DOCUMENTS OF THE RALPH ALLEN ESTATE AND OTHER PAPERS
Edited by
Mike Chapman
With additional material by John Hawkes and Elizabeth Holland
Records of Bath History Vol.1
2008
Published by the Survey of Old Bath with assistance from B&NES Grants to Voluntary Societies
Records of Bath History:
Series Editors: Mike Chapman, Chairman, Survey of Old Bath Elizabeth Holland, Secretary, Survey of Old Bath
Vol.1, Documents of the Ralph Allen Estate and Other Papers, first published 2008
Published by the Survey of Old Bath – 16 Prior Park Buildings, Bath BA2 4NP
Graphics: Mike Chapman and John Hawkes Typesetting and Layout: Mike Chapman Printed in Great Britain by
Illustrations and text by John Hawkes copyright Mary Hawkes 2008 Illustrations and text by Mike Chapman and Elizabeth Holland copyright 2008
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Survey of Old Bath.
Printed by MLD, 105 Midford Road, Combe Down, Bath
ii
CONTENTS
Introduction Elizabeth Holland v
1. A Guide to the Estates of Ralph Allen around Bath Mike Chapman 1
2. Prior’s Park from the Dissolution to Ralph Allen John Hawkes 12
3. Interrogatories Longe Clk.v.Fisher 1656 15
4. Schedules to the Ralph Allen Estate, and Widcombe Vestry Survey 40
i. The Manor of Hampton – guide to the Ralph Allen map 41
ii. Widcombe and Combe – guide to the Ralph Allen map 46
iii. Vestry Survey 1737 56
5. The Ralph Allen Estate Map, the Missing Numbers. John Hawkes 65
6. Panorama based on Thomas Robins John Hawkes 67
7. Some of the Major Estates John Hawkes 68
8. Abstract of Ralph Allen Deeds 69
9. 1788 Account of Quit Rents 89
10. The Life of Richard Jones 94
Plan of Principal Boundaries Mike Chapman 101
Acknowledgements 102
Reading 102
Index John Wroughton 103
The map of Ralph Allen’s Estates (insert)
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iv
INTRODUCTION
Elizabeth Holland
Volumes of historical ‘Records’ usually concentrate on one complete document, such as someone’s diary, or one complete collection, as in the first volume produced by the Somerset Record Society which in 1923 published the Bath Chamberlain’s Accounts to 1603. In 1921 the Rev.Shickle also brought out the collection of Ancient Deeds belonging to Bath, ‘translated and epitomised’, in a volume ascribed to ‘The Bath Records Society in co-operation with the Bath City Council’.
Nothing else seems to be known of the ‘Bath Records Society’. 500 copies were printed and where circulated proved to be extremely useful, though there were some mistakes in transcription which occasionally misled people. 2-300 remaining copies were discovered by the present Archivist, Colin Johnston shortly after his arrival, in a dusty cupboard, bound but not gilded. They are available from the Archivist at £5 each.
Just short of a century later, the Survey of Old Bath is bringing out its first volume of Records of Bath History, again with support from the authority, this time Bath and North East Somerset Council, or B&NES. Most of the records presented are held in Bath Record Office; they comprise a selection of what the Record Office can offer rather than one complete collection.
In Ralph Allen’s time the outline of the ancient hunting park was well known, in fact there are references to the wall still surrounding it. Ralph Allen deliberately set out to purchase it and to set his house and garden within its bounds. Legend later on took over. However, when he was engaged in tracing the Ralph Allen Estate Map, Mike Chapman pointed out that the outline of the park could be clearly seen on it. He then wrote the Guide to the Estates of Ralph Allen around Bath, which was published by the Survey as a booklet, with the tracing of the map. This Guide, slightly revised, forms the opening chapter in this collection. The map is also republished, modified from the booklet of 1996, and re-orientated.
Mike Chapman touched on the medieval origins of the park in the Guide. John Hawkes then published in The Survey of Bath and District No.10, 1998, a study of the evolution of the park after the Dissolution, until the time when it was purchased by Ralph Allen. His essay forms the second chapter here.
The Bath Record Office’s copy of ‘Interrogatories’ in the court case of Longe v.Fisher follows. This case, which centres round the payment or non-payment of tithes in Widcombe and Lyncombe in the Interregnum, was part of the conflict between Royalists and Puritans in the Civil War and the Interregnum which Dr.John Wroughton has dealt with in his publications, such as A Community at War. It reveals how Widcombe and Lyncombe existed then as an appendage to Bath, with farms and market gardens existing to serve the city and its inns, with Aldermen and Mayors involved, and craftsmen such as weavers turning out to help with the harvest.
Three schedules bound together in one volume at the Record Office come next. Two belong to the Ralph Allen estate, Hampton (Bathampton), and Widcombe and Combe (Monkton Combe). Part of his Lyncombe holdings is omitted, and the Claverton schedule is missing. The third schedule is a Vestry Survey of 1737 for the church of St.Thomas à Becket.
There follows a transcript of a document from the Ralph Allen papers at the Record Office, an Abstract of Title to the Leasehold Estates of Ralph Allen, an example of what is available. The extent of Allen’s estates within Lyncombe and Widcombe can be seen in John Hawkes’s diagram based on the J.Charlton map, with the Bennet, Maltby and Magdalen estates as well. Also reprinted is his diagram of the missing v numbers on the Ralph Allen Estate map (which have been included in the new version of the map) and his panorama of some of the chief buildings, based on a drawing by Thomas Robins.
Ralph Allen’s will has already been published by Peach in The Life and Times of Ralph Allen, and its monetary provisions are summarised in Richard Jones’s Life, so it is not included in this collection. Some schedules of 1788 give examples of the sale of certain properties after Ralph Allen’s death.
The volume ends with The Life of Richard Jones. In his rather roundabout way, he tells who Ralph Allen was, how he came to Bath, how much money he made and how, and recounts some of his notable works. Richard Jones was Clerk of Works to Ralph Allen for many years. He laments the passing of his great and good master, and has some sharp things to say about the treatment of his property after his death. However other writers have suggested that without the income from Allen’s Post Office appointment, his mansion and grounds were too expensive to maintain, and the sales were a necessity.
As already indicated, there are many more documents which could be transcribed and published, both at Bath Record Office and Somerset Record Office, and elsewhere. They may one day throw some light on the relation between the Colles - Colthurst - John Hall- Kingston estate in Lyncombe and Widcombe, some of which was sold by the Duke of Kingston to Ralph Allen in 1744, and the Hugh Sexey Estate or Bruton Hospital, which inherited the Manor of Lyncombe and Widcombe from Hugh Sexey.
On the J.Charlton Map of 1799, published by the Survey in 1998, one can see lands like ‘Sidenham’ and the Hayes fields marked ‘Miss Allen’ and omitted from the brief Key on the map, which seems straightforward - one could presume that being part of the old Colthurst estate they were not under the Sexey Estate. This seems to be confirmed by the fact that in the sale of certain lands by the Duke of Kingston to Ralph Allen in 1744 (not transcribed here) ‘Odwood Down’ is described as being in the Parish or Lordship of Lyncombe and Widcombe, whereas Sidenham, the Hayes and other former Colthurst properties are referred to only as being in the Parish of Lyncombe and Widcombe.
However there are still the lands in the park, sold on in the late 16th century by the Colthursts as described by John Hawkes. In a letter of 1613 from Robert Chambers of Bath to Hugh Sexey (SRO), informing him of John Hall’s claims in Lyncombe and Widcombe, there is included, besides the pasture for 12 beasts in ‘the lawne’, the ‘Title to old parke parke lawne and Combe house’. The park was included in the sale agreement of 1612 from the Colthursts to John Hall. So why are some of these lands listed in the brief Key to the J.Charlton Map of 1799 as “Hp”, Lord Hawarden (Lord de Montalt), Fee Farm Estates, which presumably would pay the fee to Bruton, Hugh Sexey’s successor? In the Abstract of Title here published, the Lodge and its grounds within the park, also marked “Hp” on the map, are included as being leasehold. The ground rent of leasehold property is not the same as the reserved rent of a fee farm estate, sold in fee simple in perpetuity subject to a reserved rent.
The Charlton Map does contain a number of mistakes, particularly pointed out by John Hawkes and Allan Keevil. We instigated a search for the Bruton terrier but it could not be discovered, even though its existence is referred to in the 1940s. Without it, there was no ready answer to these problems.
The late John Hawkes was planning a compendium of the different studies which have been undertaken on the field structures of Lyncombe and Widcombe, involving the Survey of Old Bath, members of the Widcombe and Lyncombe History Study Group, and individuals such as Allan Keevil with his study of Barracks Farm, published in Bath History, Vol.VIII, 2000.
Had he been able to carry it through, he would obviously have solved this problem of the relation of different holdings to the lordship of the manor. It is hoped that someone else will come forward to undertake the task in his place.
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The transcripts published in this volume were done by the Editor, Mike Chapman. The Notes were written jointly by Mike Chapman and Elizabeth Holland. The transcripts have been edited slightly, adding some vi punctuation for greater clarity, some underlinings, noughts to the columns of numerals, omitting some minor headings, and so on, while aiming to keep as much of the original spelling as possible.
vii 1. A GUIDE TO THE ESTATES OF RALPH ALLEN AROUND BATH
based on his map held in the Bath Record Office, Accession 854, entitled:
A Survey of the Manours of Hampton, Claverton with Widcombe belonging to Ralph Allen Esqr.
The Guide was first published 1996 and is now revised
Mike Chapman
Ralph Allen’s Estates
In area, the mansion grounds of Prior Park occupied only a small corner of Ralph Allen’s extensive property outside the City of Bath. Allen’s management of these estates had a significant impact on the skyline surrounding the city and attracted much interest in his day. Not a great deal however is known about them, particularly concerning their previous history and appearance.
Ralph Allen’s first acquisitions outside Bath (he also had a town house in Abbey Green Street) were made between 1726-1728 in the parishes of Widcombe and Monkton Combe, including the stone quarrying rights on Combe Down and part of the grounds of the old Prior’s Park (the Poole estate, see the article by John Hawkes), all of which he expanded by further additions up to 1750. In 1742 he also purchased the manor and lordship of Bathampton from his brother-in-law, Charles Holder, followed in 1758 by Claverton manor bought from William Skrine. By his death in 1764, Allen owned an almost continuous block of land five miles in length and covering more than 3,000 acres. A detailed record of these estates survives on a contemporary hand-drawn map now kept in the Bath Record Office
The Map
Entitled A Survey of the Manours of Hampton, Claverton with Widcombe belonging to Ralph Allen Esqr., the map is about 6 foot square and drawn at a scale of approximately 1:3,200 (i.e. 4 chains/inch or 20 inches/mile, there is no scale line) sufficiently large to show such small details as field-gates and stiles, and for some reason is orientated to the south. The version here published has been re-orientated north. The City of Bath is included in the original map, and at the bottom are neat sketches drawn to scale in plan and elevation of the residential buildings, bridges and summerhouses belonging to the estate. The title is enclosed in an ornamental cartouche surmounted by Allen’s crest, a black Cornish chough. All these features suggest that the map was principally for display.
In detail, it appears to be a composite of several earlier maps made by more than one author from the 1740s up to the early 1760s. There are two compass points as well as signs that the anonymous draughtsman had difficulty in reconciling material drawn from different sources. The area of the City of Bath in particular can be shown to originate from John Wood’s plans of the 1740s, revised to include his later works such as the King’s Circus, begun in 1754. Presumably this section was copied from a draft by Wood which has since been lost.
The fields are tinted with a watercolour wash to indicate the different tenancies, and prominent boundaries are also outlined in colour. In explanation there is a key at the bottom of the map, but this is now so badly stained that it can probably only be read with the aid of specialised equipment. However, many of the fields are additionally coded with numbers or letters which tally with several schedules also kept in the Bath Record Office. Each parish had its own system. The code for Bathampton corresponds with the schedule entitled A Survey of the Mannor of Hampton in the County of Somerset Belonging to Ralph Allen Esq. taken by Tho:Thorp and Jno:Overton, 1743, and Widcombe appears in The Reference to the Plan of an Estate belonging to Ralph Allen Eqr. in the Parishes of Widcomb and Combe in the County of Somerset Survey’d by Thomas Thorp in the Year 1741.
However, no schedule has yet been found for Claverton. In Lyncombe, the fields on the northwest side of parish such as Sidenham and the Hayes, bought in 1744, are not shown, and the Prior Park grounds 1 appear in their later state, indicating that this part of the map had been revised, leaving large gaps in the number code for Widcombe (now replaced by John Hawkes). This revision may account for the surveying bill paid to Capability Brown just after Allen’s death. As Thomas Thorpe was evidently responsible for most of the early surveys, it is not surprising that the map bears a close relationship with An Actual Survey of the CITY of BATH in the County of Somerset; and of Five Miles Round, published by him in 1742.
Using the details shown on Ralph Allen’s map, supplemented by such other contemporary sources of information as vestry surveys, deeds, illustrations, etc., it is possible to observe the processes at work in the landscape surrounding Bath in Ralph Allen’s day. The following Guide describes the more significant features which can be identified on the enclosed copy of the map.
THE GUIDE
Starting nearest to Bath, the guide roughly follows a clockwise course, through Widcombe, Claverton and Bathampton:
Avon Wharf and the Railroad
Whilst purchasing stone mines on Combe Down in 1726, Allen was at the same time actively involved (as a treasurer and shareholder) in the project for the navigation of the River Avon, the only economic outlet for the export of Bath stone. After the opening of the navigation in 1727, he set about linking the mines to the river by means of a railroad, a then novel technique copied from the Tyneside collieries. Within three years the railroad was complete, terminating at a wharf between Claverton Street and the river. On the map the wharf appears as a triangular area which Allen had divided off from the large field on its east side called Dole Meadow (once common land divided into shares or ‘doles’). The wharf consisted of a stoneyard with a carpenters’ shop, a smithy, and sheds where the stone blocks were dressed for export. They could then be loaded onto vessels using a specially designed quayside crane or, for delivery to the city across the river, onto the railroad wagons which were then winched by capstans directly onto ‘roll-on, roll-off’ barges.
Copied from ‘A view of Widcombe, Bath’, showing Ralph Allen’s stoneyard, by Copplestone Warre Bampfylde, c.1750
2 The railway (or ‘carriage road’ as it was generally called) can be seen entering the north side of the yard, apparently on a grooved level crossing over Claverton Street. On the other side of the crossing Allen commissioned John Wood to design a rank of cottages for his stone masons by the railroad, in a plot on the west side called the ‘Withy Bed’. By 1736 these had been completed by Richard Jones, Allen’s Clerk of Works, together with the White Hart Inn on the opposite side of the railroad, and a massive malthouse and brewery on the west side of the stoneyard (shown only in outline). The latter was rented by a company of gentlemen, Jones says, ‘and a great piggery the company was’, but the business does not seem to have been a success, and within the next thirty years the building had been demolished.
This area was evidently designed as an integrated development scheme (Wood actually refers to it as a ‘town’), which indeed continued to expand as an industrial community until the 20th century. Although the stoneyards and brewery were replaced in 1810 by the entrance lock to the Kennet & Avon Canal, the cottages (now known as Allen’s Row) and the White Hart Inn still remain. The railroad trackway, where it headed south in a straight line towards Lyncombe Vale, then also served as a private coach road (now known as Prior Park Road) which was closed off from Claverton Street by a gate called Dolemeads Gate. It was shared with Philip Bennet who was thereby able to gain better access to ‘Widcombe Manor’ by what is now Church Street. In return Allen was granted right of way for his railroad through the grounds of Bennet’s Corn Mill below Widcombe Manor, then probably called ‘Squire Bennet’s’.
This section of the railroad was built along the original bed of Widcombe Brook which at some stage had been diverted at a higher level via a canal on the west side of the road, still partly visible today flowing in front of Prior Park Buildings. The channel is shown on the map leading round to a pond at the bottom of Lyncombe Hill which until the late 19th century powered another mill, on the north side of Claverton Street by the river. However, it is still unclear when this diversion was made, or when the mill was established on that site. During the middle ages Claverton Street was already known as ‘Mule Street’ (Mill Street), but the name of a ground in the Dolemeads called ‘Mill Mauth’ (Mill Mouth) suggests that the mill originally existed there, at the eastern end of the Street, just above the natural outfall of the stream into the Avon.
Widcombe Village
Near the village Ralph Allen owned many fields on Widcombe Hill, such as the Tynings and several grounds called Brick-kiln Fields on the north side of the road, and from the White Hart up to the Nedges (later the site of Macaulay Buildings) to the south. The latter included the site of Widcombe Crescent (then occupied by Mr.Colthurst’s House), and a ground called The Bowling Alley (now apparently the graveyard above the church). On the east side of Beechen Cliff he owned a field called Blakeley (now allotments), together with Bean Close and various other gardens and nurseries adjoining the railroad.
On the west side of the railroad, across from Bennet’s Mill, a group of buildings is shown at the end of Lyncombe Vale where a Mr.Wickstead engraved seals and cameos with a water-powered engine known as Wickstead’s Machine. Lyncombe Brook is omitted, but on Thorpe’s 1742 map it is still shown following its original course along the bottom of the Vale, on the north side of Wickstead’s house (now the site of Welton Lodge), before it was canalised along its present course by the side of the road. Part of the stream was presumably diverted through his garden to provide the head of water to drive the ‘jewelling mill’. On the opposite side of the railway, in the garden grounds of Widcombe Manor, two ornamental ponds are shown (another was added later) which still remain, together with the garden mount behind Yew Cottages. The mount is indicated by the spiral pathway to the summit which was then occupied by an ornamental Chinese pavilion.
Prior Park Grounds
Above Wood’s Lower Lodge, the railroad (today, Ralph Allen Drive) is shown lined with an avenue of elm trees then described as a ‘long Gothic Arch’ as it passed through Prior Park grounds. Gibbs’ Mill and millpond (demolished and drained in 1840) is shown as plot 35 on the south side of the path now known as the Dell. Above this are the fishponds and Palladian Bridge, the ice-house and, on the east side of the ponds, Park House (demolished in recent times) which was then a farm. Below the Mansion House, on 3 the ‘Slope’ (plot 59), are the landscaped gardens. Some idea of these grounds before landscaping can be obtained from their earlier names, such as ‘Thistly Ground’, ‘Culverwell’ (ie. ‘Pigeon Spring’) and ‘Shepards Wood’ (part of the garden ‘wilderness’).
To the west of the railroad is shown the kitchen garden of the Mansion (plot 63) screened by the plantation of trees known as the Rookery. Beyond this, Allen owned many fields on the steep ground between Foxhill Lane and the edge of the downs. Foxhill Lane (named from an adjoining field called Foxhole), was then known as ‘Widcombe Field Way’ because it led to one of the common open fields belonging to Lyncombe and Widcombe Manor. Widcombe Field covered the large area lying between Foxhill and Entry Hill, most of which had also been acquired (and partly landscaped) by Ralph Allen. Although already enclosed at an earlier stage, the irregular outlines of the old field strips can still be made out. Blind Lane is also shown leading up to the path erroneously known as Pope’s Walk. The latter was generally known as Hanginglands Lane (from the adjoining steeply wooded grounds) or possibly ‘The Melancholy Walk’, but often simply as ‘the way to Combe’ (i.e. to Monkton Combe).
The Dry Arch or Rustic Bridge which still stands over Hanginglands Lane is shown carrying one of the many driveways, prominently marked on the map, which Allen laid out around his estate. They often followed the edge of the downs and were evidently designed to take advantage of the fine views. In total Jones estimated that these drives (or ‘coach roads’ as he called them) measured at least ten miles in length, but only a few have survived. They also appear to explain the terracing at the top of the field on the west side of Ralph Allen Drive.
‘The House on the Fan’
In Bath Central Library is a fan decorated with a view of Ralph Allen’s railway descending behind a house with a garden in which ladies and gentlemen are admiring the scene. Although no evidence has been found for a house of this kind in such a situation, John Hawkes has pointed out that it may have been the one which Ralph Allen acquired from the Poole family when he bought their part of the Prior Park grounds. (As the western wing of Prior Park Mansion was built first, any house on its site would be demolished first.)
The House on the Fan. Reproduced by courtesy of Bath Central Library.
4 The Downs above Prior Park
The summit of Ralph Allen Drive, where the railroad is shown crossing North Road by the Upper Lodge, was the approach from the mansion to the extensive downland which belonged to Ralph Allen, reaching westward as far as the junction of the Twerton, Englishcombe and South Stoke boundaries by the Burnt House turnpike gate. Although now generally called Combe Down, only the eastern part of this downland belonged to Monkton Combe parish. Further west, in Widcombe Parish, it was known either as Green Down or East Down and, at the extreme western end beyond Entry Hill, as West Down, Odwoods Down or Odd Down. At that time the downs surrounding Bath still consisted largely of ‘rough and barren’ open pasture with few buildings, although some enclosure had already taken place.
Allen’s most western property on the down, called Burnt House Grounds, extended along the Wansdyke up to the old Wells Road (now Bloomfield Road). This included the Red Lion Inn, which then stood at the summit of the Wells Road on the Bristol cross-road (now known as Noad’s Corner) before being moved to its present site which took advantage of the new Wells Way road opened by the turnpike trust in the early 19th century. He also owned the Cross Keys Inn (then described as newly built) shown with its grounds further along on the Bristol to Warminster Road at the summit of Midford Hill. Between the two is Mr.Bennet’s Glass House which by Ralph Allen’s time had ceased production and was converted to use as a farm and alehouse. The tall furnace cone was however still standing and provided a prominent landmark visible for many miles around until it collapsed a few months before Allen’s death.
Another group of buildings is shown further towards Prior Park on the road to Bradford on Avon (now North Road) between plots 68 and 69, which is not described in Allen’s schedule. On the 1 inch Ordnance Survey map of 1810-1817 this site is marked ‘St. Gregory’s Cross’, possibly named after a cross dedicated to this saint which John Wood describes as standing in this area (the schedule also records plot 164 as ‘Combe field by ye Cross’). The cross had disappeared by the late 18th century and no trace of it now seems to exist, although a few of the old cottages belonging to this site still stand at the entrance to Stonehouse Lane.
Horsecombe
The map shows that Allen owned the whole of the northern side of Horsecombe Vale which was then still divided into strips of pasture ground running down to the brook. Above them is shown the track known as Shepherds’ Walk, said to be an old droveway. Several houses had been built in the strips at the head of the Vale, probably to take advantage of the view, but little is known about them. One is called ‘Mr.Parker’s Horsecombe House’(the previous owner of the Burnt House grounds); the other, ‘Harris’s Old House’.
At the eastern end of the Vale, the parish boundary between Widcombe and Monkton Combe is marked by a ‘Green Lane’ which still exists today as a public footpath. On the edge of Combe Down below Summer Lane a small field is shown called the Vineyard (plot 133) which presumably gave rise to the name of the quarry known as Vinegar Down which later occupied the site. It is not yet clear whether vines were being cultivated here at this time, perhaps a legacy of the monastic ownership of Monkton Combe.
In a field nearby called Spring Bottom (plot 137) is shown a large spring which in about 1800 was diverted to power the gigantic wheel of the paper mill in the next field below (plot 139), founded by Allen’s successor the Earl de Montalt, where bank-note paper was made.
The horizontal strip-fields shown below the spring had names such as Surt Wood, and Wood Field, which suggests that this area was woodland in the middle ages. The name Surt is apparently derived from ‘assart’, meaning the piecemeal clearance of wood for cultivation. This area, later disrupted by the construction in the 1870s of the Somerset & Dorset Railway tunnel and viaduct, has again reverted to woodland and scrub.
5 Tucking Mill
The map also shows Allen’s properties extending down to the brook (drawn twice!) in Midford Valley, adjoining the then unenclosed Midford Road, as far as the outskirts of Monkton Combe village. Included here is a new pasture ground at the bottom of Horsecombe (plot 159) identified as the ‘Tucking Mill wood & meadow’ where an old Tucking or Fulling Mill once stood. Its ruined foundations were discovered next to the road in the 1790s by William Smith (‘Father of English Geology’) whilst supervising the cutting of the Somersetshire Coal Canal. Smith later built his own house and stone-cutting mill on this site which he thought had been abandoned as a result of the cloth workers leaving to work in Ralph Allen’s new quarries. Although his own mill has also disappeared, Smith’s house and cottage still stand, and the millpond has been partly revived to serve as a waterworks research station. The tramway link which he built between the mill and Kingham Quarry, up through the fields called Radneys (plots 138,151,152), is still followed by a public footpath. Of the house shown in plot 152, then occupied by a Mr.Ricketts, there are no obvious remains.
The Stone Mines
Immediately north of Summer Lane in plot 135 the map shows the row of eleven cottages and gardens (previously known as ‘The Old Rank’, but now as De Montalt Place) which were designed by Wood and built by Jones in 1729 to house the men who worked in Ralph Allen’s quarry. This is the only indication of the quarry which was in fact a mine hidden beneath the surface. These underground workings which extended under most of plot 135 (about 25 acres), remained much as the 18th century quarrymen left them, but are now being back-filled to prevent collapse under later surface development.
Prominent on the map however is the railroad which led in a direct line from the summit of Ralph Allen Drive across the down to the workings. Here the railroad can be seen branching towards two square buildings which were the crane sheds where stone was lifted out of the mine. The one to the south was sited in front of the Old Rank, later the site of Holy Trinity Church, while the other to the west worked over the mine entrance in the rock face in Davidges Bottom. Adjoining the quarrymen’s cottages, beside the railroad, another line of buildings is shown which still exists in modified form under the name of Avenue Place. One of these buildings was an inn called ‘The Carriage’ (i.e. a railroad wagon), which William Smith records had a sign-board outside painted on one side with a railroad wagon towed by three horses towards the summit of the hill, and on the reverse another wagon running down the hill to the wharf under gravity, controlled by a brakesman on foot. Like Avon Wharf, this complex of buildings was evidently seen as an integrated industrial development (again, Wood calls it a ‘town’) which eventually came to form the nucleus of the community we now know as Combe Down village.
The Fir Plantations
It is even more difficult to visualise the stone quarry at that time because Ralph Allen had hidden it in the middle of one of the large fir plantations which he established throughout his estate. Like ‘babes in the wood’, the miners who worked the ‘Firs’ Mine (as it came to be known) must have felt very isolated. Although Allen also planted many native trees, the large number of firs which he used was a remarkable innovation. Being mainly reserved for the skyline, and ‘..disposed in a manner which bespeaks the taste as well as the munificence of Mr.Allen’, they were seen as ‘..the pride and ornament of the surrounding country’. It is likely however that, in accordance with the principle of ‘ornament with profit’, the land management philosophy of his day, he also saw them as an investment. The new Georgian houses then being built required straight deal boards for their construction just as much as Bath Stone, and it is not surprising that deal boards formed part of the cargo of the first boat to navigate the Avon in 1727.
Jones calculated that a total of 55,146 fir trees were eventually planted, although their best effect was not reached until fully mature later in the century. By that time Combe Down was discovered to be a healthy summer retreat for invalids, and even the Old Rank had been converted by the Earl de Montalt to convalescent dwellings. The air was thought to be ‘very fine … probably rendered more salubrious by the plantation of firs ...’, which are described as ‘..throwing a solemn gloominess of shade, impervious to the sun and winds, over a fine soft turf free from underwood’. 6 Although there is evidence that the firs were already being felled by the 1790s - as pit-props in a coal- mining venture at Priston for example, it was not until the estate was sold in 1809 to John Thomas, the rich Quaker from Bristol who is commemorated on the Dundas Aqueduct for his role in the completion of the Kennet & Avon canal, that the fir plantations were cut down on a large scale. By 1850 only a few fragments remained, principally the triangular area now known as Firs Field which adjoined Allen’s railroad in Combe Down. The latter was probably the last to disappear, providing a ‘village green’ or recreation area which to this day is turfed with high quality grass, a relic of the original open downland preserved under Ralph Allen’s firs.
The Prior’s Deer Park
Prior Park originated as part of a great Norman deer park established by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the western half of which was divided off and granted to the Prior of Bath in the 13th century. Following the dissolution of the monastery in 1539, the prior’s park came to be sub-divided during the 17th century among a variety of owners who enclosed the grounds for agricultural purposes. It is evident that Ralph Allen was conscious of the historic significance of these grounds and purchased them with the intention of bringing the medieval park back under a single ownership, this time for ornamental purposes rather than for hunting.
The grounds lying immediately behind the mansion, and extending both to the east and west along the brow of the down (plots 61, 62), were the Lawns of the prior’s park, the word Lawn being derived from the Middle English ‘Launde’, meaning an open pasture within a deer park or forest. The early 18th century maps show that it was here that Allen laid out his first plantations in a formal arrangement which was fashionable at that time. This consisted of several avenues of native trees radiating in straight lines from a rond-point on the terrace behind the mansion. Visible at this point on Allen’s map is the statue of his friend and patron General Wade, dressed in Roman attire with his field-marshal’s baton, which stood on a pedestal depicting his road-building achievements in Scotland.
Like his medieval predecessors, it was also here that Allen introduced deer (obtained from the Duchess of Marlborough) not long after his occupation of the mansion. Although they were soon assailed by game- poachers (he put out a reward of £5 for their conviction), there were at least 60 head of deer in the park when he died, and it would appear that they continued to be maintained by his family until Prior Park was sold in the early 19th century.
The Park Lodge
When Ralph Allen acquired the Lawns to the east of the mansion in 1750, he also obtained a substantial gothic building standing there called ‘The Lodge’. It can be seen on the map as a square structure in the middle of the field above Allen’s gothic house (now known as Priory House) built for his gardener in 1740 by Jones. Both the Lodge and the Priory are depicted in the margin of the map. Thorpe’s 1742 map shows that an avenue of trees previously led southward from the Lodge towards North Road. The most striking feature of this structure, depicted in a drawing by Robins in the 1750s, is a tower at the front of the building which afforded excellent views of the countryside around. Ralph Allen was often pleased to take visitors there, and Jones described it as ‘..one of the neatest gothic piles’.
It now appears, from Allen’s deeds, that the Lodge already existed in the late 16th century, and its architectural style would also seem to be of that period (perhaps built by Edmund Colthurst who acquired the Priory Estate after the Dissolution), although it may well have developed from something much earlier. Its design and situation are typical of a medieval hunting and park-keeping lodge. After Allen’s death it was demolished by his niece, Mrs.Warburton, much to the distress of Mrs.Allen and Richard Jones (who thought that with improved access, it would have made a fine residence), with the excuse that ‘..she would not be overlooked by any person’. It was instead replaced by a monument to Ralph Allen by Bishop Warburton which consisted of a triangular building supporting a tower. A comparison of this building with its predecessor shows that the tower and front wall of the Lodge were retained as a basis for the monument. By the late 19th century the monument had fallen into a ruinous and dangerous condition, and it was finally demolished in 1953. Lodge Field, still known locally as ‘Monny’[Monument] Field, is now used as a school sports ground. 7
Left: The Gothic Lodge, copied from Thomas Robins’ drawing. Right: The Monument, copied from photographs
There may have been other park features which survived from the middle ages, such as the long bank which ran north-south behind the Lodge, thought to be a section of the Wansdyke. This appears on early maps, but has been since ploughed out. There was also a field within the park called Conygree, derived from another Middle English word, Coniger, meaning a rabbit warren, but no remains of this have yet been found. The present footpath which climbs up from the site of Park House to Lodge Field may also be of great antiquity. Besides the legend that there was an ancient route through here, the traditional name of the slope, ‘Kissmearse Hill’, is typically medieval.
No doubt some medieval woodland still existed in Ralph Allen’s day, probably on the site of the present Rainbow Woods, although the map suggests that this had been newly planted. The name appears to have originated from both its arched shape and the fact, hinted at in contemporary literature, that it consisted of three bands of contrasting trees: pines, cedars and Scots fir. An unidentified feature on the map is the semicircular outline of a structure at the northern end of the wood, now the site of the house called Rainbow Wood. Its shape and location suggest a viewing point or summer house linked to the mansion by the carriage drive which still runs along below the wood.
The Bishop’s Park
The boundaries of Prior Park cannot be described without reference to the original boundary of the bishop’s park. The Great Park as it was sometimes called was laid out by the Norman bishop, John of Tours, after being granted the Abbey and City of Bath in 1091 by William Rufus when the bishopric was moved there from Wells. John was also given licence to make a park or warren in the monastery lands within an area bounded by the river Avon, the boundary of Lyncombe and Twerton, the Fosse Way over Odd Down, and the Cam and Midford Brook. The site chosen covered the southern part of Claverton Down and extended westward to include the upper reaches of Widcombe. This park was probably the scene of King John’s hunting expeditions during his visits to Bath between 1212-1216, not long before its division between the bishop and the prior in 1233.
On the eve of the Dissolution, there is evidence that the priors were still fond of hunting with hawks, 8 although Leland, on ascending Brass Knocker Hill from Limpley Stoke, observed;
A mile a this syde Bathe by southe est I saw 2. parks enclosyd withe a ruinus stone waulle, now withe out dere. One longyd to the bysshope, an othar to the prior of Bathe.
The outlines of the original park, which still survive to this day, can be clearly made out on the map surrounded on three sides by roads and trackways, i.e. Claverton Down Road in Combe Down on the south (not shown complete), Hanginglands Lane on the west, and Claverton Down Road in Bath on the east. Also shown is the dividing line between the two parks, still followed by a boundary wall between the parishes of Claverton (the bishop’s side) and Widcombe.
Park boundaries were generally enclosed by an outer bank and inner ditch (to keep the deer in), frequently with a wall or wooden pale added (to keep poachers out). The wall mentioned by Leland has in the course of time been continually renewed, but various sections of the original Norman masonry seem to have survived, particularly along Hanginglands Lane and below Rainbow Wood.
The map shows that the bishop’s park on Claverton Down was still well wooded (called Claverton Woods on Thorpe’s 1742 map), broken up into compartments by woodland drives. However, the presence of Rainbow Woods Farm (then called Claverton Down House), built into the perimeter wall on the north- east, suggests that some of the park was already under cultivation. Another building (not yet identified) is shown just inside the wall at the extreme eastern end of the park. Although demolished long ago, its ruined foundations can still be seen protruding through the turf.
Outline of the bishop’s park covering Claverton Down and Widcombe
Claverton Down
In the 18th century the rest of Claverton Down was still flat open grassland crossed only by the main turnpike road from Bath to Bradford on Avon. The map shows no other features except one of Ralph Allen’s large fir plantations facing Bath on the summit of Widcombe Hill. This plantation, above Smallcombe Wood in Bathwick, was thought particularly delightful where the road passed through it. It was later replaced by a large quarry which in turn has been covered by another more recent plantation. Behind the crest of the hill, the map shows various decorative clumps of firs and forest shrubs dotted along the skyline which also disappeared long ago.
Except for the occasional duel or highway robbery, the rest of the Down was generally appreciated for its
9 fine turf, where visitors could ride out and ‘take an airing’. A few years before Ralph Allen acquired the manor it had also came to serve as a two-mile race-course. Thorpe’s 1742 map shows the circuit laid out with markers around the perimeter of the Down, the starting post being at the east end near Rainbow Woods Farm. Although Allen tolerated the race meetings, he published a warning that he would prosecute against damage to his plantations, with the addition;
If any person hath a Dog, that he wants to be shot or hanged, if he will produce him on the Down his wish shall be gratify’d, Persons being hired for that Purpose from this time ‘till the Races are over.
On occasions, as many as 800 carriages and at least 20,000 people on foot or horseback attended the meetings, and a grandstand and stables were erected for their use. Nevertheless, 20 years after Allen’s death the races were moved to the present site on Lansdown, the Claverton turf being considered too hard going.
