one feems to be, that before the divifions of counties were thoroughly fettled, fuch frag- ments of land belonged to fome great perfons refiding at a diftance, who were there rated in the afleffments, and therefore thofe lands were in procefs of time reputed part of the fhires wherein their poffeffors were feated. In the cafe before us, it is to be obferyed, that the place we are fpeaking of was confidered as part of Dorfetfhire long after the divifion of counties took place; and the faft is, that the family of Bickleigh, holding their lands of the lords of the manor of Horethorne, at a time when the two counties of Somerfet and Dorfet were under the fame iherifFs; the tenants at Holwell did their fuit in their lord's court at Horethorne; and thus this diftrift became by cuftom incorporated, and confidered as part of the hundred of Horethorne, and con- fequently of the county of Somerfet. The fame reafon holds good with regard to the disjointed parcels of hundreds in one and the fame county, the fame hundred being fometimes fcattered in three or four different parts of it. 6 and 1 1 Edw. I. complaint was made that feveral tithings had withdrawn themfelves from their legal hundred, and had for the reafon above affigned fued to the courts of the earls of Gloucefter.'
The church of Holwell, which is a reftory in the deanery of Shafton, was appro- priated to the abbey of Cirencefter in Gloucefterlhire, and in 129a was valued at one hundred Ihillings.'' The abbot had a penfion out of it of fifty Ihillings. i and 2 Phil, and Mary, the advowfon was granted to Thomas Vavafor and Henry Ward. The perpetuity thereof was fold in the beginning of the prefent century by Robert Henley, of Glanvill's-Wootton, efq; to Queen's-College in Oxford, in which the patronage is now veiled. The Rev. Richard RadclifFe is the prefent incumbent.
" Efc, ' Exchcq. Somerfet, See Radftockin Kilmeridon Hundred. * Taxat. Spiritual.
The
.-J
DocettJotncj h o L w E L L. 37:
The church Is dedicated to St. Laurence, and confifts of a nave, chancel, north aile, chapel on the fouth fide, and a tower at the weft end containing five bells.
Here was forntierly a chantiy called Brett's chantry.
The church and parfonage-houfe are in the county of Dorfet, on which account the ccclefiaftical jurifdiftion belongs now to the bifhop of Briftol, as it did anciently to the bifliop of S arum.
HORSINGTON,
AN extenfive parifh lying eaftward from Charleton-Horethorne, including a confi- derablc town, fituated on the flope of a gently rifing hill, in a pleafant and healthful country, the lands whereof are rich, and moftly pafture.
Its ancient name was Tlorflenetone, and its firft pofleflbr after the Conqueft was William Fitz-Wido, or William Fitz-Odo, a Norman.
" William the fon of Wido holds of the King Horstenetone. Sauard and Eldeva " held it in the time of King Edward for two manors, and might difpofe of it where- *' ever they went, and they gelded for eleven hides. The arable is ten carucates. In " demefne is one carucate, and four fcrvants, and twelve villanes, and ten bordars, and *' twelve cottagers, with feven ploughs and a half. There is a mill of two and forty " pence rent, and one hundred acres of meadow. Pafture fix furlongs long, and five " furlongs broad. Wood feven furlongs long, and fix furlongs broad. When he *' received it, it was worth eight pounds fifteen Ihillings, now as much. Of this land " Ralf holds of William one hide and a half, and has there one plough and a half. It ** was always worth twenty-five fhillings."*
This William Fitz-Wido refided in thefe parts, and poflefled the vills of Cheriton, and Combe, the laft of which one of his family gave in free alms to the knights templars, and it became a cell.'' In after times the manor of Horfington was poflefled by a family denominated from die place, and was held by them of the honour of Montacute. John de Horfindon, by his charter dated 12 Joh. gave, granted, and confirmed, to Robert de Braibroc, for his homage and fervice, and in confideration of fixty marks of filver, all the land of Horfindon, which was of the fee of John dc Montacute." Hence it fhortly after came by grant to the family of Newmarch, or De Novo Mercatu, defcended from diat Bernard de Newmarch, who attended the Con- queror into England. James de Newmarch was living 16 Joh. and poflefled this manor with many other cftates in the counties of Somerfet, Dorfet, Wilts, and Glouccfter.'' At his death he left iflTue two daughters, Ifabel, the wife of Sir Ralph
• Lib. Domcfday. ' Sec page 359. « Mag. Rot. 12 Jch. rot. 26, * Cart. Aotiq.
B b b 2 RufTell,
372 HORSINGTON. [^otetbotne,
Ruflell, knt. and Maud. In the divifion of the eftates Horfington fell to Ifabel the eldeft, and Sir Ralph Ruflell, 8 Henry III. had livery of the lands of her inheritance.* By the faid Ifabel he had ifllie two fons, Robert, who died without ilTue 25 Edw. I. feized of lands in Horfington and Wilkinthrop in this parifh, which he held of the capital lords of Horfington/ and William, who fucceeded to the eftate. Which William married Jane the daughter of Robert Peverel, and died feized of this manor 4 Edw. II. having held it by the fervice of half a barony.* To him fucceeded Theobald Ruflell, who 13 Edw. II. being found under age, this manor of Horfington was granted to Alice de Leygrave the king's nurfe, for her fupport during the minority of the faid Theobald."" He was twice married; his firfl: wife was Eleanor, daughter and coheir of Ralph de Gorges, a baron, by whom he left a pofl;erity called fometimes by the name of Ruflell, but generally by that of Gorges: to his fecond wife he married another Eleanor, daughter and heir of John de la Tour. By his firfl wife he had iflTue Theobald, who aflTumed the name of Gorges, and was anceftor of the Gorges of Wraxal, where their chief feat was, and in the account of which fijrther notice will be taken of this family; and Sir Ralph RufiTell, knt. who was of Kingfton-Ruflel in Dor- fetfliire, and of Dirham in Gloucefterfliire. By his fecond wife he had iflue William, who was progenitor of the Berwick family and the dukes of Bedford. After the death of the faid Theobald, Eleanor, who furvived him, had an afllgnation of the third part of this manor in dower.' After which the manor was divided between the defend- ants of the faid heirs, till in the time of Edw. IV. it became reunited in the perfon of Richard Gorges, efq. He died 20 Edw. IV. and Maud his wife furviving him, mar- ried to her fecond hufband Henry Roos, and died i April, 3 Henry VIII. feized of the manors of Horfington and South-Cheriton, and the advowfon of the church of Horfington, and the chapel of South-Cheriton.'' Marmaduke, the fon and heir of the faid Richard Gorges, had died before, viz, i Henry VIII. and Elizabeth and Maud his two daughters were found to be the next heirs of the faid Maud Roos.' Elizabeth the eldeft daughter was married to Thomas Shirley, who in her right enjoyed this manor, and left it to his fon Francis Shirley, who 1 Eliz. fold the fame to Edward Ludlow and Maud his wife, and their heirs. Robert Ludlow, fon and heir of the faid Edward, 16 Eliz. conveyed the manor of Horfington, and Horfington-Marfli, to Matthew Smyth, efq; and it is now the property of Walter Spencer, efq.
Horsington-Marsh, South-Cheriton, or Churton, (where was a chapel) WiLKiNTHRoop, and Horwood, are all hamlets within this parifli, and were chiefly appendant to the principal manor of Horfington.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Marfton, valued in 125a at twenty marks^" James Wickham, of Frome, efq; and Thomas Wickham, of Whitchurch, efq; are the joint patrons thereof) and the Rev. Mr. Whalley is the prefent incumbent,
, The church, dedicated to St, John Baptift, is a Gothick ftrufture, confifting of a nave, fmall aile, chancel, and porch, tiled; and a well-built embattled tower, fixty feet high, with a clock and five bells,
• Rot. Claus. 8 Hen. Ill, ' Efc. ' Ibid. " Rot. Pip. J3 Ed. H. ' Rot. Claus.
■■ Coles's Efcheats. ' Ibid. " Taxat. Spiritual,
On
^orctbotne.] HORSINGTON. 373
On the fouth wall of the chancel is a handfome mural naonument of nnarble, termi- nated by a mitred pediment and urn. " Here lyes the body of Mr. William Giffbrd,
gent, fon of Benjamin GifFord, of Boreham in the county of Wilts, efq; who dyed the 30th of Nov. 169 J, aged ;i6. Alfo Benjamin GifFord, efq; his fon, who dyed June 13, 17 1 3, aged 25. Likewife all that could dye of Alicia daughter of the faid William Giffdrd, and the beloved wife of George Doddington, efq; was buried June 27, 1745, aged 54 years." Below are the arms cut in ftone: Quarterly, firft and fourth, riiree ftirrups within a bordurc engrailed, Second and third, a chevron between three lions rampant.
On a mural monument of white marble in the chancel: « The remains of George
Doddington, efq; who died Oft. 27, 1762, aged i year and 8 months."
At the foutheaft end of the nave is an elegant mural monument of white and Sienna
marble; on the tablet is this infcription: " Sacred to the memory of the Rev,
Anthony Wickham, A. M. late reftor of this parirti, who departed this life April 15, 1767. With a hope full of immortality, through the revelation of the Gofpel of Jefus Chrift. He was pious without hypocrifyj charitable without oftentation; hof- pitable without extravagance. Such was his amiable difpofition, that he was alike refpefted and beloved by the rich and poor. He had two wives; his firft, Jane, daughter of Mr. George Brodripp, of the city of London. His fecond, Dorothy, daughter of John Lloyd, of Soughconin the county of Flint, efq. His remains, and thofe of his wives, are depofited in the church-yard near the fouth window. This monument was.erefted by his grateful kinfman the Rev. John Wickham, A. M. reftor ofSampford; and James Wickham, of Frome, gene." Arms, Argent, two chevrons Jabky between three rofes gules.
On a flat ftone in the chancel floor is an infcription to the memory of Rooke Doddington, efq. Arms, Three bugle horns.
On two black frames the following benefaftions to the poor are recorded :
" Thomas Abbot, gent, gave North-Clofe in North-Cheriton, to the ufe of the fecond poor.
" Thomas Rblt, gent, gave lands in Abbot's-Combe, called Gadgrove, and other lands, after the death of Elizabeth Winfcomb, for the uie of the poor for ever.
" Memorandum. The parifti exchanged the cKurch-houfe for five houfes in Broad- mead-lane with Thomas Gawen, efq; for the ufe of the parifti 1722,
" By the will of John Wickham, late of Sherborne, deceafcd, five pounds a. year are given to the reftor of this parifti in truft for the poor to be paid on St. Thomas's-day out of lands called Great-Lyes and Little-Lyes."
There is a charity-fchool here endowed with five pounds per annum, for teaching twelve poor children.
•^
MARSTON.
[ 374 . ] i^mmmn.
MARSTON-MAGNA, or BRO AD^M A RSTON,
(So cailedto diftinguifli it from Mar§ton-Parva, a farm in this parifli one mile weft; Marston-Bioot ; and other places of the name)
IS a parifh in the weftern extremity of the hundred, fituated in a low flat country, thickly inclofed with wood, of which elm grows in great abundance; the lands are inoftly pafture, and the foil wet and cold. About the year 1778, on opening a marlc pit, feveral maffes of very curious calcarious blue ftone were difcovered here, in appear- ance an indurated marie, entirely filled with anew fpecies of cornua-ammonis, covered with the original white pearl, and refradling 'the prifmatick colours. They were in general fmall, from one quarter of an inch to an inch in diameter, and of a purpllfh violet colour. This ftone was raifed in mafles fufficiently large to make fide-boards of four feet by two and a half, took a fine polifti, and was extremely beautiful.
In the time of Edward the Confeffor, Marfton was held by a number of thanes, no lefs than nine, who at the Conqueft being put out of their pofleffions, King William the Conqueror gave it to Robert earl of Morton, who held part of it in demefne :
*' The Earl himfelf holds Merstone. Four thanes held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is " one carucate, with one fervant, and five villanes, and ten cottagers, with three ploughs. ** There are forty acres of meadow, and thirty acres of wood. It was and is worth " ten pounds."
*' Robert holds of the Earl, Merstone. Five thanes held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for two hides. The arable is two carucates, Thefe are occu- " pied by five villanes and two cottagers, and there are twenty-four acres pf meadow. " It was worth forty fliillings, now fixty ftiillings."*
It was afterwards held by the Barons Beauchamp of Hatch, and continued in that name till the time of Edw. III. when it pafted by a coheirefs of John de Beauchamp to Sir John Meriet, who 46 Edw. III. is faid to hold it of the honour of Farley- Monachorum."" In the time of Henry V. it was in the Stourton family, and 9 Edw. IV. was the poflefilon of Humphry Stafford earl of Devon, In 1690, Lennard lord Dacre died feized of it; and it has now for its poffeffor Humphry Sydenham, of Dulverton, efq; who inherits it from Sir John St Barbe, of Broadlands in the county of Southampton, bart.
Marfton denominates a deanery. So early as 9 Ric. I. the church was appropri- ated to the Benedidline nunnery of Polleftioo, or Polftio, in the county of Devon, founded by William Briwere in that reign.'' In 1292 it was taxed at twenty-four marks fix fliillings and eight-pence.'' The vicarage was endowed with twelve marks." A penfion of feven fliillings was paid out of the reftory to the prior of Montacute.
• hih. Domefday. » Efc. ' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. * Taxat. Spiritual. ' Regift. Wellen,
By
j^oret^orne.] marston-magna.
375
By the verbal appointment of Sir John St. Barbe, Humphrey Sydenham, efq; lord of this manor, and devifee of his laft will and teftamenc, conveyed to the Rev. John Rutherford, vicar of this parifh, and his fuccelTors, vicars of the faid pari(h, for ever, the redlory or impropriate parfonage of Marfton-Magna with all its apperterianccs/
The church is dedicated to St. IMary, and confifts of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a ftrong embatded tower,. containing a clock and four bells.
In the chancel is an old reading-deflc with the following infcription:
" ©rate pro anima Dili 3Iobi0 Kotogtoell^ tiicatii."
' From a marble tablet in the churchr
POINTINGTON.
A Small parifli on the confines of Dorfetfliire, having Sherborne in that county, two miles diftant, on the fouth, and Milborne-Port in this county on the eaft. The fituation is exceedingly pleafant, being in a fine fertile vale, furrounded by confi- derable hills, die tops oX which form a beautiful outline, being finely indented and broken by fmall openings. Thefe hills are moftly arable and open, or cut into large inclofures, without much wood»
"William holds of the Earl [Morton] Ponditone. Adulf held it in the time of
" King Edward, and gelded for two hides and a half The arable is three carucates.
•* In demefne is one carucate, and four villanes, and fix cottagers, with two ploughs.
"• There is a mill of thirty-two pence rent, and half an acre of meadow, and twenty
■ f acres of pafture. It is worth forty fhillings.'"
Richard de Pondetone occurs witnefs to a charter made to Glaflonbury-abbey in the time of Henry II. from which it may be concluded that this place had either lords of its own name after the Conqueft, or at leaft a family refident here of very confiderable account.'' In the time of Edw. I. it was pofleficd by the family of Cheney, or de Caineto, of Norman extraftion. 14 Edw. I. William de Cheney held one knight's fee here, and was fuccecded by Nicholas de Cheney, who held the fame 28 Edw. I.' Nicholas de Cheney, fon and heir of Nicholas, died feized of the manor of Pointington 19 Edw. II. leaving William his Ton and heir.'' Which William, who was a knight, was dead before 20 Edw. III. his wife Joan having then an alTignarion of a moiety of the manor in dower." 13 Ric. II. John de Montacute held two knights' fees here of the grant of John de Grandifon bifliop of Exeter.' About the time of Henry V. Edmund Cheney died ferzed of this manor without ifTue, and tliereupon it pafled to Ralph brother of
' Lib. Domefday. ' Rcgift. Glallon. • Rot. Pip. J Ed. III.
The arms of Pontlngton were on a bend three roundds, ' Rot, Claus. JO Ed. III. ' Lib. f eod
^Efc.
Edmund,
376 POINTINGTON. mumxm.
Edmund, and froni l>im to another Edmund coufm of Ralph, who died 9 Hen. VI. Ralph de Cheney bore on his feal a fefle lozengy, each lozenge charged with an efcallop.^ This manor became afterwards the pofTeffion of Robert lord Willoughby of Broke, who was a knight of the garter, and died in 1521. He married Elizabeth one of the daughters and coheirelTes of Richard lord Beauchamp, of Powick in the county of Worcefter, by whom he had an only fon Edward, wlio died in his father's life-time. This Edward m.arried Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Neville lord Latimer, and by her had ifilie three daughters; of whom the two youngeft dying jvithout ifllie, Elizabeth .became fole heirefs, and was one of the greateft fortunes of her time, being heirefs -both to Lord Willoughby and Lord Beauchamp.
The wardfhip of this Lady Elizabeth was given to Sir Edward Grevile, of Milcot in Warwickfhire, who intended her for John Grevile his eldeft fon j but Fulk the younger, •being her favourite, fhe became his wife. This Fulk was afterwards knighted by King Henry VIII. and died in 1559, leaving iflue Sir Fulk Grevile, who fucceeded him, .and divers other children.
"Which Sir Fulk Grevile married Anne, the daughter of Ralph Neville earl of Weftmoreland, and died in 1606," feized of this manor of Pointington, which he is certified to have held of George Luttrell, efq; as of the manor of Dunfter, by fealty and fuit of court."" He left iflue an only fon. Sir Fulk, and one daughter, Margaret.
Sir Fulk Grevile, his fon and heir, was a great favourite in the court of Queen Elizabeth. In 1620 he was created by King James I. Lord Broke, of Beauchamp- court in the county of Warwick. In 1628 he was bafely murdered by one of his own domefticks, in a rage excited by a difcovery he had made that his mafter had left him iiothing in his will; and was buried in the family vault at Warwick.
Upon his death, the elder branch of the family in the male line ended; and Margaret his filter, having married Sir Richard Verney, of Compton in Warwickfhire, knt. fhe carried the title of Willoughby de Broke into his family, wherein it ftill remains in the perfon of John-Peyto Verney, baron Willoughby de Broke, who is lord of this manor. His lordlhip's arms are, GuleSy three crofles recercele or-, a chief vaire, ermine and ermines.
The coult-houfe is a venerable old building, near the church.
The living is a redtory in the deanery of Marfton, and in the patronage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Paget is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to All-Saints ; it confifts of a nave and fouth aile leaded, and a chancel covered with tile.
Under one of the arches which feparate the aile from the nave, on an old ftone tomb, the front of which is decorated with Gothick arches, lies the mutilated effigies of a knight in armour.
On the fouth wall of the fouth aile is a fmall but curious old monument of red and white marble, having on the table a man in armour, and a woman in a large ruiF and ' Seals from ancient deeds. " Int}. capt. ap Warwick, 5 Jac.
loofe
^ocetbome.] P o i N T i N G T o N.
377
loofe white robe, kneeling oppofite each other, with an altar defk between them, on which is a blue cloth with a gilt fringe. Behind the woman is her daughter: both their head-drefles are winged caps, ftifF plaited over the forehead, and a black hood with a long lappet behind. Below is this infcription:
" Heere George Tilly, efquier, lieth, and Mary his wife; this being erefted by Sir Edward Parham, knt. who married the daughter and heire Elizabeth." Above are three coats of arms : viz. i . Argent, on a chevron between three mallets gules, as many lions' paws erafed or. Creft; a lion's paw erafed cr, holding a mallet ereft gules: Parham. 2. Argent, a v/ivern faile : Tilly. 3. The two firft coats impaled.
In a gilt frame is this infcription: " Thomas Mallet, mil. unus Juftitiariorum
Domini Regis ad placita coram ipfo Rege tenenda afllgnato. Obijt 1 9° die Decembris anno zetatis fuse 83, 1665."
On another: Baldwin Mallet, fecond fon of Sir Thomas Mallet, died in the
King's fervice, the 3d of June 1646, aged 20." Arms, Azure, three efcallops or.
On the north fide of the chancel is an old ftone tomb with this infcription: — " Here lyeth the body of Water Blobole, parfon of this parifli, buried Jan. 19, 16 17."
On a ftone in the floor: " Here lieth the body of John Paget, M. A. late redor
of this church, who died April 20, 1745, aged 81." There are divers other memo- rials to the fame family.
The chriftenings in this parifh are on an average three j th<; burials two.
SANDFORD-ORCAS,
IS a parifh weftward from Pointington, and three miles north from Sherborne in Dorfetfliire, containing forty-four rough ftone thatched houfes aiid cottages, moft of which are fituated in a long winding narrow vale, with high hills rifing in a fteep afcent on either fide. The vale is thickly wooded in the hedge-rows, and many of die houfes have confiderable orchards. Two I'mall brooks, joining in this parifh, turn an overfliot mill here in their way to the Ivel.
The additional name of this place arofe from its ancient pofTeflbrs, the family of Orejcuilz, of which Orcas is a ftrange corruption. The manor belonged in the Con- queror's time to Hughde Abrincis earl of Chefter.
" William holds of the Earl, Sanford. In the time of King Edward it gelded for " two hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one carucate, with onf " fervant, and eight villanes, with one plough. There are nine acres of meadow, and " fifty acres of wood, and a mill. It was and is worth three pounds.'"
Vot. II.
Lib. Domefday. C C C
The
378 S A N D F O R D* O R C A S. C^Wetbome*
The family of Orefeuilz came from Normandy, and bore for their aims fix lions rampant." Little mention is made of them in hiftory; but thus far we know, that they pofTefied lands in this county, Wilts, and Gloucefter, foon after the Conqueft, In the time of King Henry I. Henry Orefeuilz held one knight's fee in this county of the abbot of Glaftonbury, in which polTeffion he was fucceeded by Helias de Orefeuilz his fon, who was living 12 Henry 11/ To tiiis Helias fucceeded Richard de Orefeuilz, lord of this manor, and tliat of Sturis, in the beginning of the reign of King John; in the 1 2th of which, Roger de Viliers paid twenty marks tliat he might inherit the fliare of his mother Alice in the lands of the faid Richard de Orefeuilz.'' Maud the daughter and coheir of this Richard, and fifter of the faid Alice, was lady of the manor of Sharncot in the county of Wilts, as alfo of the manor of Sandford. She married William the fon of John de Harptree, of Harptree in this county, who pofleffed the fame in her right, and tranfmitted it to his pofterity, of whom were the Gournays, De la Mores, and others. The manor now jointly belongs to Dorrington Hunt, of Pit- combe, efq; and to Charles and John Hutchins, efqrs.
The living is a reftory in the deaneiy of Marfton, valued in 1292 at fifteen marks."
The church Is dedicated to St. Nicholas, and confifts of a nave, chancel, fouth aile^ and tower with five bells.
In the aile is an old mural monument of ftone, the upper part of which forms two recefl"es; in one are the elSgies of a man and woman kneeling face to face; the man holds a fcull; the woman a bible; behind them are three boys and four girls kneeling. In the other recefs is a woman kneeling with a fcull in her hand; and behind her lie four infants fwathed up like mummies. The man has a fword in a military belt. Below is this infcription:
" Here lyeth the body of William Knoyle, of Santford-Orcas, efq. Hee was firft married to Fillip daughter of Robert Morgane, of Maperton in the county of Dorfet, efq; by whome he had iffue four children, and bee dead. Hee was fecondly married to Grace Clavel, daughter of Jofeph Clavel, of Barftone in the county of Dorfet, efq; by whom hee had yfllie 3 fons and 4 daughters. Hee died Jan. ai, 1607, in the 49tlx yeare of his age." Arms, Gules, on a bend argent, three efcallops Jable, Knoyle. Impaling three horfes current argent.
On another handfome mural monument of various coloured marble, is an infciiption to the memory of John Hutchins, efq; fon of Samuel Hutchins, of South- Cadbury, efq; and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of James Medlycott, efq; whofe arms are. Argent, three lions paflanty^iJ/^, two and one, Hutchins ; impaling, guks and azure, per fefle indented, three lions rampant argent, Medlycott,
In the church-yard are the remains of an old crofs, and a large and very ancient yew-tree.
Francis Godwin, D.D. the celebrated writer of" De Trajulibus Anglia Comment arius" was fometime redtor of this parilh.
* Ancient Seals, ' Ijb. Nig. Scac. i. 89. * Rot. Kp. 12 Joh, ' Taxat. Spiritual,
STAWEL,
l^otet&orne.]
[ 379 ]
S T A W E L, or S T O W E L»
IS the next parifli fouthward from Horfington, comprifing a fmall draggling village, fittiated in a woody vale, and watered by a rivulet, which rifcs in Charleron- Horethorne, and runs dirough Milborne-Port into the Yeo near Sherborne. Another brook rifing in a wood here pafles through the parilh of Abbot's-Combc. The lands are chiefly pafture.
This place was anciently written Stamvelle, or the Stone Fount, and is thus recorded in Domefday-Book:
" Azeline [de Percheval] holds of the Bifliop [of Coutances] Stanwelle, Tiir- " mund held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable " is four carucates. In demefne are two carucates, and two fervants, and five villanes, . " and fevcn bordars, and two cottagers, with two ploughs. There are fixtccn acres of " meadow, and five acres of pafture, and fix acres of coppice wood. It was worth " forty fliillings, now fixty fliillings.'"
In the time of Edw. I., this manor was held by the family of Mufcegros, of Charlton Mulgrove, and confifted of two knight's fees.*" Hawifc, tlie heir of Robert de Mufcegros, was married to Sir William Mortimer, knt. who had the manor of Stowel, and died feized thereof 25 Edw. I.° 9 Ric. II. Sir Edmund Molyns, knt. held the manor and the advowfon of the church joindy with Ifabelhis wife, of Sir Matthew de Gournay, as of his manor of Curry-Mallet." Sir John Tiptot, knt. Lord Powis, was feized of this manor 21 Hen. VI. and 13 Edw. IV. Elizabeth the widow of Robert Cappes held the fame at her death of Margaret Countefs of Richmond, leaving John the fon of Sir John Ilody, knt. her heir.° Ciiriftopher Hody, efq; died feized of the manor and advowfon 15 Jac. I. leaving John his fon and heir.' Samuel Dodington, efq; is the prefent lord of the manor.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Marfton; it was valued in 1292 .it ^cv^n marks,*^ and is now in the patronage of Samuel Dodington, efq. The Rev. Mr. Pye is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, and is a fmall building fifty-fix (cct long, and fixteen wide, being of one pace, with a fquare tower, rebuilt in the year 1748, and containing three bells.
On the eafl wall of the chancel are the following infcriptions: "Here lieth the
body of Thomas Mogg, rector, who died Nov. 27, 1708. Catharine Mogg, the wife of T. M. reftor, was buried Aug. 14, 1684."
" Believe aright, and live as yoti believe; and you cannot but die in fafety."
The average chriftenings in this parifn arc three, the burials two annually.
' Lib. Domefday. » Lib, Feod, • life. ' Ibid. ' Ibid, ' Ibid, « Taxai. Spiritual,
C C C 2
TRENT
[ 3^0 ] [Jt)otctI)ome»
TRENT
IS a parifli four miles nearly weft from Sherborne, twelve eaft from Ivelchefter, and tliree northeaft from Yeovil.
Mr, Baxter, in his Gloflary, derives the name of Trent or Treonta from the Britifli Troijent, which implies a winding river. Trent is wafhed on the weft by the river Ivel, and on the fouth by a ftream from a Ipring which rifes at Nether-Compton jn Dorfet.
This village ftands upon a rifing ground, open to the weft and fouth, and is guarded by a confiderable hill on the eaft, which renders it ren>arkably warm and healthy.
It confifts principally of a long ftraggling ftreet near the church, and two hamlets; viz. Adbeer, one mile northweft, containing ten houfes; and Hummer, half a mile weft, five houfes. The whole number of houfes (moft of which are of rough ftone) is about 80 ; and of inhabitants, nearly 400.
On examining a period of forty-two years, (from 1560 to 1601 inclufive) there appear to have been 96 marriages, and 387 births; (each marriage having produced four children on an average) and the burials 198. The proportion of males to females born during this period is 4 to 3. The births from 1772 to 1782 are I2; burials 11 each year on an average. The regifter begins i Ehz.
The fituation is woody, but the country round is pleafingly varied with hills and vallies.
The foil towards the upper part of the parifti is a light fand, which changes by de- grees into a loam, and becomes in the lower fide a ftrong blue clay. It is very fertile, and has the advantage of a large marle-pit. The marie is blue, greafy, and hard almoft as ftone when firft raifedj but being beaten into fmall pieces, and expofed a while to the air, it foon diflblves, and eafily incorporates with the earth. Between forty and fifty load is the quantity ufually laid on an acre, which in pafture or meadow ground, it is faid, will continue forty or fifty years without any fenfible decay. It is alfo found to be very good manure for arable land, but the improverrjent is not fo lafting. After three or four years ploughing it finks by its weight beyond the reach of the plough, and lofes its virtue.
The greateft part of this parilh is inclofed. The oxeti fed upon it are of the large kind, and acknowledged to be as good beef as any that are driven to London.
Fe'^ parifhes are fo well planted with orchards, or afford greater quantities of good fruit for cyder.
Here is little oak, but afta and elm thrive well, and grow to large trees in a ftiort time. The manor of Trent, as well as almoft all others in this neighbourhood, belonged in the time of William the Conqueror to Robert Earl of Morton.
« Anfger holds of the Earl, Trente. Brifnod held it in the time of King Edward, •"and gelded for feven hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one
♦' carucr.tej
!Dorctf)ornc.] TRENT. 381
" carucate, and fix fcrvants, and fevcn villanes, and ten cpttagers, with foor plonghs. " There are thirty acres of n^adow, and fixty acres of pafture, and diirty acres of. " wood. It was and is worth eight pounds."*
It was afterwards granted to the family of Mohun, and froni them pafTcd to the Briweres; but in the time of E'.dw. I. tlie manor was the property of Walter Ic Bret, who held it of the caftle of Dunfter, and died feized thereof 4 Edw. I. leaving ifluc two daughters, Alice and Annora, between whofe defcendants the eftate was divided. *" 17 Edw. 11. Alan de Chaftcllain held a third part of tlie manor of Trent, of Robert de Seford and Maud his wife, by the rent of one penny per annum. Thomas Chaftellain his fon and heir fucceeded him.° 46 Edw. III. Robert Wyke held a diird part of Trent of the honour of Farley-Monachorumj and 10 Ric. II. a third part of the fame be- longed to Sir Thomas Weft, and dcfcended to his fon Thomas Weft.'' In procefs of time the principal eftate and whole manor of Trent became the property of the family of Stork, from whom it defcended by coheirefles to the families of Gerard, Wyndham, and Young. The heirefs of the Wyndham family was married to Henry Bromley, efq; of Cambridgefliire, created Lord Montfort by Geo. II. who having no male heir, fold the eftate to Mr. Colliton, a gentleman of Hertfordftiire. From hnn, by afecond purchafe, it came into the hands of Francis Seymour, efq; fecond fon of Sir Edward Seymour, of Maiden-Bradley in Wilts. It thence pafled to Henry Seymour, efq; fon to Francis aforefaid. Sir Francis Wyndham, the laft of that name who lived at this place, was a colonel in the army of Cha. I. and is recorded to have ftieltered Cha. II. for fome time at his houfe in Trent, after the battle of Worcefter, till he could make his efcape abroad. For this fervice, after the Reftoration, he was created a baronet, with a penfion of 600I. a year fettled upon him and his heirs male for ever, befides fome confiderable annuities granted to his fifters for their lives. The fecond Sir Francis, fon of this Colonel Wyndham,- a little before his death eredted a very hand- fome houfe of freeftone, with four beautiful fronts, [over the door, date 1709, and the family motto] at the expence of near 6000I. which in the year 177 1 was entirely taken down, and not a fingle trace of it now remains.
The other branch of the Storks' eftate is likewife in the pofTeftion of Henry Seymour, efq; whofe father purchafed it of the late Rev. Mr. Walker, of Spetift)ury near Bland- ford, in Dorfetfhire; to whom it came by his marriage with Mifs Young, the only remaining branch of that family.
To Mr. Young, of London, merchant, native of this place, this parifli is indebted for a free-fchool for teaching boys to read and write; who, in his will, direds his executors to lay out and diftjurfe within four years after his deceafe, the fum of one tlioufand pounds in the buying or new building a fchool-houfe in the parifti of Trent, and in the purchafing of lands or tenements in fee-fimple for maintaining the fame, and of a fchoolmafter, and twenty fons of poor inhabitants of that parifti; and for want of fo many there, the number was to be made up out of the two parifties of Mudford and Nether-Compton, in the county of Dorfet. Purfuant to diefe direftions, a very
• Lib. Domcfday. •• Rot. Claus. ' Efc. " Ibid.
good
382 T , R E N T. [l^oret!)otne.
good fchool-houfe was foon after ereftedj and the remaining part of the money was laid out in two eftates, one lying in the parifh of Charlton-Mackerel near Somerton, and the other in South-Brewham near Bruton.
Over the fchool door, upon a marble fcroU, is the following infcription :
" This fchool-houfe was built and endowed at die proper coft of Mr, John Young, (born in this parifh, and late af London, merchant, deceafed) by the direflion of his executor WiUiam Love, of London, merchant, who in purfuance of die teftator's will hath fettled it in truftees. A. D. 1678."
On the eaft fide of the church-yard is a houfe, which, by die manner of building, carvings and coats of arms, appears to have formerly belonged to the church. "Wood, in his antiquities of Oxford, among the benefaftors of Oriel college, mentions one Frank, who was born at Trent, and was mafter of tlie rolls in Henry the Vlth's time. He gave to Oriel college one thoufand pounds, with which was purchafed the reverfion, after two lives, of the manor of Wadley in Berkfhire, charging his legacy with a penfion of twelve marks per annum, for the fupport of a chantry at his nadve place of Trent. The houfe abovementioned >yas probably appropriated to this chantry; but the penfion was funk at the Reformation, and is now paid by Oriel college to the crown. The laft incumbent was John Shete, who in 1553 had a penfion of fix pounds."
On the eaft, at a fmall diftance from the church, ftands the parfonage-houfe, on a well-chofen fpot of ground. The front to the weft is of freeftone in the modern tafte, very neat and plain. It was built in the year 1725 by the then incumbent Mr. Gardiner, fon to Dr. Gardiner, bifliop of Lincoln, The fouth front was rebuilt in the year 1780.
In the hamlet of Adbeer was formerly a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Maiy, and belonging to the mother churcli; but it was demoliftied in the time of the great rebellion.
In ancient times there were two hamlets of this name, viz. Nether—Adbeer, and Over-Adbeer, or, as they are written in Domefday-Book, Etejberie, and Ette'bere. They are thus furveyed:
" Drogo holds of the Earl [Morton] in Etesberie three virgates of land. Alwi " held them in the time of King Edward. The arable is half a carucate, and there " are with it three cottagers. There are fix. acres of meadow, and ten acres of wood. " It was and is worth ten ftiillings."'
" Siward [a thane] holds Ettebere. The fame held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for one hide. The arable is one carucate and a half, and there are on it " two villanes and three cottagers. There are fix acres of meadow, and one furlong of " wood in length and breadth. It was formerly and is now worth twenty ftiillings."°
The manors of Adbeer and Hummer were afterwards beftowed on the Earl of Morton's Cluniac priory at Montacute in this county, founded in the beginning of the
' Willis's Hift. of .\bbies, 2. ' Lib. Domefday. * Ibid.
reiga
r!)ovett)Omc.] T R B N T. 383
reign of King Ilcnry T, but the lands were foon after fcized on occafion of the founder's rtbellion, and pofrefTeU by other owners, lo Henry III, Jordan de Alneto paid twenty fliillings for cutting down his wood at Ettebere, without Jjcence, Ixjfore per- ambulation.'' Gcrvafe de Alneto (probably fon of Jordan) was owner of Ettebere in tlie latter end of the reign of Henry III.' In the time of Edw. I. the family of Windfore had ponifrions here and in Mudford.'' 26 Edw. III. Thomas Huntleghc lidd two parts of the manor of Nethcr-Adbcer, and divers lands in Over-Adbccr, of Sir Walter de Romefey.' Hence it came to the Carents, who poflefled the two hamlets of Over and Nether- Adbecr, and the hamlet of Hummer, for many generations. Catherine, the widow of William Carent, efq; died fcized of thefe premifes 13 Edw. IV. holding them of George duke of Clarence, as of his manor of Yarlington. John Wadham is found by the inquifition to be her heir. Wl^ich John Wadham died feized of Adhere the following year, and was fucceeded in his eftates by a fon of his own nanne."" The Wadhams were of Merryfield."
The abbcfs of Studley in Oxfordfliire had a yearly penfion of fix marks from the manor of Trent."
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Marflon, valued in 1292 at tliirty marks/ the advowfon was formerly in the family of the Storks, one of which family having bequeathed it to a religious houfe, it was feized by Henry VIII. at the diflblution of the monafteries, and continued in the crown till a grant was made of it by James I. to Sir Henry Fowkes, bart. Of him it was purchafed by Corpus-Chrifti college, Oxford.
Lift of the Redtors from the Reformation.
1. Henry jStephen; he died 1542.
2. Emery Tuckfield, prefented by Hen. VIII.; induced Feb. 22, 1542.
3. Robert Elliot, prefented by Philip and Mary, Jan. 7, 1557.
4. Henry Beaumont, prefented by Eliz. Sept. 17, 1585, refigned the year following. ,
5. John Seward, prefented by Eliz. Jan, 23, 1586.
6. Henry Seward, prefented by Thomas Shuter, de Claufo Sarum, Ap, 8, 1625.
7. Benjamin Elliot, Fellow of C.C.C. prefented by the college, Sept. 16, 1640.
8. Elias Wrench, prefented by C.C.C. April 6, 1644, for the firft 16 years deprived
of his living by the rebel parliament.
9. Amos Berry, prefented by C.C.C. 1680.
10. Charles Gardiner, by C.C.C. Feb. 20, 1723.
11. Barnabas Smyth, by C.C.C. Od. 26, 1732.
12. Henry Pinnel, by C.C.C. inftituted May 28, 1760.
13. George Beaver, (the prefent incumbent) by C.C.C. inftituted Feb. 14, 1770.
Rcdory prefent value ;C- 23 5 5 I / 2c 11 11 • Tenths — 2 6 61} ^-^^ " "^
The church (which is dedicated to St. Andrew) is a ftrong well-built Gothick edifice, confifting of a nave, north aile, and porch, the latter large and lofty. At the foutheaft
» Rot. Pip. 10 Hen. III. ' Cart. Antiq. ' Efc. ' Ibid. ■" Ibid. ■" See vol. i. p. +8. • Taxat. Temporal. ' Ta.xat. Spiritual.
corner,
384 TRENT. [i^orct&orne*
corner, between the porch and chancel, is a tower 59 feet high, with a well-proportioned hexagon fpire of 35 feet befides the iron and weather-cock, which are 6 feet above it; the whole height 100 feet. The pinnacles which ftood originally at each corner of the tower are deftroyed j but here is a clock and five bells.
The bells bear the following infcription: 1. " 9U0UflmC tUam Campatiam
protege fanam." 2. campana ftt ^ntireae €cc Crentae. 3. Draw near to God,
1603. 4. Sanfta Maria, ora pro nobis. 5, This bell was made by the parifhioners of Trent in 1604. William Gerard, efq; and Thomas Lofcomb, benefaftors. Tho. Pennington new caft me in 1626.
The chancel appears to have been built fince the church j it being confiderably higher, and covered with ftone tile. It is wainfcotted round as high as the windows, which are five in number, and of crown glafs. The Rev. Barnabas Smith, reflor of this parifh, at his own expence altered the feats, glazed the windows, and floored the whole area within the rails with a beautiful ftone richly veined from Longburton near Sherborne, and the reft with Portland ftone ornamented with little fquare dots of the former. He moreover prefented the parifh with a fervice of communion plate, con- fifting of a flagon, a chalice, and patine, and a difti for receiving the oblations ; all plain lilver, but neat and handfome.
On the fouth fide of the church, an arch opens into an aile about twelve feet fquare, which belongs to Henry Seymour, efq. In this aile is a ipacious vault, formerly the burying-place of the Youngs.
On the north fide of the church is an aile, which formerly belonged to the Gerard and Wyndham families. The entrance into it is through a very curious arch, the bend of which is painted all over with laurel branches and leaves, among which are forty armorial fhields, reprefenting the alliances of the families of Coker and Gerard.
The fcreen which feparates the body of the church from the chancel has the ap- pearance of great antiquity. The lower part is wainfcot ; from which go balluftrades tapering upwards, and branching out at top into elliptic arches embellifhed with carved work, very light and airy. Over it was formerly a rood loft, part of which is ftill remaining, neatly carved and painted. Beneath it are the remains of a border of extremely rich work, divided by narrow flips of timber into four rows, carved, painted and gilded in the moft beautiful manner. This, and the fcreen to the chancel, are evidently of a different ftile from the reft of the churchy and were probably ornaments of fome part of the abbey church of Glaftonbury,
At entering the church, on the left, is a piece of antiquity which efcaped the zeal of our reforiners; viz. the Ave Maria carved upon the front boards of the feats, in protu- berant letters, but in a very rude and coarfe manner. On the two oppofite feats are the crown of thorns, ladder, nails, &c. and the letters J. H. S.
In the north aile are two ftatues in ftone, lying at full length under two arches in the north wall, which appear to have been moved hither from fome other place; probably from the oppofite wall when the aile was built, and the .communication made between tJie church by a large arch; for they are certainly much older than the aile. The one
is
•fe
jjjocetijocne.] Trent. 385 m
is in armour from head to foot witli his hands joined on his breaft, and legs ftrait; the other is in much the fame poilure, but a ditFerent habit, having a military belt and fword hanging from it. The tapernefs of the fingers, the remarkable flcndernefs of the wrifts ahd ancles, the gaj-iwcnts hanging down in folds to the (ttty which are veiy fmall, a hood thrown over the head and drawn together under the throat, with the refemblance of a mantle falling on the fhoulders, and tlie whole figure being at leail a foot fhorter than the other, give it altogether the appearance of a female. The feet of each reft on a dog, which is part of the Gerard arms.
The pulpit and reading-defk are of old wainfcot carved; each of them has acufhion and cloth made out of the whittle in which King Heniy VIII. was chriftenedi being a crimfon brocade flowered richly widi gold and filver tifllie, and blue filk.
The fingers' gallery is between the chancel and the nave, and on the top are the royal arms, fix feet by fix, all cut out of one folid board without a joint, and well painted. Here are five doors, thirteen windows, and fix pews; and feveral old helmets, gauntlets, &c.
On the fouth fide of the chancel is an ancient mural monument of ftone, four feet by five. On the right and left of the tablet are two round black columns with Corinthian «■ ♦ • capitals gilded. On one of them is the head of a negro; on the other a man's leg and foot, cut off" juft above the knee, with a black leathern bufliin on it. The tablet is
infcribed, " To the memory of Thomas Huflfey, fon and heyre of Gyles Hufley,
of Edmondfliam in the county of Dorfet, efq. Bridget his wife, daughter of Robert Coker, of Mapowder in the fame county, efq; hath erefted this. He dyed the 1 9th of March in the yeere of our Lord 1630, and of his age neere 32.
Reader, here below doth lye
A pattern of trew pietye;
Whole example none neede fliame %.
To follow : few can bee the fame.
Yeares fcarce thirty-two hee told.
When in goodnefs growen old
Hee dyed, and fo injoys long reft, - ^
God takes them fooneft he loves beft." '<
Between the windows, on the north wall, is a mural monument infcribed, " Here
lye buried the bodies of Trifteram Storke, of Trent, efq; and Alice his wife, daughter unto Robert Bingham, of Bingham's-Melcomb, efq; which Trifteram dyed the i8th of Auguft 1532, and left four daughters his heyres: Joane, the wife of Richard Compton, efq; Ann, the wife of John Larder, efq; Ifabel, the wife of Alexander Seymour, efq; and Mary, the wife of William Gerard, efq."
On the eaft wall is another mural monument, with this infcription :— — " Near this place lieth the body of Henry Pinnell, B. D. lately fellow of C.C.C. Oxon, and reftor of this parifti; who departed this life Nov. 22, 1769, aged 52 years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Prattenton, vicar of Prittleworth in the county of Suflex; \%. '^^'^^' furviving him, erefted this ftone as an humble teftimony of her great regard for a moft affedionate hufband, and a very worthy man," Vol. II, D d d In
*w
• •
:^
^«
386 T R E N T.* t^oretfjome.
In the chancel floor, on two flat flrones: " Here lieth the body of Amos Berry,
of C.C.C. Oxon, Fellow, B. D. reftor of this parifli from x68o to 1723, when he died Feb. 20, aged 89. Here alfo lies Margaret his wife, who departed this life June
29, 1734, in the 91ft year of her age. The fouls of the righteous are in the hand
of God."
" Elias Wrench, S. T. B. e C. C.C. Oxon. quond. focius hujus ecclefise rector in- duftus A' 1644, ob' A" 1680, jEt, 75."
On a fcone at the fouth end, under tlie fingers' gallery : " Here lyeth the body
of Elizabeth Martyn, relift of Ralph Martyn, late of Marflion in the county of So- merfet, gent, who departed this life July 10, 1693, aged 60."
On another ftone at the entrance of the chancel: "Here lie the bodies of
Gideon Pittard, gent.; JFrances, his wife; John, his fon; and Rofe, his daughter. Gideon dyed Augufl: y' 25, 1697, aged 91; Frances, Oft. y" 26, 1733, aged 8oj , John, Dec. 27, 1703, aged 13; and Rofe, Oft. 30, 1729, aged 36. Here lies Eleanor Noake, the wife of Samuel Noake, gent, daughter of the faid Gideon and Frances Pittard, who departed this life April 23, 1767, aged 71."
■ In the north aile (formerly the burial-place of the Gerard and Wyndham families) are the following infcriptions on large coarfe flat ilones, which feem to have been brought from Ham-hill quarry.
" Heere lyeth the body of William Gerard, of Trent, efq; who dyed the of
January, anno i^6j.
" Heere alfo lyeth the body of William Gerard, efq; grandchilde to the other William Gerard, who dyed the I ft of May 1604.
" Heere lyeth the body of Ann Gerard, daughter of William Gerard, efq; by Mary his wife, daughter of Sir Chriftopher Allen, of the Mote in the county of Kent, knt. She was buried the 25th of January 1596.
" Heere lyeth the body of Mary Gerard, the wife of William Gerard, efq; daughter and coheyre of Trifteram Storke, of Trent, efq; who dyed March 18, 1577.
