MANORS AND OTHER ESTATES.
A large
estate called Calne may have belonged to the
king in the 9th century, a time at which it may
later have been implied that he had a house
there. (fn. 98) King Eadred (d. 955) devised Calne to
the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Winchester (the Old minster). (fn. 99) There is no evidence
that the church received the estate, which was
almost certainly the king's when the witan met
at Calne in 978 and 997, (fn. 1) and in 1066 and 1086
the king did hold a large estate called Calne. (fn. 2)
In or before the 10th century the king's estate almost certainly included most of what
became Calne parish and the whole of what became Blackland and Calstone Wellington
parishes, probably included Beversbrook (later
in Hilmarton parish) and what became Cherhill
parish, possibly included what became
Compton Bassett and Yatesbury parishes, and
perhaps included what became Heddington
parish; in the 1080s it probably included what
became Berwick Bassett parish. Its west boundary may have been the Whetham stream and,
between its confluences with the Whetham
stream and Cowage brook, the river Marden. It
seems that by 1086 large parts of what may
have been the estate had been granted away and
that on those parts settlements had been
planted or reorganized and open fields laid out. (fn. 3)
Agricultural land held by Calne church in 1086
was almost certainly granted to it by the king.
It lay north and north-east and immediately
south-west and west of Calne, and it was laid
out mainly as open fields and commonable
meadows and pastures, was worked from demesne and customary farmsteads in Eastman
Street, and was later the Prebendal (or Eastman
Street) manor. (fn. 4) In 1086 there were settlements
at Calstone, Whitley, Beversbrook, Compton
Bassett, Heddington, and Yatesbury on lands
which, if they had been part of the king's estate,
had been granted away; the land at Calstone included both the part which became Calstone
Wellington parish and most of the part which
remained in Calne parish. (fn. 5)
By 1086 the lordship of Calne borough had
been divided mainly between the king, of whom
45 burghal tenements were held, and Calne
church, of which 25 were held. (fn. 6) It is tempting
to think, but cannot be proved, that the 45
stood on the right bank of the Marden, the 25
on the left. (fn. 7) A pasture south-west of the town
from what was almost certainly part of the
king's estate, and a pasture from the church's
land north-east of the town, were assigned to
the burgesses jointly. (fn. 8) It is possible that the
land west of Calne's open fields and bounded to
the west by the Whetham stream and the
Marden, land which came to be divided into
small freehold estates, was not part of the king's
estate in 1086 or earlier and was assarted from
Chippenham forest; (fn. 9) the assignment of 63 a. of
it to the burgesses of Calne (fn. 10) suggests otherwise.
Besides the lordship of part of the borough,
in 1086 the king's estate called Calne evidently
consisted of that land west of the open fields, of
that part of Calstone's land which became
Blackland parish, of Berwick Bassett and
Cherhill, and of Quemerford, Stock, and
Stockley. Cherhill had been granted away by
the mid 12th century, Berwick Bassett by 1172,
and what became Blackland parish by 1191. (fn. 11)
Although Quemerford, Stock, and Stockley all
had open fields and common pastures (fn. 12) none
had an organized nucleated settlement comparable to Eastman Street, perhaps because most
of their land was not granted away early. An
estate at Stock of which the extent is obscure
had been granted away by 1144; some holdings
at all three places were apparently granted away
from the estate called Calne piecemeal, others
remained part of it, and the farmsteads were or
remained dispersed. (fn. 13) The land west of Calne's
open fields was evidently granted or sold as
small freehold estates. (fn. 14) It is not certain
whether most of the holdings at Quemerford,
Stock, and Stockley, and west of the open
fields, were granted away before or after c.
1199, when the king alienated the rump of his
estate called Calne. (fn. 15)
The rump was probably granted c. 1199 to
Fulk de Cauntelo, (fn. 16) who in the early 13th century held it at a fee-farm rent of £15. (fn. 17) It was
later called CALNE manor, at Calne apparently consisted of little more than a mill and the
right to hold courts and receive customary rents
and payments, (fn. 18) and was held with Calstone
manor by Fulk from 1201-2. The two manors
descended together mainly in the Cauntelo,
Zouche, and Duckett families, and from 1763
they were held by successive owners of Bowood
House. (fn. 19) Calne manor, unlike Calstone manor,
was held in dower by Eve de Cauntelo (fl.
1255), the relict of William de Cauntelo (d.
1254), and was not held by the relicts who held
Calstone manor in dower in the late 14th century and the 15th. (fn. 20) The combined estate was
often called the manor of Calne and Calstone. (fn. 21)
In 1086 Calne church belonged to Nigel,
probably Nigel the physician. (fn. 22) It was acquired
by Osmund, bishop of Salisbury, who gave it to
the cathedral in 1091. (fn. 23) By 1116 the church's
estate had been used to endow Calne prebend
in the cathedral, and it was later called the
PREBENDAL estate. A grant of the church
made between 1107 and 1116 by the king to the
cathedral and the prebendary confirmed the endowment and apparently the right to the land
held by Calne church in 1086. The prebendary
1107 × 1116 was Nigel of Calne, possibly Nigel
(fl. 1086) or a relative. Between 1220 and 1227
the prebend was annexed to the treasurership
of the cathedral. (fn. 24) The Prebendal estate consisted of nearly all the great tithes from Calne
parish excluding Bowood, tithes arising elsewhere, agricultural land around Calne called
Eastman Street manor, and a small amount of
land elsewhere. (fn. 25) In 1841 it passed by Act to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, (fn. 26) whose tithes in
Calne parish, including c. £278 in respect of
Blackland's and Calstone's land in the parish,
were valued at £1,602 in 1842 and commuted in
1843. EASTMAN STREET manor consisted,
after inclosure, of 690 a. north and east of the
town. (fn. 27) Its principal house, that which was part
of the demesne farmstead at the south end of
Eastman Street, (fn. 28) was given c. 1822 to the vicar
of Calne in an exchange. (fn. 29) In 1856 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners sold 539 a. of the manor
to the tenant Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, marquess of Lansdowne, the owner of Bowood
House, and about then the rest of the manor, c.
150 a., was bought by George Walker Heneage,
the tenant of that land (fn. 30) and the lord of
Compton Bassett manor. (fn. 31) Lord Lansdowne's
land descended with Bowood House until the
20th century. Some of it was sold in 1912 and,
including Lickhill farm, in 1919, (fn. 32) and by 1999
much of it had been built on or assigned for
building. Lickhill farm, 52 a., was bought by
W. J. Hillier in 1919, (fn. 33) was sold by him to G. F.
Hoddinott in 1948, and belonged to Hoddinott's
son Mr. G. R. Hoddinott in 1996, when it consisted of c. 125 a. (fn. 34) Of the land bought c. 1856
by George Walker Heneage some, apparently
acquired for the Prebendal estate by exchange, (fn. 35)
lay on Bore down, the detached part of Calne
transferred to Compton Bassett in 1883; most
of the rest was divided between High Penn
farm, Hayle farm based in Quemerford, and
farms based in Cherhill. (fn. 36)
Several freehold estates shared the agricultural land around Calne with Eastman Street
manor. They may have originated in grants by
the king, presumably before 1086, to burgesses
of Calne or with estates in neighbouring villages. (fn. 37) One, called WITCHAMPTON, later
COLEMAN'S farm, may have descended with
Heddington Cauntelo manor from the 13th
century, and in the earlier 15th century it was
the inheritance of Agnes Watkins, a greatgreat-granddaughter of Maud de Cauntelo (fl.
1329). In 1437 Agnes and her husband William
Watkins settled it on William Witchampton
and his wife Alice in tail. (fn. 38) The estate evidently
reverted to Agnes or her heir, her daughter
Agnes Watkins (d. 1499), who married Drew
Mompesson. It descended in turn to Agnes's
son Thomas Mompesson (d. 1560), to
Thomas's son Thomas (fn. 39) (d. 1582), and to that
Thomas's son Thomas Mompesson, (fn. 40) who in
1607 sold it to George Hungerford, (fn. 41) the owner
of Blackland farm. The estate was apparently
among the lands which passed on George's
death in 1641 to his heir-at-law, (fn. 42) his nephew
Edward Hungerford (d. 1667), the lord of
Studley manor, who devised it to his son Robert (d. s.p.). On Robert's death it evidently
reverted to Edward's eldest son Sir George (d.
1712), whose son Walter (fn. 43) held Coleman's
farm, 43 a., in 1728. (fn. 44) The farm descended with
Studley manor until 1918, (fn. 45) when Robert
Crewe-Milnes, marquess of Crewe, sold it to
William Aldrick. (fn. 46) In 1963 it was bought by
Calne borough council (fn. 47) and thereafter its land
was used for building. (fn. 48)
HIGH PENN farm may have originated before 1628 in an allotment to the lord of
Compton Bassett manor of part of the common
pasture called Penn, which earlier was probably
shared by the men of Calne, Cherhill, and
Compton Bassett. (fn. 49) In 1728, when it was accounted 131 a., the farm was held by William
Northey, the lord of Compton Bassett manor, (fn. 50)
and it descended with the manor until 1929.