Claverton Village
In Ralph Allen’s time the manors of Claverton and Bathampton still formed an independent administrative district, or ‘Liberty’, created in the 1250s under the ownership of the medieval bishops. Allen particularly enjoyed Claverton village for its ‘romantic situation’, and generally dined there in the Jacobean manor house at least once a week. For this reason he seems to have made few landscape changes, although Jones carried out many alterations to the manor house and replaced the adjoining farm- house with the present one. He also made many renovations to the Church and Parsonage, including a new School Room which, under the parson Richard Graves, produced a generation of notable scholars. Allen’s fondness for Claverton evidently influenced his decision to be buried in the churchyard there.
The map shows the site of the old manor house (letter A) which was demolished in 1819 and replaced by the present mansion on a new site further up the hill (to the left of the letter B), now the American Museum. It is noticeable that this involved a deviation of the old road up to Claverton Down through the fields marked CU, CT, CR, PL4, and CP. The map also shows the village before it was bypassed in the 19th century by the Kennet & Avon Canal, the Warminster Road, and the Bath to Weymouth railway.
On the slopes to the south of the village, the name Coniger occurs again. This may be connected with the ‘right of free warren’ which the bishop obtained in 1256 throughout both manors of Claverton and Bathampton, which entitled him to keep rabbits (then called coneys) as well as hunting fowl and small game, perhaps in compensation for the loss of part of his great park to the prior of Bath. However, the vineyard nearby (letter Q3), considered by John Aubrey to be the best in England, was established by Sir William Bassett in the late 17th century. It was probably also he who planted the ornamental avenue of trees shown surrounding the ‘park’ on the north side of the mansion, (field E, now part of a deer farm).
Bathampton
Although Bathampton was one of Allen’s earliest possessions, it does not appear to have played a large part in his plans. He seems to have made little use of the manor house (plot 110 on the map) after his brother-in-law Charles Holder, who sold the manor to Allen, moved to another house in the village street (plot 123). The origin of the manor house (which still stands) is obscure, and its remote situation on the river bank by the mill suggests that it replaced an earlier building nearer the village. In the 1750s various alteration were made to the house by Jones, who also erected several buildings in the village and rebuilt the south aisle of the church, but there is no mention of the ornamental garden and avenues of trees which are shown on the map flanking the east and west sides of the manor house.
It is also said that Allen opened a quarry on the brow of Hampton Down, possibly in one of the old quarries that already existed there, but again there is no evidence of a revival of quarrying in Bathampton until the early 19th century when the quarry at Hampton Rocks was connected with a tramway to the newly-built Kennet & Avon Canal. The map does however show the village high street before it was diverted over the canal at the eastern end, when the ‘George’ (plot 118) was still a farm.
10 At that time, Bathampton Down was divided into two parts. The east side consisted of the prehistoric enclosure known as Bathampton Camp, and on the west side overlooking Bath was an area known as Bathampton Warren. At least nine ‘pillowmounds’ (artificial burrows) have since been identified in the Warren which suggests that, as in Claverton, it was established in the 13th century by the bishop, although in Jones’ account there is a hint that it had not long gone out of use.
The map shows a large plantation of scots and spruce firs in the Warren. This was the first plantation, in 1742, to be laid out by Ralph Allen, and came to be known as ‘Fir Forest’. It was on the edge of this plantation, just below the crest of the Down, that Jones supervised the erection of the ‘castle in the warren’ (better known as Sham Castle) in 1762. Although a drawing of the castle is included at the bottom of the map, the map itself still shows the lodge which stood on the site previously, called Warren House or Ansty’s Lodge. Allen also intended to build a house on the extreme north-west peak of the down (above plot 174, called the Mount), but Jones talked him out of it. Jones also thought that the castle ought to have been built larger (to be seen from a greater distance), but it was evidently designed to gain greatest impact from the white shape of the castle framed by the contrasting dark background of trees when viewed from the city.
Conclusion
The aim of the Survey of Old Bath is to work towards reconstructing the city of the past (especially before the Georgians) and this description of Ralph Allen’s map was seen as an ideal opportunity to study the changing relationship between the city and its surroundings. The guide is however only a broad outline and further research is necessary. Much could be learned, for example, from a detailed analysis of the field names. In the meantime it is hoped that the guide will enhance our understanding and appreciation of the part played by one of Bath’s most famous historical figures.
11 2. PRIOR’S PARK FROM THE DISSOLUTION TO RALPH ALLEN
John Hawkes
Reprinted from The Survey of Bath and District, No.10, October 1998.
Introduction
An examination of Ralph Allen’s deeds, combined with calculating and plotting the areas of various land areas and owners indicates that many traditions about the park are based on imagination rather than facts. Details of the development and land ownership are shown on Figs.1-12.
At the end of the 16th century, when the lands of Prior’s Park began to be divided up, the only existing buildings appear to have been the Lodge, possibly medieval, and the mill. Thomas Collett improved the estate within the Park which he acquired in 1676 and by 1703 his house was known as “Pryor’s Park House”, but there is no evidence that an old Priory building had ever stood there.
By the second decade of the 18th century the Park was held by three families, Pooles, Marchants and Colletts. Ralph Allen acquired land gradually. In 1728 he acquired the Poole estate, enabling him to develop the carriageway for use with the stone quarries, and to begin on the mansion. When he moved into Widcombe to live, it may have been to a house lately built by Thomas Poole. In 1743 he purchased the Collett’s estate of 50 acres including “Pryor’s Park House”. He cannot therefore have carried out work in the Park House area before this date, such as the dairy. In 1751 he bought land from the Marchants: the Lodge and cottage already existed by then and therefore neither could have been created for Allen’s gardener Dodsley as is sometimes suggested (at the earlier date of 1740, actually). By his death in 1764 he owned nearly the whole Park: further research is needed on a small part of the Collett’s land which also seems to have passed through his hands.
Dissolution
In 1539 the Priory surrendered its lands to the Crown and by 1542 Leyland in his Itinerary describes the park – ‘.. A mile a this syde Bathe by southe est I saw 2. parks enclosyd withe a ruinus stone waulle, now withe out dere. One longyd to the bysshope, an othar to the prior of Bathe.’ In 1543 the Priory lands including “..that wood called the parke...” were sold by the Crown to Humphrey Colles and by him almost immediately to Matthew Colthurst. Colthurst died in 1559 and was succeeded by his son Edmund, who granted Prior’s Park to Robert Webb and Edward Langeford in 1582. Until this time Prior’s Park had remained an entity and then its sub-division started, only to be reunited later by Ralph Allen.
In 1592 Webb granted to John Fisher 60 acres “Grod, Soyle and Woody Grod. parcell of the sd.Grod.and Soil called Prior’s Park”, the Mill and 37 acres of “Wood, Woody Grod.and Soil ... pcel of a Grod.called Prior’s Park”. He also conveyed to Richard Shute 27 acres “Wood and Woody Grod...of Prior’s Park” and 67 acres “Past(ure) Grods...called the Lawnes of Prior’s Park....And also one Lodge...within the Circuit of sd.Lawnes.” The deeds emphasise the still overgrown and undeveloped character noted by Leland. At this time the only buildings in the park appear to have been the Lodge, which might have remained from medieval times or perhaps been built by the Colthursts, and the mill.
For some time after this until the latter half of the 17th century all the lands of the park were vested in a combination of groups of local people. During this period major improvements appear to have taken place - the 27 acres had been improved with a barn and cultivated closes; on the 37 acres a messuage or dwelling house, stables and other buildings had been erected; and the 60 acres had a barn, other buildings, a fishpond, orchard and hopyard at the northern end.
Then in 1646 the Western and Little Lawnes of 23 acres were assigned to Thomas Shute, and in 1685 the remaining 53 acres (7 had been sold) of the 60 acres were assigned to his son Thomas Jnr.of Monkton Combe. Shute Jnr.died c.1711 leaving Monkton Combe to his son, but the Prior’s Park lands to his widow Mary, who soon remarried, Thomas Poole. Poole then erected a “Messuage or Tenemt.& Stable” on the 53 acres. 12 In 1651 the Eastern Lawnes of the 36 acres with the Lodge and the “Eastern” halfendale of the 27 acres including half the barn, were assigned to Ann Walter and in 1711 sold by William Walter to Edward Marchant. Four years later the “Western” halfendale of the 27 acres, including half the barn (but by then a cottage and garden), which had passed through several hands, were sold by William Walter to Edward Marchant.
In 1676 Thomas Collett acquired the 37 acres including a house and stables as well as 7 acres of the 60 acres including a Barn, Oxstalls, a Fishpond, Orchard, and a close called the Hopyard, and in 1698 acquired a field part of the “Western” halfendale of the 27 acres to create an estate of over 50 acres. Collett obviously improved the estate and by 1703 the house was known as “Pryor’s Park House”. This name has probably led to the traditions that an old Priory building stood here and was used in the construction of the Lodge or Priory higher up in the park, but no building seems to have existed in 1592.
So by the second decade of the 18th century the Park was held by three families - the Pooles, Marchants and the Colletts.
Ralph Allen
Ralph Allen’s first acquisition was the Western Lawns (23 acres) and the 53 acres of the 60 acres from Mary Poole in 1728. This allowed Allen to develop the carriageway from his mines in Combe Down to the River Avon and also in about 1735 to start work on the mansion of Prior Park. At this time it has been suggested that Allen left Bath to live in Widcombe and it is quite possible that he moved into the Poole’s newly built house (c.1720). Pictures of the house Allen is reputed to have lived in are architecturally of this period and could have provided the views over Bath described by Pope.
This was the extent of Allen’s land in Prior Park when Thorpe carried out his survey of Allen’s property in 1741 and prepared his plan of Five Miles around Bath in 1742 (below).
In 1743 Allen purchased the 50-acre estate from the Colletts, including the House, barn, stables, garden, orchards, fishpond and hopyard. Therefore, it was not possible for Allen to have carried out work, such as the dairy, in the Park House area before this date, as has been suggested.
In 1750 Allen acquired the 36 acres of the Lawns and the 27 acres (less Collett’s field) from Elizabeth Marchant (widow of John, Edward’s son). The buildings on Thorpe’s plan show the Lodge and the cottage and these could not be the house built for Allen’s gardener Dodsley in 1740 as is often supposed.
The position when Allen had bought the Poole estate – superimposed on Thorpe’s map 13 PRIOR’S PARK – SEQUENCE OF OWNERSHIP FROM THE DISSOLUTION TO THE TIME OF RALPH ALLEN
14 3. INTERROGATORIES, LONGE CLK V.FISHER, 1656
Office Copy Depositions on part of Plt & Defendts taken in the year 1656 ffo:251 BRO Acc.59, 2/12/1, No.1. Gatty & Son, Clks
[Page 1.] Interrogatories to bee Administred to whitnesses to bee produced on the part and behalfe of George Longe Clerk Complte against Robert Fisher Henry Chapman Samuell Wintle and John Bigges Defts as followeth.
Impris. Doe you knowe the parties plts and Defts and did you know Mr.Meredith Mr.Pellen Doctor Webb and Mr.Boden late Rectors of the Church of Peter and Paul in Bath with the Chappells of Wittcombe annexed. And how longe have you knowne them or either of them speake the truth hereof.
2. Item doe you knowe that Mr.Joseph Boden beinge Rector or Sequestrator of the Rectory of Peter and Paul in Bath wth the Chappells of Wittcombe annexed did about the Yeare 1647 desert leave and departe from the same Rectory and Cure of Bath aforesaid yea or noe if yea who was instituted or admitted thereunto uppon his leavinge or desercon of the same whether was the Plt instituted thereunto and uppon whose procurement was hee instituted or Admitted thereunto. And whether is the Coppy of the Institucon now produced and shewen unto you att the time of yor examinacon a true Coppy of the Record thereof remayninge in the Registry of the Committee of plundered Ministers, speake the truth hereof.
3. Item Doe you knowe a Close called Elme Close In the Parishe of Witcombe conteyninge by Estimacon fowerteen Acres And one Close called West meade conteyninge five Acres occupyed by the Deft.Samuele Wintle In the Yeare 1655, Yea or noe, if yea whether did the Owners or occupyers of the sd grounds att any tyme in yor memory pay any tythe in kinde or perticuler composicon for tythe out of the sd grounds unto the Rector or Rectors of Peter and Paul in Bath aforesaid for the tyme beinge what tyth hay have you knowne paid or what Composicon for the same tyth have you known paid declare the perticulers of itt and to whome how much thereof was mowen and made into hay in the Yeare 1655 aforesaid. And what was the tyth hay thereof worth and how much thereof was Agisted wth Guests horses and other Cattell And what was the Tyth for those Agistmts worth for the said Yeare 1655 whether the worth of after the rate of one penny in the a Shilling as you believe Speake the truth hereof.
4. Item Doe you know a Close called Dole meade conteyninge by estimacon about fyve Acres In the Parish of Wittcombe occupied by the Deft.Henry Chapman in the Year 1655 yea or noe If yea whether did the Owners or occupiers thereof att any tyme in yor memory pay any tythe in kinde or perticuler Composicon for tythe out of the said perticuler ground unto the Rector or Rectors of Peter and Paul in Bath aforesaid for the tyme beinge what tythe hay have you known paid or what composicon for the same declare the perticulers of itt and to whome how much thereof was mowen and made hay in the sd Yeare 1655 And what was the tythe thereof worth And how much thereof was Agisted with Cattell And what was the tythe for those Agistments worth for the said Yeare 1655 after the rate of one penny in a Shilling as you beleive speake the truth hereof.
5. Item Doe you knowe of any Geese Hens Turkeys Apples Peares Cherryes And other fruite the said Defte.Henry Chapman ought to pay tythe for or was Owner of in the yeares 1653, 1654 and 1655 yea or noe. Yf yea Declare the perticulers thereof and what the tythe thereof was worth. Speake the truth hereof.
6. Item Doe you knowe how many Acres of Ground the Defte.John Bigges did occupy and enioy within the said Parishe of Witcombe in the Yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 or in either of them, yea or noe yf yea declare the perticuler grounds that hee did so enioy occupy or possess and for what yeares hee did soe occupy possesse and enioy the same whether did the Owners or occupiers of the sd grounds att any tyme within yor memory pay any tythe in kinde or perticuler composicon for tythes out of each of the said grounds unto the Rector or Rectors of Peter and Paul in Bath aforesaid for the tyme beinge
15 [page 2.]
What tythe hay have you knowne paid or what Composicon for the same have you knowne soe paid. Declare the perticulers of itt and to whome how much thereof was mowen and made into hay In the said yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 And what was the tythe thereof worth in each or every of those Yeares in any of the sd perticular grounds and how much thereof was there Agisted wth Cattell or horses And what was the tythe of those Agistments worth in every of the said Yeares at the rate of one penny in a Shillinge as you veryly beleive Speake the truth hereof.
7. Item Doe you know how many Tythe Calves how much Tythe Milk how many Tythe Apples Peares Plummes Cherryes and other fruite were due and owinge from the sd Deft John Bigge unto the Complt in the said yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 yea or noe if yea declare the perticulers thereof And how much the same was worth in every of the said Yeares speake the truth hereof.
8. Item Doe you knowe how many Acres of ground the Defte.Robert Fisher did occupy and enjoy wthin the sd Parishe of Wittcombe in the Yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 or in either of them yea or noe if yea declare the perticuler grounds that hee did soe occupy or possesse and for what Yeares he did soe possesse and enjoy the same whether did the owners or occupyers of the sd grounds att any tyme within yor memory pay any tythe in kinde or perticuler Composicon for the same out of each of the said perticuler grounds unto the Rector or Rectors of Peter and Paul in Bathe aforesd and Vicars of Witcombe aforesd for the tyme beinge what tythe hay have you knowen paid or what Composicon for the same declare the perticulers of itt and to whome how much thereof was mowen and made into Hay in the said Yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 And what was the tythe thereof in each or every of those Yeares And how much thereof was there Agisted wth Cattle or Horses And what was the Tythe of those Agistmts worth in every of the said Yeares accordinge to the Rate one penny in a Shillinge as you believe Speake the truthe hereof.
9. Item Doe you knowe how many orchards how many Gardens how many Sheepe how many Cowes what quantity of ground planted wth Teazles what Quantity of ground planted wth. hopps was the Deft Robart Fisher owner or possesser of in all or any of the Yeares 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 yea or noe if yea declare what quantityes of Apples Peares Plummes Cherries Sparagoes Artichocks Gooseberryes raesberryes or Framboyes cabages Carratts or other Garden fruite hopps and Teazles did the Defte gather or sell in each or any of the said Yeares what was the tythe thereof worth or sold for in every or each of the sd Yeares and what Cowes and what Sheepe did the sd Defte soe keepe And how many Calves were there fallen And what was the Tythe Calves and the tyth wool of the said Sheepe worth in every or each of the sd Yeares declare the truth hereof.
10. Item Doe you knowe of any words of discoragement wch any or either of the Defendts did use to any of the Parishioners of the Parish of Witcombe or to any other to hinder the payment of Thythes unto the Complte yea or no if yea declare the words by whome they were spoken and to whome and uppon what occasion speake the truth hereof.
11. Item whether hath not the Complte by himselfe or some one for him officiated in the Cure of Witcombe from the Yere 1648 untill this tyme or for severall of those Yeres yea or no if yea whom hath the Complt hadd to officiate there declare their Names and the tyme when they officiated there and how longe or how often each of them did officiate there And whether did not the Complt did not Preach himselfe severall tymes and procured others so to doe in such tymes when he had no Curate and how long or how often each of them did officiate there Speake the truth hereof.
12. Item whether in your Memory from all the grounds above menconed in the possession of the seaverell Defendts Tythe in kind or Composicon for Tythe have not been paid by the Owners or Occupiers of the said severall grounds for the tyme being unto the Rector or Rectors of Peter and Paul in Bathe aforesaid for the tyme beinge yea or noe if yea declare from the first to the last how the Tythes or Composicons for the same have been raysed to the sevrall Rectors there – Speake the truth hereof.
16 [page 3.]
13. Item Doe you know of any Money or Composicon for tythe that hath been paid to one Mr.Gwyn who officiated att Widcombe for the Complt by either of the said Defts in the Yeres that he did officiate there yea or noe if yea by whose Order of Consent was the same paid whether was it paid by the Plts Order given or expressed to the Defts or either of them or of their owne free will wthout any such Order from the Plt what Some was soe paid and in whose prsence whether that the order that was given by the Complt to receave Tithes was given to one Thomas Bush and Willm Martyn and not unto the said Defts speake the truth hereof.
14. Item Doe you know That tythe of Hoppes tythe of Teazells tythe of Cherries tythe of Strawburies tythe of Artechocks Agistmts for horses kine and other Cattell att the rate of 1d.P[er] 1s. hath not been usually paid wthin the pish of Widcombe yea or noe if yea how long have you knowne it denyed wether it is soe throughout the Pish of Widcombe aforesd or in pishes adjacent or whether have they not been paid in regard there have been but small quantities of them growen or planted wthin the said Pishes And whether you doe not judge that the reason why such Tythes were not paid was because there have beene none or very small numbers of them growen wthin the said pishes untill of late Yeares Speake the truth hereof.
15. Item Doe you know what tythes doe belong unto the Impropriator of Wittcombe out of the said Parishe of Wittcombe and what unto the Complt yea or noe if yea declare the pticuler tyths that doe belonge to each party and how longe it hath beene soe paid Speak the truth hereof.
16. Item whether did you heare the Deft Robert Fisher utter any words manyfesting his desire of Contestynge in the Law wth the Plte yea or noe yf yea whether did he use these or the like words (to witt) that the Plt was sicke of a Consumpcon and that he would hold out the suite for three or fower Yeares and by that tyme the Plte would be dead And that hee would pay him noe tythes Although itt did cost him one hundred pounds And that yf nothing would prevent the payment of this Tythes to the Plt hee would sett the Parson and Vicar together by the eares or words to that effecte Speak the truth hereof.
17. Item Doe you know out of what Grounds In the severall occupacons of the Defts Robert Fisher John Bigges and Samuell Wintle Tythes have beene paid yea or noe yf yea declare the perticuler names of those grounds and how longe you have knowne itt soe paid Speake the truth hereof.
18. Item doe you knowe of any other matter or thinge tendinge to the manifestacon of any Tithes or Duties due to the Plt from the Defts or any or either of them or from any of the Inhabitants of the Parishe of Wittcombe Speake the truth hereof.
19. Item what were the Names of all the severall Persons who were sumoned by you to appeare and bee att this Comisscon on the behalfe of the Plte by vertue of the Warrant granted from twoe of the Comrs (vizt.) Sr.John Seymour Knt. and John Buckland Esqr. And now produced and shewn unto you and read before you att the tyme of yor examinacon And whether accordingly did you sumon them personally to appeare accordinge to the tyme place and contents of the said Warrant And whether any of the said witnesses and who by name did refuse to appeare And what words did they use to manifest their refusall Speake the truth hereof.
20. Item doe you knowe or have you heard that the Vicaridge of Witcombe have beene anciently united unto the Rectory or Vicaridge of Bathe yea or noe yf yea whether have the rector or rectors of Bathe for the tyme beinge enioyed the same duringe the tyme of yor remembrance Speake the truth hereof. Jo:Seymour Jo:Buckland Jo:Masters
Deposicons of Witnesses taken att Bathe in the County of Somst the Nynth day of Aprill in the 17
[page 4.]
Yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred fifty and six Before Sr.John Seymour knight John Buckland Esqr. and John Masters Gent. by vertue of a Comission out of the Courte of publique Exchequer to them and Nicholas Webb gent directed for the Examinacon of Witnesses in a cause there dependinge betweene George Long Clerke Plt and Robte Fisher Henry Chapman Samuel Wintle and John Biggs Defts as followeth –
Mathew Cliff of Bathe in the County of Somst Gent aged sixty Yeares or thereabouts Sworne and Examined Deposeth as followeth –
1. To the First Interr this Depot saith That hee doth knowe the pties Plt and Deft and did likewise knowe Mr.Meredith Mr.Pellen Doctor Webb and Mr.Boden in the Interr named and did knowe the said Mr.Meredith about Fifty Yeares agoe being the first Rector of them.
2. To the Second Interr this Depot Saith That hee did knowe That Mr.Boden was Rector of Peter and Paule in Bathe about the Yeares One thousand six hundred Forty six or One thousand six hundred Forty seaven and that shortly after hee left the Cure thereof And the Church being vacant the Complt George Long was chosen by the Corporacon of the City of Bathe who are the Patrons thereof to succeed the said Mr.Boden and upon theire pcurement was approved of by the Comittee of Parliament for Plundered Ministers and admitted thereunto and further hee deposeth not to this Interrogatory.
20. To the twentieth Interr this Depot saith That dureing all the tyme of his remembrance the Vicaridge of Witcombe hath bene alwaise united to the Rectory or Vicaridge of Bathe and hath bene accompted as belonging thereunto And saith that dureing all the time of his remembrance as aforesaid the said Vicaridge of Witcombe hath bene always enioyed by the Rector or Vicar of Bathe aforesaid for the time beinge And further hee Deposeth not.
Thomas Orchard formerly examined on the pte and behalfe of the Defts and now Re- Examined on the pte & behalfe of the Complt Deposeth as followeth –
12. To the Twelveth Interr this Depont Saith That the Deft Samuell Wintle hath held the Close called Elme Close lyinge in the pish of Witcombe by the space of two Yeres last past And that the other Defts John Bigge and Robt Fisher did occupy for sevrall Yeres last past sevrall pcells of ground wthin the Pish of Witcombe but the quantities thereof this Depot doth not knowe And further hee cannot Depose other then hee hath formerly deposed to the sixth Interry on the Defts pte.
14. To the Fowerteenth Interr this Depot saith That hee hath not knowne any of the tithes of the pticulers in the Interr menconed paid nor hath hee knowne any considerable quantities of them growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe and further he deposeth not.
Dorothy Spincke of Bathe in the County of Somst Spinster aged Thirty Yeres or thereabouts being sworne and examined deposeth as followeth –
11. To the Eleaventh Interr this Depot Saith That Thomas Spincke Clerke This Depots Father for most parte of the Yeare One thousand six hundred and fifty did suply the Cure of Witcombe under the Complt Mr.Longe And was paid by him for the same and further shee deposeth not.
Samuell Gwyn of Batheweeke in the County of Somst Clerke aged three and Thirty Yeares or thereabouts being sworne and Examined Deposeth as followeth –
11. To the Eleaventh Interr this Depot saith That hee this Depot by the Importunity of the Pishioners of
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18 Witcombe and wth the Consent and grannt of Mr.Long the Complt did undertake the Cure of Witcombe aforesaid in July One thousand six hundred Fifty two And did constantly preach there every Lords day in the afternoons (once only excepted as hee remembreth) untill the three and twentieth daie of Aprill in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred fifty fower after wch time it was vacant neare a yeare as this Depot remembreth dureing wch vacancy there were not any Sermons preached wthin the said pish of Witcombe but only casuall Sermons to this Depots knowledge And further saith that since the time of vacancy aforesaid hee this Depot never knewe any one preach there but hath heard that one Mr.Willm Baker hath sometimes gon upp to Witcombe aforesaid between twelve and one a Clock And there hath read a Chapter in the Holy Bible and made some certen prayers there.
12. To the Twelveth Interr this Depot saith That hee doth not knowe of any Tithes in kind paid wthin the pish of Witcombe aforesaid but that dureing the time of his officiateing there hee did receave of sevrall of the pishioners of Lyncombe aforesaid the some of Five pounds or thereabouts agreable to a certen Composicon of Nynteene pounds and two pence formerly made betweene the pishioners of Witcombe and some former Vicars of Bathe as hee this Depot was informed by most of the pishioners of Witcombe the said Composicon being delivred in writing unto the Depot by the Deft Mr.Robte Fisher out of a Booke wherein every pishioners pporcon was expressed And further hee deposeth not.
Henry Goslett of Dunckerton in the County of Somrst Husbandman aged three and thirty yeares or thereabouts being sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
6. To the sixth Interry this Depot saith That the Deft John Biggs did in the Yeare One thousand six hundred Fifty & five occupy and possesse one Meadowe ground wthin the pish of Witcombe aforesaid called by the name of Ofeild wch hee did mowe and make into Hay in the same yeare to the proporcon of about Sixteene or eighteene Loades wth hay this Depot conceaveth was worth two and twenty Shillings the Load for that one Mr.Hobbs did buy six Loades of the said hay att the rate of two and twenty Shillings the Load as this Depot hath heard And this Depot further saith that some part of the Tithe of the said hay doth belong to Mr.Chapman the pson whome he hath heard say that hee did usually receive eight or nyne Shillings Yearely for the same And saith that hee this Depot being Servant unto the said Mr.Chapman hath demanded the same of the Occupiers of the ground above menconed And this Depot saith That hee hath knowne twoe or three other small pasture grounds that were occupied by the said Deft Mr.Bigges in the said Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty five that were fedd wth his owne Cattle and wth two or three guests Horses a night or two And further saith not to this Interr.
8. To the Eighth Interr this Depot saith That hee doth knowe one peece of Meadowe ground by Fishers Mill and one Orchard thereunto adioyneing conteyneing about two Acres occupied and enioyed by the Deft Mr.Fisher in the Yeare One thousand six hundred Fifty five wch the said Mr.Fisher did mowe and make into hay in the said yeare the value of wch hay was about six and twenty Shillings And saith that the tith thereof was not paid nor any Composicon for the same to this Depots knowledge neither did this Depot ever knowe or heare of any Composicon that was ever paid untill this difference did arise between the Complt and Defts And further hee deposeth not to this Interr.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot saith that all tithe Corne wthin the said Pish of Witcombe and all tithe Lambes wthin the said pish doth belong to the Impropriator Mr.Chapman and that hee hath all the tithe of some Ground called Dolemead wthin the said pish except of some small pte thereof wch doth belong unto the Complt And all tithes whatsoever of the farme of Lyncombe And the said Impropriator hath alsoe some small pcells of hay & wooll wthin the said pish of Witcombe but the pticulars thereof this Depont doth not well remember.
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And this Depot further saith that there doth belong unto the Minster of Bathe for the time being out of the said Pish of Witcombe all other tithes within the said Pish of Witcombe (Except the Orchard of Walter Wilshere and the Orchard of Mr.Combes wch belongeth unto the Impropriator) doe belong unto the Complt as this Depot hath heard & verely beleveth And this Depot further saith That at Harvest last was fower Yeares hee did fetch for the Complt Mr.Long fower or five horse loades of tithe hay out of some 19 Grounds belonging to Mr.Baylyes Farme in Witcombe in the occupacon of John Gibbs who for that yeare paid all his Tithes in kind for the said Farme unto the Complt.
16. To the Sixteenth Interr this Depot saith that hee did heare the Deft Robte Fisher utter these words following (that is to say) That Mr.Long was sick of a Consumpcon And that hee would hold out the suite three or fower Yeares and by that tyme the Plt would bee dead and then the suite would be ended And that all tithes wthin the said Pish was due to Mr.Chapman And hee was to find a Minister And hee would order the Business soe that hee would sett the pson & the Vicar together by the Eares And further saith not to this Interr.
18. To the Eighteenth Interr the Depot saith hee cannot depose other than he hath formerly deposed to the sixth eighth and fifteenth Interr.
James Masters of Bathe in the County of Somst Clerke aged forty seaven yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and exami[n]ed deposeth as followeth.
15. To the Fifteenth Interr this Depot saith that (being Rector of Peter & Paule in Bathe) hee did for five or six Yeares together about one thousand six hundred thirty Nyne upwards receave out of the Pish of Witcombe some small tithes in kind of Wool Hay & Apples and Composicon for the rest part of it after the rate of a Composicon wch the pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid made by some of this Depots pdecessors Rectors of Bathe as this Depot hath heard wch Composicon this Depot conceiveth was about eighteene or Nyneteene pounds Yearly and conceivs is according to the Composicon made betweene the said pishioners of Witcombe & this Depot But what tithes in kinde or composicon hee this Depot receaved wthin the said pish of Witcombe or of whom this Depot doth not remember haveing lost all his papers or noates concerning the same.
18. To the Eighteenth Interr this Depot saith hee cannot depose other than hee hath formerly deposed to the Fifteenth Interr.
20. To the Twentieth Interr this Depot saith That dureing all the time of his remembrance being eighteene Yeares or thereabouts the Church or Chappell of Witcombe aforesaid and the pffitts thereto belonging hath bene alwaies enioyed by the Rector of Peter and Paule in Bathe for the time being And hath bene alwaies reputed as united and to belong thereunto And further hee deposeth not.
Thomas Horseman formerly examined on the behalfe of the Defts and now reexamined on the Plts pte deposeth as followeth.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot Saith that hee cannot depose other then hee hath formerly deposed on the behalfe of the Defts.
Willm Baker the Younger of Bathe in the County of Somst Gent aged thirty Yeares or thereabouts sworne & examined Deposeth as followeth.
11. To the eleaventh Interr this Depot saith That att the request and by the pcuremt of the Complt hee this Depot hath continually for the space of two Yeares come St.James tide next officiated the Cure at Witcombe aforesaid by praying and expounding of the Scriptures publiquely every Lords daie in the Pish Church of Witcombe aforesaid And cattachizing there as often as any of the Pishioners Children were there present.
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And further saith that hee hath constantly officiated there as aforesaid dureing all the time aforesaid excepting two or three Lords daies dureing wch time there hath bene only twoe or three Sermons preached there wch were preached by Mr.Long the Complt or by his appoyntmt And further hee deposeth not.
Magdalin Taplyn Wife of Willm Taplyn of Bathe in the County of Somst Blacksmith aged 20 thirty fower Yeares or thereabouts being sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth.
6. To the sixth Interr this Depot. saith that she doth knowe two grounds called the Ofeilds lying in the pish of Witcombe aforesaid occupied enioyd by the Deft John Biggs in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & two, one thousand six hundred fifty & three & One thousand six hundred fifty fower and upwards And that she hath heard the Deft Mr.Biggs who was her Master saie that he had formerly paid and was to pay sixteene Shillings Yearely for the tithe of these two grounds the one halfe of it to the Minister or Rector of Bathe and the other halfe of it to the Impropriator or pson of Witcombe wch some of Sixteene Shillings the said Deft Mr.Biggs said his Father had paid before him And further saith that she never knew tithe in kinde paid for these grounds but it was always paid by way Composicon in Money to the Rector of Bathe aforesaid for the tyme being And further saith that the said grounds were wholy mowen & made into hay in the Yeares aforesaid but what the tithe thereof was worth in the said Yeares this Depot doth not knowe And further saith not to this Interr.
7. To the seaventh Interry this Depot saith that the Deft had about thirty or forty Bushells of Apples wthin the pish of Witcombe aforesaid in each of the two Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty two & One thousand six hundred fifty fower but saith that in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty three there were few or noe Apples growen in his Orchard And this Depot farther saith that in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty two the Plt Mr.Longs Maide came for the tithe Apples to the Deft Mr.Biggs House And this Depot being his Servant shewed her to the Apples in the loft & bidd her take what she pleased And she took two or three Mault seeves full & was willed to take more if she thought she had not enough And further she deposeth not.
Richard Wall of Claverton in the County of Somst Clerke aged six and thirty yeares or thereabouts beinge sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
14. To the fowerteenth Interr this Depot saith That hee this Depot being Viccar of a place called Bathe Hampton nere adiacent unto the pish of Witcombe aforesaid hath receaved as Viccar there Tithe hopps without the Interrupcon of the Improprietor there or any other pson whatsoever And further he deposeth not.
John Marchannt of Wridleton in the County of Somst Husbandman aged twenty fower Yeares beinge Sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
6. To the Sixth Interr this Depot saith That hee doth knowe one ground called the three cornered Close conteyninge by estimacon three Acres or thereabouts wthin the said Pish of Witcombe wch ground was occupied by the Deft John Biggs in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & two And saith that the borders of the said ground to the quantity of about an Acre was then mowen by him and about three quarters of a load of hay of the value of neare fifteene Shillings carried away from thence by the said Deft Mr.Biggs And that the residue of the said ground to the value of about forty shillings was by the said Deft depastured or fedd wth guests Horses And that no tithes nor Composicon for the same were paid for the said Yeare to the Complt to this Depots knowledge And this Depot further saith that he doth alsoe knowe two other little Closes of Meadowe conteyning about one Acre and halfe lyinge wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the said Deft Mr.Biggs in the said Yeare one thousand six hundred fifty and two wch were mowen and made into hay in the said Yeare wch hay was worth about five & twenty Shillings And further hee saith he cannot depose to this Interr.
7. To the seaventh Interr this Depot saith That the Deft John Bigg had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & two about Tenne Bushells of Apples Peares & Plumes the tith whereof was worth about one Shilling And further he deposeth not.
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21 John Deane of Durley in the County of Gloucr broad weaver aged forty Yeares or thereabouts being sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith That hee doth knowe one Close called Elme Close divided by a dead hedge lying in the pish of Witcombe aforesd occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty and five wch ground was for the most pte mowen and made into grasse Cocks in the said yeare and tithed out by boughs sett upon the tithe Cocks by the Deft or one of his Servants And saith that he this Depot was Imployed by the Complt to cast & make the tithe of the said ground into hay And accordingly hee did upon a certen day in the said Yeare order some pte of the said tithe hay And very shortly after retorneing to the said grounds hee was denyed by the said Deft to meddle any further with any of the said tithe hay for that Mr.Fisher had ordered him the said Deft to pay noe tithe for the said ground as hee said And this Depot further saith that hee doth alsoe knowe one Close of Meadow called West Mead lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the sd Deft Samuel Wintle in the said Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty five wch ground was mowen & made into hay in the sd Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five And saith that hee this Depot was sent by the Complt Mr.Long to demand the tithes of the said ground for the said yeare But the said Deft said hee would pay none. But what quantity of Hay was growen in the grounds before menconed or what the same might bee worth this Depot is not able to judge.