"-Heere alfo lyeth the body of Thomas Gerard, efq; fon of William Gerard and Mary his wife. And neere unto him lyeth Ifabel his wife, who was daughter and co- heyre of Leonard W^lloughby, of Toners -Piddle in the county of Dorfet, efq."
Againft the weft wall, at the end of the north aile, is an ancient handfome mural monument of black and white marble to another William Gerard, moft probably the
fon of the former, with this infcrlption : " Gulielmo Gerard, armigero, ex antiqua
Gerardorum familia in agro Lancaftrienfi oriundo, monumentum hoc impofuit uxor ejus msiftifiima, filia Chriftopheri AUen, equitis aurati militis : obijt May 1°, An° Dom, 1604, astat. vero fu£e 52.
On another marble monument: " Anna uxor Thomas Gerard, arm. filia Roberti
Coker, ar. obijt in partu Junii xxv Ano Dofn mdcxxxiii, vixit annos xxix diemq; i". Digna hac luce diuturniore, nifl quod luce meliore digna. Vale ! nos te eo ordine quo
natura
m
3^orct!;orne.] TRENT. 3S7
namra jufierit feqiicmiir. Mors milii lucrum: vivit pofl: funera virtus. Rcliquit quiin]; filias lupcrllitcs, viz. Elizabetham, Annam, Ethelredam, Amiam, &c Francifcam, duas mort. & filium iinicuin." '
Anne, tlie fccond daughter of this Thomas and Anne Gerard, marrying Colonel Wyndham, by her the eftate came into his family. He was created a baronet by King Charles II. and died in the year 1676. His fon, Sir Francis, lies in a vault made for him under the aile, and againft the middle of the nortli wall is an elegant monument of' white marble, upon the table of which is the following infcrijMiion:
*' Here lieth the body of Sir Francis Wyndham, bart. (originally defcended from the ancient and honourable family of the Wyndhams of Felbridge in the county of Nor- folk). In his younger years he applied himfelf to arms, and fervcd King Charles II. in the poft of a captain of horfe. But afterwards he fervcd his country in feveral par- liaments as a member for Ilchefter in this county. He married three wives; his firfl: was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Onflow, of Clanden in the county of Surrey, by whom he had his only child named Thomas, who dyed before him, leaving a fon, now Sir Francis, and a daughter Frances, by liis wife Lucy, daughter of Richard Mead, of 1-ondon, efq. His fccond wife was Efther, widow of Matthew Ingram, gent.; and his Jaft was dame Henrietta, widow of Sir Richard Newdigate, bart. and daughter of Thomas
Wigington, of Ham in the county of Surrey, gent, who furvived him. He was the »
third fon of Sir Francis Wyndham of this place, who in confideration of his conftant and faithful fervices to K. Charles the Firft and Second, in quality of a lieutenant- colonel of horfe, but more particularly for his being inftrumental in preferving K. Charles the Second in his houfe here, after the unfortunate battle of Worcefter, till his retreat to France, was by him foon after his reftoration created a baronet, with a large
■ penfion to attend the honour, as a farther token of his royal favour. - He had four bro- ^ . " m
thers and five fiflers. Gerard died unmarried. Sir Thomas left only one daughter, ' '
Anne. Flugh died in Spain unmarried, (having by his valour and conduft raifed him- felf to the poll of lieutenant-general of horfe) and Edmund left no ifllie. Two of his lifters Mary and Anne died children. Elizabeth was married to Wm. Harbyn, of Newton in this county, efq. Rachel, who was maid of honour to the princefs of Orange, and afterwards of tiie bed-chamber to her when Ihe was queen, died unmar- ried: and Frances, who furviv'd him,' alfo died unmarried.
" By the diredion of «Sir Francis Wyndham's will, this monument was erecTted to his memory, by his executrix and relidl the Lady Henrietta Wyndham, and his exe- cutor Wm. Jame*, of Ighdiam in the county of Kent, efq; who married Anne the fole daughter and heir of the above-mentioned Sir Thomas Wyndliam. On which account Sir Francis has entail'd his eftate on the ifllie of the body of Anne James, in cafe of failure of his own, (they taking the name of Wyndham additionally.)
" Sir Francis Wyndham died March 22, 17 15, aged 62 years."
The young Sir Francis mentioned in the infcription died about 12 years old of the fniall-pox, and his fifter Frances, (who married Henry Bromley, efq; afterwards Lord
Montfort) having no ifl"ue, the family is extinft, ,
D d d 2 On ^
%
388
R
N
T.
V^oxctYjoxm.
On a ftone in the church-yard: " Beneath lieth the body of the Rev. Mr. Bar- nabas Smyth, born at Panton in the county of Lincoln, Nov. the 21 ft, 1692 ; chofen fcholarof C. C. C. Oxon, Aug. the 6th, 1709: nominated to the reftory of thisparifh Oft. 26, 173a: buried February 9th, 1760. Alfo Frances his wife, who departed this life Dec. 26th, 1765, in the 67th year of her age, — in hopes of a joyful refurreftion: and what fhe was that day will Ihew."
On a tomb under the chancel window: " Carolus Gardiner, S.T.B. C.C.C. Oxon. Quondam focius hujus ecclefise reftor induftus 22 Julij, 1729J obijt 26 Oft. 1732. EcclefijE Wellenfis Canonicum faftum, in ipfo pene honoris aditu, mors occupavit."
Mrs. Bridget Gardiner, relift of the Rev. Charles Gardiner, died and was buried in Oxford, in the year 1772. She left to the parifh of Trent one hundred pounds, direfting the yearly intereft to be paid on Eafter-Sunday yearlyj and divided among fix poor men and fix poor women who do not receive alms.
She likewife left twenty pounds, the yearly profits whereof are direfted to be laid out in repairing and preferving the rails round her hufband's grave.
Here is a large yew-tree, the body of which at five feethigh, is 1 2 feet in circumference,
Alfo an old ftone crofs, with five rows of fteps, the pillar broken off^ within three feet of the focket.
i
THE
W
[ 389 ]
w;v.<— '^■^-^*— ~""»~~~*— — ■'"'™*~— "^"'^"«^~ > ^
THE HUNDRED
O F
HUNTSPILL CUM PURITON,
A Small traft of land lying on the river Parretj near its influx into the Briftol Channel, comprehending two parifhes, Huntspill, and Puriton; to the former of which manors, the property of the Hundred in ancient times belonged.
huNtspill
Is a very large parifli twelve miles weft from Axbridge, and feven north from Bridg- water. It had its name from Hun or Hune, a Saxon lord, and from the pill or bay, which is here formed by the conflux of the rivers Brew and Parret, at the mouth whereof there is an ancient farm called to this day Pill's Mouth. The river Brew is navigable for veffels of confiderable burden up to Highbridge, a hamlet fo callc(> from the bridge there thrown over it. The beach at Huntfpill is a fine fand near a mile broad at low water, bounded on the land fide by large fand-banks, raifed to prevent the overflowings of the fea. Among the rulhes and fedge above high water mark, are vsft quantities of beautiful fhells of the Wentletrap, fnail and Helix kinds. -Salmon, plaice, flounders and Ihrimps are caught on the coaft, and the ditches abound with eels, roach and dace.
This parifli is five miles and a half in length, two and a half in breadth, and fifteen miles in circumference, exclufive of a fmall part of it heretofore broken in upon by the fea, and now divided from it by the Parret, and which is therefore rather confidered as part of Stoke-Courcy, being fubjedl to the parochial incumbrances, without the advantages of Huntfpill.
The whole number of houfes contained within the precinds of the parifli of Hunt- ipill is about one hundred and forty, and of inhabitants feven hundred and fiftv. Moft
of
>•
390 H 'U N T S P I L L. [J^untfpiH, cum
of the houfes are very neat, and in general occupied by their refpeftive owners, many of whom are wealthy graziers. The lands aYe almoft wholly rich pafture and meadow, extremely well cultivated, and the parifh is eftimated in the king's books at 2000L f)er annum, it being one fifth of its net produce.
The town of Huntfpill had formerly the privilege of a market, which has long ago been dropt; but there are ftill three fairs, toll-free, held within the parifh, viz. one at Huntfpill, June 29; the other two, Auguft 10, and Dec. 17, at Highbridge.
This place is noted in ancient hiftory. Ethelmund, by the concurrence and con- firmation of king OfFa, gave the manor of Hunefpulle, containing five hides, to the church of Glaftonbury." This property, thus conferred, remained in the pofleflion of that monaftery till the Norman ConquefV, when King William defpoiled it thereof, and gave it to his itinerant attendant Walter de Dowai. It is thus recorded:
" Walter himfelf holds Honspil. Elwacre held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for one hide. The arable is thirteen carucates. In demefne are two *' carucates, and five fervants, and twenty-one villanes, and five bordars, and feven " cottagers, with eftven ploughs. There are one hundred acres of meadow, and two *' hundred acres of pafture. It was and is worth eight pounds."'"
" Walter himfelf holds Hunespil. Alwin held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for three virgates of land. The arable is two carucates. In demefne is " one carucate, and four fervants, and two villanes, and five bordars, and four cottagers, *' with one plough. There are twenty acres of meadow. It was and is worth twenty " Ihillings."^
This Walter de Dowai was a Norman knight, and of a family which derived their \ name from the town of Douai in the French Netherlands. Having attended the Con-
queror into England, he was rewarded with this and a great number of other manors in this county, where he had his refidence. At his death he left iflue, a fon of his own name, who was feated at Bampton or Baunton in Devonfiiire, and thence altered hfs Ijame to De Baunton. Having no male ifllie, he left all his eftates to Julian his only \ daughter, who tecame the wife of William Paganel, and invefted him with this manor.
Which William Paganel, or, as he was fometimes written, Paynel, by the faid Julian lus wife, had ifTue Fulke Paganel, who married Ada, eldeft fifter and coheir of Gilbert de Abrincis, who was drowned at fea in the year 1172. He had iflue by her Adam paynel, who was lord of Huntfpill in the time of Henry III. afjd died without ilTue, and William Paynel, who fucceeded to the manors of Huntfpill and Baunton. This William, by Maud his wife, had feveral children, (of whom William, Millicent, Alice, and' Agnes, died without fffue) and Chriftian, who fucceeded to the eftate, and was married to Sir Miio Cogan, one of, the firft Conquerors of Ireland.
To which Sir Milo Cogan, fucceeded William, and J»hn, fuccefiive lords of Huntfpill J the laft-mentioned dying feized thereof g Edw.f I. left a fon of his own name heir to his property. This John Cogan' was a knight, and was buried at
|k " Gulielm. Malmef. Hill. i. 98. ■ » Lib. Domefday. « Ibij.
Huntfpill,
«#
r
IpUCiton.] H U N T S P I L L. 391
Huntfpill, 30 Edw. I, Thomas his fon and heir fucceedcd, and left iffue Richard, who was fixteen years of age at the time of his father's death 8 Edw. II. This Richard married Mary daughter and heir of Sir Richard Wigbere, of Wigborough in this county, with whom lie had that manor and divers other large pofTefTions. He died 42 Edw. III. leaving iffiie by the faid Mary Sir William Cogan, knt. his fon and heir, avhodied 6 Ric. II. feized of the manor and advowfon of HuntfpiU. He left iflfue by Ifabel his wife, one fon, John, and a daughter, Elizabeth, firft married to Sir Fulke Fitzwarren, and fecondly to Sir Hugh Courtney, knt.
The fiid Sir John Cogan dying without ifTue 12 Ric. II. Elizabeth his fiftcr fuc- ceeded to the patrimony,, and invefted her hufband Sir Fulke Fitzwarren with the manors of Huntfpill and Wigborough. She had ifflie by her faid hufband one fon, who was named after his father Fulke, and a daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Richard Hankford.
Sir Fulke Fitzwarren died without iffue, and Elizabeth his fifter, the wife of Sir Richard Hankford, fucceeded to the eftate, and had iffue by the faid Sir Richard two daughters, Thomafine, the wife of William Bourchier, created Lord Fitzwarren, and Elizabeth, who died without iffue.
Which William Bourchier, in right of Thomafine his faid wife, became poffeffed of Huotfpill-Cogan, and other manors. He was the fecond fon of William Bourchier earl of Ewe, by Anne, daughter of Thomas of Woodftock duke of Gloucefter: he died 9 Edw. IV. leaving iffue Fulke Bourchier, lord Fitzwarren, his fon and fucceffor.
This Fulke Bourchier lord Fitzwarren married Elizabeth, fifter and coheir of John lord Dinham, by whom he had iffue John Bourchier lord Fitzwarren, and died 6 Henry VII.
Which John Bourchier lord Fitzwarren was created Earl of Bath 23 Henry VIII. He married Cecily, the only fifter of Henry Daubney earl of Bridgwater, by whom he had iffue one fon John, and two daughters, Elizabeth the wife of Edward Chichefter, of Raleigh, efq; and Dorothy, wife of Sir John Fulford. He died 31 Henry VIII.
John Bourchier earl of Bath fucceeded his father in this and the other eftates, and married firft Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Hungerford, by whom he had iffue one daughter, Elizabeth. To his fecond wife he married Eleanor, daughter of George Manners lord Roos, and had iffue by her John, Sir George, and Henry; Mary, wife of Hugh Wyatt, of Exeter; and Cecily, wife of Thomas Peyton, cuftomer of Plymouth. His third wife was Margaret, daughter and heir of John Donington, who had before been married, firft to Sir Thomas Kitfon, of Hengrave in the county of Suffolk; and fecondly, to Sir Richard Long, of Cambridgefhire. He had iffue by the faid Margaret, two daughters, Sufan, and Bridget; and died 3 Eliz.
John Bourchier lord Fitzwarren died in the life-time of his father, but left iffue, by Frances his wife, a fon named William, who fucceeded as Lord Fitzwarren and Earl of Bath, as well as to the poffeffion of this manor. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Ruffel earl of Bedford, by whom he had iffue four fons, John, Robert, Francis, who died without iffue, and Edward, who fucceeded to the title and eftate.
■ ' Which
»
#
m
93 HUNTSPILL. [r^untfpili, cum
Which Edward Boiirchier earl of Bath married a filler of Oliver lord St. John of . Bletlho, earl of Bolingbroke, by whom he had iflue three daughters: Anne, tlieeldeft, married Sir Chriftopher Wrey, hart, and Dorothy was the wife of Thomas Grey, eldefl: Ibn of Henry the firft Earl of Stamford.
Henry Bourchier, uncle to Edward, fucceeded as Earl of Bath in 1638; but dying unmarried, the title expired, and the eftates were divided between the reprefentatives of the coheirefTes of the faid Edward.
Accordingly, 36 Car. II. a divifion of the manor was made between Lord Stamford and Sir Bourchier Wrey, bart. fubjeft to the payment of 48,0001. Their reprefenta- tives, by virtue of a decree in chancery, fold the whole together In 1693 to James Grove, efq; of the Inner Temple, ferjeant at law, who, in the courfe of a few years, fold off, among the leafehold tenants, fix hundred ^cres; and the remainder, in the year 17 1 1, was fold to William Arnold, efq; who in 1723 fold the fame to Samuel Cockerell, efq; and he, after difpofing of two hundred and fifty acres thereof, left it to his nephew Luke Cockerell, efq; who fold the whole without referve.
It fliould be obferved that the manor thus deduced from the Norman Conqueft, •was only a part of the parifli of Huntfpill; othtr lords had manerial claims therein from a very early date; and as this lordlhip had the name of Huntspill-Cocan, from the Cogans its poflrefl"orsj fo there was a Huntspill-Mareys, Huntspill-de- la-Hay, and Huntspill-Verney, from its feveral lords thus denominated.
In the time of King Stephen, Jordan de Marifco, or of the Marfii, probably fo titled from the fpot of his nativity in this neighbourhood, was lord of a manor in Huntfpill, and had a fon named WilHam, who inherited the fame.** To him fucceeded GefFerey de Marifco, who was chief juftice of Ireland 10 Henry III. and next William de Marifco, who was owner of this manor, and of the ifland of Lundy, which he held of the,king in chief by the fervice of the tenth part of a knight's fee. He was alfo lord o( La Clude, or Cloud, in the parifii of Camely^ which he had by inheritance from Alexander de Alneto, lord of the manor ofCamely.' William de Marifco, fon and heir of the faid William, died 10 Edw. I.' and was fucceeded by Herbert de Marifco, or Marays, who 9 Edw. II. was fummoned with divers Irifti barons to attend the king againft the Scots.^ He died i Edw. III. leaving ifliie Stephen de Mareis heir to his eftates. Which Stephen had lands in Ireland; and as fuch was fummoned to attend the king at Weftminfter 35 Edw. III. to confider of methods to repel the Irifh. He was then a knight. He died 47 Edw. III. leaving his eftate to Sir James Boteler earl of Ormond, his coufin and next heir, remainder for life to Sir John Trivet, knt. Tliis James earl of Ormond died 7 Henry IV. leaving the manor of Huntfpill-Mareys to his fon James earl of Ormond, who at his death 31 Henry VI. held befides it the manors ofBelluton, Pensford, Brean, Exton, and the ifland of Steep-Holmes, and the advowfon of the church of Brean, leaving James earl ofWiltfliire his fon and heir.'' This James being attainted in parliament, his eftates became confifcated; and this manor and that of Brean paflledinto the family of Beecher. In 1590 Henry Beecher,
* Cart. Antiq. « Ibid. ' Efc. « Ada Publica. » Efc
of
JpUtiton^l H U N T S P 1 L L, 393
of London, was lord of Huntfpill-Mareys, and from him it defcended to Thomas Anfel, efqj who fold two hundred and fifty acres thereof in fee totheleflces; and in 16 16, the remaining part, confifting of four hundred and feventy acres, was conveyed to Andrew Henly, efq. From him it defcended to his fon Robert Henly, cfq; and from him to Sir Andrew Henly, bart. who in 1669 fold part of the fee to the feveral lefTees. This fale was produdlive of a fuit in chancery of feven years' continuance; when it was at length decreed, that Eleanor Maundrel and John Bere fhould confirm the feveral purchafes, and ftand feized of the remains of the manor, which is now the property of Richard Gould, efq.
The manor of Huntspill-de-la-Hay derived its name from a grange or farm In this parilh, called Delhayes, confifting in the time of Ric. II. of a capital meflliage, two hundred acres of arable land, fixty acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pafture; all which were held by Sir William Cogan of the king in chief. A family of diftinc- tion had alfo their appellation from this fpot, and held their lands of the principal lords of Huntfpill: they flourifhed in the reigns of Edw. I. and II. In procefs of time this manor came to be poflefled by the family of Howe, progenitors of Lord Chedworth, and thence pafled to the Rodney family. Of late years it was fold off to the leflees by his Grace the Duke of Chandos, the-laft poffefibr.
The manor ofHuNTSPiLL-VERNEV was fo denominated from the ancient family of Verney, or Vernai, lords of Fairfield and other manors in this county, to whom it be- longed for many generations, and from whom it has defcended through the family of Palmer to John Acland, efq; the prefent pofleflbr.
Another manor called Alston, Alliston, or Alston-Maris, lies within this parilh, and had for its pofleflbr at the time of the Conqueft tlie fame lord as Huntfpill :
" Rademer holds of Walter [de Dowai] Alsistune. Alwold held it in the time " of King Edward, and gelded for one hide. The arable is three carucates. In " demefne is one carucate, with one fervant, and one villane, and four bordars, and " three cottagers, having one plough, and forty acres of pafture. It was and is worth " twenty ftiillings.""
This manor was likewife held under the family of Cogan by the De Marifcos,- lords of Huntfpill-Mareys. It was fometime confidered as part of the hundred of Bemp- ftone; and did fuit and fervice at that hundred court, till within a few years the leet has been difcontinCled. In the time of Edw. III. this manor belonged to Thomas de Drokensford, who gave the fame to John de Storteforde, clerk, and he conveyed it to Walter Aldcbury, clerk; who 44 Edw. III. granted the manor of AUiftone to Robert Chedder, efq;' from which family it defcended to thofe of Newton and Griffin, and afterwards became the property of Henry Walrond, efq; then of Thomas White, efq; and now the royalty belorigs to Thomas Jeane, efq. According to the rates heretofore made, it contained feven hundred and fifty acres, which are at prefent moftly in the poflTeflion of fundry freeholders.
* Lib. Domefday. ' Cwt. Antiq.
Vol. II. Eee Sir
394 H.U N T S P I L L. [^untfpifl, cuitt
Sir Raymund de Sully had lands in Allejione jiixta Hunjpll in the time of Edw. III. He bore on his feal barry of fix.' The witnefTes to a deed of this Sir Raymund, dated Ai D. 1370, were John Everard of Huntfpill, Thomas de Burgh, John de Wefton, and John de Marifco."'
Withy in this parifh was an ancient manor of the monks of Glaftonbury, whofe revenues therein were rated in 1293 at 81. 4s. 9d."
. Fulke Paganel, lord of the manor of Huntfpill-Cogan, gave the church of Huntfpill to the cell of Cluniac monks, which he had founded in the time of William Rufus, at Tickford in Buckinghamfliire." This church was valued in 1 292 at forty-feven marks.^
It is a-reftory in the deanery of Poulet, and in the gift of BaHol college in Oxford. The Rev. Mr. White is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to All-Saints, and is a handfome building, compofed of a nave, chancel, fide ailes, and a tower at the weft end.
In a niche in the wall of the fouth aile lie the efEgies of one of the lords of this manor and his lady; he in armour with an ornamented belt round his body; fhe in a long loofe robe, with clofe fleeves down to the wrift, and a large hood round her face.
On. the north fide of the chancel is a mural monument of ftone with the following
infcription: " Lege viator, ac luge; fed quifquis es, hofce ne premas cineres;
quiefcit enim fub hoc lapide quicquid fuit verendum. GuHelmus Fane, Francifci nuper admodum comitis Weftmorlandis minor natu fihus, vir ornatiflimas virtutis, fanseque dodtrinas, facras theologise doftor, Irenarcha fciens, et fereniffimo Regi Carolo II. a facris; hujus ecclefias per triginta (aut circiter) annos reftor fedulus; necnon ecclefise cathedralis StT Andres in hac Bathon. et Wellen. diocefi canonicus: Poftquam beats vitas exemplar et vivendi prefcriptum nobis promulgaflTet, mutavit chorum, altiorem ut capefleret. Bis ut vivat, femel moritur 28° die Junii anno astatis fuse fexageffimo, anno- que gratise 1679."
" Nulli pietate fecunda, hie jacet Maria, ux. Gab. Gladman, gen. et filia di6li Gulicl. Fane, D. D. quse obijt 10° Aug. 1716, anno xtat. fus 61." Arms, Azure, three gauntlets or, impaling or three eagles difplayed gules.
On the fame fide of the chancel is a memorial to John Trip, A. M. who died A. D. 1738, aged 58.
On the fouth fide is this infcription: " Subter jacent reliquiae facrse Gulielmi
Rodney, de Rodney-Stoke in comitatu Somerfet, qui pro tempore fibi affignato, habitus erat corona poetarum digniflimus; et qui in decedentibus rebus ecclefite, negotiis animi difcrutiatiis, Iponte e variis vitje mileriis emigravit duodecimo die Junij,,anno Domini 1669."
On a flat ftone in the floor, are thefe lines to the rnemory of the fame perfon, who was the fon of Sir John Rodney, knt. and fuppofed to be great grandfather to the prefent admiral Lord Rodney:
' Seals from ancient deeds. "> Cart. Ant. "Taxat.Temp. • Mon. Angl. i. 912. " Taxat. Spirit.
« If
IPurlton.] H U N T S P I L L. 395
*' If ye knew who lay here, You'd furely ha' beene fliapeing ideas rare; And fweare you'd fecn witt, loyal valour, and true pocfie, Congeal'd with forrow to a Niobe; And in that drooping ftatue to appear, His fad lamentor, and his fepulcher. 'Tis Rodney, know! whofe name has here furviv'd William of Normand, Noll the regicide. Conquer'd thofe conquerors j only to death (As they have done before) did yield his breath."
On another grave-ftone:
*< Beauty, feature, witt, and grace. Lie interred within this place: Envy cannot fpeake him bad. Who's with virtues richly clad; Nor profane may he be thought. Who to know his name was taught.
Fane in's fenfe a church declares. And a facred tide bears; Which is (if you'll make the moft) Temple of the Holy Ghoft."
"^ Henry Fane, fonne of William Fane, D.D. redtor here, and Frances his wife, dyed the 22d day of March, A. D. 1675."
On the next ftone:
" Here lies a child, whofe death hath fet us right In the old (lory of our guardian knight. For who dare fay the champion fmells o' the forge. Since we are all aflur'd there's a St. George, Who ne'er was vanquifli'd, nor o'ercome; For he is ftill alive by a fynecdoche.
** George Fane, the fon of William Fane, D.D. redor here, and Frances his wife, died the 29th day of March 1670."
On a frame in the north aile is the following account of benefadtions to this parilh :
" James Comer, late of Chedder in this county, yeoman, by his will gave 20I. to the churchwardens and overfeers of the poor of this parifli, upon this truft, that diey perpetually keep the fame out atufe on fufficient fccurity; and at their difcretion, dif- tribute the yearly intereft thereof for ever to the poor of this parifh, having no relief. He died June 22, 1733.
" Alfo Mr. James Saunders, of this parifh, by his will gave 5I. the intereft thereof to be diftributed on Chriftmas-day for ever by the churchwardens and overfeers at their
E e e 2 difcretion.
396 H U N T S P I L L. [J^imtfpiU, cum
difcretion, in ten equal loaves of bread, to ten poor perfons «f this parifh having no relief. ' He died Oft. 7, 1743-
" Alfo Mr. William Jeffery ;by -will gave lol. the intereft of the fame to be dlftri- buted by tlie churchwardens and overfeers on Chriftmas-day for ever, at their difcretion, to the poor of this parifli having no relief^ He died Nov. 30, 1760.
P U R I T O N,
Anciently called Peritone, or the Town on the Parretj
STANDS foutheaft from Huntfpill, in a low and damp fituation, on the edge of the moors and marfh.
In early days the manor of Peritone belonged to the church of St. Peter at Rome, as we find it recorded in the Norman furvey :
" The church of the blefled apollle St. Peter at Rome holds of the King, Peritone. '' Queen Eddid held it in the time of King Edward. There are fix hides; but it " gelded only for five hides. The arable is twelve carucates. Thereof in demefne are *' three hides, and there are two carucates, and four fervants, and eleven villanes, and " four cottagers, with fix ploughs. There are one hundred and fifty acres of meadow, " and one hundred and fifty acres of pafture. It yields per annum twelve pounds.'"
It is not altogether evident by what means the Romifli church loft the poffeltion of this ettate; but we find it foon after the Conquefl: annexed to the barony of Stowey; and in the time of Henry I. held as parcel thereof by Robert de Candos, a Norman, who gave the church here to the priory founded by him at Goldclive in the county of Monmouth. To this Robert fucceeded Walter de Candos, whofe daughter Maud carried it with other large eftates into the family of Columbers, by her marriage with Sir Philip de Columbers, knt. From which family it paflfed to that of Audley, and from thence to the crown. 36 Henry VIII. it was granted to William Goddinge, alias Goodwin; and 24 Eliz. the manors of Puriton, and Downend, (now a hamlet in this parifh) were granted to the Earl of Hertford, in the fchedule of whofe eftates Peryton is fet down at the annual value of 26I. 5s. lod.'' It aftei"wards became the property of the family of Finch, from whom it has defcended to Lady Ailesford the prefent poITeflbr.
The hamlet of DowNEND belonged at the Conqueft to Waker de Dowai, to whom it was given by King William the Conqueror :
" Walter holds one virgate of land which is called Doneham. Algar held it in the " time of King Edward- This is [parcel] of that land which the King gave to him ^' between the two waters [the rivers Brew and Parret.] It is worth twelve pence.'"
It went afterwards with Puriton, In this place ftood an ancient chapel.
? Lib. Domefday. ' MS. Valor. « lib, Domefday.
Ther©
g);jriton.] P U R I T O N. 397
There was a church at this period in the village of Puriton, to which belonged three virgates of land. The arable confifted of one carucate, and the whole was rated at twenty fhillings.'' The rectory of this church was valued in 1292 at twelve mark:;, and the vicarage at fix marks four fhillings: out of the former the prior of Goldclive received a penfion of two fhillings and feven-pence." It was appropriated to the mo- jiaftery of Tewkfbury, and in the year 1450, by an ordination of bilhop Beckington, it was decreed that the vicar fhould have a houfe built in the farm called the Parfon's Clofe, oppofite the fouth door of the parifh church of Puriton ; and all the clofc called the Parfon's -Clofe, adjoining to the faid vicarage, together with two acres of meadow, one lying in the North-mead, and the other in the Fijlylmede; and alfo four acres of paflure called the Vicary's-more near Oxhay, as alfo all fmall tithes within tlie fame parilh, whether of lamb, wool, milk, calves, flax, hemp, pigeons, pigs, geefe, chicken, and apples, excepting the fmall tithes of three tenements belonging to the abbot and convent; together with the tithes of mills in the fame parifh. The vicar to receive from the the faid abbot and convent 26s. 3d. per annum, and fuftain the underwritten incumbrances; viz. repair the chancel, find bread and wine for the 'altar, and two procelTional wax-candles for the high altar; pay his quotum for procurations and fynodals; and to the archdeacon of the place los. 4d. per annum. The faid vicar Ihall alfo find a dean rural for the deanery of Poulet, as often as fliall be found meet. And the faid vicar fliall alfo ferve the chapel of Downend, fituated within the bounds and limits of the faid parifh of Puriton; and fupport all charges incumbent on the fame. The above ordination was confirmed by John the then abbot, and the convent of Tewkfbury.'
22 Eliz. the refkoiy and the advowfon of the vicarage were granted to the dean and canons of the free chapel royal of St. George at Windfor, who are the prefent patrons of this benefice. The Rev. Mr. Wilmot is the prefent incumbent.
The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a Gothick edifice eighty feet long, and twenty-fix feet wide, with a low clumfy fpire, containing five bells and a clock.
On the fouth wall a black Hone is infcribed as follows: " Subtus jacent exuvije
Johannis Gouldam, cui morum amoenitas, animus propofiti tenax, ac verse religionis amor, bonis cum quels innotuit dileftum reddidit et colendum. Ingenij infuper acu- mine varios feliciter dignofcens morbos, et medendi arte penitus inftruftus, optatus inclaruit medic'us. Dies ille noftefque nunquam non paratus pauperibus blandam porrexit manum, cum ditiores ejus ambierunt opem. Tam chari capitis defiderio quis finis ludtus ? omnibus eheu ! flebilis omne in sevum. Pallida mors nunc magis hor- renda appares; — de ^fculapio altero agens triumphum."
* Lib. Domefday. • Taxat. Spiritual. ' Excerpt, c Regifl. Wellen.
THE
( 399 ]
«^— i>.< ft — — — n»Cl IJ
THE HUNDRED
O F
KEYNSHAM
LIES on the northeaft fide of the county, between the hundred of Bath-Forum on the eaft, and the hundreds of Chew, and HarecHve and Bedminfter, on the weft and foudiweft. The river Avon here divides this county from that of Gloucefter.
In the time of WiUiam the Conqueror, this hundred was thus furveyed:
" In Canesham hundred are one hundred and four hides. Thence the King has *' received for his geld fifteen pounds for fifty hides; and the King and his Barons have " in their demefne thirty hides and a half, of which the King in his demefne fifteen " hides, and the Bifliop of Coutances three hides and three yard-lands, and the Abbot " of Glaftonbuiy four hides and a half, and the Abbot of Bath five hides and one " yard-land; and the Prieft of Canefliam one hide, and Alvaricus of Canefliam one " hide; and for feventeen hides and a half held by the King's villanes at Canelham, " the King has received no geld; and half a hide which William Hubert holds of the " Bifhop of Coutances not yet accounted to the King's rate; and one hide and a half " which Herald holds of Alured not paid; and one hide and a half which Nicholas de ** Alvered holds, not paid; and three hides which Roger de Stanton holds, not paid. " From this hundred there is ftill coming to the King for geld feven pounds and " twelve-pence.'"
14 Henry II. this hundred was fined ten marks for a murder not noticed in the courts.**
Great part of this diftrift was anciently a royal chace; and Leland in his Itinerary tells us, that there was in his time a park of the King's walled with ftone hard witliout Keynfham." 8 Henry III. Ralph de Wilinton, governor of Briftol caftle, was conftituted by the King warden of the foreft and chace of Keynfliam.''
• F.vttcr Domcfday, *• Mag. Rot. 14 Henry II. Rot. 10. b. ' Lcl. Itin. vii. 104.
« P.-it. 8 Hen. III. p. i. m. :.
KEYNSHAM
[ 400 ] [megnfljam.
KEYNSHAM
IS a market town fituated on the fouthern bank of the river Avon, five miles fouth- eaft from Briftol, feven northweft from Bath, and in the great turnpike-road between thofe cities. It confifts principally of one ftreet, which is nearly a mile in length from eaft to weft. The river Chew runs through the eaft end of the town, and falls into the Avon at the county bridge, which is of ftone, and confifts of fifteen arches: another bridge crofles the Chew in the road to Bath. The tide from Briftol comes up the Avon to this parifti, and in the fpring fometimes brings up large quantities of that fmall fifti called elvers, which are noted by Camden as a curiofity," but now reckoned common. On this river there are confiderable large brafs and wire mills; there is alfo a fteel mill, and a cotton mill. There was formerly a confiderable woollen manufafture carried on here, but it is now entirely dropt; many of the poor however are ftill employed in fpinning for the Bradford, Trowbridge, and Shepton clothiers. Great quantities of the herb called Woad (the ancient Glajium, once peculiar to this county) are raifed here for the purpofes of dying."" And the parifti likewife has long been famous for the prolifick growth of the Percepier, or Parjley-Piert, faid to be a fpecifick in all urinary obftruftions. In the fouth part of the parifti rifes a fpring, called Chart/well, which forms a rivulet, and traverfing the Bath road, mixes with the Avon weft of Saltford. The market here is on Thurfday; and there are two fairs annually, viz. March 24, and Auguft 15.
It has always been the popular opinion that Keynfliam derived its name from one Keyna, a Britifti virgin, who lived about the year of Chrift 490, and according to Capgrave, a writer of the fourteenth century, was daughter of Braganus, prince of that province in Wales which from him was afterwards called Brecknock/hire. When this lady arrived at years of maturity, flie attradted many admirers, and many noble perfonages fought her in marriage : but fhe was deaf to all their overtures, having confecrated her virginity by a perpetual vow; for which caufe fiie was denominated by the Britons Keyn-Wyryfy or Keyna the Virgin. At length flie determined to forfake her native country, and feek fome defert place where to indulge in private her religious contemplations. Direfting her journey beyond the Severn, ftie met with a certain
" Britannia in Somerfetfliire.
' Hearne, in his introduiflion to the hiftory oi Mam de Dcmerham, p. 87, has given us the following old recipe for making woad :
" 3ln n,e motmtte ef QBarc^e taUe t1)p feiie, ariD fotnc \\t in gouBc loime luel j raitjD, ana dene, anD iuan Tjit fi grouD «U3313! pncTjja longe, tijan rppc l;it, ann grjnn Ijit final, ano niakt tallc Ijereof, as mudjc as a liettOjug Wat, ana (etc Ijam Btp a pon an liiirDtl in tlje fonne, ana tijan grpna Jam a jtn finale in to poiiayr, ana tljan fpfte T)tt tftottec a fmaie tpaaptiie, ana tije tjtetc tfjctc ot grjnae ifjit a jtn, ana fyft t^t a ?en as je ajae a fcvt, ana tl)an ley al tijj poua^t a pon a fejtc paSfn flore a btoae Tjalfote ttipfcc, ana tfjart pen caff icattr, ana tutnc ana iocnac ijitt toitfi a njtitijl, tpf fjit be notfipt tocte, not^ijt Drj, bote bp tVufvt to, ann tfjan ley fjit Vip to an 1;ppf, ai8 jc toola malt, tpl 'jiit take fjctr, ts Ijotc a? jc ma? fiiffpt poiite l()sna tfjarc in. ana tijan ftp bit a btcac, ana fete tfe fcjtc paffc aluap tljeve of, ana tban Iij bit to gcDpt a gen to an bfpe, Vf\ bit be a»' bote a bit iuob, ana tban cuttp Bap ao irt tbe fame iBpfc, tpl bit tool tal;c no nunc bete, .ana tban bit moH belta abtoac a gen apon a fapte pavifn flcnre, ata arp Ijtt loitb tutnpg toitf; a Ifjobgl eiieig Bf,tjnc bit be Crp, aiiO tban bit ga ful niact to go to tbe ^oaefsae, ana to oej gouae '^Slutoe."
woody
IScpnDjam.] K E Y N S H A M 401
woody place in thefe parts, and nnade herrequert: to the prince of the counti-y that flic might be periTiittcd to ferve God in that fpot of fohtude and rctireunent. The prince informed her he was ready to grant her petition; but that the place fo fwarmcd with ferpcnts, that neither man nor beaft could live therein; to which the virgin replied, that (he firmly trufted fhe fliould be able to drive the venomous brood out of all that country. Hereupon the place was granted her, and by her prayers all the fnakes and vipers were converted into (tones. And to this day (continues Cafgrave'% Tranflator) the ftones in that country refemble the windings of ferpents through all the fields and villages, as if they had been fo framed by the hand of the engraver.'
In this manner the monkifh enthufiafts of former times accounted for that wonderflil lujus natur^ey the Cornua Ammonis, or fnake-ftones, (as they are vulgarly called) which abound in the quarries of this parifli, and many whereof are ftuck up in the walls of the houfes. They are found from a quarter of an inch to upwards of two feet in diameter.
There are others alfo that pretend this place obtained its appellation from the Cangi, a people who inhabited thefe parts; but this etymology is equally uncertain as the other is abfurd; nor can we trace its hiftory any further back than the Norman Con- queft, when it had the following defcription:
" The King holds Cainesham. In the time of King Edward it gelded for fifty " hides. The arable is one hundreu carucates. Thereof are in demefne fifteen hides " and a half, and there are ten carucates, and twenty fervants, and twenty-five coliberts, " and feventy villanes, and forty cottagers, with fixty-three ploughs. There are fix " mills of fixty (hillings rent, and one hundred acres of meadow, and one hundred " acres of pafture. Wood one mile long, and as much broad. It renders one hundred ** and eight pounds by tale. It did render fourfcore pounds.
" To this manor belong eight burgefTes in Bade, [Bath], They pay five (hillings " per annum.
" Of thofe fifty hides Earl Euftace holds four hides in Beletone, [Belluton] and *' Alured of him. Tovi held them for a manor in the time of King Edward. There " is in demefne one carucate and a half, with one fervant, and five villanes, and two *' cottagers, with two ploughs. There is a mill of fifteen (hillings rent, and twenty- " two acres of meadow, and twenty acres of pafture. Wood diree furlongs long, and " two furlongs broad. It was worth three pounds, now four pounds.
" Of the fame land of this manor, Roger holds ten hides in Stantone [Stanton- " Drew]. He has there in demefne one carucate, and fifteen villanes, and thirteen " cottagers, having feven ploughs. There is a mill of ten (hillings rent, and fifteen " acres of meadow. Pafture four furlongs long, and one furlong and a half broad, and " as much wood. It is worth one hundred (hillings.
" Of the fame land the brfliop of Coutances holds half a hide, and there has half a " carucate. It is wortli five fliillings. Ulward held it, and it could not be alienated " from the manor.
' Capgrave in Vita S. Keynse. Crefly's Church Hiftory, &c. Vol. II. Fff "The
♦
402 K E Y N S H A M. [S^egnRjam,
" The wife of the faid Ulward holds one hide of the aforefaid fifty hides, and has ** there four ploughs, with three fervants, and three villanesj and four cottagers. There " are twelve acres of meadow, and four acreSi of coppice wood. It was and is worth " four pounds.
** Aluric holds of the fame land one hide, which Ulmar held in the time of King " Edward, and could not be feparated from the manor, There is one plough, and *' feventeen acres of meadow, and two acres of pafture. It is worth twenty fhillings.'"'
In fucceeding times this great manor became a member of the honour of Gloucefter, and was held by the Earls thereof till the year 1 170, when William earl of Gloucefter having, at the requeft of his fon Robert on his death-bed, founded in the town of Keynftiam an abbey of Black. Canons, which he dedicated to the honour of God, the bleflfed Virgin Mary, and St. Peter and St. Paul, endowed the fame with this whole manor and hundred; which donation was confirmed to the abbey by Gilbert de Clare, a fucceeding Earl of Gloucefter. King Edw. II. in the i ith year of his reign, ratified the grant made by William earl of Gloucefter, of the manor of Keynftiam, with the church and chapels thereto belonging; and the village of Filton, Chewton, and Charleton, inter alia-, and four ftiillings rent of land of the gift of Thomas de Bayes in the parifti of Backwell. King Edw. III. in the tenth year of his reign, reciting the above confirmation, further confirmed it. Befides thefe, various other pofleflions were added to this monaftery by different benefadlors, infomuch that at its fupprefTion the yearly revenues thereof were valued at 41 9I. 14s. jd. The abbots were fummoned to the convocation : their names were,
William, who prefided in 1175.
George de Efton, 12 13.
Gilbert, 1274.
Nicholas de Taunton, 1322, i33<;.
John de Bradford was confirmed Feb. 3, 1348.
Thomas, 1396. He was fummoned to the convocation Nov. 9, 1416.
Walter Bekkensfield was fummoned to the council of FlorencCy April 20, 1438. He refigned in December 1455.
Thomas Tyler fucceeded the fame year, at whole eleftion there were fifteen monks refident in the convent. He occurs abbot in 1463.
John Graunt was elefted in 1493.
Philip de Keynfham fucceeded in 1499. ^^ ^^^^ '" ^505-
William Rolfe was eleded April 8, 1506. He was fummoned to the convoca- tion in 1515.
John Stonefton' was abbot in 1 526. This John was the laft abbot of the monaftery, and with William Heme, prior, John Given, fub-prior, John Arnold, and twelve others, fubfcribed to the King's fupremacy Aug. 18, 1534; after which, viz. Jan 23, "^^39) he with ten monks furrendered the convent to the crown, and had a penfiun of
" Lib. Domefday. ' So Archer; but Willis fays Stourton.
fixty
mepnftamj k E Y N s H A M. 403
fixty pounds per annum affigned him for life. In 1553 there remained in charge 21I. I2S. in annuities, and the following penfions, viz. To John Home 9I. William Sybbott, 61 13s. 4d.; John Arnold 61. j Thomas Bode 5I. 6s. 8d.; John Browne 5I. 6s, Sd.j John GifFord 5I. 6s. 8d.i Thomas Parker 5I. 6s. 8d.j John Partrydge 5I.; and to Richard Adamps iV
None of the buildings of the abbey, which are faid to have been large and grand, are now remaining. In the abbey-church, which flood foutlieaft of the prefent parifli church, were buried William earl of Gloucefter, the founder, who died in 1173, and Robert his fon, who died in his father's life-time; as alfo divers others of the fame family, Jafpcr duke of Bedford, by his will dated 1 5 Dec. 1 1 Henry VII. bequeathed his body to be buried in this monaftery, and a handfome tomb to be made for him, whereon to be expended one hundred marks j appointing that certain of his lordfhips and lands lying within the counties of Nottingham, Derby, and Warwick, of the yearly value of forty pounds, fhould be amortifed for the finding of four priefls to fing perpetually in this monaftery for the welfare of his foul, and for the foul of his father; as alfo for the fouls of Catherine (fometime queen of England) his mother; Edmund earl of Richmond his brother; and the fouls of all other his predecefTors. And that upon the day of his interment there fliould be diftributed to every poor man and •woman, that would accept it, two-pence a piece.^ Many of the Berkeley family were alfo buried here, and for feveral of them obits were regularly obferved. In the latter end of the laft century three effigies of abbots were dug up out of the conventual cemetery, and carried away to adorn fome neighbouring garden.""
■Near the fcite of the abbey-houfe was built a fuperb and elegant feat, fometime occupied by Colonel Bridges, and after his death, by the Duke of Chandos; but the fabrick being fufFered to get out of repair, and the family feldom refiding there, it was pulled down in the year 1776; and about the fame time the ruinous remains of the old abbey, about one hundred yards behind the houfe, were dug up to level the ground, wlien many monumental ftones were difcovered.
Immediately after the difTolution King Henry VIII. 5 July 1535, demifed and let to farm the fcite of the abbey of Keynfliam to John Panter, for a term of twenty-one years, together with a clofe called Covent-Orchard, confifting of fifteen acres, at a yearly rent of fix fhillings and eight-pence; the tenant to repair the houfes and buildings. The fame king fettled the manor of Keynfham on Catherine Parrc his laft queen, who furvived him, and was afterwards married to Sir Thomas Seymour, lorci high admiral of England. She died in 1 548. After which King Edw. VI. by patent dated i 2 May 1550, granted the manor and hundred of Keynfham, and the parfonage and the church of Keynfham, with the manors of Filton, alias W^hitchurch, Charleton, and Chewton; the redory and church of Briflington; the chapel of St. Anne at Briflington; as alfo the fcite and the chapel of the manor of Keynfham, and all tithes belonging to the feveral manors and churches abovementioned, to Sir Jolin St. Loe, knt. for the term of fixty years.