About 98 a. of the land formerly part of Eastman Street manor and bought by George
Walker Heneage c. 1856 was added to the farm,
265 a. in 1929. (fn. 51) In 1930 High Penn farm was
bought from E. G. Harding by Edward, F. C.
G., H. E., and W. J. R. Hill, who used part of it
for sand extraction. In 1971 the Hill family sold
the farm to Hubert Harding, who bought an
additional 44 a. c. 1974. In the 1970s Harding
sold 53 a. of High Penn farm to Mr. Robin
Clark, who in 2001 owned that land as part of
Dugdale's farm, Compton Bassett. In 1988
Harding sold the 44 a. to Mr. J. Angell and the
rest of High Penn farm in portions. (fn. 52) The farmstead and c. 70 a. were bought by Mrs. E. G.
Beckett, who in 2001 owned the farmstead but
not most of that land. (fn. 53)
In 1728 Walter Hungerford, the lord of
Studley manor, held freely, besides Coleman's
farm, 59 a. of agricultural land around Calne. (fn. 54)
The land descended with the manor and was
added to by his successors in title. (fn. 55) In 1843,
after inclosure, Hungerford Crewe, Lord
Crewe, held c. 130 a., (fn. 56) and there was c. 230 a.
in 1918 when Robert, marquess of Crewe, sold
it in portions. C. & T. Harris (Calne) Ltd.
bought the largest portion, NEWCROFT
farm, (fn. 57) and in 1954 and 1961 sold large parts of
it to Calne borough council for building. (fn. 58)
Of the small and several freeholds west of
Calne's open fields, probably originating in
piecemeal grants or sales of demesne pasture of
the king's estate or Calne manor, (fn. 59) seven lay
south of the Marden. PINHILLS was held in
1407 by John Formage, to whom it had been
conveyed by John Patford, the son and heir of
David Patford. (fn. 60) A share in what was probably
the estate was acquired from William York by
John Cricklade, the lord of Studley manor, in
an exchange in 1461. (fn. 61) Pinhills was reputed a
manor in 1504, when it was held at his death by
John Blake. Although John's heirs were his
grandson Richard Dauntsey and his daughter
Joan Wroughton, Pinhills apparently passed to
his brother Robert Blake (d. 1515) and in the
direct line to Roger (d. 1557), Thomas (fn. 62) (d. by
1599), Roger, Henry (will proved 1653), and
Henry Blake (d. 1660), who devised it to his
grandson Henry Blake (fn. 63) (d. 1731). Henry held
Pinhills in 1698, (fn. 64) apparently not in 1728, when
it was 157 a. (fn. 65) By 1738 Pinhills had been acquired by B. H. Stiles (d. 1739), and it may
have been part of the property sold by his
nephew and heir Sir Francis Stiles in 1746. (fn. 66)
It was acquired by Daniel Bull (d. 1791), who
in 1769 sold the reversion of it after his death
to William Petty, earl of Shelburne (cr. marquess of Lansdowne 1784). (fn. 67) Pinhills farm,
135 a., was among lands settled in 1802 by
Lord Lansdowne on his son Henry, marquess
of Lansdowne from 1809, offered for sale in
1808 by order of Chancery, and bought in
1809 by John, marquess of Lansdowne (d.
1809). (fn. 68) John's successor Henry, marquess of
Lansdowne, sold the farm, 87 a., in 1813 (fn. 69) and
bought it again in 1816. (fn. 70) Pinhills farm has
since belonged to the owners of Bowood
House. (fn. 71) Pinhills House, the principal house on
the estate, stood on a rectangle enclosed by a
moat. (fn. 72) In December 1644 it was captured by a
royalist force, rendered uninhabitable, and perhaps partly demolished. (fn. 73) It was probably
restored after the Civil War, and in 1728 a large
house stood on the moated site. (fn. 74) It was later
taken down, possibly c. 1771 after Castle House
in Calne was enlarged for Daniel Bull. (fn. 75) Pinhills
Farm, south of the moat, is on an L plan with a
north-south range built in the 17th century. In
the mid 18th century a west wing was added at
the north end of that range, and a new gabled
north entrance front was formed.
An estate called LAGGUS, 21 a. in 1728,
was devised by John Wilson (d. 1725) to his
wife Anne for life and in reversion to Clare
Hall, Cambridge. Clare Hall entered on it in
1730, (fn. 76) and in 1766 sold it to William, earl of
Shelburne. (fn. 77) The house on the estate was built
in the mid 17th century and is roughly symmetrical with end chimneys; details in vernacular
style are incorporated in fireplaces and timber
mouldings.
An estate called MANNINGS HILL, 22 a.,
belonged to Richard Nutt in 1728. It was sold
by Stephen Mead to Lord Shelburne in 1766. (fn. 78)
In 1728 a 91-a. estate near Coombe grove
and later called ROGERS'S belonged to
Frances Shepherd (fn. 79) (fl. 1743), the relict of
Joshua Shepherd (d. 1720) and the owner of
part of Heddington Cauntelo manor. (fn. 80) It was
acquired by a member of the Rogers family,
probably one who owned Rainscombe House in
North Newnton (later Wilcot) and the advowson of Heddington church, and was bought
from the trustees of a Mr. Rogers by Lord
Shelburne in 1765. (fn. 81)
In 1728 a 25-a. estate including COOMBE
GROVE, 7 a., was held by Constantia Ernle,
the lord of Whetham manor. The estate descended with the manor (fn. 82) and in 1767 was given
to Lord Shelburne by James Money in an exchange. (fn. 83)
A 45-a. estate on the east bank of the
Whetham stream, west of Pinhills House and
including meadows called CEW, was held in
the mid or later 17th century by the lord of
Studley manor. (fn. 84) A small portion of the estate,
part of a field called Clotely, was bought by
Lord Shelburne in 1765 from Lumley Keate,
the lord of Studley manor, (fn. 85) and was drowned
by the lake made in the park of Bowood House
in 1766. (fn. 86) The rest of it descended with the
manor until 1898, when Robert Crewe-Milnes,
earl of Crewe, sold it to Henry PettyFitzmaurice, marquess of Lansdowne. (fn. 87) It has
since belonged to the owners of Bowood
House. (fn. 88)
The acquisition of Laggus, Mannings Hill,
Rogers's, and Coombe Grove estates and of the
part of Clotely field by Lord Shelburne 1765-7
made possible the extension of the park eastwards and the making of the lake. (fn. 89) The land
has since belonged to the owners of Bowood
House. (fn. 90)
An estate called COW AGE lying south of
Pinhills House belonged to John FitzJohn, the
lord of Cherhill manor, in 1265. (fn. 91) It descended
with the manor and passed to the Crown in
1487. (fn. 92) As an estate of c. 110 a., including a
house and an 80-a. pasture called Cowage, it
was granted in 1528 to Sir Edward Baynton (fn. 93)
(d. 1544), whose son Andrew sold it in 1564 to
Walter Segar alias Parsons (fn. 94) (fl. 1600). Walter
was succeeded by his son Edward Segar alias
Parsons (d. 1640), whose heir was his brother
William. (fn. 95) In 1672 and 1674 the estate was sold
in portions by Walter and Richard Segar, apparently William's son and grandson, to
Jonathan Rogers, who in 1697 settled it on the
marriage of his daughter Dorothy (d. 1726) and
John Holland. In 1728, when it was 106 a.,
Cowage was held by Dorothy's son Rogers
Holland (d. 1761), whose son Rogers sold it
in 1765 to William, earl of Shelburne. (fn. 96) Cowage thereafter belonged to the owners of
Bowood House. In 1909 Henry, marquess of
Lansdowne, gave 37 a. of it to Roger MoneyKyrle, the lord of Whetham manor, in
exchange for land at Cuff's Corner. (fn. 97) The rest
has remained part of the Bowood estate. Since
1909 the 37 a. has been part of the Whetham
estate. (fn. 98) The house which stood in 1999 on the
Cowage estate was built in the mid 17th century.
It has a two-storeyed and three-bayed east-
west main range with ovolo-moulded mullions
and mullioned and transomed crosses; a west
cross wing with a large chimney stack was
added, probably in the earlier 19th century.
North of the Marden an estate called
CHILVESTER, then reputed a manor, was
held by Thomas Norris at his death in 1489.
Norris's heir was his grandniece Alice
Littlecott (fn. 99) (d. by 1522), the wife of Robert
Thornborough (d. 1522), and the estate passed
in turn to her son William Thornborough (fn. 1) (d.
1535) and William's son John, (fn. 2) who sold it c.