6. To the sixth Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe that the Deft Mr.Biggs did mowe seavall Closes of Meadowe wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the said Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five the pticular names whereof this Depot cannot expresse And saith that hee this Depot was imployed by the Complt to demand of the said Deft Mr.Biggs the tithe for the said Grounds for the said Yeare but the said Deft refused to pay the same And further hee deposeth not.
Thomas Weekes of Witcombe in the County of Somst Gardener aged fower and thirty yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
8. To the Eighth & Ninth Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe that the Deft Robte Fisher was in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & three One thousand six hundred fifty fower & One thousand six hundred fifty & five owner and possessor of one old Orchard of Apples conteyneing about one Acre And of one newe planted Orchard called the forfeild conteyneing fower Acres or thereabouts lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe neare halfe of wch said newe Orchard was was planted wth Apple trees & the other pte wth Cherries And of one other old Orchard there about three quarters of an Acre most pte whereof was planted wth Cherrie Trees And saith that the said Deft had noe Garden fruite but what was planted wthin the Orchards aforesaid in the said Yeares And saith that the Apples growne in the said Orchards wch this Depot did helpe together was about one hundred Bushells wch were worth about twelve pence the Bushell And saith that in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & three and One thousand six hundred fifty & fower there were growen in the said Orchards about twelve Bushells of Apples in each Yeare or thereabouts And further saith that all the garden Fruit wthin the said Orchards were worth for each of the said Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty three & One thousand six hundred fifty & fower the some of tenne pounds apeece or thereabouts And this Depot further saith that the said Deft had growne in the said Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & three & One thousand six hundred fifty fower some small quantity of hopps wch did not come to maturity And further saith that there was a Close called Dole mead wthin the said Pish of Witcombe conteyneing two Acres or thereabouts planted wth Teazles by the Deft Mr.Fisher and some other ptners for two Yeares togeather (vizt.) the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & one & one thousand six hundred fifty & two as this Depot remembereth the pffitt of wch teazles might bee worth in the whole for the said Yeares the some of twelve pounds whereof Mr.Fisher had but the one halfe and the other ptners the rest And further saith not.
Robte Wyatt of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged two and fifty Yeares or thereabouts Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
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22 6. To the sixth and seaventh Interry. this Depot saith that the Deft John Biggs in the yeares One thousand six hundred fifty three One thousand six hundred fifty fower & One thousand six hundred fifty & five did occupy wthin the said pish of Witcombe one Meadowe ground called Ofeild conteyneing betweene eight & nyne acres And one ground called three Acres conteyneing about seaven Acres And one Close called the three Cornered Close conteyneing about three Acres And one close called three halfe Acres conteyneing about one Acre & an halfe And one other Close called Wilshires leaze conteyneing about one Acre and a quarter And one other Close of Meadowe called Rodmore conteyneing about one Acre and an halfe And one Close of pasture called West hill conteyneing about six Acres And one other Close called the Cloud conteyneing about one Acre and an halfe And further saith that in all the said Yeares there was carried out of the Closes before menconed about seaven and fyfty Loades of hay wch hay was worth about Twenty Shillings the loade pte of itt being sold by the said Deft att that rate And further saith that some of the Closes before menconed were fedd wth Guests Horses and other Cattle in one of the said three Yeares but the tithe thereof was of a very small value And this Depot further saith that the said Deft Mr.Bigg did keepe within the said pish of Witcombe in one of the said Yeares two Cowes but what Calves hee had fallen this Depot doth not know And further saith he cannot depose to this Interr.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot saith that the Impropriator or pson wthin the sd Pish of Witcombe hath all the tithe Corne & all tithe Lambes and the Viccar hath all tithe Wooll except of Lyncombe farme wch this Depot hath heard belongeth to the pson And for the tithe hay pte of it doth belong to the pson & some to the Viccar but all the pticulars this Depot cannot expresse But saith that the tithe of the ground called Wilshires Close wch was mowen by the Deft in the Yeares before menconed doth wholy belong unto the pson or Impropriator of Witcombe aforesaid And also saith that neare three ptes of the Tithe hay of the ground before menconed called Ofeilds wch was alsoe mowen by the said Deft in the Yeares before menconed doth belong unto the said pson of Witcombe And further saith that the tithe hay of all the other grounds before menconed doe belong unto the Complt and further deposeth not.
Edith Lockyer of Wells in the County of Somst Spinster aged five and twenty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the nynth Interr this Depot saith That she was a Servant unto the Deft Mr.Fisher in the Yeares one thousand six hundred & fifty & one thousand six hundred fifty & one as this Depot remembreth in the first of wch two Yeares said Mr.Fisher did keepe wthin the said pish of Witcombe fower Cowes & had fallen wthin the said Yeares fower Calves And further saith that in the said first Yeare the said Deft Mr.Fisher had not growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe above two or three Bushells of Apples nor any garden fruit considerable but what was spent in his owne house And further saith that in the last of the said two Yeares the said Deft had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe about fifty Bushells of Apples wch were worth about twelve pence the Bushell & further deposeth not.
George Rogers of Bathe in the County of Somst Chandler aged five & fifty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith that in the Yeare one thousand six hundred fifty the Deft Mr.Fisher had three Acres of ground wthin the pish of Witcombe planted wth Teazells wherein there were growen about three packs of Teazells worth about twenty Shillings the pack and further saith that in the Yeare next ensueing the Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said pish of Witcombe only two Acres of Teazles wch being eaten wth Sheepe were not worth above twenty shillings and in both of the said Yeares the said Deft Mr.Fisher had only the one Moyety of the Teazels And this Depot and one Thomas Bullman had the other Moyety And further saith That for the Yeare last past this Depot did buy of the Deft Mr.Fisher all the Teazells wch hee had growen wthin the said pish of Witcombe for wch Teazles this Depot was to pay forty Shillings And this Depot further saith that in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & three and One thousand six hundred fifty & fower this Depot did soe three Rudges of Teazles groweing upon the Land of the Deft Mr.Fisher lying in Witcombe aforesaid wch this Depot beleeveth were worth about thirty shillings And this Depot further saith that in the Yeares One thousand six hundred & fifty & one thousand six hundred and fifty one when this Depot was a Shairer in the said Teazels if the Complt Mr.Long had demanded the tithe of the said Teazles growen in the said Yeares hee might have receaved it but the Deft Mr.Fisher told this Depot that hee was to pay unto the Complt Mr.Long the tithe for the said 23 Teazles by a Composicon.
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14. To the fourteenth Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe that some tithe Teazles wthin the Pish of Chedder are paid to the Viccar there And further saith that hee this Depot hath paid Tithe Teazles unto the Vicar of Bathesweeke neare adiacent unto Witcombe aforesaid and further saith not.
Thomas Bulman of Bathe in the County of Somerst Gardner aged Forty Years or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith that about five or six Yeares sithence this depot togeather wth one George Rogers did to halfes plant wth Teazles two Acres of ground or thereabouts of the said Deft Mr.Fisher wthin the said Pish of Witcombe for two Yeares togeather And that they receaved the fruits thereof for the first of the said Yeares jointly And that his this Depots quarter part was worth about for the first of the said Yeares fifteene Shillings And further saith that for the last of the two Yeares this Depot sold unto the said George Rogers his quarter pte of the said Teazles for fifteene Shillings And further saith that the said Deft Mr.Fisher was to have the one Moyety of the said Teazles for the said two Years.
Tobias Orchard of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged forty eight Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the nynth Interr this Depot. saith That for 5 or 6 Yeares last past hee this Depot did sheare for the said Deft Mr.Fisher fifty or three score Sheepe one Yeare with another whereof the said Deft Mr.Fisher did ordinarily buy neare one score about Trinity tide or Midsomer to fatt And further saith that in every of the said Yeares the sd Deft might have neare about three waights of Woole besides the Woole of the Sheepe wch hee yearely bought wch Wooll was Yearely worth neare about three pounds & Tenne Shillings And further Deposeth not to the Interr.
14. To the fourteenth Interr this Depot saith that the pson hath the tithe of Corne wthin the said pish of Witcombe and hath all the tithes of the farme of Lyncombe and also the tithe Lambes throughout the whole pish of Witcombe & tithe hay in some certen Closes places And further saith that the Vicar hath wthin the said pish of Witcombe except wthin the said Farme of Lyncombe & some places wch are tithe free all or most pte of the tithe hay and all or the most pte of the tithe Wooll wthin the said pish And further saith that for the smaller tithes of Orchards & Gardens this Depot doth not know whether they belonged to the pson or Vicar there And this Depot further saith that hee hath heard that the Complt Mr.Long when he would not receave a Composcon for tithes wthin the said Pish of Witcombe hee did take the tithes in kind & further hee deposeth not.
Henry Alway of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged forty Yeares of thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith that he doth knowe one Close of Meadowe lying wthin the sayd Pish of Witcombe conteyned about tenne or Eleaven Acres occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five whereof about fower or five Acres was mowen & made into hay in the said Yeare And therein was growne about five or six ordinary Loades of Hay wch was worth about thirteene Shillings & fower pence the Loade And further saith that there was about five Acres of the said Close Agisted with Guests Horses & other Cattle by the sd Deft Samuell Wintle in the said Yeare And conceaveth that that pte of the said ground so agisted was worth about thirteene Shillings and fower pence the Acre And further saith that the Quantity of Acres of the said Ground so mowen as aforesaid was after it was mowen Agested or fedd wth guest horses and other Cattle by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the said Yeare wch was worth about forty Shillings And further deposeth not. Thomas Bush of Witcombe in the County of Somst Clothier aged thirty two Yeares or thereabouts being sworne and examined deposeth as followeth.
11. To the eleaventh Interr this Depot saith that since the Yeare One thousand six hundred forty and eight 24 there was one Mr.Spincke that officiated the Cure in Witcombe aforesaid neare three Qurarters of a Yeare after wch time the Church of Witcombe aforesaid was unsupplyed about two Yeares dureing wch time the Complt.
[Page 11.] did preach about two or three times in the Summer in each of the said Yeares And further saith that after that time there was one Mr.Gwyn that officiated the Cure of Witcombe aforesaid by the space of neare one Yeare & an halfe and after that time the said Cure was unsupplied untill about one Yeare since when one Mr.Baker came to officiate there who hath officiated there ever since And further saith not to this Interr.
13. To the thirteenth Interr this Depot saith that hee togeather wth one Willm.Martyn dureing the time that Mr.Gwyn officiated at Witcombe aforesaid were Imployed by the Complt Mr.Long to Collect & geather the some of Nyneteene pounds & two pence in the said Pish of Witcombe according to a Rate the one Moyety whereof the said Complt Mr.Long pmissed to allowe unto the said Mr.Gwyn And accordingly this Depot togeather with the said Willm.Martyn went throughout the whole Pish & demanded the same but but [sic] could receave none – some of the said pish answering that they had paid Mr.Long others that they had paid Mr.Gwyn & others that they would pay as soon as they had Money And further deposeth not.
Willm Martyn of Lyncombe in the pish of Witcombe in the County of Somst Husbandman aged three score Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
13. To the thirteenth Interr this Depot saith that about three Yeares since or upwards when one Mr.Gwyn Officiated the Cure of Witcombe aforesaid hee this Depot togeather with one Thomas Bush were desired & authorized by the said Mr.Long by Note under his hand to collect the some of Nyneteene pounds or thereabouts by a rate the one Moyety whereof the Complt promised to allowe unto the said Mr.Gwyn for his paynes in officiating there And accordingly hee this Depot togeather wth the said Thomas Bush went to demand the same to some of the Parishioners there but could receave noe mony prsently after wch this Depot went a seacond time to all the Pishioners of the said Pish & demanded the same but could receave noe mony mony only tenne Shillings of one Widowe Nicholas & thirteene Shillings & Fower pence for his own pte wch he paid to the said Mr.Gwyn some of the Pishioners answering that they would pay Mr.Gwyn for he did the Service others that they would pay Mr.Longe or otherwise he might demand it againe And the Deft. Mr.Fisher answered that hee would first speake wth his Tents before hee would pay it and the Deft Mr.Biggs that hee would pay Mr.Gwyn shortly after wch time this Depot togeather wth Mr.Gwyn went throughout the whole Pish of Witcombe aforesaid & demanded the same but could receave noe Money And prsently after this Depot togeather wth the Complt & the said Mr.Gwyn went throughout the said pish of Witcombe & demanded the same but could receave nothing Neither doth he this Depot knowe of any other mony paid unto the said Mr.Gwyn by the said Pishioners but only tenne Shillings more wch this Depot paid unto the said Mr.Gwyn for his owne pte And further deposeth not.
Thomas Wilsheire of Widcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged forty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith that he doth knowe one Close called West Mead lyinge wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five conteyneing about five Acres wch was mowen and made into hay in the said Year out of wch the said Deft. Mr.Wintle carried seaven little Carriages of hay wch. were worth about fourteene or fifteene Shillings the Carriage And further saith he cannot depose.
John Creese of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged twenty one Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith that he doth knowe a Close called West Mead lyinge wthin the Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch 25 was mowen and made into hay in the said Yeare out of wch this Depot carried togeather wth Thomas Wilsheire seaven little Loads of hay wch was worth about thirteene Shillings fower pence the loade But saith that this was not all the hay that was growen in the said Close in the said Yeare but how much there was remayneing this Depot doth not knowe but saith that it was carried by one Thomas Cottle and Gregory Saunders And further Deposeth not.
[Page 12.]
Thomas Cottle of Walcott in the County of Somst Husbandman aged forty Yeares or thereabouts beinge Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith that he doth knowe a Close called West Meade lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe conteyneing by estimacon five Acres occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch was mowen & made into Hay in the said Yeare out of wch this Depot togeather wth one Francis Cottle his Brother did carry three good Loades of Hay wch were worth about twenty Shillings a loade besides the hay wch was formerly carried wth one John Creeses plowe And further saith that there remayned in the said ground one or two loades of hay uncarried whereof one Loade was afterwards carried by one Gregory Saunders And further Deposeth not.
Gregory Saunders of Weston in the County of Somst husbandman aged six & twentie Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe a Close called West Mead lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch was mowen & made into hay in the said Yeare out of wch this Depot was paid by the Deft Samuell Mr.Wintle for the Carriage of one little loade of hay wch was worth about thirteene Shillings and fower pence And further Deposeth not.
John Parsons of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged forty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith that the Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeare one thousand and six hundred fifty & five about one hundred Bushells of Apples wch were worth about one Shilling the Bushell And further saith not to this Interry.
11. To the Eleaventh Interr this Depot saith that in the time whilst the Cure of Witcombe aforesaid was unsupplied the Complt Mr.Long did preach twice or three times in a Sumer & further deposeth not.
James Davise of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged twentie yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined Deposeth as followeth.
6. To the sixth & seaventh Interr this Depot saith there were mowen & made into hay wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty & fower & One thousand six hundred fifty & five by the Deft John Bigge the Closes following (vizt) One Close called Ofeild contyneing by estimacon about fower Acres And one Close called three Cornered Close conteyneing about three Acres And further saith that in the Yeare one thousand six hundred fifty & five the sd Deft Mr.Bigge did mowe & make into hay wthin the said Pish One other Close called Rodmore conteyneing about One Acre And further saith that in the first of the said two Yeares there was growen in the grounds aforesaid about eight Loades of Hay wch was worth about twenty Shillings the Loade And further saith that in the last of the said two Yeares there was growen in the said Closes about tenne loades of hay wch was worth about Seaventeene or eighteene Shillings the loade And saith that there was no tithe hay tithe paid in kind out of the said grounds in either of the said Yeares And this Depot further saith that in the said Yeares there were fed wth Guests Horses and other Cattle of the said Defts owne wthin the said Pish of Witcombe one Close called the three halfe Acres worth about twenty Shillings by the Yeare And one Close called Hill close worth about thirteen Shillings and fower pence by the Yeare And this Depot further saith that the Deft Mr.Bigge had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the said Yeares about six Bushells of Apples worth about 26 one Shilling the Bushell And further deposeth not.
[Page 13.]
Thomas Parker of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged twenty Fower Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
4. To the fowerth Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe one Close called Dole meade lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Henry Chapman in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch was mowen & made into hay in the said Yeare from whence this Depot did carry for the said Defts five little loades of Hay wch were worth about fifteene Shillings the Load And saith that for the residue of the said Yeare he this Depot did feed the same wth the oxen of his plowe & his Sheepe for wch hee is contented to give Mr.Long Satisfaccon And further deposeth not.
John Wyat of Witcombe in the County of Somst Husbandman aged fifty six Yeares or thereabouts being sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the nynth Interr this Depot saith That the Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five about one hundred Bushells of Apples wch were worth about one Shilling the Bushell And further saith that in the six next foregoing yeares the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said Pish about thirty Bushells of Apples one Yeare with another wch were worth about twelve pence the Bushell one Yeare wth another And this Depot further saith That the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeares aforesaid some Cheries and other Garden fruit but the quantities this Depot did not take notice of nor cannot remember And further deposeth not to this Interr.
11. To the eleaventh Interr this Depot saith That dureing the time whilst the Cure of Witcombe aforesaid was unsupplied the Complt Mr.Long did preach there three or fower times a Yeare & further deposeth not.
Joane Wyatt Wife of John Wyatt of Witcombe in the County of Somst Husbandman aged fifty three Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growne in the Orchard adioyneing to the house wherein this Depot liveth wthin the pish of Witcombe three score bushells of Apples & upward in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch were worth about twelve pence the Bushell And further saith that in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & fower there were growen in the said Orchard about tenne Bushells of Apples And for the six Yeares prceeding there were growen in the said Orchard about fifteene Bushells one Yeare wth another as this Depot conceaveth wch were worth about twelve pence the Bushell And further deposeth not.
Christian Fisher Wife of John Fisher of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged three score Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interry this Depot saith That the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growne in one of his Orchards called the Mill Orchard wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five about twenty Bushells of Apples for wch this Depot prffered him Twenty Shillings And further saith that in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & fower she this Depot bought the Apples growne in the said Orchards of the said Mr.Fisher for six Shillings And further deposeth not.
Joane Elford of Witcombe in the County of Somst Spinster aged twenty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot Saith That the Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in two Orchards adioyneing to the house wherein John Wyatt liveth in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five about One hundred Bushells of Apples And that in the Mill Orchard wthin the said Pish the said Mr.Fisher had growen about tenne Bushells of Apples in the said Yeare wch Apples was 27 well worth one Shilling the Bushell And further saith that most part of the said Deft Mr.Fishers garden Fruite in the said Yeare was growen in a
[Page 14.] place called Bitching Clisst Clift wthin the said Pish wch is Tithe free And this Depot further saith that the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen in a garden in forefeild wthin the said Pish of Witcombe some Gooseberries & other garden fruite wch was worth about twenty Shillings in the said Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five And she cannot depose further.
Joane Millard of Witcombe in the County of Somst Spinster aged Twenty eight Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That the Deft Mr.Fisher in the Yeares One thousand six hundred & fifty & one thousand six hundred fifty & one & one thousand six hundred fifty & five had growen Divrs sortes of Garden Fruite in a Garden in forefeild wthin the said Pish of Witcombe the pticulers whereof this Depot cannot well remember but saith that she gathered some Straweberries there in the said Yeare wch she conceaveth were worth about twelve Shillings And further saith that in the Yeare one thousand six hundred & fifty the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen in two of his Orchards adioyneing to the house wherein John Wyatt liveth wthin the said Pish of Witcombe about Eighty Bushells of apples wch were worth at the lest value about sixteene pence the Bushell And further deposeth not.
Anne Sheppard of Witcombe in the County of Somst Spinster aged twenty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
7. To the Seaventh Interr this Depot Saith That the said Deft Mr.Bigges had growen wthin the said Pish of Witcombe in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five about Thirty Bushells of Apples but the said Mr.Bigge did not geather in above Twenty Bushells as this Depot beleeveth wch Apples were worth about one Shilling a Bushell And further Deposeth not to this Interr.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & fower This Depot came to live wth the Deft Mr.Fisher about Bartholomewetide when most of the Garden fruite was gone And saith that the Garden fruite wch was gathered whilst she was there were worth about tenne Shillings And this Depot further saith That in the said Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & fower the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen in two Orchards adioyneing to the house wherein John Wyatt liveth within the said Pish of Witcombe about forty Bushells of Apples wch were worth about one Shilling the Bushell And further saith that in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & two as this Depot remembreth she did help the said Mr.Fisher to geather Straweburres in the Garden in forefeild in the said Pish of Witcombe by the space of one fortnight dureing wch time there was gathered for the said Mr.Fisher about forty quartes of Straweburries wch were worth one wth the other about five pence the quart And further she saith she cannot depose.
Anne Longe of Witcombe in the County of Somst Spinster aged twenty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That in the Yeares One thousand six hundred fifty and one & One thousand six hundred fifty & two & one thousand six hundred fifty & three the said Deft Mr.Fisher had wthin the said Pish of Witcombe two Gardens the one in Forefeild & the other att the bridge Foote And saith that in the Garden in Forefeild were gathered Yearely about Fower score quartes of Strawburries in each of the said Yeares one Yeare wth another wch were worth as this Depot conceaveth about five pence the quart one time wth another And further shee deposeth not.
John Stone of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged Eighty fower Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith That hee Doth knowe a Close called Elme Close Conteyneing 28 Fowerteene Acres and upwards pted by a dead Hedge in the Midest lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five And saith that the better halfe of the said Close was Agisted wth
[Page 15.] the Guests Horses of the said Deft Samuell Wintle in the said Yeare & wth two or three Cowes of one Goodman Creese now and then wch halfe was worth as this Depot Conceaveth tenne pounds in the said Yeare for that this Depot some one Yeare or two before did give Twenty pounds a Yeare for the whole Close And further hee deposeth not.
Robte Allen of Bathe in the County of Somst Broadweaver aged fifty three Yeares or thereabouts being sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth.
4. To the fowerth Interr this Depot Saith That hee doth knowe one Close called Dolemeade Conteyneing about fower or five Acres lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe occupied by the Deft Henry Chapman in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five wch was mowen & made into hay in the said Yeare And further saith that the Complt Mr.Long came into the said ground the said Deft Mr.Chapmans Wife being there prsent & demanded the tithe of the said ground who replyed that she would talke wth her husband & if any thing were due unto them it should bee paid And this Depot saith that the hay there being three little Loades upon the ground was worth about fower or five forty Shillings and further saith that there was one other little pcell of the said ground formerly mowen & made into hay in the said Yeare And conceaveth that the hay thereof might bee about one little loade worth about fifteene Shillings And further hee saith hee cannot depose.
John Bigge Alderman of the Citty of Bathe aged Sixty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth.
2. To the Seacond Interr this Depot Saith That in or about the Yeare One Thousand six hundred Forty and seaven Mr.Boden then Rector of Bathe left the Cure there And thereupon the whole Corporacon of the Cittie of Bathe did pticon for & pcured the Complt Mr.Long to be there Minister & accordingly the said Mr.Longe was setled in the Rectory of Bathe aforesaid And further deposeth not.
John Atwood Alderman of the Citty of Bathe in the County of Somst aged Sixty Six Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined deposeth as followeth.
2. To the seacond Interr this Depot saith That about the Yeare One thousand six hundred forty & Seaven Mr.Boden in the Interr menced did desert the Cure of St.Peter & Paule in Bathe aforesaid & thereupon this Depot being then Maior togeather with most of the Aldermen of the said Citty did Certifie & peticon on the behalfe of the Complt to have him to bee theire Minister & accordingly he was admitted to the Ministry And had an order to officiate the Cure of the Rectory of St.Peter & Paule in Bathe aforesaid being then & nowe under Sequestracon & further deposeth not.
Walter Purlewent of Bathe in the County of Somst Yeoman aged three & Thirty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined deposeth as followeth.
6, 7. To the Sixth & Seaventh Interr this Depot saith that he came to live wth the Deft Mr.Biggs in the Moneth of Aprill in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & three & went away from him in October One thousand six hundred fifty fower And Saith that in the first of the said Yeares the said Deft Mr.Bigges had not much above one Bushell of Apples growen wthin the said Pish but in the second of the said Yeares hee had growen wthin the said Pish about fifteene Bushells of Apples wch were worth about tenne pence a Bushell And further saith that in the first of the two yeares the said Deft Mr.Biggs had one Close called the three Cornered Close lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe pte whereof was Agisted wth Guests horses in the said Yeare worth about twenty Shillings And further saith That in the Seacond of the said two Yeares the said Close was worth mowen & made into hay by the said Deft Mr.Biggs & conceaveth that there was carried out of the said ground about fower Loades of hay worth about twenty 29 Shillings the Loade And further saith that there was noe tithe paid for the said Close for the said Yeare to the Depots knowledge & further he deposeth not.
Anthony Player of Bathe in the County of Somst Clotheworker aged forty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interry this Depot saith That the Deft Samuell Wintle did mowe neare one halfe of the Close
[Page 16.] called Elme Close in the Interr menconed And Saith that there were five good loades of hay carried togeather in the said ground by one John Creeses plough And that there was about two Loades more carried togeather wth hand Speaks And saith that the said hay was worth at least twenty Shillings the loade this Depot being one that did helpe to make the said hay And further saith he cannot depose.
Mary Golding Wife of James Golding of Bathe in the County of Somst Taylor aged fyfty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith That in the Yeare One thousand Six hundred fifty & five She this Depot togeather with One John Deane the Plts Man did helpe make the Plts tithe hay in the Close called Elme close in the said Pish of Witcombe where they found about Fifty grasse Cocks tithed out in the said Ground one Johane Wilsheire having before that time brought Word to the said Mr.Longs house that she should come & tithe the hay And after they had made the said Tithe hay dry for the Complt Mr.Long the said hay was carried away by the said Deft Mr.Wintles appointmt She this Depot retorning from the said grounds mett the said Deft Mr.Wintle who told her that the said Mr.Long should have noe tithe hay out of the said ground for Mr.Fisher would beare him out in it And further deposeth not.
Thomas Hudd of Witcombe in the County of Somst Husbandman aged Seaventy Eight Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
14, 15. To the fowerteenth & fifteenth Interrs. this Depot Saith that the pson or Impropriator hath all the Tithe Corne within the said Pish of Witcombe & all tithe Lambes Except out of such grounds as are tithe free as namely the Upper Hayes Sidenhams Meade & Bitchincliffe & the Parkes & Lawnes above that And Saith that the said Pson or Rector hath some tithe Wooll of certen Sheepe wch are fedd on certen Lands lying wthin the said Pish belonging unto the Hospitall of Mary Magdalin in Witcombe aforesaid called Marlin hold & the manner of tything was to this Depots knowledge att the Sheare time the Occupiers of the said Marlin Lands did put all their Sheepe wch they kept wthin the said Pish into one fold & then they oponed the hurdell & lett runne about Sixty Sheepe as hee remembreth of wch the said Pson or Rector had the tithe Wooll in leiue of all the rest but of latter times the occupiers of the said Mardlin Lands have paid a Composicon for the said tithe Wooll And saith that the pson hath all the tithe hay growen upon lincombe farme wthin the said Pish except of one pcell of Meadowe in Dole meade conteyneing about three Acres caled the Mill Mauth whereof the Vicar hath usually taken the tithe And further saith that the tithe hay of these pcells of ground following wthin the Pish of Witcombe doth belong unto the pson or Impropriator there (vizt) of one pcell of ground in a Close called Ofeild wch pcell conteyneth about five Acres bounded out by a Meare And alsoe the tithe hay of about two Acres lying in the bottome of the More belonging unto Mr.Biggs sune And alsoe the tithe hay of one pcell of ground in a Close lying in the Moore belonging unto the Tenemt lying att the bridge foote called Colthwists Tenement And alsoe the Tith hay of a Close conteyning fower or five Acres called Broad Close or Fooks ground wthin the said Pish And alsoe of one ground called hay Corner And alsoe of one Close called Rugges Meade conteyneing about two Acres And alsoe of one Close conteyneing about two Acres And alsoe of one Close contyneing about one Acre called Colthwist West Meade as alsoe the tithe of a Close adioyneing to Colthwists house And alsoe the one halfe of the tithe hay of the Widowe Gibbs Craft & the Vicar hath the other halfe And alsoe the tithe of one Orchard lying neare Mr.Gaies howse Except one little Corner whereof the Viccar hath the tithe And alsoe the tithe of three or fower Swathes of Hay in Dole meade under the upper hedge & alsoe of about fower Swathes lying by the lower Ditch next to 30 Bathewick And further saith that the Vicar hath all other tithes wthin the said Pish of Witcombe And further saith hee cannot depose to these Interrs.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot saith That hee did never knowe any Tithe in kind paid out of any of the grounds wthin the said pish of Witcombe in the occupacon of either of the Defts Robte Fisher John Biggs & Samuell Wintle but only out of one Close called Elme Close in the Occupacon of the Tenants of the said Deft Mr.Fisher about fower Yeares since And further deposeth not.
John Botwick of Witcombe in the County of Somst husbandman aged Seaventy eight Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & examined deposeth as followeth.
[Page 17.]
14. To the Fowerteenth Interr this Depot Saith That hee never knewe any of the tithes in the Interr named ever demanded or paid wthin the said pish And further saith not to this Interr. 15, 18. To the fifteenth & Eighteenth Interrs this Depot Saith That all tithe Corne & Lambes wthin the said Pish of Witcombe belongeth unto the pson or Impropriator there & noe other to this Depots knowledge And saith that the tithe of Wooll Cow white at three pence the Cowe & the Tenth Calve and Tithe of Hopps Apples Payres & most of the tithe hay & other small tithes belong to the Vicar And saith that the tithes aforesaid have bene so paid as aforesaid by the space of Seaventy Yeares And further deposeth not.
Anne Nicholas of Witcombe in the County of Somst Widowe aged five & fifty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
12, 15, 18. To the twelveth Fifteenth & Eighteenth Interr this Depot saith That Doctor Webb who was Rector of Bathe about twenty Eight Yeares agoe did receave tithes wthin the said pish of Witcombe by Composicon [but by what Composicon] this Depot doth not knowe & so likewise Mr.Webb Sonne of the said Doctor Webb who succeeded his said Father did receave tithes wthin the said Pish by Composicon but by what Composicon this Depot doth not knowe And further saith that in the time of Mr.Masters who succeeded Mr.Webb she this Depot did pay unto the said Mr.Masters tithes in kind for certen Lands wthin the said Pish And further deposeth not.
Thomas Biggs of Bathe in the County of Somst Yeoman aged twenty eight Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
3. To the third Interr this Depot Saith That hee doth knowe one Close called Elme Close lying wthin the Pish of Witcombe aforesaid conteyneing about tenne Acres occupied by the Deft Samuell Wintle in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty five And saith that about halfe of the said Close was agisted wth Guests horses in the said Yeare by the said Deft Samuell Wintle wch pte that was soe agisted was worth about five pounds for the said Yeare as this Depot conceaveth And further hee saith hee cannot depose.
Dorothy Forsith Wife of John Forsith of Bathe in the County of Somst Clerke aged fifty five Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
14. To the fowerteenth Interr this Depot saith that this Depots husband hath receaved tithes for hopes wthin the Pish of Awbrey in the County of Wilts And further deposeth not.
Eleanor Blanchett of Spotterweeke in the County of Somst Spinster aged twenty one Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined Deposeth as followeth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That the said Deft Mr.Fisher had growen wthin the said pish of Witcombe in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & three Cherries wch hee sold for Forty Shillings as this Depot beleaveth some of wch Cherries were growen in a Garden next to the said Mr.Fishers house & the rest in a garden in Witcombe And further saith that hee had likewise growen in the said Gardens in the Yeare aforesaid Strawburries & other Garden fruite wch this Depot beleeveth were worth about fower or five pounds And further deposeth not. 31
Moses Ludloe of Bathe in the County of Somst Gent: aged Seaventeene Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
19. To the Nyneteenth Interr this Depot saith That John Fisher one of the witnesses whose name is inserted into the Warrant under the Comissioners hands nowe pduced & shewen unto him att the time of his Examinacon was psonally Somoned by him this Depot & hath failed to make his appeareance at the Daie time & place in the said Warrant conteyned And saith that the said John Fisher did not appeare in regard hee was bedd Ridden & further saith that hee did likewise psonally Somon one Willm Psons whose name was alsoe inserted into the said Warrant under the Comissioners hands
[Page 18.]
& nowe shewen unto him at the time of his Examinacon And hee did appeare at the time & place therein conteyned but before hee was Examined hee fell sick & went away unexamined And further saith that hee did likewise Ride from Bathe to Sherborne in the County of Dorset being about five & twenty Miles & did psonally Somon Robte Hide the Younger of Sherborne aforesaid Sheppard whose name was inserted into the Warrant nowe pduced & shewen unto him at the time of his Examinacon And hee hath failed to appeare at the daie & place therein conteyned And this Depot further saith that hee pvided a horse for the said Robte Hide to bring him to Bathe the place in the Warrant meconed But the said Robte Hide replyed That the Justices of Somst had noe power to grannt a Warrant for any pson in Dorst to wch this Depot answered that they were Commissioners to wch the said Robte Hide replyed that the Warrant was noe Subpena & therefore hee would not obey itt And further deposeth not.
Henry Wyatt of Bathe in the County of Somst Taylar aged six & Forty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
19. To the Nyneteenth Interr this Depot saith That hee did psonally Somon Mary Parker of Highfeild in the County of Glout. Spinster Servant to one Mr.Rudley wth the Warrant under the Comissioners hands nowe pduced & shewen unto him at the time of his Examinacon & pffered her a horse but shee replyed shee could not ride wthout a pillian & hath failed to appeare at the daie time & place in the said Warrant conteyned And further saith hee cannot depose. Jo.Seymour Jo.Buckland Jo.Masters
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Interrogatories to bee administred unto Witnesses to bee pduced on the pte and behalfe of Robte Fisher Henry Chapman John Bigge and Samuell Wintle Defts to Bill of Complt of George Longe Clerke Complt.
First. Doe you knowe the Pish of Lincombe and Witcombe nere Bathe in the County of Somst and howe longe have you knowne the same and is it not a Compleate and distinct Pish of itselfe.
2. Alsoe is there not wthin the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe a Rectory or Psonage wch was granted by Queene Elizabeth to one Odenzells or Downing and by him to one Chapman wth wch is granted all Tithes of Corne Hay Woole Lambe and all other small tithes whatsoever wthin the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe say what you can herein.
3. Alsoe have the Pishioners of the said Pish alwaies dureing yor memory used to pay a certen Rate or some of Money instead of tithes to such Vicars or Ministers as have officiated or served the Cure of the said Pish for theire labours and paynes therein & have you ever knowne the contrary thereof And what have you heard ancient People say concerneing the said rate or payment.
4. Alsoe doth every Pishioner of the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcome knowe his certen some or 32 pporcon howe much hee ought to pay towards the Rate or Mony payable unto the Minister that serves the Cure there. And howe many Ministers by name have you knowne who have accepted of the said Rate or Money wthout demand of tithes.
5. Alsoe did the Pishioners of Lyncombe and Witcombe about Thirty fower Yeares since revive or newe make theire Ancient Rate wch they used to pay to the Ministers for serveing the Cure of the said Pish. And is this writing nowe shewed unto you the true Copie of the said rate as you knowe or believe.
6. Alsoe as you knowe or believe ought not the Complt to have and receeve from the Tenants of the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe only the ancient rate or some of mony used to bee given to such Ministers as served the Cure there and not to have tithes. And what have you heard ancient Men long since say concerneing the same.
7. Alsoe howe much doth the Shares or pporcons of the Defts Robte Fisher and John Bigge towards the said Rate of mony used to bee given to the Ministers for serveing the Cure of the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe sevrally amount unto.
8. Alsoe hath the Deft Henry Chapman or had hee in the Yeare One thousand Six hundred fifty & five or One thousand six hundred fifty & fower or One thousand six hundred fifty & three any Lames Geese Turkies Hennes Ducks or other Pullen or any Orchard Garden or other grounds in the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe more then only a ground called Little Dolemead wch he rented of one Jane Fisher in the Yeare One thousand six hundred fifty & five or doth hee dwell wthin the said Pish.