* Willis's Hift, of Abbies, ii, 198. « Dugd. Bar. ii. 242. ' Notes by Savage, 1692,
Fff2 This
404 K E Y N s- H A M. [mepnQjam,
This leafe was foon after in part given up, and Edw, VI. in the fixth year of his reign, A. D. 1552, in confideration of the fum of 922I. as. a|d. granted to Thomas Bridges, efq; all thofe farms, fee-farms, tenements, and hereditaments, known by the names of EJlover and Wefiover, with rights and appertenances in the parifli of Keyn- fham, lately belonging to the monaftery there; and all houfes, barns, &c. thereto belonging, and commons of pafture on the downs of Eftover and Weftover. Alfo all that fee-farm of Stockwood, &c. Alfo the retlory and church of Keynfham, and right of patronage of the fame, lately belonging to the faid monaftery j and all tithes called the Strewe-'Tything. Alfo all houfes, lands, barns, tithes, glebes, tithes of grain and hay, and all other tithes, as well as oblations and profits, belonging to the faid reftory. Alfo all that fcite or houfe of the late monaftery, land, foil, &c. thereto belonging. Alfo all that tenement called Newycke, with its appertenances, fituated near the late chapel of St. Anne of Brijlleton, and all houfes, gardens, and profits belonging to the faid mefluage of Newycke. Alfo all the chapel of St. Anne aforefaid, and the church-yard wherein it was fituated, and all rents and profits belonging to the faid meflliage, chapel, and church-yard. Alfo all that wood or grove called Hamclyffe- Wood, lying near the Avon in the parifti of Weft-Hannam in the county of Gloucefter, lately belonging to the faid monaftery; alfo all underwood, trees, &c. in HamclyfFe- Wopd; alfo all that clofe of land called Cojyner's Leafe , under Warley-wood, within the parifh of Keynftiam, and all trees and profits belonging to the faid clofe." Alfo all thofe twelve waggon-loads of fire-wood, annually to be taken out of Filwood, and to be carried by the farmer of Filton near Whitchurch to the melTuage of Newycke, at the reafonable fummons of the pofleffor of the faid mefluage, annually, and at the fit and proper time. With all woods, lands, rents, reverfions, &c. to the faid Thomas Bridges, as were ufually enjoyed by the faid monaftery; except out of the faid grant the lead and bells in and upon the fcite of the faid monaftery, referved to the King and his heirs ; one clofe called Cofynefs clofe in Filton nigh Whitchurch, and one other clofe called the Cowe-Leafey and one underwood called Jlfin^ s-Grove, and one other clofe called Broad-Meadow in Chewton; as alfo the tithes of Chewton, Charleton, and Whitchurch ; all which were let by the King by leafe for a term of life or years.
This Thomas Bridges, to whom the above grant of Keynftiam was made, was the fecond fon of Sir Giles Bridges, of Coberley in the county of Gloucefter, and brother of Sir John Bridges, created Baron Chandos, of Sudley-Caftle in the county of Glou- cefter, April 8, 1554; — a family which derived their origin from a younger branch of the old Montgomeries, lords of Brugge-Caftle in Shropftiire, whence they obtained their name. The faid Thomas Bridges was of the court of Henry VIII. and one of thofe who attended at that King's funeral, bearing the dragon ftandard between two ferjeants at arms with their maces. He was ftieriff" of Gloucefterftiire 3 Edw. VI. and in the time of Q^ Mary was an officer of the tower under his brother Sir John Bridges lord Chandos. By his laft will and teftament, bearing date Oft. 18, 1559, he be- queathed towards the reparation of the bridge and caufeway of Keynftiam 40I. with as much ftone.of the late abbey-church there, as might be needful for the repair of the faid bridge and church, provided it ftiould be repaired within two years after his deceafe j and in default thereof the 40I. to be diftributed among the poor of the town
of
megnlljam*] KEYNSHAM. 40^
of Keynlham. To Anne his wife, daughter of John Wyndham, of Orchard-Wyndham, efqj he bequeathed for the term of her life, his hoiife of Keynfham, (formerly the abbey) with the fcite of the faid houfe, and all other houfes appertaining thereto, as alfo the grange of Eftover and Weftover, and die farm of Stockwood near the towa of Keynfham.
His Grace the prefent Duke of Chandos is the reprefentative of this ancient family; many of whofe monuments, fetting forth their charafters and defcents, remain in the parifli church, where they had their fepulture.
With regard to the future pofleflbrs of the royalties appertaining to this parifli. King James I. by letters patent bearing date March 6, 1613, the nth year of his reign, granted the manor and hi^dred of Keynfham to Anne Whitmore, of London, widow : in whofe family it continued till lately purchafed of them by Edward Lyne, M. D. father of Edward Lyne, efq; tlie prefent pofTefTor, who holds court-leet and baron, and a court every three weeks for the recovery of fmall debts under the fum of forty Ihillings contraded within the hundred.
Within the parifh, and nearly fouth from the town of Keynfham, is a hamlet called from it Chewton-Keynsham, which at the time of the Conquefl was a member of the great manor of Keynfham, and was afterwards annexed to the abbey. After the difTolution it was granted to Clarke, and pafTing into the family of Popham, was by them fold in 1766 to Thomas Lediard, efq; the prefent pofTefTor.
The church of Keynfham was appropriated to the abbey, and with the chapel of Chewton, was valued in 1292 at fifty marks, the vicarage at one hundred fhlllings.' The living is vicarial, and lies in the deanery of RedclifT and Bedminfter. The Duke of Chandos is the'patron, and the Rev. Mr. Jones the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. John Baptifl, flands in the middle of the town, and is a large and very handfome edifice, confifling of a nave, chancel, and two fide ailes, with a lofty tower at the wefl end, containing eight bells.
The chancel belongs to the Duke of Chandos, and contains the family vault of the Bridges, and many curious monuments.
On the north fide of the chancel is an ancient mural monument of fVone, fupported by a tomb about five feet high, on which, under a double arch, lies the effigies of Henry Bridges, efq;. in armour, his feet fupported by a dragon couchant, with the head turned back and mouth open, in the attitude of feizing his leg. His neck is encompafTed with a large rufF, and his hands placed together in a fuppliant pofture over his breafl» Above is the following infcription :
" Hie jacet fub hoc tumvlo corpus Henrici Bridges, armigeri, qui mortem obijt decimo-quarto die menfis Aprilis Anno Domini 1587." Arms, (cut in ftone) i. On a crofs a leopard's head: Bridges. 2. A pile: Chandos, 3. A fcfTe between three martlets, 4. Bridges.
' Taxat. Spiritual.
On
4o6 K E Y N S H A M. [mepnOjam.
On the fouth wall is a mural monument of white marble, infcribed,'- " To the religious memorie of Mrs. Phillip Bridges, wife of Edward Bridges, efq; and beloved daughter of Sir George Speke, knight of the honourable order of the Bath, who died the 6th day of December 1628; her age 34.
" Here under buried lyeth, but lives above,
A female Jofeph for her father's lovej
Loving and loved of her beloved mate.
His care-away, and ftay unto his ftate ;
"Whom winter's chill that all things elce decaies
Nipt off before the autumn of her dales j
Seven buddes Ihe left behind, her fruits of grace
Are with Her gon vnto the heavenly place, Where we which now do part with grief, with joy fhall meet When God Ihall raife up us, and tread death under feet."
Arms : On one fide of the monument. Argent, on a crofs Jable^ a leopard's head or: Bridges. On the other. Argent, two bars Jable, over all an eagle difplayed with two necks gules: Speke.
On the fame fide of the chancel is a fuperb mural monument of ftone of three parts, viz. In the center, within a hollow arched nich 4 feet wide, and 9 high, is the effigies of Sir Thomas Bridges, knt. kneeling on a cufhion. He is dreffed in a loofe gown with long hanging cuffs which reach his knees, and a robe flowing behind fined with white. On his ancle is a large fpur, and on his foot a fquare-toed white fhoe with a yery high red heel. His long curling hair flows on his fhoulders. On his left hand, which is a fittle extended forward, hang the ribband of the order; and at his fide are the remains of a fword. From his breafl hang the infignia. In the top, within the hollow of the cove, is a fine group of clouds, from which projects a figure crowned with gold, reprefenting an angel with a trumpet in his hand, the upper part of which is in his mouth, and from the lower part ifl*ues a label with this infcription :
*' Awake thou that fleepefl:, arife from the dead, and Chrift Ihall give thee life."
Beneath the effigies is the following infcription: " To the memory of Sir
Thomas Bridges, knight of the noble order of the Bath, fon of Sir Thomas Bridges, of Keynlham, knt. and of Anna, one of the daughters and heirs of Sir Edward Rodney, of Rodney-Stoke in this county, knt. who by his father was defcended from the right honourable and moft ancient familie of the Lords Shandos, barons of Sudley-caftle in the county of Gloucefterj and by his mother from the illuftrious dukes of Norfolke and Somerfett. He received his Iwnour on the 19th of April in the yeare of our Lord 1 66 1, and on the 2,3d of the fame moneth attended at the coronation of his Majefty King Charles the Second. And on Saturday the firft of June in the fame year 1661, hee exchanged his tranfitory for an eternal weight of glory, and in hopes of a glorious reunion with his immortal foul. Neare unto this place refteth his earthly and mortal part.
Reader
aepnOjam.] K E Y N s H A ivr.
407
" Reader, if thou Iiafte ought that's dcare,. Exprefs 't by thy compaflion here, Soe may noo force of deftiny Gaufe future floweings from thine eye; Know that die neighbouring earth enlhrincs The cafket of a gemme divine 5 Nature on one all fweetnefs plac'd, T'other embellilhed was by grace; Of both the full perfeftions join'd, Beautyes and virtues rays combined, A peerlefs brightnefs to compofe, * Which death ecclips'd ev'n as it rofe; ^ And rend'ring it as fhort as bright. Left us envelop'd in an endlefs night.
In fumme there lye his parents worthy chief Delight and hopes, their greateft joy and grief. Chrift was his life, who taught him fooneto dye. And gave by death a bleft eternity,"
Under the fecond and third parts of this monument, to the right and left of the above, are two angels in fine white drapery, with golden crowns on their heads, each of them holding a crown in one hand, and pointing with the other hand to the label i/Tuing from the trumpet. Their faces are towards the effigy, and they leem waiting for the command to crown him. Above their heads are fine rich cornices and pediments fupported by two black projefting and detached twilled columns, and ter- minated by two ftoneftatues. Underneath thefe angels are the arms, viz. i. Bridges,, impaling Speke. 2. Or, three eagles difplayed ^k/^j, Rodney; impaling, argent , three cinquefoils gules.
To the right of the above is another elegant mural monument of red and white marble, terminated by a flaming urn. On an oval black tablet encompafied with- foliage and palm branches, with a weeping cherub on each fide, is the following in-
fcription : " To the deare me4nory of Anna, daughter and coheir of Sir Edward
Rodney, knt. of Rodney-Stoke in this county, and beloved wife of the honourable Sir Thomas Bridges, of Kainlham. She was truly pious to God, charitable to the poor, loving to all. She left this life, in hopes of a glorious refurreftion, the 4th of April 1705." Arms, Bridges impaling Rodney.
On the north fide of the chancel is a neat mural monument of white marble, with a coved pediment terminated by three urns. On each fide are weeping cherubs. On
the tablet is this infcription : " H. S. E. Thomas Bridges, eques, anriqua genero-
foriim familia, proceribus etiam foecunda, oriundus: cui clarum Rodneiorum nomep et fanguinem, hasrede in matrimonium recepta, feliciter adjunxit virtutis, eruditionis, prudentis fpccimen egregium: Regi optimo Carolo primo inrebus difficilli nis (non fine gravi pat;imonij detrimento) fidelis ac utilis. Refticuto Carolo fecundofortunastam honefte diminutas, homo quod fatjs erat frugi, induftria et prudentia, non minus honeftc
repaiavit.
4o8 K E Y N s H A M. [mcgnlljam.
reparavlt. Ecclefijs ornandis, pauperibus alendis, pueris erudiendis, abdite, ample tamen, et frequenter, beneficus: moriens, parochias de Keynfham, Covent-Garden, Rodney-Stoke, Batcomb, &c. munificentije teftes, reliquit. In xdibiis fuls, huic ecclefise proxiniis, Feb. die xx° An" D''' mdccvi, statis [um xc, obijt. Patii optimo, Anna Powell, filia natu, (non tamen afFeftu) lecunda, hoc monumentum, M. P."— Arms, Bridges and Rodney.
Near to this, and on another mural monument of grey marble, the cornice of which is fupported with two columns, round and fwelling in the middle, and terminated with Corinthian capitals gilt, is the following:— — " To the memoiy of George Bridges, of Lincolnes-Inn, efq; the ion of Edward Bridges, efqj who dyed the firft of Jan. 1677. To the memory of Katharine Bridges, the daughter of Edward Bridges, efq; a woman truly eminent in her duty to God and love to her neighbours, and charitye to the poore ;and fatherlefs, who left this life the 15th of April 1687." »
On the fame wall is a rich monument of fine clouded marble, in the fwelling tablet
of which, furrounded with a feftoon curtain with gilt fringe and taffels, is infcribed,
'*' Infra jacet corpus Harry Bridges, armigeri, fiUi Thomze Bridges, equitis aurati, et Annas uxoris ; vir patris fuas verus amator, qui annos ultra quinquagenarios magiftratus officiis fideliter fundt^s eft. Multis peregrinationibus varias acquifivit linguas, Gallicae, Hifpanicas, et Italicae, apprime fciens. In omnibus denique egregie doftus, prompto et faceto ingenio, vixit undecimo die Oftobris 1728, astat. -81." Arms, Bridges, impaling ei-mirw, two piles fable.
On a flat ftone under the communion-table: " Here lyeth the body of Charles
Bridges, efq; fon of Sir Thomas Bridges and Anne his wife; who dyed the 6th day of January 1668."
On the next ftone : " Here lyeth the body of Edward Bridges, fon of Sir Thomas
Bridges and Anne his wife; who dyed the firft day of November 1678."
On an adjacent ftone : " Here lyeth the Lady Anna Bridges, wife of Sir Thomas
Bridges, of Keynftiam,"
And on another next to it: — " Here lyeth Sir Thomas Bridges, knt. of Keynftiam."
On the next ftone: " Here lyeth the body of William Bridges, efq; fonnc of Sir
Thomas Bridges and Anne his wife, who dyed the loth day of March 1684. Anna Powell, daughter of Sir Thomas Bridges, departed this life the i8th of March 1740."
On another ftone below the rails: " Here lyeth the body of Harry the fon of
James Bridges, of this parifti, gent, and Mary his wife, who departed this life the 15th of Jan. 1720, aged one year and four months. And alfo of James, Thomas, and another Harry, who all dyed infants."
On another ftone: " Here lyeth the body of James Bridges, gent, natural fon of
Harry Bridges, efq; who dyed June the 23d, 1 741, aged 44 years."
On an old mural monument of ftx)ne, againft the wall of the north aile:— — " Mrs. Joane Flover. Anag. — Love for ante.
" Having by love fulfiU'd the law, ftie dies, That natvre's law might have its facrifice. t.
ItlepnftamO K E Y N S H A M. 409
Be not thov curious, reader, to knowe The jewel in earth's cabinet below j If an infcription will give content. This ftone can tell (he liv'd as innocent , As here flie lies: If faints receive their blis, Precious in God's fight this jewel is. If this pleafe not, reade thou her name, and find The exprefs characters of her fweet mind. To be where fhe 's, think thov it noe difgrace. An element fhould be in its proper place. , Thus earth to earth — like is of like defir'd, And thou expedl the like when life's expir'd.
Noe triumph, death ! that fovldier 's not flayne. That trumpet's founds can raife to die is gayne.
" Carendo potius quam fruendo beneficium agnofcimus."
Againft the eaft end of the north aile is a mural monument of ftone, in the center of which on an oval black tablet incircled with foliage (in which reft two weeping cherubs in a reclining pofture, the one holding a (kuU, the other an hour-glafs) is the following
infcription : " Siftas parumper viator, et lachrymvla fakem vrnam humedes Henrici
Flower, gcnerofi, qui fi candorem Ipeftes ceteris a;tatis fvje prsefuit: fi modeftiam; par omnibus: fi fcientiam; paucis inferior: fireligionem (quod nomen defascata hac aetate fchifmatum voragine pasne abforptum eft) ecclefia veras apoftolicas conftans ctindefeftus vigvit alvmnvs. Quod fi Apollineam lavrvm addidifce potviflTet, ApoUinaris facukas vivide adhuc floruiffet Apollinis filius. Sed invidente fato Junij 9, anno Domini 1667, vere fui menfis cecidit Flos."
On a flat ftone in the paflage of the middle aile, " Here lyeth the body of Anna,
the daughter of Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Maiy Leman, who departed April 23, 1633, £etatis fu£ 1 9.
'* Grim death, the eater meate doth give. By that which did me kill, I live; The grave devours me, but I fhall Live to fee its funeralj After fome ages more are Ipent, The gluttonous grave ftiall keep a lent."
Againft the north wall, by the veftry-room, are the following records of bcnefadions :
BenefaSlors to the Poore of this Parijh.
" Henry Bridges, efq; gave fifty pounds, the profitts to the poore for ever.
** Mr Carew gave twenty pounds.
" Mr. William Carter gave five pounds.
" Mr. Walter Holbin gave fifty pounds. •
" Mr. John Wright, five pounds.
*' Mr. Stibbins, five pounds.
Vol. II. Ggg **Mr.
410 KEYNSHAM. [i^cpnOjam.
" Mr. Tliomas Holbin gave five pounds a year for ever, to be pAid to the poore of tlie parifh on St. Thomas's-day.
•* Mr. Thonnas Cox gave forty Ihillings to the poore for ever.
" The feoffees of this parifh gave fowerteene pounds, the profitts to the poore for ever.
" Mr, John Henry gave ten ftiillings a yeare for ever for a fermon to be preached eveiy yeare on New-year's-day.
" Mr. Robert Bagnal gave fifty pounds, the profitts to the poore for ever.
W. Hill, 7 churchwardens, 1685. VF." *
J. RUMSEV, j ''
In another frame:
" Benefadtors to the Church and Poor of this parifli.
" 1724. Mrs. Ann Tilly, late of this parilli, fpinfler, deceafed, gave the two brafs branches in the middle and fouth ailes, with the irons and ornaments thereto. She alfo gave the fume of forty pounds, the profits thereof to be applied in manner fol- lowing, viz. 20s. to the poore in bread on Chriftmas-Eve ; los. for a lermon on Chnftmas-day in the evening; 5s. for candlels, and the remainder for cleaning the branches yearly for ever, to be laid out and paid as by her will is direded.
'' iji^, Harry Bridges, cfq; gave the new font and cover, and other benefadlions, towards ornamenting this church.
" 1729. Mr. John Bowles, late of Kingfton-upon-Thames, deceafed, by his will gave lol. a year payable at Chriftmas for ever to put poor boys of this parifli to fchool or apprentices^ as the churchwardens for the time being fliall tliink. fit."
On a third frame :
" The benefaflions of the honourable Sir Thomas Bridges, and of his virtuous lady the Lady Anna Bridges, to the parifh and parifh church of Keynfham.
" Sir Thomas Bridges hath given one hundred pounds, the ufe of it to twelve poor men, to be differibuted by his heir and the minifler of the parifli for ever.
" The Lady Anna Bridges, wife of Sir Thomas Bridges lately deceafed, gave the crimfon velvet altar-cloth and cufhion, and a crimfon velvet pulpit-cloth, all with gold _fringe; as alfo a large Commori- Prayer book to be ufed at the altar.
" Sir Thomas Bridges hath given two filver flagons, a chalice, and cover, with his and his Lady's arms on it, to the ufe of the altar.
*' Sir Thomas Bridges hath erefted a fchool, and endowed it with twenty pounds a year, for tlie teaching of twenty poor boys of the town and parifh.
*' Sir Thomas Bridges hath eredted an alms-houfe for fix people, and endowed it with twenty-four pounds a year.
" Sir Thomas Bridges hath given twenty fliillings a year for preaching a fermon in the church of Keynfham on the 4th of April, in memory of the Lady Bridges for ever."
In
megnOjam.] KEYNSHAM. 411
In a frame over the veftry door:
" Captain James Saunders, late of London, and a native of this town, by his will of the 8th of March 1739, gave one hundred pounds to the poor of this parifh, to be difpofed of as agreed on in veftry; and one hundred pounds to the churchwardens to- wards keeping this church in repair, and preferving the grave-ftones of his father
and family."
In the fouth wall of the chancel is a remarkably large benetoire, with two circular bafons for the reception of holy water.
BRISLINGTON
IS a village pleafantly fituated on the great road from Bath to Briftol, and diftant from the latter two miles. It ftands on the eafy Hope of a hill, and is wafhed by a fmall ftream which has its fource at Saltwell in the parilh of Whitchurch.
This place was a part of the honour of Gloucefter, granted by King William Rufus to Robert Fitz-Hamon, nephew of William the Conqueror. This Robert at his death left ifllie four daughters, two of whom were abbefles, viz. Cecily of Shaftefbury, and Hawife of Wilton. Amice married the Earl of Britanny; and Mabel was married to Robert earl of Gloucefter, one of the illegitimate fons of Henry I. who had in her right this manor.
To this Robert fucceeded William his fon, whofe ifllie male being extind, the faid William conftftuted John a younger fon of Henry II. his heir. He died in 1 173, and after his deceafc the king retained this earldom in his own hands ; but in the laft year of his reign he gave Ifabel, the fitter and coheir of the faid William, in marriage to John his fon, afterwards King of England, who before he came to the crown, at the requeft of the faid Ifabel his wife, granted this manor with all its appertenances to Sir John la Warre, to hold by the fervice of half a knight's fee, which grant the faid King John ratified and confirmed in the eighth year of his reign.'
This John la Warre died 14 Joh. leaving Jordan la Warre his fon and heir,, who then paid two hundred pounds for livery of his lands."* His wife's name was Johanna.
To whom fucceeded John la Warre, who 3 Edw. I. was flieriff of Herefordfhire, in which county he chiefly had his refidence, as had alfo his fucceflTor
Roger la Warre, who 27 Edw. I. was fummoned to parliament among the barons; and died feized of this manor 14 Edw. II. leaving by Clarice his wife, daughter and coheir of Sir John de Trcgoz, a great baron in Herefordfliire and Wiltftiire, John his fon heir, forty years of age.
• Cart. 8 Joh. » Rot. Pip. 14 Job.
G g g 2 Which
412 B R I S L I N G T O N. [Ecgnli^am*
Which John, fon and heir of Roger lord la Warre, upon the death of Clarice his mother, 29 Edw. I. had an affignation of a moiety of the lands of which John de Tregoz, father of the faid Clarice, died poflefied. Among them was the manor oi' Chelworth in this county. This John was in feveral expeditions in the time of Edw. I. II. and III.; he married Joane, daughter of Robert, and fifter and heir to Thomas lord Grelle, of Manchefter in the county of Lancafterj and having been fummoned to parliament from i Edw. II. to 16 Edw. III. died 21 Edw. III. without ifllie; where- upon Roger his grandfon, viz. fon of John his eldeft fon, who died in his life-time, by Margaret daughter of Robert Holland, became his heir.
Which Roger 23 Edw. III. had livery of the lands of his inheritance. 30 Edw. III. he was with Prince Edward in the great battle of Poiftiers, where the Englifh gained a compleat vidlory. He was fummoned to parliament 2^ and 37 Edw. III. and died 44th of that reign, feized, among many other manors, of Briflington which he held of Edward le Difpencer, leaving John la Warre his fon and heir. Of the aforefaid Roger, Robert Wyteney held a knight's fee in Comb-Wyche. The faid Roger la Warre was buried in the abbey of Swinefhead in the county of Lincoln, and was fucceeded in his eftates by Sir John la Warre, knt. twenty-five years of age at the date of his father's deceafe.
This John had fummons to parliament from 44 Edw. III. till 21 Ric. II. He died 27 July, 22 Ric. II. without iflliei being then certified to have been feized, among divers other eftates, of this manor of Briftleton, which he is faid to have held of Thomas le Difpencer earl of Gloucefter, as of the honour of Gloucefter, by the fervice of two parts of a knight's fee.
At the death of which John, Thomas his brother became his heir. The faid Thomas was reftor of the church of Manchefter, which he made collegiate; and dying 4 Hen. VI. Sir Reginald Weft, knt. was found to be his heir; being the fon of Joane, late the wife of Thomas Weft, and fifter of the faid Thomas de la Warre.
Which Reginald Weft was fummoned to parliament by the title of Lord de la Warre, 5 Hen. VI. in which firft year he had livery of his lands. He was in many cam- paigns in France in the reign of Henry VI. and dying 29 Henry VI. left Richard his fon and heir.
Which Richard, in confideration of his fpecial fervices to the houfe of Lancafter during their contentions with the houfe of York, 38 Henry VI. obtained a grant of 40]. per annum during his life, to be received out of the iflues and profits of the manor of Old-Wutton in the county of Wilts, part of the pofieflions of the Duke of York, (Richard) then attainted. He afterwards went abroad to avoid the poUticks of the times, and died 16 Edw. IV. poflefled of this manor, which defcended to his fon and heir Thomas, then nineteen years of age.
This Thomas Weft lord de la Warre was a great favourite in the courts of Hen. VII. and VIII. of the former of whom he obtained many large eftates in the county of Suflex, being part of tlie pofieflions of John duke of Norfolk attainted. He had two wives, I . Elizabeth, fifter of Sir John Mortimer, knt. by whom he had Thomas, and
William
KcpnUam.] B R I s L I N o T o n. 413
William who died inTiiekfs, and four daughters. 2. Eleanor, daughter of Sir Roger Copley, knt. He died 1525, 17 Henry VIII.
Thomas Weft lord de la Warre, fon and heir of the laft-mentioned Thomas lord dc la Warre, fucceeded him. Me was a knight banneret, and being elefted knight of the garter, Dec. i, 1549, was inftalled the 13th of that month at Windfor. He married Elizabeth daughter and coheir of Sir John Bonville, knt. but left no ilfue. He died in 1554, feized of this manor, and that of Shepton- Mallet in this county. By an inquifition taken after his deceafe, his heirs were found to be Joan Dudley duchefs of Northumberland, being the daughter and heir of Eleanor his eldeft fifter, the wife of Sir John Guildford, knt. and the three daughters of his fecond fifter Dorothy, the wife of Sir Owen Weft, knt. viz. Elizabeth, wife of Nicholas Deering; Mary, wife of John Warnetj and Anne, wife of James Gage. John Lacey, efq; was lord of this manor 30 Eliz. and from him it defcended to Sir Rowland Lacey, knt. Sir John Lacey, knt. and Rowland Lacey, efq; who poflefled it in 1653; whence it pafled to the family of Langton, and from them to William Gore Langton, efq; (in right of his wife) who is the prefent owner.
a Edw. III. A. D. 1328, a petition was prefented in parliament at the fuit of Joan la Warre, complaining that the manor of Briftleton, which then and always was with- out the bounds of the King's chace, called Kingfwood, and alfo that of Filwood, had been included within the faid chaces by the wardens thereof.'
One of the Lords de la Warre founded, on the north fide of his manor here, a chapel to the honour of St. Anne. This chapel was fifty-feven feet in length, and fifteen in breadth, and there were nineteen buttrefles about it; the height of it from the ground to the covering of the arched vault was eighty fcet.^ The place where this chapel (long fince ruinated) ftood, is but little known, being in a nook of the county, oppofite Crew's-Hele in the parifii of St. George in Gloucefterftiire, from which it is divided by the Avon. A more retired fpot could hardly be found; a deep dell, overhung with aged oaks, alders, and poplars, bounds its fouthern afpeft, and through it runs a limpid rivulet from Briflington, murmuring over a rocky bottom, and forming feveral water-falls.
The living of Briflington is a donative in die deanery of Redcliff" and Bedminfter, and in the gift of Mrs. Popham. The Rev. Mr. Baker is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Luke. It is a neat building, compofed of a nave, fouth-aile, and chancel. A well-built tower at the weft end contains five bells. There are feveral infcriptive memorials in diis church, but of litde .account; and the following notice of benefadtions :
" A. D. 1670. Thomas Jones, yeoman, fometime churchwarden of this parifli, gave twenty ftiillings, the ufe whereof is to be diftributed to fix poor houfekeepers every St. Thomas's-day.
" 1686. Thomas Munday, yeoman, of this parifli, gave out of his land forever twenty fliillings a year, to be laid out in bread, and diftributed to the poor every St.
Thomas's-day.
' Rot. Pail. 2 Edw. in. ' Itin. Willelm. de Worceftre, 190.
" 1698. Sir
414 B R I s L I N G T o N. [megnQjam,
*' 1698. Sir William Cann, knight and baronet, of this parifh, gave twenty-five pounds, the profits thereof to be diftributed in bread to the poor the firft Sunday after the fecond of July yearly for ever.
" 1724. Mr. John Newman, of the city of Briftol, plumber, gave to the poor of this parifh twenty-fix pounds, the intereft thereof to be given in bread on St. John's and St. Peter's days yearly for ever, by the churchwardens and overfeers of the parifh, to thofe poor that frequent divine fervice at this church.
In the church-yard, at the eafl end of the church, is an old tomb, whereon is this infcription : " 1542.
Thomas Newman Aged 153. '• This fl:one was new-faced in the year 177 1, to perpetuate the great age of the deceafed.'"
« The original numerals on this tomb were limply 53 ; but fome arch wag, by prefixing the figure i, made the perfon here interred one year older than the celebrated Thomas Parr, who died in 1625, at the age of one hun- dred and fifty-two. Another perfon of the name of Newman, who was coroner for this county, is faid to have been buried at King-Wefton, at the age of 132. To this advanced period few mortals have protrafted their exiftence; and of thofe few, little is recorded but their names. Among the inftances of longevity that are pre- ferved to us either by the pen of the hiflorian, or the parochial regifter, the old woman of Lancafliire, called the Cricket cfthe Hedge, who died in the reign of Charles the Firft, and yet remembered the battle of Bofworth-Field, is fet down as a moft remarkable one, and may ferve to fhew, that the little thread of life, frail as it is, may, under an all-ruling Providence, by temperance and alacrity, be long preferved from quite unravelHng or fnapping off. She was born at Over, near Delamere-foreft in Chefhire. Her chriftian name was Margaret; her maiden name unknown. She lived for fome years in the fervice of a family called Downs, at Shrigley ; but was after- wards married to one Humphry Broadhurft, a day-labourer, with whom (he lived in a fmall tenement in Hedge- Row, in the townfhip of Rainow in the county of Chefter ; from which place, and the natural merrinefs of her temper, Ihe acquired the name oi the Cricket of the Hedge. She was very acSive ; never known to be fick ; and could walk nimbly till a few years before her death. Her chief diet was water-gruel; and in her old age manchet and new-milk. She was vifited outof curiofity by people from all parts, and among the reft by fome families of quality and diftindtion. Some years before her death Sir George Booth fent for her to his feat, and would have there kept her, together with a relation to take care of her; but after flaying a month, fhe told Sir George his diet would not do, and that if fhe did not return home fhortly Ihe muft die. Towards the clofe of her life fhe was reduced to that degree of weaknefs, that fhe was carried like a child in her youngeft daughter's arms, and fometimes was rocked in a cradle. She lived to one hundred and forty years, and was buried in the parifh church of Preftbury. To an enquiry made about her age by one of her vifitors, fhe returned this anfwer, " I was fourfcore years old when I had that fnicket, (pointing to her daughter who flood by) and fhe is now turned of fixty." Letter at the etid of the Jixth 'vol. o/Lelahd's IxiNERARy.
BURNET.
laeynHjamO [ 415 J
R u R N E 1*.
THIS fmall compaft pariOi, confifting of about feven hundred acres, is lituated on the river Chew, two miles fouth from Kcynfham, of which manor it was a f>art at the time of the Conqueft, and was that hide which was held by the wife of Ulward, 'a freeman, when the Norman furvey was compiled." When it came by grant of King William Rufijs to Robert Fitz-Hamon, lord of the honour of Gloucefter, he annexed it with other great pofleirions to the abbey which he refounded at Tewkefbury in the county of Gloucefter, on the fcite of the old monaftery erefled A. D. 71 5, to the honour of the bleflfed Virgin Mary, by Oddo and Doddo, two brothers, dukes of Mercia." In 1293 the temporalities of the abbot here were valued at fix pounds.' He had a charter of free-warren in Burnet, and by grant of divers kings, this, with his other manors, was exempt from all fecular fervices/ An inquifition taken 13 Ric. II. fets forth, that the abbot of Tewkefbury held the manor of Burnet juxta Keynlham, as parcel of the foundation of his church of Tewkefbury, of the heir of Lord le Difpencer then a minor, as of his honour of Gloucefter.' The manor and advowfon of the church continued in the pofTefTion of the fame abbey till its difTolutionj after which, 2 Eliz. both the manor and the advowfon, with all the tithes, were granted by the* Queen to John Cutte and Richard Roberts.^ Which John Cutte was mayor of Briftol, and died 1575 leized of the manor and advowfon of Burnet, leaving ifTue William Cutte his fon and heir, who was lord of this manor 26 Eliz. To whom fucceeded another John Cutte, who 41 Eliz. fold the manor and advowfon to John Whitlbn, alderman of Briftol, who gave it to feoffees in truft for the endowment of his Red- maids' hofpital in Briftol, and other charitable ufes. The mayor and certain of the corporation of the city of Briftol are the prefent feoffees, and under them the manor of Burnet is held by Samuel Day, efq; who has a neat and very pleafant dwelling-houfe adjoining to the church, built of late years near the fcite of the old court-houfe inha- bited by the Cuttes.
The living is a reftory, in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfter, in the gift of the mayor and corporation of the city of Briftol. The Rev. Mr. Baker is the prefent incumbent.
The church is detlicated to St. Michael, and confifts of a nave and one fmall fide aile on tlie Ibuth fidej at the end of which is a curious old brafs plate to the memory of John Cutte, lord of this manor, Joan his wife, and twelve of tlieir children.
The two parents are reprefented as kneeling at an altar with their hands clofed in a fuppliant poflure, and books open before them: From the mouth of each ifTues a label on which is written the name, viz. John Cutte, Joan Cutte. On the father's right hand are his eight fons in a row, kneeling, with their names on labels ifTuing from each of their mouths; viz. Matthewe, Thomas, John, Nicholas, John, Richard, William, and Robarte. On the left hand of the mother are her four daughters in the
See under Keynfliam. ' Tanner's Notitia Monaflica. ' Taxat. Temporal.
" Cart. Var. « Efc. 13 Ric. II. ' Ter. Sydcn.
fame
4i6 BURNET. [iKegnlljam*
fame attitude, and their names diftinguifhed in the fame manner, viz. Brigit, Marye, Sufan, and Anne. Both the parents and children are drefled in a kind of loofe robe, reaching to the feet. At the upper corners are the arms of the city of Briftol, viz. on the finifter fide, on a mount, a caftle with two towers domed, on each a pennon; on the dexter bafe, barry wavy of fix, a fhip failing fiom behind the caftle, the fore and main-maft with two fails on each in fight.- On the other fide of the plate is the Mer- chant's mark.
On the top of the plate is this infcription — " Here lyeth buried John Cutte, fome- tyme mayore of the cyttye of BriftoUe, who deceafede leving his wife Joane, and hath had betwene them 8 fones and 4 dovghters. He decefed in the monethe of May the 21 daye in anno Domini 1575."
On the lower part of the plate is infcribed,
" Par jacet hoc tumulo focialej uxore maritus Jungitur: ut ledtus, fie tenet urna duos. Cuthevs Johannes conjunx, vir dignus amari,
Sumpfit Johannam: par in amore decus. Pignore multiplici par faslix luftra peregit ' Plurima; fecunda nunc regnat jundtus.
Uterquam Deos."
In the chancel over the communion-table is a fmall fl:one monument, infcribed, " Jane Dyer, daughter of Jane the wife of Mr. Phillip Gwin, minifter, who departed May 12, 1650. Ralph Dyer, fon of Jane the wife of Mr. Phillip Gwin, minifter, departed April 9, 1652."
On a neat mural monument againft the fouth fide of the church: " Near this
place lies the body of Samuel Day, who died the 21ft of December 1708, aged 55. Alfo of Samuel his fon, who died the 8th of June 1734, aged 41. And of Mary his widow, who died the i8th of November 1770, aged 80. As alfo the body of George Phelps, who died the 31ft of December 1750, aged 34. And Samuel Day Phelps, his fon, by Mary his wife, daughter of the late Samuel Day, who died May 4, 175 1, aged 50 weeks. Alfo of one fon and daughter of John Day by the faid Mary."
Againft the north wall: " Sacred to the memory of John Day, efq; who departed
this life the 31ft day of January 1772, aged 49 years."
QUEEN-CHARLETON.
l^epnOjamJ [ 417 }
QJJ EEN-CHARLETON.
TITIS parifli, (6 called from itSthaving belonged to one of the Queens of England, lies five miles foutheaft from the city of Briftol, and two nearly eaft from the village of Whitchurch, to which it is contiguous. Its fituatton is woody, inclofed, and full of fprings; fome coal is produced on its northcaft limits, near Keynfham. The whole parifli contains about twelve hundred acres. The great road to Bath lay formerly through the village; and on account of the falubrity of its air, it has been a place of much rcfort; particularly in the year 1574, when the plague raged fo violently in Briftol, as to carry otF two thoufand perfons, houfes were fitted up here for the reception of families from that city. Queen Elizabeth had gone through this place the year before, and granted it a charter for a fair to be held yearly on the twentieth day of July, wliich fair is ftill continued.
At the time of the Conqueft this village, with that of Whitchurdi, and many other adjoining places, was parcel of the manor of Keynfliam, and therefore is not mentioned in the general lurvey of that age. Upon the foundation of the abbey in the town of Keynfliam, it was fevered from the body of diat lordfliip, and given to the religious, whofe revenues in tliis place, in the town of Keynfliam, and in Filton or Whitchurch, were in the year 1293 rated at twenty-fix pounds.' 7 Edw. II. the abbot and convent procured a charter of free-warren in all their lands lying within Charleton.*" The 'abbot's court-houfe ftood on the north fide of the ftreet: nothing of it now remains except an old gateway, the arch of which is circular, and decorated with zigzag mouldings.
After the fupprefTion of the monaftery, the manor of Charleton, among other pof- fcffions, was fettled iii jointure on Catherine Parr, the laft Queen of King Henry VIII. from which circumftance the parifli obtained its name. But the tithes of hay, corn, and other articles, and alfo a meflliage or tenement, fituated in Charleton near the church-yard, calkd the Sextery, were granted to Sir William Herbert, knt.' The family of Popham of late years poflelTcd this manor, and fold it in 1769 to Vickris Dickinfon, efq; who is the prefent owner.
The family of Dickinfon were originally from Yorkfliire, and bore for their arms. Or, a bend engrailed between two lions rampant gules.^
William Dickinfon, B. D. was rciSlor of Applcton, and of Bcfille's-Leigh, near Oxford; and had his livings fequeftered by the parliament for his attachment to the royal cauft.'' By a daughter of Culpeper he left ifliie tlireefons, i. Edmund Dickinfon, M. D. who died in April A. D. 1707, aged 83, and was father of Elizabeth Dickinfon, fole heirefsto his eftates; flie was firft married to Sir Edward Shires, bart. and after- wards to Baron Bloomberg, envoy from the Duke of Courland. 2. William Dickinfon, who was of Abingdon in the county of Berks. And 3. Captain Francis Dickinfon, of
• Taxat. Temporul. ' Cart. 7 Edw. II. « Ter. Sydenham.
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy. V^L. II. H h h Jamaica,
4i8 QJU EEN-CHARLETON. [Siertam*
Jamaica,' who ferved under Pen and Venables, at the taking of that ifland from the Spaniards, in the year 1655. He had iffue three fens, of whom the furvivor Caleb Dickinfon married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Vickris, of Chew-Magna in this county, efq; grandfon and heir of Richard Vickris, merchant and alderman of the city of Briftol. Vickris Dickinfon, the prcfent owner of Charleton, is the youngeft fon of the abovenamed Caleb Dickinfon, by the faid Elizabeth his wife; to whom, and to his two nephews Barnard Dickinfon, of Monks and of Bowden-houfe in the county of Wilts, efq; and William Dickinfon, of King-Wefton in this county, elq; valuable eftates in the ifland of Jamaica are defcended from Francis Dickinfon their progenitor above- mentioned.
The living of Queen-Charleton is a donative in the deanery of RedclifF and Bed- minfter, and in the prefentation of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Adams is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Margaret, is a fmall but neat ftrufture, compofed of a rrave and two fide ailes, with a tower at the weft end, containing a clock and four bells; one of which has this infcription: ^at0C 8@atia plCna JtaCta^,
There are feveral memorials in the church to the family of Hayward.
Benefactions. " Mr. George Lacy gave fix pounds to the poor of the parifh of Queen-Charleton, to be diftributed in bread by the minifter and churchwardens on the 25th of December yearly for ever.
" Mrs. Sarah Lacy gave forty Ihillings, the profits thereof to be diftributed in like manner.
" Mrs. Anne Lacy, gave ten pounds to the fame purpofe.
" Mrs. Mary Freeman, by a codicil to her will, dated the 8th day of May 1760, gave the intereft of five hundred pounds, to be paid by quarterly payments, towards clothing, books, and teaching twenty poor children."
The chriftenings in this parilh are nearly on a ten years average 26, the burials 25. The parifh is remarkably healthy, there being a gentleman now alive, and in good health, of ninety years of age; and a widow woman of the age of ninety-two. And about twelve years fince there was a yeoman aged near a hundred, and his father, who was alfo born and lived here, died at about the fame age. Several of the former in- habitants have lived to be upwards of eighty.
* Thorefby's Ducatus Leodienfis,
CHELWOOD,
i^cgnQiam.] [ 419 ]
C H E L W O O D, OR C H E L VV O R T H.
THIS parifh is fituated in a woody country, full of hills and deep vales, in the fouthern part of the hundred, bordering upon the eaft angle of that of Chew. It confifts of only about twenty houfes.
In former times it was a place of much account, and polTefled by pcrfons of the higheft diftinftion. At the- time of the Conqueft it was the property of two diftinft lords; being then called by the feveral names of Celeworde, and Cellewert; the former belonged to Euftace earl of Bulloigne, and is thus furveyed:
" Alured holds of the Earl, Celeworde. Thuri held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is three carucates. Thereof in " demefne are two hides and a half, and three villanes, and two cottagers, with one *' carucate, and in demefne another. There are five acres of meadow. Wood five ** furlongs long, and one furlong broad. It is worth fixty fliillings.
'The land of Alured de Merkberge.
" Alured de Merkberge holds of the King, Cellewert, and Nicolas'of him. ' Carle " held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five " carucates. In demefne is one carucate, and four fervants, and three villanes, and " four cottagers, with one plough. There are feven acres of meadow, and thirty acres *' of wood. It was and is worth one hundred (hillings.'"
Thefe two parcels of territory afterwards compofcd the two manors called Eaft and Weft-Chelworth, and both were held by barony, as parcel of the barony of Ewyas, in the county of Hereford. Harold de Ewyas was lord thereof in the time of King Stephen, and left iflue two fons, John lord Sudley, of Sudley in Gloucefterfhire, and Robert, who refided at Ewyas, and had this manor given him by his father, being poflefled of it in the time of Henry II. This Robert de Ewyas left one daughter, Sibil, fole heir to his eftates, v.ho being married to Robert de Tregoz, a baron of Wiltfhire, the manor pafTed into that family, and the faid Robert de Tregoz, 7 Joh. upon the coUedlion of the fixth fcutage of that king's reign, anfwered thirty-eight marks, for nineteen knights' fees belonging to the honour of Robert de Ewyas his father-in-law."*
To this Robert fucceeded Robert his fon and heir, who 20 Henry III. had refpite for the payment of one hundred pounds, due for the relief of thofe lands, which were of the inheritance of Sibil de Ewyas, his mother; and doing his homage had livery thereof, foon after which he obtained liberty to pay his relief by twenty pounds per annum."
Robert the fon of GefFery de Tregoz fucceeded to this manor on the death of the laft-mentioned Robert, and being one of thofe who engaged in the baronial wars, was flain in the battle of Evelham in Worcefterlhire, 49 Henry III.
• Lib. Domcfday. » Rot. Pip. 8 Joh. ' Rot. Fm. 23 Hen. HI.
H h h 2 On
420 CHELWOOD. [fiiegnnjam*
On his death, John his fon and heir came to the eftate; and, notwithftanding his father's delinquency, was in great favour with Henry III. and fromEdw. I. obtained a charter of free-warren in all his demefne lands lying in Chelworth and Burnham in this county ; and alfo, befides divers other grants and privileges from the crown, he 22 Edw. I. being in the expedition then made into Gafcony, had leave for his wife and all his family to abide during his abfence in the caftle of Devizes in the county of Wilts, and to have wood from Melkfham, and other forefts, for their fires/ He died 28 Edw. I. leaving John la Warre, fon of Roger la Warre, by Clarice his eldeft daughter, and Sibyll, the wife of William de Grandifon, his other daughter, his next heirs.'
8 Edw. II. this John la Warre granted to William de Beauchamp and Joan his wife, this his faid manor of Chelworth, to hold of the King in capite by barony, as parcel of the honour or barony of Ewyas/ Which William de Beauchamp died feized of the fame 29 Edw. III.*
In fome procefs of time this manor, poflefling the name of Weft-Chelwood, or Weft-Chelworth, was tranfmitted to the family of Latimer; and Sir Thomas Latimer, of Braybrock, knt. held it a Henry IV. and was fucceeded in it by his brother Edward,, who died without iffue 1 2 Henry IV. leaving John Gryffin his coufin and next heir, (viz. the fon of Richard, fon of Elizabeth his filler) who, doing his fealty, had livery of his lands.
Edward Griffin, a defcendant of the faid John Gryffin, heir to the Latimer eftate, was owner of Weft-Chelworth in the time of Elizabeth, and in the 23d year of that Queen's reign, fold the manor to John Cockfwell.''
The manor of Eaft-Chelworth was alfo held of the honour of Ewyas, and poflefTed in the reigns of Richard II. and Henry IV. by the family of Montacute, of whom it was held for many generations by the family of Cocks.' The families of Weekes, Bifle, and Morgan, were alfo fometime owners of it, and at this time both the manors of Eaft and Weft-Chelworth, or Chelwood, are the property of Mrs. Popham, relidt of Francis Popham, efq.
The living of Chelwood is a reftory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfter. The bilhop of Bath and Wells is patron, and the Rev. Mr. Sayle is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Leonard. It is a fmall but neat building, having a nave, chancel, and a fmall fouth aile. At the weft end is a tower, built in 1772, coa- taining one bell.
In the chancel on the north fide is a handfome mural monument with this infcription: *• Near this place are interred the remains of Roger Lyde of this parifii, efq; who de- parted this life the 30th of January 1760, aged 52. He ferved the office of high flicriff for this county in the year 1755, ^"'i ^"^^d as a juflice of the peace for near thirty years with great integrity and honour. Alfo Anne his wife, daughter of Mr.
* Rot. Claus. 22 E4. 1. ' Efc. « Inq. ad qnod damnum, 8 Ed. II. • Efc.
" Ter. Syden. ' Efc.
Langley,
ftepnOjamj c H E L W o o D, 421
Langley, of Warminfter in the county of Wilts; a woman of great piety and charity: they lived together many years in great afFeftion, and died much lamented. She de- parted this life Dec. 3, 1770, aged 60."