1594 to William Foreman. (fn. 3) From Foreman's
death in 1609 the estate was held in dower by
his relict Henrica (fl. 1632), who married Richard Ernle, (fn. 4) and it passed in turn to William's
son William (d. 1636) and that William's son
William Foreman. (fn. 5) The legend IN 1669 on a
weathervane on a stable range of Chilvester
House (formerly Chilvester Hill House) (fn. 6) suggests that Israel Noyes (fl. 1672) (fn. 7) held the
estate, which in 1728, consisting of the house
and 32 a., belonged to that or another Israel
Noyes. (fn. 8) The estate belonged to Israel Noyes
until 1739 or earlier and to a Mr. Noyes until
1770. By 1771 it had been acquired by Richard
Gale, and in 1784-5 it passed, presumably by
sale, from Gale to Hugh Beames (d. 1807-8).
Hugh was succeeded by his son George, who
held the estate until 1833 or later. (fn. 9) In 1843 it
belonged to William Gundry (fn. 10) (d. 1853), whose
trustees sold it to Henry, marquess of
Lansdowne, in 1853. (fn. 11) The estate has not been
traced further. Chilvester House was largely
rebuilt in the earlier 19th century. The new
house, which was on an L plan and has a main
five-bayed south front of ashlar with restrained
neoclassical details, apparently incorporates
part of the old house as its north-west wing. In
the mid or later 19th century the house was extended westwards by one bay and large
ground-floor canted bays were added on the
main front.
A pasture called Bury hill, lying south of the
Chilvester estate and the London-Bristol road,
c. 1520 belonged to the guardians of Robert
Hungerford, the lord of Studley manor. (fn. 12) It descended with the manor in the Hungerford
family and in the mid or later 17th century was
part of BERHILLS farm. (fn. 13) The farm, 141 a. in
1728 and 200 a. in 1843, also included land in
Calne's open fields or land allotted to replace
it. (fn. 14) The farm descended with Studley manor in
the Hungerford, Crewe, and Milnes families
and to Raymond O'Neill, Lord O'Neill. In
1999 Lord O'Neill owned the land south of
the London-Bristol road but not the other
land. (fn. 15)
Land including a warren, worked as
CONIGRE farm, and lying west of the
Chilvester estate was held with Studley manor
in the mid or later 17th century, (fn. 16) and
SWERVES farm, north-west of the Chilvester estate, was held with the manor in 1728.
In 1728 Conigre farm was of 80 a., Swerves of
26 a. (fn. 17) Both descended with Studley manor
and in 1999 their land belonged to Lord
O'Neill. (fn. 18)
The MARSH, a pasture north-east of the
town, and the ALDERS, a pasture south-west
of the town, were held jointly by the burgesses
of Calne (fn. 19) until 1818. By an award under an Act
the Alders was then allotted to Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, the owner of Bowood
House, and the Marsh was divided and a close
of it allotted to each individual burgess. (fn. 20) The
Alders has since belonged to successive owners
of Bowood House. (fn. 21)
By 1198 Stanley abbey in Bremhill had been
given a burgage and 4 messuages in Calne, (fn. 22) by
1227 it had been given another 4 messuages by
John of Avebury, (fn. 23) and later it acquired other
premises in the town. (fn. 24) At the Dissolution the
abbey had 11 tenements, 2 gardens, and 28 a. of
meadow in Calne. (fn. 25) A small estate in Calne parish held by Bradenstoke priory in Lyneham in
the 13th century consisted mainly of land, and
rent from buildings, in the town. (fn. 26) The priory
retained all or part of it at the Dissolution. (fn. 27)
About 1242 Galiena, the relict of Herbert of
Calne, gave 4 messuages in the town and 10 a.
near it to Lacock abbey. (fn. 28) The abbey seems to
have held little of the estate at the Dissolution. (fn. 29)
A messuage in Calne was conveyed to the
Hospitallers by Walter son of Roger in 1202 (fn. 30)
and belonged to them until the Dissolution. (fn. 31)
In 1447 John St. Lo gave land in Calne to the
chantry of St. Mary Magdalene in Calne
church, which, at the Dissolution, held 62 a. in
Calne. The chantry of the Blessed Virgin Mary
held c. 32 a. in Calne at the Dissolution. (fn. 32)
Before the Conquest the land of QUEMERFORD was almost certainly part of the king's
estate called Calne, and as part of the rump of
that estate, later called Calne manor, most of it
was probably granted to Fulk de Cauntelo c.
1199. (fn. 33) The rest evidently lay in holdings which
were granted away piecemeal from the king's
estate or from Calne manor. (fn. 34)
Presumably as part of what was probably
granted to Fulk de Cauntelo c. 1199 the lord of
Calne manor held 4 yardlands in Quemerford
which in 1274 was described as bureland, (fn. 35)
perhaps suggesting that it was demesne land
converted to customary tenure; it was later
called BOWERS manor. (fn. 36) Much of Quemerford's
land, including Bowers manor, descended with
Calne and Calstone manors and from 1763
with Bowood House. (fn. 37) From the 13th century
or earlier land in Quemerford was part of
Calstone Wylye manor. When, in 1585, the lord
of Calne manor bought Calstone Wylye manor (fn. 38)
it was presumably added to his other land in
Quemerford. In 1728 Calne and Calstone manor
included c. 450 a. and pasture rights in
Quemerford; the land lay mainly in six farms,
of which the largest were Sands, Lower Sands,
Quemerford, and Quemerford Common. In
1776 William, earl of Shelburne, the owner of
Bowood House, bought a farm of 58 a. from
Henry Vince, and in 1790, then marquess of
Lansdowne, he bought a farm probably of 64 a.
from Daniel Bull; the farmstead of the farm
bought in 1790 was in 1728 that on the site of
Wagon and Horses Cottages. (fn. 39) In 1919 Henry,
marquess of Lansdowne, sold Sands farm, 267
a. including Calne (formerly Calstone) Low and
land in Abberd mead, and Lower Sands farm,
78 a., to W. A. Higgs. (fn. 40) Apparently in the same
year Sands farm was bought by H. K. Henly,
who in 1942 sold 37 a. to the state for R.A.F.
Compton Bassett and in 1947 bought Lower
Sands farm. In the early 1950s Henly sold
both farms, except a small part of Lower
Sands farm, to E. H. Bradley & Sons Ltd., and
in 2001 the land belonged to Aggregate Industries Ltd. (fn. 41) In 1919 Lord Lansdowne sold
Quemerford farm, 117 a., to W. A. Higgs, who
sold it in 1923 to Thomas Davis (d. 1962). In
1979 Davis's sons and trustees H. W. and N.
G. Davis sold the farm, then 107 a., to Mr.
Anthony Whinney, the owner in 1996. (fn. 42) In
1919 Lord Lansdowne sold Quemerford Common farm, 131 a., to M. L. Bodman. (fn. 43) It passed
to J. F. Bodman (d. 1969) and, 58 a., was
offered for sale in that year. (fn. 44)
In 1198 and until 1226 or later Maurice of
Calne held a small estate at Quemerford by
serjeanty. (fn. 45) In 1231, then assessed at ½
yardland, it was settled by John son of Ellis on
John son of Robert for the grantee's life; (fn. 46) in
1255 it was held by John son of Ellis, in 1275 it
was held for service as bailiff of Calne hundred
by that John's son Thomas of Swindon, (fn. 47) and
in 1294 it passed on Thomas's death to his
brother John Ellis. (fn. 48) By 1289 Millicent de
Montalt, the lord of Calne and Calstone manors
and of Calne hundred, had successfully claimed
that the land was held of her. (fn. 49) It has not been
traced further than 1294.
An estate in Quemerford was conveyed in
1500 by John Blake (d. 1504) to William
Reynold and in 1504 by Reynold to Richard
Fynemore (fn. 50) (d. 1522), the lord of Whetham
manor. The estate descended with the manor in
the Fynemore family and to Sir John Ernle (d.
1648). Another estate was conveyed by Thomas
Blake (d. by 1599) to Henry Chivers in 1560. It
passed from Chivers (d. 1587) in turn to his son
Roger (d. 1602) and Roger's son Henry, who by
1639 had bought Ernle's estate. (fn. 51) The younger
Henry Chivers's estate presumably passed to
his son Seacole Chivers, whose son Henry (d.