9. Alsoe what tithes or other recompense have you knowne the Defts or either of them att any time pay to the Plt or any other for him towards his laboure in serveing the Cure of the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe and when was the same soe paid.
10. Alsoe in former times before the Plt Mr.Long came to officiate in the said Church of Lyncombe and Witcombe howe often in the Yeare had the Pishioners of the said Pish Sermons preached and the Sacremt of the Lords Supper Administred unto them and howe often had they divine Service read every Weeke in the said Church.
11. Alsoe hath the Plt Mr.Long ever Administred the Sacremt of the Lords Supper unto the Pishioners of Lyncombe and Witcombe. And hath hee not still refused to Administer the same unto them and howe long togeather in the Plts time have the said Pish Church bene destitute & without either Sermons prayers or any other Divine Exercise.
12. Alsoe by whome is the said Church nowe of late by the appoyntmt of the Plt supplyed and howe often Weeke doth hee that supplies the same reade service in the said Church and at what times doth he come to reade the
[Page 20] same and did hee ever preach there or is hee Capiable to bury or Cristen and are not the pishoners when occasiones inforced to hire a Minister to Cristen theire Children and bury the dead. 13. Alsoe how long is it since the Deft Bigge first enioyed his Tenemt of Land in the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe and hath hee depastured any other Cattle in his pastures belonging to his said Tenemt then only his Workeing Oxen & Horses.
14. Alsoe did the Deft John Bigge in the Yeare One thousand six hundred and fifty put out his Cowes to depasture or keepinge to the Deft Wintle and did the said Wintle depasture them on his owne ground called the Hayes that Yeare and hath the said Deft Bigge since that time had or kept any Cowes but what were depastured or kept by the said Wintle as aforesaid or hath the Deft Bigge Bread up any Calves.
15. Alsoe have the Occupiers of the ground called the Hayes late in the possession of the Deft Wintle ever 33 paid any tithes for the same ground as you knowe or have heard and is it not reputed to bee pcell of the demesne Lands of the late dissolved Priory of Bath.
16. Alsoe was the Deft Robte Fisher possessed of any Tenement or Lands in the Pish of Witcombe till about the end of December One thousand six hundred forty eight.
17. Alsoe hath any tithe ever bene paid for Cherries Teazles Pullen or Chicken wthin the said Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe as you knowe beleeve or have heard.
18. Alsoe was this Deed or Writing now shewed unto you sealed and delivered in your prsence or doe you knowe the hand Writing or names or markes of any of the pties or Witnesses thereunto or what can you say to this Interrogatory.
19. Alsoe is the Writing nowe shewed unto you a true Copie of the Record or Originall thereof and did you Examine the same by the Record or Originall thereof and where did you examine the same.
20. Alsoe what Speeches have you heard the Complt or any other use or say concerneing the Tithes or Matters in question or what cann you say concerneing any the Matters in question wch you conceave fit to be made knowne Spake the same wth the circomstances thereof att Lardge. Jo: Seymour Jo: Buckland Jo: Master
Depositions of the Defts pte
Thomas Orchard of Witcombe in the County of Somst Husbandman aged Eighty Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and Examined Deposeth as followeth
1. To the first Interr this Depot Saith That hee doth knowe the pish of Lyncombe & Witcombe and hath knowen it by the space of threescore Yeares and saith that it is a distinct pish of it selfe. And that the Minister of Bathe is to find a Minister for that Pish.
2. To the Seacond Interr this Depot saith That hee doth knowe that there is a Rectory or Psonage wthin the said Pish of Witcombe wch doth nowe belong to one Chapman but by whome it was grannted unto him hee doth not knowe And further saith that the said Mr.Chapman or his Tenants doth receive all tith of Corne and some Tithe hay in a place called Dole Meade but not any Tithe Wooll but all Tith Lambes. And doth not knowe that the said Mr.Chapman doth receave any of the small Tithes wthin the said Pish.
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3. To the third Interr This Depot Saith hee cannot depose.
6. To the Sixth Interr this Depot Saith That he hath not knowne any Tithes in kind paid by the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid to the Minister of Bathe but they alwaies paid him a Some of Money Yearely some times more and some times lesse as att one time Thirteene pounds and at another time Nyneteene pounds for a Yeare. And more then that hee hath not knowne paid and further hee cannot depose to this Interr.
10. To the Tenth Interr this Depot Saith That before the Complt Mr.Long came to bee Minister of Bathe the Pishiners of Witcombe had constantly prayers read unto them every Lords Day and twice a weeke besides. And the Sacrament administred to them every Easter and had Sermons preached unto them once a quarter or thereabouts.
11. To the eleaventh Interr this Depot saith That hee never did knowe the Complt Mr.Long ever administer the Sacrament to the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid. And saith that since the Complt 34 Mr.Longe came to bee Minister of Bathe the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid have bene sometimes wthout Divine Service.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot Saith hee cannot depose.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot Saith That hee doth not knowe that any Tithe Teazles Cherries Pullen or Chicken were ever paid wthin the said Pish of Witcombe And further hee deposeth not.
John Weekes of Witcombe in the County of Somst Broadweaver aged Threescore and Thirteene Yeares being Sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth
1. To the first Interr this Depot Saith that hee doth knowe the Pish of Witcombe in the Interr menconed and hath knowne it by the space of Three score Yeares and saith that it is a Pish of it selfe.
2. To the seacond Interry this Depot saith That there is a Rectory or Prsonage wthin the said pish of Witcombe wch doth belonge to one Mr.Walter Chapman And Saith that all Tithe Corne doth belong unto the said Mr.Chapman And that Mr.Chapman hath right to some Tithe Hay in a place called Dolemead wthin the Pish of Witcombe And further saith That the said Mr.Chapman hath noe tithe Woole but it doth belong to Mr.Long the Complt but the said Mr.Chapman hath the Tithe Lambe And hee doth not knowe that the said Mr.Chapman hath any other Tithes att all wthin the said Pish of Witcombe.
3. To the third Interry this Depot saith That hee doth knowe that some Mony was paid by the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid about thirty five Yeres since to one Mr.Pellin then Minister of Bathe in Leiwe of theire Tithes But howe much this Depot doth not knowe And that hee never knewe the Minister of Bathe ever take any tithes in kinde wthin the said pish of Witcombe And more hee saith not to this Interr.
6. To the sixth Interr this Depot saith hee cannot depose other then hee hath formerly deposed.
10. To the Tenth Interr This Depot saith That before Mr.Longe came to bee Minister of Bathe the Pishioners of Witcombe had Sermons preached unto them twice or three times a quarter and that the Sacrement was Administred to them att Easter And that they had Divine Service read unto them twice every Lords day and three times a Weeke besides.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot Saith hee cannot depose.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot Saith That hee never knewe any Tithes of the pticulars in the Interr menconed paid nor never heard of any paid wthin the said Pish of Witcombe but there was usually paid One penny for a Garden and further hee deposeth not.
Samuell Gwyn formerly Examined on the pte and behalfe of the Complt and now on the pte and behalfe of the Deft deposeth as followeth
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2. To the Seacond Interr this Depot Saith That there is a Rectory or Parsonage Impropriate wthin the Pish of Witcombe aforesaid belonging to one Walter Chapman. And saith that hee hath seene an Evidence writen in pchment with a greate Seale unto it shewn unto him by the said Mr.Walter Chapman in wch Deed there was grannted to the Impropriators therein menconed the power of receaveing of all manner of tithes of Corne Hay Lambe Wool fruites of Orchards and Garden fruites and the right of psentacon to the Vicaridge of Witcombe aforesaid And that the said Deed was made by the late Queene Elizabeth as this Depont remembreth.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith That in the Yeres One thousand Six hundred fifty two & One thousand six hundred fifty three whilst hee this Depot officiated att Witcombe aforesaid hee did receave of the Deft Robte Fisher Sixteene Shillings and fower pence and of the Deft Samuel Wintle Twenty Shillings and of the Deft John Biggs tenne Shillings and six pence. But receaved not any mony of the Deft 35 Henry Chapman for and in Leiwe of his paynes for preaching in Witcombe aforesaid. And further he deposeth not.
William Weekes of Witcombe in the County of Somst Gardner aged Seaventy Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth
1. To the first Interr this Depot saith that he doth knowe the Pish of Witcombe aforesaid and hath knowne it by the space of Sixty Yeres or thereabouts
3. To the third Interr this Depot Saith That hee never knewe any Tithes in kind paid to the Minister of Witcombe But saith that hee hath heard that Mony was alwaies paid by the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid to Mr.Meredith Mr.Pellen old Mr.Webb and Younge Mr.Webb Vicars at sevrall times att Bathe in Leiwe of Tithes but howe much Mony was paid or howe the same was collected or paid this Depot doth not knowe And further saith that hee this Depot haveing bene a gardener most pte of his life in Witcombe aforesaid hath often times paid the some of one penny Yearely for a garden there to the Viccars of Bathe for the time being by way of Composicon.
6. To the sixth Interr: this Depot saith that hee cannot depose other then hee hath formerly deposed to the third Interr.
10. To the Tenth Interr this Depot saith that before Mr.Longe came to bee Minister of Bathe the pishioners of Witcombe had prayers read unto them every Wednesday Friday & Saturday and twice every Sunday And that they had Sermons preached unto him [sic] twice a Yeare or thereabouts And had alwaies the Sacrement Administred unto them once or twice a Yeare.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot saith That hee never knewe or heard that ever any Tithes were paid by the pishioners of Witcombe unto the Minister of Bathe for Cherries Teazells Pullen or Chicken And further hee deposeth not.
James Masters formerly examined on the pte and behalfe of the Complt and nowe re examined on the pte & behalfe of the Defts deposeth as followeth.
3, 4, 5, 6. To the third fowerth fifth & Six Interrogatories this Depot saith he cannot depose other then he hath formerly deposed on the pte of the Complt only hee saith that hee hath heard that Doctor Webb & his Sonne have receaved Mony by way of Composicon but whether after the ancient Composicon or after the Composicon made by them this Depot doth not remember.
Thomas Horseman of Witcombe in the County of Somst Taylor aged threescore & Tenne Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne & Examined deposeth as followeth.
1. To the first Interr this Depot Saith that he knoweth the Pish of Lyncombe and Witcombe and hath knowne it by the space of forty Yeares And doth knowe it to bee a distinct Pish of itselfe.
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2. To the seacond Interr this Depot saith That hee knoweth that there is a Rectory or psonage wthin the said pish of Witcombe And further he deposeth not to this Interr.
3. To the third Interr this Depot saith That dureing the time of his Memory the Minister of Bathe for the time being did alwaies receave out of the Pish of Witcombe aforesaid Composicon for tithes Yearely but whether it was alwaies the same Composicon or more or less this Depot doth not knowe And saith that hee hath heard and doth beleeve Mr.Pellen formerly Rector or Minister of Bathe did receave Nyneteene pounds a Yeare or thereabouts for and in leiwe of the Tithes of the whole pish of Witcombe aforesaid 36 dureing his time.
6. To the Sixth Interr this Depot saith he cannot depose other then hee hath formerly deposed to the third Interr.
10. To the Tenth Interr this Depot saith That before Mr.Long came to bee Minister of Bathe aforesaid the Pishioners of Witcombe had Sermons preached unto them three or fower times a Yeare and had the Sacrament administred unto them Upon Palme Sunday Easter daie and upon Lowe Easter Sunday in every Yeare And had divine Service in the Church of Witcombe aforesaid uppon Wednesday Friday and Saturday every Weeke besides twice every Lords daie and Holly daies.
11. To the Eleaventh Interr this Depot saith That since Mr.Long came to bee Minister of Bathe hee never knewe him to administer the Sacrement to any of the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid And this Depot further saith that hee hath knowne the Church of Witcombe aforesaid to be destitute and voyd of divine Service by the space of two Yeares (except) a Sermon nowe and then preached by Mr.Long.
15. To the Fifteenth Interr this Depot Saith that hee never knew the oners or occupiers of the Ground called the Hayes late in the possession of the Deft Samuell Wintle to pay any Tithes for the said ground And further he deposeth not to this Interr.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot Saith that hee never knewe or heard that any tithes were paid wthin the said Pish of Witcombe aforesaid for Teazles Cherries Pullen or Chicken And further he deposeth not.
Willm Baker formerly Examined on the pte and behalfe of the Complts & nowe re examined on the Defts pte deposeth as followeth.
11. To the Eleaventh Interr this Depot Saith That hee did never knowe Mr.Longe Administer the Sacrament to any of the pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid dureing the time whilst this Depot officiated the Cure there And further saith that the pish Church of Witcombe aforesaid hath bene some time destitute of any one to officiate there as this Depot hath heard but howe longe it was soe destitute this Depont doth not knowe.
12. To the Twelveth Interr this Depot saith that the Church of Witcombe aforesaid hath bene supplyed for neare two Yeares last past by him this Depot & by the Appointmt of the Complt Mr.Long once every Lords day beginning about one of the Clock in the afternoone Except two or three Lords daies this Depot being desired by some of the pishioners to come in the afternoone And saith hee did come somewhat the Earlier that the Pishioners might have time to come to Bathe in the afternoone to Service And further saith he did never Preach there neither did hee ever Christen any of the Pishioners Children. And saith that he is not capiable to Christen in regard hee was never ordayned a Minister But doth not knowe nor have heard that the Pishioners did ever hire any Minister to Christen theire Children or bury the dead But saith that att the request of Mr.Long hee acquainted some of the pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid that when there was any occasion to bury or Christen wthin the said Pish Mr.Long would be ready to pforme it And further deposeth not.
John Butler of Witcombe in the County of Somst Free Mason aged three score and one Yeares or thereabouts being Sworne and Examined deposeth as followeth.
To the first Interr this Depot saith that hee doth knowe the Pish of Witcombe aforesaid and hath knowne it by
[Page 24] the space of forty or fifty Yeares And saith that it is a distinct pish of it selfe as it hath bene accompted.
37 3. To the third Interr this Depot saith That hee never knew any Tithes wthin the Pish of Witcombe paid in kind to the Minister of Bathe for the time being but it was usually paid by way of Composicon untill the last Yeare when hee this Depot paid the Complt tithe hay in kinde out of certen grounds wch hee enioyeth wthin the said Pish of Witcombe. And saith that for all the other time since the Complt came to bee minister of Bathe aforesaid hee did pay him Tithes after a Composicon made between the said Complt Mr.Long & this Depot.
9. To the Nynth Interr this Depot saith that hee did heare the Deft Samuell Wintle say that hee had made an Agreement wth the Complt Mr.Long for all tithes due unto him untill the Yeare last past and paid him for the same And further saith not to this Interr.
10. To the Tenth Interr this Depot saith that before the Complt Mr.Longe came to bee Minister of Bathe The Pishioners of Witcombe had Sermons preached unto them three or fower times a Yeare and had the Sacrement Administed unto them two or three times a Yeare and Divine service read three times a Weeke besides twice every Lords day and every holly daie.
11. To the eleaventh Interr this Depot saith that hee never knewe the Complt Mr.Long att any time since hee came to be Minister of Bathe Administer the Sacrement to any of the Pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid And saith that hee hath heard that the Complt hath refused to Administer the Sacrement to some of the said pishioners And further hee deposeth not to this Interr.
12. To the Twelveth Interr this Depot saith that the Church of Witcombe aforesaid hath bene of late time supplyed by one Mr.Baker by the Appointment of the Complt wch Mr.Baker doth usually come to officiate there a shorte time after Dinner And saith that hee never heard the said Mr.Baker preach in the said Church neither did this Depot ever knowe the said Mr.Baker bury or Christen any one wthin the said Pish of Witcombe And further hee deposeth not to this Interr.
17. To the Seaventeenth Interr this Depot saith that about fower Yeares sithence hee did rent the psonage of Witcombe of Mr.Walter Chapman att the rent of Eight and forty pounds. But afterwards the said Mr.Chapman did abate this Depot out of his Rent the some of Forty Shillings for that there were Teazles and peaze grown uppon a ground of the Deft Mr.Fisher wthin the said Pish of Witcombe wch hee refused to pay tithe for unto this depot And further saith that hee never knewe any Tithe paid for Cherries Pullen or Chicken wthin the said Pish of Witcombe to the Minister of Bathe And further hee deposeth not.
Thomas Hudd formerly Examined on the pte & behalfe of the Complt & nowe re examined on the pte & behalfe of the Defts deposeth as followeth.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6. To the seacond third fowerth fifth & sixth Interrs this Depot saith hee hath heard that in Mr.Merediths time who was Rector of Bathe about fifty Yeares since there was a pish rate made for the satisfieing of the Vicars Tithes wch did amount unto the Some of thirteene or Fourteene pounds And further saith That in Mr.Pellens time who succeded the said Mr.Meredith hee beleeveing that it was worth more then the rate did begin to take tithes in kind but was weary of it & thereupon tooke mony for it & raised the rate as hee & the Pishioners could agree after wch Doctor Webb who succeded the said Mr.Pellin did take mony for his tithes wthin the said Pish & raised the rate as the pish & hee could agree untill it was brought to about Nineteene pounds & two pence a Yeare And saith that every of the pishioners did knowe howe much they ought to pay after that rate And further saith That Mr.Masters who was Minister of Bathe about twelve Yeares since did beginn to take the tithes in kind wthin the said Pish but was wary of it & thereupon accepted of the Composicon of Nyneteene pounds & two pence Yearely And further saith that hee hath heard ancient people say that there was alwaies mony paid for tithes wthin the said Pish of Witcombe & not tithe in kind And further Saith hee cannot depose to these Interrs.
10, 11, 12. To the Tenth Eleaventh & Twelveth Interrs this Depot Saith That before the Complts Mr.Longe came to bee
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38 Minister of Bathe the Pishioners of Witcombe had constantly Comon prayer read unto them twice every Sabath day & three times a Weeke & Sermons preach unto them once a Quarter & had the Sacrement Administred unto them about fower times a Yeare And saith that since Mr.Long came to bee Minister there he hath not administred the Sacrement to any of the said Pishioners to this Depots knowledge And further saith that the Church of Witcombe aforesaid was unsupplied by the space of two Yeares or thereabouts And this Depot further saith that the said Church of Witcombe is of late times supplied by one Mr.Baker who doth read a Chapter there & Expound it & prayeth & Singeth a Psalm if there be any to Joyne wth him And sayth that his hower when hee usually cometh is about one of the Clock in the afternoone And saith that the said Mr.Baker did never preach there to this Depots knowledge And this Depot further saith that hee doth not knowe that ever the Complt Mr.Long did refuse to bury or Christen wthin the said pish but saith that some of the pishioners of Witcombe aforesaid have hired one Mr.Gwyn to bury & Christen wthin the said Pish when Mr.Long was not at home And did give him about one Shilling for his paynes And further saith not to this Interrs.
13. To the thirteenth Interr this Depot saith That the Deft Mr.Bigge for seaven or eight Yeares last past hath occupied all his said Tenemt wthin the said Pish of Witcombe except the Grounds called Ofeilds & the dwelling house & Orchards wch fell to him about three Yeares since by the death of his Mother in Lawe And further saith that hee did depasture his grounds with his owne working Cattle untill the last Yeare when he lett some pte of them.
15. To the fifteenth Interr this Depot saith that hee never knewe any tithes paid unto the Vicar of Witcombe out of the grounds called the Hayes lying wthin the said Pish of Witcombe late in the posson of the Deft Mr.Wintle And further cannot depose to this Interr. 16. To the sixteenth Interr this Depot saith That the Deft Mr.Fisher was not possessed of any Lands wthin the said Pish of Witcombe untill about Seaven or Eight Yeares since And further saith not to this Interr. 17. To the seaventeenth Interr this Depot saith That he never heard nor knewe of any Tithe Cherries Teazles Pullen or Chicken that were paid wthin the said pish of Witcombe. And further saith hee cannot depose.
John Botwick formerly examined on the pte and behalfe of the Complt & now re examined on the pte of the Defts deposeth as followeth.
2, 3, 4. To the seacond third & fowerth Interrs this Depot Saith That Tithes have bene paid wthin the said Pish of Witcombe by way of Composicon by the space of thirty Yeares last And saith that those that would not pay by way of Composicon did pay theire Tithes in kind And further saith that about fifty Yeares agoe hee this Depot did pay unto Mr.Meredith then Rector of Bathe the Some of tenne Shillings for a Yeares Tithe by way of Composicon since wch time hee hath bene raised one Shilling a Yeare but hee never paid it And further saith that since that time when hee this Depot did not like the Composicon hee suffered them to take the Tithe in kinde And further saith not to these Interrs. 5, 6, 7. To the fifth sixth & Seaventh Interrs this Depot saith That he hath heard that in the time of Mr.Meredith sometimes Rector of Bathe the Common payment of Tithes wthin the said Pish did not amount unto above thirteene Sixteene pounds Yearely And Saith that afterwards in Mr.Pellens time it was brought to about Eighteene pounds And further saith that in Doctor Webbs time it was brought to Nyneteene pounds two pence & soe hath continued heither unto But saith that those that would not pay after this Composicon they paid theire Tithe in kind And further deposeth not. Jo:Seymour Jo:Buckland Jo:Masters Longe v.Fisher
Notes.
The text is taken from a copy of the depositions held in Bath Record Office. Paragraphing and some punctuation has been added, and the numbering of the items. Dr.John Wroughton deals with the struggle between Puritans and Royalists in A Community at War. In Tudor Bath, p.24, he explains how the tithes in Widcombe and Lyncombe had come to be allotted - the greater tithes, corn, hay, lamb and wool to the Prior and the lesser tithes to the vicar of Stalls Church in Bath, who was to find a chaplain for Widcombe.
39 After the Dissolution, a Lay Rector was appointed in place of the Prior. Richard Chapman the clothier for instance held the rectory on a 21-year lease. At the time of Longe v.Fisher, the Lay Impropriator was Walter Chapman, who had inherited the rectory from his father, Walter Chapman of the Hart. Longe v.Fisher shows that at one time he rented it out to one John Butler, a mason. This does not mean, as has sometimes been thought, that Butler rebuilt the house, on the site of the present Rosemount. The text shows that by ‘parsonage’ the whole district is meant.
Robert Fisher: Alderman and Mayor. Market gardener. Ironically he died in 1656.
Henry Chapman: Alderman and Mayor. Son-in-law of Robert Fisher. Innkeeper, held the Sun by the Stuart Guildhall.
Samuel Wintle: held the George by the old Hot Bath.
John Bigges: Alderman and Mayor. The Bigg(s) family had held land near the West gate and also outside the North gate.
[pp.15 & 16 of the M.S.] Item 3: ‘John Creeses’ plough = his cart. Items 14, 15: ‘Upper Hayes Sidenhams Meade and Bitchincliffe & the Parkes & Lawnes above that’. These are among the fields belonging to the Colthurst/John Hall/Kingston Estate. Although the witness claims that they are tithe free, the 1737 Vestry Survey has them listed for tithes, see p.5 and p.12 of the Vestry M.S. [p.17] Items 15, 18: ‘Cow whit[e]’: Payment to the vicar in lieu of the tithe of milk [OED]
4. SCHEDULES TO THE RALPH ALLEN ESTATE AND WIDCOMBE VESTRY SURVEY
BRO Accession 853
i. A Survey of the Mannor of Hampton in the County of Somerset Belonging to Ralph Allen Esqr: taken by Tho:Thorp and Jno:Overton, 1743.
[page 1.] 40 In hand Ac ro p 110 The Mansion Seat & its Appurtenances 3. 0. 5 107 The farther Garden 0. 3. 24 3 Bear Lyes Wood 16. 1. 17 2 Hampton Down 157. 2. 22 1 Hampton Warren 115. 1. 30 293. 1. 18
108 Hampton Mill & Ham 0. 3. 37 109 The Island 0. 0. 36 1. 0. 33 [page 2.] At Yearly Rent In the Occupation of Thomas Bayley Ac ro p 86 & 87 The Farm House and its Appurtenances next ye Church Yard 1. 2. 18 88 Home Close, Pasture 0. 3. 0 89 Church Furlong, Arable 20. 1. 8 90 Little Chisels, Arab. 3. 2. 4 91 Great Chisels, Arab. 5. 1. 11 92 The Tineing, Arab. 7. 1. 34 93 Weavers Great Mead 24. 3. 23 95 Long Lands, Pasture 5. 0. 23 96 Hanging Furlong, Pasture 10. 0. 15 97 Upper Weavers Mead 6. 3. 0 98 Lower Weavers Mead 4. 2. 8 99 Long Mead & Dry Nashes 15. 0. 32 100 The Patches, Pasture 9. 0. 30 Total 114. 3. 6 [page 3.] At Yearly Rent In the Occupation of Sarah Harford Ac ro p 120 The Farm House and its Appurtenances 1. 0. 12 121 The Vine Yard Field, Arable 2. 3. 4 116 The Home Close, Pasture 3. 0. 16 115 The Orchard 0. 3. 17 112 The Ten Acres, Arable 9. 3. 30 113 The home Ground, Pasture 6. 3. 31 114 Under Court Mead 11. 0. 28 106 Broad Mead 12. 3. 1 111 Barn Close, Pas. 3. 3. 28 66 The Nine Acres, Arab. 9. 0. 32 68 Part of Hocome, Arab. 3. 2. 34 69 Little Hocome, Arab. 2. 0. 16 72 Little Hocome, by ye Orchard, Ara. 1. 1. 28 73 Hocome Orchard 1. 0. 4 75 Great Hocome, Ara. 9. 1. 24 76 The Tining, a Cow Pasture 17. 3. 34 78 Little Hocome, by Long Rag 1. 2. 6 80 Avon Ford Mead & Ingrams Acre 9. 2. 5 82 Part of Avon Ford Mead 2. 2. 29 [page 4] At Yearly Rent In the Occupation of Sarah Harford Ac ro p 41 83 A Plot of Land inclosed with Charmburys 0. 0. 15 84 Another Plot enclosed Eastwd.wth.Do. 0. 0. 15 54 Brim Lands, Arable 4. 3. 10 53 Hocombe Tining, at Church Stile, Arab. 5. 1. 22 52 A Plot of Land enclosed with Charmburys Acre 0. 0. 14 42 Under Cliff, Pas. 3. 0. 32 34 The Six Acres, Arab. 5. 2. 30 36 Hocome Corner, Arab. 7. 1. 7 17 Innocks Mead 6. 0. 14 33 Farm Pinn, Arab. 4. 0. 16 27 Green way Field, Arab. 7. 0. 28 26 A Plot adjoining Charmbury’s Acre 0. 0. 12 23 Pitt Land, Arab. 1. 1. 3 21 Great Pitt Lands 10. 0. 5 20 Everlays, Pasture & Woodland 2. 1. 23 14 Under Stowles, Pas. 2. 3. 30 13 Under Stowles, formerly in 4 parts 5. 0. 36 5 Brook Mead 4. 3. 22 4 Breaks Mead 5. 3. 20 Total 187. 3. 13
[page 5.] At Yearly Rent In the Occupation of Peter Deverell Ac ro p 124 The Farm House and its Appurtenances 1. 1. 20 130 The Sixteen Acres, Pasture 14. 2. 1 131 Part of Stone Mead 1. 0. 38 132 The other part of Stone Mead 7. 1. 20 133 Another part of Do. 5. 0. 19 129 Cart way Field, Arab. 12. 3. 22 128 The Twenty Acres, Arab. 23. 2. 0 138 Alder moor Field, Arab. 10. 1. 5 135 The Alder Bed or Moor 1. 2. 36 134 Alder Bed Mead 12. 2. 29 139 Another part of Alder Bed moor & Want Lands, formerly in several Parcels 14. 0. 18 142 Ditto Ditto Ditto 1. 1. 24 143 Ditto Ditto Ditto 4. 2. 39 144 Ditto Ditto Ditto 1. 3. 8 145 Apple Tree Fields, Pas. 1. 0. 15 146 Ditto 2. 1. 21 147 Ditto 1. 2. 6 149 Ditto 2. 1. 32 150 Ditto 3. 2. 18 148 The Nine Acres, Arable 7. 0. 6 [page 6.] At Yearly Rent In the Occupation of Peter Deverell Ac ro p 152 The Home Stall, late Adams’s 2. 3. 7 153 The Home Close, Pasture 1. 2. 29 156 The Home Ground, Arab. 8. 3. 18 157 French Grass Ground, Arab. 9. 2. 34 158 Lydes Field 2. 0. 0 159 Great Lydes, Pasture 5. 0. 23 160 The Twelve Acres, Arab. 11. 2. 16 42 161 Little Lydes, Pasture 0. 3. 32 162 Lydes Coppice 1. 3. 18 164 The nine Acres, Arab. 8. 0. 38 165 The four Acres, Arab. 3. 3. 12 168 Mount Hills 9. 1. 16 173 Little Mount Hills 1. 3. 16 174 Yonder Mount Hills, Pas. 5. 1. 20 29 Ham Wood 7. 1. 8 30 The Ham 1. 3. 0 Total 213. 0. 24
[page 7.] Small Estates At Yearly Rent Ac ro p 59 Sarah Tuckers Tenemt.& Close 0. 3. 22 60 Willm.Bush’s Tenemt.& Close 0. 3. 20 64 James Bolwells House & Close 0. 3. 18 125 Jno.West, a Tenemt.& Close 0. 3. 0 127 Willm.Fry, a Tenemt.& Orchard 0. 2. 31 155 Ephraim Bolwell, a Tenemt.& Garden 0. 1. 28 62 The Poor House 0. 0. 2
In Occupation of Mr.Robt.Fisher
44 The Acre of Mr.Allens 1. 0. 15 103 Nashs Mead 2. 0. 16 Small Estates contain 7. 2. 32
[page 9.] Life-holds Jno.Chanter 122 Pound Close 0. 3. 26 56 At Brim Lands, an Acre 0. 2. 1 16 Little Field 3. 2. 24 40 Under Cliff 1. 3. 7 47 Hocome Orchard 0. 2. 19
Danl.Chanter 101 Nash’s Mead 4. 2. 22 169 The Field Piece at the Side of Mount Hills 3. 1. 0 63 Sarah Fishers House & Garden 0. 1. 5 117 Mr.Richd.Holders Tenement & Garden 0. 0. 8 Contain 15. 2. 32