Oh another monument againft the fame wall is an infcription to the Rev. Thomas Pearce, M. D. who died Nov. 15, 1770, aged 74. He was fifty years paftor of Z congregation of protcftant diflenters in this parilh.
eOMPTON-DANDO,
APanfli denominated from its owners, lies fouthweft from Keynfliam, fituated in a deep woody vale, feven miles from Bath, and the fame diftance from Briftol. The lands are moftly pafture, and the flopes of the hills are covered with woods and coppices. The river Chew runs through it in its way to Keynfham. Its ancient name was Contitone, as it is written in Domefday-Book:
" Mathildis holds of the Earl [Euftace], Contitone. Wlnod held it in the time " of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. Thereof " in demefne are three hides, and there are two carucates, and four fervants, and five " villanes, and ten cottagers, with three ploughs. There is a mill of fixty-four pence *' rent, and five acres of meadow. Pafture four furlongs long, and two furlongs broad, " It is worth one hundred fhillings."*
In the time of Henry II. this manor v/as the property of Alexander de AIno, corruptly called Danno, or Dando, and from this family the place had its additional name." Which Alexander de Alno, 7 Henry II. for this and his other lands in this county, paid two marks into the King's exchequer;' and 2 2d of the fame reign the faid Alexander and Robert his fon were amerced in the fum of twenty marks for the foreft.''
To this Robert fucceeded Henry de Alno, who was living 6 Ric. I. and had lands in this county and Dorfet. He feems to have died without iflue; for 8 Ric. I. Fulk de Alno, brother of Henry and Richard de Alno, is certified to hold three knights' fees m Somerfet and Dorfet, which formerly Robert and Alexander de Alno held.'
Fulk de Alno was living in the time of King John,^ and then occurs among tho tenants of the abbot of Glaftonbury.'
His fucceflbr was GefFerey de Alno, who died 43 Henry III. then feized of two carucates of land in the village of Compton-D'Anno; and two carucates of land in the village of Afhton; both which he held of the king in chief by the fervice of one knight's fee. At the time of his deceafe Alexander his fon and heir was thirty years of age.*
• Lib. Domefday. » Cart. Ar.tiq. ' Rot. Pip. 7 Hen. II. * Ibid. 22 Hen. II.
• Lib. Feed. ' Regift. Glafton. • Efc.
Of
422 c o M p T o N - D A N D o. [mejnlijam.
Of which Alexander de Alno, who in many records is alfo called Danno, this manor
.of Compton-Dando was held in the time of Edward I. by Robert Burnel, bifhop of
Bath and Wells, lord chancellor, and lord treafiirer of England, by the fervice of
a pair of gilt fpurs/ The fald Robert Burnel died A. D. 1292, 21 Edw. I. leaving
Philip, his brother's fon, heir to his eftates.
Which Philip married Maud, daughter of Richard earl of Arundel, by wliom he had iffuf Edward his fon and heir. He died 22 Edw. I. the year after his uncle Bilhop Robert Burnel.
This Edward, 4 Edw. II. was in the expedition made into Scotland, as alfo 7 Edw. II. being then of the retinue of Bartholomew de Badlcftnere. He was fummoned to par- liament by the title of Lord Burnel, from 5 to 8 Edw. II. and dying 9 Edw. II. without iflue, his filler Maudj the wife of John de Handle, became his heir.
The faid John de Handlo died feized of this manor, which he held in right of the faid Maud his wife, 20 Edw. III. leaving a fon, and heir Nicholas, who was fummoned to parliament by the appellation of Lord Burnel!
29 Edw. III. this Nicholas lord Burnel was in the wars of France, and again in the 33d year of the fame reign. He died 6 Ric. II. leaving Hugh lord Burnel his fon and heir.
Hugh lord Burnel was knight of the garter in the time of Henry IV. with whom he flood in fuch high efteem, that he was conftituted chief governor of feveral caftles in Wales during the rebelHon in that principality. 4 Edw. V. Edward his fon being -then dead, he entered into articles of agreement with Sir Walter Hungerford, knt. ^or ithe marriage of Margery, one of the daughters and heirs of Edward his faid fon, to Edmund Hungerford, efq; fon of the faid Sir Walter.' Which marriage took efFeft, and after the death of Hugh lord Burnel, 8 Edw. V. Edmund Hungerford came to the f oflefllon of this manor.''
From him it lineally defcended to Sir John Hungerford, Sir Anthony, John, and Thomas Hungerford, who fold it in 1567 to Matthew Smyth, of Long-Afhtop, efq; whofe great grandfon Sir Hugh Smyth, bart. fold the fame in 1664 to Alexander Popham, efq; in whofe family it has continued ever fmce, being now the property of Mrs. Popham, relift of the late Francis Popham, of Houndftreet in the parifli of Markfbury, efq.
33 Edw. I. Peter Fitz-Robert granted one mefluage and ten acres of land in Compton-Dando to the prior and convent of Bath.'
48 Edw. III. Thomas the fon and heir of Richard de la Ryvere held the manor of Sevjeryswyke, or Sewardswick, juxta Compton-Dando, of Thomas the fon of Edmund de Lyons. And Emma the wife of the faid Richard held for her life one meflli^ge and one yard-land in Compton called Grubbeswyke." Thefe lands de- fcended to Richard Priour of Widcombe, who married Thomafia, a filler of the faid Richard dela Ryvere, and in the time of Edw. IV. were held by Edward Brooke lord
•■ Efc. ' Dugd. Bar. ii. 62. * Efc. 8 Hen. V. ' Inq. ad quod Damn. " Efc.
Cobham.
KCgnOjam.] COMPTON-DANDO. 423
Cobham. 44 EHz. Sewardfwick belonged to George Young, efq; and is now the property of Mrs. Popham.
Part of the hamlet of Wollard lies within this parifh weftward. It was anciently the pofTeffion of the Lords Botreaux and Hungerford.
Through this parilh runs that ancient boundary called Wansdike, and there is a field belonging to Mrs. Popham, the lady of the manor, which to this day preferves its name.
The church, valued in 1292 at one hundred fhillings," was appropriated to the priory of Bath. It is a vicarage in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter. The bilhop of Bath and Wells is patron j and the Rev. Mr. Gyllett the prefent incumbent.
The parilh churcli, dedicated to St. Mary, confifts of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a tower at the weft end containing five bells.
In the chancel are memorials to feveral vicars of this parifh, viz. Richard Davis, buried June 19, 1637. John Newman, who died Aug. 1664, set. 40. Nathaniel Till-Adam, who died Jan, 4, A. D. 1692, a:t. 62.
" A. D, 1727. Mr. John Newman, of the city of Briftol, plumber, gave to the poor of this parilh twenty-fix pounds, the intereft thereof to be given in bread on St. John's and St. Peter's days, yearly for ever, by the churchwardens and overfeers of this parilh, to thofe poor that frequent divine fervice at this church."
Confiderable lands in this parilh, in Saltford, and in other parilhes, belong to the church, for repairs and other parochial ufes.
" Taxat. Spiritual.
F A R M B O R O U G H.
THIS village, anciently written Ferenherge, is fituated on the turnpike-road from Bath to Wells, eight miles diftant from the former, and eleven from the latter, in a vale watered by a little ftream, formed by a fpring which rifes in Barrow-Hill near Glutton, and runs into the Avon near Twiverton by Bath. The land of this parifh is chiefly pafture. There is a large coal-work here, about a mile fouthweft from the church, called Haygrove, long noted for admirable fuel.
" The Bifhop of Coutances held the manor of Ferenberge, and William of the " Bifhop. Edric held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The " arable is five carucates. In demefne are two carucates, and five fervants, and four " villanes, and three cottagers, with two ploughs. There are feventy-feven acres of " meadow, and feventy-four acres of pafture. It was and is worda four pounds.
«'To
4^;,4 F A R M B O R O U G H. [KCimUjatn*
' "*' To this majaor are added five hides. Aluric held them in the time of King *' Edward for one manor, and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. *C,.Nigel holds them of the Bilhop. In demefne are two carucates, with one fervant, "and euie villane, and five cottageis. There are feventy-feven acres of meadow, and " feventy-four acres of paflure. It was and is worth four pounds,'"
In very early days this manor .had owners of its name, of whom William de Ferne- "berge was living in the time of Henry II. and then gave lands in Farmborough to the abbey of Keynfliara.
.For many fucceffive reigns it belonged to the family of Stafibrd, of Hooke in the -county of Dorfet. Sir Humphrey Stafford, knt. held it with Glutton, 46 Edw. III. by the fervice of two knights' fees."" Sir Humphrey Stafford, knt. ftiled the elder, or 'With the filv-er hand, -his fon and heir, died feized of the fame i Henry V. It was then held of the King, as of his dutchy of Lancafter, as of his manor of Trowbridge, by knight's fervice."
To him fucceeded Sir Humplirey Stafford, jun. knt. his fon and heir, who died 20 Hen. VI. leaving iffue Sir WiUiam Stafford, who died feized of Farmborough, 28 Hen. VI. and was fucceeded therein by Sir Humphrey Stafford, knt. of Southwick -in the county of Hants J who d Edw. IV. was fummoned to parliament as a baron-; and 4 Kdw. IV. was created Lord Stafford of Southwick; and for his fervices to the crown was 9 Edw. IV. advanced to the title of Earl of Devon. By his will, dated 3 Edw. IV. he bequeathed his body to be buried in the church of St. Mary at Glaftonbury, and appointed the wardens of the grey friars in Exeter, for the falvation of his foul, to go to -every parilh church in the feveral counties of Somerfet, Dorfet, Wilts, Devon, and ■Cornwall, and there fay afermon. He did not long enjoy his lands or his title; foi^ ,9 Edw. IV. on an expedition againft the northern rebels, having forfaken the Earl of Pembroke, and by his defertion occafioned a vidtory to the enemy, the King direfted jiis letters to the fherrffs of Somerfet and Devon, -commanding them forthwith to apprehend the Earl, and put him to death. Whereupon, making fearch for him, they /ound him in an obfcure place near Brent, and carrying him thence to Bridgwater, cut off his head, Aug 17, 9 Edw. IV. after which his body was buried according to hi& will in the abbey-church of Glaftonbury, under an arch of the fouth tranfept.
XJpon his death the manor came by a coheirefs to the family of Willoughbyj and -after the death of Sir Robert Willoughby, was granted hy the King to Percival Thirlevalle and his heirs mak.''
JBy the inquifition taken after the death of Humphrey Stafford earl of Devon, it appears that this manor and the advowfon of the church, were held of John Selvvood, ^abbot of Glaftonbury.'
Jn the time of Qseen Elizabeth it was vefted in the family of St. Loe.
A fecond manor in Farmborough, anciendy called Fryenborough manor, but now £arrow-Hill pMrm, belonged to St. John's hofpital without Redcliff-Gate in Brifto),
* lib. Domefday, » Lib. Feod. « Efc. ' Hail. M5S. 433, 2101. ' Efc. 10 Edw. IV.
and
JScgnQjam.] F A R M B O R O U G H 425-
and after the difTolution was granted April 29, 2^ Henry VIII, to George Owen, efq; fervant to the King, wlio 3 June, 38 Henry VIII. fold it to John Bufh, of Wiltihirc, efq; and his heirs, John Budi, grandfon of the faid John Bufli, 5 Eliz. conveyed the fame to Matthew Smyth, of Long-Afhton, efq; whofe great grandfon Sir Hugh Smyth, bart. fold it with Compton-Dando, in the year 1664, to Alexander Popham, efq; an- ceftor of the late Francis Popham, efq; whofe relift Mrs, Popham is the prefent pofleflbr , of the manor of Farmborough,
The living is a reftory in the deanery of RcdclifF and Bedminller,. The Rev, Dr., Gunning is the patron and incumbent.
The church, dedicated to All-Saints, is a fmall building, and confifts of a navc^ chancel, veftry-room, and porch. A tower at the weft end contains fix bells.
On a fmall mural monument near the communion-table is this infcription:
" Subtus jacet Solomon Pages Gallus, generofis parentibus ortus Anno Domini 1653, in ecclefise reformatas Caftello Thierenfis regimine, patri fuo Johanni, digniflimo I] • et vigilantilTimo paftori fuccefTit Anno Dom. 168 1. Pro vera puraque Chrifti fide op-
opprefliis, vigente papiftica perfecutione Ipoliatus, tandemque patria exul, in Magnam Britanniam provedlus eft, ubi faluberrimum portum invenit Anno Dom. 1685. Ad facros ordines ecclefias Anglicans djac. et preft)yt. admiftus, vicarius ecclefia; parochialis de Old-Windfor comit, Berks inftitutus Anno Dom, 1686. Denique ecclefias hujufce parochialis de Farmborough reftor inftitutus Anno Dom. 1693. Obijt3i Oft, Anno Dom, 1725, astatis fuje 72,
" Dans animam ccelo; reddidit oflfa folo."
On the north fide of the chancel wall : " Underneath lieth the body of Lucy, relift
of Solomon Pages, late reftor of this parifli. She died Oft. i, 1745, aged 76 yevs.'*
On a fmall brafs plate in the floor: — " Here lies the body of Mary, daughter of Solomon Pages, reftor of this parifti, born Jan, 20, 1703, died May 21, 1724."
On a ftone adjoining: " Here lieth the body of Anne, daughter of Solomorj
Pages, late reftor of this parifti. She died July 3, 1746, aged 40 years.
On another ftone: " In memory of the Rev. Mr. Ifaac Pages, A. M. vicar of
Compton-Dando, and redlor of Burnet, who died Jan. 6, 1780, aged 70."
On a flat ftone to the right of the communion-table: " H, S. E. Gulielmus
Aris, hujusce parochia: nuper reftor, necnon de Shepton-Mallet fidelis paftor: ob exi- mium temperantis fpecimen; fanaticorum invidia inter ecclefiae Anglicanae lieroes invincibilis; inter cathedralis Wellenfis prebendarios lumen maxime inobfcurum; inter regies apud claflem miniftros, decus et ornamentum; maritorum charilTimus; fratrum amantifTimus ; amicorum optimus; obijt Septembris 8, anno Dom. 1693, set. fus 39,"
On another flat ftone: — — " Queeris viator, quis fub hoc marmore jacet ? Sunt ex- uvias Gulielmi Ambrofe, hujus ecclefias parochialis nuper rcftoris digniffimi. In pef- fimis temporibus fide, in optimum principem et ecclcfiam incuria — a rebeliibus faspe oppieffus, divi(5tus nunquami diem obijt 7° Maij Anno Dom. 1683, astatis fuae 67'."
Vol. II. lii . MARKSBURy.
£ 4^6 ] [JHegnQjaitt*
MARKSBURY.
THIS parifh lies in the eaftern part of the hundred, diftant feven miles from Bath, and twelve from Eriftolj comprifing a village meanly built, and a hamlet -called HouNDSTREET. About half a mile northeaftward of the church Hands Wingsbury-Hill, a confiderable eminence, on which formerly flood a chapel, long fince demolifhed; but the traces and foundations thereof are vifible. This parifh abounds with fine black and blue marie, which is' much ufed by the farmers on their paftures, of which the Jands moftly confifl.
The accounts of this parifh are of a very early date. In the year of our Lord 926, King Athelftan gave to Duke Athelm, his fon, the manor of Merkejlurie, confifting of ten hid^Sj-and he afterwards beflowed it on the abbey of Glaftonbury." In the Danifh wars the abbey lofl pofTelTion of it j but King Edgar again reftored it about A. D. 963." After which the abbey enjoyed it uninterruptedly till the ConquefV, when the King's <:ommiirioners returned the followino; account :
D
" The church itfelf holds Mercesberie. In the time of King Edward it gelded for *' ten hides. The arable is eight carucates. Thereof in demefne are four hides and *' a half^ and there are two carucates, and five fervants, and fix villanes, and five cot- '' tagers, with three ploughs. There are nineteen acres of meadow, and forty acres of *^ wood. It is worth ten pounds.
" Of this land a thane holds two hides and ,a half It is worth twenty fhillings. *^ Ofwald held it in the time of King Edward, and it .could not be fcparated from the *' church.'"
In 1^93 tiie temporalities of the abbey here were valued at i^l. los.* The abbot had a charter of free warren in his lands within this manor by grant of King Edward the third." The fame monaflery continued in pofTefTion of the manors of Markfbury and Hunflreet (which lafl was the two hides and a half held by the thane, mentioned ■\.\\ the Norma^i furvey) till its difTolution in the time of Hejiry VIII. when, by a furvey iaken by order of the crown, they were returned as follows:
" Rentes of affije and cujlomary tenanntes.
, *' The rentes of alTife and cuflomarye tenanntes, apperteyning unto the faid mannor, -nvith the workes and cuflomes whiche by tenure of theire landes they are bounde to doe, iire of the yerely value of 16I. 4s. f-d.
" Demaynes.
'' The demayne landes belonging unto the famemanour are letton out by indenture £ox terme of yeres, for the fome of 81. 13s. 6d.
• jCuil. Malmef. de Antiq. Glafton. Eccles, ' Ibid. « Lib. Domefday.
" Taxat. Temporal. * Cart. 4 Edw. III. n. 87.
*' Perquy/tUS
mepnOjamj ]vr A R K s B u R Y. 427
" Perquyfites of courtes and fynes. " The profittes comming of the perquyfites of courtes, fynes of landes, and other cafualties, are this yere anfwered in the bokcs of accompts at 4I. 4s. 6d.
" Able men to ferve the King. " Alfo there be within the fame lordeftiipes able men, to doe the King fervyce, to the nombre of 17.
" Woodes. " Alfo there are apperteynyng unto the faide manner, certayne woodes, called Hay- wood, Newoode, and the Common, fet with okes and afshes of dyvers kyndes, the acres whereof cannot be efteemed, for they growe in plotts, valued at this furvey to be worth 106I, 19s. 8d. whereof may be made a yerely wood fale of 60s.
" Common, " Alfo there is a common, apperteynyng unto the layde lordefhipe, whierein'the tenanntes may put in their catle, at theire pleafures, conteynyng 1 myle."'
After the diffolution the manors of Markfbuiy and Hunftreet, and the advowfon of the church of Markfbury, were granted to Richard Watkins, alias Vaughan, 35 Henry VIII. and now both manors belong to Mrs. Popham, whofe feat is at Houndftreet, where the late Francis Popham, efq; erefted a very large and elegant manfion, which was not finifhed before his death. It ftands on, or nearly on the fcite of the old manor houfe of the abbots of Glaftonbury, which was built by John Chinnock, abbot of Glaftonbury, containing a chapel dedicated to the honour of St. Nicholas, a hall, cham- bers, buttery, kitchen, with a houfe on the fouth fide of the liall, called the Yatehoulci and a large ftable, and other proper out-houfes, orchard, barton, &c. The manor- houfe was environed with a great moat, filled by a rivulet, and furrounded on all fides with oak pales, containing near two acres in circumference.^ The park adjoining to this houfe was defervedly efteemed one of the fineft in the county.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfter ; the gift is in Mrs. Popham, and the Rev. Mr. Baker is the prefent incumbent. In 11 92, this benefice was taxed at lOOs.'' The parfonage-houfe has lately been rebuilt} and in digging for the foundations in 178 1, two fkeletons were found, near one of which was a large glals bead. It commands a fine prolped to the north.
The church is dedicated to St. Peter, and confifts of one aile, and a tower containing four bells.
In the chancel is a bandfome ftone tomb, inlaid with black and white marble, and
infcribed on the front as follows: " To the memory of Francis Poplum, efq; eldeft
fon of Edward Popham, one of the reprefentatives in feveral parliaments for tlie county of Wilts J defcended from Lord Chief Juftice Popham, and heir to the fortunes as well as to the virtues of a family diftinguifhed by its attachment to tlie intereft of their country.
' Return of the Surveyors printed in Langtoft's Chronicle. • Ter. Ric. Beere, Abb. Glafton. in Job. Glailon. Hift..ii. 354. * Taxau Spiritnal'.
I i i 2 This
428 M A R K S B U R Y. tmegnOjam*
This monument is erefted by his widow, in teftimony of her affeftion. Ob. 4 Feb. 1779, set. 45." Arms, Or^ on a chief ^a/w, two bucks' heads caboffed of tlie field.
Over the communion-table is a ftone to the memory of William Counfell, fome- time rector of this parifh, who died April 25, A. D. 1674.
Anotlier monument perpetuates the memory of William Waddon, alfo reftor, who 4ied 1682, aged 55.
P U B L O W
"TS "alarge village, fituated in a fine rich vale, on the river Chew, over which there is X a ftone bridge in the hamlet of Wollard, where it divides this parifh from that of Compton-Dando. The latter fyllable of this place's name, which ufed to be written Lawe, fignifies a little bill, and anfwers to the Latin tumulus \ both terms being intended to fpecify the fepulchre of fome great perfons. And confidering the many notable' tranfadtions which muft have occurred on that ancient Belgick boundary Wanjdike^ which traverfes this parifh, and the number of people that muft have perilhed in arms thereon, it is more than probable, that in thefe parts were depofited a multitude of Lodies of departed lieroes, fufficient to diftinguifh the afylum of their fepulchres.
Its name however does not occur in the book called Domefday, having, with regard to its landed concerns, been blendecf and intermingled with other manors. It anciently was pait of the honour of Gloucefter, and Gilbert de Clare, one of the lords thereof, founded within this parifh, about the year 1228, a hermitage or cell, which from its founder was denominated Qarelewe* In the time of King John this place became the property of the great family of St. Loe, or di San5la Laudo, lords of Newton in this county." By which family this manor, with Pensford and Wollard, was held of the honour of Gloucefter for many fuccefTive reigns, till it came into the family of Botreaux, and from them pafTed by an heirefs to the Hungerfords, and afterwards in like manner to the houfe of Haftings earls of Huntingdon."^ In the fchedule of Mary, the daughter and heirefs of Thomas lord Hungerford, and afterwards wife to Edward lord Haftings, the manors of Publow and Pensford are aflerted at the yearly value of 43I. 2s. ed.j" and in the inquifition taken after the deceafe of George earl of Hun- tingdon, fon of Edward lord Haftings, 21 July, 2^ Hen. VIII. the manors of Pensford and Publow, valued at 40I. are certified to be held of the king, as of the honour of Gloucefter, by the fervice of one knight's fee.' 13 Eliz. Publow and Pensford were in the hands of Sir Henry Becher, knt. and they now belong to Mrs. Popham.
The church of Publow is not mentioned in any of the old taxations: it is an impro- priate curacy in the deanery of RedcUff and Bedminfter. Mr. Peter Cox, of Wrington, is patron, and the Rev- Mr. Adams the prefent incumbent.
••MS. Ter. etap. Cart. Antiq. •• Lib. Feod. et Rot. Pip. ' Efc. " Dugd. Bar. ii. 211
' Jntj. poft iBort. Geo. Comit, Hunt, capt. ap, Crokehornf, 21 Jul. 36 Hen. VIII.
The
Ji$e?nnjam,] P u B L p w. 429
The church is dedicated to All-Saints ; and confifts of a nave, chancel, and two fide ailes. At the weft end ftands a very handfome tower, containing fix mufical bells.
There is nothing particular in the church.
P E N S F O R D,
(Sometimes called Publow-Saint-Thomas, on account of its being a chapelry thereto,
and the dedication of its Saint)
IS a fmall but ancient market-town, the market whereof is on Tuefdayj it is feparated from the principal part of Publow by the litde river Chew, which runs acrofs the ftreet, and has over ic an old ftone bridge of three arches.
The town confifts of a few ordinary houfes; but is pleafantly fituated in a fine woody vale, almoft furrounded with fmall hills, well cultivated, and having on their fides feveral hanging orchards, which form a pleafing rural fcene from every part of the town.
About two or three centuries ago it was reckoned " a praty market townlet, occu- pied with clothinge. Browne of London yn Limeftrete was owner of it. The towne flood much by clothinge.'" It has dreadfully decayed fince that time, and now, bereft of the benefit of trade, many of the houfes are fallen into ruins.
Dr. Stukely*" tells us, that its name is derived from two Britifii words Pen-Ifc, figni- fying the head of the river, being near the fource of the river Chew. It was a common ufage with our anceftors to pay a facred reverence to the fountains of rivers, and they were frequendy fought for on religious occafions, upon a confidence that a divinity muft neceflfarily refide where fo beneficial an element took its rife.
The church is dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, and is a neat modern edifice, con- fifting of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, and a tower at the weft end, more ancient than the reft of the ftrufture.'
There formerly ftood a chapel at a place called Borougb-Bank, which was demoliftied in the middle of the laft century, and its materials appropriated to fome private ufe.
There was alfo a chantiy here founded by one of the St. Loes.
*' Mr. William Sage gave ten fliillings for a fermon to be preached in this church on Palm-Sunday, and twenty fliillings to tlie poor not receiving alms, yearly for ever; payable four days before Palm-Sunday, by die churchwardens of Si. James's in Briftol.
" Mr. Thomas Maggs gave out of his eftate called the Farm, los. for a fermon on St. Thomas's-day, and los. to the poor not receiving alms, yearly for ever.
" Mr. John Silk gave to the poor not receiving alms five fliillings in bread, payable on St. John's-day yearly for ever, out of a clofe of ground called Little-Field."
* Lcl. Itin. vii. 104. •> Itin. Cur. ii. 169.
PRISTON.
[ 430 1 [fi»egnftam^
P R I S T O N.
PRISTON lies in the foutheaft angle of the hundred, and derived its name from the Saxon Pjieop:, a prieft, and ron, a town. Its fituation is on a rifing ground, in a woody vale, through which a little brook, rifing on Barrow-Hill, winds its way towards the Avon. About a mile weftward from the church is a pleafing eminence called Prijsbarrow, from which a fine and extenfive profpeft opens to the fouth, weft, and north, over a richly cultivated country, intermingled with hill and dale,,clofely vefted with wood.
The firft account we have of this place commences at a very early period. The pious King Athelftan, (whofe reign is rendered memorable to pofterity by the Saxon tranflation of the Holy Scriptures; — a work evincing the charafter of that monarch,. the learning of his prelates^ and the foftnefs of the manners of that age, which, though em- brued in war, was taught to raife the fuperftrufture of conqueft and of fame on the bafis of religion) among other charitable donations to the monaftery of Bath, founded by his predeceflbrs Ofric and Offa, gave thereto the village of Prifton, confifting of ten manfes; a benefaftion favoured and countenanced by the fucceeding monarchs, both before and after the conqueft of England by the Normans." In King William's furvey we have the following account of it:
" I'he land of the church of Bade.
" The church Itfelf holds Prisctone. In the time of King Edward it gelded for " fix hides. The arable is eight carucates. Of which in demefne are two hides, and " there is one carucate, andthree fervants, and feven villanes, and eight cottagers, with " fix ploughs. There is a mill of feven Ihillings and fixrpence rent, and twenty acres *' of meadow, and fourfcore acres of pafture. It was and is worth fix pounds.""
In 1293, the temporalities of the prior in this place were valued at one hundred and ten ftiillings.' Walter, a prior of this houfe, procured of King Edw. I. a charter of free-warren in all his lands within this manor, and the neighbouring one of Stanton- Prior,'' and John de Dunfter had a confirmation of the fame grant."
After the diffolution this manor fell into the hands of the laity, and it is now pofTefled by William Davis, efq; in right of his wife, and by Mifs Jenkins, the daughters of William Jenkins, efqj who purchafed it fome years fince of Lord Percival.
The church was valued in 1292 at fix marks five fliillings and four-pence.' It is a redlory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfter, and in the patronage of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Mr. Munton is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Luke, is a neat building of one pace, with a new-built tower containing five bells.
• Excerpt, e Regift. Priorat. Bathon. MSS. ' Lib. Domefday. ' Taxat. Temporal.
f Cart. 5 Ed. I. n. 23. ' Regift, Priorat. Bathon, ' Taxat. Spiritual.
On
l^cgnlbam,]
R
O N.
43 »
On the north wall is an elegant monument of amber-coloured marble, having thereon
a white tablet, with this infcription: " Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, wife of
William Jenkins, of Prifton, efq; who departed this life Sept. 28, 1766, aged 54 years. She was one in whom no guile was found ; and filled all tiie ftations of life, as daughter, wife, mother, and miftrefs, with approved conduft."
In the church-yard is a remarkably large old.yew tree, the body near one and twenty feet in circumference.
SALTFORD,
A Village fituated on the north fide of the road leading from Bath to Briftol, and on the banks of the river Avon, which divides it from Kelwefton on the eaft, and Bitton in Gloucefterfhire on the north. Its name is fuppofed to have been derived from there having been a ford through the river at this place, at a time when the tide from Briftol flowed above this parilh. The lands are in general pretty good, beino- a loamy fand, and a ftone rufli. There is plenty of (tone, wherein many foflil fhclls are found of the oyfter, carduum, venus, and peften fpecies. The wood is chiefly elm, and in feveral of the orchards between the turnpike road and the Avon, the apple- trees are loaded with the vijcum, or mifl!ekoe, in a very uncommon manner.
The manor of Saltford was one of thofe many which were originally annexed to the honour of Gloucefter, and was held thereof in the time of Henry III. and Edw. I. by the family of Bayoufe, and afterwards by the BaflHs and the Rodneys; which laft family poflieflTed it from the reign of Edw. I. to that of Queen Elizabeth inclufive/
It is now the property of his Grace the Duke of Chandos.
The church, valued in 129a at fix marks and a half,*" is reftorial in the deanery of Redcliff and Bedminfl:er, and in the patronage of the Duke of Chandos; the Rev. Mr. Davies is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall ftrufture, dedicated to St, Mary, having one aile, with a clumfy tower at the weft end containing one bell.
On the left hand of the communion-table, is a monument of white veined marble,
infcribed, " To the memory of the Rev. Haviland John Hiley, who was re6l:or
of this parifh 42 years ; and alfo to the memory of Eleanor his wife, both interred near this place. They were eminent examples of the Chriftian faith, and exaft in perform- ing their duty to God, their neighbour, aijd themfelves. He died Sept. 27, 1754* aged 65 yearsj Ihe Feb. 13, 1770, aged 82."
There are alfo divers memorials to the families of Richmond, Purnell, Flower, Hunt, and Browning."
» Efc. Var. ^ Taxat. Spiritual.
STANTON-DREW,
[ 432 J [me^nRjami.
STANTON-DREW,
(Originally called Stantone, and Stantune, from Srean, a ftone, and ron, a town, and additionally Stanton-Drew, from its ancient lords.)
STANDS between Pensford and Chew-Magna, equidiftant from both; whence the common proverbial rhyme:
" Stanton-Drew, " A mile from Pensford, and another from Chew."
It is fituated in the fouthweft angle of the hundred, in a fine rich, wooded, and well- cultivated country. The lands are moftly pafture, and very good, being a reddilh ftrong loam, loofened by a litde fand. Elm is the principal timber, which flourifhes here in great luxuriance.
The river Chew walhes this parifh, and runs under a ftone bridge northward from the church in its way to Pensford. The road to that town from Chew pafTes to the north of this river, and in the road lies an immenfe ftone called Hautvilk's-Coity (a name it has fuftained for many ages) and is by tradition reported to have been thrown hither by that gigantick champion Sir John Hautville, from Mays-Knolle-Hill, upwards of a mile dittant, the place of his abode. The tump on that hill is alfo affirmed to have been the cleanings of the fame man's fpade; and fo confident are the common people of the reality of the manoeuvre, that a farm-houfe erefted of late years near the coit, was diftinguiftied by the title of Hautville's-Coit Farm, which doubtlefs it will pre- ferve till records are no more. This ftone was formerly of vaft magnitude, being computed to have weighed upwards of thirty tons; but the waggon loads of fragments that have been broken from it at different times, for the purpofe of mending the roads, have diminiflied its confequence as to bulk and appearance, though not as to antiquity or the defign of its ereftion; for it was part of a very remarkable monument of anti- quity, which has diftinguifhed this parifti for many ages, and has diverted the fteps of many a traveller.
It ftands in an inclofure northeaftward from the church, and confifts of the remains of four aflemblages of huge ponderous ftones, forming two circles, an oblong, and an ellipfis. The firft, or largeft circle, part of which is crofted by an old hedge-row, is weftward from the other parts, and is three hundred feet in diameter, compofed of fourteen large ftones, fome of which are fallen and lie flat upon the ground; the fecond circle eaftward is eighty-four feet in diameter, and confifts of eight ftones; the oblong, confifting of five ftones, ftands between the two circles, but rather inclining to the fouth; and at the foutheaft extremity of all is the ellipfis, which is forty feet in length, and has feven ftones, one of them placed as it were centrically, and out of the line of arrangement. The ftones which form the fecond or inner circle are the largeft; one of thofe on the weft fide being nine feet high, and twenty-two feet in circumference, and would upon a calculation weigh upwards of fifteen tons. It feems to be a compofition of pebbles, grit, and other concrete matter, and never to have been hewn from the rock.
This
r
J&epnlljam.] s T a N T o n-D R E w. 433
This part, though in itfelf immenfe, and occupying a large extent of ground, appears to be only the centre of the ftupendous building. Doubtlefs there were many avenues to it, and Hautville's-colt feems to have ferved as part of a portal to one of them There were alfo other outworks, one of which, confilling of three prouigious (tones, placed in a triangular form, flill remains on a fmall eminence, in an orchard belonging to Mr. Fowler, fouthweft from the church. Two of thefe ftones are (landing; the largeft meafuring ten feet in height, and fix feet and a half in width; the one that is fallen is fourteen feet long, and eight feet wide.'
Dr. Stukeley calls this laft-mentioned monument the Cove; and, with other antiqua- rians, contends that the whole of this fingular work, as well as Stonehenge and Abury in Wiltfliire, was a temple eredbed by the Britifh Druids.'' And Wood, in his account of Bath, refers it to the Pythagorean planetary fyftem, adopted by the fame people, who, according to fome writers, profelTed to underftand not only the form and magni- tude of the univerfe in general, and of the earth in particular, but alfo the courfes of the ftars, and their feveral revolutions."
Future antiquaries perhaps will not reft fatisfied with either of thefe opinions, and probably hereafter the pen of fome able writer, confidering the vicinity of JVanJdike, will more minutely trace its origin, and define it a trophy intended to commemorate fome fignal viftory obtained on that important rampart, where fo much blood was fhed by the arms of Britons and Celtick barbarians. The many camps, rampires, military ways, and ancient reliques, that we fee in this part of the country, are fo many indications of that contending fpirit which once animated the warlike inhabitants to defend their property againft the invafions and alTaults of foreigners.** The common people call this relique ne fVedding, from a tradition that as a woman was going along to be married, (he and all her attendants were at once converted into ftones, and that it is an impiety to attempt reckoning their number.
There is within the precinfls of this parifli, and at no great diftance from the ftones above defciibed, an ancient village called Belluton; but formerly Belgetotie; of which if we admit the etymology, that it fignifies the town of the Belg^e, it will add confi- derable weight to the conjefture that Stantone arofe in confequence of the Belgick incurfion.
We know but little of the landed hiftory of Stanton, or its environs, before the Norman Conqueft, when it was a part of that huge manor of Keynfliam which included within its jurifdiftion fo many neighbouring villages and hamlets. It then confiftcd of ten hides.'
About this time great part of the place began to be pofl"eflred by a family who de- rived their names from it; of whom were Roger,' William, and Hugh de Stanton, who all poflTeflTed it, or at leaft a confiderable part of it, foon after the an-ival of the Normans.^ Robert de Stanton accounted for two knights' fees in the time of Hen II.''
• Notes taken April 9, 1789. ' Itin. Curiof. ii. 169* ' Defcription of Bath, ii. 148. " See vol. i. p. 170. ' See the Domefday extraft in Keynftiam. •■ Inquif. Gheld.
s Cart. Antiq. " Lib. Nig. Scac. i.
Vol. II. K k k and
434 s T A N T o N - D R E w. [iBiegnlbam^
and after him came Gefferey de Stanton, -vvho had lands in Timfborough, Stowey, and other places in this neighbourhood, 8 Henry III.' One of this family bore the appella- tion of Drogo, or Drew, de Stanton, and gave it his name by way of diftinftion from another parifh in this neighbourhood called Stanton-Prior, and from Stanton-Wick, a hamlet in this parifh. Their defcendants were chiefly refident here, and at Littleton in Wiltfhire. 12 Edw. III. Walter Drew is certified to hold half a knight's fee in Stanton, which WiUiam de. Stanton formerly held;'' and 10 Henry IV. the fame moiety, late the property of Roger Drew, was held by John de Montacute earl of Salilbury.' Thefe Drewes were nearly allied to the Dinhams of Buckland and Corton.
The family of Choke were the fubfequent pofleflbrs of this manor. 25 Henry VI. William Gierke, fon and heir of Robert Gierke, granted to Richard Ghoke of Stanton- Drew, and Joan his wife, one mefTuage and one yard-land in the village of Stancon- Drew, formerly in the tenure of Jolin Watkins."" And by another deed, dated 28 Henry VI. Richard Gierke of Briftol, granted to the faid Richard Ghoke, a mefTuage in Stanton called Milkplace, with a fulling-mill, ten acres of land, and a mefTuage called Selyes." This Richard Ghoke, who was an eminent perfon in his days, had a long fuic with John Boteler, concerning his right and title to this manor, which terminated 32 Henry VI. by a final releafe from the faid John Boteler to the faid Richard Ghoke, of all his right in the manor of Stanton-Drew ; in a melTuage there fituated called Chokes^. another called Prikkes, a third called Milleplace, a fourth called Chamfneys, and a fifth called Tikdhoufe, in Playftrete, with divers other lands and tenements." This quit- claim was confirmed 34 Henry VI. by Edich Sampbroke, filter of the faid John Boteler.'' This Richard Ghoke was afterwards a knight, and Lord Ghief Juflice of England, and died feized of this manor in the reign of Ric. III. Sir John Ghoke, knt. grSndfon of the fliid^ Richard, conveyed the fame 22 Henry VII. to Giles lord Daubney. After which it came to the polTefTion of Sir John Gooper, bart. who died feized thereof^ together with Stanton-Wick, in the year 1631, leaving Anthony-Afhley Gooper his fon and heir. The manor is now the property of Peter Goates, efq.
The manor-houfe is an old venerable building, and was formerly embattled, and regularly fortified.
The manor of Belluton or Belgetonc, was held by Euftace earl of Bulloigne, as parcel of the manor of Keynlhliim; and of him by Alured.
" Alured holds of the Earl, Belgetone. Tovi held it freely in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for four hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne is " one carucate and a half, with one fervanr, and five villanes, and two cottagers, with " two ploughs. There is a mill of fifteen fhillings rent, and twenty-two acres of mea- *♦ dow, and twenty acres of pafture. Wood four furlongs long, and two furlongs ♦' broad. It was worth three pounds, now four pounds.'"*
The manor of Belluton was pofTefTed for a feries of years by the Earls ofOrmond. 14 Edw. III. Geciha de la Hay held for the term of her life the manor of Belveton of
' Cart. Antiq. ■■ Lib. Feod. ' Ibid. ■" Rot. Claus. 25 Hen. VI. " Rot. Claus. 28 Hen. VI. " Rot. Claus. 32 Hen. VI. f Rot. Claus. 34 Hen. VI. ' Lib. Domefday.
the
mcpnlbamj stanton-drew. 435
the King in chief by the fcrvice of the fourth part of one knight's fee, remainder to James le Boteler earl of Ormond, and Eleanor his wife/ Which James Botcler died fcized of the fame 6 Ric. II. leaving James hi^ fon and heir of the age of twenty-two years.' Elizabeth his wife furviving him had this manor in dower.' Janncs Butler, the fifth earl of Ormond, knight of the garter, and lord treafurer, was in 1449 created Earl of Wiltfliire by King Henry VI. But after the batde of Towton, where Lan- cafter was defeated, he was attainted for high treafon, and was beheaded at Newcaftle in 1 46 1. By which attainder the manor of Beikiton cime to the crown, and was granted a Ric. III. to Nicholas Baker and Elizabeth his wife, to liold during their lives, or either of them longer living." In the time of Queen Elizabeth John Bide, merchant of the city of Briftol, was lord of this manor j and in the fourteenth year of that reign, fold it with Pensford and other lands to Henry Becher, citizen and haber- daflier of the city of London." It now belongs to the Rev. Mr. Adams.
The church of Stanton-Drew was appropriated to the church of Wells by Bilhop Robert Burnell, and was taxed in 1292 at eighteen marks and a half; a penfion of twenty Ihillings being paid out of it to the prior of Bromere in Hampfhire.'' ' It is a vicarage in the deaneiy of Redcliff and Bedminfter, and in the patronage of the arch- deacon of Bath. The Rev. Mr. Price is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and confifts of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, fmall chapel on the north fide, and near it a tower, the belfry under which ■ferves for the principal entrance into the church.
In the fouth fide of the chancel is a neat mural monument of ftone, with this in-
fcription: " In memory of Samuel Prigg, fifty years the worthy vicar of this parifli,
whofe truly chriftian behaviour procured him the affedions of his parifhioners, and the efteem of the neighbourhood. He was conftantly refident, and fo zealous a performer of his duty, that even the extreme feverity of the winter in 1739 could not deter him from perfcvering in it though then eighty years old, by which he contradled an illnels that put a period ^to his well-fpent life, 1739-40.
" James Bernard, of Crowcombe in this county^ efq; his grandfon, caufed this mo- nument, which is very unequal to his merits, to be erefted to his memory^ 1777.'*
In a chapel on the north fide is an elegant mural monument of white marble, in-
fcribed, " To the memory of James L-yde, efq; who departed this life on the 12th
day of March in the year of our Lord 173 1, in the 6 2d year of his age'. He was the eldeft fon of Cornelius Lyde, efq; whofe monument is eredled in this aile. He was bred to merchandife in the city of Briftol, and followed that employment near thirty years with great integrity,'reputation, and fuccefs. On the death of his father he'rctired to his eftate in this parilh, where he fpent the remainder of his days in that tranquillity of mind and general efteem, which are the confequence and reward of an upright con- dud flowing from a principle of real piety and univerfal benevolence. He married
' Rot. Fin. 14 ^dw. III. ■ Efc. 'Ibid. ■' Harl. MS.433,
' Licence to alienate, ' Taxat. Spiritual*
K k k 2 ' Martha,
436 STANTON^DREW. [KcgnQjam*
Martha, one of the daughters of Mr. Michael Pope, of Briftol, merchant, by whom he had fourteen children ; of whom fix died in their infancy, and are buried in the parifh church of St. James's in that city; as alfo their eldeft fon Cornelius, who died on the a9th of Jan. 1724, aged 27. Their children who lie buried in this aile were, Mary, wife of Mr. Thomas Provis, who died Dec. 17, 1730, aged 26 yearsj James, who died Dec. 25, 1736, aged 26; Michael, who died Oft. 13, 1734, aged 20; Sarah, who died Jan. ai, 1737, aged 20; and Efther, who died Aug. 19, 1734, aged 17 years. Martha, his relift, erefted this monument to his memory in the year 1738." Arms, Azure, an eagle with two necks difplayed, or Lyde ; impaling Argent, two chevrons gules; on a canton of the lecond an efcallop or. Pope.
In the fame chapel: " Near this monument lyeth the body of Cornelius Lyde,
of this parifh, efq; who departed this life on the 25th of July, in the year of our Lord 1717, aged 77. He was a gentleman of great piety and integrity, and ferved his country honourably in the commiffion of the peace during the whole reign of King William. Here alfo lyeth the body of Mary his wife, with whom he lived in great love above fifty years. She died on the 8th day of June 17 15, aged 73. She bred up eight fons and three daughters, to whom flie was very indulgent j and a bright pattern of virtue and piety."
On a very neat mural monument of white marble in the fame chapel, is this in-
fcriprion : " Near this place lyeth the body of Anna-Maria, the wife of Lyonel
Lyde, of the city of Briftol, efq; who died the 24th of Feb. 1729, aged 30 years. Alio the bodies of their fons Benjamin and William."
In the fame chapel is another elegant mural monument of white marble, thus in-
fcribed: " Here is interred the body of Sir Michael Fofter, one of tlie Judges of the
court of King's-Bench, who was born Dec. 16, 1689, and died Nov. 7, 1763, Dame Martha his wife, the eldeft daughter of James Lyde, efq; is alfo here interred. She died May 15, 1758, in the 57th year of her age." Arms, Argent a chevron vert, between three Bugle-hornsyJ?^/^, an efcutcheon of pretence azure, an eagle difplayed or.
On the north fide of the middle aile is a mural monument of ftone, with this in-
fcription: " In memory of Elizabeth Adams, the wife of John Adams, of this
parifti, efq; who departed this life Sept. 15, 1768, aged 68. She was daughter of John Lyde, of the parifti of Chelwood, efq; and grandaughter of Cornelius Lyde, efq; whofe remains lie interred in this church. She was a perfon of great piety. Alfo Lyde Adams, fon of the faid John and Elizabeth Adams ; and alfo Lyde Adams, and Sarah Adams, their grandchildren j all died in their infancy."
In the fouth aile is a mural monument of yellow marble, bordered with black, and terminated by an obtule cone, on which, under a feftoon, is a fmall oval tablet of white
marble, containing this memorial: " Near this place lie the remains of Elizabeth
Lyde, relift of James Lyde, efq; jun. who erefted this monument to the memory o his father and rnother."
On the tablet of the bafement below, is Infcribed, " Near this place lie the re- mains of David Hopkins, efq; captain in the militia in the reign of King James II.
He
Ecgnftam.]
STANTON-DREW.
437
He was hofpitable to his neighbours, and charitable to the poor. Died Oft. i, 1730. Alfo Mrs. Elizabeth Hopkins, relid: of the above James Hopkins, who was defccnded from the ancient and noble family of the Zouches. A finccre chriftian; died Sept. i, 1758." Arms, Sable, on a chevron between three piftols cr, as many rofes gules^ Hopkins; impaling. Gules, bezantee, a canton ermine, Zouch.
On the chancel floor: " Herelyeth the body of Madam Penelope Selleck, wife
of John Selleck, of this parifli, efq; and daughter of Sir John Newton, bart. who died the 28th of May 1722, aged 6^ years."
On an adjoining ftone: " Hie jacet corpus Johannis Selleck, arm. filii Johannis
Selleck, facras theologias doftoris, canonis refidentiarii, et archidiaconi Wellenj. duas duxit uxores: prima fuit Elizabetha, filia Gulielmi Cooke, de Highnam in comitatu Gloceflrije, arm. fecunda Penelope filia Johannis Newton, de Barr-court in dco comi- tatu Gloceftiix, baronetti, obijt 19° die Aprilis, Anno Domini 1719,-a^tatis fuas 80."