1720) devised it to his wife Bridget for life
with reversion to his grandson Henry Vince
(d. 1748). (fn. 52) In 1728 Vince held c. 187 a. at
Quemerford including a home farm, the farm
later called Hayle farm, and another farm. (fn. 53) His
heir was his son Henry, a minor; by order of
Chancery his estate was vested in trustees in
1757, and most of it was sold in portions in
1758-9. (fn. 54)
In 1759 the trustees sold the principal house
on the estate, c. 11 a., and the mill at Quemerford later called Lower mill to John Gaby, and
c. 21 a. and Upper mill to Stephen Heale. (fn. 55) By
1764 Gaby's estate had been acquired by Ralph
Heale. (fn. 56) Neither estate has been traced further. (fn. 57)
The principal house, later called Quemerford
House, was apparently rebuilt in the late 18th
century or early 19th; it is two-storeyed and
has an east entrance front with two full-height
canted bays. (fn. 58)
In 1758 the trustees sold Hayle farm, c. 91 a.
and pasture rights, to William Northey, (fn. 59) the
lord of Compton Bassett manor, who evidently
sold it with Compton Bassett House to John
Walker in that year. Hayle farm descended with
Compton Bassett House, and from 1768 with
Compton Bassett manor, until 1929-30, in the
Walker Heneage family until 1918. (fn. 60) In 1929 it
was of 111 a.; (fn. 61) in 1930 or later it was sold in
portions. (fn. 62)
A 58-a. farm held by Henry Vince (d. 1748)
passed to his son Henry, who sold it in 1776 to
William, earl of Shelburne. (fn. 63) It thereafter descended with Lord Shelburne's other land at
Quemerford. (fn. 64)
In 1728 and until c. 1758 a 48-a. farm, later
Quemerford Gate farm, belonged to Stephen
Street, and from c. 1758 to the early 1770s it
was held by a Mrs. Street. By 1774 it had been
bought from a Street by James Mayo (d. 1788),
vicar of Avebury, who devised it in trust to
benefit his family. The trustees may have held
it until 1799 or later. (fn. 65) From 1821 or earlier
Quemerford Gate farm, 64 a. in 1843, belonged
to Thomas Poynder (d. 1856), the lord of
Hilmarton manor. (fn. 66) The farm, 172 a. in 1910
including 101 a. in Blackland, (fn. 67) descended with
Hilmarton manor and Upper Whitley farm in the
Poynder family until 1914, when it was sold by
John Dickson Poynder, Lord Islington, to R.
E. Rawlings. In 1932 it was offered for sale as a
farm of 146 a. by the mortgagee in possession, (fn. 68)
and was afterwards divided into Quemerford
Gate farm north of the London-Bristol road
and Gate farm south of the road. In 1974
Quemerford Gate farm, 45 a., was sold by
Aubrey Cove to Mr. P. W. Candy, who in 1991
sold it to Mr. P. Godwin, the owner in 1997. (fn. 69)
Gate farm, 132 a. including 80 a. of Blackland,
was bought by L. T. Bell in 1948, passed to his
son H. L. T. Bell (d. 1998), and in 2001 belonged to members of the Bell family. (fn. 70)
In 1728 c. 43 a. in Quemerford belonged to
William Smith, (fn. 71) the lord of Blackland manor.
It may have descended with the manor, and in
1843 probably c. 30 a. of Quemerford belonged
to William Tanner as part of the park of Blackland House. (fn. 72) The land remained part of the
park in 1999.
By 1764 John Walker, later John Walker
Heneage, from 1768 the lord of Compton
Bassett manor, had acquired part of Bore
down, (fn. 73) presumably with Hayle farm; his successor in title George Walker Heneage received
63 a. of Bore down as an allotment at inclosure
in 1821, (fn. 74) bought other land there c. 1856, (fn. 75) and
received 21 a. there from Henry, marquess of
Lansdowne, in an exchange in 1865. (fn. 76) In 1929
the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. owned
the whole of Bore down as part of the Compton
Bassett estate and sold it to E. G. Harding. In
1929 or 1930 Harding sold Bore down and other
land to Guy Benson, (fn. 77) who in 1948 sold his estate, and evidently Bore down, in portions. In
2001 part of Bore down lay in the park of
Compton Bassett House and belonged to Mr.
P. Cripps, part lay in Upper farm, Cherhill,
and belonged to members of the Pickford family, and most lay in West Nolands farm,
Compton Bassett, and belonged to Mrs. S.
Summers. (fn. 78)
Three crofts in Quemerford were granted by
Bartholomew of Quemerford to Pershore abbey
(Worcs.) in the early 1230s. (fn. 79) The abbey is not
known to have held land there later.
Before the Conquest and in 1086 the land of
STOCK was almost certainly part of the king's
estate called Calne. Some of it was probably
granted to Fulk de Cauntelo c. 1199 with the
rump of that estate, (fn. 80) and land in Stock descended with Calne and Calstone manors and
from 1763 with Bowood House. (fn. 81) In 1728 the
land, 78 a., lay as Hollow (later Holly) Ditch
farm and a farm with buildings on the west side
of the Calne-Devizes road near Quobbs Farm. (fn. 82)
As part of the Bowood estate the land of those
two farms, and other land at Stock, a total of c.
350 a., belonged to Charles, marquess of
Lansdowne, in 1999. (fn. 83)
An estate in Stock, almost certainly granted
away from his estate at Calne after 1086 by the
king, was held by Everard of Calne and was
afterwards confirmed by the Empress Maud to
Humphrey de Bohun in 1144. (fn. 84) It was presumably that held in chief for ½ knight's fee by
Andrew of Stock in 1242-3, (fn. 85) and was possibly
held by Herbert of Stock in 1256. (fn. 86) Andrew's
estate, later called STOCK manor, was held in
1275 by Thomas de St. Vigeur and of Thomas
by Henry de Montfort; (fn. 87) it is not known that
either Henry or his heirs had an interest in the
estate later. From Thomas (d. c. 1295) the estate passed to his son Thomas de St. Vigeur, (fn. 88)
who conveyed it to Adam of Stock (d. c. 1313)
and Adam's wife Gena (d. c. 1335) and son
Patrick. A third of the estate was held for life by
Maud (fl. 1335), the relict of, presumably the
elder, Thomas de St. Vigeur; c. 1313 the two
thirds, and the reversion of the rest, passed to
Gena, who married Robert Hungerford, and c.
1335 to Adam's grandson Edward Stock (fn. 89) (d.
1361). Edward's heir was his son John, (fn. 90) at
whose death in 1376 his lands were divided between his aunt Margaret Stock, the wife of
John Weston, and his cousin Nicholas Danvers
(d. by 1387), a chaplain. Nicholas's moiety reverted to Margaret (d. 1413), who settled the
estate on herself for life with remainder to her
daughter Margaret and Margaret's husband
John Cumberwell. (fn. 91) Under a settlement of 1415
the estate passed on John's death in 1427 to the
remaindermen William Wykewyke, William
Hull, and John Hull, (fn. 92) who jointly conveyed it
to Thomas Poyntz and his wife Joan in 1437. (fn. 93)
What may have been the same estate and was
called the manor of Stock and Stockley may
have been held in 1499 by Thomas Long
(knighted 1501, d. 1508), and c. 1530 was held
by his son Sir Henry Long (d. 1556). (fn. 94) Sir
Henry was succeeded by his son Sir Robert (d.
1581) (fn. 95) and he by his son Sir Walter, who in
1587 sold the estate to George Mortimer. (fn. 96) By
1605 the estate had passed to Andrew
Mortimer (will proved 1611), who devised what
was called Stock manor to his wife Lucy for
life and to his nephews Andrew Mortimer and
Anthony Mortimer, rector of Binegar (Som.). (fn. 97)
Andrew and Anthony may have sold that estate
to Alexander Staples, on whose death in 1633 it
passed from him to his son Samuel (fn. 98) (fl. 1685). (fn. 99)
The precise content and later descent of
Samuel Staples's estate is uncertain and, besides what descended with Calne and Calstone
manors, (fn. 1) the land of Stock lay in about seven
freehold farms in 1728. (fn. 2) The earlier a separate
descent of a farm is known to have started, the
less likely is the farm to have been part of Stock
manor, and the more likely to have been one of
the estates apparently granted piecemeal out of
the king's estate called Calne or out of Calne
manor. (fn. 3)
What became Stock Street farm was held in
the late 14th century by Sir John Roches (d.
1400) and his wife William (d. 1410). (fn. 4) It apparently descended in the Beauchamp and Baynton
families like the estate later called Nuthill
farm, (fn. 5) and in 1728 Stock Street farm, 39 a., belonged, as Nuthill farm did, to Lucy Baynton. (fn. 6)
It passed from Lucy to a Mr. Baynton, possibly
her son, and, between 1771 and 1774 and presumably by sale, from a Mr. Baynton to
Thomas Singer; from c. 1799 to c. 1816 it belonged to Richard Singer. It passed to Richard
Seager, who apparently sold it to George
Gundry c. 1823-4. (fn. 7) In 1837 Gundry sold the
farm, 49 a. in 1843, to Robert Henley. It was
apparently bought in 1889 by John Dickson
Poynder (cr. Baron Islington 1910), who owned
it in 1910 and sold it c. 1914 to W. N. Perrett. (fn. 8)
In 1937 J. and W. Perrett offered it for sale, (fn. 9)
and in 1967 it was bought from T. E. Dolman by
Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice, earl of Shelburne, (fn. 10)
who, as marquess of Lansdowne, owned its land
in 1999. (fn. 11)
Land at Stock was held at his death in 1504
by John Blake, (fn. 12) the owner of Pinhills, and was
probably the land there which in 1560 his
grandnephew Thomas Blake conveyed with an
estate at Quemerford to Henry Chivers. (fn. 13) The
land at Stock, 112 a. in 1728, (fn. 14) descended in the
Chivers family with that at Quemerford. (fn. 15)
Daniel Bull bought some of it, presumably
from Henry Vince, c. 1755 (fn. 16) and the rest from
Vince's trustees in 1758-9. (fn. 17) In 1790 he sold it
all to William Petty, marquess of Lansdowne
(d. 1805), (fn. 18) who in 1802 settled it with other
land on his son Henry, marquess of Lansdowne
from 1809. (fn. 19) In 1808 the land was offered for
sale by order of Chancery. It was bought by
John Merewether, who c. 1817-18 sold it to
Thomas Poynder (d. 1856). (fn. 20) As Rookery farm,
158 a. in 1843 including Stock Orchard farm, (fn. 21)
it thereafter descended with Hilmarton manor
and Upper Whitley farm in the Poynder family
and was sold by John Dickson Poynder, Lord
Islington, c. 1914. (fn. 22) In 1919 Rookery farm was
bought by Jane Woodward and in 1931 was
again offered for sale. In 1931 or later the farm
was acquired by G. R. Bodman, who in 1962
sold 111 a., the whole farm except the farmhouse. In 1999 Charles, marquess of Lansdowne,
owned c. 55 a. of it. (fn. 23)
Quobbs farm originated in the earlier 17th
century. Two closes called Quobbs, 18 a., were
sold by John Woodroffe to Andrew Mortimer
(will proved 1611), who held two other closes so
called, 32 a., possibly as part of Stock manor.