[page 11.] Freeholds Thos.Charmbury Ac ro p 65 The Home Stall 2. 2. 22 61 The Close South of the Street 0. 1. 35 57 An Acre at Brim Lands 0. 2. 20 51 An Acre at Hocome 0. 3. 24 39 Under Cliff 1. 2. 37 38 Hocome Bottom 5. 1. 3 15 Bar Banks 0. 3. 0 43 11 Everlays 1. 0. 39 6 Brook Mead 2. 0. 10 25 An Acre at Greenway 0. 3. 3 31 Farm Pinn 4. 2. 11 67 An Acre at Hocome 4 0. 3. 6 70 Hocome Field 0. 3. 2 71 A little Ground at Hocome 1. 1. 5 77 Great Hocome Field 3. 0. 31 79 Long Rag Orchard 0. 3. 4 4 74 Purple Orchard 0. 0. 38 81 Short Rag Orchard 0. 1. 1 4 137 Hurdle Field 0. 2. 24 4 141 Shoulder of Mutton 1. 2. 35 30. 2. 30 [page 12.] Freeholds James Charmbury Ac ro p 119 The Home Stall 0. 3. 33 58 An Acre at Brim Lands 0. 3. 19 55 An Acre at Do. 0. 3. 28 35 The Tining, near Hocome Corner 6. 0. 27 48 Hocome Field 2. 1. 31 49 An Acre at Hocome 1. 1. 1 19 Bar Banks Orchard 2. 1. 10 12 Under Stowles 1. 3. 10 28 The Ham 0. 3. 8 104 Little Close at Nash Lane 1. 0. 37 105 Long Mead at Do. 2. 1. 29 136 Want Lands, by ye Aldermoor 1. 0. 13 140 Want Lands, shooting to the River 1. 0. 35 123 Mr.Chas.Holders Close, House & Appurtenances 3. 0. 7 26. 2. 8 [page 13.] Freehold In Occupation of Mr.Robt.Fisher Ac ro p 118 The Home Stead House & Close 0. 2. 14 37 Ammons Bank 4. 2. 6 18 At Bar Banks 2. 3. 24 7 Everlays 3. 1. 0 43 The moiety of Under Cliff Field of near 1. 3. 33 45 Hocome Field 2. 3. 23 46 A Ground at Hocome 3. 3. 8 50 A Little Close at Hocome 1. 0. 9 20. 3. 37 12th.Page 26. 2. 8 11th.Do. 30. 2. 30 Total 78. 0. 35 [page 14.] Mr.Robt.Fisher Glebe Lands
126 The Parsonage House & Close 3. 1. 14 154 A Small Close & Garden 0. 2. 24 32 Farm Pinn 3. 2. 39 44 24 An Acre at Greenway 0. 3. 3 22 Pitt Lands 1. 1. 36 41 Under Cliff 1. 2. 26 8 Near Everlays 0. 3. 32 9 Yonder Everlays 1. 2. 32 10 Everlays Coppice 0. 2. 28 43 The moiety of Under Cliff near 1. 3. 33 94 Long Lands 5. 3. 28 102 Nash’s Mead 03. 2. 34 151 A little Close next Bath Wick 0. 3. 25 163 Lydes Field 3. 1. 8 166 At Mount Hills 0. 2. 20 167 Another Acre at Do. 0. 3. 11 171 At Mount Hills Field 2. 1. 9 170 At Great Mount Hill 4. 1. 26 172 At Little Mount Hill 0. 3. 30 176 At yonder Mount Hill 3. 0. 17 Contain 42. 3. 35 [page 16.] Concordance Ac ro p Lands in hand 293. 1. 18 Hampton Mill & Lands adjoining 1 -. 33 At Yearly Rent In Occupacon of Thos.Bayley 114. 3. 6 Sarah Harford 187. 3. 13 Peter Deverell 213 -. 24 Small Estates 7. 2. 32 Life Holds 15. 2. 32 Free Holds 78 -. 35 Glebe Lands 42. 3. 35 Church Yard 0. 2. 28 The Fishery being ye moiety of ye River 18. 3. 12 Waste Lands 10. 3. 16 Total 985. 1. 4
Index 1 Lands in Hand And Mill 2, 3, & 4 Thos.Bayley Sarah Harford 5 & 6 Peter Deverell 7 Small Estates 9 Life Holds 11, 12, 13 Freeholds 27. Glebe Lands 16 Concordance ii. The Reference to the Plan of the Estate belonging to Ralph Allen Eqr. in the Parishes of Widcomb and Combe in the County of Somerset Survey’d by Thomas Thorp in the Year 1741
The Reference [page 1.] A R P 1 A Brewhouse and Malting Office with ye Yard & Waste lands about ye same formerly part of Dole Meadow 2. 2. 28
2 The other part of Dole Meadow 18. 2. 13 45
3 Little Dole Meadow now a Garden in ye Tenure of Mr.Knight late Colthursts 5. 2. 19
6 Witcomb Hill now Part a Garden late Smiths. Richd Lancashire Tenant 3 -. 8
[page 2.] 7 Witcomb Hill with a small piece of Garden at ye lower end ye way to Clarkon Down south call’d ye foot of ye hill late Wiltshire’s. Richd Edgerton Tenant 2. 3. 16
8 Colethurst’s Tineing upon Widcomb hill New Inn South (now Mr.Bayly’s) 6. 3. 19
9 Colethurst’s little Tineing upon Widcomb hill formerly both in one 1. 2. 9
10 Wiltshire’s Tineing the last Tineing West (Mr.Kington) 1. 2 -
11 Fisher’s Garden late Wiltshires (now the Poor house & a Garden rented by Lancashire) 2. 2. 18
[page 3.] 12 The Row of Houses by the New Road with the Gardens on ye backside of ye same 0. 1. 32 Three little Gardens on ye same side ye road measure together 0. 3. 10
13 Blakelee upon Beeching Clift late Colethursts 3. 2. 24
14 Lancashire’s Garden & Tenemt call’d ye foot of ye hill late part Pitchers part Colethursts 2. 2. 6
15 &16 Broad’s three Gardens late Colethursts by the New Road (Mr.Bayly) 3. 1. 34
[page 4.] 17 Colethurst’s House and Gardens upon ye top of ye hill by new Inn (Mr.Bayly’s House & Garden) 1. 1 .33
18 Thos Robbins’s Garden or Nursery late Colethursts 1. 1. 11
19 Colethursts Ox Barton & Barns a fountain being in ye Same 0. 1. 17
21 Little field part Mr.Allen’s part Mr.Bush’s. Mr.Allen’s part 2. 3. 32
23 The Bowling Ally late Colethursts (sold) 1. 1. 25
27 Lower Coombs in the Occupation of P.Bennet Esqr (Leasehold) 3. 1. 25
[page 5.] 28 Lower Edge late Colethursts Jno Murford South 1. 3. 6
30 Little field Tineing late Colethursts 1. 3. 18
32 Second Edge Tineing late Colethursts 4 - -
33 The other Edge late Colethursts 4. 1. 5
34 Uper Edge late Colethursts 2. 2. 16
36 Park Hays in the Occupation of P.Bennet Esqr 1. 2. 11
46 38 Lane end Garden & house late Colthursts 1 -. 31
39 Lane end field late Colethursts 2. 2 -
[page 6.] 40 Lane end uper field late Colethursts 7. 2. 12
42 Part of Bean Close, Butt Ash Garden South 1. 1. 4
43 Widow Fishers Garden call’d Butt Ash 2. 3 .6
44 Bean Close 4. 2. 10
45 The Rag late Wiltshires with a Garden & Orchard in three parts 3. 2. 3
46 Hangingland Tineing by the way that goes up to Combe, late Wiltshires 3. 2. 32
47 Hangingland Tineing late Colethursts 6. 2. 36
[page 7.] 49 Three Corner’d Padduck late Wiltshire’s 0. 2. 16
50 A Field in Lincomb bottom late Colethurst’s half wood not ours 2. 2. 15
51 Loops hill formerly part of Wiltshires part Colethursts with a piece call’d the Breach formerly in three pieces now in one 7 -. 3
54 Colethurst’s hill Arable 5. 3. 4
55 Coulverwell late Pools’ now Part of the Rookery L 8. 2. 31
56 The Wood part of Coulverwell below ye way now the Lower Wood near Ponds L 4. 1. 20
57 The lower part of Thesilly Close now our Slope in Front of House L 4 - -
[page 8.] 58 The Padduck below the Garden (now Part of the Slope) L 1. 3. 12
59 The Garden (now Slope) L 6 -. 24
60 Shepards’ Wood now a Wilderness with ye Stables now the upper wood L 6. 3. 24
61 Part of ye Lawn or Padduck with ye Great house L 18. 3. 19
62 The other part of ye Lawns L 10 -. 37
63 The Kitchen Garden L 0. 3. 38
64 The Padduck and wood L 1. 3. 37
65 The other part of Thesilly Close now Part of the Rookery L 4. 1. 18
[page 9.] 66 The Rookery Trees L 3. 2. 25
67 Colethurst Down L 19. 1. 27 47
68 Combe Down late Mr.Smith’s 15. 1. 15
69 Another part of Combe Down 15. 3. 12
70 Collibee’s Down Alice [Alias] Green Down Alice [Alias] East Down the lower part 20. -. 33
71 The middle part of Collibee’s Down Alice [Alias] Green Down Alice [Alias] East Down 18. -. 5
[page 10.] 73 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field 5. 2. 37
75 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field 1. -. 32
76 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Wiltshires 0. 3. 34
77 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field 1. -. 6
79 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Widow James’s 1. 2. 12
80 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field 2. 2. 20
[page 11.] 81 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field 5. -. 36
85 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Widow James’s 1. -. 1
87 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Widow James’s 1. 3. 19
88 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Wiltshires 1. 1. 32
89 Mr.Allen’s field piece in Widcomb field late Widow James’s 1. 2. 39
[page 12.] 90 Mr.Allen’s field piece in Widcomb field late Wid.James’s 7. -. 37
92 Mr.Allen’s field piece in Widcomb field late Wid.Smiths 1. -. 12
95 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late Widow James’s 1. 1. 8
97 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field under Collibee’s hedge late James’s 3. -. 4
99 Mr.Allen’s piece in Widcomb field late James’s 1. -. 29
107 Cross Keys Ground late Parkers 18. -. 34
[page 13.] 108 The other part of Cross Keys Ground on ye other side of ye way late Parkers 8. 3. 14
109 The other part of Parker’s lands or Burnt House Grounds being part of 110 Odwood Down as ye last mention’d are 35. -. 37
112 Horscomb late Parker’s with a house in ye same 5. -. 13
48 114 Barn Ground being ye further part of green down or odwood down 16. 2. 25
120 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb late James 3. 3. 20
122 Another part of Odwood down late Parkers 12. 1. 6
[page 14.] 123 Collibee’s uper Down or Quarry Ground being the third part of Green down Alice [Alias] East down 18. 3. 39
124 Part of Combe down late Lanes 10. -. 24
125 Mr.Allens Horscomb late Wiltshires 2. -. 16
126 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb late Widow James’s 1. 3. 27
128 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb late Collibees 3. 1. 31
129 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb late James’s call’d Loops Horscomb 3. -. 4
[page 15.] 131 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb wood late Wid.James’s 6. 2. 16
132 Mr.Allen’s Horscomb piece above the wood late Widow James’s 1. 1. 11
133 The Vineyard part of Combe down 1. 1. -
134 The down above the Vineyard part of Combe down 13. 2. 22
135 The Quarry Ground with ye Crane Houses being part of Combe down with ye Row of houses 16. 1. 39
136 Part of Combe down above ye houses 21. 3. 19
[page 16.] 137 Spring bottom a part of Combe down a large Spring rising in the East side of ye same late Graces 1. 3. 27
146 Surt wood field late Chambery’s 5. 2. 18
147 Surt wood Ground late Wiltshires 4. 2. 16
149 Surt wood below the Ground late Wiltshires 2. 1. 27
150 Chambery’s Meadow or Alder bed meadow a Spring running down the same from Spring bottom 5. 1. 4 [page 17.] 153 Breach Hills by ye farm Acre 12. 1. 28
154 Farm Acre or Coach road at ye end of Breach 1. 1. 1
155 Kingham late Chamberys 11. 1 -
158 French Grass field with Wiltshires Widow Charmburys two Acre late Saml Chamberys 5. -. 32
49 The Highways throughout ye Plan 14. 1. 24
The part of ye River 1. 3. 8
159 Baileys Close by Twerton Road 4. 1. 29 Total of Acres 99. 1. 4
603. 2. 33
[page 18.] The Free-hold Lands of Philip Bennet Esqr., Thomas Passons & Will.Wiltshire A R P 24, 25 The home Stalls and Gardens & Duns meadow together with Passons’s & & 26 Wiltshire’s home stalls & Orchards 19. 2. .4
29 Uper Combes Pasture 2. 1. -
31 Shills Arable 7. 3. 31
41 Wicksteed’s House & Garden 0. 2. 30
[page 19.] 78 Mr.Bennets piece in Widcomb field 1. -. 14
86 Mr.Bennets piece in Widcomb field 1. -. 1
96 Mr.Bennets piece in Widcomb field 2. 2. 16
130 Mr.Bennet’s Horscomb 6. 2. 12 41. 2. 28
91 A Piece belonging to ye Royalty in Widcomb field 1. -. 2
[p.20] Widow Bushell’s freehold Lands A R P 102 Bushells’ Tineing by Widcomb field 6. 1. 34
164 Combe field by ye Cross Mr.Houltons 26. -. 24
160 Combe farm Tineing 14. -. 18
Free Lands
20 The New Inn Mount Pleasant with the Orchard above Widcomb Street together 2. -. 38 [page 21.] Edwd.Marchants free Lands A R P 4 & 5 Brickiln fields 5. -. 38
James Gibbs’s free Lands
35 Mill Close & Pond with a house 1. 3. 14
Parson Robbins’s free Lands 50
74 His piece in Widcomb field tis found to be Mr.James’s 1. 1. 11
83 His piece in Widcomb field 2. 2. 33
104 His Tineing by Widcomb field or Entry Hill 5. -. 14 6. 1. 25
[page 22.] Charles James’s free Lands A R P 72 His piece in Widcomb field 5. 3. 3
77 His piece in Widcomb field 1. -. 16
84 His piece in Widcomb field 2. 2. -
93 His piece in Widcomb field 0. 3. -
94 His piece in Widcomb field 0. 3. 16
98 His piece in Widcomb field 5. -. 38
[page 23.] 100 James’s Tineing by Widcomb field 9. 1. 32
101 His other Tineing formerly belonging to the other 5. 2. 27
103 His Tineing by Widcomb field formerly all in one piece 4. 3. 15 bought by R.Allen 36. -. 27
Walter Wises free Lands
48 His Tineing by Widcomb field way or three Corner’d Padduck 2. -. 31
52 & His hills by Loops hill 4. 3. 39 53 7. -. 30
[page 24.] Widow Smith’s free Lands A R P 82 Her piece in Widcomb field by Collibee’s wall 3. -. 3
37 Her Padduck by Lane end Garden 1. -. 22
105 Her field piece & Quarry in Widcombe field on Entery Hill 1. 1. 39
1153 Widow Smith’s Horscomb 4. -. 19 9. 3. 3 [page 25.] John Hicks’s free Lands
83 His piece in Widcomb field 3. 2. 2
119 His Horscomb mistake this is Mr.Roswell Gibbs’s & 118 is Mr.Hicks’s 3. -. - 6. 2. 2 51
Mr.Saml. Bush’s free Land
22 Part of Little field on the West side 2. 1. 2
[page 26.] Widow Chambery’s free Lands
113 Her Horscomb 6. 1. 12
John Harris’s free Lands
111 Old house & Ground bought by R.Allen 4. 1. 16
Mary Clements free Lands
117 Her Horscomb bought by R.Allen 4. 1. 32
[page 27.] Rosewell Gibbs’s free Lands
118 His Horscomb a mistake this is Mr.Hicks’s & No.119 is Mr.Gibbs’s 4. 1. 9
Geo. Clements free Lands
121 His Horscomb 4. -. 4
Mr.Collibee’s free Lands
106 His Tineing by Entry hill or Widcombe field 9. 3. 30
116 His Horscomb bought by R.Allen 3. -. 36 13. -. 26 [page 28.] Edwd.Harris’s free Land
127 His Horscomb bought by R.Allen 6. 1. 36
Richd.Rickett’s free Lands
138 His Radneys uper piece 2. -. 4
139 His Horscomb piece 2. 1. 16
140 His Horscomb wood 2. 2. 25
141 His Arable piece above ye wood by Green Lane 1. -. 4
152 His Lower Radneys a house in ye same bought by R.Allen 5. -. 26 13. -. 35 [page 29.] Mr.Thos.Shutes free Lands A R P 142 His Horscomb field bought by R.Allen 2. 1. 24
144 His other Horscomb field 4. -. 36 52
148 His Willow bed meadow 2. 1. 8
151 His Radneys 2. 2. 32
159 His Tuckin Mill wood & meadow call’d new Lease 9. 2. 1 21. -. 21 [page 30.] Mr.Bushes free Lands A R P 156 His Radneys bought by R.Allen 10. -. 37
161 His Tineing 5. -. 6
163 His meadow in 4 Parts 18. 2. 11
The Brook on ye East side of ye same belongg to ye meadow 1. 2. - 35. 1. 14 [page 31.] Thos.Ward’s free Lands A R P 143 His Horscomb wood 2. 1. 38
162 His Tineing by Bush’s meadow 5. 2. 23 8. -. 21
Saml .Chambery’s free Lands
145 His Horscomb 4. 2. 20
James Grace’s free Land
157 His Tineing 1. 1. 15
[page 32.] Total of Acres in ye whole Plan 897. 2. 17
[page 33.] [in the later hand:]
The Measurement of the Farm bought of Mr.Collet A R P The Home Stall & Garden 0. 3. 37 Lower Orchard and old Hop ground 2. 3. 35 The Batch 1. 1. 28 Foxshole 9. 1. 6 Neidges 11. -. - Park Wood 4. 2. 6 Grants Wood 6. -. 16 Adkins’s Field 4. -. - The Spinny in Do. 0. 1. 8 The Young Orchard in Do. 0. 1. 14 The Long Ground part Bean Close 2. 2. 16 The Square Field part of Do. 3. -. 24 The Little Peice in Do. 0. 1. 18 Barn Close 2. 2. 4 53 The Alder Bed below Do. 0. 1. 17 Malt house & ap. 0. 1. 16 South Side a Young Orchard 0. 2. 38 51. -. 3
Index Page Mr.Allen 1 Mr.Bennet 18 The Royalty 19 Wid.Bushell 20 New Inn Orchards 20 Ed.Merchant 21 James Gibbs 21 Parson Robbins 21 Cha.James 22 Walter Wise 23 Wid.Smith 24 Jno.Hicks 25 Mr.S Bush 26 Wid.Chambery 26 Jno.Harris 26 Mary Clements 27 Rose:Gibbs 27 Geo.Clements 27 Mr.Collibee 28 Ed.Harris 28 Richd.Rickets 29 Mr.T. Shutes 30 Mr.Bush 31 Thos.Ward 31 Sam.Chambery 31 Total 32
[in the later hand] Collets Farm 33 - Field at Od Down bought off Mr.Parker - Estate bought of the Duke of Kingston - The Little field bought of Charmbury adjoyning to Morrices in Combe £ - The Ground bought of Mr.Shute in Combe £ - Mr.Marchants Groungs [sic] or the Lodge £ - Harris’s Horsecombe £ - Collibees Do. £ - ? Rodney’s £ - Rodds? Horsecombe £
Notes The Reference to Widcombe and Combe.
3. ‘Little Dole Meadow’. Appears to be the 5 acres rented by Henry Chapman. Became Knight’s Orchard and then Bartlett’s. 12. ‘The Row of Houses by the New Road’. Now known as the Ralph Allen Cottages, or Allen’s Row, at the foot of Prior Park Road. Once scheduled for demolition, but were restored. 17. ‘Colethurst’s House and Gardens … (Mr.Baylys House)’. The site of Widcombe Crescent. 20. The New Inn was demolished later in order to widen the road. 26. ‘The Bowling Ally’. Became a graveyard. 54 27. ‘Wicksteed’s House & Garden’. The pleasure garden known as the Bagatelle, included by Trevor Fawcett in his study of pleasure gardens south of the river. See p.4 of the Vestry Survey, ‘Jewelling Mill’.
iii. A Survey of the the [sic] Parish of Widcombe taken by order of Vestry Augst:22d:1737
[page 1.] Name of ye Land &ca. Owners Name Tenants Name £. s. d
Baylies Close Ralph Allen Esqr. Willm.Bradly 11 - - Brewhouse & Malt.Do. Ditto Collin’s & Co. 180 - - Stone Yard & Sheds Ditto 3 - - A Shop in the Stone yard Ditto Jonathan Light 1 10 - A Shop in Ditto Ditto Lawrance Orchard 1 10 - 55 Dole Mead Ditto Ditto Widow Price 34 - - Little Dolemead Ditto Wm.Knight 20 - - Ground at Hill foot Ditto Richard Edgerton 7 - - Themes 2 tinnings Ditto Ricd.Lancashire 10 - - The Paddock Ditto Thos.Fisher 3 - - Coulthurst Tenements Do. Several Tenants 30 - - A House & Garden Ditto Ricd.Lancashire 16 - - Pitchers Stable Ditto 1 - - White Heart Inn Ditto Lawrence Orchard 30 - - A House Ditto Richard Jones 8 - - A House Ditto Widow Grist 14 - - Ten Houses in Withy Bed Ditto Several Tenants 55 - - A Garden Do. Saml.Broad 13 - - The Elm Noursery Ditto - 7 6 A Garden by Bean Close Ditto Thomas Fisher 6 10 - A Garden Ditto Thomas Robbins 5 3 - Wiltshires Garden Ditto Thomas Fisher 7 15 - Bean Close & Orchard Ditto James Atwood 13 10 -
[page 2.] Ralph Allen Esqr. Coulthurst 2 Tynings Ditto Richard Lancashire 12 - - 3 Grounds by ye Ring Bells } 1 Bush a[t] Nedge, 2 Acres /2} Ditto Late John Ansty 18 - - 1 in Little field & 2 Acres /2 } adjoining to Little field } Bowling Ally & Coombs Ditto Philip Bennet Esqr. 6 - - Past. park Ham 1 Acre Ditto Ditto 2 - - 1 Grass Ground at Horscomb Ditto 1 - - 3 Grounds late Collibys Ditto Colthurst Down Ditto 18 - - Loops Hill 3 Grounds Ditto 6 - - Colthurst Hill Ditto 6 - - Hangingland Field Ditto 8 - - 2 Grounds Ditto James Maggs 16 - - A Kitchen Garden Ditto in hand 2 - - a House Ditto John Lydiat 4 - - A Tenement Ditto Charles Duke 4 - - Colverwell Ditto In hand Thistle Lease Ditto Melancholly Walk Ditto The Paddock Ditto Shutes Lawns Ditto Sheppards Mead 2 Grounds Ditto Colverwell Wood Ditto Shepperds Wood Ditto Shepperds Copse Ditto The House & Ground Ditto The Stable & Ground Ditto Little Bleachly Ditto James Atwood 4 - - a Strip & Copse a[t] Lyncomb Ditto Thos.Pritchard 2 - -
[page 3.] 2 Houses John Amer Gibbs & Brucks 6 - - 2 Ditto Ditto Chambers & Phelps 56 Daughter 6 - - 1 Ditto Ditto Richard Jefferies 4 10 - 1 Ditto Ditto Rich 3 10 - 3 Ditto Ditto Bush, Lent & Hill 5 - - Rufferidge Ditto John Tylee 5 - - a Ground in Moors Barn & Close Ditto John Wiltshire 8 - - an Orchard Ditto In Hand 1 10 - Bleachly James Atwood In hand 8 - - Bellmead Thomas Atwood In hand 6 10 -
Parsonage house & Orchard Forefield Garden P.Bennet Esqr. Richd.Lancashire 16 - - Forefield Ditto Thos.Fisher 14 - - Nedge Ditto In hand 8 - - 2 Grounds call’d Sheels Ditto 7 - - Wallnut Tree Sheels Ditto 2 10 - Betwixt house & Garden Ditto P.Evans & Others 7 - - Wiltshire Late house & Garden Ditto Late Pritchard 8 8 - A House, Garden & Stables Ditto In hand 50 - - Dunsmead & pt.of park hays Ditto In hand 0 0 0 A Ground at Horsecomb Ditto Late Harden 3 - - 4 Acres in Widcomb field Ditto Thos.Pritchard 1 - - Pullings Ditto In hand 4 - - A Mill & Orchard Ditto Wm.Hunt 16 16 - Parsonage Orchard & two Tenements Ditto Richd.Lancashire 9 0 0
[page 4.] A Tenement Ditto Thomas West 5 - - Jewelling Mill Ditto T.Wickstead 2 2 - The Parsonage Ditto Thos.Pritchard 51 - - Ground at Lyncombe Ditto J.Maggs 6 - - The Glass house Estate Ditto In Hand 47 - - Ash Ground & West hill Ditto Wm.Hill 5 10 - Little Chantry Mead Ditto or Trustees Jno.Wiltshire 3 - - A Quarry P.Bennet Esqr. Thos.Smith 6 - - 1 /2 Acre in Greenway field } P.Bennet Esqr.& E.Collaby - 2 6 Royalty …………………. } 1 Acre in Widcombe field Ditto Charles Allen 5 - Fishery Ditto James Gibbs 10 - The Ground where ye Beast } Fair is kept ………………. } Ditto Jno.Coombs 2 10 - One Acre Royalty in Oddown field Ditto Geo.Clement 5 - A Tenement Edward Barrell 2 Tenants 8 - - A Tenement Ambrose Bishop Wm.Strong 12 - - A Tenement Ditto Henry Powell 3 - - A Tenement Ditto C.Milsome 1 1 - Tow [sic] Tenements Robert Bruckman Lewis & Sarvent 9 - - A Tenement & Ground Jane Brimsden Wm.Wiltshire the Ground 15 - - A Ground Joseph Baker Johnson Robinson 7 - - 3 Grounds Joseph Bullock John Bolton 17 10 - A Tenement Widdow Biggs Richd.Williss 2 15 - A Ground Jane Brimsden Parsons 3 - -
57 [page 5.] Estate Widdow Bushell Widdow Bushell George Clement 58 15 - The Furlongs Ditto Thursby Robinson 52 10 - a House & Orchard Thos.Bush David Pritchard 13 5 - A Tenement Ditto Mathews 1 1 - A Tenement Ditto Ann Clark 1 17 - A Tenement Ditto Late Pierce 2 10 - A Tenement Ditto Late Geston 1 10 - Bushes Ground Ditto James Atwood 8 - - Thomas Coulthurst Estate} in Land & houses } Thomas Coulthurst Sundry Tenants 95 4 - A Tenement Roger Clifft Roger Clifft 5 - - A House & Shop John Cope John Cope 12 - - A Tenement Thomas Chandler Stephen Whitaker 8 - - Beachingclift E.Collaby John Coombs 31 10 - House & Stable Ditto Thos.Fisher 7 - - Fishers Garden Ditto Ditto 11 - - Beachingclifft Wood Ditto E.Collaby 3 10 - A Ground at Horsecomb Ditto John Coombs 2 12 6 Bushells Foxall Ditto Thos.Mullins 12 - - Westfield & Inkscomb Style Ditto Thos.Mullins 16 10 - Broad Mead Ditto Thos.Mullins 12 - - Enterny Hill Tyning } Tyning by the Coach & horses } Carles & Gore Westfield } Ditto Late Allen 28 - - Hop Yard } Mr.Edwards Little Ground } Simon Collets House } Simon Collet Simon Collet 60 - - & Estate }
[page 6.] A Tenement Geo.Clements Rees Andrew 7 - - A Tenement Ditto Wm.Lancashire 7 - - A Garden Ditto Edward Barrell 6 - - The Chequer Ditto James Cooper 8. 4 - A Tenement Ditto Blatchley 3 - - A Tenement Ditto Flower 3 - - A Tenement Ditto Jno.Fox 4 - - A Ground at Horscomb Ditto In Hand 2 - - Elkingtons Ditto In Hand 1 - - 2 Acres in Oddown field In Posession of G.Clement Geo.Clement 5 - - Bushes Ground Geo.Clement & Sister Wm.Wiltshire 9 - - Ground at Horsecomb Clements Excrs. Thos.Ring 6 - - Ground at Horscombe Widdow Clements Excrs. Robert Ring 4 - - Vineyards Wm.Chapman John Wiltshire 12 - - 4 Acres at Parsonage Ditto Ditto 4 - - Lower Foxsle Ditto Ditto 8 - - Lyncomb House Garden } Batch Stable &ca.} Ditto Ditto 30 - - A Tenement & Orchard Ditto Widow Buchman 5 - - Furlongs Ditto Wm.Dunt 35 - - Two Grounds in ye Moores James Charmbury John Tylee 14 - - A House & Orchard Coles Excrs. Edward Fletcher 7 - -
58 [page 7.] A house Malt Do. & Garden Henry Dolling In hand 10 - - A Strip by Bleachly Ditto In hand 15 - Rock Close Ditto In hand 3 - - a Ground Ditto Thos.Pritchard 4 10 - Shepperds Mead Ditto In hand 4 10 - The Angell Inn John Edwards Widdow Price 42 - - A Tenement & Stable Ditto Wm.Hill 7 - - A Tenement & Shop Ditto Charles Lansdown 4 - - Several Tenements Widdow Gingell 70 - - Grays Ground Widdow Gray Richard Edgerton 4 10 - A House Thos.Greenway In hand 12 - - A Tenement Ditto Wm.Hattaway 3 - - An Orchard Alice Gibbs Charles Milsome 2 10 - The Mill James Gibbs Joseph Brick 30 - - The hous & Court James Gibbs In hand 15 - - The Crosst Garden Ditto Thomas Fisher 7 10 - Pond & Ground at Browns Mill Ditto James Gibbs 2 - - one Ground at Horsecomb Rosewell Gibbs Geo.Clement 1 10 - 2 Grounds in Lyncomb Ditto Harringtons Man 7 - - 3 Grounds in the Moore Ditto Thos.Milsome 30 - - 1 Acre in Gallows Tyning Ditto Geo.Clement 10 - Barn Close & Barn Ditto Thos.Robinson 13 - - Rodmore Ditto Wilkinson 4 - - Ground at Horsecombe Edward Humss In hand 6 - - Horscombe Old House Ditto Ditto 6 - - Ground at horsecomb John Hicks Wm.Wiltshire 4 10 - Estate at Lyncomb & one } Acre in Greenway field } Ditto Roger Gorton 25 - - Lyncomb Pond Ditto C.Milsome & Co. 1 - - Ground at Inkscomb Style Ditto Wm.Dunt 16 - -
[page 8.] Millards Upper Tenement Saml.House Saml.Rogers & Yow 4 15 - a Garden Ditto Wm.Lancashire 10 10 - 2 Grounds at Horscomb Widdow James Charles James 7 - - 1 Ground Ditto Wm.Wiltshire 12 - 1 Ground Ditto George Clement 2 - - 30 Acres in Widcomb field Ditto Charles James 6 - - 10 Acres in Widcomb field Charles James Charles James 2 10 - 2 Acres, Late Aman Ditto Ditto 10 - The Tynings Late Aman Ditto Ditto 16 - - The Greyhound & Tenement } Martin & R.Jacob Backward } John Martin Martin & R.Jacob 24 - - A Tenement Richd.Marchant Simon Boy 7 - - Ditto Ditto Mounsher ye Barber 7 - - Ditto Ditto Hamilton 12 - - Ditto Ditto Danll. Simon Boy 8 4 4 Ditto Ditto Richd.Millard 9 - - Ditto Ditto John Powell John Powell 7 - - Ditto Ditto Saml.Rogers 14 - - Ring of Bells & 2 Grounds John Murford John Phelps John Phelps 18 - - No Mans Land Ben:Marsh Sperrin Sperrin 3 10 - Oldfield 2 Grounds Barn House & Garden Thos.Mullins In hand 42 - - 59 Red Lyon & three Grounds Mabbot Wm.Wiltshire 4 40 - -
[page 9.] Brick Kiln Grounds Edwd.Merchant James Maggs 15 - - 3 Tenements at Cuffs Corner Ditto 8 10 - Thistle Ground Ditto Late John Grace 8 - - Lodge Lawns Ditto 38 - - Woods three Grounds Ditto C.Duke 7 10 - Ground & Orchard Ditto In hand 7 - - Lodge House &ca. Ditto Jno.Marchant 12 - - West Mead Ditto Widdow Seet 18 - - Master of Magdalens } Hospital } Master of Magdallen Wm.Brucks 12 - - A Tenement Carew Porter In Hand 15 - - A House Jno.Parkers Widdow Thos.Stop 8 - - A House Ditto David Powell 6 - - A Barn & Stable Ditto Wm.Dunt 4 - - Stibbs 2 Grounds Ditto Jno.Rogers 10 - - Collins Well Ditto Wm.Hill 10 - - Chantery Mead Ditto Wm.Hill 5 10 - Estate Lett to Clement Ditto Geo.Clement 19 - - A House & Orchard Ditto Thos.Fisher ye Orchard 16 - - A Garden Ditto John Phillips 7 - - A Tenement Hugh Penny Hugh Penny 5 - - A house & Orchard Thos.Pritchard John Bruck 2 15 - A House & Orchard Thos.Parsons Thos.Parsons 7 - - Coach & horses & a Ground James Powell Cole & Powell 9 - -
[page 10.] Cross Keys Inn Dr.Parkers Excrs. J.Collier 11 - - A Tyning in Greenway field Ditto Thos.Fisher 3 - - Crabtree Hays Ditto Jno.Wiltshire 42 - - 1 o 3 Cornerd Ground & 3 /2 Acres Ditto Jn .Wiltshire 9 - - Beestons & Rodmore Ditto Thomas Atwood 10 10 - Englishcomb Stile Ditto Wm.Hill 8 10 - Currages house & Close Ditto John Coombs 12 - - A Quarry Ditto Collier 4 - - Estate on the Hill Ditto Charles James 35 - - A Tenement Walter Robbins Thos.Abbet 6 10 - A Tenement W. Robbins Wm.Pope 6 10 - Ditto Ditto Saml.Strange 3 10 - Ditto Ditto E.Parson 2 5 - Ditto Ditto Welch William 2 - - a Ground at Lyncomb Ditto Thomas Parsons 2 - - A Paddock in Moores Ditto Thomas White 3 - - Crabb Tree Ground Ditto Jno.Wiltshire 13 10 - 2 Grounds at Englishcomb Lane Ditto Jno.Maggs 6 15 - Barracks Lead Ditto Wm.Prynn 5 5 - Tenement Wm.Pearce Wm.Pearce 2 - - 2 Tenements Giles Rich 8 - - Mount Pleasant Richardson The Huntsm. 11 - - A House & Orchard Richardson or occupier Thomas Parsons 4 - - Hay Corner Jno.Rogers Thos.Rogers 6 - - 60
[page 11.] A Ground at Horsecombe Milo Smiths Excrs. 2 - - 4 Acres in Widcomb field Ditto Late Phelps 1 - - 1 3 Acres /2 in Greenway field Ditto Nicholas Phelps 2 10 - A Mead Ditto Wm.Tucker 4 - - A Tyning on oddown Ditto Nick.Phelps 1 10 - 11 Acres Ditto Ditto 7 - - 1 Ground Ditto Late Phelps 1 - - Further Pitts Ditto N.Phelps 5 - - Stawe Acres Ditto Geo.Clement 6 - - A Copse Ditto Geo.Clement 1 - - A Ground at Broadway Ditto Richard Edmonds 2 10 - A Ground Ditto Jno.Rogers 6 - - Biggs Orchard at ft.Entery hill Ditto Wm.Prynn 1 10 - A Tenement Ditto Saml.Jones 2 10 - A Tenement Ditto Widdow Howell 6 - - A Tennement Ditto James Beal 4 - - A Tenement Milo SmithsWiddow Stephen Mullins 6 10 - A Tenement Ditto John Boulton 7 - - Magdallen Mead Ditto 4 - - Ruffenedge & 4 Acres Ditto Thos.Mullins 11 - - Broad Close Barracks Mead } great Pitts, Appleton } Down & Grounds home } Richd.Smith Nick.Phelps 50 - - Mead & Orchard }
[page 12.] Pack horse Inn John Smiths Widdow In hand 32 - - A Tennement Ditto James Vowles 10 - - A Tenement Ditto Windham 2 10 - Kennell Ground Ditto Jno.Corbyn 2 15 - 2 Tenements & an Orchard Ditto Kirsd.Thomerlin & Smith 10 - - A Tenement Thos.Singers Thomas Singers 5 - - A Ground Wm.Smith Thomas Fisher 5 10 - Upper Hays Justice Skrines Execrs. James Atwood 30 - - Lower Hays Ditto Jno.Tylee 20 - - Green Dragon Ditto Wm.Morriss 5 - - The Close Ditto Wm.Prynn 3 - - Sydenham Middle Hays } & Reck Close } Ditto Richd.Helson 78 - - Cosbew Ground Ditto John Tylee 14 - - Estate Jno.Smiths at Englishcomb In hand 35 - - A Tenement Sumpcion Robert Manning 5 - - A Tenement Saml.Tomkins himself Occupier 6 - - A Tenement Jno.Tylee himself 10 - - Whites Ground Ditto Ditto 12 - - Elkertons Ground Ditto Ditto 8 - - Ruffenedge Ditto Ditto 13 - - A Tenement Joshua Tylee Joshua Tylee 20 - -
[page 13.] 61 2 Tenements Abraham Turner Turner & Watts 7 5 - House at Browns Mill Wm.Tinkling Tinkling 1 - - House at Bridgend Edward Woodward Abraham Moody 16 - - A Tenement Widdow Woodruff Widdow Burch 6 6 - A Ditto Ditto John Huckings 9 - - Rugs Mead Ditto 4 0 - A Tenement Thomas White John Clarke 9 10 - A house & Malt house Ditto Walter Jones 13 - - A Tenement Ditto Thos.White 10 - - A Tenement Joseph Woodwards Widw. 5 - - A House Ditto Late Bamfield 3 - - A Tenement Ditto John Dagger 5 - - Ditto Ditto John James 3 8 - Ditto Ditto John Butler 5 - - A Tenement George Webb George Webb 6 - - The Irish Harp Hannah Woodwood Boles 13 - - A Tenement Ditto 7 - - A Stable Richd.Wiltshire Junr. In hand 3 - - New Inn & Malt house Jno.Woodward Harden & Co. 31 - - A Tenement Ann Wiltshire Ann Head 1 10 - A Tenement Ann Wiltshire Long Void 4 0 -
[page 14.]
3 Tenements Walter Wiltshire Robins, Brunkard & Spear 10 - - e 1 ca y /2 Moon & 2 Tenements Ditto Smith, Chapman & . 26 - - 2 Acres in Little field Widdow Wiltshire at Widcomb Wm.Wiltshire 2 - - a house at Widcomb &ca. Ditto Hyat 20 - - a Ground at horsecomb Ditto Wm.Wiltshire 1 - - 2 Acres in Widcomb field Ditto Wm.Wiltshire - 10 - Hangingland Tyning & Paddock Ditto Wm.Wiltshire 3 - - The Ragg Ditto Hunt & Wiltshire 6 - - 2 Grounds Jeremiah Wiltshire Late N.Hooper 6 - - Coles 2 Grounds Ditto R.Wiltshire 5 - - Welchnut Tree Ground Ditto Jno.Boulton 6 - - Inkscomb Lane 2 Ground Ditto Charles Allen 10 - - Magdallen Hill Ditto Charles Allen 7 - - 2 Perry Meads & Batch Walter Wise Thomas Parsons 10 10 - 4 Grounds & a House Walter Wise John Grace 14 - - 2 Tenements Jno.Wise Excrs. Peter Olive & Late Rugg 4 10 - Richmans Piece Richd.Wiltshire Richd.Wiltshire 7 - - Gunnings Grounds Ditto Ditto 9 - - Church Ground Wardens Peter & Paul Alderman Short 5 5 - Garlick Ground Widdow Ward Thos.Atwood 14 - - Elm Close John Wiltshire Jno.Boulton 14 - - 7 Acres in Ditto John Wiltshire Jno.Wiltshire 16 - - 3 Cornerd Ground in } the Moors } John Wiltshire John Wiltshire 6 - -
Notes [page 60, folio 8.] Hamilton: Lord Ann Hamilton, given as tenant of a tenement belonging to Richard Marchant. It is not correct that he was a tenant at the house now called Widcombe 62 Manor, which appears separately on p.57, folio 3, ‘A House, Garden & Stables’, owned by Philip Bennet, and entered as ‘In hand’.
[page 62, folio 12.] Sumpcion: this name also occurs elsewhere.
[page 62, folio 14.] Smith, Chapman, &c: William the Distiller had been in business with the Smiths; presumably his son was also.