On the floor in the middle aile : " Here refteth in hope of a happy refurreftion,
the body of William Cox, gent, who departad this life the 27th day of Nov. 1673. Here alfo lyeth the body of Anthony Skutt, efq; who departed this hfe the 7th day of January 1587."
Here lyeth the body of the pious Lady Martha Covper, wife of Sir John Covper, knight, father of Anthony Skutt, efq; who dyed Nov. 16, ."
In memorie of Major Edward Bull, of Wellow in the county of Somerfet, gent, who departed this hfe May the 19th, 1685."
On the floor in the fouth aile:
" \cittt Mtti) tbe iJoDp of DatJiD J^opfeins, gent, (teas alfo captain of t\je tcain^tanU) tof)0 DieD June tlje i2tf), annoComini 1697,"
Round a flat ftone: " Here lyeth, in hopes of a joyful refurrefbion, the body of
Thomas Hyppifley, gent, who departed this hfe and was born, to heaven, Auguft the nth, Anno Domini 1678."
On another ftone near it:
" VnDER : NEATH THIS TOMB : HERE DOTH LY
The body : of Deborah Hyppisley, In eighty-to death her did call September the 20 she left us all."
In feveral parts of the floor are ftones, having on their furface the worn portraitures of ancient perfonages.
Benefactors to this parifti.
" Sept. 12, 1772. Mrs. Eliza Lyde, relift of James Lyde, efq; gave one hundred pounds in truft to John Hooper, efq; of Walcot near Bath, and Peter Coates, efq; of this parifli, and their heirs for ever. The intereft thereof to be expended in teaching ' fix poor girls in this parifli to read and knit. And if it ftiould be more than fufficient
for
438 s T A N T o N - D R E w. [EegnOjam.
for that purpofe, the furplus to be laid out in books for the ufe of thefe poor girls, who are to be alwaysvchofen by the majority of a veftry. And the overfeers of the poor for the time bebg are to fee that this intereft money is properly applied to the ufes above- raentioned. The faid Mrs. Eliza Lyde gave alfo by will twenty Ihillings a year for ever, payable out of her eftate in this parifh, to buy pious books for the ufe of the poor inhabitants of Stanton-Drew, to, be difbibuted by the vicar or curate thereof for the time being.
" Mr. William Sage gave ten fliillings a year for a fermon to be preached on Palm- Sunday; <i.nd twenty Ihillings a year to the poor not receiving alms, for ever.
" Charles Chancellor, who died March 16, 1784, and lies buried in the belfry, under the bell which he was ufed to ring, left ten fliillings to be diftributed to the poor in bread on March i6th, (the day whereon he died) or the Sunday following."
The parfonage-houfe is a curious piece of antiquity. On a dead window, which has horrid fio-ures at the corners, are two armorial fliields cut in the ftone. On the one are. Three garbs within a bordure engrailed; on the other. On a feffe, a mitre, with labels <!xpanded between three bucks' heads cabofTed in chiefi and in bafe as many pheons. The laft coat is for bifliop Thomas Beckington.
STAN TON-PR I OR
(So called from its having formerly belonged to the priors of Bath)
IS fituated on the eaft fide of this hundred, and the confines of that of Wellow, in a fine woody vale, furrounded with gently rifing hills in fine cultivation. The whole face of the country bears ftrong traits of antiquity. At a fiaiall diftaince northward from the church is a large and long infulated knoll, called Stanton-Biiry-hUl, on which is a fpacious camp corttaining upwards of thirty acres. The principal pait of the fortifica- tions feems to have been weftward; the main rampart runs from the northweit point to -the length of one hundred and eighty yards, forming a terrace about five feet higli, from which is a fine profpeft of the rich vale of Avon, and the city of Bath at its extremity, jhe Wiltfliire, Gloucefterfhire, and Monmourhfliire hills. From the end of this terrace, eaftward, runs a trench feven (etx. in depth, dividing the whole hill from eaft to weft, and being one hundred yards in length from north to fouth, where it turns' in a fmall curve, humouring the fweep of the hill. The fouthern edge has but little appearanc^ of fortification; no more has the weftern, the defcent on every fide being very fteep and precipitous. -It has always been thought that this w^s an encampment of the Romans, and their coins have been frequently difcovered in the valley underneath. But .as it ftands near Wan/dike, hoftilities might have commenced on this important pafs
before
Kepnffjam.] s T A N T o N - P R I o R. 439
before the arrival of tlie Roman armsj and the Romans might afterwards have ufed n place To well fitted to their hands. It is curious to obferve, that throughout the length of that old boundary, which has been fo frequently mentioned, frorn its en- trance into this county at Bath-Hampton to its immerfion into the Channel, there are places, whofc names and appearance indicate- the hand of war, and tranfmit to pofte- rity tlie ferocious adions of our hardy forefathers. Hampton on the Avon fignifies the eld fortified town; on the hill above it are feveral old intrenchments. The Barracks or Barrows, beyond Lyncombe, . are very ancient places of fepulture. Barrow-hill, betwixt thofe and Inglifhcombe is perhaps the largeft tumulus in the world. At Ing- lifhcombe is a caftle of very* remote antiquity. The camp at Stanton-Pricr follows next upon the courfe of the ditch. The name of Publow, as we have before obfcrved, is very ancient. The monument at Stanton-Drew perpetuates fome fignal vidlory. Harelane, leading to Mays-hwll, another very ancient fortification, fignifies the Military Road; and Hareclive, near Broadfield-Dovvn, is the Military Rock, where probably blood was fhed in defending the pafs to the neighbouring valley. In fo late days as thefe it would be abfurd to expatiate on conieftures at what exaft point of time, or in what particular manner, the events arofe which have thus commemorated the places above-^ mentioned; but they ftill remain (landing monuments of heroic adions, and pofterity will -ever view them with thatpleafing furprize which attends the furvey of paft illuftri- ous deeds, reminding us that l^e have heen.
' The village of Stanton was pofTeflTed by the Saxon kings, and fome time before the Conqueft was given to the priory of Bath; it confided, as we are informed by Domcf- day-Book, of three hides.
" The church itfelf holds Stantone. In the time of King Edward it gelded for " three hides. The arable is three carucates. Thereof in demefne is half a hide, and *' there is one carucate, and five fervants, and four villanes, and three cottagers, with " two ploughs. There are twelve acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture, and " thirty acres of coppice wood. It was and is worth three pounds.'"
The prior of Bath's lands in this place were in 1293 rated at forty-fcven Ihillings and lix-pence,'' and 5 Edw. I. he had a charter of freerwarrcn in the fame.' After the fuppreffion of that monaflery. King Henry VIII. in the 31ft year of his reign, granted this manor to Thomas Horner, efq; who 35 Henry VIII. fold it to Gerard Erington, gent, and he likewife 6 Edw. VI. conveyed the fame with the advowfon of the church to William Rofcwell, efq. a Dec. 41 Eliz. the faid William Rofewell had licence to alienate the manor, with its appertenances, and divers lands in Stanton, to William ■ Richman. After which it pafled through a variety of other hands, and is now the property of William Gore Langton, efq.
The living is a redory in the deanery of RedclifF and Bedminfler, and in the gift of the lord of the manor. The Rev. Dr. Phillott is the prefent incumbent.
The churcli is dedicated to St. Laurence. It is a fmall building of one pace, with. ■ an embattled tower at tlie weft end.
* Lib. Domefday, ' Taxat. Temporal. • Cait. 5 Edw. I. n. 23.
Ill
440 STANTON-PRIOR. [megnOjam.
In the chancel floor, on a white marble, is this infcriptlon: — " Here lie the remains of the Reverend Samuel Purlivent, who departed this life March 7, 1775, i" the 66th year of his age."
On the north fide of the church is a lofty mural monument, containing the effigies of a man and woman in ancient habits, and over their heads, under a circular arch, the figure of a man deflfed in the habiliments of the church. On the fides of the monument are the effieics of a man and woman, and feveral children in cloaks. This monument commemorates Thomas Cox, efq; who died in 1650; Joan his wife, and feveral of their children.
In a corner near the chancel is a mural monument of marble, infcribed to the me- mory of Robert Long, efq; who died in 1697.
This parifh gave birth in 1598 to Gilbert Sheldon, who, after having been fellow and warden of All-Souls College in Oxford, was in 1660 made Bifhop of London; in .1663, Archbifhop of Canterbury; and in 1667, chofen Chancellor of the univerfity of Oxford, in the room of Lord Clarendoii. The theatre there ereded by him will per- petuate his name to poflerity. He died Nov. 9, 1677.
F I L T O N, ALIAS WHITCHURCH.
THIS village is three miles fouth from Briftol, and in the turnpike-road from that city through Pensford and Chewton to Wells. Its fituation is on high ground; but bounded by ftill higher on its weftern extremity, where a lofty ridge of mountain, extending from Mays-Knoll to Dundry-Brow, overlooks a vaft extent of country.
The lands of this parifli are in general a ftiffifh loam, with clay at the depth of about one foot, and are well cultivated throughout. In the weftern part on the wafte is found the lapis hxmatites, or blood-ftone, the powder of which has in all ages been efteemed a fovereign remedy in every kind of haemorrhage, and in ulcers of the lungs. Germany, Italy, and Spaing are the countries where it is more commonly produced, and the fort moftly recommended is that found here, which is white, tranfparent, and little mixed with extraneous particles.
A fine fpring, called Saltwell, rifes on the weft fide of the road from this village to Briftol, whence a fmaU rivulet emerging runs through Briflington, and through that very romantick glen of Newtek into the river Avon at St. Anne's.
The wood is chiefly elm, of which there is a tree in a farm barton here, remarkably large, meafuring in its body nineteen feet in circumference, and each of its limbs, which are ten in number, beirrg confiderable timber.
The firft name of this place arofe from a very ancient town, feated in the long for- gotten chace of Filwood, northweft from the prefent village, whence it had its name,
and
Kcrtam.] F I L T O N, ALIAS WHITCHURCH. 441
and where, in after days, the abbots of Keynfliam had a grange, a chapel, and fundry lands and tenements. But a church having been eredled on the more eaftward part of the territory where once had flood a cell or chapel of St. Whyte, an ancient Britifh faint, and Filton thenceforth running to depopulation and decay, this diftrift, by reafon of its increaie of inhabitants emigrating from their priftine dwellings, came to be deno- minated fometimes by one name and fometimes by the other, and ftiil retains the indifcriminate appellation of Filton, alias Whitchurch.
At the time of the Conqueft it was pait of the fifty hides of Keynfham, and was afterwards granted by "William de Clare earl of Gloucefter, to the Auftin Canons founded by him on his demefhes in that town. King Edw. 11. confirmed the grant, and it remained with that abbey till its diflblution, when it was attached with other lands to the jointure of Queen Catherine; after whofe deceafe King Edward VI. in the fourth year of his reign, granted the manor o? FyUon, alias f'^'hit church, to Sir John St. Loc, lent, for the term of fixty years. Three years after which the faid Sir John St. Loe afiigned all his intereft in the manor and the tithes of this parifh to Edward St. Loe, efq; his younger fon. This Ed\yard St. Loe was of Stanton-Drew, where the family had a fair manfion, built caftlewife, and ftrengthened at the angles with embattled towers. The faid Edward, by deed dated Odl. 16, 4 Eliz. affigned his leafe of the manor of Whitchurch to Hugh Smyth, of Long- Afhton, efq. Soon after which Queen Elizabeth, by patent bearing date 10 Feb. iii the 21ft year of her reign, granted the manor of Filton, alias Whitchurch, to Edward Downing and John Walker, efqrs. The faid Downing and Walker, Dec. 10, the year following, conveyed the manor to Matthew Smyth, efq; and his heirs ; from which Matthew Smyth it has defcended to Sir John Hugh Smyth, bart. and Edward Gore, efq; the prefent pofleflbrs.
The tithes of Filton, alias Whitchurch, were granted by King James I. in the feventh year of his reign, to Francis Morris and Francis Phelipps in fee; tliey the 29th day of January that farrte year granted and fold the fame to Sir Hugh Smyth, knt. and his heirs. And 14 June, 3 Car. I. the King confirmed the manor and tidies of Whit- church to Lady Elizabeth Gorges for life, and after her deceafe to Thomas Smyth, efq; her fon by Sir Hugh Smyth, knt. her firfl; hufband, and his heirs for ever.
A manor called LyotC s-Court is fituated weftward from the village of Whitchurch, and its manfion is ftill remaining. It belonged to the family of Lyons (a family diftindt from thole of the name at Afliton) fo early as the thirteenth century, who bore for their arms Argent., two lions rampant refpcftingyjiJ/f?, and were retainers to the abbots of Keynlharn, under whom they .held their territory. From David de Lyons ifliied David, Robert, Stephen, Ralph, Thomas, (and Roger the brother of Thomas, who died without ifllie) Thomas, Thomas, and Nicholas; which Nicholas had one fon Richard, who died without ifllie, and alfo a daughter,*F,dith, who inherited his eflates, and married Thomas Holbeach, the fon of David Holbeach, efq; of the county of Lincoln. Which Thomas Holbeach by the faid Edith his wife had ifliie another Thomas, who married Agnes, daughter of Thomas Triftram, and by her was father of John Holbeach, who married Elizabeth daughter of Richard Bole, defcendant of the Boles of Lymington in Hampfliire, and had iflue by her John Holbeacli, wliofe wife was Barbara, the
Vol. II. L 1 I daughter
44 2 F I L T O N, ALi AS W H I T C H U R c IL ■ [!&egnl^am.
daughter of John Coxwell, of Ablington in the county of Gloucefter; he had alfo a daughter, Mary, married to Arthur Cam, whofe progeny were feated in die county of Bedford. The faid John Holbeach, by his wife Barbara, had iffue Nadianiel Holbeach, who is ftiled of Filton, ahas Whitchurch, in 1623. He married Ehzabeth, daughter of John Trevelyan, of Nettlecombe in this county, efq; and by her had iffue three fons, John, Thomas, Nathaniel j and four daughters, viz. Elizabeth, Margaret, Martha, and Urith. A monument in the church perpetuates the remainder of thii ancient family, whofe eftate here is now poflefiTed by Francis Adams, efq.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the deanery of Redchff and Bedminfter. The lords of the' principal manor are the patrons, and the Rev, John Collinfon the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas. It confifts of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, a chapel on the north fide the belfry, another chapel on the fouth fide of the chancel, and a tower containing two bells. The north chapel is very ancient; and in former times an obit was obferved in it for Thomas Gay, who was fteward and treafurer of the monaftery of Keynlham, and lies buried here under a large flat ftone, infcribed,
*' l^ioacet Ctomas ^ag, qui Detit an refufcitacione ifti' cccUc apic aDmo- tia : corpu" que fufi fepeliersu in capella ^ci il3icolai De COIjitcburcbe. €uf aie^piciet' i>z\ ^tcimo nono Die mes' 3lanuarii anno Dni a^^cccrrrni"/'
His anceftors were of Goldworthy in the county of Devon, where they had an eftate, and ' bore for their arms, Or, on a {e{{e/ai>le, between three efcallop Ihells azure, five lozenges argent. The fouth chapel has been the burial-place of the Lyons and the Holbeach families; and on the fouthern wall is a handfome marble monument with this infcription:
" This monument was eredled for the commemoration of the honourable, as well as antient family of the Holbeach's, at the expence of Mrs. Sybilla, the daughter of Thomas Lloyd, gent, by Mary, relidl of the laft hereunder mentioned (one excepted) John Holbeach, efqj A. D, 1735.
From David
Thomas
Thomas
John \ Holbeach, efq;
John
Nathaniel
John
Who had iflfue John and Frances. . The faid Mrs. Frances Holbeach was the laft of the family, who died Odlober the 30th, 1732, aged 62 years.
" Near to this place lies buried the mortal part of the above-mentioned Sybilla Lloyd, who left tliis world the day of April 1745, aged 7 1 years.
" Near under lieth the body of Elizabeth Evett, of the parilh of Old-Cleeve in this county, (to the abovefaid Mrs. Sybilla Lloyd diftantly related) who, at the age of 25
years
>
Ecpntljam.] F I L T O N, alias WHITCHURCH. 443
years, died the 3d of June 1744." Arms, on a large fliicld above the monument, on a hatchment, and in the window on ftained glafs; i. Argent, a chevron engrailed y57^/er / Holbeach. 1. y^r^w/, two lions relpe(fling each othcry^/'/?; Lyons. 3. //rj^w/, three torteaux, a label of three points azure: Triftram. 4, ylrgent, three bulls' heads ca^ bofled/«^/^: Bole of Lymington. 5. Or, on a chief azw?, three lions rampant of the firft: Lifley. 6. Argent, on a btnd fable three clofe helmets or: Compton. 7. Or, on a bend engrailed gules, three crofs croflets fitchec argent. 8. Gules, a crofs moline argent between four mullets counterchanged.
On the left hand of the above monument is another of white and Sienna marble
infcribed, " In memory of James Colfton, of this parifli, gent, who died 22 Feb.
J786, aged 67."
Againft the fouth wall of the aile is a fmall mural monument of ftone, infcribed as
follows: " Hereunder lyeth y° body of Thomas, the fon of Thomas and Joane
Whipple, of y° Green in this parilli, who departed this life y° 28th day of June, Anno Dom. 1699, aged, 56 years. Near this place lyeth the body of Hannah, wife of the above-named Tliomas Whipple, of this parilh, who departed this life the 7th day of December, Anno Dom. 1708."
At the weft end of this aile, and under the gallery in the nave, are many other in- fcriptions to the family of Whipple, on the floor; as alfo the following memorial:
SARA LVKYNES,
Againft the north wall of the chancel is a neat marble monument with this memo- rial: " Near this place lies the body of Richard Goodhind, gent, whofe anceftors
for many generations refided in this parifti. He departed this life the 2d day of May 1754, aged 49. Alfo the body of Ann his only daughter and heirefs: (he departed the 7th day of February 1762, in the 13th year of her age. To perpetuate the me- mory of an afFeftionate luift)and and dutiful daughter, Mary Goodhind caufed this monument to be eredted." Arms, Gules, afeflc between three fleurs-de-lis or; impaling argent three greyhounds cuncnt/aMe. On an inefcutcheon gules diree bezants in pale.
In the chancel floor there are many other infcriptions, nearly obliterated, to the me- n)ory of the fame family.
Againft the north wall of the nave, near the door, there is a neat mural monument
of marble, containing the following infcription: " Beneath a ftone, at the eaftward
part olthis ile, lie the remains of George Stocker, of this parifli, ^fq; a defcendant of the antient family of the Stockers in Chilcompton, who (having by his own induftry acquired confiderable wealth, of which his friends and the poor were partakers) departed this life Jan" f, 1776, aged 76. Alfo of John Stocker, gent, (nephew to the former) and of Katharine his fiift wife. He died 14"" Jan'' 1777, in the 65th year of his age. She died 18''' December 1748, aged 50. In memory of whom George (their only fon) cauTed this monument to be ereded." Arms, Gyronny of fix azure and argent^ three parrots vert,
L 1 1 2 On
444
FILTON, ALIAS WHITCHURCH. [IBkegnQjam.
On the other fide of the north door is another monument of marble, infcribed, " Near this place are depofited the remains of Ifaac Emery, of this parifh, gent. He departed this life the lad April 1761, aged 70 years. Alfo Thomas, his fon, who departed this life the 19th Sepf 1761, aged 27 years. Alfo Charity Emery, wife of Ifaac Emery, gent. Alfo Ann Edols, wife of Richard Edols, gent, and daughter of Ifaac and Charity Emery, died 24th March 1776, aged 2S years."
The pews or feats in this church, a fmall number excepted, are built of oak, are low and open, run at right angles from fide to fide, and are nearly coeval with the Re- formation, when (exclufively of the nobility, patrons, and clergy) people fat in common, and without priority or diftintlion.
Benefactors. " Sir John Smith, late of Long-Afhton, kn' and bai-', gave forty fhillings to be diftributed on St, Thomas-day to twenty poor people, fhare and (hare alike, at the difcretion of the miniller and churchwarden yearly for ever.
*' Mrs. Frances Holbeach, fpinfter, (daughter of John Holbeach, efq;) gave thirty pounds i ten fhillings of the profits thereof to the minifter, for preaching a fermon Shrove-Tuefday in the morning, and the remainder to be diftributed to the poor in bread the fame day yearly for ever.
** Mr. Benjamin Tipput gave five pounds, the profits to the poor for ever.
" Mr, William Opie, fometime flierlff^of the city of Briftol, gave to this parifh three pounds fourteen fliillings yearly for the preaching a fermon in this church once a fort- night on Sunday. He alfo gave to the poor of this parifh twenty fhillings, to be laid out in fixpenny bread and diftributed on Chriftmas-day yearly for ever.
" Sir Hugh Smyth, of Long- Afhton, knight of the Bath, and baronet, gave twenty pounds, the profits to the poor for ever.
" Thomas Jones gave five pounds, the profits to thepoor for ever."
There was a chantry here, endowed with twenty-four acres of arable and paflure land lying in Whitchurch, 1 Edw. III.'
• Rot. Faa, Calefs. 1 Ed. III. jn. 10.
THE
*
t 445 J
tf' . ■;< . >- »■•« '■-«*
THE HUNDRED
O F
KILMERSDON
LIES between the hundred of Chewton on the weft, and that of Frome on the eaft; being i'evered from the former by the Roman Fofle-road, which enters this hundred at Radftock, and runs throughout its whole extent towards Ivel- chcfter. This hundred was anciently vefted in the Norman family of Salignac, de Saligniaco, or Sulleny, lords of the manor of Kilmerfdon, from which it had its name. John de Sulleny was living in the time of King John, and was father of Andrew dc Sulleny, who had iflue Ralph de Sulleny, lord of this hundred 28 Henry III. To him fuccecded Geffrey de Sulleny, who lived at Kilmerfdon in the latter part of the fame reign, and was father of Andrew, and grandfather of another Andrew de Sulleny, who had lands in Babington of the grant of Philip de Albany. There were feveral branches of this family fettled in Cornwall, Devon, and in Britanny in France, (where the name is not at prefent infrequent) and they bore for their arms. Quarterly, ulrgent and gules. This hundred contains ten pariflies.
KILMERSDON.
THIS parjlTi ftands nearly in the centre of the hundred, in a woody vale, about ten miles eaft from the city of Wells. Its ancient name was Chenemerejdone; but it is not diftinguifhed as a manor till after the Conqueft, nor do we find any further account of it in the Norman furvey than the following:
"In Chenemeresdone is half a hide of land. It is worth ten fhillings. Bilhop " Peter held it j now it is in the King's hands.'"
• Lib. Domefday.
Id
446 K' 1 L M E R S D o N. [mUmeriEitJom
In the time of King John, John de SuUeny granted to Alexander de Arfick, in free marriage with Emma his fifter, a third part of this manor, which defcended by heredi- tary right to Hugh de '^'ywe; which Hugh gave the faid third part to Walter his fon in marriage with Emma daughter of Thomas de Whelton, (or Walton, a village in ^is parilh.) After the death of the faid Walter de Tywe, Emma his relidt married to her fecond hufband Adam Nortoft, and they two joined in felling this third part of the manor to Robert Burnel, bifhop of Bath and Wells, who exchanged the fame for -other lands with William Botreaux," who had a charter of free- warren in all his de- mefne lands in this parifh from King Edw. 1/ From which William Botreaux this portion of the manor defcended to William lord Botreaux, and afterwards pafTed by .Jieirefles to the families of Hungerford and Haftings.
The other portions of the ^ manor were very early the property of the family of De Albaniaco or D'Avibeney, lords of South-Petherton in this county, of whom Philip D'Aubeney.died feized thereof 22 Edw. I. leaving Elias D'Aubeney his fon and heir j by whofe fucceflfors it was held till the whole became united in the family of Haftings, progenitors of the earls of Huntingdon. 3 1 Eliz. Henry earl of Huntingdon fold the manor of Kilmerfdon, with that of Walton, which was a member thereof, to John Spencer, citizen and alderman of London; from whom it came in procefs of time to the family of Goodman., and from them by a coheirefs to Twyford, and is now jointly held by Samtiel Twyford and Thom,as Samuel JollifFe, efqrs.
By the ancient cuftom of this manor, the widow of a tenant was entitled to all her hufband's copyhold lands for life, which flie forfeited if Ihe remarried, or proved incon- tinent; but in the latter cafe, if ihe came into the next court after the tranfgrelFion, riding aftride upon a ram, and made an open acknowledgment in a certain form of words before the lord of the manor, or his fteward, fhe was readmitted to her lands without further fine or ceremony.'' The like cuftom prevailed in the manors of Eaft and Weft-Enbourn in Berkfhire, Torre in Devonfliire, and many other parts of England,
The hamlets belonging to this parilh are,
1. Charlton, where is a good feat of Thomas Samuel Jolliffe, efq. Here for- jKierJy was a chapelj and many large ftone coffins have been found,
2. CoLEFORD, which in the Conqueror's time was parcel of the eftates of Roger de Curcelle, and was thus furveyed :
" Aluric holds of Roger, Colforde. The fame held it in the time of King Ed- *' ward, and gelded for three furlongs of land. The arable is half a carucate; but *• there is one carucate in demefne. It is worth two {hillings.'"
J. LucKiNGTON and Walton were both manors at the time of the Conqueft ; the former was the property of Alured de lipania:
" Alured himfelf holds Lochintone. Alwi held it in the time of King Edward, ** and gelded for five hides. The arable is five carucates. In demefne are two caiu-
" Efc. ' Cart. 13 Ed. I. m. 6.
* Blount's Law Diilionary, tit. Free-Bench, Fragmenta Antiq. 266. Dodfworth's MSS. CoUeflions, vol. J54> fol. 8. » Lib. Domefday.
<« cates,
lailmerieniDn.]
KILMEI^SDON.
447
" catcs, and three fervants, and eight cottagers, with one plough. There is a mill of " ten fhillings rent, and twelve acres of meadow. Wood half a miJc long, and three ** furlongs broad. When he received it, it was worth fix pounds, now three pounds."'
Walton was the land of Edmund Fitzpain.
" The fame Edmund holds Waltune. Elmar held it in the time of King •' Edward, and gelded for three hides. The arable is four carucates. There is in " demefne one carucate, and one villane, and fix cottagers, with one plough and a half. " There are fix acres of meadow, and forty acres of pafture. Coppice wood one " furlong in length and breadth. It was formerly worth four pounds, now forty " fhillings."*
Both tlie manors of Luckington and Walton were fometime held by the family of Botreaux, of the priory of Longleat in t'ae county of Wilts.'"
4. LypfAT, where anciently was an eftate given by a family of that name to the priory of Bradenftoke in the county of Wilts.
At Newberry, or Newborough, a fpot fouthward from Kilmerfdon, which for- merly gave name to a family, is a very good houfe belonging to Dr. Paget. On the hill is an ancient Roman camp.
The church of Kilmerfdon was appropriated by William de Erleigh to the priory of Buckland in this county; and in the return made A. D. 1335, by Bifhop Ralph de Salopia, to the King's writ, direfting him to fend an account of the pofleflions of the prior and brethren of the hofpital of St. John of Jerufalem widlin this diocefe, this church is certified to be worth twenty-four marks.'
It is a vicarage in the deanery of Frome, and in the patronage of the K8%. The Rev. Richard Graves is the prefent incumbent. '•
The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, and is a handfome edifice^jn- fifting of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a {lately tower at the wefl: end. ^
Along the top of the communion-rails is the following infcription in gold letters: " Thvs was the thankfvlnefs of the well-difpofed exprefled for {laying the great plagve 1625."
Here is a charity-fchool founded and endowed by the Rev. Henry Shute, late of St. Andrew's, Holborn, this town being his native place.
On the north wall of the chancel is a handlbme mural monument of black, grey and white marble, on the tablet of which is this infcription ;
" Near this place lies interred the body of Mary, one of the daughters and coheir- cfTcs of Gabriel Goodman, efq; lord of this manour, and widow of William Hilliard, cfq. Among many other charitable legacies, flie gave lool. to the poor of this parifh. She died April ao, 1745, aged 77. Ann and Sarah Twyford, her nieces and
m*
1^
'Lib. Domefday.
' Jbid.
Efc. ' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
executrixes.
..t
448 K I L M E R S D O N. [milmetgtion,
executilxesj and only furviving iflue of her fifter Sarah, ercdted this monument in gratitude to her memory."
Arms, Azure, a chevron argent between three mullets or; Hilliard. Over all, on an efcutcheon per ^dXtJabk and ermine, an eagle difplayed or.
On the left hand of the communion-table is an elegant mural monument of white marWc, infcribed,
". Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Robert Twyford, M. A. treafurer of thq cathedral church of St. David's, and lord of this manour; a. gentleman of a truly re- fpedable charadler, modeft, and unafluming; his great ambition was to approve him- felf a good man ; the fweetnefs of his temper made him happy in himfelf, and he employed his abilities, his fortune, and authority, in rendering others fo. And thofe many virtues which conftituted his felicity in this life will, we truft, through the merits of Chrift, make him completely happy to all eternity. He died April 27, 1776, aged 61."
Arms, Argent, two hixs/ahk; on a canton of the laft, a cinquefoil or.
To the right of the communion-table is another handfome monument of white marble, with this infcription:
" Near this place are depofited the remains of Mrs. Sarah Twyford, one of the ladies of this manour; whofe decent piety, unafFefted affability, and boundlefs charity, rendered her life honourable, her death regretted, and her memory revered. She de- parted this life thesqiith of Jan. 1765, TSged 86. James Twyford hath caufed this monument of his gratitude and her virtues to be eredted to his honoured benefaftrefs."
On the fouth wall of the chancel: " Near this place lyeth the body of Mrs. Ann
Twyford, late lady of this manour; the eldeft daughter of James Twyford, efq; by Sarah daughter of Gabriel Goodman, efq; formerly lord of this manour. She died unrtgwried March 12, 1765, aged 87 years."
A S H W I C K
IS a parifh on the Fofle, about three miles north from Shepton-Mallet. Its ancient nam* was Fjcewkhe, which it feems to have obtained from the quantity of afh-
«^ trees growing hereabout, Scfe in the Saxon fignifying afh, and Fic a village. In
% that part of the parifti bordering on Mendip-hills is found a deep, heavy, green, and
indurated clay, frequently in the fliafts of the coal-pits, of which here are feveral. About the depth of 25 or 30 feet is alfo found a black friable marie, which would be ^ . excellent manure. At about the depth of eighteen feet is a ftratum of pale yellow ochre
very hard and ponderous, confiderable quantities of which are raifed and fent to the colour fhops ; but of late years moftly from another part of Mendip towards the northweft
near
IJllmetsDon.]
H W
K.
/
449
near the Harptrees. In tlils and fcveial other parts of thefc hills are found feveral fpecies of the Secomia, a kind of Hone peculiar to Mendip.
On the fouthweft fide of this parifh, on the hill, and within half a mile of the fofs-road, is a Roman camp called by the name o( Majlury-Cajik. It confifts of a double rampire and ditch, about three furlongs in circuit, having two oppofitc entrances, guarded -by oblique turns of the vallum, which is from fifteen to twenty feet deep. William of Worcefter, from vulgar tratlition, informs us, that this caftle was built by a giant of the name of Mark; that in his time it was in ruins; but that there ftill remained on the fpot upwards of one hundred thoufand cart-loads of ftones."
The manor of Alhwick was parcel of the ancient poflefllons of the priory of Bath.
" The church itfelf holds Escewiche. In the time of King Edward it gelded for *' half a hide. The arable is half a carucate. There is one fervant, and two villanes, *• rendering forty-two pence, and twelve acres of meadow, and three acres of coppice *' wood. It was and is worth forty-two pence.
" The whole of this land belonged to the faid church in the time of King Edwaid, " and could not be alienated from it.""
The temporalities of the priory here were in the year 1293 valued at fixty-three fhillings and four-pence." It continued in the pofleflion of that houfe for upwards of five hundred years, at the expiration of which being diflblved by Henry VIII. this and its other lands were taken away, and in the 31ft of that reign this manor was granted to Thomas Horner, efq. 36 Henry VIII. the faid Thomas Horner fold the capital mefluage here to John Stidman and his heirs; and 37 Henry VIII. the manor and a melTuage called CareJcUft to the fame perfon ; from whom it defcended to Robert Stidman, probably his fon and heir. It now belongs by inheritance to Matthew lord Fortefcue, who bears for his arms. Azure, a bend engrailed argent, cotized or.
Great part of the hamlet of Oakhill lies within this parifh, (landing foutheaftward from the village. It formerly belonged to the family of Horfey.'' It is now only famous for a large brewery carried on with great reputation by Mcflrs. Jordan and Billingfley, both thefe gentlemen having good houfes here. Mr. Billingfley's is newly built, and (lands in a very romantick fituation, in a fine fruitful vale, richly wooded with a variety of trees and (hrubs on either fide the (lopes which bound its extent, and patched with immenfe rocks, which projeft through the foliage from the lofty brow of the cliffs. In the garden is an old fummer-houfe, almod covered with ivy, in which Dr. James Fofter, having embraced the obnoxious tenets of the diflTentient diffenters, and retired hither out of the way of clamour and confi.ifion, ftudied and penned many of his works. A fmall (lone placed therein is infcribed to his memory in th^ following words: — " Sacred to the memory of the celebrated James Fofter, D. D. who in this humble and retired manfion, fecluded from the fury of bigots, and the cares of a bufy world, fpent feveral years; and compofed many of thofe excellent difcourfcs on natural religion and focial virtue, (with the annexed offices of devotion) which have been read
Itin. p. 291.
Vol. II.
"" Lib. Domefday. ' Taxat. Temporal. M m m
'Efc,
with
450 A s H w I c K. [Mmetjirion*
with univerfal admiration during the laft and prefent ages; and which, while they exhibit to pofterity the moil beautiful difplay of the divine attributes, and important duties of human life, will immortalize the name and memory of their learned and pious author."
Afhwick is a chapel to Kilmerfdon; the church, dedicated to St. James, contains nothing remarkable.
BABINGTON
IS a parifli fituated fouth from Kilmerfdon, in a flat woody country. It is noticed in the old record among the eftates of GefFerey bilhop of Coutances, as follows :
" Azeline holds of the Bifhop, Babingtone. Two thanes held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for five hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne " are two carucates, and feven fervants, and two villanes, and two cottagers, with three " ploughs. There is a mill of forty pence rent, and twelve acres of meadow, and " fifteen acres of pafture. Wood (ix furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was " worth forty fliillings, now fixty fliillings.'"
In this place refided a family of its name from the time of Henry II. to that of Edw. III. and were people of great diftinftion. Sir John de Babington was lord of Babington 17 Edw. I. and bore for his arms ten plates. There were feveral branches of this family feated in Nottinghamfhire, Derbyfhire, and other counties;" but their arms were different, viz. ten torteaux, fometimes with the addition of a lion rampant. Gervaife Babington was fuccefllvely bifhop of Landaff, Exeter, andWorcefter, in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James I, and died A. D. 16 10.
In the time of Edw. I. the manor of Babington was in the poffefTion of John Ap- Adam, whofe heirs are certified to hold the fame, with the advowfon of the chapel there, and the hamlet of Middlecote,' by the fervice of two knights' fees and a half. It was afterwards held by the Lords Botreaux, who had a charter of free-warren in their demefne lands within the parifh. 14 Edw. I. William lord Botreaux held a fair in the village of Babington, and the advowfon of the church of Babington. But the manor had fometime before been pofleffed by the Chedders, and pafTed by a coheirefs of Thomas Chedder, 21 Henry VI. to Sir John Newton, and by his fon Richard
' Lib. Domefday. •> See Warton's Hift. of Ktddingion, p. 38, 39, 40.
' Now a depopylated place. It belonged alfo at the Conqueft to the Bifhop of Coutances : " Azeline holds
" of the Bilhop Millescote. Two thanes hrld it of the church of Glaftonbury, and could not be feparated " from it, and gelded for five hides and a half. The arable is five carucates. In demefne is one carucate and a " half, and three fervaijts, and nine villanes, and fix bordars, and five cottagers, with five ploughs. Thereis a " mill of fix {hillings and fix-pence rent, and threeacres of meadow. Pafture four furlongs long, and two fur- " longs broad, and as much wood. It was worth forty (hilUngs, now four pounds." Lii>, Domefday.
coheirefs
EilmergDon.] babington. 451
coheirefs, i and i Ph. and Mary, to Sir Thomas Griffin, knr. It afterwards came to the pofTeflion of William Long, efq; and is now the property of Norton Knatchbull, efqj nephew of Mrs. Elizabeth Long.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of Samuel Twyford, and Thomas Samuel JoUiffe, efqrs. The Rev. Mr. Batchclor is the prefent incumbent.
The church was built in the year 1750 by Mrs. Long; it is a fmall neat edifice, dedicated to St. Margaret.
The manfion of Mr. Knatchbull ftands near it, in a very pleafant fituation, being flickered on the north by a fine wood at about a furlong diftance; between which and the houfe is a large piece of water. The pleafure grounds are prettily difpofed.
The chriftenings in this parifh are annually on an average fix; the burials four.
The expences of the poor here were in 1770, 61I. 15s. 7d.; in 1778, 89I. 8s. 7d.
BUCKLAND-DINHAM
lES eafhvard from Babington, on the borders of the hundred of Frome. Its fitu- ation is nearly on the eaftern brow of a hill, which overlooks feveral pleafant vales of mead and pafture. A fine fpring rifes at Moonleigh's, and from it a rivulet runs into the Frome. Another fpring iffues at Barrow-Hill, and forms a brook, which, after dividing this parifh from that of Elm, runs alfo into the river Frome. The turn- pike-road fromBriftol to the town of Frome pafl"es through the village, which confifts of a long ftreet of mean houfes. It formerly was a large and very confiderable place, having a market on Tuefdays, a fair for three days, and a very large manufadure of woollen-cloth. Here was a market-crofs and town-houfe, where aflizes were frequently held. This town arofe chiefly from the munificence of the Denhams its old lords, who gave it its name, and many of whom refided here in a noble manfion long fince level with the ground.
That it was in ancient times a very confiderable manor, appears from the great furvey of William the Conqueror, which fays,
" Donno [a King's thane] holds Bochelande. The fame held it in the time of *' King Edward, and gelded for twelve hides. The arable is feven carucates. There " are five ploughs, and eleven villanes, and five cottagers, and feven fervants, and forty " acres of meadow, and thirty acres of coppice wood, and half a mile of pafture in " length, and one furlong and a half in breadth, and a mill rendering feven fliillings. " It was formerly worth eight pounds, now one hundred fliillings."^
• Lib. Domefday.
M m m 2 The
452 . B U C K L A N D - D I N H A M. [I^ilmerSDon.
The manor of Buckland came to the pofleffion of the Dinhams foon after the Con- queft. Of this family an account has already been given in the defcription of Corton, in the hundred of Horethorne,'' to which the reader is referred j and it only remains here to fay, that both this manor and that were held under the fame name till difperfed by coheireffes in the time of Edw. IV. After which it was chiefly held in moieties or parcels. 30 Henry VIII. John lord Zouch and Seymour, fon and heir of John lord Zouch, and Joan his wife, one of the daughters and coheirs of John lord Dinham, held two parts of the fourth part of this manor. 19 Henry VIII." Sir William Compton, knt. held at his death a fourth part of the fame, leaving Peter Compton his fon and heir.** 23 Eliz. Henry lord Compton fold his part to Webb, and he to Hodges. And 36 Henry VIII. John earl of Bath fold a fourth part of the manor to Thomas Bamfeilde, efq. By which, and various other purchafes the manor became jointly vefted in the families of Bamfeilde and Hodges; and the fhare of the former is now inherited by Sir Charles Bampfylde, bart. that of the latter by Henry Strachey,, of Sutton-Court, efq.
The church of Buckland-Dinham, valued in 1292 at fifteen marks," is a peculiar and prebend in the cathedral of Wells. The Rev. Mr. Payne is the prefent prebendary and reftor. The Rev. Mr. Ames is vicar.
The church ftands in the deanery of Frome, and is dedicated to St. Michael/ it confifts of a nave, chancel, and fide ailes, with a tower at the weft end, containing five bells.
In the north aile, on three ftones in the floor, lie the effigies of Sir John Dinham and Joan his wife, with another of the fame family. On raifing one of thefe ftones a few years fince a human body was found beneath it in a ftone coffin, which on being touched crumbled into duft. This Sir John Dinham, who lived in the time of Edw. II. founded a chantry in the church of Buckland, and gave tv.'enty acres of arable land, two acres of meadow, and pafture for four oxen, with two mills, all in the parifli of Buckland, to a chaplain to perform divine fervice in the church of St. Michael of Buckland, for the foul of the faid John every day for ever.^
Colonel Warwick,Bampfylde gave by will ten pounds per annum for ever to the poor of this parifti, who do not receive colleftion-.
There is a fmall hamlet called Murtree or Mortray.
The parifli of Buckland gave name to a very ancient and opulent family, who were lords of Hemington hard by.
* See p. 361, 362, of this vol. • Inq. pofl Mort. ■' Inq. capt. ap. Yevyll, 22 Jan. 20 Hen. VIII.
• Taxat. Spiritual. ' Edlon, by miftake, fays St. Mary. « Inq. ad quod Damn, ig Edw. II.
HARDINGTON.
RilmetfiiDono [ 453 ]
HARDINGTON.
NORTHWARD from Buckland lies Hardington, a parifli almoft depopulated. It belonged to the Bifhop of Coutances at th» time that the Norman furvey was drawn up, and in all probability had its name from Harding one of the Saxon thanes, who poflefled confiderable property in this neighbourhood.
" Ralph holds of the Bifliop, Hardintone. Three thanes held it in the time of " King Edward, and gelded for four hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne " are two carucates, and four fervants, and one villane, and feven cottagers, with three " ploughs. There are thirty-fix acres of meadow, and twelve acres of coppice-wood. *' It was and is worth four pounds. In this manor is one hide appertaining to Ha- " MiNTONE. Baldwin holds it, and has common pafture for this manor."*
William and Alexander de Hardington were of this place in the time of Henry III.* The heirs of John Le Sore held the manors of Hardington and Wydergrave 9 Edw. 11. by the fervice of one knight's fee." John de Pedcrton was afterwards lord of this manor, and at his death left a daughter, Agnes, married to John BaumfUde, efq; whofe fon, Peter Baumfilde, poflefled this eftate, and tranfmitted it to his pofterityj Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, bart. being the prefent owner. The manor-houfe, now in ruins, flood near the churchi and there was a fine park fl:ocked with deer, extending to the top of a hill from which there is an extenfive and pleafing view.
The living is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and in the gift of Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde. The Rev. Mr. Hill is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall {Irudture, fifty feet long, and eighteen widej a fmall tower Hands at the wefl: end.
In the chancel is a (lately mural monument of white marble, infcribed, " In
memory of the honourable Colonel Warwick Bampfield, late of this place, efq; who deceafed Deq. 6, 1694, aged 72. As alfo of John Bampfield, efq; his elder brother^ and of Dame Margaret, wife of Sir James Drax, their fiflrer; who, together with. her hufband, were interred in a vault in the parifh church of St. John Z^chariah, London, which was confumed in the great conflagration of that city in 1666, and not rebuilt. And likewife in memory of Thornas Bampfield, efqj their grandfather; and alfo of Thomas Bampfield, efq; their great-grandfather." Arms, On a bend three mullets,
* Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. Antiq. « Efc.
HEMINGTON
t 454 3 [CitlmewBon,
HEMINGTON
IS the next parifh northweft from Hardington, fituated on a gentle declivity, in a country well wooded and watered. This was one of the four manors which Baldwin de Execeftre poflefled in this county from the grant of King William the Conqueror.
" Baldwin holds Hamitone of the King. Siward held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for twenty-one hides. The arable is twenty carucatesj thereof " in demefne are eight hides, and there are four carucates, and eleven fervants, and " twenty-fix villanes, and eight cottagers, with twelve ploughs. There are twelve " acres of meadow, and fifty acres of coppice- wood. Failure half a mile long, and "half a mile broad. It was and is worth nineteen pounds. Of this land one hide lies *' in the common pafture of Hardintone, a manor of the Bifhop of Coutances.'"
This Baldwin de Execeftre, whofe former name had been Baldwin de Brionis, was fheriff of the county of Devon, an office appertaining to the honour of Oakhampton, given him by King William the Conqueror. Richard, his eldeft fon, who was fur- named de Redvers, or Rivers, was by King Henry I. in the firft year of his reign created Earl of Devon, and was the firft perfon that ever enjoyed that honour j to which fl number of manors, not only in Devonlhire, but in this and other counties, were annexed for its dignity and fupport. Hemington was one of thofe manors, and an inquifition taken, 2 Edw. I. fets forth, that John de Courtney held the faid manor of the King in capite by barony, by reafon of its being a member of the barony of Oak- hampton. And Hugh de Widworthy, Nicholas de St. Viftore, and Roger de Moel, held half a knight's fee of the faid John Courtney in the manor of Hemington by knight's fervice.'' In this family of Courtney it continued till the time of Edw. IV. when Elizabeth one of the daughters and coheirs of Thomas Courtney earl of Devon, who was taken in the battle of Towton in 146 1, transferred it by marriage to Sir Hugh Conway, knt. From that family it pafTed to Sir William Knevett, knt. and thence to the families of Buckland and Coppleftone. 2^ Henry YIII. Richard Buckland and Humphry Coppleftone conveyed the manor with the reftory and advowfon of the church of Hemington to Thomas and John Bampfield, efqrs." in whofe family it has continued till this time, and is now the eftate of Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, bart.
Within this parifh were formerly feveral confiderable villages, having manerial rights under the lords of Hemington.
High-Church, which ftands northeaftward from Hemington, is faid to have been the fpot where the original parifti^church ftood. i Ric. II. Thomas Flory held a third part of a knight's fee, in High-Church. 10 Henry IV. William Burlefton was owner of this manor.* 1 Henry VI. Hugh Courtney earl of Devon died feized of the third part of one knight's fee, which William le Frous formerly held in Heigh-Churcli juxta Hemington." This place is now reduced to one houfe, which is the ancient fnanfion of its lords, and the property of the Rev. Mr. Hill.
' Lib. Domefday. "Efc. "^ Licence to alienate. " Efc. « Ibid.
Near
milmetiStlon.] H E M I N G T O N. 455
Near High-Church is Falkland, another ancient manor, which gave name to a family. lo Henry IV. Walter the fon of John Folkland, who was outlawed for felony, held one mefTuage and ten fhillings rent in Falkland of William Burlefton as of his manor of High-Church.* In the time of Henry V. Nicholas de St, Vigore held the fourth part of one knight's fee here. It now belongs to Sir Charles Warwick Bamfylde, bart.