Andrew devised all four closes, subject to temporary tenures, to his nephews Andrew and
Anthony Mortimer, in 1631 Andrew and Anthony sold them to their brother George
Mortimer, (fn. 24) and in 1641 George sold them to
Robert Chivers as part of a 58-a. holding on
which a house had recently been built. (fn. 25) Robert
Chivers (d. 1646-7) devised Quobbs farm,
charged with annuities devised to his sisters by
his father Henry Chivers (fl. 1639), to his
brother Seacole Chivers. (fn. 26) By 1660 the farm
had passed to Robert's sister Mary, the relict of
Walter Norborne (d. 1659), (fn. 27) the lord of
Hilmarton manor. It descended with the manor
to her son Walter Norborne (d. 1684), whose
relict Frances Norborne held it, 127 a., in 1728.
Quobbs farm passed to Walter's daughter
Elizabeth Norborne (d. 1742), the wife of Edward Devereux, Viscount Hereford (d. 1700),
and of John Symes Berkeley (d. 1736), and with
Hilmarton manor descended in turn to
Elizabeth's son Norborne Berkeley, from 1764
Lord Botetourt (d. 1770), and daughter Elizabeth Berkeley (d. 1799), the wife of Charles
Somerset, duke of Beaufort (d. 1756).
Elizabeth's heir was her son Henry Somerset,
duke of Beaufort (d. 1803), (fn. 28) who in 1799 sold
the farm, 84 a., to Samuel Viveash, a clothier of
Calne. (fn. 29) In 1837 Viveash sold it to Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, (fn. 30) who added it to his other
land at Stock. (fn. 31)
In 1699 the land of Knight's Marsh farm
may have belonged to John Mitchell, the owner
of Blunt's estate in Calstone. (fn. 32) The farm, 49 a.,
belonged to a John Mitchell in 1728, (fn. 33) and to a
Mrs. Mitchell in 1732. It passed to Mitchell
Newman (will proved 1755), who devised it to
his son Mitchell, and it descended in the
Newman family. (fn. 34) In 1843, 75 a., it was held by
the executors of Edward Newman. (fn. 35) Its descent
has not been traced further.
Rough Leaze farm, 30 a., belonged in 1728 to
John Burchel. (fn. 36) About 1754-5 it was bought
from a Mr. Burchel by Daniel Bull, who sold it
in 1770 to William, earl of Shelburne. (fn. 37) Lord
Shelburne added it to his other land at Stock. (fn. 38)
Stock Orchard farm, 46 a., belonged to Anne
Scott in 1728. (fn. 39) It passed from her to a Mr.
Scott c. 1732-3 (fn. 40) and from him and presumably
by sale to George Button c. 1734-5. In 1751
Button sold the farm to Edmund Pitts, whose
son Edmund sold it in 1781 to John Bleadon. (fn. 41)
Bleadon owned the farm until c. 1819 and was
probably John Bleadon (will proved 1819) of
Ipswich (Suffolk), an executor of whom was
Thomas Poynder. From c. 1822-3 Poynder
owned the farm, (fn. 42) which was part of Rookery
farm from 1843 or earlier. (fn. 43)
In 1728 the farm later called Mile Elm, 20 a.,
belonged to John Aishley. (fn. 44) About 1779-80 it
was bought from him or a namesake by William Money, (fn. 45) from 1785 the lord of Whetham
manor, and it has since belonged to the owners
of Whetham House. (fn. 46)
In 1256 Andrew of Stretton and his wife
Beatrice gave 20 a. at Stock to the hospital of
St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony at Calne.
The land apparently remained part of the
hospital's endowment at the Dissolution. (fn. 47)
Before the Conquest and in 1086 the land of
STOCKLEY was almost certainly part of the
king's estate called Calne. Some or all of it was
probably granted to Fulk de Cauntelo c. 1199
with the rump of that estate, (fn. 48) and land in
Stockley descended with Calne and Calstone
manors and from 1763 with Bowood House. (fn. 49)
In 1728 Calne and Calstone manor included six
farms at Stockley with a total of c. 180 a. (fn. 50) That
land descended with Bowood House until 2001,
when Charles, marquess of Lansdowne, sold
most of it, mainly lying south of the Stockley
Green to Broad's Green lane, to Mr. N. R.
Cole. (fn. 51) Other land at Stockley may have been
granted piecemeal out of the king's estate or out
of Calne manor. (fn. 52)
From the earlier 15th century land at
Stockley apparently descended as part of the
estate which came to be called the manor of
Stock and Stockley. (fn. 53) Andrew Mortimer (will
proved 1611), who held that estate, devised
what was called Stockley manor to his father
George and brother Ambrose. (fn. 54) In 1633
Ambrose sold the estate at Stockley, apparently
no more than the farm later called Scott's, to
Alexander Staples (d. 1633). It descended to
Alexander's son Samuel, who in 1685 sold it to
Richard Phelps alias Bromham. The farm later
called Scott's, 78 a. in 1728, passed before then
to John Phelps (fn. 55) (d. 1731) and afterwards to his
son Richard Phelps, whose heirs were his sisters Mary, the wife of John Phelps, Elizabeth,
the wife of the Revd. John Taylor, Joanna, the
wife of Richard Tuckey, and Eleanor (d. by
1756), the wife of John Savage. In 1756 the surviving sisters and John Savage sold the farm to
Daniel Bull. (fn. 56) In 1770 Bull sold it to William,
earl of Shelburne, (fn. 57) who added it to his other
land at Stockley. Most of the land of Scott's
farm was part of the Bowood estate in 2001. (fn. 58)
A pasture at Stockley called Tossels, later
Tossels farm, belonged in 1659 to Edward
Hungerford, the lord of Studley manor, (fn. 59) who
in 1665 settled it on the marriage of his son Sir
George and Frances Seymour. (fn. 60) About 1680 Sir
George evidently sold Scrope farm in Froxfield
to Sir James Long, Bt. (d. 1692). Scrope farm,
and almost certainly Tossels farm, apparently
passed with Draycot Cerne manor in turn to
Sir James's grandsons Sir Robert Long, Bt. (d.
1692), Sir Giles Long, Bt. (d. 1697), and Sir
James Long, Bt. (d. 1729), (fn. 61) who owned
Tossels farm, 69 a., in 1728. (fn. 62) Sir James devised
the farm to his wife Henrietta (d. 1765), who
devised it to their grandson Charles Long (d.
1783). It was held by Charles's relict Hannah,
the wife of James Dawkins, and passed to his
daughter Emma, the wife of William Scrope; (fn. 63)
in 1843 Scrope owned it as a 76-a. farm. (fn. 64) The
farm was bought by a Poynder, descended with
Hilmarton manor and Upper Whitley farm,
and was sold by Lord Islington c. 1914. (fn. 65) In
1920 J. P. Garland sold it to F. J. Freeth (fn. 66) (d.
1964), and in 1964 it was bought by Charles,
earl of Shelburne (marquess of Lansdowne
from 1999), who added it to his other land at
Stockley and retained it in 2001. (fn. 67)
In 1336 Robert Hungerford was licensed to
grant land said to be at Stock but almost certainly at Stockley to the hospital of St. John the
Baptist and St. Anthony at Calne to provide a
chantry chaplain in Calne church. (fn. 68) In 1442 the
chantry was united to St. Mary's chantry in
Heytesbury church, (fn. 69) and apparently from then
its endowment was transferred from the hospital
at Calne to support a hospital and a school at
Heytesbury. The endowment was apparently
settled on Heytesbury hospital in 1472, (fn. 70) and in
1728 that hospital owned a 44-a. farm with
buildings at what was later called Stockley
Green. (fn. 71) In 1962 the hospital sold 32 a. to
George, marquess of Lansdowne, and 26 a. of
that land remained part of the Bowood estate in
2001. Heytesbury hospital sold its other land at
Stockley in 1961 and 1962. (fn. 72)
In 1494 Sir Richard Beauchamp, Lord St.