The Yearly Value of the Several Estates in the Parish of Widcombe on a Survey taken by order of Vestry in the Year 1737
Ralph Allen Esqr. 622 - - Hugh Penny 5 - - Jno.Amer 39 10 - Tho. Pritchard 2 15 - James Atwood 8 - - Tho.Parsons 7 - - Thos.Atwood 6 10 - James Powell 9 - - P.Bennet Esqr. 263 6 - Dr.Parker 135 - - P.Bennet & E.Colleby for a Royalty 3 12 6 Walter Robbins 51 5 - E.Bernell 10 - - Wm.Pearce 2 - - 63 A.Bishop 16 1 - Giles Rich 8 - - R.Brookman 9 - - Mount Pleasant 11 - - J.Brimsden 18 - - Richardson House & Orchard 4 - - Jo.Baker 7 - - Jno.Rogers 6 - - J.Bullock 17 10 - Milo Smith’s Excers. 53 10 - Wid.Biggs 2 15 - Milo Smith’s Widdow 28 10 - Widdow Bushell 111 5 - 2770 - - Thomas Bush 28 3 - Widdow Robbins Estate at Thomas Coulthurst 95 4 - Barracks 50 - - R.Clifft 5 - - John Smiths Widdow 57 5 - Jno.Cope 12 - - Tho.Singers 5 - - Thomas Chandler 8 - - Justice Skrines Excrs. 150 - - Edwd.Collaby 124 2 6 Jno.Smiths at [Englishcomb] 35 - - 1406 19 - Sumcien 5 - - Simon Collet 60 - - Saml.Tomkins 6 - - Geo.Clement 41 9 - Jno.Tylee 43 - - Geo.Clement & Sister 9 - - Joshua Tylee 20 - - Clements Excer. 6 - - Abram Turner 7 5 - W.Clements Excers. 4 - - Wm.Tinkling 1 - - Wm.Chapman 94 - - Ed.Woodward 16 - - James Charmbury 14 - - Widdow Woodruff 19 6 - Coles Excer. 7 - - Tho.White 32 10 - H.Dolling 22 15 - Jo.Woodwards Excrs. 21 8 - Jno.Edwards 53 - - Geo.Webb 6 - - Eliz.Gingell 70 - - Hannah Woodward 20 - - Grays Excer. 4 10 - Richd.Wilshire Junr. 3 - - Thomas Greenway 15 - - John Woodward 31 - - Allice Gibbs 2 10 - Ann Wiltshire 5 10 - James Gibbs 54 10 - Walter Wiltshire 36 - - Rosewell Gibbs 56 - - Widdow Wiltshire at Widcomb 32 10 - E.Humst 12 - - Jeramiah Wiltshire 34 - - John Hicks 46 10 - Walter Wise 24 10 - Saml.House 15 5 - Jno.Wise Excrs. 4 10 - Widdow James 15 12 - R.Wiltshire 16 - - 2010 - - Warden Peter & Paul 5 5 - Charles James 19 - - Jno.Wiltshire 36 - - Nath.Broxall 24 - - £3492 19 - Richd.Marchant 64 - - Jno.Murford 18 - - Ben.Marsh 3 10 - Tho.Mullins 42 - - Sleight 40 - - E.Marchant 114 - - Magdalens 12 - - Carew Porter 15 - - Widdow Parker 85 10 - 5. THE RALPH ALLEN ESTATE MAP
John Hawkes
The Missing Numbers: Reprinted from The J.Charlton Map of Lyncombe and Widcombe 1799, published 1998
The missing numbers are those not underlined on the diagram on p.66
Abbreviated extract of field-names from the numbered “Reference”: 64 1 Brewhouse, Malting Office, &c, part of Dole Meadow 2 The other part of Dole Meadow 3 Little Dole Meadow, now a Garden 4 & 5 Edward Marchants Brickiln fields 6 Witcomb Hill, now Part a Garden 7 Witcomb Hill, and small Garden call’d ye foot of ye hill 8 Colethurst’s Tineing upon Widcomb hill 9 Colethurst’s little Tineing upon Widcomb hill 10 Wiltshire’s Tineing 11 Fisher’s Garden (now the Poor House & a Garden) 12 The Row of Houses by the New Road with 3 Gardens 13 Blakelee upon Beeching Clift 14 Lancashire’s Garden & Tenemt.call’d ye foot of ye hill 15 &16 Broad’s three Gardens by the New Road 17 Colethurst’s House and Gardens 18 Thos.Robbins’s Garden or Nursery 19 Colethursts Ox Barton & Barns, a fountain being in ye Same 20 New Inn, Mount Pleasant, Orchard above Widcomb Street 21 Mr.Allen’s part of Little field 22 Mr.Saml.Bush’s part of Little field 23 The Bowling Ally 24, 25 & 26 Philip Bennet’s home Stalls, Gardens, Duns meadow, &c. 27 Lower Coombs 28 Lower Edge 29 Bennet, Passons & Wiltshire’s Uper Combes 30 Little field Tineing 31 Bennet, Passons & Wiltshire’s Shills 32 Edge Tineing 33 Edge 34 Uper Edge 35 James Gibbs’s Mill, Close & Pond, with a house 36 Park Hays 37 Widow Smith’s Padduck by Lane end Garden 38 Lane end Garden & house 39 Lane end field 40 Lane end uper field 41 Wicksteed’s House & Garden 42 Part of Bean Close 43 Widow Fishers Garden call’d Butt Ash 44 Bean Close 45 The Rag, with a Garden & Orchard in three parts 46 Hangingland Tineing, by the way that goes up to Combe 47 Hangingland Tineing 48 Walter Wises Tineing by Widcomb field way 49 Three Corner’d Padduck 50 A Field in Lincomb bottom, half wood 51 Loops Hill, with a piece call’d the Breach, formerly in 3 pieces 52 & 53 Walter Wises Hills 54 Colethurst’s hill 55 Coulverwell (now Part of the Rookery) 56 Coulverwell below ye way (Lower Wood near Ponds) 57 The lower part of Thesilly Close (Slope in Front of House) 58 The Padduck below the Garden (now Part of the Slope) 59 The Garden (now Slope) 60 Shepard’s Wood, a Wilderness wth.ye Stables (Upper Wood) 61 Part of ye Lawn or Padduck, with ye Great house 65 62 The other part of ye Lawns 63 The Kitchen Garden 64 The Padduck and wood 65 The other part of Thesilly Close (now Part of the Rookery) 66 The Rookery (trees) 67 Colethurst Down 68 Combe Down 69 Another part of Combe Down 70 Lower part of Collibee’s Down (Green Down, or East Down) 71 Middle part of Collibee’s Down (Green Down or East Down)
SURVEY OF THE MANOURS OF HAMPTON, CLAVERTON WITH WIDCOMBE BELONGING TO RALPH ALLEN ESQ.
6. PANORAMA BASED ON THOMAS ROBINS
Reprinted from The J.Charlton Map of Lyncombe and Widcombe 1799, 1998
John Hawkes
66
View of Widcombe from the South Parade in Bath, April 1759, copied from Thomas Robins’ drawing Robins’ from Thomas copied 1759, April Bath, in Parade South from the Widcombe View of
7. SOME OF THE MAJOR ESTATES
Reprinted from The J.Charlton Map of Lyncombe and Widcombe 1799, 1998
John Hawkes
67
8. ABSTRACT OF THE SEVERAL DEEDS WHEREBY RALPH ALLEN ESQR.PURCHASED HIS SEVERAL LEASEHOLD ESTATES
BRO, Ralph Allen Estate Papers, Bundle 1
68 1st.Geo.2nd.1728 By Indenture between Thos.Pool, then late of Monkton Combe but then of the parish of Lyncombe & Widcombe Co.Somerset, Gent, and Mary his wife, and John Stagg of Bath, Gent. of one part, and Ralph Allen of Bath, Esqr, and Walter Chapman, Sadler, one of the Aldermen of Bath of the other part
Reciting that Robert Webb & John Cox did by indenture of Lease dated 25th April 35 Eliz.[1592]. Demise and Grant to John Fisher
All that Messuage or Tenemt. Water Mill & one Acre of Ground by Estn.thereunto adjoining, sitd.in a Grod.or Soil called Prior’s Park in Witcomb, sd.Co.Somerset; And all Houses, Buildings, Orchards, Gardens, Ponds, Mills, Millponds, Waters, Watercourses, Floodgates, Commons, Profits & Commodities to sd.Mess.& Mill belonging, with the Appurts; which sd.Mess.Mill & Grod.were then in the occupation of one Thomas Pinkerd or his Assigns;
And also all those 3 score Acres of Grod, Soyle and Woody Grod.parcel of the sd.Grod.& Soil called Prior’s Park, lying in the South West part of the sd.Park called Prior’s Park, extending to the Common Field of Widcombe afsd.on the West part, and adjoining to a Grod.called the Lawnes on the South part, and bounded by Meer Stones, Meets & Bounds from the residue of the sd.Park on the North & East parts;
And also all the Herbage of the same 3 score Acres; And all Woods, Underwoods & Trees growing & to be growing in & upon the sd.3 score acres of Grod.Soyle & Woody Ground or any part thereof; And all Commons, Wastes, Waters, Easemts, Profits, Commodities & Emolumts.whatsoever to the sd.3 score acres or any part thereof belonging, with the Appurts;
To Hold to sd.John Fisher, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns from Lady Day then last for 1000 Years sans Waste under the yearly Rent of 5s.payable half Yearly to the sd.Robert Webb, his Heirs & Assigns;
And also reciting that sd.John Fisher by will dated 25 Jan.1619 bequeathed to his son Wm. Fisher all the Int.& Term of Years that shod.be to come at his Death in the Lease of the Grod.& premes.called Prior’s Parkes, & soon after died;
And also reciting that by Indre.dated 28 Sept.26 C.2, & made between John Sheppard of Landsdown Pars.Weston Co.Somerset, Yeom, one of the sons of John Sheppard late of Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.Yeom.deced.& Admor.of Goods etc.of Willm.Fisher late of Weston afsd.Yeom.deced.& also Admor.of the Goods etc.of Joyce Fisher also deced.late wife of sd.Wm.Fisher & Extor.of the will of Geo.Sheppard deced.bro.of sd.John Sheppard, party thereto, & Anne Sheppard of Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd, wo, relict of sd.John Sheppard deced, & Wm.Sheppard of sd.pars.of Weston, Yeom, one other of the sons of sd.John Sheppard deced, of one part, and Thos.Shute Jnr.of Monkton Combe afsd.Clothier, of the or.part, in which is recited that all the Estate & Int.of him the sd.John Fisher in the premes.had been by good & sufficient Ways & Means in the Law legally vested in sd.John Sheppard, Anne Sheppard & Wm.Sheppard did assign & set over to sd.Thos.Shute, party thereto, All such parts of the premes.demised by sd.Indre.of Lease as therein & hereinafter mentd, to wit; One past.Grod.called Culverwell cont.15 acres more or less, One other Grod.called Thirstly or Thistly Grod.cont.14 acres more or less, One other Grod.called the Upper Barn Close contg.2 acres more or less, One other Grod.of arable Land called the Tyning contg.2 acres & a half more or less, One other past.Grod.called Combe Stile contg.7 acres & a half more or less, One other past.Grod.called the Wood Leaze cont.6 acres more or less, 69 And also one Piece of Coppice Wood contg.7 acres more or less;
All whch.sd.Grods.Lands & Prmes.are sd.to be lying in sd.pars.Lyncombe & Widcombe & were then in posession.of sd.John Sheppard, Anne Sheppard & Wm.Sheppard or some or one of them, their, or some or one of their Tents.or Assigns, & were part of the Parke called Priors’s Parke abovementd.
And all Ways, Easemts, Trees, Woods, Underwoods, Hedges, Hedgerows, Profits, Commodities, Emolumts, Commons, Advantages & Appurts.to the premes.thereby assigned; belonging together with free Liberty of Ingress, Egress & Regress Way and Passages to & for him the sd.Thos.Shute party thereto, his Extors.etc.& his & their Horses, Ploughs, Carts, & Carriages during sd.Term & Estate thereby assigned to go, pass & repass into & from any of sd.thereby assigned premes.by or thro.a Close of Grod.parcel of the premes.demised by sd. recited Indre.of Lease called the Lower Barn Close & so by the Houses thereon standing as then & before had been anciently accustomed;
To Hold to sd.Thos.Shute party thereto, his Extors, Admors, & Assigns from thenceforth for the residue of sd.Term & Int.thereof & therein demised & granted to sd.John Fisher under the annual Rent of 4s.payable at Michas;
And also reciting that sd.Thos.Shute the Yr.by the name of Thos.Shute the Elder made his Will dated 25 Jan.1680 & thereby (int.al.) gave & bequeathed unto his son Thos.Shute all & singr.the Lands & Premes.last beforementd.& made his bro.Zachary Shute, Mr.John Dyke & his Brother in Law, John Eaton, Extors. & soon afterwards died, & sd.Extors renouncg.Admtion.with his will annexed, was granted to Cath.Shute his wo.who assented to sd.Devise;
And also reciting that the sd.Thos.Shute the Son by Virtue of sd.Will entred on sd.Premes.& was thereof lawfully possessed, & being so possessed, made his will dated 1 Nov.1711 & thereby (after giving his Messuages & Lands in Monkton Combe afsd.to his son Thos.Shute, & the Hrs.of his body wth.Remrs.over) gave all the rest & residue of his Goods & Chattels real & personal to sd.Mary Poole party hereto then his wife whom he made sole Extrix.of his will & soon after died; And also reciting that sd.Mary Poole, then Mary Shute, proved sd.will & thereby became intitled to sd.Premes.for remr.of sd.Term; And also reciting that by Indre.dated 13 April 1715 made between sd.Mary Poole, then Shute, of the one part, and sd.John Stagg of the other part, sd.Mary Poole for £250 to her lent by the sd.John Stagg, did grant, bargain, sell, assign and sett over unto sd.John Stagg;
All & singular sd.Closes, Parcels of Land & Premises before mentd.to be granted & assigned to sd.Thos.Shute the Father in or by the recited Indre.of 28 Sept.26 C.2.with the appurts;
To Hold to sd.Stagg, his Exors.& Assigns, for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years Subject to Redemption on paymt.of £256.5 - as therein mentd. Soon after execution of wch.Indre.sd.Mary Shute intermarried wth.sd.Thos.Poole;
And also reciting that the Est.& Int.in Premes.became absolute in sd.Stagg; And that by Indre.dated 8 March 1724 the sd.Poole in Consn.of the sd.£250 advanced as afsd.& then owing, and of sevl.further sums therein mentd.advanced to him with the sd.£250 made together £483.2.6 then remg.due, and of the further sum of £116.17.6 to the sd.Poole lent by sd.John Stagg amountg.in all to £600, did Release the Provis.for Redemption contd.in last Deed, & did grant & confirm the Premes; to sd.Stagg; To hold to sd.Stagg, his Extors, Admors.& Assigns, for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years and for all other the Terms which the sd.Thos.Pool had therein, subject to a provisoe for the assignmt.on paymt.of £600 & Int; And also reciting that sd.Stagg had since advanced to sd.Pool sevl.further sums amountg.to £100 and there was then due to sd.Stagg on sd.security £700; And also reciting that sd.Ralph Allen had not only agreed with sd.Poole & wife for the purchase of their Closes, Lands, Grounds & Premes.before mentd.to have been assigned to sd.Thos.Shute, & the Messuage 70 or Tenemt.& Stable by him sd.Thos.Poole lately erected & built on some part thereof, for the residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs (which said Closes, Grods, Lands & Prmes.then were and for many years last past had been called or known by the sevl.Names of;
Culverwell, Thirstly or Thistly Grod, the Upper Barn Close, the Middle Barn Close, the two Wood Leazes or French Grass Grods, Combe Stile & the Coppice Wood;
And are said to contain in the whole 54 acres or thereabouts); But had also agreed wth.sd.Thos.Poole & Mary his wife for the purchase of two other Grods, one called the Little Lawns & the other the West Lawnes, part of the Lawnes of Prior’s Parke als.Prior’s Parke Lawnes, pars.Witcomb afsd, for residue of anor.Term of 1000 Years thereon then to come, & all other the Lands of sd.Poole & wife or either of them in pars.Lyncombe & Widcombe Co.Somt.for £1670 out of wch.sd.£700 to sd.Stagg was to be pd, all Int.having been pd.to date thereof;
It is witnessed that in Conson.of £700 to sd.Stagg (by & with direction & consent of sd.Poole & wife thereby testified) pd.by sd.Ralph Allen in full satisfaction of all Monies due to sd.Stagg on the Prmes.(being part of the Money agreed to be paid for the purchase of the Prmes.) & of 5s.by sd.Walter Chapman to sd.Stagg pd., He, sd.Stagg (at the request & wth.the consent of Poole & wife & at Nomination & by direction of sd.Ralph Allen thereby testified) did bargain, sell, assign and set over unto sd.Walter Chapman, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.the Closes, Parcels of Land, Grods, Messuages, Lands & other the Prmes.before recited or mentd.to have been assigned & sett over & ratified & confirmed to him sd.John Stagg;
To hold to sd.Walter Chapman, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years in or by the recited Indre.of Lease demised or limitted to sd.John Fisher, In Trust nevertheless for sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns; And it is further Witnessed that for Consons.afsd.& in Conson.of £970 to sd.Thos.Poole & Mary his wife or one of them pd.by sd.Ralph Allen (being the residue of the Money agreed to be pd.by him for purchase of Prmes.hereby assigned & the Lawnes afsd.) and of 5s.to the sd.Poole & wife also pd.by sd.Walter Chapman, did bargain, sell, assign, ratify & confirm by the direction of the sd.R.Allen unto sd.Walter Chapman, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns the Closes, Grounds, Lands, Coppice Wood and all other the prmes.before recited or mentd.to be in or by the recited Indre.of the 28th day of Sepr.26th C.2nd.granted & assigned to sd.Thos.Shute party thereto; And all Messuages, Tenemts.& Buildings thereon since erected & built; And all other the Messuages, Lands & Tenemts.lying & being in pars.Witcomb & Lyncomb Co.Somerset whereof or wherein sd.Poole & wife or either of them or any pson.or psons.in Trust for them or either of them were or was possessed of or interested in for any Term or Terms (sd.Little Lawnes & West Lawnes only excepted); To hold to sd.Walter Chapman, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years in or by recited Indenture of Lease granted to sd.John Fisher & for all other Term & Terms, Estate & Estates wch.sd.Poole & wife or either of them or any other pson.or psons.in Trust for them or either of them then had in same Prmes.or any part thereof, In Trust, nevertheless for sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns; Executed by Thos.Pool, Mary Pool, John Stagg, Ralph Allen, with a Rect.from Stagg only for £700.
1728 By Indre between Thos.Poole, then late of Monkton Combe but then of the pars.of Witcombe & Lyncombe Co.Somerset, Gent, and Mary his wife, of one part, and Ralph Allen of City of Bath, Esqr, of other pt. sd.Poole & wife in Conson of 10s.did Demise, grant & to Farm, Lett & sett unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns;
All that Messuage or Tenemt.wth.the Stable, Backside, Garden, Orchard & Appurts.thereunto belonging, 71 then in possession of sd.Thos.Pool, sitd.in pars.Witcombe & Lyncombe Co.Somerset; And also all those sevl.Closes of Meadow & Pastr.Grod.& Arr.Land & Coppice Wood herein after particularly mentd., that is to say;
One Close of Pastr.Grod.called Culverwell cont.15 acres more or less, One other Close of Pastr.Grod.called Thirstly otherwise Thistly Grod.contg.14 acres more or less, One other Close of Past.Grod.called the Upper Barn Close cont.2 acres more or less, One other Close of Past.Grod.called the Middle Barn Close cont.3 acres more or less, Two Closes of Past.Grod.called the Wood Leazes or the French Grass Grods.cont.6 acres more or less, One other Close of Past.Grod.called Combe Stile cont.7 acres and a half more or less, One other Close of Past.Grod.called the Little Lawnes contg.5 acres more or less, And one other Close of Past.Grod.called the West Lawnes contg.18 acres more or less, And one Piece of Coppice Wood cont.7 acres more or less;
All wch.sd.Closes, Lands & Prmes.were then in the possession of the sd.Thos.Poole & are sitd.lying & being in pars.Witcombe & Lyncombe Co.Somerset; And all ways, Easemts.Profits, Priviledges, & Appurts.whatsoever to sd.Closes, Grods, Lands, Coppice Woods & Prmes.belonging or in any wise appurtg; And also all other the Messuages, Lands, Tenemts.& Heredits.of them the sd.Thos.Poole & May his wife or either of them lying or being in pars.of Witcombe & Lyncombe in Co.Somerset with their & every of their Appurts;
To hold to sd.Allen, his Exors, Admors.& Assigns from 25th Mar.then last for 800 Years at Rent of a Pepper Corn; Executed by Thos.Poole, Mary Poole.
25 Oct.1728 By Indenture Quadripartite between;
Mary Poole of Monckton Combe, Co.Somerset, wo, Extrix.of the will of her late Husband Thomas Poole of the Monckton Combe afsd.Gent.deced.& also Extrix.of the will of Thomas Shute late of the Monkton Combe afsd. Gent.her former Husband also deced of 1st.part; Ben.Lewis of City of Bath, Co.Somerset, Yeom.Admor.of Goods &c of John Goldisborough late of Mere, Co.Wilts.Gent.deced of 2nd part; Mary Parsons of Wellow, Co.Somerset, afsd.wo. of 3rd part, & Ralph Allen , City of Bath afsd.Esq.& Walter Chapman, Sadler, one of the Aldm.of Bath of 4th part
Reciting that Robert Webb of Beckington, Co.Somerset, Clothier, and John Cox of same place, Yeoman, by Indre.of Lease dated 19 Oct.35 Eliz.[1592] did (int.al.) demise & grant to Richard Shute of Batheaston, Co.Somerset, Clothier, All those Past.Grods.cont.by Est.3 score & 7 acres (be it more or less) commonly called the Lawnes of Prior’s Park or Prior’s Parke Lawnes, lying & being on the south east part of Prior’s Parke afsd.within pars.Witcombe, Co.Somerset; And also One Lodge thereunto belonging, sitd.& being within the Circuit of the sd.Lawnes; And all Profits, Commodities, Ways, Waters, Emolumts.& Appurts.thereunto belonging;
To Hold to sd.Richard Shute, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from the Ensealing of sd.Lease for 1000 Years sans waste;
And also reciting that by Indre.of assignmt.bearing date 4th Decr.1662 between Thomas Shute of 72 Monckton Combe, Clothier; of one part & Giles Hungerford, sd.John Goldisborough & John Eaton, Edward Goddard, & Zachariah Shute, son of sd.Thomas of other part Reciting sd.Indre.of Lease & that by Indre.dated 2 Jun.22nd Chas.1st.[1646] between Wm.Shute & Anne his wife & Wm.Goodhind of one part & sd.Thomas Shute of other part Reciting that of sd.Past.Grods.called the Lawnes of Prior’s Park als.Prior’s Parke Lawnes, one Close called the Little Lawnes, cont.by Est.5 acres more or less, & anor.Close of Past. Grod.called the West Lawnes, cont.by Est.18 acres more or less, then in Occn.of sd.Thomas Shute, were & always had been parcel, and that the Int.of sd.Richard Shute in sd.Little Lawnes & West Lawnes was then vested in sd.Wm.Shute & Anne his wife & Wm.Goodhind, some or one of them sd.Wm.Shute & Anne his wife & Wm.Goodhind, did assign to sd.Thos.Shute & his Assigns sd.Little Lawnes & West Lawnes with the Appurts.for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years sans waste at the Yly.rent of 2s;
And also reciting a Marriage intended between Thos.Shute, 2nd son of sd.Thos.Shute party to sd.Indre.of 4th Dec.1662, & Cath.Goldisborough, sister of sd.John Goldisborough deced; It is witnessed by sd.Indre of 4th Dec.1662 that in Conson.of sd.intended Marr.& for other Consons.sd.Thos.Shute party thereto did assign & set over to sd.Giles Hungerford, John Goldisborough, John Eaton, Edward Goddard & Zacharias Shute sd.two Closes of Past.Grod.called the Little Lawnes & the West Lawnes & other the Pmes.before mentd.to be assigned to sd.Thos.Shute the Father for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years, subject to sd.Yearly Rent of 2s.sans waste, In Trust to permit sd.Little Lawnes & West Lawnes to be held by sd.Thos.Shute the Father & his Assigns till sd.intended Marr; And after by sd.Thos.Shute the Son for so many Years of sd.Term as he shod.live; And after by sd.Cath.for so much of sd.Term as she shod.live; And after their Deaths by each child & children of sd.Thos.Shute the Son & Cath.Goldisborough by such part & parts & for such Term & Terms & in such manner as sd.Thos.Shute the Son by will executed in presence of two or more Witnesses or by any writing so executed shod.limit, direct or appoint; And for default of such Direction or Appointment, then by the Eldest Son of sd.Thos.Shute the son and Cath.as shod.be living at Death of Survr.of them for then residue of sd.Term; And in case such Eldest son shod.die before the age of 21 Years witht.Issue, then the like Limitations in favour of the other sons successively; And in case of all their Deaths under 21 Years of Age, then to be held by the Daurs.as shod.be living at the death of Survivor of sd.Thos.& Cath; And for default of Issue of the Bodies of sd.Thos.& Cath.living at the death of the survivor of them the sd.Thos.& Catherine, then by sd.Thos.Shute the Father, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns for then residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years; And Also Reciting that sd.intended Marr.was had betw.sd.Thos.Shute the son & Cath.Goldisborough, & that they had Issue living at death of sd.Cath.who survived sd.Thos, one son named Thos.Shute & 5 Daurs;
And also reciting that sd.Thos.Shute, son of sd.Thos.Shute party to sd.Indre.of 4th Dec.made his Will in Writing dated 25th Jan.1680 & thereby after sevl.other Legacies declared his Will was that if his son Thos.did not live till 21 Yrs.of Age, that the Lawnes after his wife’s decease shod.be equally divided betw.his two Eldest Daurs.paying to their 3 Sisters £40 a piece, & if either of them refused to pay their 3 Shares that then they shod.seize on that Est.& they to have the portion given them out of that Est; All the rest of his Goods not bequeathed he equally gave to his Children & ordered his Funeral Expences to be pd.out of his Children’s portions, & if his Est.did arise to more than what was given to his Children, his will was that it shod.be equally divided betw.them, but if his Est.did not arise to what was given them then his will was that they shod.equally abate their portions; If any of his Children shod.die before they came to the aforementioned age, that then each Child’s portion shod.be equally divided betw.them that lived; And if his Children all died before they came to the aforementd.Age, his will was that his Est.should be divided between his nearest Relations, & made his Bror.the sd.Zach.Shute, Mr.John Dicke & his Brother in Law the sd.John Eaton of his sd.will;
And also reciting that the sd.Extors.renouncing sd.Extorship.Admtion.of the Goods & Chattels of 73 sd.Testor.Thos.Shute wth.his will annexed was granted by Prog.Court of Cant.3 May 1681 to sd.Cath.Shute his Relict; And also reciting that sd.Giles Hungerford, John Goldisborough, John Eaton, Edward Goddard & Zach.Shute, Trustees named in sd.Indre.of 4th Dec.14th.C.2nd.were all dead & that sd.John Goldisborough being the Survivor of them, the legal Est.& Int.in the premes.assigned to them in trust as afsd.was then vested in sd.Ben.Lewis, Admor.of sd.John Goldisborough the sd.surviving Trustee, for the residue of sd.1000 Yrs.& the equitable Est.& Int.in same prmes.by vitue of the Limitation of the Trust in recited Indre.of 4th.Dec.& of will of Testor.Thos.Shute immediately upon Death of sd.Cath.his wife vested in sd.Thos.Shute their son; And also reciting that sd.Thos.Shute, son of sd.Thos.Shute & Cath.his wife, by Indre.of Assignmt.dated 28th April 1711 made betw.him the sd.Thos.Shute the son of the one part & the sd.Mary Parsons of the other part, in Conson.of £110 to him lent by sd.Mary Parsons, did assign to her sd.two Closes of Past.Grod.& Prmes.for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years under a provisoe for Redemption on paymt.of £110 & Int.on a day therein mentd., wch.sum was not pd.at the Day appointed & her Est.in the premes.became absolute in Law; And also reciting that sd.Thos.Shute the son of sd.Thos.& Cath.made his Will in Writing dated 1st.Novr.1711 & thereby after having bequeathed his Messuage & Lands in Monkton Combe to his son Thos.& the Hrs.of his Body wth.remrs.over, bequeathed the residue of his Goods & Chattels Real & Personal not therein before bequeathed to sd.Mary Poole then his wife & made her sole Extrix.of his will, & died; And also reciting that sd.Mary Poole, then Shute, duly proved sd.will & afterwards intermarried with sd.Thos.Shute who was since dead witht.having made any alienation or Altn.in the property of sd.prmes., but before his Death made his will dated 16th July 1728 & appointed sd.Mary Poole sole Extrix thereof; And also reciting that there was then due on sd.Mortge.£110 only Prin.Money; And that sd.Ralph Allen did agree with sd.Thos.Poole & Mary his wife in life time of sd.Thos.for purchase of the Little Lawns & West Lawnes above mentd.togr.with a Messuage & other Closes & Grods.in pars.Witcomb afsd.& joining to or lying nigh sd.Lawnes & late in Mortge.to John Stagg, & all other the Messuages & Lands in sd.pars.Witcomb of of sd.Thos.Poole & Mary his wife or either of them for £1670. It is witnessed that in Conson.of £110 to sd.Mary Parsons pd.by sd.Ralph Allen wth.consent of sd.Mary Poole thereby testified, & in Conson.of £1560 to sd.Mary Poole also pd.by sd.Ralph Allen makg.together £1670 being same Sum as mentd.to be the Conson.of anor.Indre.dated 28th May last past made betw.sd.Thos.Poole & Mary his wife & John Stagg, Gent, of one part, & sd.Ralph Allen & Walter Chapman of the other part, and of 5s.to the sd.Mary Parsons, Mary Pool and Benjamin Lewis, pd.by sd.Walter Chapman; They, sd.Mary Parsons & Ben.Lewis by direction of sd.Mary Poole, did assign, transfer & set over, and sd.Mary Poole did grant, bargain, sell, assign, ratify & confirm into sd.Walter Chapman (at nomination of sd.Ralph Allen thereby testified) the sd.Closes or Grods.called the Little Lawnes & West Lawnes & all other the Lands & Prmes.before mentd.to be in or by the recited Indre.of 28th April assigned to sd.Mary Parsons;
To hold to sd.Walter Chapman, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns, for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years; In Trust for sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns. Executed by Mary Poole, Ben.Lewis, Mary Parsons; With a Rect.thereon from Mary Parsons for £110.