A third ancient manor within this parifh is Huktminster, a name which feems to imply a church there in the Saxoh times. William le Prouz held the village of Hunt- minfler in the manor of Hemington 20 Edw. I.* The fervice by which it was held was half a knight's fee. This place is now depopulated.
The benefice of Hemington was valued In 1292 at nineteen marks; and a penfion of four marks was paid out of it to Henry de Efle, canon of Sarum.*" It is a reftory in the deanery of Frome. The lord of the manor is patron, and the Rev. Giles Hill is die prefenH incumbent.
The church, which, according to Browne Willis, is dedicated to St. Mary, confifts of a nave, chancel, fouth aile, and tower at the weft end.
On the north wall of the chancel is a mural monument of ftone, " In memory
of Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, daughter of Mr. Stephen Hill, reflor of this parilh; and Mary his wife, who died at Bath, March i, and was buried at the entrance into this chancel March 3, 1725, aged 18 years. In this chancel lies the body of the Rev. Mr. Gyles Hill, A. M. reftor of this parifhj he died Od. 29, 1755, aged 63."
Neai' the communion-table: " Here lies the body of the Rev. Stephen Hill,
M. A. late reftor of this parifh, who died July 24, 1737, aged 84 years. Alfo Mary the wife of Stephen Hill died January 9, 1752, aged 87."
On a brafs plate on a tomb in the fouth aile is the fiillowing infcription: " Here
lyeth the body of John Halkfield, which departed to God full mekely in the yeare of our Lord God 1528, on whofe foul God have mercy. Amen."
In this aile are feveral flat ftones to the Vigor family.
On a black ftone in the middle paflage: "Here lies the body of Adolphus
Darknel, of Folkland, gent, who died June 14, 17 10. And of Sarah his wife, who died Aug. 31, 17 11." Arms, a lion paflant regardant between three helmets.
On an adjoiningftone:— — " Here lyeth the body of Francis Hales, gent, who de- parted this life June i, 1764, in the 84th year of his age." Arms, Chs.y\on /able between three lions rampant. Creft, a lion rampant.
Againft one of the pillars in the foutli aile is a mural monument of ftone, infcribed, , " Sifte viator. Heare by lyeth the bodys of Edward Batchelor, gent, and Katharine his wife, expecting the joyful day of refurreftion. Katharine departed the 20th of July, Edward departed the nth of Dec. 1667. Cum legls cfto memor. He gave 50I. to the poore of five neighbouring parifties, lol. to each parifhj and the reft he diftributed to his kindred by confanguinicy and affinity."
f Efc. • Ibid. " Taxat. Spiritual.
On
456 H E M I N G T O N. fEilmetSHon,
On the fouth wall of the fouth aile is a mural monument of ftone, infcribed,
" Near this place lies interred the body of Samuel Vigor, gent, who died Sept. 14, 1711, in the 7 ill year of his age; who gave* for the relief of two poor labouring men, each not having above four in family, two cottages, and 5I. 4s, per annum for ever, And 20s. per annum to be diftributed to .the poor of this parifh in bread on the 25th of Dec. yearly for ever. Alfo 50s. per annum for the fchooling of two poor children tif this parifh, arid two poor children of the parifh of Wedmore, for ever."
On a'frame againfl the north wall: " The honourable Col. Warwick Bampfield,
of Hardington, (who dyed Dec. 6, 1694) by his laft will gave 20I. a year forever, out of the old rents and profits of Hemington, to the poor of this parifh."
In the church-yard are many grave-ftones, but nothing of confequence appears on jthem.
HOLCOMBE
IS a parifli wefl from Babington, fitviated in a country interfered with deep vallies; whence its name. The foil is moftly red, very rich, and abounds with coalj the lands are chiefly paflure. The manor was the property of Roger de Curcelle fooa after the Conqueft, and had this defcription:
" Alward holds of Roger, Holecumbe. He himfelf held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for one virgate of land. The arable is two carucates. In de- " mefne is one carucate, and two fervants, and one villane, and five cottagers, with half -*' a plough. There is a mill of fixpence rent, and feventy-five acres of paflure, and *' fifteen acres of wood. It was and is worth ten fhillings."'
This manor was held of the honour of Gloucefter, under whom its chief lords after the Conqueft were the family of Palton. William de Palton held at his death, 28 Henry VI. the manor of Holcomb, of the heir of John Wyke, together with the leveral manors of Paulton, Timfborough, Corfcomb, Wick, Bourbache, Camerton, Withi- comb, Elworthy, Brompton-Ralphj and lands in Paulton, Timfborough, Cameley, Chewton-Mendip, Camerton, Clutton, Dunkerton, Midfummer-Norton, Kilmerfdon, Durcot, Holcombe, Whitchurch, and Hinton-Blewet. Thefe lands defcended to Joan the wife of John Kelly, and Agnes the wife of Nicholas St. Loe, his coufins and and heirs."" This manor became afterwards the property of tlie Homers.
The abbey of Keynfham had property in the village, and prefented to the benefice, •which is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, and now in the gift of Thomas Horner, of Mells-Park, cfq. The Rev. Dr. Bifhop is the prelent incumbent.
» Lib. Daraefday. , ■ * * Efc.
The
milmcMiion.] ii o L c o M b e. 457
The church, which is dedicated to St. Andrew, is romantically fituatcd in a cirQular hollow, on the brow of a very deep valley to the weft. It is a very old building, having a fine Saxon arch at the entrance of the porch on the fouth fide, and other marks of ancient architedure.
In tlie year 1770 this parifh paid to the poor 144I. 13s. fd.j in 1778, 153I. 5s. 5d.
RADSTOCK
IS a village fituated eight miles fouth from Bath, in the turnpike-road fi-om that city to Wells, and upon its interfeftion with the old Roman Fofle-road, from which it is denominated; Rab, in the Saxon language, fignifying a road, and Sroc, a village. This road for aboin a quarter of a mile is vifible almoft in its original ftate, being raifed high above the fide-dikes, about fix feet broad, and having a convex furface. As this is not at prefent a publick road, it may poflibly remain a monument of anti- quity for many ages to come.
Although from its name the Saxons feem to have been acquainted with the place; yet no mention is made of it in the furvey taken of their lands in the time of King William the Conqueror. It was given by King William II. to Robert Fitz-Hamon earl of Gloucefter, and held of his fucceffors Earls of Gloucefter for feveral centuries.* 1 1 Edw. I. it was found by an inquifition that the tithings of Radftock, Babington, Hardington, and Holcombe, which belonged of old to the hundred of Kilmerfdon, had in the time of Henry III. been withdrawn therefrom by Richard earl of Gloucefter, by reafon of their being of the fee of the faid Earl.'' About this time Henry de Mountfort was mefne lord of this manor, and was fucceeded therein by Reginald de Mountfort his fon and heir, who held the manor, with the advowfon of the church, by thefervice of one knight's fee, 7 Edw. II." He was alfolord of Wellow. 13 Edw. III. Philip de Wellefleigh held the manor of Radftock of Hugh Difpenfer, reverfionary after his death to William Banifter and Elizabeth his wife.'' 19 Ric. II. William Banifter held the manor, with the advowfon of the church, of Lord le Dilpenfer, by knight's fervice and fuit of court, as of the honour of Gloucefter. He died that fame year, leaving one daughter, Joan, to inherit his eftates. Which Joan was mar- ried to Robert de Alfoxton, of Alfoxton in the parifti of Stringfton, whom ftie furvived, and had to her fecond huft)and Sir John Hill, knt. by whom flie had iflue Robert Hill, who was of Spaxton in this county. He died 4 Ilenry VI. leaving John his fon and heir; to whom fucceeded a fecond John, whofe fole daughter and heirefs was married to Sir William Say, knt. Having no iflue, the manor reverted to Elizabeth fifter of the laft-mentioned John Hill, the wife of John Cheyney, efq; whofe fon John left four daughters his coheireftes, one of whom being married to Edward Waldegrave,
• Cart. Antiq, " Ex bundel. Efc ' Lib. Feod. * Efc.
Vol. II, ^ N n n efq;
»«
458 R A D s T O c K. [Mmerstcin*
erq; transferred this manor, with other eftates, to that family, in which it ftill continues, being now the pofleflion of John Earl Waldegrave, Vifcount Chewton.
The benefice of Radflock is reftorial, in the deanery of Frome, and in the patronage of Lord Waldegrave. The Rev. Mr. James is the prefent incumbent. The prior of Bath received from the parfonage a yearly penfion of four marks.*
The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a fmall plain ftrudure, and contains no- thing remarkable.
A coal-work has of late years been opened in this parifh, and is carried on with great fuccefs.
* Taxat. Spiritual.
STRATTONontheFOSSE.
THIS place, lying fouthward from Radftock, obtained its original name from its fituation on the fame old ftreet, the Foffe, (as its modern appellation more plainly expreffes it) running in a ftrait line to the ancient town of Ivelchefter. There are other places in various parts of England called by the fame name, and for a fimilar reafon.
King Edgar gave this manor, confifting of fix hides, to the abbey of Glaftonbury,* of which in the time of King Edward the Confeflbr it was held by Alwold, one of the Saxon thanes. But William the Conqueror, taking this among other lands belonging to that monaftery into his own poOeffion, beftowed it upon his favourite prelate and affiftant the Bifhop of Coutances; and we find it thus recorded in the general furvey:
" The fame William holds of the Bifhop, Str atone. Alwold held it in the time " of King Edward of the church of Glaftingberie, nor could it be feparated from it, " and gelded for three hides. The arable is three carucates. In demefne are two *' carucates, and three fervants, and five villanes, and fix cottagers, with a plough and a " half. There is a mill of five Ihillings rent, and twenty acres of meadow. Pafture " four furlongs in length and breadth. Wood three fijrlongs long, and two furlongs " broad. It was worth fifty fhillings, now four pounds.
" To this manor is added one hide and a half in Picote, (now called Pitcott.) " Wlmar held it in the time of King F.dward, and could go where he would. The " arable is one carucate. There are two villanes, and two cottagers, with one fervant. " There is a mill of forty pence rent, and feven acres of meadow, and two furlongs of " pafture, and one furlong of wood. It was and is worth twenty Ihillings. William "holds it of the Bifhop.'"*
» Jofian. Glaflon. Hift. 4e rebus Glaflonien, i. 139. * Lib. Domefday.
The
l^amcrgDon.] STRATTON on thk FOSSE. 459
The manor of Pitcott is thus further furveyed:
" The fame [Edmund] holds Picote. ladulf held it in the time of King F.dward, *' and gelded for three hides and a half. The arable is four carucites. In demtfnc are " two carucates, and two fervants, and tliree villanes, and eight cottagers, with two *' ploughs. Tliere is a mill of fifty pence rent. There are eight acres of meadow, *' and twelve acres of palUire, and fifty acres of wood. It was and is now worth four " pounds.'"
The Gournays were the lords of Stratton, till It became affixed to the dutchy of Cornwall, whereto it now belongs, in the perfon of the Prince of Wales.
The living of Stratton is a reftory in the deanery of Frome, valued in 1 292 at nine marks.'' The Prince of Wales is patronj the Rev. Philip Dart the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St. Vigor, confifting of a nave, chancel and north aile newly built by Mrs. KnatchbuU, who alio new pewed the church in 178a with neat pannelled deal. The chancel was rebuilt (all but the eaft wall) at the expence of the Rev. Richard Hughes, redor.
* Lib. Domefday. ' Taxat. Spiiitual.
WRITHLINGTON
IS a fmall village, containing about fourteen houfes, and fituated on the northeaft (lope of a hill eaftward from Radflock. Its ancient name was irritelinSIene, under •whicii It is noticed in the Norman furvey, as follows :
" Briftoward holds Writelinctone. Bridtwold held it in the time of King ^' Edward, and gelded for fix hides. The arable is five carucates, and in all there are " eight villanes and three cottagers. There are twelve acres of meadow, and twenty " four acres of pafture, and twelve acres of coppice-wood. It was heretofore worth *' one hundred lliillingsj now four pounds.""
This manor is now the property of William Moore, of Charlton, efq.
The church is a prebend in the cathedral of Sarum; the prefent rector is tJie Rev. Mr. Trickey, of Salifbury. In 1 292 it was valued at eight marks."
The church, dedicated to St. Mary-Magdalen, is a fmall and humble pile, (landing in a pifturefque liiot under die hill; in the bottom of the vale below it are rich meads watered by a ftream rifing at Stone-eafton, and running through this parifli and Rad- ftock into the Avon near Bath. It is built of ftone, and confifts of the nave, one fmall
* Lib. Domefday. * Taxat, Spiritual.
N n n 2 aile,
460
WRITHLINGTON. [EilmctSCon,
aile, chancel, and porch. Its length from eaft to weft is 52 feet, width in feet, the roof coved and cieled, being aa feet high. At the weft end is a very fmall low tower containing two little bells.
On the fouth fide of the chancel is an ancient mural monument of grey maible, with
the following infcription: " H. I.I. Maria vxor Thomae Coxeter, A. M. hujus
cedes, reft, filia Johan. et Maris Deacon de Burford in agro Oxon. gen" ob. 5'° die Junij, A. D. 1727, aetat. fuas 60. Maria relifta J. Deacon, predift. ob. 5'° die gbris, A. D. 17 10, astat. fuae 84. Richardus, Sara, Benjamin, infantes & proles T. Sc M. Coxeter predift. Richardus, ob. Jan'" 17, A. D. 1697, 1"° menfe aetat. fuae. Sara ob. 14° Maij A. D. 1705, 1"° menfe aetat. fuas. Benjamin, ob. i"° die Feb. A. D. 17 10, setat. fus 2"°. Omnefq; refurredtionem felicem expeftant."
In the north aile is a mural monument of ftone, with the following infcription:
** To the dear memory of Bridget, wife of Jo. Salmon, of Writhlington, gent, and daughter of William and Bridget Eyre, of the city of New-Sarum, who died Jan. 4, 1691, aged 26."
On a black tablet of marble beneath this monument is the following infcription :— — *< Neer this place refteth the body of Bridget Eyre, reUft. of WiUiam Eyre, of the city of New-Sarum, clerk; her firft huft)and was Thomas Flower, of Melkfliam in the county of Wilts, gent, and Ihe was daughter of John Mitchell, of Calfton in the faid county of Wilts, gent. She ditd, in the alTured hope of a joyful refurredlion to ever- laftinglife, the loth of February, 1692, aged 68."
On two ftones ih the chancel floor: " Mary Deacon, 17 10. Richard Coxe,
1697. Mary Coxeter, 1727. Sarah Coxeter, 1705."
On a ftone in the fouth aile: " Mrs. Bridget Eyre, died the loth day of Feb.
1^92, aged 68. Mrs. Elizabeth Salmon, died Dec. 6, 17 19, aged 63."
Cl)C
[ 46i ]
Cije ^ihtxt^ of iHellfi antr i^eigfj.
THIS diftrid, confifting of two pariflies, is contiguous to, and was formerly part of the hundred of Kilmerfdon, under the jurifdidtion of whofe lords it continued till the time of Henry III. when it was, at the inftancc of the monks of Glaftonbury, releafed from all fuit and fervice to the hundred court, by Ralph dc Sulleny, then lord of the manor and the hundred of Kilmerfdon.*
Thomas Horner, efqj is the prefent lord of this Liberty.
• Regift. Abbat. Glafton. Joh. Glafton. Index Chartar. 400.
M
S.
THIS is a large and populous parifli, three miles weft from Frome, and thirteen eaft from Wells. The fituation of the village is very beautiful and pifturefque, the ground being full of hill and vale pleafingly intermingled with wood. To the eaft of the church is a romantick narrow valley, called IVadbury or Modbury Vale, which extends in a winding diredlion to the extremity of the pariftj, and is afterwards continued through that of Elm and into Frome, where It finally ends, its length being nearly two miles:'' it bears evident marks of having been formed by the violent effedl of an earthquake, the projedling rocks on one fide anfwering to the indentures on the other. It is about fixty yards in breadth at the bottom, where a river, at fome fcafons not inconfiderable, flows over a rocky channel, in which, from the inequality of the furface, many bold cafcades are formed. The margin of the ftream is thickly overhung with fhrubs and oak trees. The fides of the vale are from fixty to one hundred and fifty feet high, nearly perpendicular, and clothed with fine hanging coppices, through which vaft rocks projed: with amazing grandeur. On the top of the rocks are the veftiges of fome very ancient encampments, the works on each fide the valley oppofite to each other. On Newborough, or Newbury hill, is fVadbury .czmp, of a fquarifh form, furrounded by a fingle ditch: this, though fmall, muft have been a ftation for horfe, as there are evident remains of a road, made at immenfe labour, for the cavalry to go down the rocks to the river. On the fummit of a hill, not far diftant, to the northeaft, was another fmall encampment, to this day called " fbe Bulwarks," it had three
' ft is worthy of remark, that in this fequeftered vale there are two iron forges, which at this period arc carrying on a trade, little inferior, in point of extenfion, to thofe in the northern part of this kingdom. All the weftcrn counties are fupplied at thefe manufadlories with every iron implement of hufbandry, and their con- nexions extend to the European and American continents.
ditches,
\
462 M E L L s. [Cbe liber tg Of
ditches, one within the other, and was well calculated for a pofl of obfervation, com- manding a view of the country to a great extent. At a fmall diftance fouthward from the church is an eminence called 'Tent-Hill, where many human bones have been difco- vered in digging for lapis calaminaris. And on the fummit of the down, called Kings- down, there is a fquare area, furrounded by a foffe nearly obliterated, with an entrance on the north, in which, tradition fays, was formerly fought a bloody battle, great numbers flain, and in particular two kings; from which circumftance the down derived its name. The bodies of the (lain were faid to have been interred in a large adjacent tumulus, which being levelled fome years fince, in making the turnpike-road from Frome to Radftock, difclofed a vaft quantity of human bones corroborative of the tradition.
There are feveral coal-works in this parifh, in fome of which is a ftratum of clay equal to the Stourbridge in the manufaflure of crucibles: lead, manganefe, pipe-clay, and fuller's-earth, are alio found here. In a hill called Vobjler-Tor, from the hamlet of VoBSTER, is a vein of afh-coloured marble, ftreaked with red.
In m|ny old records in the parifh cheft, and in divers deeds in the pofleffion of the lord of the manor, this parifh is ftiled Parochia Mellis, the parilh of honey; and not unaptly fo; as bees, if the expreffion may be allowed, feem almoft indigenous here; there being many places among the rocks and in the trunks of old oak trees where they
have continued time immemorial, It occurs very early in the monaftick records.
About A, D, 942, King Edmund I. gave to Earl Athelftan the whole village, confifting of twenty hides, and foon after the faid Earl bellowed the fame on the Abbey of Glaftonbury,^ in which the firft donor was interred.
" The church itfclf holds Mvlle. In the time of King Edward it gelded for twenty hides. The arable is twenty carucates. Thereof in demefne are ten hides, and there " are two carucates, and two fervants, and eight villanes, and feven bordars, and five " cottagers, with three ploughs. There is a mill of five fhillings rent, and fifteen acres " of meadow, and twelve acres of pafture. Wood one mile long, and two furlongs " broad. It is worth to the abbot ten pounds.
*' Of the land of this manor Godeve holds of the abbot one hide. Her hufband " held it in the tim.e of King Edward, and it could not be fc-parated from the church. " It is worth feventy-eight pence.
" The Bifhop of Coutances holds of the King five hides and a half belonging to this " manor. Two thanes held it in the time of King Edward, but could not be ieparated " from the church. Azeline holds it of the Bifhop."^
Soon after the Conquefl one Harding, the fon of Eadnoth, a lawyer ancfa powerful man in his days, by fome falfe and unjuft pretence, diftrained this manor and that of Leigh from the monaftery, and took them into his own hands; this occafioned a long litigation: but at length Abbot Herlewine wrefted them from him, and re- ftored them to his houfe,' which (after fome other contention with Roger de la Mare in the time of Abbot de Blois) retained pofTefTion of the fame till the reign of Henry VIII. The revenues of the abbot in this place were in 1293 valued at 16I, lis.''
• Adam de Domerh. Hifl. i. 73. ' Lib. Domcfday. < Joh. Glafton. Hill. i. 164.
" Tvixat. Temp. Geffrey
i
<(
?@cU0 anti lleigl).] M E L L s. 463
Geffrey Fromont procured it a charter of free warren;' Walter Monington, a market and a fair/ John dc Taunton built a fumptuous grange upon the manor;* and John dc Selwood, whofc father had large pofTenions in the parilh, intended to have rebuilt the town in the form of a crofs,'' but finilhed only one ftreet, which is in part ftill (landing.
In the time of Edward I. a writ of quo zvarranto was brought againft the abbot of Glaftonbury, to fliew caufe for his retaining two fhillings accruing from the (herifTs attendance and aids at Modbury in the manor of Mells. The abbot not being able to defend his right, the two fhillings were adjudged to the King; but afterwards remitted.'
The manor coming into the hands of the crown, by the difTolution of the monaflcry of Glaflonbury,'' was purchafed, (as we are informed by Leland)' by Mr. Horner, whofe feat was then at Cloford, and in whofe family it has continued ever fince. — To Thomas Horner, efq; who was living 31 Henry VIII. fucceeded Sir John Horner, knt. of Cloford, who was fherifF of this county 6 and 1 5 Eliz. and died 24 Sept. 29 Eliz. leaving Thomas his fon and heir, who was then forty years of age. This Thomas was knight of the fliire 27 Eliz. and fherifF of the county 4 Jac. I. and died about the loth of that reign. John Horner his fon and heir was a knight, and was fherifF of this county 14 Jac. I. alfo knight of the fhire 2 Car. I. and again in 1654. He married Anne daughter of Sir Geo. Speke, of White-Lackington in this county, knt. by whom he had Sir George Horner, knt. who alfo 1 2 Car. II. was knight of the ihire for this county, and was fucceeded by George his eldefl fon and heir, who man ied Elizabeth daughter of Robert Fortefcue, of Filleigh in the county of Devon, and by her had ifTue Thomas and John. Thomas the eldefl married Sufannah the daughter of Thomas Stangeways, of Melbury in the county of Dorlet, and afTumed thence the name of Strangeways Horner. He was knight of the fliire for this county in 1713, and again in 1727; he died Nov. 20, 1741, and left ifTue a fole daughter and heirefs; Eli- zabeth, wife to Stephen Fox, efq; afterwards created Earl of Ilchefter. John the fccond fon of George Horner, and grandfon of Sir George, married Anne daughter of Edward Phellps, of Preflon-Plucknet, efq; by Anne his wife, daughter and coheirefs of Sir Edward Phelips, of Montacute in this county, knt. and had ifTue one fon, Thomas
' Cart. 4 Ed. III. n. 87. ' Regift. Abbat. Glafton.
« Adam de Domerham. Hift. ii. 573. " LeLltin. vit. 106. ' Joh. Glafton. Hift. i. 250.
* The following furvey was then taken of this manor, via.
" The Mannour of Melles. " Rentes of Affife andCiipmaryTenannt!. The rentes of affife and cullomary tenanntes there, appcrtej-njrog unto the faidc raannour, with the workes and cuilomes, whiche they are bounde to doe by tenure of there landes, are of the yerely value of 37I. i8s. 4id.
" Rentes and Fermes. The fcyte of the faide mannour, with the demajvnes apperteyning unto the fame, are letton by indenture for the fomme of 61. 6s. 8d.
" Perquifites of Courtes and Fynes. The profittes of the courtes, fynes, and other cafoaltics, are anfwereJ to the King's Highnefs this yere at 27!. 3s. 3d.
" Able Meti'ie toferve the King. Alfo there are of able menne, bclongyng unto the fame, able to doe the King fervyce, 10 the nombrc of 30. •' Bonditnen. Alfo there be within the fayde.lordefhip ccrtayne bondc.nien, to the nombre of i."
Langtoft's Chroi. ii. 354. ' Itin. vii, 106,
Kprner,
464 M E L L S. [Cbe Hibectg Of
Horner, who is the prefenf pofleflbr of this manor. The fannily arms are, Sable, three talbots paflant argent, 2 and i.
The feat, called Mells-Park, a park of high antiquity, is delightfijlly fituated; the plantations are of large extent, the gardens fine, and the whole environs laid out with great tafte.
The living of Mells is reftorial, and in the deanery of Frome j the lord of the manor is the patron; and the Rev, Dr. Bifhop the prefent incumbent. It was anciently ap- propriated to Glaftonbuiy-abbey, and valued in 1292 at thirty-five marks."
The church is a handfome ftrudure, confiding of a nave, chancel, and two fide ailes. At the weft end is a lofty tower, containing a clock and fix bells." In the north aile is a large vault belonging to the Horner family; to whofe memory are feveral monuments.
In the fouth aile, '' Here lyeth interred Sir John Horner, knt. who dyed the
25th of Oft. 1659. Alfo Dame Ann his wife, the daughter of Sir George Speke, of Whitlackington in this county, knight of the Bath, who died March 22, 1665."
" This is fet up in remembrance of Elizabeth, who dyed April, 22, 1680; Ann, who dyed June 2, 1682; Sufanna, who dyed April 28, 1684: — the daughters of George Horner, efq; by Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of the Honourable Colonel Robert Fortefcue, of Filleigh in the county of Devon, efq."
In the north aile is a (lately mural monument of white and grey marble, *' Infcribed by Thomas Horner to the pious memory of his father George Horner, (who died the nth of March 1707) and Elizabeth his wife, (who died the 5th of Sept. 1693) daughter of Robert Fortefcue, efq; of Filleigh in the county of Devon; and of one brother and four fifl;ers near interred.
" And 20 Nov. 1741 died the abovewritten Thomas Strangeways Horner, efq; and was buried in the vault underneath, with two of his fons, which he had by his wife Sufanna Strangeways Horner, of Melbury-Sampford in the county of Dorfet. The Right Hon. the Lady Ilcheft:er is their only furviving child." Arms, Horner; impaling Azure, a bend engrailed argent, cotifed or: Fortefcue.
On a monument of white marble againft the north wall, is this infcription : " To
the memory of Anne the eldeft daughter of Sir George Horner, this is erefted by Baldwin Malet, efq; to whom flie was married Jan. 3, 1677, and by whom fhe had ifliie five fons, and one daughter, whereof four fons were only living at the time of her death, which was on the ift day of Auguft 1689." Arms, Malet impaled with Horner.'
In the chancel is a handfome monument of white and Sienna marble, with an elegant and juft infcription to the memory of the late worthy reftor, Thomas Paget, S. T. B. who died A. D. 1783, aged 78.
" Taxat. Spiritual.
" ° The chirch (dedicated to St. Andrew) is faire and buildid yn tyme of mynde exlapiJe quadrate, by the holeparoche. OwGarlande, a draper of London, gave frely to the building of the veftiarie, a fine and curiofe pece of worke. One ■ • ■ • a gentilman dwelling there yn the paroche made a fair chapelle in the north fide of thechirch. There is a praty maner-place of ftone hardeat the weft endeof the chirche. This be likelihod was partely buildid by Abbate Selwodde of Glafteinbyri. Syns it fervid the fermer of the lordefhip."
Lei, Itin. vii. 106.
LEIGH.
4'
a^eiw anu icigb.] [ 465 ]
LEIGH.
THIS village (lands at a fmall diftance, nearly fouthweft from Mclls. The old name thereof was Lantocai, as appears by the ancient records of Glaftonbury, which inform us, that in the year of grace 68 1, Hedda bifhop of Winchefter, with the confent of the kings Kentwin and Baldred, gave Lantocai, now called Legh, con- fiding of fix hides, to the monks of Glafton; which donation was confirmed by King Cedwalla, who, although a pagan, fubfcribed to the deed the fignof the crofs with liis own hand/
This Hedda, or Headda, fucceeded Eleutherius in the bifhoprick of Winchefter, and was efteemed a pious and juft perfon, one who worthily exercifed his epifcopal charge, in teaching and direfting his flock, being enabled thereto more by the love of piety engrafted in his heart, than by the advantages of ftvidy or of learning.'' This pre- late, to whom many miracles were attributed, died July 7, A. D. 704, or, according to others, A. D. 705/
The village of Leigh feems to have fomewhat fuffered by the feveral depredations of hoftility which intervened betwixt this period and the Norman invafiortj for in the account given thereof in the record of William the Conqueror, it is fet down at no more than four hides, whereas fix were its valuation at the time of its being beftowed on the abbey. The account given of it is as follows:
" The church itfelf holds Leg a. In the time of King Edward it gelded for four "hides. The arable is ten carucates. Thereof are in demefne two hides. One of *• them was thane-land, but could not be feparated from the church. In demefne are " four carucates, with one fervant, and feven villanes, and ten cottagers, with five " ploughs. There are thirty-five acres of meadow, and thirty acres of pafture, and " fix acres of wood. It is worth eight pounds."*
Very little further mention is made of this manor till the time of Henry VIII. when,
after a pofl^elTion of upwards of eight hundred years, the abbey parted .v/idi it to.the crown. After which it pafled with Mellsj to which, with regard to ecclefiaftical mat- ters, it is a chapel.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Giles, is a lofty Gothick ftnidure, confifting of a nave, two fide ailes, chancel, and porch, all covered with lead. At the weft end ftands a ftately tower, embattled, and containing fix bells.
This parifh paid to the poor in 1770, 186I. 6s. 3d.j in 1778, 228I. is. lod.
* Adami de Domerham Hift. i. 50, 51. Joh. Glafton. Hift. i. 91. " Bed. Hift. Ecclefiaft. lib. 5. c. 19.
• Godwin de Praefulibus, 205. " Lib. Domefday.
*!§•
Vol, II. O o o THE
[ 467 ]
THE HUNDRED
o F
KINGSBURY-EAST.
THIS Hundred is fcattered into feveral parcels; that which contains the parifh of its name, and alfo that of Eaft-Lambrook, lies between the hundreds of Bullion and Martock. A fnnall portion, containing the parilh of Huilh- Epifcopi, lies near Langport; and two other parts, divided by a ftrip of South-Petherton hundred, and containing the reft of the parifhes, arc fituated in the extreme part of the county fouthward, on the borders of Devon. This whole hundred formerly belonged to the Bifliops of Bath and Wells.
K
N
BUR
IS a parilh fituated on the river Parret, running hence to Langport northward, and dividing this part of the hundred from the hundred of Pitney. Its ancient name was Chingejherie, and its ancient pofleflbrs were the Bifhops of Wells:
*' The fame Bifhop [i. e. Gifo] holds Chingesberie. He alfo held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for twenty hides. The arable is twenty-four carucates. Thereof are in demefne fix hides, and there are two carucates, and four fervants, and fixteen villanes, and four cottagers, with eleven ploughs. There are two mills ren- dering thirty fliillings, and one hundred acres of meadow. Pafture one mile long, and three furlongs broad.
" Of the fame land of this manor three knights and a clerk hold eight hides. It is worth on the part of the bifhop twelve pounds. On the part of the knights, eigiit pounds."*
• Lib. Domefday.
O 0 0 2 41 Heniy
<c
<t <c t( t(
cc t{
468 KINGSBURY. [JBtingSbUtg^clEaa.
41 Henry III. the Bifhop had a charter of free-warren in this manorj'' and in 1293 the temporalities thereof were valued at forty-five pounds/ From its thus early belonging to the fee of Wells it obtained the additional title of Epifcopi, being in old records ftiled Kingsbury-Epi/copi, to diftinguifh it from other lordfhips of the name.
The Earl of Berks was fome time lord of this town, and it now belongs to the Honourable James Everard Arundel.
The reflory of Kingfbury was anciently appropriated to the chancellorfliip of Wells, ereftedA. D. 1135, and in this dignity it ftill continues. 2 Odt. 1447, the Bifhop confirmed the ordination of the vicarage of Kingfbury, made by Bifhop Walter Hafelfhaw in 1302, when Henry Hufee was chancellor of Wells, and reflor of this parifh, by which the vicar was allotted a houfe and curtillage with eleven acres of arable land in the demefne fields of the reftor, and one acre of meadow lying near the vicarage garden. The vicar and his fuccefTors to have all kinds of oblations and mortuaries contingent to the parifli church, and oblations contingent to the chapel of the blefTed Mary Magdalen in the court-houfe of the redtor; as alfo the tithe of lambs, calves, chicken, geefe, pigs, pigeons, eggs, wool, flax, honey, cheefe, milk, butter, apples, and pears, accruing as well from the parifhioneis as the court-houfe of the bifhop in the village of Kingfbbury; and the third part of the tithe of hay coming from the parifh- ioners, and all the tithe of hay coming from the bifhop's demefnes in the manor of Kingfbury. The vicar and his fuccefTors to pay the reftor a yearly rent of two {hil- lings due from the vicarage-houfe, and in confideration of a certain fpace of ground granted by the reclor for the enlarging the vicarage court; to maintain at their own expence a chaplain and a clerk, to officiate for them in the faid church j to give holy water to any proper clerk, who fhall frequent the fchools in work days ; to officiate themfelves on fabbath days and feftivals in the the faid parifh church; and moreover to provide and fupport proper and ufual lights in the chancel of the faid church; but to be charged with no other burden.'' The Rev, Mr. Perkins is the prefent incumbent.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is a large and ftately Gothick flruc- ture, built of the Ham Itone, confifting of a nave, chancel, two ailes, belfry, porch, and veftry-room. At the weft end is a very magnificent tower, one hundred and twenty feet high, of excellent mafonry, and adorned at the top with twenty Gothick pinnacles of curious workmanfhip. Againfl this tower are eleven flatues of kings, &c. placed in Gothick niches, fome fitting in armour, crofs-legged, but many of .them much muti- lated. Their coats are carved in flone on the fouth front, but time has defaced the bearings.
The nave is divided from the chancel by a curious, ancient, open-work fcreen of five arches, with a large projefting cornice curioufly carved; over which there was formerly a rood-loft. Above the fcreen the arch is filled up with a painting of the royal arms, with St. Peter and St. Paul.
The fide ailes are divided from the nave by eight pointed arches, fupported by odlanaiular columns.
.' Cart. 41 Hen. III. m. 5. Taxat. Temporal. < Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen.
In
fiiingsbntg^^afl.] KINGSBURY. 469
In the chancel, and at the cafl: end of the north aile, the windows arc ornamented ■with beautiful painted glafs. The fubjedls are, kings, bifhops, faints, and armorial fhields of fevcral bifliops of the diocefc, and of the chancellors of Wells, with a fcroll
*' 3Iol)e0 ^toctfjtoagt canccll. Wt\l t)anc fenefttam fieri fecit."
There is an infcription to Judith, the wife of John Gould, of Southay in this parilh, gent, who died June 17, 1758, aged 57. And in the church-yard is a tomb to James Gould, who gave fifty pounds to five poor widows of this pari(h, and the like fum to as many poor widows of Ilminfter. A worthy example ! He died Feb. 25, 1750.
There are feveral hamlets in this parilh, as Timbridce, Burrow, Southay, and Thorney, which lafl: was one of the three iOands belonging at the Conqueft to the abbey of Muchelney.*
Here is a large moor, or common, called West-Moor.
.« See Domefday, under Muchelney, in Pitney Hundred.
EAST-LAMBROOK.
TO the fouth of KingTstiry lies Eaft-Lambrook, fituated on the little ftream of Lambrook, which denominates the parifh, and divides it from South-Petherton. It is called Eajl-hnmhrook, as being eaftward from another village or hamlet of the name. The landholders here have an unlimited right of common in Weftmoor.
At the time of the Conqueft this place was parcel of the manor of Kingfbury- Epifcopi, and therefore does not occur in the Norman record; nor indeed are there any memorials of curiofity in any fubfequent documents to diftinguifh this place in hiftory. The manor is partly vefted in the dean and chapter of Wells; to whom it was affixed by Queen Elizabeth; and partly in the Hon. Mr. Arundel.
The living is a reft'ory and peculiar in the deanery of Crewkerne, and in the pa- tronage of the dean and chapter of Wells. The Rev. Jofeph Good is the pr^fent incumbent. The living has been augmented with Queen Anne's bounty, aool.; and the private donations of the Rev. Mr. Bowyer of Martock, 130I.; and the truftees of Mr. Pyncombe's will, 70I.
The church is a fmall ftrufture, containing nothing remarkable.
HUISH-
[ 470 ] [I^ingsburg^eaa*
HUISH-EPISCOPI, or BISHOP's-HUISH.
THIS is a large parifli, adjoining to Langport on the northeaft fide of that town, and waflied by the river Ivel, which, coming from Ivelchefter, here joins the Parret, near a wooden bridge fupported by four ftone piers. It contains the hamlets of CoMBEj PiSBURy, and part of Wear-ke, the reft belonging to the tithing and parifh of Pitney. Moft of the lands are pafture and meadow, in which vaft numbers of cattle are reared and fatted for the London market.
The manor of Huifh, which is not diftinguifhable in the Domefday record, was anciently, and ftill is, parcel of the revenues of the biftioprick of this diocefe, although it has feveral times, by fome means or other, been alienated from it. The lands of the bifhop in this place were rated in 1293 at twenty pounds," and a charter of free-warren was granted for the fame by King Henfy III."
The little village of Pijburyy was formerly fometimes written Efje and Epjhury, and was thus furveyed at the Cdnqueft :
" Ralph [de Limefi] himfelf holds Epse. Ulward held it in the time of King *' Edward, and gelded for half a hide. The arable is one carucate. There is one ** villane, and fixteen acres of meadow. It is worth three fhillings.'"
Of the manor of Wearne notice will be taken in the hundred of Pitney, to which it properly belongs.
The church of Huilh, valued in 1292 at 100 marks,* is a prebend in the cathedral of Wells, and is annexed to the archdeaconry of Wells in perpetuum. The vicarage is united with Langport, and the prefent incumbent is the Rev. Mr. Michell.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a good edifice, confifting of a nave, chancel, and two fide ailes. At the weft end is a very fine lofty and ftately tower, the top of which is beautifully ornarnented v/ith eight Gothick pinnacles, each furmounted with a fpear head, the iron being more than two feet in length above the ftone-work.
At the eaft end of the chancel is an old black ftone mural monument, infcribed: — " Heere under was Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas and Frances Court, buryed -f 5th of May, Anno Dom. 1672. Heere lyeth the body of Thomas Court, who de- parted this life the 4th of Feb. 1677, who dedicated this memorial, ^tatis fuas 37." Arms, Paly of fix, or and azure^ on a chief of the firft an eagle difplayedy^^/e.
In the north aile:-— — " George Eflexe, efquyre, and Margery his wife, were both buried in this place. May 23, 1588." ' Arms, Quarterly or and gules., a faltire fretty, counterchanged.
Near the pulpit, on the north wall, ftands a handfome monument of grey and white
marble, with this infcription: "In memory of Thomas Keat, A. M. reftor of
Aftiington and King's-Wefton in the county of Somerfet. A gentleman of a humane deportment, great tandour, and ftrift integrity} whofe regard for the minifterial func-
" Taxat. Temporal. " Cart. 41 Hen, III. m. 5. ' Lib. Domefday. « Taxat. Spiritual.
tion
ffliirtgsburp^eaft.] HUISH-EPISCOPI. 471
tion was very confpicuous in a faithful difcharge of it. To the advancement of learn- ing a fteady friend, and in every relation of life truly exemplar)'. He died Aug. 5, 1750, aged 60 years."
CHARD.
THIS ancient town was in the Saxon and Ncrman days denominated Cerdre^ which feems to arife from Cerdic, a famous Saxon general, who was aflive in thefe parts in encountering the native Britons.
It is fituated in the fouthern extremity of the county, on high ground, twelve miles fouth from Taunton, eight weft from Crewkerne, and twelve eaft from Honiton in Devonfhire. It confifts principally of two ftreets, interfering each other, of good width, pitched with flints, and containing many good houfes. There is alfo a long row of houfes, called Crow-Lane, from a fine fpring of water which rifes near the church, and runs into the river Ax, turning feveral grift and fulling-mills in its courle. At the weft end of the principal ftreet rifes a very fine fpring, from which leaden pipes are conveyed to four conduits, wliich fupply the inhabitants with excellent water, and the furplus forms fmall ftreams of about two feet wide, on each fide of the principal ftreets between the carriage road and foot-way. It is obferved by the annotator oa Camden's Britannia, that the ftream from thefe Iprings may be eafily turned north or fouth, either into the Severn or South-Sea. This is a real fa£t, and hence it appears that this is the higheft land between the vales which communicate with either fea. Both the Channels may be feen from a fpot called Bounddaney and from Snowden-hill a vaft profpedt difclofes the Welch lands beyond the Severn.
.V
At the angle where the two ftreets meet ftands an ancient Gothick buildings formerly a chapel, but now ufed as a town-hall; another publick edifice ftands near the middle of the principal ftreet, which ferved formerly for an aflize-hall; and now occafionally for a market-houfe. The market is held on Mondays," and great
• Copy of a letter publiihed refpefting the market at Chard : " Whereas fmce the determination of Mr.
Baron Price, on the late trial concerning the borough of Chard in the county of Somerfet, the market there is begun to be held on Mondays as formerly: And whereas certain perfons, falfely pretending themfelvcs to be Mayor and Burgeffes of the faid borough, here lately fet up a Tuefday's market by virtue (asjhey pretend) of a charter from King Charles the Second. And to all fuch perfons as repair to the Monday's market ; This is to give Notice, That by advice of Council fuch grant of a Tuefday's market is in itfelf void, and tlie faid charter long fiiice determined : And that the market of the faid borough will, as legally it may be given by the faid pretended Mayor and Burgefles to the contrary. And we the members of the old corporation of portreeve and burgefTes, do hereby, as formerly, engage all coft and damage that may accrue unto them by reafon of their re- pairing unto the faid Monday's market. Dated the 2d day of January 1704.
•' Nath. Pitts, John Pitts, John Chapmau, Richard Ivery, George Seltuoei/,
Richard Legge, John Ne'wcomen, John Smith, John Slater, George Strong."
Dr. Stukely mentions a market kept formerly here on Sundays. Jtin. Curiof. i. 156.
quantities
j.'jz CHARD. Lttin006urp^(ZEafi»
qA.iantIties of corn and cattle are brought thereto. It is alio the largeft market tor potatoes in England; thirty waggon-loads being brought on a market-day frequently during the feafon, and feldom lefs than twenty. There is a range of fliambles, one hundred and twenty feet in length, and twenty feet in breadth, covered with a roof of tile, and fupported by brick pillars. Three fairs are held here. May 3d, Auguft 5th, and November 2d.
Tliis town was formerly a borough, and fent members to parliament from 28 Edw. I. to 2 Edw. III. viz.
28 Edw. I. John Benedid, Thomas Havill.
6 Edw. II. Peter Clerk, William Sopere.
7 ■ John Langefarr, Stephen de Legh.
8 John Benedift, Thomas Havill.
1^5 William Sopere, John Benedict.
16 William Sopere, John Benedict.
19 Henry Corton, Henry Fabri.
I Edw. III. John le Smyth, Richard le Dykere.
2 John le Smyth, Richard le Dykere.
This privilege, however, has for many years been loft, by reafon of a difufe and a negled of the charter, originating from fome publick and popular difpute. The town is now governed by a portreve (who is annually chofen at a court-leet, out of the burgeflcs) and two bailiffs. The portreve, befides his other offices, has the govern- ment of an hofpital endowed with two eftates by a Mr. Harvey, for the ufe and benefit of old and infirm pariftiioners, who have generally been chofen by the faid portreve and burgefies. Here is alfo a work-houfe.
It has already been faidt. that the whole of this hundred belonged formerly to "rhe bilhops of this diocefej and this manor of Chard was confequently part of their poflefllons:
" The fame Biftiop holds Cerdre. He alfo held it in the time of King Edward, *' and gelded for eight hides. The arable is twenty carucates. Thereof in demefne *' are two liides, and there are two carucates, and eleven fervants, and twenty villanes, " with fourteen ploughs. There is a mill yielding thirty-pence, and twenty acres of " meadow. Wood two miles long, and four furlongs broad, and as much of pafture. " Of the fame land a thane holds two hides, which cannot be feparated from the " church. The whole is worth fixteen pounds."''
41 Henry III. the biftiop procured a charter of free-warren In all his demefne lands within this parifh,- which were rated in 1293 at 32I. 3s. 4d.'' The manor is now leafed out to Earl Poulett.
The parifti of Chard, or as it has ufually been called Chardland, contains five tith- ings, viz. 1. Old-Chard, in which ftands the church.
» Lib. Domefday. • Cart. 41 Hen. III. m. 5. * Taxat. Temporal.
2. CrIM.
I^in00&ucg-'<ZEaft.] CHARD. 473
a. Crim-Chard, north of the town. I 4. Forton, fituated fouthward, 3. South-Chard. | 5. Tatworth, fouthward allix
In which tithings are the following hamlets :
I. Langham, in Crim-Chard tithing, where is a manor and farm belonging to Sir John Smith, of SidhrTg in the county of Dorfct, bart. in whofe fimily it has bctn for many generations. He bears for his arms, Sable, a fefs cotifcd between three martlets or: Creft, a greyhound fejant, collared of the laft.
a. Chorley, in the fame tithing.
3. TuRNHAM, in the tithing of Old-Chard.
4. Chelson, in the tithing of South-Chard. And,
5. Perry-Street, in the tithing of South-Chard.
The greater part of the lands in this parifh are pafture and meadow, fJjme of the latter very rich. The arable is moilly ftone-rulh and mark, which lalt is ufed for manure. Here are feveral quarries of ftonej fome freeftone, and others a coarfe kind of agate or flint, which takes a fine polifli, and contains fpar and (hells of various kinds^
The great tithes of this parifh are leafed out under the Dean of Wells, the reftory being annexed to that dignity. The benefice is vicarial, in the patronage of the bifhop of the diocefe. The Rev. Mr. Alford is the prefent incumbent.
The church is dedicated to St, Mary, and ftands in the deanery of Crcwkerne, being a laige handfome edifice, one hundred and twenty feet in length, and forty-fix in breadth, and confifting of a nave, chancel, north and foutli ailes, a north and foutli tranfept, and tower at the weft end, containing a clock and five bells.