Amand, and his wife Anne were licensed to give
land accounted c. 80 a. at Stockley to the
Tocotes chantry in Bromham church. (fn. 73) Land at
Stockley was among the endowments of the
chantry concealed from the Crown at the Dissolution and granted to Edward Carey in
1564. (fn. 74) Its later descent has not been traced.
In 1728 a 30-a. farm with buildings at
Stockley Green was held by Henry Hungerford (fn. 75) and in 1732 and until c. 1748-9 by a Mrs.
Hungerford. From c. 1748-9 the farm apparently belonged to Walter Hungerford, (fn. 76) the lord
of Studley manor, and it afterwards descended
with Studley manor in the Hungerford, Crewe,
and Milnes families (fn. 77) and to Raymond O'Neill,
Lord O'Neill, who sold it in 1961. Most of
the farm was bought from Lord O'Neill by
George, marquess of Lansdowne, (fn. 78) and some of
its land remained part of the Bowood estate in
2001. (fn. 79)
In 1728, besides those which were part of
Calne and Calstone manor, and Scott's, Tossels,
Heytesbury hospital's, and Henry Hungerford's,
there were about six farms at Stockley with a
total of c. 225 a. The largest, Broad's Green
farm, 65 a., then belonged to Mary Scott. (fn. 80) It
descended in the Scott family and in the late
18th century and early 19th in the Bailey family. (fn. 81) In 1840 it was bought from a Miss Bailey
by Henry, marquess of Lansdowne. (fn. 82) Most of
its land remained part of the Bowood estate
until 2001, when, with other land at Stockley, it
was sold to Mr. N. R. Cole. The descent of the
other farms has not been traced. In 2001, after
the sale to Mr. Cole, Charles, marquess of
Lansdowne, owned c. 200 a. of Stockley's
land. (fn. 83)
The land of Studley was probably assarted
from Chippenham forest. (fn. 84) About 1230
STUDLEY manor was possibly held by
Alexander of Studley, (fn. 85) and in 1240 and 1242-3
it was held by Alexander's son Roger. In 1242-
3 the overlords were said to be the heirs of John
le Scot, earl of Chester (d. 1237), and the mesne
lord Margery Marshal, suo jure countess of
Warwick: (fn. 86) no later earl of Chester or heir of
Margery is known to have had an interest in the
manor. In 1243 the manor was probably held
by Ellis of Studley (fn. 87) and c. 1280 was held by
Alexander of Studley. (fn. 88) In 1296 it was settled
by John, son of Roger of Studley, on Laurence
of Studley and Laurence's wife Anne in tail, (fn. 89)
and in 1341 it was settled by John Studley and
his wife Alice on themselves for life with successive remainder to that John's sons Ralph,
Geoffrey, and Nicholas. (fn. 90) Another John Studley
possibly held the manor in 1405, (fn. 91) and Walter
Studley (fl. 1419) held it in 1407. (fn. 92) By 1421 the
manor had passed to Alice (d. c. 1457), the
daughter of John Studley and the wife of Thomas Cricklade. On Alice's death it passed to her
grandson John Cricklade. (fn. 93)
In 1468 John Cricklade sold Studley manor
to his brother-in-law Edward Hungerford, (fn. 94)
whose title was disputed c. 1470 by John
Cricklade, John Cricklade's uncle and feoffee,
and in the earlier 16th century by other descendants of Thomas Cricklade. (fn. 95) Hungerford (will
proved 1507) retained the manor. It descended
with Great Durnford manor in the direct line
to Robert (d. 1517), Robert (will proved 1558),
Walter (d. 1601), John (d. 1636), Edward (d.
1667), Sir George (d. 1712), and Walter
Hungerford (d. 1754). (fn. 96) Under Walter's will it
passed to his nephew George Hungerford (d.
s.p. 1764), whose relict Elizabeth held Studley
House and Norley farm, c. 60 a., for life, and in
turn to Walter's grandnephews Lumley Keate
(d. s.p. 1766), who took the surname Hungerford, and John Luttrell. (fn. 97) By 1770 the part of
the manor not held by Elizabeth Hungerford
had passed, perhaps by sale or exchange, to
George Walker (d. by 1792), the husband of
Lumley's sister Henrietta Keate (d. 1803);
George also took the surname Hungerford. On
Henrietta's death that part of the manor passed
to her daughter Henrietta Hungerford (d.
1820), (fn. 98) from 1807 the wife of John Crewe
(Lord Crewe from 1829, d. 1835). (fn. 99) In 1777
Luttrell sold Studley House and Norley farm,
and Elizabeth Hungerford surrendered her life
interest, to William Petty, earl of Shelburne. (fn. 1)
The house and the farm descended to Lord
Shelburne's son John, marquess of Lansdowne,
who sold them to Henrietta Hungerford in
1807. (fn. 2) Henrietta's heir was her son Hungerford
Crewe (Lord Crewe from 1835), (fn. 3) who in 1843
held c. 175 a. at Studley and c. 545 a. elsewhere
in Calne parish. (fn. 4) Studley manor passed from
Lord Crewe (d. 1893) to his nephew Robert
Milnes, Lord Houghton (from 1894 Robert
Crewe-Milnes, cr. earl of Crewe 1895, cr.
marquess of Crewe 1911, d. 1945), and from
Robert to his great-grandson Raymond O'Neill,
Lord O'Neill, who in 1996 owned c. 475 a. in
Calne Without parish including c. 160 a. at
Studley. (fn. 5)
Roger of Studley had a manor house at
Studley in 1240. (fn. 6) Studley House, north of
Norley Lane and probably on the same site,
was a manor house lived in by members of the
Hungerford family in the 18th century. (fn. 7) It
stood in a small park, and a formal garden and a
canal, presumably ornamental, lay east of it. (fn. 8)
The house was replaced by a farmhouse,
Studley House Farm, probably between 1773
and 1800. (fn. 9)
A small estate in Studley was probably held
by John Norborne in 1596, (fn. 10) and was held by
him in 1602 (fn. 11) and until his death in 1635. It
passed in turn to his son Humphrey (fn. 12) and
Humphrey's son William. In 1692 William and
his son Humphrey sold the estate, then consisting of a house and 75 a., to Benedict Browne. (fn. 13)
In 1728 Browne (d. 1737) owned c. 158 a. at
Studley including Rumsey's farm, 72 a., with
buildings south-east of Studley village and
south of the London-Bristol road, and a home
farm of 68 a. with buildings nearby north of
the road. The whole estate, later called
RUMSEY'S, passed in turn to Browne's sons
William (d. 1749) and Benedict (d. 1766) and
descended in the direct line to Benedict (d.
1786), who apparently took the surname
Angell, and Benedict Browne, who took the
surname Angell in 1800. From Angell (d. 1856)
Rumsey's passed to his son J. C. B. Angell (fn. 14) (d.
1878), whose son J. B. O. Angell (fn. 15) sold it to
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, marquess of Lansdowne, in 1912. (fn. 16) The estate thereafter descended
with Bowood House and, except Rumsey
House which was sold in 1981, belonged to
Charles, marquess of Lansdowne, in 1999. (fn. 17)
The house on Benedict Browne's home farm
in 1728 had formal gardens north and east of it
in 1773 (fn. 18) and was called Studley House in
1785. (fn. 19) The house on its site in 1996 was a
farmhouse, Rumsey Farm, in the 19th century. (fn. 20) It incorporates a 16th-century doorway
in a rear wing, incorporates a 17th-century
stone-mullioned window, and is mainly later
18th-century. Around the house there are outbuildings and walled enclosures including, to
the east, a walled garden with mid 18th-century
doorways and a clairvoyé. About 1800 Rumsey
House, of stone and with a main three-storeyed
north front, was built on or near the site of the
farmstead south of the London road for
Benedict Angell. (fn. 21) Soon afterwards a two-storeyed
block was built on the south, and north-south
wings, overlapping the south block, were added
on the east and west. In the later 19th century
the south block was extended eastwards and a
verandah was built along its south front. A
single-storeyed classical gatehouse and a stable
block of brick with ashlar dressings, both of c.
1800, stand beside the road.
A small estate called BUCKHILL may have
belonged to Robert Foreman in 1687, (fn. 22) and in
1728 a 21-a. estate there belonged to Arthur
Foreman. (fn. 23) The estate descended in the Foreman family and on the death of Rachel
Foreman and George Foreman in 1808 passed
to Ruth Foreman. About 1810-11 it was acquired by John Merewether, (fn. 24) presumably by
purchase, and in 1818 Merewether gave it to
Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, in an exchange. (fn. 25) The land has since belonged to the
owner of Bowood House. (fn. 26) Buckhill House
stood on the estate. It is a two-storeyed stone
house built in the late 18th century or early
19th on an L plan with a main three-bayed
north front and a mansard roof; rear wings
were added later.