16th Geo.2nd.1743. By Indre.of 5 parts between;
Simon Collett the Elder of pars.Widcombe & Lyncombe Co.Somerset, Maltster, residuary Legatee & Admor.with will annexed of Thos.Collett late of Widcombe & Lyncombe afsd.Yeom.his late Father deced; of 1st.part, Thos.Collett the Younger of City of Bath Co.Somerset, Distiller, one of the Sons of the said of sd.Simon Collett the Elder by Sarah his late deced.wife of 2nd.part, John Corbyn of pars.Widcombe & Lyncombe afsd, Maltster of 3rd.part, John Tagg of sd.City of Bath, pastry Cook, of 4th.part, & Ralph Allen of par.Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.Esqr. of 5th.part; 74
Reciting that Robert Webb & John Cox did by Indre.of Lease dated 25th April 35th Elizth.demise unto John Fisher
All that Messuage or Tenemt. Water Mill & one Acre of Grod.by Estn.thereunto adjoining, sitd.in a Grod.or Soil called Prior’s Parke in Widcombe, sd.Co.Somerset; And all Houses, Buildings, Orchards, Gardens, Pounds, Mill Pounds, Waters, Watercourses, Flood Gates, Commons, Profits & Commodities to sd.Mess.Tenemt.& Mill belonging, with the Appurts;
Which sd.Mess.Mill & Acre of Grod.were then in the occupatn.of one Thomas Pinckerd or his Assigns;
And also all those 3 score Acres of Grod, Soyle and Woody Grod.pcel.of the sd.Grod.& Soil called Prior’s Park, sitd.in Southwest part of sd.Park, extendg.to the Common Fields of Widcombe afsd.on the West pt.and adjoing.to a Grod.called the Lawnes on the South pt.& bounded by Meer Stones, Meets & Bounds from the Residue of sd.Park on the North & East pts;
And also all the Herbage of same 3 score Acres; And all Woods, Underwoods & Trees growg.& to be growg.upon the sd.3 score Acres of Grod.Soyle & Woody Ground or on any pt.thereof; And all Commons, Ways, Waters, Easemts, Profits, Commodities & Emolumts.whatsoever to the sd.3 score Acres or any part thereof belonging, wth.the Appurts;
To Hold unto sd.John Fisher, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns from Lday then last past for 1000 Yrs.sans Waste; At & under the Yearly Rent of 5s; And also reciting that residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.of & in the Lands, Tenemts.& Heredits.first herein after mentd.to be, have been assigned being pt.of sd.recited prmes.had, by sevl.Assignmts.& Mesne Conveyances, become legally vested in John Sheppard, Gent, & Anne Sheppard, widw., his Mother; They, sd.John Sheppard & Anne Sheppard, by Indre.of Assignmt.dated 25th Mar.28th.C.2nd.1676 did assign & set over unto sd.Thomas Collett (since deced.), his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All that Barn, Oxhouse, Stalls & all other Houses & Buildings & the Backsides thereunto adjoining cont.by Est.1 Acre more or less; And all that one Meadow Grod.called Barn Close, together wth.the Fishpond thereunto adjoing.cont.by Est.3 Acres more or less; And all that one Orchd.called the Lower Orchd; And one Close of Meadow or Past.Grod.thereunto adjoing.called the Hopyard cont.by Est.3 Acres more or less; All wch.sd.prmes.thereby granted are sitd.in Widcombe afsd,sd.Co.Somerset, & are part of sd.3 Score Acres of Grod.Soil & Woody Grod; And then were in the Occn.of sd.John Sheppard & Anne Sheppard or one of them, their or one of their Assignee or Assigns; And all Parsonage Tythes & Tenths wtsoever.growg.on sd.prmes.& every or any part thereof; And all Commons, Ways, Waters, Backsides, Easemts.Profits, Priviledges, Advantages, Commodities & Appurts.wtsoever to sd.prmes.belongg;
To hold to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) his Extors.Admors.& Assigns for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.sans Waste;
And also reciting that sd.Robt.Webb & John Cox, by Deed Indented dated 19th Oct.35th.Eliz., did demise unto sd.John Fisher, his Extors.& Assigns; All those 37 Acres of Wood, Woody Grod.& Soil more or less, then or then late pcel.of a Grod.called Prior’s Park sitd.in Widcombe afsd, sd.Co.Somerset, & in the North pt.of sd.Grod.or Park called Prior’s Park, & then was bounded wth.Meer Stones, Meets & Bounds from residue of sd.Park; And also all the Herbage of sd.37 Acres of Woody Grod.& Soil; And all the Woods, Underwoods & Trees growg.or to be growg.on sd.37 Acres of Grod.Soil or Woody Grod.or on any pt.thereof; 75 And also all Ways, Waters, Commons, Profits, Commodities, Emolumts.& Heredits.to same or any pt.thereof belongg.with their Appurts;
To hold to sd.John Fisher, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from ensealing & delivery of sd.Deed indented for 1000 Yrs.sans Waste; At the Yearly Rent of 3s., since wch.time there has been erected on the prmes.a Messuage or Dwelling house, Stable & other Buildings;
And also reciting the residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.had by sevl.Assignmts.& mesne Conveyances been legally vested in sd.John Sheppard, Anne Sheppard, George Morris of City of Bristol, Merchant, & Francis Little of same City, Sadler, or in some or one of them; They, sd.John Sheppard, Anne Sheppard, Geo.Morris & Francis Little, by Indre.of Assignmt.dated sd.25th Mar.1676 did assign & set over unto sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.), his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.sd.Messuage, Lands, Heredits.& Premes.demised ar granted or mentd.to be demised or granted by same Original Lease; And all Parsonage Tythes & Tenths growg.on sd.Prmes.by same assignmt.assigned & set over, & every or any part thereof; And all Houses, Edifices, Buildings, Barns & Stables thereon erected wth.all Ways, Waters, Backsides, Easemts.Profits, Priviledges, Advantages, Commodities & Appurts.wtsoever.to the sd.Prmes.belonging; To hold to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) his Extors.Admors.& Assigns for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.sans Waste;
And also reciting that by Indre.dated 27th May 10th Wm.3rd.1698 betw.Wm.Atwood of the one pt.& sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) of the other part; Reciting that Robt.Webb & John Cox by Deed indented dated 19th Oct.35th Eliz.did (int.al.) demise unto Richd.Shute;
All those 27 Acres of Wood & Woody Grod.& all the Trees & Soil thereof sitd.on the South & East pt.of Pryor’s Park in Widcombe afsd.lying in breadth betw.certain Woody Grod.late pcel.of sd.Park called Pryor’s Park both on the South & North sides & then in the Occupacon.of one John Fisher or his Assigns; And also all the Herbage, Woods, Underwoods & Trees growg.& to be growg.on sd.27 Acres of Wood & Woody Grod.or any pt.thereof;
To hold to sd.Richard Shute, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns from Sealing & Delivery of sd.Deed indented for Term of 1000 Yrs.sans Waste; And also reciting that sd.Richd.Shute was afterwards lawfully possed.for residue of the afsd.Term of 1000 Yrs.granted by same deed indented of;
All that Moiety or halfendale of sd.27 Acres of Grod.& Prmes.with the Appurts.called the Wood or Woody Grod.before mentd.to have been demised lately inclosed & altered into sevl.pcels.of Arr.& Past.Grod.togr.with the Moiety or half of the Barn (contg.in the whole 6 Fields of Building) erected on part of sd.Pmes.in such Manner as hereinafter is expressed, Vizt.All that Moiety or halfendale of the Western pt.of the sd.Barn (cont.3 Fields of Building) wth.the Moiety or one half of the Barton or Backside adjoing.to Southern pt.of sd.Barn contg.in whole by Est.25 Perches more or less, Vizt.12 Perches & 1/2 more or less, the Lower or Western pt.of sd.Barton or Backside adjoing.to Southern pt.of sd.Barn; And all that pcel.of Arr.or Past.Grod.called the Wheat Close sitd.on the South side of sd.Barn, bounded on the Southward pt.wth.a parcel of Grod.late of John Sheppard & in pt.South down to the Way leadg.from Bath to Combe & in pt.bounded on the North West wth.a Grod.then late of Margt.Shute, wo, called the Moor contg.in whole 5 Acres by Est.more or less; All that or.parcel of Arr.& Past.Grod.called also the Wheat Close lying in the Northwest part of sd.Barn adjoing.to sd.pcel.of Grod.called the Moor on the Southward pt.of a Tenemt.& pcel.of Grod.late of the Wo.Ludwell on the Northward pt.& abutteth on the sd.Way leadg.from Bath to Combe on the Southwest pt.& cont.in whole 8 Acres more or less;
And also reciting that Wm.Shute & Richd.Shute by Deed indented dated 18th May 19th Chas.2nd.did assign & set over unto sd.Wm.Atwood, his Extors.& Assigns;
All that the sd.Western Moiety or halfendale of sd.Barn & sd.Moiety or half of said Barton or Backside adjoing.to the Southern pt.of sd.Barn; And also all those 2 sevl.pcels.of Arr.& Past.Grod.called the Wheat Closes; And all Ways, Paths, Passages, Waters,Watercourses, Watering Places, Easemts.Profits, 76 Commodities, Emolumts.Heredits.& Appurts.wtsoever.to sd.Prmes.belongg;
To hold to sd.Wm.Atwood, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from makg.last Indre.of Assignmt.for the term of 1000 Years granted by same Leases; It is by sd.Indre.of 25th May Witnessed That sd.Wm.Atwood did Assign & set over unto sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.); All that pt.of sd.Grods.called Wheat Closes then divided into Past.Closes cont.by Est.8 Acres more or less, lying on the North west part of a Barn or a place where a Barn stood, with a Way from Claverton Downe to a Lane leadg.to the Southwest part of sd.Grod; And all other Ways, Waters, Paths, Passages, Profits, Commodities, Advantages, Emolumts.Heredits.& Appurts.to same belonging;
To hold to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.), his Extors.& Assigns, from date thereof for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years; And also reciting that by Indre.of Assignmt.dat.25th Mar.1706 betw.sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) of the one part, & sd.Simon Collett the Elder by the Name of Simon Collett, son of sd.Thos.Collett, of the other pt; It is Witnessed that in Conson.of Sum of £200 pd.by sd.Simon Collett the Elder to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.), he, the sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.), did assign & set over unto sd.Simon Collett the Elder, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.sd.Messuages or Tenemts.Lands, Heredits.& Prmes.before mentd.to have been assigned to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) by sd.sevl.hereinbefore recited Indres.of Assignmt.& every or any or either of them with their Appurts;
To hold to sd.Simon Collett the Elder, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for residue of sd.sevl.Terms of 1000 Years; And also reciting that by Indre.Tripartite dated 26 Mar.1706 betw.sd.Simon Collett the Elder by Name of Simon Collett of Pars.of Box Co.Wilts, Yeom, of 1st part, Sarah Gibbons of Redding, Co.Berks, Spr, of 2nd pt.& sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) Father of sd.Simon Collett the Elder, Jos.Jones of Chippenham, sd.Co.Wilts, Brazier, & Nathl.Nott of Corsham, sd.Co.Wilts, Innholder, of 3rd.pt; It is thereby Witnessed that sd.Simon Collett (party thereto) in Conson.of a Marr.then intended betw.him & sd.Sarah Gibbons; and for other Consons.did demise unto sd.Thos.Collett (party thereto), Jos.Jones & Nathl.Nott;
All that Messuage, Tenemt.or Dwelling House called Pryor’s Park House wth.the Barn, Stable, Outhouses, Buildings, Garden, Backside & Appurts.thereunto belongg; 2 Orchds.cont.by Est.3 Acres or thereabouts more or less; The Batch cont.by Est.1 Acre more or less; The Barn Close wth.the Alder Bed & Fishpond cont.by Est.3 Acres more or less; The Hopyard cont.by Est.2 Acres more or less; Fox Earths cont.by Est.9 Acres more or less; One Past.Grod.called Southside cont. by Est.1 Acre more or less; Wheat Closes cont.by Est.8 Acres more or less; All wch.sd.Messuage or Tenemt.Lands & Prmes.are sitd.in Widcombe Co.Somerset; And are pt.of certain Tenemts.Lands & Heredits.wch.were assigned by sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) to sd.Simon Collett the Elder in & by sd.Indre.of 25th Mar.1706;
To hold to sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.),Jos.Jones & Nathl.Nott, their Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for term of 800 Years; In Trust to permit same prmes.to be held by sd.Simon Collett the Elder for so long of sd.Term as he shod.live, & after his decease in Case sd.Marr.shod.take Effect, then by sd.Sarah for so long of same Term as she shod.live, & after the Death of Survr.of them sd.Simon Collett the Elder & sd.Sarah, by such Child or Children of sd.Simon & Sarah in such pts. & proporcons.& for such Est.& Ests.as sd.Simon Collett the Elder by any Deed or Writing under his Hand & Seal testified by two or more credible Witnesses, or by his last Will & Testamt.so likewise testified, shod.limit, direct or appoint; And for want of such limitation, direction or appointmt, then by such Son of sd.Simon Collett the Elder &Sarah as shod.be at Death of Survr.of them, their Heir at Law & the Extors.Admors.& Assigns of such Son, for Remr.of sd.Term of 800 Yrs; And for want of such Son of sd.Simon & Sarah living at Death of Survr.of them, by all & every the Child & Children of such Son, Share & Share alike, & the Extors.Admors.& Assigns of such Child & Children respively.for remr.of sd.Term; And for want of such Child or Children of such Son by all & every other the Son & Sons of sd.Simon Collett the Elder & 77 Sarah, their Extors.Admors.& Assigns, for remr.of sd.Term, wth.Limitations over to Daur.& Daurs.of sd.Marr.wth.Limitation over to the Extors.Admors.& Assigns of sd.Simon Collet (pty.thereto); And also reciting that by Indre.dated 1st Mar.1732 betw.sd.Simon Collett the Elder of ye one pt.& sd.Thos.Collet the Younger, by addition of Thos.Collett Son of sd.Simon Collett by Sarah his wife formerly Sarah Gibbon, of the City of Bath, Distiller, of the or.pt; sd.Simon Collett the Elder by same Indre.exted.in presence of 2 Credible Witnesses did limit, direct & appt.that from & after Death of sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Sarah his wife; All & singr.Prmes.demised as afsd.by Indre.of 26th Mar.1706 shod.be held & enjoyed & Rents & Profits thereof shod.be reced.& taken by And the Trustee & Trustees under same Indre.his, her or their respive.Extors.Admors.& Assigns, shod.permit & suffer all & singr.same prmes.to be held & enjoyed & the Rents & Profits thereof to be reced.& taken by sd.Thos.Collett (party thereto), his Extors.Admors.& Assigns for residue of sd.Term of 800 Yrs.wch.shod.be unexpired at Death of Survr.of sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Sarah his wife; And also reciting that by Indre.Tripartite dated 2nd Mar.1732 betw.Simon Collett Son of sd.Simon Collett & Sarah his wife of 1st.pt., Hannah Pinker of City Bristol, Spr, of 2nd part, & John Hipsley of Pars.Chew Magna sd.Co.Somerset, Yeom.& sd.John Corbyn by Name & Addition of John Corbyn of sd.Pars.Widcombe, Yeom.of 3rd pt; It is thereby Witnessed that sd.Thos.Collett (party thereto) in Conson.of a Marr.then intended betw.him & the sd.Hannah Pinker did demise, grant, limit, direct & appoint unto sd.John Hipsley & John Corbyn;
All that Messuage, Tenemt.or Dwelling House called Prior’s Park House wth.the Barn, Stables, Outhouses, Buildings, Gardens, Backsides & Appurts.thereunto belongg; Two Orchards.cont.by Est.3 Acres more or less; The Batch cont.by Est.1 Acre more or less; The Barn Close wth.ye Alder Bed & Fishpond cont.by Est.3 Acres more or less; The Hopyard cont.by Est.2 Acres more or less; Fox Earths cont.by Est.9 Acres more or less; One Close of Past.Grod.called Southside cont.by Est.1 Acre more or less; Wheat Closes cont.by Est.8 Acres more or less; All wch.sd.Messuage or Tenemt.Lands & Prmes.are sitd.in Widcombe afsd; And were & are pt.of certain Tenemts.Lands & Heredits.wch.were granted & conveyed by sd.Thos.Collett Father of sd.Simon Collett ye Elder unto sd.Simon Collett the Elder for residue of certain Term of 1000 Yrs.and then were in posson.of sd.Simon Collett the Elder; And all Parsonage Tythes & Tenths wtsoever.growing on prmes.thereby demised or any pt.thereof; And all Commons, Ways, Waters, Watercourses, Easemts.Profits, Commodities, Advantages, Priviledges & Appurts.wtsoever.to sd.Prmes.belongg;
To hold to sd.John Hipsley & John Corbyn, their Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from the Deaths of them sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Sar.his wife for Term of 600 Yrs.to commence from Death of Survr.under the Yearly Rent of a Pepper Corn; Upon Trust after decease of Survr.of them sd.Simon Collett the Elder & sd.Sarah his wife, in Case such Marr.shod.take Effect to permit all sd.Prmes.thereby demised to be held by sd.Thos.Collett the Youngr.for so long of sd.Term of 600 Yrs.as he shod.live, & after his Decease by sd.Hannah his intended Wife for so long of sd.Term of 600 Yrs.as she shod.live, & after by their Deceases by their Child or Children by such parts & proporcons.& for such respive.time & times & Est.& Ests.in sd.Term of 600 Yrs.as sd.Thos.Collett (pty.thereto), by Deed or Writg.under his Hand or Seal testified by 3 or more Credible Witnesses or by his last Will & Test.in Writg.so likewise testified, shod.limit, direct, give or appoint; And for want of such Limitation, Direction, Gift or Appt., by such Son of sd.Thos.Collett (party thereto) and Hannah as shod.be at death of Survr.of them, their Heir at Law & the Extors.Admors.& Assigns of such Son for remr.of sd.Term of 600 Yrs; And for want of such Son at the death of Survr.of them, by the Child & Children of such Son as wod.have been such Heir at Law if had he been living, & the respive.Exors.Admors.& Assigns of such Child & Children respively.as Tents.in Common & not as joint Tenants if more such Children than one for then remdr.of sd.Term of 600 Yrs; And for want of such Child or Children of such Son by all & every other ye Son & Sons of the sd.Thos.Collett (pty.thereto) & Hannah, their respive.Extors.Admors.& Assigns, as Tents.in Common if more such Sons than one for then Remr.of sd.Term of 600 Yrs; And for want of such or.Son or Sons, by all & every their Daur.& Daurs., their respive.Extors.Admors.& Assigns as Tents.in Common if more such Daurs.than one for then Remr.of sd.Term of 600 Yrs; And for want of such Daur.or Daurs.by Extors.Admors.& Assigns of sd.Thos.Collett for then Remr.of sd.Term of 600 Yrs; And also reciting that sd.Hannah, Wife of Thos.Collett (pty.to now reciting Indre.) died witht.Issue & that sd.John Hipsley 78 is also dead; And also reciting that by Indre.of Assignmt.or Mortge.dated 25th Mar.1733 betw.sd.Simon Collett the Elder of the 1 pt.& John Tagg of City Bath, Co.Somerset afsd., Pastry Cook, of the other pt., sd.Simon Collett the Elder in Conson.of £300 to pd.by sd.John Tagg did assign & set over unto sd.Tagg;
All that Grod.called Edge, orwise.The edge, cont.by Est.12 Acres more or less, togr.wth.a Woodland Grod.thereto adjoing.cont.by Est.4 Acres, more or less; Also one Grod.called Grant’s Wood cont.by Est.6 Acres more or less; And a Ground called Atkins’s cont.by Est.4 Acres more or less;
All wch.Prmes.were pt.of 3 Score Acres of Grod.sitd.in Widcombe afsd.formerly purchased by sd.Thos.Collett Father of sd.Simon Collett the Elder (int.al.) of sd.John Sheppard & Anne Sheppard & were assigned by sd.Thos.Collett the Father unto sd.Simon Collett the Elder for residue of a certain Term of 1000 Years & then were in posson.of sd.Simon Collett the Elder or his Assigns; And all Parsonage Tithes or Tenths wtsoever.Yearly growg.on Prmes.thereby granted or any pt.thereof; And all Commons, Ways, Waters, Watercourses, Profits, Commodities, Advants.Priviledges & Appurts.wtsoever.to sd.Prmes.thereby granted or any pt.thereof belongg;
To hold to sd.John Tagg, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from Day before next Date thereof for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.sans Waste; Subject to Redemption by Virtue of a provisoe herein contd.on paymt.to have been made by sd.Simon Collett the Elder, his Hrs.Extors.or Admors.unto sd.John Tagg, his Exors.Admors.or Assigns of sum of £300 & its Int; And also reciting that sd.Thos.Collett the Elder, Jos.Jones & Nathl.Nott are all dead, but sd.Thos.Collett the Elder was the Survr.who made his last Will & Test.in Writing dated 20th Jan.1726 & thereof made sd.Simon Collett the Elder his Son residuary Legatee, but named no Extor.since wch.Admtion.of Goods & Chels.of sd.Thos.Collett the Elder wth.his Will annexed, hath been committed to sd.Simon Collett the Elder by the Comy.Court of Bath & Wells; And also reciting that sd.Sarah Collett is since dead leavg.Issue by sd.Thos.Collett the Elder 2 Sons (to wit) sd.Thos.Collett ye Youngr.& Simon Collett of City of Bath, Baker; It is Witnessed by the now abstractg.Indre.that in Conson.of £300 in hand pd.to sd.John Tagg by sd.Ralph Allen at the Instance & Request & by Consent, Direction & Appointmt.of sd.Simon Collett the Elder thereby testified, sd.John Tagg in like Direction & Appointmt.of sd.Simon Collett the Elder thereby also testified, did assign, & sd.Simon Collett for Conson.therein after mentd.did grant ratify & confirm unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.the Closes, Grods.Lands, Heredits.& Prmes.before mentd.to be assigned to sd.John Tagg in & by sd.recited Indre.of 25th Mar.1733 & every pt.thereof wth.the Appurts; And all Parsonage Tythes & Tenths wtsoever.Yearly growg.on sd.Prmes.or any pt.thereof;
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns, for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.assigned to sd.John Tagg as afsd; And it is by the sd.now abstracting Indre.further Witnessed that sd.John Corbyn, in Conson.of 5s.to him pd.by sd.Ralph Allen by & wth.Consent of sd.Thos.Collett ye Younger thereby testified, did by direction of sd.Thos.Collett the Youngr.assign & set over, And sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Thos.Collett the Youngr.for Consons.therein after mentd., did grant, assign, ratify & confirm unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.the Messuage or Tenemt., Closes, Lands, Tythes, Heredits.& all other the Prmes.before mentd.to be demised by sd.Simon Collett the Elder to sd.Thos.Collett the Elder, Jos.Jones Nathl.Nott by sd.recited Indre.of Lease of 26th Mar.1706 for Term of 800 Yrs.& afterwards demised by sd.Thos.Collett the Youngr.to sd.John Hipsley & John Corbyn in & by sd.recited Indre.of Lease of 2nd.Mar.1732 for sd.recited Term of 600 Yrs.& every pt.thereof with their Appurts;
To hold unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns, for residue of sd.Terms of 800 Years & 600 Yrs.respively; And it is by sd.now reciting Indre.also further Witnessed that in Conson.of £1700 to sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Thos.Collett ye Youngr.or one of them in hand pd.by sd.Ralph Allen, sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Thos.Collett the Youngr.did bargain, sell, assign, transfer & set over unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns;
79 All & singr.the Messuage or Tenemts.Lands, Heredits.& Prmes.before mentd.to be assigned by sd.Thos.Collett the Elder to sd.Simon Collett the Elder in & by sd.Indre.of Assignmt.of 23rd.Mar.1706 (wch.Lands are inclosed & called by the sevl.Names hereinbefore set forth) And all other the Messuages, Lands, Tenemts.& Heredits.wtsoever.of them the sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Thos.Collett the Youngr.or either of them in sd.Pars.of Widcombe & Lyncombe; And all Parsonage Tythes & Tenths wtsoever.Yearly growg.on sd.Prmes.or any pt.thereof, togr.wth.all Stables &c.(& more parlarly.a certain Way leadg.to & from the Grods.hereinbefore mentd.to be called the Wheat Closes, from Claverton Down to a Lane leadg.to the Southwest pt.of the sd.Grod), Waters, Easemts, &c;
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Exors.Admors.& Assigns, for residue of ye sevl.recited Terms of 1000 Yrs.assigned by sd.Thos.Collett (since deced.) to sd.Simon Collett the Elder in & by sd.recited Indre.of 25th Mar.1706 & for such term & terms of Yrs.Ests.& Ints.wch.sd.Simon Collett the Elder & Thos.Collet ye Youngr.or either of them or any or.Pson.or Psons; In Trust for them or either of them have or hath or can or may have or claim in or to sd.Prmes.or any pt.thereof, Covt.that Prmes.are free from Incumbrances (Except ye Yrly.Rent of 5s.).
Executed by Simon Collett - Thos.Collett - John Corbyn - John Tagg; With a Receipt on the back from Simon Collett for £1700; And anor.Rect.from John Tagg for £300.
Late Marchants
10th.July 1750 By Indre.Tripartite betw.
Elizabeth Marchant of the City of Bath Co.Somerset, wo.Residuary, Legatee & Sole Executrix of the Will of John Marchant late of Lyncombe & Widcombe Co.Somereset, Clothier, her late husband decd.of 1 pt. Edward Marchant, Distiller, Richard Marchant, Gent, & Thomas Collett, Distiller, all of sd.City of Bath, & Charles Rose of Devizes, Co.Wilts.Maltster, of 2nd.part, &
Ralph Allen of Prior Parke, sd.Pars.Lyncombe & Widcombe, Esqr, of 3rd pt;
Reciting that by Indre.Tripartite dated 22nd Sept.1651 betw.John Shute then late of Widcombe Co.Somerset, Mercer (one of the sons of Richd.Shute then late of Batheaston sd.Co.Somerset, Clothier, deced.) & Elizabeth Shute, Wife of sd.John Shute of 1st.part; Wm.Shute then late of Widcombe afsd.Yeom.(Bro.of sd.John Shute) & John Sheppard the Youngr.then of Weston in sd.Co.Somerset, Yeom.of 2nd part; & Anne Walter of Westbury upon Trym, Co.Glos.wo.of 3re part; Reciting that Robert Webb of Beckington, sd.Co.Somerset, Clothier, and John Cox of Beckington afsd.Yeom.by Indre.of Lease dated 19th. Oct.35th. Eliz.did demise to sd.Richd.Shute (int.al.);
All those Past.Grods.cont.by Est.67 Acres be it more or less called the Lawnes of Prior’s Park als.Prior’s Park Lawnes sitd.on the South & East parts of Prior’s Park afsd.in Widcomb, sd.Co.Somerset; And also one Lodge thereunto belongg.sitd.within the Circuit of sd.Lawnes; And all those 27 Acres then of Wood & Woody Grod.but now (in 1651) being Arr.& Past.Grod.being in the South & East parts of Prior’s Park afsd.togr.with the Grod.Soil, Herbage & Feeding of sd.Woods, & all Trees & Woods growing on the Prmes.or any part thereof with the Appurts;
To hold to sd.Richd.Shute, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from delivery of sd.Indre.for 1000 Yrs.sans waste; At Rent of 8s; And that sd.Richd.Shute by Indre.dated 18th July 3rd.Jas.1st.assigned same to John Fisher Jnr.then of Batheaston afsd.Clothier, for the Remr.of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs;
And since that time there had been erected on pt.of sd.27 Acres of Arr.or Past.Grod, then late being Wood or Woody Grod, a Barn or housing; And that since that time all the Est.Term & Int.to come of & in certain pts.or pcels.of the Prmes.granted by sd.recited Indre.of Lease, to wit,
80 the Lodge above mentd.and all that Past.Grod.in wch.sd.Lodge standeth cont.by Est.36 Acres more or less & then inclosed with a Wall abt.same, being pt.of the above recited Past.Grods.called the Lawnes of Prior’s Park, otherwise Prior’s Park Lawnes, & adjoining on the Northwest pt.thereof to certain Grods.called Prior’s Park, on the Southeast pt.thereof to certain Grods.called Bishop’s Park, & on the East pt.thereof to Clarton’s Down,
& also the eastern pt.of sd.Barn cont.3 Field of Buildg.(being one half or so esteemed of sd.Barn) wth.that pt.of the Barton or Backside adjoing.to the Southern pt.of sd.Barn (being or being esteemed to be one Moiety of the whole Barton)
& all that pcel.of Past.Grod.called the Barn Close in southern pt.thereof sd.Barn stands, adjoing.on eastern pt.to a certain pcel.of Grod.called the Conygree, on western pt.to a Grod.called the Wheat Close, a Grod.of sd.John Sheppard & anor.then or then late of the Wo.Ludwell’s on the North, & cont.in whole by Est.5 Acres more or less;
And all that pcel.of Grod.called an Orchd.adjoing.to western End of sd.Barn cont.by Est.1/2 an Acre more or less;
And all that pcel.of Grod.called the Moore adjoing.to sd.Orchd.on Eastern pt.thereof, & bounded wth.sd.Grod.called Wheat Grod.on Western side, & shootg.down on Southwest pt.unto Way leadg.from Bath to Combe, & cont.in whole by Est.7 Acres more or less, with their Appurts;
And yt.sd.Lodge, pt.of sd.Barn & Barton & other the Closes, Lands & Grods.then in possion.of sd.John Shute, his Assignee or Assigns, Undertent.or Undertents., was by sufficient Means in Law lawfully vested in sd.John Shute & Eliz.his Wife, sd.Wm.Shute & John Sheppard or some or one of them; It is by sd.first recited Indre.Witnessed that sd.John Shute & Eliz.his Wife, sd.Wm.Shute & John Sheppard, for the Conson.therein mentioned, at their request, directn.& appointmt.did grant, bargain, sell, assign & set over unto sd.Ann Walter, her Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All that the Lodge & sd.Grod.cont.by Est.36 Acres inclosed wth Wall in wch.said Lodge standeth, & also sd.Eastern pt.of sd.Barn cont.3 Field of Building, the sd.pt.of sd.Barton adjoing.on sd.Southern pt.of sd.Barn, the sd.Past.Grod.called Barn Close, sd.Orchd.& pcel.of Grod.called the Orchard; And also sd.pcel.of Grod.called the Moore; And the Revn.& Revs.of all Deeds, Evidences & Writings;
To hold unto sd.Ann Walter, her Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for the residue of sd.Term 1000 Yrs.granted by sd.Origl.Lease wch.were then unexpired sans waste; Subject to the paymt.of 50 pence & no more Yearly of sd.Rent of 8s.reserved by sd.Origl.Lease; And that by Indre.dated the 29th Sepr,1711 betw; Wm.Walter of Wrington in sd.Co.Somerset, Gent, Son & Heir of Wm.Walter then late of Westbury on Trym afsd.deced.by Mary his Wife also deced.& as well Admor.of the Goods & Chels.Rights & Credits of sd.Mary his Mother, as also Admor.de bonis non of sd.Wm.Walter his Father by sd.Mary his Mother unadministered (wch.sd.Wm.Walter deced.was Son & Extor.& also residuary Legatee of Will of sd.Ann Walter deced.) of the one part, And Edward Marchant of sd.City of Bath, Rough Mason, of the or.part; Reciting therein the sevl.hereinbefore recited Indres; And that sd.Wm.Walter (pty.hereto) by Virtue of his being Admor.of the Goods, Chels.Rights & Credits of sd.Mary his Mother, & Admor.de bonis non of sd.Wm.Walter his sd.Father, & by or.lawful Means was become lawfully possed.of sd.Lodge, Grods.Lands & Prmes.before mentd.to be granted to sd.Ann Walter by sd.Indre.of 22nd Sepr.1651 durg.the residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.granted by sd.Original Lease; It is Witnessed that sd.Wm.Walter for the Conson.therein mentioned did assign unto sd.Edwd.Marchant, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All that the sd.Lodge & Grod.wherein it standeth, the Eastern pt.of sd.Barn, being then decayed, the sd.pt.of sd.Barton, sd.Grod.called Barn Close, the Orchard & pcel.of Ground called the Orchard, the Grod.called the Moore, wth.all other the Prmes.before mentd.to be granted to sd.Ann Walter;
To hold to sd.Edwd.Marchant, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from date thereof during the residue of 81 sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.wch.were then unexpired sans waste; Subject to paymt.of sd.50 pence & no more, pt.of sd.Yearly Rent of 8s; And also reciting that by Indre.dated 18th May 19th.King Chas.2nd.betw.Wm.Shute the Youngr.Baker, & Richard Shute, Serge Weaver, Bro.of sd.Wm.Shute, both then of the sd.City of Bath, since deced.of the one pt; & Wm.Atwood the Elder by Name of Wm.Atwood, Son of Geo.Atwood the Elder, of Beach within the Psh.of Bitton in Co.Glocs.Yeom.(since deced.) of the other pt; Reciting that Robt.Webb of Beckington in sd.Co.Somerset, Clothier, since deced.& John Cox of same place, Yeom.also deced.by Indre.dated 19th Oct.35th Eliz.for the Consideratn.therein mentioned did (int.al.) demise unto Richd.Shute since deced.Grandfather of sd.Wm.Shute;
All those 27 Acres of Wood & Woody Grod.and the Trees & Soil thereof sitd.on the South & East pts.of Prior’s Park in Psh.of Lyncombe & Widcombe in sd.Co.Som.lying in breadth betw.Woody Grods.then late pcel.of sd.Park both on North & South sides & then or then late in tenure of John Fisher or his Assigns; And also all the Herbage, Woods, Underwoods & Trees growg.& to be growg.on sd.27 Acres of Wood & Woody Ground;
To hold to sd.Richd.Shute, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from ensealg.& delivery of sd.Indre.for term of 1000 Yrs.sans Waste; And further reciting that sd.Wm.Shute & Richd.Shute then were or one of them was lawfully possed.of for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Years;
All that Moiety or halfendale of sd.27 Acres of Grod.& Prmes.wth.the Appurts.called by the Name of the Wood or Woody Grod.before mentd.to have been demised & then lately inclosed & altered into sevl.pcels.of Arr.& Past.Grod.togr.wth.the Moiety or one half of the Barn cont.in whole 6 Fields of Building erected on pt.of the Prmes.in Manner as therein & hereinafter mentioned (that is to say); All that Moiety or Halfendale of the Western pt.of sd.Barn cont.3 Fields of Building with the Moiety or half of the Barton adjoing.to Southern pt.of sd.Barn cont.in the whole by Est.25 Perches more or less, Vizt: 121/2P.more or less of Lower & Western part of sd.Barton adjoing.to Southern pt.of sd.Barn; And all that pcel.of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Wheat Close sitd.on Southward side of sd.Barn, bounded on Southward pt.of a pcel.of Grod.then late of John Sheppard, & in pt.South down to the Way leadg.from Bath to Combe, & in pt.bounded on Northwest side wth.a Grod.then late of Margt.Shute, Widow, called the Moore & containeth by Est.in the whole 5 Acres more or less; And also all that or.Close of Arr.or Past.Grod.called also the Wheat Close lyg.on Northwest pt.of said Barn, adjoing.to sd.pcel.of Grod.called the Moore, on the Southward pt.of a Tenemt.& pcel.of Grod.late of Wo.Ludwell on Northward pt.abutteth on sd.Way leadg.from Bath to Coombe on Southwest & containeth in whole by Est.8 Acres more or less;
It is Witnessed that sd.Wm.Shute & Richd.Shute in Conson.of £100 to them pd.by the sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder, & for other Consons., did grant, bargain, sell, alien., assign & set over unto sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All that the sd.Western Moiety or Halfendale of sd.Barn & sd.Moiety or half of sd.Barton & the sd.two pcels.of Arr.& Past.Grod.called Wheat Closes;
To hold unto sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from the Ensealing & Delivery thereof for so many Yrs. as were then to come of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs. granted as afsd; And also reciting that by Indre.dated 25th. Mar. 2nd.Q.Ann, 1703, betw.sd. Wm. Atwood the Elder & Wm. Atwood the Youngr.of the one pt; & Francis Charmbury of Monkton Combe in sd.Co.Somerset, Yeom.of the other pt; Reciting as herein before recited; And further reciting that sd.Moiety or Halfendale of sd.Barn & sd.1/2 of sd.Barton had been for sevl.Yrs.converted into a Cottage or Dwellg.House & Garden & the afsd.2 Closes called Wheat Closes divided into 5 sevl.Closes or Pcels., one of wch.(then called the Wheat Close) sd.Wm.Atwood had then sold to one Thos.Collett; It is Witnessed that in Conson.of £100 to sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder and of 5s.to the sd.Wm.Atwood the Younger paid by the sd.Frans.Charmbury, They the sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder & sd.Wm.Atwood the Youngr.did grant, bargain, sell, assign, transfer & set over unto sd.Francs.Charmbury;
All that the afsd.Cottage or Dwellg.House, Backside & Garden thereunto belongg.formerly pt.of a Barn & Barton or Backside thereunto adjoing; And also sd.two sevl.parcels of Arr.& Past.Grod.called the Wheat Closes as same were seperated into sevl.Closes or Parcels & all other Prmes.granted to 82 sd.Wm.Atwood the Elder by sd.recited Indre.of 18th May; And of all Ways (parlarly.one 1/2 pt.of the Lane or Way leadg.from the Lodge Lawnes to the sd.Cottage or Dwellg.House);
To hold to sd.Francs.Charmbury, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from date of sd.last recited Indre.for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs.granted by sd.Origl.Indre; And also reciting that by Indre.dated 26th Mar.1715 betw.sd.Fancis Charmbury of the one pt; & sd.Edward Marchant of the other pt; Reciting therein the sevl.Indres.of 18th May 19th K.Chas.2d.& 25th Mar.1703, sd.Charmbury for the Considerations therein mentioned, did grant, bargain, sell, assign, transfer & set over unto sd.Edwd.Marchant;
All the afsd.Cottage or Dwellg.House, Backside & Garden, formerly pt.of a Barn & Barton or Backside; And also 2 sevl.Closes or Pcels.of Arr.& Past.Grod.called Wheat Closes as same are seperated into sevl.Closes or Pcels; And all or.the Housing, Barton, Gardens, Grods.& Prmes.wtsoever.before mentd.to be granted to sd.Francis Charmbury by sd.Indre.of 25th Mar; And all the Ways & in parlar.the one half part of the sd.Way or Lane leadg.from the sd.Lodge Lawnes to the sd.Cottage or Dwelling house; Except sd.Grod.sold to Collett;
To hold unto sd.Edwd.Marchant, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from Date thereof for residue of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs; And also reciting that sd.Edwd.Marchant is since dead but before his death made his Will dat.29th Sepr.1735 & thereby gave (int.al.) unto his Son sd.John Marchant;
All that his Messuage or Tenemt.known by the Name of the Lodge sitd.in the Pish.or Pishes.of Lyncomb & Widcomb afsd.togr.wth.all Houses, Buildgs.Lands & Prmes.thereto belongg.purchased by him of sd.Wm.Walter; And also All his Est.Lands & Prmes.contiguous to sd.Lodge Est.wch.he purchased of sd.Francis Charmbury;
To hold to his sd.Son John Marchant, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns for all the residue of his Int.therein, chargeable nevertheless togr.wth.other Lands given to his Son Edwd.Marchant wth.£100 a piece to his Grand Children at their Ages of 21 Yrs; And also reciting that sd.John Marchant is since also dead, but before his Death made his Will in Writing dat.17th Novr.1747 & thereby devised to his sd.Bror.Edwd.Marchant, his Cousin Richard Marchant of sd.City of Bath, Gent, Thos.Collett of same City, Distiller, & Chas.Rose of Devizes in Co.Wilts, Maltster, & their Heirs & Assigns for ever; All that his Mess.Lands, Tenemts.& Heredits.sitd.in the Par.or Pshes.of Lyncomb & Widcomb afsd.before mentd.to be bought by sd.Edwd.Marchant deced.of sd.Wm.Walter & Francis Charmbury; In Trust that they or Survrs.or Survr.or Heirs or Assigns of Survr.shod.so soon as conveniently might be sell & dispose thereof for best price that cod.be gotten for same & Money arisg.thereby to pay to his 5 Children, Mary, Sarah, Eliz.Ann & Rachael, Share & Share alike at their respive.Ages of 21 Yrs.or Day or Days of Marr.wch.shod.first happen; And also reciting that sd. Ralph Allen had contracted wth. sd. Edwd. Marchant, Richd. Marchant, Thos.Collett & Chas.Rose & sd. Eliz.Marchant for pchase.of same Prmes.for Sum of £2250 to the sd.Edwd.Marchant, Rd.Marchant, Thos.Collet & Chs.Rose in hand pd.by the sd.Ralph Allen by Directn.of sd.Eliz.Marchant, they the sd.Edwd.Marchant, Richard Marchant, Thos.Collett & Chas.Rose (by Consent of sd.Eliz.Marchant) did bargain, sell, Assign, transfer & set over unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All sd.Lodge & Pmes.mentd.to be bot.by sd.Edwd.Marchant of sd.Wm.Walter & Francis Charmbury; Together with all Buildgs.thereon Erected & Built; unto the sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
To hold from date thereof for residue of sd.term of 1000 Yrs; Subject to sd.Yearly Rent of 50 pence, pt.of sd.Sum of 8s;
Executed by Eliz.Marchant, Edwd.Marchant, Richd.Marchant, Thos.Collett, Chas.Rose. With a Rect.from Edwd.Marchant, Richd.Marchant, Thos.Collett & Chas.Rose for £2250.