At the northeaft corner of the fouth tranfept is an antique and ftately mural monu- ment of various kinds of marble and porphyry. The middle divifion contains two arched recefles, in which are the effigies of the perfons to whofe memory it was eredted, kneeling at an altar face to face, their hands in a fuppliant pofture, refting on the altar.. Behind the man are fix fons, behind the woman 'nv^ daughters, all kneeling in the fame attitude. They are all in black robes and large ruffs; the woman's robe comes over her head like a modern calafh. On each fide thefe recefles is a round column, with a Corinthian capital gilt. Thcfe pillars fupport the cornice, at the corners of which ftand obelifks; between them is a divided femicircular pediment, on the fides of which recline two angels with golden hair, one holding a dolpiiin, the otiier a dove and palm branch. In the interval are the arms. Gules, two bends wavy cr' Under- neath is this infcription: " Hereby lieth interred (expc<5ling their Saviour) the
bodyes of William Brewer, of Chard, phifitian, and Deanes his wife, who, living forty years in happy wedlock, in full age departed this lifcj fhee dying 8° Nov. 16 14, and hee 24° July 16 18, having iflue only fix fons and five daughters, all men and women, growne, and all comforts to them.
Vol. II, P P P " Lectorf.
474 CHAR D. [min00&urg*(ZBaa,
"Lectori.
" Mourn not for us, whom death tranflates to glory, But for thyfelfe — whofe lif's a dying ftorye. Gazers mufe not, now you thefe ftones behold. Viewing thefe fable lines in-fet with goldj It's not to keepe alive the memorie Of thofe whofe aflics heere interred lye, Whofe godlye lives yet live, and fliall for aye When thefe hard ftones are moulder'd quite away. Their children's zeale well weighing parents' care. And Chriftian love to all while breathing ayre, With grateful harts moft thankfully ereft, Vnto their afties dear, this monument."
At the fouth corner of the fouth tranfept is a mural monument of black marble, on
which is a white tablet with this infcription : " In memory of John Lane, gent.
who ferved in his Majefty's own regiment of horfe upwards of fourteen years, under the command of three colonels, John Lord Vifcount Irwin, Richard Lord Vifcount Cobham, William Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery. To the troop of the two laft noblemen, quarter-mafter. Afterwards had three commifTions in the firft regiment of Tower-hamlets, commanded by Charles Earl Cornwallis. He retreated to the place of his nativity, and died in the borough of Chard, Jan. 24, 1767, aged 79."
In the north fide aile is a handfome mural monument of white and grey marble,
infcribed, " Sacred to the memoiy of John Eveleigh, of Crim-Chard, who died
April 26, 1767, aged 32 years. An exemplary member of the church of England; being of ftricH: probity and integrity, humane to his dependants, beloved by his equals, and an example of conjugal afFedion. His difconfolate widow, greatly regretting her lofs, has caufed this monument to be erefled as a teftimony of the love flie bore him." Arms, Per pale or s.nd fable, a chevron between three griffins paflant, counterchanged.
In this,church were formerly feveral gilds, fraternities, and chantries, viz.
I. The fraternity of the BlelTed Virgin Mary. William Atkyns and others, wardens of this fraternity, were recorded for having purchafed burgages in the town of Chard without the King's licence, 19 Ric. II'
1. The chantry of the Holy Trinity. Robert Strange gave a rent and burgage in Chard to the ufe of this chantry, 19 Henry VI.'
3. William Pears, the laft incumbent of a gild here, was in 1553 allowed a penfion of 51.^
In the town of Chard, in the rebellion of the laft century, the Royalifts, under the command of Colonel Penruddock, who here proclaimed the King in perfon, fuffered a fevere defeat, and feveral of their leaders, being taken to Exeter, were there impri- foned and put to death.
' Inq. ad quod damn. ' Pat. igHcn. VI. p. 3. m. 25. « Willis's Hift. of Abbies,ii. 201.
John
mm&hmi^''(San,]
H
R
D.
475
John Sanford, fon of Richard Sanford of this place, was entered a commoner of Baliol-college in Oxford, in 1581, and afterwards was made one of the chaplains at Magdalen- College in that univerfity, where he contracted an intimacy with Sir John Digby, and accompanied him as his chaplain in his cmbafly to Spain. He at length became prebendary of Canterbury, and rcftor of Ivychurch in Kent. He publifhed feveral books on a variety of fubjedls, being a perfon of great learning, a folid divine, well fkilled in feveral languages, and a tolerable Latin poet.''
Simon Every, "created a baronet in 1641, was a native of Chard, and a great fuffercr for King Charles I. He married the eldeft daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Leigh, of Egginton in the county of Derby, knt. whereby he became pofleflcd of that cftate, and where his pofte> ity were thenceforward fcated.
* Athen. Oxon. I. ^40.
COMBE-ST. -NICHOLAS.
NORTHWEST from Chard lies Combe-St.-Nicholas, a very large parifli, di- vided into four tithings, viz. Ham, Clavhancer, Wadford, and Betham. There is alfo the hamlet of Sticklepath, and the ancient, though now depopulated village of IVafton, in which tradition relates was formerly a nunnery.
The manor of Combe belonged before the Conqueft to one Azor, or Arfcr, a pcrforj employed in the court of King Edward the ConfefTor, of whom it was procured by Gifo bifliop of Wells, together with the manors of Worminfter and Lytton.* We find the following notice of it in the Norman record :
" The fame Bifliop holds Cumbe. Azor held it in the time of King Edward, and *' gelded for twenty hides. The arable is fixteen carucates. Of that in demefne are " eight hides, and there are three carucates, and twelve fervants, and fifteen villanes, " and thirteen cottagers, with twelve ploughs. There arc twelve acres of meadow, ** and half a mile of pafture in length and breadth, and one mile of wood in length and *' breadth. It was worth ten pounds, now eighteen pounds.""
A. D. 1234, Joceline bifliop of Bath, having finiflied the ordination of the provofl:- ihip in the cathedral of Wells, endowed that office with this manor and redory, as alfo with the manor and reftory of Winfliam, and the reftory of Chard and Wellington, charged with the payment of the falaries of the fifteen Combe prebendaries, to each 61. 13s. 4d.' After this ordination, the bifliop decreed in what manner, and with what
• Godwin dc Prafulibus, 366, ^ Lib. Domcfday.
* The bufmefs of the provoft was to take care and keep an account of the goods and chattels which were poffefled in common by the canons,
P p p 2 ftock.
476 COMBE-ST.-NICHOLAS. [Bin00but:y^€afl,
ftock, the faid manor fliould be tranfmitted to fuccefTion. And then he fhall leave to his fucceflbr in the faid provoftfhip a hundred and feven acres fowed with wheat at Combe, and a hundred and forty-nine acres fowed with oats, and feventy-eight acres and a half of fallow. And of {lock in the fame place, forty oxen, or five fhillings in lieu of each ox, if fo be that fo many oxen ftiould not be found there. Alfo two hundred ilieepj the price of each Iheep twelve-pencer— At Winjham he fhall leave thedemefnes in a proper ftate of cultivation without any fixed number of acres or meafurej and of Itock fixteen oxen, the price of each ox three fhillings and fix-pence, and one plough- horfe, value three fhillings j fix fows and a boar, die price of all four fhillings j ewes and rams in all one hundred and thirty-two, the price of each ewe or ram five-pence, and fifty-three lambs, vallie of each two-pence halfpenny. At Chard he fliall leave the demefnes tillaged, without number or meafure, in the fame manner as at Winfham, and the fallow without any flock. At Wellington he fhall leave nothing in culture.'' The value of the vicarage of Combe in this inflrument is five marks.
King Edward III. in the feventeenth year of his reign, granted a charter of free- warren in this manor," which continued in the provoflfhip till its abolition, and was then annexed to the deanery, whereto it now belongs. By a furvey taken the 8th day of Oflober in the i6th year of Queen Elizabeth, the manor of Combe-St.-Nicholas, with the redlory, parcel of the revenues of the Dean of Wells, was rated at6il. 4s. 2|.d.'
The living is a vicarage^ and peculiar in the deanery of Crewkerne, and in the patro- nage of the Dean of Wells. The Rev. Chriftopher Tatchell is theprefent incumbent.
The church is a large handfome building, in length one hundred and fourteen feet, and in breadth fifty feet; confifling of a nave, chancel, north and fouth aile, with a fquare embattled tower, containing five bells at the weft end.
On the north wall of the chancel is a very elegant mural monum-ent of white and Sienna marble, infcribed, — " To the memory of Henry Bonner, efqjofWafton in this parifli, who died in Dec. 1680, and in the 65th year of his age: Of Henry Bonner, efq;. his Ion, who died the 2d of Auguft 17 17, and 73d year of his age: And of Mary
" Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. « Cart. 17 Ed. III. n. i. ' Edon's Thefaurus, p. 56.
« " Omnibus ad ({MS S:c. Jocelinus Dei gratia Bathon. Epifcopus, falut. Cum venerabilis frater Stephanus Waterford Epifcopus ecclefiam de Comba ad prajpofituram de Comba pertinentem in honore fandli Nicholai in vigilia beati Laurentij 1239 de mandato noftro in prafentia nollra dedicaverit, ipiam ecclefiam de Comba in hunc modum dotamus, viz. quod contulimus ipfi praspofitura: nomine didlae ecclefias advocationem vicarias ecclefiEE de Cherde cum jurifdidlione archidiaconali ejufdem parochias. Et cum ipfa vicaria de Cherde eflet onerata in 40s. pr«difto praspofito annuatim folvendis, de ipfius prspofiti confenfu-— Vicariam ipfam ab obli- gatione ipfa foluturam effe inperpctuum ex certa caufa pronunciamus. Et ne mutulari videatur prsepofitura per aliquod fadum noftrum & przedifti prjepofiti confenfum, pr^edi(fla^ pratpofituras in recompenfationem prasdiilor. 40s, dedimus molendinum de Fordyngton cum manfo & terra. Item molendinum de Hornefbovve cum manfo & terra — & molendinum de Scuth-Cherde cum manfo & tenemento — habenda & tenenda de nobis & fuccefforibus noftris reddendo inde [de hoc ultipio nominato molendino] fingulis annis 20s. Dat. apud Comb, per manum magiftri Walt, de Maydenefton in vigil, fandli Laurentij pontificatus nollri 34. Confirmatur hoc per capitulum Well. & Tho. piior, & conv. Bath." Ex RegiJIro Job, de Drokensfm-d, Ep. B. ^ W.
the
a{ngsburg^<2^aaj c o M B E - s T. - N I c n o L A s. 477
the wife of the faid Henry Bonner, efq; and daughter of Robert Strode, cfq; of Slapc in Dorfctftiire, who died 2d of June 1729, and 76th year of her age : As alfo of other the anceftors and defccndants of the Bonner family, who for many generations have been buried in diis place j was this monument, with a truly filial and affcflionate eftccm, creded by Elifabeth daughter of the above Henry and Mary Bonner, Anno 1757."
Near the above is another very neat mural monument of grey, white, and Sienna
marble, on the tablet of which is this infcription : " On the north fide of this
church lies the body of the Rev. Mr. Joel Smith. The celeftial part is fled to heaven; living, he was beloved; now dead, lamented by all. He was remarkable for humanity, good fcnfe, true friendfliip, and for enduring the tortures of a lingering diftemper with Chriflian patience. If the pious wiflies of a large circle of friends could have availed any thing, he had fi:ill continued among us; but heaven determined otherwife. John Collins erefted this monument of his grief and afFeftion to the memory of his dear departed friend; and as a teftimony of his gratitude to him for many obligations. He died at Hatch-Court, 13 Jan. 1758, in the 36th year of his age,
" Reader, if thou haft a tear. Shed the precious tribute here."
On a flat ftone in the chancel floor: " Between this ftone and the north wall lies
the body of Thomas Meacham, (fon of James Meacham, gent, late of Betham in this parifli, and Dorothea his wife) who died July 18, 1749, aged 14 years. And under- neath, among the remains of feveral of her anceftors, lieth the body of the faid Dorothea (daughter of John Pike, gent, and late wife of John Pitts, efq; of Chard) who died Jan. 13, 1764, aged 55 years."
On another ftone;
*' I^cre Ipetb tU fiotig of CU^atietb tbe Uiifc of l^enrp ^pDcnbam, efq. tofto toa0 tmim 3lune 7, 1 63 r » i^erc Igetb alfo tf)e tioDg of tijc feiD Il)enrg ^pDcn-- (jam, efq. tofjo toas tiuricD 3lan. 30* 1671."
The chriftenings in tliis parifh are annually on an average 17; and the burials 18,
WINSHAM
[ 478 ] lEinggburB^aEaG*
W I N S H A M
Is a confiderable parifli on the borders of Devon, from which it is divided by the river Ax, fituated four miles eaft from Chard, and five weft from Crewkerne, being feparated into two tithings, viz.
1. WiNSHAM tithing, containing about one hundred houfes, which form three ftreets round the churchj it includes alfo two hamlets, Purtington north, and Ameram fouthweft.
2. Street and Leigh tithing, confifting of twenty-one houfes. In this tithing is a gentleman's feat, the refidence of James-Benediftus Marwood, efq.
A confiderable manufafture of narrow cloth is carried on in this pari(h> and employs moft of the poor.
The manor of Winfliam had long before the Conqueft been vefted in the church of Wells, but by fome finifter practice or other was alienated from it, and fell into the hands of one Elfi, a Saxon, whom Bifhop Gifo compelled to reftore it to its proper owners." It was thus furveyed at the Conqueft: .
" Ofmund holds of the Bifliop, Winesham. Elfi held it in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for ten hides. The arable is fixteen carucates. Thereof in " demefne are four hides, and there are three carucates, and twelve fervants, and fifty . " villanes, with nine ploughs. There are two mills of twenty ftiillings rent, and fix " acres of meadow. Wood half a mile long, and a furlong and a half broad. It was " worth fix pounds, now ten pounds."^
After which the manor was difpofed of as the preceding one of Combe-St.-Nicholas, being firft vefted in the provoftlhip, and afterwards in tlic deanery of Wells, in which laft dignity it ftill continues.
A charter of free-warren was granted for this manor by King Edw. III.'
The abbot of Ford in Devonfhire had a large eftate in Winlhaim, it being valued in 1293 at 22I. IIS. Sd."
The manors of Leigh and Street were given by William the Conqueror to William de Moion:
" Robert holds of William, Lege. Sirewald held it in the time of King Edward, *< and gelded for three hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne is one caru- cate, with one fervant, and five villanes, and two coctagers, and eight acres of mea- dow. Wood two fiirlongs long, and one furlong broad. It was formerly worth thirty ftiillings, now twenty ftiillings.'"
<c
• Godwin de Prsefulibus, 366. » Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. 17 Ed. III. n, i.
" Taxat. Temporal. f Lib. Domefday,
Roger
minff0&utg^(2aa.] W I N S H A M. 479
** Roger holds of William, Strate. Hufcarl and Almar held it in the time of ** King Edward, and gelded for one hide and a half. The arable is two carucates. " There are three villanes, and one cottager, with one plough, and one acre and a half *' of meadow. Pafture five furlongs long, and two furlongs broad. It was and is *' worth fifteen fhillings."'
The laft-mentioned place derived its name from the Roman Stratum, or Street, called the Fojfe-Road, which runs through it in its way to Devon, the ancient Danmonii of that people, who carried their arms from one end of the kingdom to the other, and left their reliques in almoft every part of the Itinera by which they pafled. In the year 1684, an urn containing many Roman coins was found betwixt this village and Winfliam. The manors of Street and Leigh now belong to Henry Hoft Henley, of Norfolk, efq.
The manor o( Partington was alfo the property of the Mohun family, and was held of them for many years by the Cheynes, by the fervice of one knight's fee;* but it does not occur in the Norman record. A fpring rifes in this hamlet which forms a brook, and turns three grift-mills. It lies north from Winlham.
The lands of this parifh are moftly pafture; the country woody, and the roads narrow and flinty.
The church is a Gothick edifice, in length ninety-four feet, in width twenty-two feet, confifting of a chancel, nave, porch, and belfry covered with tiles. , Between the nave and chancel ftands an embattled tower, with a clock and five bells.
The living is a vicarage in the deanery of Crewkerne, ana the patronage thereof belongs to Lord Francis Seymour, as Dean of Wells. The Rev. Mr. Royfe is tlic prefent incumbent.
This church contains two mural monuments on the eaft wall of the chancel, viz. I. An antique monument of white and black marble, on the tablet of which is this infcription : - " Sacrum memorise Roberti Henley, (fil. natu max. Henrici, nepotis Roberti Henley de Leigh in agro Somerfetenfi armigeri ; et hujus comitatus unus pr«- pofitorum) qui epidemica graffante febre hinc demigravit. Elizabetha conjunx ejus fidelifTima, prior e folis natabus Edmundi Lamberti de Boyton in campo Wiltonienfis armigeri et Dulcibellre fills Richardi Swaine de Blandford in comit. Dorfet, armigeri, certa refurreftionis fauftje fpe freta, hoc pofuit mnemofynon, A. D. 1639." Arms, Azure, a lion rampant argent within a bordure of the fecond, charged with eight tortcaux.
1. A neat monument of white and other veined marble, infcribed, " In memory
of Mary Royfe, wife of Nathaniel Royfe, vicar of this parifti; who, to the graces that adorn a Chriftian, added the engaging converfation of a friend, the afi^eftionate duties of a daughter, and the truth and tendernefs of the beft of wives. Thefe merits, which entitled her to the efteem of all that knew her, conftituted her happinefs here, and will perpetuate it to all eternity. She died Auguft 10, 1747, aged 37. Alfo near the
' Lib. Domcfday. » Efc. zo Ed. II, et alibi.
fame
480
W I N S H A M. [igiittS^buCg^OBali*
fame place lies interred Tryphena Royfe, wife of William Royfe, vicar of this parilh, who died Aug. 2, 1741, aged 65 j — a fincere Chriftian."
On a ftone in the chancel floor: " Here lieth the body of Thomas the fon of
■Thomas Hillard, of Hayne in the parifli of Otterford, in the county of Surnfett, gent, who died Nov. 27, A. D. 1680, anno aetatis oftavo."
On a tomb in the church-yard: — —"Here lies the body of Adam A^jraham, of Purtington, gent. M. A. of Wadham-college, Oxon, who departed this life Sept. 12, 1709. Atkins Abraham, of Purtington, gent, lieth here; who departed June 21, 1764, aged 75."
One of the Henley family left a benefaftion of 3I. 10s. per annum, for the fchooling of poor children of this parifh, which is now advanced to five pounds.
THE
[ 48i ]
-]>.<■' — >.« ■>«* ""Tg*
THE HUNDRED
O F
KINGSBURY-WESr.
THIS Hundred, lying weftward from the former, and from that circumftance thus denominated, is divided into tv/o parts ; the firfl: of which is fituated contiguous to Devonfhire, between the hundreds of Taunton-Dean on the eaft, and Milverton on the weft, and contains the parifties of Wellington and Buckland; the other lies on, the northweft fide of Milverton, adjoining to the hundred of Williton and Freemanors; and contains the pariihes of Wivelifcombe, Fitzhead, Bifhop's- Lydiard, and Alh-Priors.
WELLLINGTON
IS a large and ancient market-town, on the borders of the county of Devon, being in the high-road from Bath and Briftol to Exeter. It confifts of four ftreets, the principal one of which is called High-ftreet, and is full half a mile in length, being for the moft part wide and fpacious, and contains many good brick houfes. The market is on Thurfdays, and well ferved with moft forts of provifion: there are alfo two fairs, one of which is held on the feaft of the nativity of St. John the Baptift; and the other on the tenth day of November. Both the market and fairs were originally procured of the crown by the biftiops of Wells, who for many centuries poflefled this manor. They alfo caufed the town to be erefted into a borough, and it anciendy enjoyed many privileges from the grants of different kings.
The earlieft hiftorical account we find of it, commences widi the reign of King Alfred, who gave the manors of Wellington, Buckland, and Lydiard, to After, the tutor of his childrens which After was afterwards advanced to the fee of Sherborne,
Vol. II. -C^q q and
48* WELLINGTON, mn^mtt-mttt,
and died In that dignity A. D. 883.' After his deceafcj and the inftitution of the bifhoprick of Wdls by Plegmund archbifhop of Canterbury, the manors abovemen- tioned were conferred by tlie King on Aldhehn, the firft bifliop of this diocefe, for the fiipport and maintenance of his epifcopal honour. To him fucceeded Wifelinus, Elfeth, Wlfhelm, Brithehn monk of Glaftonbury, Kineward, Sigar, Aldwyn, Bur- wold, Leoning, Ethelwyn, Brithwyn, Merewith, Dudoca, and Gifo, fucceffive bifhops of this diocefe, and owners of this manor, before the Norman Conqueft. It was then by order of King William furveyed by commiflloners, whofe report was as follows:
** The fame Bifliop [i. e. Gifo] holds Walintone. He alfo held it in the time •' of King Edward, and gelded for fourteen hides. The arable is thirty carucates. " Thereof in demefne are three hides, and there are four Carucates, and thirty-one fer- *' vants, and fifty-three villanes, and fixty-one cottagers, with twenty-five ploughs. " There are two mills of fifteen fhillings rent, and one hundred and five acres of " meadow. Failure one mile long, and half a mile broad. Wood three furlongs *' long, and as much broad.
" Of the land of this manor John holds of the Bilhop two hides of the villanes' land, ** The whole is worth twenty-five pounds.
" To this manor is added one liide, which Alvera held in the time of King Edward *' for a manor. The arable is three carucates, and there are with it eight villanes, " and four cottagers, and one fervant. There are five acres of meadow. Wood three *' furlongs long, and as much broad. It is worth thirty fliillings."
Bifliop William Button obtained of King Henry III. a charter of free-warren for his manor of Wellington;' and in the time of Edw. I. the lands belonging to the biflioprick in Wellington and Buckland were valued at fixty pounds.* This manor continued in the pofiefTion of the biflioprick till 2 Edw. VI. when Bifliop Barlow granted it, toge- ther with the borough of Wellington, with lands there and divers other appertenances, to Edward duke of Somerfet, and his heirs, to be held of the King as of his manor of Muchelny in fr^e focage by fealty only.' In the MS. fchedule of the faid Duke, the jnanor of Wellington is valued at 37I. os. i id. and the borough at 61. 7s. i id.^ Upon the Duke's attainder it came to the crown, where it continued till the aad of James I. when it was granted in fee to Sir James FuUerton and James Maxwell, who in the fame year granted it to feoffees in truft for Sir Francis Popham, fon of Sir John Popham, lord chief jufl:ice of England, whofe heirs enjoyed it for feveral defcents. The manor of Wellington is now the property of Herbert Sawyer, efq; and that of the borough belongs to Thomas Harrifon, efq. Courts leet and baron are held for both.
The benefice of Wellington is a vicarage in the deanery of Taunton, and in the patronage of Prodler Thomas, efq. The Rev. William JelTe is the prefent incumbent. In 1 292 it was rated at twenty marks.^
' Godwin de Prsfulibus, 332. This account does not altogether agree with King Ina's charter, nor with Camden's affertion that Edward the elder (who was the fon of King Alfred) gave Wellington, which was the Jand of fix tenants, and Lediard, which had twelve tenants, to the Bilhop of Sherborne. See Britannia, i. 57.
' Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. 41 Hen. III. m. 5. " Taxat. Temporal.
* Licence to ilienate. ' MS. Valor. * Taxat, Temporal,
The
I
mmtmr^-mta,] Wellington. 483
The church is dedicated to St. John tlie Baptifl:, and is a {lately Gothick edifice, one hundied and ten feet in length, and fifty in breadth, confiding of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, two fmall chapels, a veftry-roorti, and porch, all covered with lead, except the chancel, which is tiled. At the weft end is a handfome embattled tower, decorated with twelve Gothick pinnacles, and a turret on the fouth fide. This tower is one hundred feet high to the battlements, and contains a clock and eight bells.
In the chapel on the fouth fide of the church is a magnificent tomb, furrounded with a pallifado of wood and iron, on the table of which lie the effigies of Sir John Popham, and that of his lady. He is drefl"ed in his judges robes, chain, and fmall fquare black cap; and placed with his head toward die well. On the lower bafement, at the head and feet, are four other fmaller figures of two men and two women, kneel- ing fixce to face. On the north fide of the fame bafement are five boys and eight girls, drefled in black, kneeling in a row. And on the fouth fide are nine women kneeling in the fame manner. Over Sir John and his lady is a fuperb arched canopy, orna- mented with the family arms, rofes, paintings, and obelifks; the whole fupported by eight round columns of black marble, five feet high, with Corinthian capitals green and gilt. On the weft fide of this canopy is the following infcription :
" Sir John Popham, knighte. Lord Chief Juftice of England; and of tlie honourable privie counfel to Queen Elizabeth, and after to King James; died the lothof June 1607, aged 76, and is here interred."
This Sir John Popham was a native of Huntworth in this county, where his an- ceftors refided for many generations. He v/as educated principally at Baliol college in Oxford, and from thence removed to the Middle Temple, where he became a bar- rifter, fummer or autumn reader in 1568, ferjeant at law foon after, folicitor-gcneral in 1579, attorney-general two years after, and likewife treafurer of the Middle-Temple. In 1592 he was made lord chief juftice of the King's-Bench, (an office he executed with remarkable feverity, but impartial juftice) and that fame year received the ho- nour of knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, being one of her privy council. In this town of Wellington he built a large and ftately houfe wherein he refided feveral years,- and during that time greatly enhanced his fortune by the purchafe of feveral valuable eftates ift this county and that of Devon. In the time of the great civil war, this houfc was by ftratagem taken pofleffionof by one Bovetof Taunton, who converted it into a garrifon for the ufe of the parliament army, and defended it for a confiderable time againft Sir Richaid Grenville, who came to its refcue; in which conteft it was Co ruined, that it never after was re-edified. Sir John was a great patron and bcnefaiSlor to Wellington, and in purfuance of his will, bearing date 21 Sept. 1604, an hofpital was ereded at the weft end of the town for the maintenance of twelve poor and impotent or aged people, whereof fix to be men, and fix women ; and for the education of two poor men's children. The prefident of this hofpital has a ftipend of one fliilling and fixpence per week, and the other five men, one ftiilling each. The matron of the women has alfo one Ihilling and fixpence per week, and the other five women one fliilling eacii; and eight-pence to each of the two children; and fuch clotlies yearly
Q^q q 2 as
484 WELLINGTON. mn^hXltpmtfi.
as by the will are direfted. An eftate of land is vefted in the governors of the hof- pital for fecuring the endownaent.
Againft the eaft wall of the fame chapel wherein the Lord Chief Juftice lies interred,
is a brafs plate with an infcription to the memory of another of the fame family:
" Maria Alexandri Popham, de Huntworthy comitatu Somerfet, generofi, uxor tertia Tho. Gatchell, de Clawfey, armigeri, filia natu maxima j cafta, pudica, pia; fuis blanda, omnibus benigna: beatse refurredliionis fpe, hac [haud] jeterna domo (reliftis Thoma & Alexandro filiis) adquiefcit. Ob' 18 die Odobris, A. D. 1717, aetat. 49." Arms, Argent, on a chief gules, two bucks' heads cabofTed or, Popham; impaluig ermine, a garb azure, on a canton of the fecond an annulet or, Gatchell.
On a brafs plate in the chancel floor; " Here lyeth the bodies of three worthy
gentlemen, fucceflively pofTeflbrs of the manfion-houfe of Nowers in this parilh. Firft, William Gifford was here buried Nov. 5, 1581. Next, William his fonne was here interred , Dec. i, 1626. To him fucceeded John his fonne, who dyed without iiTue, and was here buried June 4, 1675."
In the fouth aile is a plain mural monument of black and white marble, infcribed,
" In memory of Edward and Mary Jefle, fon and daughter of the Rev. William
Jefle, vicar of this parifh. Edward died Sept. 24, 1765, aged 25; Mary died Dec. 27, 1766, aged 24 years; and are both buried in a cave in the church porch."
On a black frame againft the fouth wall:
*' James Goddard,-gent. by his deed dated 7th of 0£bober 1589, gave for the ule of the poor of Wellington twenty fliillings yearly, payable out of the eftate called Lancocke, on our Lady's-day, forthe term of three thoufand years.
** John Greenflade, gent, gave by his will, dated 29 Aug. 1620, for the ufe of the poor of Wellington, five fliillings yearly, payable one month before St. Andrew's- day, for the term of three hundred years.
" Thomas Rowe, of London, faftor, gave by his will, dated 19th of July 1658, to the poor of Wellington, the ufe of fifty pounds for ever.
" George Hawkins, gent, gave by his will, dated 10 Jan. 1621, to the poor of Wellington five fliillings yearly out of Peafchay for the term of one hundred years.
" John Ware, of Columftoke, Devon, gent, gave to the poor of Wellington the ufe of five pounds for ever. 1683.
*' Edward Hickman, of Exon, gent, gave by his will fifty-two fliillings yearly, payable on Chriftmas-day, to ten poor people of Wellington (who have no relief from the faid parifli) for the term of nineteen hundred and ninety-nine years, and his dwel- ling-houfe in Exon is bound for the fame."
On the north wall:
** John Parfons, merchant, late of Samford- Arundel, by his will bearing date Jan. 26, 1702, gave the ufe often pounds for ever to ten ancient poor people of this parifli who do not receive relief.
"John
ftingiSburg^Mlca.] w E L L r N G T o N. 485
« John Perry, of Perry, gave by his will the ufe of five pounds for ever to five poor perfons of this paiifli who have no relief.
" Thomas Marfli, fen. of this town, tallow-chandler, by his will dated the 2ifl: of April 1703, gave the ufe of five pounds for ever to five ancient people, at the church- warden's difcretion."
John Salkeld, ftiled by King James I. (who converted him to proteflantifm) the learned Salkeld, was fometime vicar here, and publifhed two treatifes, one of Angds, 16 13; the other of Paradife, 1617. He died 16 ■|.'*
There was a fervice in the church of Wellington, whereof John Spycer was the lad incumbent, and was allowed in 1553 a penfion of 3I. 7s. 5d.'
By an accurate furvey taken 1784, the number of houfes in the town and the feveral hamlets of the parifh of Wellington, was found to be as follows:
In the Town — — — — «— 462
At Rockwell-Green, commonly called Raw-Green — — — 53
Pavton, lying weft of the town — — — — 14
Holywell-Lake, commonly called Holway-Lake, weftward alfo 26
Pleamoor's-Cross, commonly called Plymouth' s-Cr of s, and 7
Wrangway, fouth of the town — — — j
Westford, fituated weftward ■ — — 24
Standle, and Oldway, fouth — — — — 2J
Ford, fouth ' ■ 17
Farm-houfes and other fcattered dwellings — — — 48
Total 740 * Athen. Oxon, ii. 242. ' Hill, of Abbies, ii. 203.
WEST-BUCKLAND
STANDS two miles eaftward from Wellington, and feven fouthweftward from Taunton, on the north fide of the ridge of Blackdown-hills. In this parilh arc three hamlets:
I. Ham, a mile northweft from the church, containing twelve houfes.
a. Stert, or Silver -jlreet., half a mile northeaft, fix houfes.
3. Chilson, a mile weft, fix houfes.
The reft of the houfes lie fcattered about the church, and towards Blackdown. TJie whole number being about eighty] fome of which are farms ; but moftly cottages, one
compofed
486 W E S T - B U C K L A N D. mw^Uttm^^*
compofed of reddlrti mud walls, covered widi thatch. The lands are in general rich, pretty equally divided between pafture and tillage, and worth on an average twejity- five {hillings an acre. In the hamlet of Chilfon are about one hundred acres of common land, on which the inhabitants in general turn catde, although the right is confined to the copyhold tenants. In that part of the parilh which lies on Blackdown, rile many fprings, the waters of which unite in a litde rivulet which turns a grift-mill, called Rugging-Mill, and falls into the river Tone. Another ftream runs by the common, and has over it a ftone bridge of two arches. The roads in this parifh are very narrow, deep, and ftonyj the banks on each fide high, and the hedges meec in an arch above head.
The manor of Weft-Buckland was heretofore beftowed as Wellington, and has been for many centuries the property of the bifhops of this diocefe.
Weft-Buckland is a chapel to Wellington. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a confiderable edifice of Saxon and Gbthick architedure, confifting of a nave, chancel, north and fouth ailes, with a well-built tower at the weft end, eighty feet high, and containing five bells.
In the floor of the chancel there is, among a few others, this infcription: " Sub
hoc tumulo jacet corpus Malachze Thurfton, Medicins Doctoris: pauperibus fuit mu- nificus, omnibus gratus, infirmis falus. Obijt focius Sidneij Cantabrigienfis, tertio die Junii, Anno Domini 1701, jetat. fuas 73."
Richard Blackmore gave twenty pounds to the poor of this parifh, the intereft thereof to be diftributed to fuch as have no relief, at Chriftmas for ever.
The chriftenings in this parifh are annually on an average 9; the burials 7.
WIVELISCOMBE.
TO this place, which was called by the Saxons Fipelij-combe, various etymologies have been given : fome have imagined that it derived its name from the number cither oi weevils (or grubs, Fepl being the Saxon term for that infeft) or of weafels, with which the combe or valley might formerly have abounded: others, laughably enough, have conjeftured, that the name Wivelifcombe, or (as they call it) Wifelejs- comhey originally arofe from the circumftance of the place being in former times inhabited chiefly by priefts, who, during the celibacy of the clergy, lived here in common, and officiated in the neighbouring pariflies. Another conjetture may yet be hazarded, that the name is compounded of the Saxon words Fejrel)', which implies a clofe covering, and Eombe, the ufual name in that language for a valley; whereby the word V/iveLiJ- combe will be made to fignify, the cloje^ or inclofed valley , which indeed is really the cafe,
the
feingstjurp-mefl.] wiveliscombe.
487
the fpot being on every fide, except a fmall opening towards Taunton, fliut in by lofty hills, covered with rich and very beautiful woods.
It is a large market-town, eleven miles wefl: from Taunton, and feven northwcft from Wellington, being fituated in the fecond divifion of the hundred we are defcribing, and feveri'd from the former by part of the hundred of Milverton. It confifts of feven irregular ftrects and lanes, one of which, leading from the church to the market- place, where four ftreets meet, is very fteep. Here were formerly two markets, the one on Tuefdays, the other on Saturdays; but the latter only is retained. There is a market-houfe for the corn, and a long row range of old fhambles. Three fairs are held annually for flieep, cattle, and pedlary ware, viz. May 2d, Trinity-Monday, and the a 5 th of September.
The town is governed by a bailiff and a portreve, annually chofcn at a court held in May. The poitreve is always elefted out of a part of the town called the Boroughi and at the court, ale-tafters, and examiners of weights and meafures, are appointed.
A confiderable wooUen-manufadure has for more than two centuries been carried on in the town, and ftill flourifhes. The' goods moftly made are blanketings, knap-coat- ings, kerfey, and other coarfe cloths; ftrouds, ermine, and baize. Many of thefe arc fent to London, Briftol, and Exeter, for home confumption, and for exportation to Spain and Guernfey.
"Within this parifli there are about five hundred acres of common land, near four hundred of which are on Main-Down^ a hill about a mile weftward from the town, on the top of wliich is a good race-ground nearly two miles in circumference, on a fine flrong turf. From the plain on this hill there is an extenfive view of the coun- try, particularly to the eaft and foutheaft, over the vale of Taunton and the moors, to Mendip-hills, and Hum-hill near Yeovil. On the eaft fide of this hill is a fine fpring, which fends a ftream to the town, where it is received into a refervoir in Weft- ftreet, and thence is diftributed by pipes to moft of the houfes. On another part of the hill is a pool of water, called Meer-Pool, which is never dry, although it lus no vifible fpring.
The river Tone, rifing in the adjoining parifh of Clotworthy, bounds this parifh on the weft, dividing it from Huifti-Champflower, and Chipftaple. Many other excellent fprings rife in this parifti, and turn four or five mills, three of which are in the hamlet of Ford.
The woods in this parifh are eight in number, and in contents about feventy-two acres, chiefly crowning the fummits, or clothing the flopes of the hills. The wood is moftly oak and beech.
The foil is various; but for the moft part a red loam mixed with ftone-ruih. There is a vein of yellow clay or ochre, much ufed by the tanners and fellmongers in dreffing their leather, and for that purpofe it is carried to a confiderable diftance. There is alfo great plenty of blue Ijme-ftone, and fome of a whitifli kind, called Popple. The lands are nearly one third arable, and bear remarkably fine crops. The fields arc in general large, divided by good quick fences, well planted with trees*
488 WIVELISCOMBE. [Eingsbutg^s^eff*
In the year 1777, the number of houfes in the town of Wivelifcombe was 359, and of inhabitants 1533. Befides which there are feveral hamlets, as,
I. Croford, or Crawford, one mile eaft, which contains twenty houfes, moftly thatched cottages.
a. Ford, about a mile northeaft, ten farms, and ten cottages.
3. Langley, a mile north, eight farms, and fix cottages.
4. Wheatfield, a mile and a half north, eleven farms, and four cottages.
The reft of the houfes, about fixteen in number, are moftly farms, and ftand fingly about the parifli. The whole number of houfes is about 444, and of inhabitants nearly 1 900. Freeholders refiding in the parifh about 30.
Wivelifcombe was a place of fome note in the time of the Romans, although it is not diftinguiftied in their annals as a ftation or military poft. In the earlier part of their tranfaflions in this idand they had a large cafirum or encampment on a hill about a mile eaftward from the town, which ftill is called the Cajlle. Its fummit contains about twelve acres; and although it is moftly covered with coppice-wood and bulhes, the veftiges of fortifications, and the foundations of buildings, are ftill difcernible on its furface. Part of the fofle, which is very deep, and is extended round the hill, has been deftroyed by the working of a quarry. Near the centre of the area, feveral Roman coins, chiefly of Trajan, Antoninus Pius, Tacitus, and Gallienus, were difcovered in the year 1711. At another time an urn, filled with money of the fame people, was dug up in the neighbouring valley: The number of coins contained therein was one thoufand fix hundred, moft of them the fize of a halfpenny, and were all of copper; but there were not above half a dozen among them that were of different forts. The legends on the obverfe were, " Imp. Diocletianus Aug. Maximianus. Conftantius nobil. Maximinus. T. C.Val. Severus nobil. Imp. Conftantinus Aug." On the reverfe of all was the figure of Mars, with this legend " Genio PopuU Romani."
The Danes availed themfelves of this caftle during their inroads into thefe parts; and after they withdrew, the Saxons, beginning to recover their tranquility, tranfplanted themfelves to the neighbouring vale, and gave the fcite of their new-built habitations the name of Wivelifcombe.
Henceforward the place became of confequence, conftituted a large lordlhip, and was always held by the Saxon kings, till Edward the Confeflbr granted all his lands here to the church of Wells. The extent of thole lands appears in the Norman furvey:
" The fame Biftiop holds Wivelescome. He held it alfo in the time of King " Edward, and gelded for fifteen hides. The arable is thirty-fix carucates. Of tiiat ** in demefne are three hides, and there are four carucates, and eight fervants, and fixteen " villanes, and three cottagers, with feven ploughs. There is a mill of fifty-pence rent, " and thirty -four acres of meadow, and two hundred acres of pafture, and fourfcore *' acres of wood.
" Of the land of this manor three knights hold of the Biftiop nine hides, and have " there fixteen ploughs. This land is of the demefne of the bifiioprick, and cannot be
" alienated
Ii3lincy0burp=3^efi.] W I V E L I S C O M B E. 489
« alienated from the bifnop. It is worth to the bifliop ten pounds, to the knight* " fifteen poundi)."''
Bifliop Button, A. D. 1256, obtained of King Henry III. a charter of free- warren for himfelf and his fucceflbrs, in this and other of his manorsj" and John dc Drolcensford cither raifed from the ground, or rebuilt, a ftately palace adjoining to the cemetery, which his fucceflbr in the fee, Ralph of Shrewfbury, greatly improved. A. D. 1 331, in tiie time of the lall-mentiontd bifhop, Simon Mepham, D. D. archbifhop of Can- terbury, then vifiting the diocefe of Bath, kept his biith-day at this palace;" and ic feems to have been a favourite feat of every prelate from John de Drokensford who died here, to Thomas Godwin, who, out of necciTity and not by choice, parted witlx this manor for the term of ninety-nine years, to purchafc peace and quiet.' The other epifcopal palaces in this county were at /F<?//.f, Banivell, Chew-Magna, Evercreecb^ ^wiverton, and ClavertonJ The palace of Wivelifcombe is now in ruins; and a work- houfe, erefted in the year 1735, occupies part of the fclte of the ancient edifice.
The manor, with that of Fitzhead, is held under the prefent bifhop by the Hon. Johrv- Bulkeley Coventry-Bulkeley. There is alfo another manor, which is included in Queen Elizabeth's charter to the Dean and Chapter of Wells, under whom it has long been held by the Lords Stawel.
There is a third manor within this parifh, called Oakhampton, of which the Dean and Chapter of Wells are alfo lords paramount, and which is held under them by Sir William Yea, bart. This alfo is included in Queen Elizabeth's charter. By an in- quifition taken 3 Edw. III. it was found that John de Drokensford, bifhop of Bath and Wells, died feized of one mefTuage and three virgates of land in the hamlet of Oakhampton, within the manor of W ivelifcombe, which tenements were held of the bifhoprick of Bath and Wells, by the fervice of the fourth part of a knight's fee. And the faid bifhop was thereby certified to have* obtained tiie whole hamlet aforefaid of Sir John de Clyvcdon, knt. paying yearly to the faid John, for the life of James Trivet, 40I. per annum. And the fame John de Clyvedon obtained the faid mefTuage and lands to himfelf and his heirs of the faid James Trivet.^
The church of Wivelifcombe, valued in 1292 at forty marks,* is a prebend belong- ing to the cathedral of Wells. A vicarage was ordained 7 kal. Nov. 1262, confifting of the following portions, viz. in all the aJterage obventions of the church of Wivelif- combe, and the chapel of Fitzhead, and in all fmall tithes of the whole parifh, except the tithes of all forts of fheaf growing in the curtilages; and in the tithes of hay at Fitzhead only; and in the tithes of mills and flax throughout the parifh; as alfo in mortuaries, or firft legacies of the whole parifli, faving from the tenants of the faid church. The vicar alfo fhall have a houfe with curtilage at Wivelifcombe, 'ufually
' Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. 44 Hen. III. m. 5. ' Excerpt, e Regift. Wellcn.
* Anon. Hift. Edvardi teriii, ap. Walt. Hemingford Chron. 399.
* Sir John Harington's Nugte ^ntiqu,e, p. ijz. Athen. Oxon. i. 710. Biog. Diift. &c. ' Lcl. Itin. iii. 125.
» Efc. ' Taxat. S^uitaal.
Vol. II. R r r • appropriated
49» W I V E L I s c o M B E. [lKing;sl>urg*melf*
appropriated to the officiating minifter, and another at Fitzhead, with curtilage, which, the chaplain ufed to occupy.' The Rev. Mr. Dowring is the prefent incumbent oC ^he vicarage.
There was a chantry in the church of Wivelifcombe, and the laft incumbent of it, Tlromas Inarpone, received in 1553 a penfion of 4I.''
The church is dedicated to St. Andi'ew, according to Browne Willis; but to the Holy Trinity, according to other authority. It confifts of a nave, north and fouth ailes, and at the weft end a tower and fpire, with a fet of chimes, a clock, and fix bells.
In the fouth aile is an antique mural monument of various kinds of marble, much defaced by time. In front are three fmall round detached columns with Corinthian capitals gilt. The centre one divides the monument into two parts, in which are two arched recedes containing black tablets, with thefe infcriptions :
*' To pofterity. Heere reft in afured hope of a joiefuU refurreftion, through Chrift Jefns, the bodies of Humphrey Windham, of Golden-Hill in the parifti of Wivelif- combe in the county of Somerfet, efq; third fonne of Sir John Windham, of Orchard in the. fame courtty, knight, (long fince deceafed) and Margery his wife, eldeft daughter and coheire of John Stevenfon, of Hodfdon in the countie of Hertford, efq; who lived" together above forty-three years, having iflue a fonne and one daughter ; which fonne dying young, Elizabeth their fole daughter and heire married John Colles, of Barton in the county of Somerfete, efq; by whom hee hath Tiad iflue, at erefting of this monu- ment, fix children, a fonne and five daughters ; which fonne dyed an infant, and lyeth - in this vault. The faid Humphrey Windham departed this mortal life the 29th day of May 1622, aged 84 and upward. Margerie his wife died the ift of Sept. 1620, aedya, Valete, pares incomparabiles ! Feftinantes fequimur.
" To the eternal memorie of Humphrey Windham, efq; and Margerie his wife:
" Here lies a pair, who for their equal loves Let after ages terme the turtle doves : A hee and ftiee whofe like this weftern foile Shall hardly match, nay fcarce again ovr ifle. That fame herfelf adores the memorie Of Humphrey Windham, and his Margerie^ His matchlefs wife, whofe heav'n-bleft flcill Ifid coft Cur'd ilindry (whom the furgeon held for loft) Of dartgerous wounds, dim eyes, and fefter'd fores. Sent maymed cripples crutchlefs from her doors. • To fowerfcore fower of yeares hee did alpire,
A counfellor, a juftice, and a fquire; ' , Hence was hee wife to judge, and juft to doe.
Religious, good, and nobly-minded too; The orphan's father, and the widow's friend. Learned, wife, fmc^re, and conftant to the end. •
♦ Excerpt, e Regift. Wellen. » Willis's Hill, of Abbies, ii. 2oj.
. ' .Yet
mnmnr'^cd,] wiveliscombe. 491
' Yet from this nonejucb couple did proceed
But one fole daughter, fair, and heire indeed Both of their virtues and efvates, who lives. And in her life their fccond being gives. Here only doth their earthly pawne remaine. Which at Chrifl's conning muft be fetcht againe."
Under this monument are their effigies in flone lying on a tomb.
On a brafs-plate in the chancel north wall : — " Here lyeth William Crowther, M. A. and vicar of Wivelifcombe, who dyed J une 8, 1 6 1 7." Arms, A bend dexter wavy.
On a flone in the chancel floor: " Here lyeth the body of RicRard Wood, late
minifter here, buried April 2, 1645."
On two black tables are the following benefaftions:
" John Perry, of Gerbefl:on, gent. 1582, gave to the inhabitants of this parifii two fcveral Turns of twenty pounds, to be lent to eight honefl laborious men, two years gratis, towards keeping them on work, and from becoming chargeable.
" Henry Story, gent. 1648, gave unto David Story and others of this parifh, a meflliage containing two burgages, fituate in Golden-hill, for one thoufand years, upon truft that they fhould yearly pay all the rents and profits thereof unto the churchwardens and overfeers of the poor, to be by them diflributed amongfl indigent perfons for their better relief on the feafl-day of St. Thomas in every year.