A grove beside a road said to run between
Studley and Devizes, possibly at Studley, was
given to Stanley abbey in Bremhill by Reynold
de Paveley in the later 12th century, (fn. 27) and a
meadow possibly at Studley had been given to
the abbey by Robert Norman by 1230. (fn. 28) At the
Dissolution the abbey was said to receive £4 2s.
4d. from its lands at Studley, (fn. 29) a statement
which is inexplicable because there is no evidence
that other land had been acquired. The rent
from 2 a. at Studley was given to Bradenstoke
priory in Lyneham by William de Chinnok in
the early 13th century (fn. 30) and may have been kept
by the priory until the Dissolution. (fn. 31) Bicester
priory (Oxon.) had acquired a rent from land at
Studley by 1421, probably by 1405; (fn. 32) at the
Dissolution its claims to a rent of 7s. from a
tenement at Studley were disputed by the lord
of Studley manor. (fn. 33)
The great tithes from the demesne of
Studley manor were confirmed to Kington St.
Michael priory in 1243, when the treasurer of
Salisbury cathedral, the owner of the other
great tithes arising in Calne parish, resigned his
claim to them in return for 2 lb. wax to be paid
to him by the priory. (fn. 34) A site at Studley on
which the nuns had built a grange was given to
the priory by Alexander of Studley c. 1280. (fn. 35) At
the Dissolution the tithes passed from the
priory to the Crown and in 1538 were granted
to Sir Richard Long (fn. 36) (d. 1546). They descended to Sir Richard's son Henry (d. 1573)
and to Henry's daughter Elizabeth (d. 1611),
the wife of Sir William Russell (cr. Lord
Russell 1603, d. 1613). In 1598 the title to the
tithes of Studley farm was disputed between
the Russells and the tenant of the farm, John
Norborne, who claimed to hold the tithes by a
lease from the treasurer, (fn. 37) and in the earlier
19th century the only owners of tithes from
Studley were the treasurer and the vicar of
Calne. (fn. 38) The Russells' right or claim to the
tithes may later have been acquired by a lord of
Studley manor, and it may have been represented by the exemption from tithes which in
1728 the lord of the manor enjoyed in respect of
part of his farm called Berhill. (fn. 39) The exemption
was not recognized in the earlier 19th century. (fn. 40)
The land of Whetham was probably assarted
from Chippenham forest. (fn. 41)
WHETHAM
manor may have been held by Richard de
Fynemore and was probably held in the 1230s
by his son William. (fn. 42) In the 1270s it was held
by Gilbert de Fynemore and his son Geoffrey, (fn. 43)
in the 1320s by Gilbert de Fynemore (fl. 1332)
and his son John (fl. 1344). (fn. 44) In 1384 the manor
was settled on William Fynemore and his wife
Agnes, (fn. 45) who were living in 1409. (fn. 46) It apparently passed to William Fynemore (fl. 1424), (fn. 47)
whose relict Margery had an interest in it in
1440, (fn. 48) and in 1436 it was settled on John
Fynemore and his wife Joan. (fn. 49) In 1465 the
manor was settled on Roger Fynemore (fn. 50) (d.
1502), who was succeeded by his son Richard (fn. 51)
(d. 1522). It passed to Richard's brother
Walter (fn. 52) (d. 1557), (fn. 53) whose title was unsuccessfully contested by his brother Thomas, (fn. 54) and to
Walter's son Roger Fynemore (d. 1574 or
1575). (fn. 55) Roger's heir was his daughter Mary (d.
by 1587), the wife of Michael Ernle (d. 1594),
and hers was her son Sir John Ernle (d. 1648).
Sir John was succeeded by his son John (d.
1685), he by his son Sir John Ernle (d. 1697), (fn. 56)
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1676-89, (fn. 57) and
he by his grandson John Kyrle Ernle (d.
1725), whose heir was his daughter Constantia,
the wife of Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin
(from 1758 earl of Kinnoull, d. 1787). On
Constantia's death in 1753 Whetham manor
passed, despite a claim to it by her relict husband, to her kinsman James Money (d. 1785).
It passed in turn to James's son William (d.
1808) (fn. 58) and William's son James (from 1809
James Money-Kyrle, cr. a baronet 1838, d.
1843), (fn. 59) who in 1843 owned 453 a. at Whetham
and elsewhere in the south-west corner of
Calne parish. (fn. 60) On Sir James's death the manor
passed to his brother the Revd. William
Money-Kyrle (d. 1848), and it passed in turn to
that William's sons William (d. 1868) and John
(d. 1894), to John's son Audley Money-Kyrle
(d. 1908), and to Audley's son Roger (fn. 61) (d.
1980). (fn. 62) In 2001 the estate was owned by
Whetham Estates Ltd. on behalf of the MoneyKyrle family. (fn. 63)
William Fynemore had a house at Whetham
in which an oratory was licensed in 1409. (fn. 64) In
the 17th century Whetham House was built on
the manor and probably on the site of
Fynemore's house. It is of limestone rubble and
consists of four single-pile ranges of two storeys
and attics enclosing a central courtyard. In 1728
it had an L plan, and three smaller buildings
stood east of it. (fn. 65) The oldest surviving part of
the house is apparently the west range, which
was standing in the later 17th century, may incorporate earlier fabric, and on its west front
has mullioned and transomed cross windows
and a reset armorial panel. The main, south,
range, to which the west range became a wing,
was probably built in the 1680s or 1690s (fn. 66) and
possibly for Sir John Ernle, who had a large
house at Whetham at his death in 1697. (fn. 67) It was
probably of five bays and was later of six. Its
south front had two principal storeys divided
by band courses and had two gables; there were
cross windows in the principal storeys and mullioned windows in the gables. The two south
ground-floor rooms contain a chimneypiece of
the late 17th century in situ and reset panelling
and doors of that date. The sixth, entrance, bay
was apparently added in the early 18th century
and contained a staircase hall. The entrance
doorway had a segmental pediment, the scar of
which survives, and a large sashed window on
the first floor. A north range, projecting west by
a bay to match the entrance bay, had been built
by c. 1800. As part of alterations of c. 1800 a
new staircase hall was made at the south end of
the west range, the staircase was moved to it,
and rooms were added in the angle of the L; (fn. 68)
the staircase was replaced in the late 19th century by another in late 17th-century style. In
the earlier 19th century battlements, a onebayed, single-storeyed, west block, and a porch
at the west end may have been added to the
south front; (fn. 69) if so they have been removed.
Later in the 19th century hoodmoulds were
added to the windows of the south front; the
windows were replaced, perhaps in the early
20th century when a two-storeyed gabled wing
was built at the west end of the south range and
a south porch was built or rebuilt. Also in the
early 20th century the west front of the west
range was apparently refaced and the north
range was altered and extended eastwards.
Slightly later a north addition at the east end of
the south range was extended northwards to
meet the north range and thus enclose the central courtyard.
In 1728 Whetham House stood in extensive
formal gardens laid out in the late 17th century
or early 18th on an undulating site. (fn. 70) Immediately around it lay a south entrance court, west
and north gardens, and a north-east court apparently a service court associated with the
three buildings which then stood near the
house. East of the house a north-south body of
water, which had been formed by damming the
Whetham stream, served as both an ornamental
lake for the house and as a pond for the mill at
its north end. (fn. 71) An axial walk led north and
south of the house. To the north it lay parallel
to the Whetham stream, passed through woodland and crossed the waters of a south-west to
north-east tributary, (fn. 72) and rose to end at a circular grove. West of the house the tributary was
dammed in two places to make ponds, and from
the south-western pond, north of which there
was a vineyard, a water carriage took the water
north-west of the natural stream to other
ponds. North-west of the house the carriage fed
waterworks, at the top of which lay a pond
partly enclosed by a building with ranges forming three attached sides of a hexagon. From
that pond water fell through woodland in canals
or over water stairs to a pond on the axial walk
and to the Whetham stream. South of the house
the axial walk led through woodland to a park
of c. 75 a. It entered a long rectangular enclosure, and there was a geometrical figure of 5 a.
called the Ring which was presumably marked
out by lines of trees. Linking the long enclosure
and the Ring there was 4½ a. of other ponds
and gardens. The formal garden west of the
house survived until the early 19th century or
later. (fn. 73) The axial walk south of the house was
crossed by the turnpike road built in 1790-1, (fn. 74)
by 1843 the building partly enclosing the pond
north of the house had been demolished, (fn. 75) and
in 2001 the axial walk north of the house, and
the ponds, water carriage, and canals or water
stairs fed by the tributary stream, were overgrown.
Part of Whetham manor at Cuff's Corner, 45
a. and a farmstead, was given in 1909 by Roger
Money-Kyrle to Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, marquess of Lansdowne, in exchange for land at
Cowage. (fn. 76) The land belonged to Charles, marquess of Lansdowne, in 1999. (fn. 77)
In the later 14th century land called
NUSTERLY, 33 a. on the west bank of the
Whetham stream, north of Whetham manor,
and probably assarted from Chippenham forest, may have belonged to the lord of Studley
manor, as it did in the mid or later 17th century. (fn. 78) It descended with the manor until 1765,
when Lumley Keate sold it to William, earl of
Shelburne. The land was taken into the park of
Bowood House, was afterwards called Clark's
hill and Wires plain, (fn. 79) and in 1999 belonged to
Charles, marquess of Lansdowne. (fn. 80)
In the late 14th century land lying northwest of Whetham manor, probably assarted
from Chippenham forest, and later called
Nuttall's or NUTHILL farm, was held by Sir
John Roches (d. 1400), who also held adjoining
or nearby land at Chittoe, then in Bishop's
Cannings parish. (fn. 81) Sir John's estate was held
for life by his relict William, at whose death in
1410 his heirs were his daughters Elizabeth, the
wife of (Sir) Walter Beauchamp (d. 1430), and
his grandson (Sir) John Baynton. (fn. 82) What became Nuthill farm was apparently assigned to
Elizabeth, (fn. 83) presumably passed to her son Sir
William Beauchamp (from 1449 Lord St.
Amand, d. 1457), and may have been held by
Sir William's relict Elizabeth, Baroness St.
Amand (d. 1491), who married Sir Roger
Tocotes. It passed to Sir William's son Sir
Richard Beauchamp (Lord St. Amand from
1491), (fn. 84) on whose death in 1508 it probably reverted, with Roches manor in Bromham, to Sir
John Baynton's grandson John Baynton (fn. 85) (d.
1516). The younger Baynton was succeeded by
his son Sir Edward (d. 1544), and what became
Nuthill farm presumably descended with
Bromham Battle manor and other estates in
turn to Sir Edward's sons Andrew (d. 1566)
and Sir Edward (d. 1599) and in the direct line
to Sir Henry Baynton (d. 1616), Sir Edward (d.
1657), and Sir Edward (d. 1679). It was presumably settled on the marriage of the youngest
Sir Edward's daughter Lucy and Edward
Baynton, (fn. 86) and in 1728, after Edward's death,
Lucy held the farm, 113 a. and a farmstead near
Sandy Lane. (fn. 87) About 1739 the farm was
bought, probably from a son of Lucy, by Ralph
Broome (fn. 88) (d. 1768), who devised it to his son
Ralph (fn. 89) (d. c. 1805). It may have been held for
life by the younger Ralph's relict, and it passed
to his nephew R. P. Broome (d. 1836), whose
relict Maria Broome held it in 1843. (fn. 90) Nuthill
farm passed to R. P. Broome's nephew C. E.
Broome, who probably sold it in 1860 to C. H.
Wyndham (d. 1891) of Wans House near Sandy
Lane. (fn. 91) In 1892 Wyndham's trustees sold it to
Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, (fn. 92) and the land
has since belonged to successive marquesses of
Lansdowne as part of their Bowood estate. (fn. 93)
In 1494 Richard, Lord St. Amand, and his
wife Anne were licensed to give 11 a. at
Whetham to the Tocotes chantry in Bromham
church with the land at Stockley which they
gave to it. (fn. 94) It is not clear whether the chantry
held the land at the Dissolution. (fn. 95)
What was later WHITLEY manor, assessed
at 1 hide, was held by Appe in 1066 and by
Gunfrid Mauduit in 1086. (fn. 96) It probably descended in the Mauduit family with Little
Somerford manor and the estate in Calstone
later called Blunt's, (fn. 97) and in 1242-3 it was held
by John Mauduit as tenant in demesne. (fn. 98)
The overlord of Whitley in 1242-3 was
Baldwin de Reviers, earl of Devon and lord of
the Isle of Wight. (fn. 99) The overlordship descended with the overlordship of Blunt's. (fn. 1)
In 1254 John Mauduit was granted free warren in his demesne at Whitley; (fn. 2) he was possibly
the Sir John Mauduit who died seised of Whitley in 1302. Sir John was succeeded by his
nephew John Mauduit (knighted 1306, d. 1347), (fn. 3)
who was granted free warren in his demesne at
Whitley in 1345. (fn. 4) Whitley manor was held for
life by the younger Sir John's relict Agnes (d.
1369), the wife of Thomas Bradeston, Lord
Bradeston, and passed to that Sir John's grandson Sir William Moleyns (fn. 5) (d. 1381). It
descended in the direct line to Sir Richard (fn. 6) (d.
1384), Sir William (fn. 7) (d. 1425), and Sir William
Moleyns (fn. 8) (d. 1429), who granted it to his
mother Margery Moleyns (d. 1439) for her life.
In 1439 the manor reverted to Eleanor (fn. 9) (d.
1476), the daughter of Sir William (d. 1429)
and from 1440 or earlier the wife of Sir Robert
Hungerford, Lord Hungerford and Moleyns
(d. 1464). It was among lands conveyed to
trustees by Robert and Eleanor in 1460 to raise
money to ransom him from Aquitaine, but was
held by Eleanor and Sir Oliver Manningham,
her husband, in 1472. (fn. 10) It probably descended
like Little Somerford manor, which was apparently held for life by Sir Oliver (d. 1499),
reverted to Eleanor's granddaughter Mary
Hungerford, suo jure Baroness Botreaux, Hungerford, and Moleyns (d. c. 1533), the wife of
Edward Hastings, Lord Hastings (d. 1506) and
Sir Richard Sacheverell (d. 1534), and passed
to Mary's son George Hastings, Lord Hastings
(cr. earl of Huntingdon 1529, d. 1544), and
George's son Francis, earl of Huntingdon (d.
1560). (fn. 11) In 1568 Francis's son Henry, earl of
Huntingdon, sold Whitley manor to William
Jordan (fn. 12) (d. 1602). It descended from Jordan to
his son Sir William (fn. 13) (d. 1624) and to Sir
William's son William. (fn. 14) The descent between
1624 and 1728 is obscure.
In 1728 Whitley manor, then c. 475 a. and
consisting of Upper Whitley farm and Lower
Whitley farm, was held by William Infield or
Enfield, (fn. 15) and from c. 1736-7 was held by a
Mrs. Enfield, (fn. 16) presumably his relict. It passed
in 1739, presumably by purchase, to Thomas
ApReece and c. 1750-1, again presumably by
purchase, from ApReece to John Delmé (fn. 17) (d.
1768), whose heir was his brother Peter. On
Peter's death in 1789 the manor descended to
his son John Delmé (of age from 1793), from
whom it was acquired, c. 1794 and presumably
by purchase, by Henry Stiles (d. 1817), until
then the tenant. It passed to Robert Stiles, who
apparently sold Lower Whitley farm c. 1826 and
held Upper Whitley farm until 1833 or later. (fn. 18)
Upper Whitley (later Whitley) farm, 430 a.
in 1843 and 345 a. in 1911, was bought in or
after 1833 by Thomas Poynder (d. 1856), the
lord of Hilmarton manor. (fn. 19) It descended with
the manor and land elsewhere in Calne parish
in turn to Poynder's sons Thomas (d. 1873) and
William (d. 1880) and grandson John Dickson
(John Dickson Poynder from 1888, cr. Baron
Islington 1910). Lord Islington evidently sold
it c. 1914, as he did his land in Hilmarton and
elsewhere in Calne. (fn. 20) The farm was apparently
bought by C. H. F. Vines, (fn. 21) who after 1936 sold
most of it to W. E. Mowlem, the owner of
Lower Whitley farm and the tenant of Whitley
farm from 1936. Mowlem was succeeded by his
sons Mr. J. E. Mowlem and Mr. G. Mowlem,
who together owned both farms until 1995.
From 1995 and in 2001 Whitley farm, c. 145 a.,
belonged to Mr. G. Mowlem. (fn. 22)
Lower Whitley farm was acquired, apparently by purchase, by Nathan Atherton c.
1826. (fn. 23) In 1841 Atherton sold the farm, 137 a.,
to Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, (fn. 24) and it descended with Bowood House until 1919, when
Henry, marquess of Lansdowne, sold it to F.
G. Freeth. (fn. 25) On Freeth's death in 1928 it passed
to his relict Mrs. M. E. Freeth, and shortly after
1936 Mrs. Freeth sold it to W. E. Mowlem,
who afterwards bought Whitley farm. Lower
Whitley farm was owned with Whitley farm
until 1995, and from then and in 2001, c. 145 a.,
belonged to Mr. J. E. Mowlem. (fn. 26)
From 1650 or earlier a nominal 55 a. at
Whitley was part of Cowage farm based in
Compton Bassett (later Hilmarton) parish. The
land, later 60 a., descended as part of the
farm, (fn. 27) and, probably in the late 1930s, c. 125 a.
of Upper Whitley farm was bought by the
owner of Cowage farm. All the land, c. 185 a.,
remained part of Cowage farm in 2001, when it
belonged to Mr. B. A. Maynard and members
of his family. (fn. 28)