" John Hutchines, gent, anno 1589, gave to Robert Story, and John Yea, and their heires, one clofc of land containing three acres, lying at Croford-hill-head, upon trXifl that they fhould yearly for ever diflribute the profits thereof among the poor of the parifh, fourteen days before Eafler. • ,
" Samuel Bird, of London, gent, anno 1647, gave to the poor of this parifh two hundred pounds for the purchafing fome land for the ufe of the faid poor, with which money certain lands lying at Polefhill in Milverton were purchafed.
" William Bowerman, vicar of this parlfli, anno 1562, gave unto the churchwardens and other inhabitants of this parifh twenty pounds, to be by them lent to four honeft clothiers of this parifh for two years gratis, that ihould employ the poor people in fpin- ning, weaving, &c.
" Elizabeth Coles, widow of John Coles, efq; and daughter of Humphrey Windham, did, by the direftion of the faid Humphrey Windham, and John Coles, efqrs. eredb an almshoufe for the fettlement of eight poor aged people; and did alfo order the charity of one fhilHng and fix-pence a week to be for ever paid unto every and each of the faid poor people; which money is, by a decree made in the high and honourable court of chancery, charged on the manor of Wivelifcombe.
" Thomas Holway, gent, gave unto feveral inhabitants of this parifh tlie inheritance of thofefix burgages ficuate in Golden-Hill, (part whereof is a certain parcel of ground now called the Parifh Cloie) in truic that they fhould yearly for ever, at the fcafl of
R r r 2 Eafter,
492 WIVELISCOMBE. [minrigbiirp'mefl*
Eafter, pay all the rents and profits thereof unto the churchwardens and overkers of the poor, to be by them yearly for ever applied towards repairing the church and main- taining the poor."
Here is an hofpital founded by Sir John Coventry, for twelve pooi; people.
There is alfo a poor-houfe near the church, called the Church-houfe, in which live eight families. A private donation has alfo furnilhed feventeen fmall cottages for needy and diftreffed families.
FITZHEAD
ADJOINS to Wivehfcombe on the northeaft. It has been written Fivehead, and Fifhide, and is frequently mentioned in the ancient accounts of Wivehfcombe, in which manor it was included at the time of the Conqueft.
The country about this little village is thickly wooded, and pleafantly intermixed with hills and vallies. The lands are moftly in tillage, and a confiderable quantity of flax is raifed here. There are no fofllls, and very few other natural produ£lions; divers forts of fcarce moffes clothe the banks of the inclofures, and the fides of the roads, which are narrow, and overhung with hedges.
The church is a curacy and peculiar in the deanery of Dunfter. The Rev. John Farthing is the prefent incumbent. It is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, is a fmall Gothick edifice, of one pace, with a tower at the weft end, containing a clock and five bells. .
On the north wall of the chancel is a neat mural monument of black and white
marble, on which is infcribed, " Under three tombs in the church-yard are interred
the bodies of Simon Cannon, efq; and of Jane his wife. Of John Southby, efq; and of Mary his wife, (who was daughter and coheir to Simon Cannon ;) alfo of Jane and Robert Southby, their fon and daughter. And in the vault under the family feat in this chancel, lie interred the bodies of Cannon Southby, efq; (who died July 7, 1768) of Betty his wife, and of Jane their daughter." Arms, Sable, a chevron between three crofs-crofslets, or.
On the nave fouth wall is an antique oval monument of marble, with this infcription:
"In memory of Robert Cannon, fon of Simon Cannon, fen. and Jane his wife,
who died on St. John's-day 1690, aged 15 years." Arms, /fr^^«/, on a fefle gules
betv/een three crofles patie/ai/le, as many martlets of the firft.
On a brafs-platd in the middle paffage: "Here lyeth the body of Richard
Cannon, who deceafed April 29, 1603."
In the church-yard is a very fine yew-tree, 16 feet round with a veiy large fpread. There is alfo an old crofs.
BIHOP's-
iMnSfihrn'-mtH,} i 493 1
BISHOP's-LYDIARD, or L Y D I A RD-EPIS COPI.
THIS large parifli lies at the very northeaft extremity of this divifion of Kingfbury- Weft, and contiguous to Taunton-Dean. Befides fcveral hamlets, fome of which are within that hundred, it comprifes a fmall town; but which was in former times much more confiderable and populous than at prefent, having the advantage of a market and fairs obtained to it of the Kings of England, by the intereft of the bifhops of the diocefe, who were its ancient lords, and from whom it received the name by which it is at this day diftinguillied.
This diftrift may boaft of great antiquity. There is within its precinfts a place called Conquest, or Conquest-Farm, near which, in the year 1666, a very large urn was dug up by a labouring perfon, containing no lefs than fourfcore pounds weight of Roman coins, of the Emperors Claudius, Nero, Domitian, Nerva, Trajan, Antonine, Scptimius-Severus, Tacitus, Gallienus, Tetricus, and a great number of others. Another urn of nearly equal weight, was about the fame time found in the parifli of Stogumber. From the circumflance of thefe difcoveries, the different ages of the coins, the immenfenefs of their quantity, and particularly the name of the place Conquest, near which they were found, a writer, whofe refearches are rather more curious than critical, has in a long Treatife" endeavoured to prove, that in fome place of the valley, which extends from the weft fide of Quantock, fiom Taunton to Lydiard, Stogumber and Watchet, the Romans compleated the conqueji of fo much of Britain as is now called England; and that they, throughout many ages afterwards, continued a legion or part of one here, which they paid with fuch money as this, to prevent in- furreftion by land and invafion by fea.
The common tradition however is, that Conqxtest had its name from a fignal vic- tory obtained there over the Danes by the Saxons, under the command of King Alfred; which might have been the cafe, although the other likewife fliould be ftriftly true.
Certain it is that King Alfred at that period poflelTed all the lands of Lydiard; and when he emerged from the troubles in which the Danes had involved him, and began to advert to the concerns of domeftick life, he gave this manor, with thofe of Wel- lington and Buckland, to Afier the preceptor of his children, as a reward for his care over them. But a fliort time after, the flime difpofal which attended Wellington, attended this manor alfo; and the firft bilhops of Wells became pofleflcd of this large and valuable territory. Its ftate about the time of the Norman Conqueft may be learnt from the following record:
" The fame Bifliop holds Lidegar. He alfo held it in the time of King Edward, " and gelded for ten hides, wanting one virgate. The arable is fixteen cai-ucates. " Thereof are in demefne three hides, and there are two carucates, and five fervants,
* See the Difcourfe publilhed by Hearnc (who afcrih.es it to Gibbons) in Peter Langtoft's Chronicle, p. 441.
" and
494 BISHOP 's-LYDIARD. [mingSliurB^^^Cff,
** and twenty vUlanes, and twelve cottagers, with fix plpughs. There is a mill render- " ing thirty-one pence, and thirty acres of meadow. Pafture one mile long, and three " furlongs broad, and as much wood.
" Of this land of the manor two knights hold three hides of the villanes' land, and ** have there three ploughs. The whole is worth thirteen pounds."*"
King Henry III. in the 41 ft year of his reign granted to the bifhop of the diocefe a charter of free-warren in all his lands in Lydiard and other placesj" and King Kdw. I. granted a charter for a weekly market to be held here on Monday, and two fairs yearly, viz. on the feaft of the Nativity, and the Annunciation of the Blefled Virgin Mary, to continue for fix days;'' which charters received the confirmation of other fucceeding kings. A. D. iig'2> the epifcopal tempeialiti-es in this place were rated at 2ol.° The laft bifhop that poflefTed the manor was bifhop Barlow, who in 1548 exchanged it away with Edw. VI. for other lands, and thus coming either by grant or purchafe through a variety of pofTefTors, it is at length enjoyed by John Lethbridge, efq; whofe feat, called Sandhill-Parky is fituated at the diftance of about half a mile weft- ward from the church.
To the eaft lies Lydiard-Pinchertqn, or Punchardon, a hamlet and manor, •which in the time of Henry II. was held by Hugh de Punchardon, by knight's fervice,. of the c^ftle of Dunfter.*^ William de Punchardon, fon of this Hugh, was living here in the time of Henry III. and then bore for his arms a crofs cercelee voided, as appears from a feal affixed to a deed ftill extant.^ This William at his death left feveral daughters heirs to his eftates; of whom Aubrea married Sir Hamelynde Deaudon, of Deaudon in the county of Devon, by whom Ihe had a fon named Thomas, who died without ifliie, and two daughters} Mabil, wife of Sir Baldwin Malet, of Enmore, and Joan, the wife of Roger de Claville.'" Mabil had for her part the manor of Lydiard- Punchardon; and 14 Edw. I. flie and Thomas de Pin are certified to hold half a knight's fee here of John de Mohun.' i Edw. IV. Hugh Malet, fon of another Sir Baldwin Malet, a defcendant of the former of that name, granted to John Wadham the elder, efq; William Ronyon, efq; and others, this his manor of Lydiard-Punchardon, for fix years to raife fortunes for his daughters; and afterwards further granted the faid manor to Walter Bluer, William Montague of Henley, John Wadham the younger, &c. for the term of life, and to the ufe of Thomas Malet his fon andwieir, and Joan his wife, daughter of John Wadham.'' 27 Henry VII. it appears that William Malet vefted this manor and others of his inheritance in Lord Fitzwarren, Sir Amice Poulet, Sir Nicholas Wadham, &c. The prefent owner thereof is Lady Harriet Acland.
Another manor in this parifli, called Week,' is the property of Richard Crofs, of Broomfield, efq. Several fmall hamlets, unnoticed in hiftory, are likewife included within its limits.
* Lib. Domefday. ' Cart. 41 Hen. III. m. 5. * Cart. 19 Edw. I. n. 45. • Taxat. Temporal. ' Lib. Feod. mil. caftri de Dunfter. « Ex Autog. * Sir William Pole. ' Lib, Feod. » Ex Autog.
' For fhe neighbouring manors of Eaft-Bagborough, and Eaft-Combe, fee under Weft-Bagborough, and Combe-Flory, in the adjoining hundred of Taunton-Dean.
The
Wiimmti^Mm.] b i s n o p 's - l y d i a r d. 495
The living of Bifliop's-Lydiard is a vicarage and peculiar in the deanery of Taunton, and in the patronage of tiie Dean and Chapter of Wells. The Rev. Mr. Bowen is the prefent incumbent. It was given A. D. 1239 to the canons of this cathedral by bifliop Joceline.
The church, which is dedicated taSt. Mary, is large and handfome, confiding of a nave, chancel, and fide ailes, all covered with blue tile. A large (lately tower, one hundred feet in height, ftands at the weft end, and contains a clock and eight fine bells.
On the north waff of the chancel is a mural monument of ftone, infcribed,— , — " In memory of Mrs, Mary Bathurft, firft wife of John Palmer, Dodor in Phyfick, late warden of All-Souls college; afterwards of Dr. Ralph Bathurft, dean of Wells, and prefident of Trinity college, Oxford; the only child and heir of John Triftram, of Baunton in Devon, efq; by the Hon. Mary Ley, daughter of James earl of Marlbo- rough, Lord High-Treafurer of England, who died at Conqueft-Farm in this parilh, April 14, 1690, in the 73d year of her age. And alio of John Palmer, efq; her fon, who died there March 15, 1689. Her only furviving child and executor Elizabeth- wife of George Baynard, of Cliffe-houfe in the county of Dorfet, efq; ereded this mo- nument as a teftimony of her duty and afFeftion."
On the fouth wall is a plain neat mural monument of fine white marble, with this
infcription: " M. S. Elizabethje Cannon, viri honorabilis Hugonis Somerville,
Honoratiflimi Domini Jacobi Baronis Somerville, filii natu fecundi, dileftiffimse fimul & amantiflim^ uxoris, Chriftopheri Lethbridge, de Weftaway, in agro Devonis, armi- geri, et Ma'rise uxoris, fobolis unicse. Qua; puerperii cafibus fuccumbens, propinquis sque ac amicis flebilis occidit. Fuit inim (fi alia qua;piam) valde amabilis, oris placidi, fermonis fuavifiimi, integritatis priftinrE, fed virtutes fuas, non eft hujus marmqris annumerare: qua; et quantse fuerunt dies fupremus indicabit. Obijt die quarto Oflo- pris An. Sal. 1765."
On the wall of the north aile is an elegant mural monument of white and Sienna
marble, infcribed as follows: " In the vault near this place lyeth the body of
Elizabeth Periam, relift of John Periam, of Hill, efq; and daughter of John Southey, of Fitzhead, efq; a kind and alFeftionate wife, whofe virtues were confpicuous; in piety truly Chriftian/in charity liberal, in friendfhip fincere, benevolent to all. She lived beloved, and died lamented May 14, 1767, aged 62-" Arms, Guks, a chevron engrailed between three leopards' heads or, Periam : impaling Guks a chevron between three crofs-croflets argent, Southey. ■'
On a brafs-plate againft the eaft pillar of the fouth aile, " Here lie entombed the
bodies of Nicholas Grobham and>Eleanore his wife. He died Aug. 7, 1585, and fhec Sept. 27, 1594; levinge iflue behind them three fonnes, Richard, John, and George; and two daughters, Johane, and Grace.'A
On the fouth aile wall in a niche ftands a fmall monument of ftone with a wrea'thed fluted urn, and the following infcription: — " H. S. E. Vir vere reverendus, Georgius Farewell, A. M. qui in hac ecclefia vicarii raunerc per 36 annos, fidcliter fundus, ob. u June 1774, astat. 67.".
On
496
BISHOP 's-LYDIARD. [mings6urp=meff.
On a flat ftone under the communion-table:- *' Here lyeth the body of Henry
Poulett, efq; brother to the Hon''" John Lord Poulett, baron of Hinton-St.-George, who departed this life the 8 th of May ."
On another ftone: " Here lyeth the body of Malet Poulett, fon of Henry
Poulett, efq; who lyeth here by; the faid Malet was buried Nov. 23, 1672, aged 38. Alfo the body of Margaret, daughter of the faid Heniy, and fifter of the faid Malet, who dyed 061. 24, 1683."
On the next ftone: " Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Moore, fen. fellow
of New-Col. in Oxon ; who lived fifty yeares vicar of this pariftij and died the a4th day of May, Anno Dom. 1665, setat. vero fuas 8a."
In the church-yard is a large handfome tomb to the memory of Thomas Hamilton, of Bath, gent, fixth fon of John Hamilton, efq; of Neelftone near Glafgow in Scotland, who died June 7, 1779, aged 49.
There is alfo a fine crofs eighteen feet high, with three rows of fteps. The pedeftal is oftangular, and contains fixtcen fmall ftatues, two irl each compartment. Another ftatue ftands in a nich on the eaft fide of the pillar.
Here is an almshoufe, founded and endowed with lands, &c. by Grobham Howe, efq; for the maintenance of feven poor people who do not receive any relief of the parifti. Thefe are paid two ftiillings and four-pence a week each, and have feparate rooms and gardens. Prayers are read twice a week in the alms-houfe.
Here is alfo a charity- fchool founded by John Dyke, efq; about the year 1740, for clothing and fchooling of twenty poor children. This charity is at the difpofal of the churchwardens for the time being. *■
Here is alfo another charity, given by John Daw, of about eleven pounds a year, for fupplying eight poor men with coats of kerfey cloth; and eight poor women with drugget jackets, every year. For this charity fix truftees are appointed, and the lives filled as they drop.
ASH-
I
ftingsburg'iaeff.J f 497 1
ASH -PRIORS
LIES a little to the fouthweft of Bifhop's-Lydiard, and is a fmall paridi fo called fi cm the Priors of Taunton, who in former times poffeffcd the manor, and had here a court, or manor-houfe.
In the time of Edward the Confeflbr it was a part of the manor of Biftiop's-Lydiard, and then confided of three hides and one yard-land, according to the Danegeld valu- ation, and was held by bifhop Gifo; but it was afterwards taken fiom the church by Harold earl of Kent and Weflex, afterwards king, and at his deceafe became vefted irv "William the Conqueror, in whofe hands it remained till given to Roger Arundel his attendant into England. The compilers of the Norman furvey at the end of their recitaJ of the lands belonging to the church of Wells, obferve that Roger Arundel holds ylijfa of the King mjujle.'' They likewife give the following further account of this territory:
" Roger himfelf holds Aixe. Ailric held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded ** for two hides. The arable is four carucates. In demefne is one carucate, and three *' fervants, and five villanes, and five cottagers, with two ploughs. There are eight ** acres of meadow, and ten acres of wood. Failure two furlongs long, and one fur- " long broad. It is worth twenty (hillings.
" To this manor is added Aixa. Sawin held it of the Bifhop of Wells in the time of " King Edward, and it could not be feparated from him, and gelded for one hide, and *' one virgate of land. The arable is three carucates. In demefne is one carucate, " and the villanes have two carucates and a half It was and is worth thirty fhillings* " Roger holds it of the King, and Givold of him.""
This Roger Arundel was the fon of Roger de Montgomery, lord of Montgomery, a town of Normandy, lying fouthward from Lifieux. When he came into England with William afterwards furnamed the Conqueror, that King, befides a number of manors and eftates lying chiefly within this county, conferred on him, in the fecond year of his reign, the earldom of Shrewfbury, the barony and caftle of Arundel, with the title of Earl, and the county of Suflex appendant. From him the town and county of Montgomery in Wales derived their name. He had feveral fons, of whom Robert was furnamed Robert of Belleme, a town of Perche, where he had great pof- feffions. He was a benefador to many monafteries in Normandy and in England} and the priory of Auftin-Canons in Taunton lying near this his lordfliip, he gave the fame confiding of two hides, together with the church and appertenances, in perpetual alms to that monaftery."
• Lib. Domefdajr. " Ibid.
' The word Difam in the charter of King Edw. III. printed in the MonalUcon, torn. ii. p. 83, fliould be cor- reilcd aiflim.
Vol. II. Sss The
498
ASH-PRIORS, [mfnggfiur^^mea*
The temporalities of the prior of Tauntom in this parifh were in 1293 valued at IOCS.* There was a houfe in the village belonging to the priory, the ruins of which were of late taken down.
After the diflblution, King Henry VIII. in the thirty-fifth year of his reign, granted the manor and reflory to John Leighe, from whom it defcended to Sir John Leigh, lent, whofe daughter and heir Agnes Leigh was married to Edward Fitzgarret, efq. Which Edward Fitzgarret and Agnes his faid wife, 9 Eliz. joined~in conveying the fame to John More and John Boftock.' The manor and patronage of the living are now veiled in John Lethbridge, efq; who inherits tliem from his uncle the late John Periam, efq.
Another manor is denominated Ash-Herbert.
The church of Afh-Priors was valued in 1292 at twenty fhillings.' It is a curacy in the deanery of Taunton. The Rev. Mr. Luxftone is the prefent incumbent.
The church is a fmall building, confifting of a nave, chancel, and north aile, with a tower at the weft end, m which are three bells.
At the northeaft corner of the aile is a ftone monument, infcribed to the memory of Robert Blake, gent, who died Nov. 29, and of Mary his wife, who died Oft. 25, 1704, with the obits of feveral of their childi-en, and the arms, Jrgetit^ a chevron between three garbs /able.
? Taxat. Temporal. * MS. Carew, ' Taxat. Spiritual.
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
C 499 1
INDEX OF PLACES
IN VOLUME II.
A.-
JDBEER Nether, in Trent
— Over, in ditto
/I
Jlcombe, in Dunfter - Aldwick, in Butcombe Alford - ' -
Allerford, in Selworthy Allermoret in Glaftonbury Almsford
Almsworthy^ in Exford - Aljlon Maris., in Huntfpill Ameram, in Winfliam -
anurcnfcg
Ash-Priors
Herbert
ASHTON-LONG
- Alexander . Boure
■ Dando - :- Lions -
Meriet -
. Philips -
Theynes -
ASHWICK.
atjalon - - -
Avilly in Dunfter
Babcary
Babington
Backwell
. . Bayoufe -
Baltonsbury Barrow-Gournay
'. i6
315 58
41
i68
59
393
- 478.
- ■ 244
497
- 498 288
289
304 290
- 291 297 296 29s 448
240, 269 15
}
BARRow-$@mcbin
■ North Barrow-South Hill, in Farmborough
Barton-David Beckington Bedminster Belluton, in Stanton-Drew IBeOlierp, i" Glaftonbury Berkley Berwick. - - ~
Bethatny in Corabe-St.-Nichola^ Bickham, in Tinnberfcombe - Bigfold, in Compton-Martin - Billerica
OBitt'g, or 2l&lJOt'0-l&in. in Pendomer
Bijhop'xorth, in Bedminfter
aeiacKer'S^bUI, Camp in 7 Chilcompton - - 3 ■
ISorOUgt^TSanll, in Pensfoid
Bojfmgtovy in Porlock
Bowden, in Henftridge
TACe
310 62
63
424
64
198
280
433. 434
265, 268
202
1
337
475 44
236
348 284 127
429
37
364
96
Bradford-Bridge, in Marfton-Bigot 2 1 6
Bradley
Brandy-Street, in Selworthy
Bratton, in Minehead
Brislington
Brockley
Brockwell, in Wotton-Courtney
Bxook-Lavingtcn, in Nordi-Cadbury 65
Brown, in Treborough - 46
BUCKLAND-DINHAM " 4S^
Bt'CKLAND-
271 41
3' 411
120 49
i
i s^^ J
IBuckland-West jBuckJhazv, in Holvveli Burnet
Burrow, in Kingfbury-Eaft Wotton-Courtney
PAGI
Page 369 415 469
49
'Burtoair0;Camp, in Long-Afhton 289
1
^UTCOMBE
Thrubwell
C.
Cadbury-North - -— South
Camalet^Came -
Camel-Queens, or Eafi Camely _ _ ,
Camp^ancient, in Poriock -
Carhampton Hundred
■ ■ Parifh
Castle-Cary
Catash Hundred
Cayfordy or Keyford, in Frome -
Chard w _ _
Old
' Crim -
South
Charleton-Horethorne, or Camville
" Queens
in Kilmerfdon
CbartCr^OUfe, on Mendip
Chatley-Houfe, in Wolverton
Chelfon, in Cliard
Chelvy
ChelwooDj or Chelworth
■ —Eaji
■ fFeJi
Cheriton-North -
— South, or Churton
Chew Hundred ■ — - Magna — — Stoke Chewton Hundred
* — — Mendip
'*' Keynjham
]
] ]
}
]
3-^3 314
65
'71
74 124
36 I
2
51
189
471 472
473
355
417 446
235
225
473 316
419
360 372
93
94
lOI
405
Chilcompton
Chilfon, in Weft-Buckland
Chilton-Cantelo Page
Chinnock-East
— Middle -
■ West
Chisselborough Chorley, in Chard
C[)Urc!)=Crof0, in Long-Afhton Clanvill in Caftle-Cary Clapton, in Maperton
in Crewkerne -
in Midfummer-Norton
in South-Cadbury
9 Ant 116
485
239 327 328
329 330 473 304
86
^S9 149
73 428
ClareletD Cell, in Publow Clayhanger, in Combe-St-Nichglas 475 Clifford-Hoiije, in Beckington Clink, in Frome
CjLOFORD
Closworth -
Clutton
Cockhill, in Caftle-Cary
Codjend, in Cutcombe
Cold-Harbour, in Dundry
Coker-East
North
• West
Coleford, in Kilmerfdon Combe-Abbots, or Porter
CemplC, in ditto
in Huilh-Epifcopi
St. Nicholas
1
Compton-Dando
Martin
• Paunceford
in Midfummer-Norton
Conqueror'0=e©caD Conquea - - .
Corton-Dinham - -
Craft-JVarre, in Hinton-St.-George 166 Cranmore, Liberty of
East
—' West _ - 210
Cr£WK£RNJE
200 186 205
346 103
56 6
105
340
343
344 446
3S9
470
475 421
J31
76
151
214
493 361
1
207
[ 501 ]
Crewkerne Hundred ^
Parilh
Croford, in Wivelifcombe Crowthorne, in Sutton-Montis
CuLBONE, or KiTNOR
Curry-North Hundred
Parilh -
Currylode, in Stoke-Gregory
CUTCOMBE •*
• • Mohiin
— — — — Raleigh
D.
Dover-Hay, in Luckham Downend, in Puriton DovJ>lfide, in Backwell
Norton-Midfummer
Dummer, in Caftle-Cary
DUNDRY
1 1
Eaji JVeJl
Dunfecrp^lBeacon
DUNSTER
1
Eajlbury, in Carhampton
Caflbam, in Crcwkeme
Eajl-Streety in Weft-Pennard -
Edgecut, in Exford
(CDgarleg, in Glaftonbury
Eggford, in Frome and Whatley 189,
Elm - - -
— — North, in Chew-Magna
Emborow
Exford
Extnoor-Foreji
F. iTairg^JFielD, in Nemnet
^Iatt0, in Chilcompton
JFalblanD, in Hemington parity , in Backwell Farmborough Farrin'gton-Gournay ' in Babcary
VOY. II.
rAOi
»59
488
88
3
177
181 5 6
23
396
307 149
56
104
105
5 7
a 160
275
21 265
230 206
95
134
19
319
128
455 307 423
137 61
jraprO&C> in Berkeley Felton, in Winford FiLTON, alias Whitchurch
FiTZHEAD
/•V^/, in Wellington
Wivelifcombe
For ton, in Chard Friggle-Jlreet, in Frome Frome Hundred Parilh
jFrpenborougl), or 'Barroto'
[)ill, in Farmborough - Furland, in Crewkerne
G.
Galhampton, in North-Cadbury Gatecombe, in Long-Alhton GLASTO^f Twelve Hides
©laflonburp abbep
}
Thorn Tor ToWn Water
GOATHILL
(SoUnCp, in Mere Greenaleigh, in Minehead <5rCenoar, on Mendip
Greenway, in Thurlbeer
H.
Had/pen, in Almsford •
Hallatrow, in High-Littleton Ham, in Combe St. Nicholas — — Street, in Baltonfbury
in Weft-Buckland
Hardington-Bampfylde
Mandeville
Hardijlone-Point, in Porlock Hareclive and Bedminster ) Hundred - )
^atclane - 279,
Harptree-West -
J^afcl
203
320 440 492 .485
48 s
473 186
185
424 «59
65
302
237 240 265 264 262 266 3(>^
273 26
116
183
Haselborough «•
Ttt
S9
14S
475 270
485
453
347
35
279
439
140
93
3Z^
Hatch-
[ 502 ]
Hatch-West - - •■
Hatherley-, in Maperton Hazkgrove, in Queen's-Camel
i^aunjiHe's! Coit - 107,
Hemington Henley, in Seaborough Henstridge Hethmore, in Glaftonbury Hewijh, in Crewkerne Highhridge, in Huntfpill i^igf)=(2Cf)Urc[), in Hemington Highridge, in-Dundry - Hillend, in North-Curry Hillhoufe, Liberty and Manor - Hindon, in Minehead Hinton-BleweTj or Cold-)
HiNTON - - ^
— St. George
holcombe
Holnicot, in Selworthy
Holtoriy in South-Cadbury
Holwell
in Cloford - 205,
180 86
74 352 454 174 354 268
3^
454 105 178 206
144
165
456
41
73
3^9 216
485 59
Holywell-Lake, in Wellington -
Honeyzvick, in Almsford
l^OteII)am=CrOf0, in Long-Aftiton 304
HoretHorne Hundred
Hornery in Luckham
Horsington
Marjh
Horwoody in HorfingtotJ Houndsborough, Berwick, and CoKER Hundreds
IDounDSborcugb-Crofs
J^Oantlflon, in Odcombe
Houndjireet, in Markfbury Huish-Episcopi - Hultetnorey in Glaftonbury HummeTy in Trent Huntham cum Slough ^UrJtminfiCr, in Hemington
!
351
22
371 372 372
2'^3
323*325
426, 427
470
268
- 3'i3 179
455
Hunt/gaie-Mill, in Wotton-Courtney 49
HUNTSPILI^ CUM PuRITON
Hundred
Parifh
• Cogan
De la Hay
Mareys
Verney
\
Pagb
3'^9
390 393 39^ 393
^pDon'(2:i)attetf)oufe, or Cemple 236 I.
Inyn's-Court, in Bedminfter
K. I^CnCOt-Crofs, in Long-Afhton Hamlet
Kenton -Man deville Keyford, in Frome Keynsham Hundred
— Parifli
KiLMERSDON Hundred
Parifn
King-Weston Kingsbury-East Hundred Parifli, or Kingsbury-
}
284
304
78 189
399
400
445 80
467
Episcopi
Regis y in Milborne-Port 2S3 West Hundred - 481
122
-- 178
284
95
41
268
Kingston-Seymour Knapy in North-Curry Knolky in Bedminfter
Chew-Magna -
, Selworthy
Kynnyard-More
L.
Lambrook-East - - 469
JLaminStOn, in Long-Afliton 304
Lancelly -Hills - - 276
Langhaniy in Luxborough - 25
'■ Chard - - 473
iLanjlCp, or St. Algar's, in Frome 1 89
in Wivelifcombe - 488
Laverley, in Weft-Pennard - 275
Laverton - - - 211
Lajmore, in Crewkerne - 159
Le
[ 503 ]
Le 'SalU?, in Glaftonbury - Leigh
in Winfham
LeightotJi in Cloford JJlliJdoni in Nortli-Curry Littleton-High " in Dundry
Lotterford, in North-Chcriton LovmcTON Lower-Mill, in Exford Lubbofij in Baltonfbury
LuCKHAM
Weft
Luckington, in Kilmerfdon Ludiuell-Bridge, in Cutcombe
LuLLINOTON
luxborough
Lvdford-West
Lydiard-Bishops
Pincherdon, in ditto
Lynch-Weji., in Selworthy Lyons-Court, in Whitcliurch
CtOfS, in Long-Alliton
Lypiat, in Kilmerfdon
M.
Maperton
Mare-Green, in Stoke-Gregory
Marksbury
Marfl}y in Dunller
Marston-Bigot
Magna
Parva
e^artCnefep, in Mere Martin-Street, in Bakon/bury
agaslJurp^Caftlc - a9ag0=iBinoll -
Mells and Leigh Liberty -
Parifh -
Mere
Merriot _ . .
09iDDlecot
Midghill, in Chelvy
}
}
465 478 205
»79 145
105
360 82 21
270
22
446 6
212 24
83 493 494
41 341 304 447
85
180
426
16
213
374
274 270
449 108
4&1
272 169 450 318
1
Milborne-Port •
fVick
Minehead Misterton - _ _
^ODlJlirp - - 461,
80Onktl)am, in Marfton-Bigot
in Exford
Moordon, in North-Curry Moorlands, in Stoke-Gregory - Moorfide, in Backwell Moreton, in Compton-Martin -
Murtree, or Mortray, in Buck- land-Diniiam
N. Nemnet
Newborough, in Kilmerfdon Newport, in North-Curry New-Town, in Weft-Pennard North'more, in Glaftonbury - 7 Northover, in Glaftonbury - j North-'Town, in North-Cadbury Norton-Hautville Malreward
^ — MlDSUHflfcTER
Under-Hamden
Nunney
o.
Oakhampton, in Wivelifcombe
Oakhill, in Afliwick
Oaktrow, in Cutcombe
Oare
Odcombe
Old-Down
Oldford, in Frome
Oldway, in Wellington
Orchardley
Pamborow
Parret-North , -
Paulton
J'ayton, in Wellington -
352
26 165 462 216
21
179 181
307
^33 206
452
31&
447 »79
-75
26S
65
106
108
149 334
2l6
489
449 6
33 3^4 127, 154- 186
■ 485 222
244
335 152
485 Pendomir.
[ 504 }
Pendomer • * 348
-Pennard-West - - 275
Pensford - - 429
Periion'i'in Minehead - 31
Perry-Street, in Chard - 473
'■"Pi/hury, in Huifli-Epifcopi - 470 Pitcotty in Stratton on the Foflfe 458, 459
Pkamoor's-Crojs, In Wellington 485
POINTINGTON - - 375
Pool-Town^ in Luxborough - 24
PORLOCK - - 34
Weli - . - 37
PofllebUrp, in Cloford - 205
Priston - - 430
PUBLOW - - 428
PURITON - - 396
Purtingtoi, in Winfham - 479
R.
Radstock. - - 457
Ran/combe, in Wotton-Courtney 49 lRagenC'S=(2:rOf0, in Long-AHiton 304
!RC0il, in Winford
Road
Rockwell-Green, in Wellington
RODDEN - - «
Roddenbury-Hill, in Frome Rodehuijh, in Carhampton
motonam^jfetrg and J^ermi=
tagC, in Long-Afhton Rowndham, in Crcwkerne
1
%t. 9nne'0, in Briflington - •— CtOfiS, in Chew-Stoke
— Catbarine's^ofpital, in
Bedminfter — IRana-l^iU, in Crewkerne
Saj-tford
Sandford-Orcas
Sandhill-Park, in Bifliops-Lydiard
Seaborough
Selwood-Forejl
Selworthy
321
223
485 225
186
2
296
413
lOI
282
165
431 377 494 171
195
40
>Aei
^etoatlIStJ)iC&, in Compton-Dando 422
Seymour' s-Court, in Beckington 200 ^Ijarpbam^lParfe, in Glaftonbury 286 Shutwood-Green, in Weft-Hatch 180 Slat t erf or d, in Maperton - 86 Snaile-HiU, in Weft-Chinnock 329 Southay, in Kingfbury-Eaft - 469 Southmore, or Allermore - 268 South -'J own, in Weft-Pennard - 275 SouthwQod, in Baltonfbury - 270 Sparkford - - 86 Sparkjhay, in Porlock - 37 Staeth, in Stoke-Gregory - 181 Standerwick. - - 227 Standle, in Wellington - 485 Stanton-Drew - - 432 Prior - - 438
^TBurg-Hiii - 438*439
— — Wick ■- - 434
in Dunfter - 15
Stawel, or Stowel - 379
Stert, in Babcary - - 6
Wcft-Buckland - 485
Sticklepatb, in Combe- St. Nicholas 475
Stick/inch, in Weft-Pennard 275
Stiveleigh, in Mere - 274
Stoford, in Berwick - 337
Stoke-Gregory - - 180
Pero
Beauchatnp
^tO&eleigb=Camp, in Long- Afhton Stolef s-Green, in Weft-Hatch Stone-Easton
in Chew-Magna
Stowey
Stratton-on-the-Fosse Street-Eai\:, in Weft-Pennard
in Winfham
Sutton-Bingham
Montis
Bijhops, in Chew-Magna
North, Knighton, or Mi
\
litis, in ditto
42 319
289 i8o
9S 110
458
275
479
349 83
95
Sutton'
[ 5°5
|
SHftcn-JVjck |
# ^^B |
"• |
»95 |
|
Symonjhath, in Exmore |
- |
20 |
|
|
T. Tattvorth, in Chard |
„ |
"473 |
|
|
Cct]burj)=Camp |
- |
206 |
|
|
CemplC=CICUD, i" Camcly |
- |
124 |
|
|
Tent -Hill, in Mells - |
- |
46' |
|
|
C!)Cgne'S=Crof0, in Long- |
Afhton ^c |
||
|
Thorn-Falcon — in Caftle-C |
_ |
- |
I' ,6 |
|
Zz.ry |
- |
Thorney, in Eaft-King/biiry - °9
CftrUtltPCn, in Butconnbe - 3^4
Thurlbeer - - ^^^
Tillam-Jireet, in Bakonfbury 270
TiMBERSCOMBE - - 43
Timbridge, in Eaft-Kingfbury 4°9
TiMSBURY - • J^^
Tivington, in Selworthy 4^
C00mei:#arR, in Henftrige 3^6
Corr, in Glartonbury - 264
Treborough - - 45
Trent - - 380
Trudoxhill, in Nunney — 217
Turnhamy in Chard - 473
Tytherington, in Frome - ^86
U. OaUiiSl, in Frome - - 188 Ubley - - - 155 Venn, in Milborne-Port - J54 Vobjler, in Mells ♦- - 46 1 Oineparti, in Glaftonbury 244, 26' in Pamborough - i'
W COaD&Urj?» or 0@OD6Utg Camp.T
in Mells
461
Vale
Wadford, in Combe-St. Nicho Wales, in Queen's-Camd Walley, in Chew-Stoke Walton, in Kilmerfdon "*
filOansDi&e, 279, 423/3* 438, 439
Vol. II. U u
475 74
lOI
447
' "ANSTRAW
''armoor, in Stoke-Gregory jOafiOn, in Combe-St.-Nicfeolas WAVroRD - ■ - CSleaigalMDill, in GUaonbury 3jOC0Ding, ancient monument fo 7
called, in Stanton-Drew - j Wellington
Welton, in Midfummer-Norton Wejl-Town, in Backwell/ in Balronfbury
PACE 228 180
475
.*75
:}
Wejibii^y, in Odcombe Weftford, in Wellington Weftbay, in Mere - Weston-Bampfv-de
Z,////^, h ditto
in W-nftraw
Whatley
Wheatfield, ir Wivelifcombe -
Whitchu'CH -
, in Henftridge
Wichanfi '" Luckham Wick-W^^^ in Chew-Magna JVidc^'^^-^'^rih, in Chewton
— South, in Hinton-Blewit
j^dnthroop, in Horfington
yiNFORD /XNSHAM
Wilcomhe, in Corton-Dinham Witham-Friary Liberty
Withycombe
WiVELISCOMBE
Wollard, in Compton-Dando
Wolverton
Woodhill-Green, in Stoke-Gregory
Woodhouje, in Odcombe
Woodlands- Eajl in Frome )
/Fc/?, in ditto 5 188, 194
in Weft-Pennard
Woodfton, in North-Cadbury Woolm'mjlcn, in Crewkcrne WorminJler'Hill
433
481 150
307 270
324 485
89
228 230 488 440 364 23
95
118
H5 472 320
- 476, 478 362
232
47 486
423 224 180 324
u
275
65 159
276 Wotto\-
WOTTON-COURTNEY
Ford, in ditto
North -
CC!ortf)g, in Porlock Wrangway, in Wellington Wr ant age, in North-Curry Writhlington -
A 5°^ ]
r.
^anleigf), in Long-Afhton 7'arnor, in Porlock. - \Teanfton, in Henftridge
- PriOrp, in ditto
nftogtcgn
rAcii
304
37
364
240
HU^JDREDS AND LIBERTIES
^ CONTAINED IN VoAme II.
CARHAMPTON Hundred Catafh - , >
Chew - - \_
Chewton - - \
Cranmore Liberty Crewkerne Curry-North
Frome - - i
Glatton Twelve Hides Hareclive and Bedminfter
PACE . I 51
93
207
^5^2 1 1
V
\
Hillhouf^iberty (part oQ - 205
HorethorA _ _ ^' ^rj
Houndfbor\ugh, Berwick, &Coker323
Huntfpill Clin Puriton Keynfham \ Kilnnerfdon \ Kingfbury-Eak
• -• WeA _
Mells and LeighTiberty Witham-Friary ^berty
389
399
445 467
481
461
232
A-
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
TO VOLUl,^ jj^
PAGE
3, line 2. after vicarage, read and a peculiar.
7. 1. 4. for redory, r. vicarage. 32. 1. 18. r. Alexander Fownes Luttrell. \
43. 1. 22. for redlory, r. curacy; I. 23. r. tlie Rev. Nathanie^, , □ . 45. 1. 7. for Knyphton, r, Knyfton. 4.6. 1. ■?"?. This manor became afterwards parcel of the poflev r , , . , ^.
.K.^;fi-.i„t;nn .h.r.nf H.nrv VTTT oxft nf hie r.!^ ^..? of the abbey of Ckeve ; and
the difiblution tliereof, Henry VIII. 31ft of his reign, grante^
on
to John Windham and Eliza-
beth his wife in whofe family it continued till the prefent cen\ , . , . .
Trevelyan, bart. \ when it was fold to Sir Joha
56. 1. 33. for Taylor, r. Turner.
6j. title, r. Catafib J 1- 22. r. the Rev. John Whicher.
ADDITIONS AND SORRFXTIONS to VOL. I. 5^7
rACE
63. Bariv-South, 1. 7. f. nas, r. has; 1. 9. f. icii^orj', r. curacy and a peculiar; I. 10, r, the Rcv.
Thoas Charles. 65. 1. 4. reiSory, r. curacy, 73. 1. 2r. the Rev. Mr. Whitelicad. 81. 1. 2 f. vicarage, r. reSlory.
83. I. 5iftcr curacy, r. and a peculiar ; 1. 6. r. the Rcv. Rees Thoma*. S4. 1. 2 after redory, r. and a peculiar, 85. Maoton, 1. 3. after Caii, r. »r Cale.
94. 1. I f. charaderifticfk, r. charafferijlicks. . :
(p.. 1. 2". (joldlborough, r. Goldejhrough.
From cto 105 the pages are mifnumbered. «
93- ['0 '• 3^- *■• ^'^^ jf^cv. John Butler Barber. 96. [i,.] 1. ID. r. the Rev. James Howell. J 05. 1. f. taining, r. containing. 109. lalline, r. the Rev. John Butler Barber. 112. 1. ). r. the Rev. William Bmdenell Barter.
118. lalline. Queen Elizabeth, by letters patent bearing date the 27th of April, in the iSthyear of:r reign, granted to Roger Manners the priory, re<£tory, and church of Chewton under Mdip, with all the rights, members, and appertenances in the county of Somerfet, late be- long to the diflblved monaftery of Sheane in the county of Surrey, and the advowfon and rijt of patronage to the vicarage and parifh church of Chewton aforefaid, and the chapels of imborough, Stone-Eafton, Farrington, and Paulton, thereunto annexed. The faid Roger Miners afterwards granted the fame to Sir George Kingfmill, one of the judges of the comon-bench; and the faid re£tory and right of patronage are now in Robert Kingfmill, cfq; of idmonton-place in Hampfhire. The fite of the priory was fome years (iiice granted over toichard Jenkyns, efq. See p. 120. 129. 1. . It was fold in 1720 by the Stockers to Mr. Hawes, one of the diredors of the South-fca
Copany, from whom it was taken and fold by act of parliament. Ibid. & iflim, for Lord Weymouth, r. Marquis of Bath. 134. 1. r. the Rev. John Hofldns Abrall.
136. 1. f. reftory, r. curacy; 1. 8. f. Ston-Eafton, r. Stone- Eajlon, 139. 1. I. f. 1405, r. 1406; 1. 38. f. vicarage, r. curacy. 145. 1. It is now the property of the Rev. Mr. Brookes- 153. T.e, f. Midsummer-Norton, r. Paulton.
162. 1. 1-. infert, The living is a curacy, the Rev. Robert Afliett is the prefent incumbent. 165. 1, . f. St. Ranus, r. St, Reyn ; ibid. f. his, r. her. "
175. L . r. The Rev. George Gibbs. 179. 1. ^. f. lies, r. is a peculiar; 1. 16. f. Canon, r. Robert,
200. Aianor in this parilh belonged to the monaftery of Maiden-Rradley in the county of Wilts, andafter its diffoliition was granted by King Henry VIll. in the 37th year of his reign to Aufftin de Auguftinis, M. D. who fold it with the advowfon of the church of Beckington to Thaas lord Wriothclly, and he 1 Edw. VI. conveyed the fame to Thomas Compton, gent. and is heirs. 24 Eliz. Jofcph Compton fold the faid manor, with meffuages in Beckington, Rid[, Berkley, and Standerwick, to Thomas Webb and Margaret his wife, and Robert Webb theiibn. MSS. Sydenham and Carnv, 206. 1. I Hill-House, from which fprang the Liberty of that name, anciently flood in a field of Clcord Farm, on the eall fide of the turnpike-road from Frome to Brewton, and about five mileand a quarter from the firft-mentioned town. A few old pollard trees, and the irregula- rity
5o8
PAGE
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS to VOL. IL
212 215 227. 229
273-
275.
rity of the furface of the ground, ferve to point out its fite. The annual court for tlj Liberty
is held at Coleford, at which four peace-oificers are chofen; one for the Liberty at Ige ; one
for the parifh of Holcombe; one for the tithing of Edford; atad tlie other for the tithinbf Allh-
Street, within the parifli of Cloford.
f. reftory, r. curacy.
1. 25. The new church was confecrated in Sept. 1789.
1. 2. r. is a curacy in the deanery of Frome; the Rev. John Rogers is the prefent incjibent.
1. 37. r. The Rev. Robert Wells. 263. 1. 34. The Uvings of Glafton St. Benediift and St. Jolin are curacies; the Rev.Iatthew Hodge is the prefent incumbent. !
1. 29. The living is a curacy in the jurifdidlion of Glaftonbury; the Rev. Jolin bwen is the prefent incumbent.
Weft-Pennard, 1. 16. r. The living is a curacy in the jurifdiction of Glaftonbury; |p Rev. Henry Hopkins is the prefent incumbent. 311. laft line, r. The Rev. Mr. Fallowfield. 326. 1. 26. f. notwitftanding, r. notwhhjlanding, 336, 1. 4. r, William Morton Pitt. 339. 1. 28. r. The Rev. Thomas Tomkins.
342. 1. 6. for Mr. r. Dr.
343. 1. 32. f. fon, r. defcendant.
344. Weft-Coker, 1. 15. r. The Rev. John Jeremy. 352. 1. 34. f. a market, r. one, hundred and one merchants. 359- '• 33- r. The Rev. Thomas Fox. 360. 1. 29. after patron, r. and incumbent. 370. note ', for Excheq. r. Efc.
374. 1. 2. dele this parijh. Laft line, r. The Rev. John Williams is the prefent incumbent. 376. 1. 33. r. The Rev. Francis Woodforde.
378. 1. 16. after marks, r. The Rev. George Hutchins is the prefent incumbent.
379. 1. '26. r. The Rev. John Palmer.
396. laft line, after chapel, r. dedicated to St, Paul and St. Auguftine. 400. Note '' laft line, for Qg, r. Dag,
416. 1. 18. So in the original, but r. " Plurima; nunc regnat jun£his uterquc Deo." 418. 1. 12. r. The Rev. Dr. Ireland. 479. 1. 22. after vicarage, r. and a peculiar. 482. f. Alvera, r. Alveva, 488, 1. 7. This manor belonged to William de Monafteriis in the time of Henry 11. andli
his daughter to William de Witefield, who was lord of Wheatfield i Ric. L ar Lib. nig.fcac. & Rot. pip. 494. laft line. After limits, r. of which Nonington gave name to an illuftrious familyjl-hereof was Sir Baldric de Nonington, a knight and lord of this manor temp. Edw. I.
ime by iq|3 Joh.
hk
END OF VOL. II.
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