33d.Geo.2nd.1760. By Indre.of Lease betw; 83 the Honble.Chas.Berkeley of Brewton, Thos.Prowse of Axbridge, Thos.Coward of Spargrove Par.Batcombe, Francs.Newman of North Cadbury Carew, Harvy Mildmay of Hazlegrove Par of East Cammell, Heny.Wm.Portman of Orchd.Portman, Edwd.Berkeley of Pill als.Pule, John Hippisley Cox of Stone Easton, Edwd.Phelips of Montague, John Pigot of Brockley, John Hunt of Compton Pauncefoot, Esqr.& Sr.Chas.Kemys Tynte of Haswell, Bart.all of Co.Somerset, Trustees & Visitors of the Hospital of Hugh Sexey Esqr.deced.sitd.in Brewton afsd.& all the Lands, Tenemts.& Heredits.thereunto belongg.of the one pt.; &
Ralph Allen of City of Bath, Co.afsd.Esqr.of the other part;
It is Witnessed that in Conson.that sd.Ralph Allen of City of Bath shod.surrender to sd.Trustees or Visitors all his Est.& Int.in Messuage & Prmes.thereinafter demised by Indre.dated 12th.June 1753 & also in Conson.of £42 by sd.Ralph Allen by Consent of sd.Trustees or Visitors to then then Treasurer of sd.Hospital, sd.Trustees & Visitors did demise & Grant unto sd.Ralph Allen;
All that new erected Tenemt.or Dwellg.house, now a Public House called X Keys sitd.upon or near Odwood’s Downe; Also all that Close of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Wall Tyning cont.by Est.10 Acres more or less togr.wth.a Barn.on sd.Close called Wall Tyning, newly erected & built; Also all those 2 Closes, formerly one Close, of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Benbows cont.by Est.25 Acres more or less; Also all that Close of Arr.or Past.Grod.called the Down cont.by Est.14 Acres adjoing.on or towards east pt.of sd.Close called the Wall Tyning; Also all those 2 Closes of Arr.or Past.Grod.called 30 Acres cont.by Est.30 Acres more or less; And also all that Pastr.Feedg.or Sheep Pastr.from Michas.to Lady day Yearly durg.the term thereinafter mentd.on a certain pcel.of Grod.called Lidmans als.Lidnams Furlong cont.by Est.16 Acres more or less adjoing.to a Way or Lane called Twivertons als.Twerton’s Lane on or towds.the North pt.thereof, & to a Grod.called Hays towds.the South pt.thereof, & thentofor in Tenure of Wm.Gay & John Webb or one of them, their or one of their Assignee or Assigns; And also 1 Acre of Grod.in Wydcombe Field, & a Triangular Piece of Grod.cont.by Est.------adjoing.to late Wiltshears near Bathweek on the one side, & the Road to Claverton Down on the or.side; All wch.sd.Lands & Prmes.are sit.in Par.Wydcombe & Lyncombe, Co.afsd.& then in the possion.of sd.Ralph Allen, his Undertent.or Undertents.& were pcel.of the Lands belongg.to sd.Hospital; Togr.wth.all Houses, Outhouses, Edifices, Buildgs.Backsides, Gardens, Ways, Paths, Passages, Waters, Watercourses, Profits, Advantages & Appurts.wtsoever.to sd.demised Prmes.belongg.(Except all Timber Trees & or.Trees, unless Estover, & the Shrouds of Pollards growg.or to grow on sd.Prmes.wth.Liberty of Ingress, Egress & Regress for sd.Trustees or Visitors or any 5 of them or their Successors, Steward or Bailiff, at all seasonable times to cut down & carry away the Maiden Trees, unless Fir Trees or other Ornamental Trees);
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for 21 Years at & under the Yearly Rent of 30s.in respect of new erected Tenemts.Closes, Pieces & Parcels of Land & Prmes.hereinbefore mentd.to be thentofore in the tenure of Wm.Gay & John Webb, & of the fur.Sum of 20s.Yearly durg.sd.Term in respect of sd.1 Acre of Grod.in Widcombe Field & sd.Triangular Piece of Grod., wch.sd.sevl.Sums were to be pd.1/2 Yrly.(Vizt.) at Michas.& Lady day, Covt.from Allen that he will pay the resd.Rents & that he will keep Prmes.in Repair & so leave same at the end of sd.Term; Proviso for reentry on non paymt.of Rent within 15 Days or if sd.demised Prmes.shod.be out of repair durg.sd.Term, & Notice given thereof to Occupier or Occupiers of sd.demised Prmes.& same shod.be sufficiently repaired within 2 Months after such Notice given;
Executed by Edwd.Berkeley, Thos.Coward, Chas.Berkeley, John Piggott, Thos.Prowse.
Geo.2nd.1738. By Indre.betw.
84 Davd.Thos.of Earlestoke Co.Wilts.Cl.Master of the Hospital of St.Mary Magdalen at Holloway Psh.Lyncombe & Wydcombe Co.Somerset & the Cobrethren & Sisters of same Hospital of the one pt; & Ralph Allen of Bath of the or.pt; It is witnessed that in Conson.of 45s.paid by sd.Ralph Allen to sd.Master, Cobrethren & Sisters, they the sd.Master, Cobrethren & Sisters did demise to sd.Ralph Allen, his Hrs.& Assigns;
All those 8 Oxen Leazes Yrly.in a Grod.called Dolemead Par.Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.to enter with the Lord or his Farmer & there to remain ‘till St.Martin’s day, wch.sd.Grod.then was & for sevl.Yrs.then last past had been in the possion.of sd.Ralph Allen, his Tent.or Tents; And sd.Oxen Leazes did then lately belong to 2 sevl.Moieties of Messuages or Tenemts.& Lands then late of Milo Smith of Bath, Mercer, deced., at Holloway in sd.Par.of Lyncombe & Widcombe, pcel.of Lands belongg.to the Hospital;
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Heirs & Assigns, durg.ye natural Lives of Wm.Tucker, Son of Eliz.Tucker deced.Sister of sd.Ralph Allen, & Walter Dalamore, Son of John Dallamore, Gent.the Son of Walter Dalamore, Maltster, both of Bath, & Richd.Marchant the Youngr.of same City, Mercer, & the Life of the longest liver of them at & under the Yrly.Rent of 1s; And also at & under the Sum of 6d.in the Name of an Herriott at the Deaths of each of them sd.Wm.Tucker, Walter Dallamore Son of sd.John Dallamore & Richd.Marchant, provided sd.Wm.Tucker being living no Herriott to be pd.at Death of sd.Walter Dallamore Son of sd.John Dallamore or sd.or sd.Richd.Marchant; And sd.Walter Dallamore Son of sd.John Dallamore being living no Herriott to be pd.at Death of sd.Richd.Marchant; Subject (upon lawful Summons) twice a Year to do Suit & Service at the Courts of sd.Master, Cobrethren & Sisters to be held at Hospital afsd; With the usual Clause of Reentry on nonpaymt.of sd.Rent of 1s. Hospital Seal affixed to the above
Geo.2d.1740 - By Indre.Tripartite betw.
Wm.Savage of Midsomer Norton Co.Somerset, Gent.& Fisher Purnell of Midsomer Norton afsd.Gent.of 1st.pt; Eliz.James of City Bath Co.Somerset, Wo.Relict.& Extrix.of Wm.James late of sd.City of Bath, Gent.deced., Edwd.James of Dindar, sd.Co.Yeom., John James of Wilmington in Jas.City & Co.of Virginia, Tobacco Planter, Xtopher Ward of City Bristol, Gent.& Dorothy his Wife, Thos.Salmon of Chilcompton sd.Co.Somerset, Gent.& Hannah his Wife, Pet.Bagbeer of Chilcompton afsd.Maltster, & Edith his Wife, wch.sd.Edwd.John, Dorothy, Hannah & Edith are all the Brors.& Sisters of sd.Wm.James deced., of 2d.part; & Ralph Allen Esqr.of 3rd pt; Reciting that Thos.Colthurst then late of Lyncombe & Widcombe sd.Co.Somerset, Gent., deced., at time of his Death was possed.of a Messuage or Tenemt.wth.the Appurts.in Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.cont.by Est.of Land, Meadw.& Past.38 Acres & a Share of a Lugg’s Breadth of Grod.in Dolemead within sd.Pars.wch.abutteth on the Way leading from Widcombe to the Avon of Bath for remr.of Term of 1000 Yrs.created by Indre.dated 6th May 1656 betw.Heny.Bush of Bath afsd.Cordwainer of 1st.part; Thos.Stratton of Bristol, Mariner, of 2nd.pt; & Wm.Loupe of sd.City of Bristol, Gent.of 3rd.pt; commencg.from date thereof sans Waste, ye Remr.of wch.sd.term of 1000 Yrs.by divers mesne Assignmts & or.Acts in the Law did legally vest in sd.Thos.Colthurst deced., & the same Leasehd.Prmes.are wth.other Lands Subject to a Rent of £2.15.101/2 pr.Ann.being the proportion usually pd.in respect thereof towds.a Rent Charge of £3.3.41/2 issuing out of same with other Lands & Heredits.theretofore granted by Trustees of the Hospital of Hugh Sexey Esqr.at Brewton sd.Co.Somerset to Robt.Bush Far.of sd.Henry Bush & his Heirs & then payable to same Hospital, & being so possed.did make his Will dat.4th Mar.1723 & thereby gave same (int.al.) to Thos.Tyndale of Bathford sd.Co.Somerset, Esqr., Wm.Hall of Weston, same Co., Gent.& John Gay of Haycombe sd.Co.Somerset; To hold to them sd.Thos.Tyndale, Wm.Hall & John Gay, their Heirs, Extors.Admors.& Assigns reply; In Trust that they the Survrs.& Survr., his Heirs, Extors.& Admors.shod.wth.all convt.speed after his Death sell & dispose of all or so much of sd.Lands & Prmes.as they shod.see necessary, & appointed his Wife, Martha Colthurst, sole Extrix.of his sd.Will who proved same in the Conry.Cot.of Bsp.of Bath & Wells; And also reciting that same Prmes.afterwds.by good & sufficient Ways & Means became legally vested 85 in Chas.Lewin of City London, Mercht.for remr.of sd.term of 1000 Yrs; And also reciting that sd.Chas Lewin by Indre.of Rel.& Assignmt.dated 2d.Augt.1728 did assign & set over unto sd.Wm.James;
All of a Past.& Wood Grod.late of sd.Thos Colthurst called Horscomb’s as was Leasehold & not Inhitance.& cont.by Est.2 Acres more or less; And also all of those Arr.Lands cont.by Est.8 Acres more or less sitd.in Common Field of Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.called Widcombe Field as were Leasehold & not Freehold, being pt.of 30 Acres of Arr.Lands in same Field then late in possion.of Milo Smith, his Undertents.or Assigns, wch.sd.Past.& Wood & Arr.Lands mentd.to be thereby assigned are lying within sd.Par.of Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.& were pt.of sd.38 Acres before mentd.to be in the posson.of sd.Thos.Colthurst at time of his Death for Remr.of sd.Term of 1000 Yrs; And all Ways, Waters, Watercourses, &c;
To hold to sd.Wm.James, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for residue of sd.recited Term of 1000 Yrs; And also reciting that sd.Wm.James by his last Will & Testament in Writing dat.8th Novr.1729 did give unto his Wife the Int.& Income of all his Est.both real & psonal.during her Widowhood after her Death; after her death or Widowhood wch.shod.first happen he gave all his Est.both real & psonal.& all his Right & Int.therein to & amongst his Brors.& Sisters equally betw.them, Share and Share alike, & thereof appointed his sd.Wife sole Extrix.who duly proved same in ye Progtive.Court of Canterbury; It is Witnessed that sd.Eliz.James, Edwd.James, John James, Xtopher.Ward & Dorothy his Wife, Thos.Salmon & Hannah his Wife & Peter Bagbeer & Edith his Wife did assign, transfer & set over unto sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns;
All & singr.ye sd.Past.& Wood Grod.called Horscomb’s as is Leasehold & not Inhitance.contg.by Est.2 Acres more or less; And all those Arr.Lands containing by Est.8 Acres more or less sitd.in sd.Common Field of Lyncombe & Widcombe afsd.called Widcombe Field as are Leasehold & not Freehold; And wch.were assigned to sd.Wm.James in & by Recited Indre.of Rel.& Assignmt & every pt.thereof with their Appurts;
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Extors.Admors.& Assigns, from thenceforth for residue of sd.recited term of 1000 Yrs; Subject nevertheless by way of Agreemt.& not of Condition to the Yearly Sum of 5s.payable to Brewton Hospital wch.sd.Ralph Allen doth Covt.to pay; Executed by Wm.Savage, Fisher Purnell, Eliz.James, Edwd.James, John James, Xtopher.Ward, Dorothy Ward, Thos.Salmon, Hannah Salmon, Peter Bagbeer, Edith Bagbeer. The above is only an Extract of an Indre.of Rel.by wch.the Freehold pts.of sd.Lands are conveyd.to sd.Allen, his Heirs & Assigns, for ever as well as sd.Leasehold pts are assigned.
17th Aug.8th Geo.3d.1768. - By Indre.betw;
Richd.Roberts of City of Bath Co.Somerset, Ct.Master of the Hospital of St.Mary Magdalen at Holloway Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb Co.Somerset, & the Cobrethren & Sisters of same Hospital, of the one pt; & John Chapman one of the Aldermen of sd.City Bath, & Jas.Sparrow of sd.City Bath, Ct.Devisees in Fee & Extors.In Trust named in & by the Will & Testamt.of Ralph Allen, late of Prior’s Park sd.Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb Esqr.deced.of the or.pt; It is Witnessed that in Conson.of £6 to sd.Richd.Roberts, Master, & the Cobrethren & Sisters pd.by sd.John Chapman & Jas.Sparrow, sd.Richd.Roberts, Master, & the Cobrethren & Sisters of sd.Hospital did demise unto sd.John Chapman & Jas.Sparrow their Hrs.& Assigns;
All that Close of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Horscomb & cont.by Est.4 Acres more or less sitd.in sd.Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb 7 then in the Occupn.of sd.John Chapman & Jas.Sparrow, their Tent.or Tents; And wch.sd.piece of Grod.was by sd.Ralph Allen deced.puchased of Joyce Smith then late of Holloway sd.Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb, Wo.deced; Toger.with all Ways, &c;
To hold to sd.John Chapman & Jas.Sparrow, their Hrs.& Assigns, during the natural Lives of John Smith then of sd.Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb afsd.Gent.then aged abt.40 Yrs., Joyce Maddox then Wife of 86 Richd.Maddox of Lyncomb & Widcomb afsd.then aged abt.39 Yrs., & Ralph Warburton Allen, Son of the Lord Bsp.of Glouc.then aged abt.12 Yrs., & the Life of the longest liver of them; At & under the Yrly.Rent of 5s; And also at & under the Sum of 1s.in the Name of an Herriott at the Deaths of each of them, John Smith, Joyce Maddox & Ralph Warburton Allen, they dying successively one after anor.as herein before named.
Hospital Seal affixed
3rd.& 4th.May 27th.Geo.2nd.1754. - By Indres.of Lease & Rel.betw;
Joyce Smith of Par.Lyncombe & Widcombe Co.Somerset, Wo.& Relict.of Milo Smith late of Bath, Mercer, deced., John Smith, Joyce Smith & Philippa Smith (Son & Daurs.& all the Issue of sd.Joyce Smith by sd.Milo Smith) of the one pt; & Ralph Allen Esqr.of the or.pt; Reciting that by Indre.of Lease dated 3d.July 1738 betw.David Thomas of Earle Stoke Co.Wilts.Ct.Master of the Hospital of St.Mary Magdalen at Holloway Par.Lyncomb & Widcomb afsd.& the Cobrethren & Sisters of same Hospital of the one pt.& sd.Joyce Smith of the or.pt., sd.Master, Cobrethren &Sisters did demise unto sd.Joyce Smith, her Heirs & Assigns (int.al.);
All those 4 Acres of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Horscombe;
To hold to sd.Joyce Smith, her Hrs.& Assigns durg.the ntral.Lives of sd.Joyce Smith pty.thereto aged 45 Yrs.of thereabouts, & Joyce Smith aged 12 Yrs.or thereabts.Dau.of sd.Joyce Smith (pty.thereto), & John Smith aged 10 Yrs.or thereabts.Son of sd.Joyce Smith (pty.thereto), & the Life of the longest liver of them; At & under the Yrly.Rent of £3.11 - payable Quarterly to sd.Master, Cobrethren & Sisters & their Successors, & 40s.in the name of an Herriott; And also reciting that sd.Prmes.& sd.surrendred.Lease by wch.same were held were (int.al.) by a certain Indre.of Settlemt.(made on Marr.of sd.Milo Smith & sd.Joyce Smith dated 17th.Janry.1728 conveyed & assigned over to Trustees therein named, Upon the Trusts & Uses followg.that is to say; In Trust for sd.Milo Smith & his Assigns durg.so long of sd.therein recited terms as he shod.live; And after his Dec.To the Use of sd.Joyce Smith & her Assigns during so long of sd.terms as she shod.live in pt.of Jointure; And after dec.of Survr.To sd.Trustees, their Heirs & Assigns, durg.residue of sd.terms then to come & unexpired In Trust for raising £100 out of Rents & Profits of sd.Prmes.to such Youngr.Son & Sons, Daur.& Daurs.of sd.Joyce Smith & Milo Smith as Survr.of them, sd.Milo Smith & Joyce his Wife shod.by any Deed in Writg.duly exted.& attested in the psence.of 2 or more Credible Witnesses who shod.subscribe their Names thereto, or by his or her last Will & Test.in Writg.duly exted.& attested as afsd.give, devise, limit, direct or appoint; And for want of such Gift, Devise, Limitation, Dircion.or Appointmt.Then to all such Youngr.Son & Sons, Daur.& Daurs.equally betw.them, Share & Share alike; And if but one such Youngr.Son or Daur.Then to & for such only Son or Daur; And from & after raisg.sd.£100 for purposes afsd.Then in Trust for & to the Use & Behoof of the Eldest & every or.Son & Sons of the Body of sd.Joyce Smith by sd.Milo Smith for all the remr.of the then Est.thereon to come; The Eldest of such Son & Sons & his Issue being always to take place & be preferred before the Youngr.of such Son & Sons & his Issue; And in Default thereof, In Trust for the Use & Behoof of all & every the Daur.& Daurs.of the Body of the sd.Joyce Webb[?] by sd.Milo Smith equally betw.them, Share & Share alike; And if but one such Daur.Then in Trust for the Use & Behoof of such only Daur; And in Default, In Trust for the Use & Behoof of ye Hrs.Extors.& Admors.of sd.Milo Smith for all the remr.of sd.Est.then to come & unexpired;
And also reciting that sd.Joyce Smith, Wo., John Smith, Joyce Smith & Philippa Smith were all the pties.who were then legally & equitably intitled to & interested in sd.Lands & Prmes.mentd.& contd.in sd.herein before recited Indre.of Lease; And that sd.Ralph Allen had contracted & agreed wth.them sd.Joyce Smith Wo, John Smith, Joyce Smith & Philippa Smith for the absolute pchase.of the Close of Arr.or Past.Grod.called Horscombe cont.by Est.4 Acres more or less at the price of £60; And that sd.Close was to be Subject & liable to the paymt.of 5s.Yrly.in pt.of sd.Yrly.Rent of £3.11 -, but to be 87 freed from the paymt.of any Herriott or Herriots or Money in Lieu thereof; It is Witnessed that in pursuance of sd.Agreement & in Conson.of £60 to sd.Joyce Smith Wo, Joyce Smith & Philippa Smith pd.by sd.Ralph Allen, They did grant, bargn.sell, rel.& confirm unto sd.Ralph Allen & to his Hrs;
All & singr.the sd.Close of Arr.or Past.called Horscombe so granted & demised by her sd.Joyce Smith Wo.as afsd.& then & then late in possion.of Wm.Hill, Butcher, as Tent.to sd.Joyce Smith Wo;
To hold to sd.Ralph Allen, his Hrs.& Assigns, during the ntral.Lives of sd.Joyce Smith Wo, Joyce Smith her Daur.& sd.John Smith & the life of the longest liver of them; Subject nevertheless by Way of Covt.& not Condition to the payt.to sd.Master,Cobrethren & Sisters the Yrly.Rent of 5s.pt.of sd.Rent of £3.11 -; Executed by Joyce Smith, J.Smith, Joyce Smith, Philippa Smith. With a Rect.for £60 from sd.Joyce Smith, J.Smith, Joyce Smith & Philippa Smith.
Notes This abstract of title is taken from a version in note form in the collection of Ralph Allen papers, Bath Record Office. The handwriting is extremely obscure and it is not possible to guarantee complete exactitude. Owing to the numerous abbreviations, the shortened form Mr., sd., etc, has not been retained. The folio page numbers have also been omitted.
Page 69: Walter Chapman the ‘Sadler’. At this date, this would be Walter Chapman the Saddler II, father of John Chapman the Saddler, an executor of Ralph Allen. These belonged to a different branch of the Chapmans from William the Distiller and his son William, and their kinsmen Henry Chapman and his son Scarborough, builder of the house now called Widcombe Manor.
Bath Journal 24 October 1748: To be Lett or Sold. An Estate call’d the LODGE, about a mile from Bath, adjoining to Claverton Down on one Side, and Prior-Park, belonging to Ralph Allen, Esq; on the other; consisting of a good Dwelling-House, extreamly well situated, and very convenient, with several Closes of Land thereto belonging, with Plenty of Water. For further particulars, enquire of Lewis Clutterbuck, Attorney at Law at Bath aforesaid. [repeated on October 31]
9. 1788 ACCOUNT OF QUIT RENTS
BRO, Ralph Allen Estate Papers, Bundle 2, 1788. A/c of Quit Rents
Late Colthursts
88 20th June 1728. The Trustees of Mr.Colthurst Convey divers Lands called Colthursts to Charles Lewin and his Heirs but In Trust for Ralph Allen and his Heirs - The Fee Farm Rent therein mentioned payable 1 for those Lands - is - £15 - 17 - /2
The following are Lands sold by Charles Lewin part of Colthursts with the consent of the said Ralph Allen and the Rent Proportioned, as under -
A.R.P. Ann. Rent Proportioned £ s d 20th Decr.1728. Charles Lewin, to John Hickes of Lay Splot 2 - - - 3 6 Same Same to John Rogers that part of Hay Corner as is Freehold 1 - - - 4 - 19th Mar.1728 Same to John Wiltshire, Three Corner Grod. 3 - - - 11 - 20th Decr.1728 Same to Philip Bennet Esqr.a Messuage or Tenement with ye Orchard & Appurts. near Widcomb Church - and - 2 - } also part of Dunsmead containing 4 - - } 1 3 - 5th May 1730 Same to Same - Residue of Dunsmead 1 3 20 - 7 -
The following Sold by R.Allen Esq.
23rd Augt.1731 R.Allen Esq. to John Tyler, Whites meadow 9 - - 1 6 -
Sold by Mr.Chapman as Trustee since Mr.Allen’s death
John Chapman to Lewis Clutterbuck 1 - - Same to William Street - Paddock 2 - - - 2 - Same to Messrs.Kington & Bayly, Trustees } No Rent for the Parish of Widcomb - Bowling } proportiond Ally 2 - - for it
Same to Lord De Montalt ye. following Lands
The Down 24 - - } Closes at Horsecomb called late James’s 13 - - } In late Common Field of Do. 22 - - } Lane End 2 - - } The Tyning at Hanging Land 8 - - } Hanging Land Tyning 9 - - } Park Hays 1 - 20 } 4 Nedges laid into Three 12 - - } 6 - -
The following not Sold
Baylys Close otherwise Westmead 4 2 - } Little Dolemead 6 - - } 1 A Close called Blakely 4 - - } 5 - 6 /2 1 15 17 /2
Part of Late Wiltshires
31st Octr.1729 Mary Wiltshire, Wm.& James Wiltshire her Sons, Sell and Convey to Ralph Allen Esq.the following Lands - A R P £ s d Bean Close and Buthays 6 - - 89 Dolemead and little Piece of Garden late in Possession of John Maggs 3 - - A Close called Mill Close 3 - - A Close called the Hill 2 - - The little Tyning 1 2 - Acres 15 2 -
Proportioning a Rent of £3.8.21/2 payable to Bruton Hospital for the whole of the Wiltshires Estate of which the above is part, at per.Annum - 1 10 -
Since which Mr.Chapman as Surviving Trustee of Mr.Allen has Sold part of the above Lands and Proportioned the Rent as under -
Sold to or for the Common Poor House the said Close called the Mill - - 5 - Sold to Mr.Kington the said Close called Little Tyning - 2 -
Sold to Lord De Montalt - (Great) Bean Close (& Buthays, struck through) and also the Hill - 11 -
Not sold and Rent Proportioned for - Dolemead and little Piece of Garden at (and also Buthays & little Bean Close) - 1 2 - 1 10 -
Other part of late Wiltshires
2nd June 1741 Mary Wiltshire & Wm.Wiltshire her Son Sell and Convey to Ralph Allen Esq. the following Lands - A R P A Piece of Pasture called the Ragg 3 - - A little Orchard called - Ragg Orchard 0 2 - A Paddock at Hanging Land 0 2 - Hanging Land Tyning 3 - - Two Acres & 1/2 in Downfield 2 2 - A Pasture called Horsecomb 2 - - Acres 11 2 -
1 Proportioning said Rent of £3 8 2 /2 to Bruton Hospital for the whole of Wiltshires Estate to be for said Lands above per. Annum - 1 - -
Sold by Mr.Chapman Surviving Trustee, to Lord De Montalt, part of the above Lands as under and the Rent Proportioned as under - Said Paddock at Hanging Land £ s d Said Hanging Land Tyning Said 2 Acres & 1/2 in Down Field A Pasture called Horsecombe - 14 - Not Sold but Rent Proportioned - For the Ragg Close and Ragg Orchard at - - 6 - £1 - -
The Quit or Cheif Rents Payable Annually to Bruton Hospital in Somerset Proportioned for the Lands Sold as under by Mr.John Chapman, Surviving Trustee of Ralph Allen Esq.with the consent of the Reverend Mr.Martin Stafford Smith to Lord De Montalt to pay -
Whose Lands 90 it were Originally part of. A.R.P An.val. £. s. d
Wiltshires - For Great Bean Close [and Buthays, struck through] 6 - - 0. 11 - Ditto for - At Hanging Land 0. 2 - Hanging Land Tyning 3 - - In Downfield 2 2 - In Horsecombe 2 - - 0. 14 - Harris’s - For 2 Closes in Horsecombe 0. 1 - 5 - Whippy’s - A Close in Do. 5 - James’s & Holbrook’s - In late Widcomb Fields 6 - 3 John Smith - Perry Mead 10 7 /4 late part of The Down 24 - - 12 - - Colthurst’s - Closes at Horsecomb called late James’s 13 - - 9 - - In late Common Field of Do. 22 - - 4 8 - Lane End 2 - - } The Tyning at Hanging Land 8 - - } 9 - - Hanging Land Tyning 9 - - 14 - - Park Hays 1 - 20 2 - - 4 Nedges laid into Three 12 - - 16 - - 6 - - 3 £8 12 7 /4
The Quit or Chief Rents Payable Annually to Bruton Hospital in Somerset Proportioned as under for the Lands late of Ralph Allen Esq.not Sold by Mr.Chapman his Surviving Trustee but Remaining To and for the Several Persons entitled to the same under his said Will what they are Severally to pay -
Wiltshire’s, Dolemead and little Piece of Garden, for - formerly in Possession of John Maggs - 3 - - Buthays Orchard & little Bean Close - 4 - 16 } 0. 12 - Do.for The Ragg Pasture - 3 - - The Ragg Orchard - 0. 2 - } 0. 6 - Part of Bayly’s Close otherwise Westmead - 4 2 - 40 - - Colthurst’s Little Dolemead - 6 - - 20 - -} 1 A Close called Blakely - 4 - - 5 - -} 5 - 6 /2 1 £5 18 6 /2
The following is what is remaining Unsold other part of the said Mr.Allens late Estate and the Premises charged with the following Fee Farm Rents -
20 Decr.1728 Charles Lewin to John Rogers for Leasehold part of Hay Corner part of Loupes’s - } 2 - - 0. 6 - Loups - Residue of Loupes’s Leasehold 2 9 -} 2 9 - Parker’s - Cross Keys, Do. 2 10 - 2 10 - Chapman’s - Great Dolemead Freehold 6 14 - 6 14 - Smith’s - Smith’s Dolemead, Do. 1 - - 1 - - £12 19 - _____ 1 £18 11 6 /2
Widcombe Rent Roll, 1788 M.S.Smith Lord Montalt Value Value £. s. d £. s. d Prior Park House, Pleasure Grounds &c 90 - - The Deer Park 19 - - 91 The Lodge Field 30 - - The Rookery & Garden 34 - - Thirteen Acrs.of Wood £6.4 - 2 13 - 3 11 - The Stewards House 10 - - The Stewards Field 9 - - Lanes end Field rented by Mr.S.Smith B 18 - - Fras.Fisher, the middle Gate House B 4 - - Wm.Beard, the House in the Flatt B 5 10 - Wm.Purnall a House Do. 5 10 - Ambrose Helps, Do, Do. 5 10 - Saml.Pearce, Do,Do. 5 10 - Wm.Lancashire, Do, Do. 5 10 - Ditto a small Garden, Do. 1 1 - Thos.Glaine, a House in the Flatt 5 10 - Geo.Kelson, Do, Do. 5 10 - Rd.Cottle, Do, Do. 5 10 - Jas.Higgins, Do, Do. 5 4 - Chas.Biggs, the Gate House, Do. 4 10 - Giles Beard, the Bake House 16 - - Geo.Pearce - 2 Houses 11 - - Jno.Langley, the White Hart Inn 30 - - Jno.Skrine, a House near the White Hart 6 - - Mr.Read, Ground Rent for 2 Houses 4 10 - Jno.Vine, Do. 4 10 - Jno.Skrine, Dolemeadow 51 - - Jno.Skrine, 4 Fields late Clements X 36 - - Jno.Skrine, 3 Fields called Nedges B 16 - - Wm.Bowrne, Rag’s Orchard / 9 9 - Wm.Dicher, a House & Gardens D 46 3 6 Jos.Fisher, Great Bean Close / 14 - - Jos.Fisher, little Bean Close 5 5 - Jos.Fisher, for late Bush’s A 13 - - Jos.Fisher, Butt Ash Garden or Orchard / 7 7 - Thos.Bartlett, a Work Shop in Dolemead D 1 10 - Thos.Bartlett, Knights Orchard / 22 - - Thos.Bartlett, a Garden in Dolemead D 1 10 - Wm.Bowrne, Part of Loope’s, 5 Acres 4 8 - Wm.Bowrne, Do.the Lawn, Part Sold, 2 Acres / 4 - - Jno.Langley, Hanging Lands / 9 - - Thos.Biggs, Waste Ground in Dolemead D 10 10 - Mrs.Farley, for Blakely A / 5 - - Thos.Glaine, 2 Gardens 10 - - Rt.Devenish, Ruggs Orchard / 12 - - Messrs.Dodd & Shepherd, Baily’s Close D 42 - - Wm.Gay, a Garden in dole Meadow D 2 2 - Jas.Dagger, Do. D 1 - - Dal.Milsom, Do. D 18 - Wm.Bowrne, Do. D 17 - Wm.Bowrne, 2 Fields Called Hanging land 20 - - Edward Willis, the Cross Keys Farm, let together at £120 per ann.of wch.the Freehold Part, bought by Ld.de Montalt, amounts per ann. to - 75 12 11 The Leasehold Part of X keys Farm, still in Mr.Smith’s Possession is - 43 7 1
Brought forwards 587 17 6 179 13 11 One Acre in Lanes end Field Leasehold 2 - - 92 Comb-Edge, Do. 4 - - A small Garden in the Flatt, Do. 1 - - Peter Cromwell, a Garden in Dolemeadow 19 - 595 17 6 [sic] Leasehold as above 43 7 1 The whole of Mr.Smith’s 639 4 7 Do.of Ld.De Montalt 179 13 11 Total amount of both 818 18 6
10. THE LIFE OF RICHARD JONES, WHO FOR MANY YEARS WAS IN THE SERVICE OF THE LATE RALPH ALLEN OF PRIOR PARK Bath Central Library, ref.no.22886
‘The following pages are transcribed from a M.S. in the possession of Mr.Jeffery, Orange Grove, Bath. It is doubtful whether the document is in the handwriting of Richard Jones, or copied from the original; or it may have been written from Jones’s dictation; the latter appears not unlikely from the rambling and 93 garrulous style adopted; however this may be, the document possesses much interest, as it conveys some information relative to Ralph Allen, and his deeds, altogether new, and apparently trustworthy. Its phraseology has not been altered further than the occasional insertion of a word evidently omitted, and the correction here and there of a manifest error on the part of the writer of the M.S.’ transcribed Jan 26. 1858 by C.G.
THE LIFE OF RICHARD JONES ______
The Life of Richard Jones born in the parish of St James’s, in the City of Bath, in the year 1703: His father was a cordwainer in that city, and lived in good credit. The said Richard Jones was kept close to writing till he was 15 years of age, and then put apprentice to old Mr Pitcher, a freemason; he had a quarry on Combe Down, and one Mr Greenway had one, and it was at that time a very good trade, and had good prices for their work. He was a freeman of Bath, and about the year 1725 he was sent over to Monmouth to carry on a County Hall, and after it was finished he came home, and a little time after he married the daughter of Charles Tyler of that place, by whom he had eleven children. After he had worked some time in Bath, Mr Allen bought all the quarries on Coombe Down, and the estate thereunto belonging.
About the year 1727 the said Mr Allen carried on great works, and in the year 1731, I was clerk to carry on all stone work and buildings and learned myself to draw, which I did to my master’s satisfaction a list of the houses he carried on under his Royal Master, and lived with him till his death which was in the year 1764. He carried on so great a work with a carriage road from the quarries to the river, and a Stone-yard in Dolemead, and a crane to load block stone which was sent away yearly 1800 tons; and on the hill for taking the stone out of the quarry was four horse cranes, and one to lay the stone down to square it, which stood on the centre of two roads as thus marked A. the horse crane cost about £100: the crane marked A. less £80: and the crane by the water side cost £60.
Quarry Quarry Road D A R O A R O Road Crane
D
A
The crane marked A was sold for £14 to the proprietor, and is now on the Quay; the other in Dolemead in the yard was sold for £8 after Mr Allen’s death, and then the carriage road being finished the next place was to erect shades in the stone-yard, near the river for the workmen to work the several sorts of stone for any building in Bath. The first heap of work was two houses in the Abbey Green near Blind Gate; the next house was Mr Harford’s in the Church Yard, and the next was that whole building in the lower Grove, called Shearn’s building, and the next was Mr Sheyler’s two houses in the upper Grove, and it was brought up to Monk’s Mill, and so rolled up on a road made up into the Grove for the purpose, and then began the building in the square called Wood Street, and then served almost all the stone work for each side square, north, south, east and west side, and then the new Chapel for the square, and then begun Mr Allen’s stables on the hill quite home to the Porter’s Lodge, and among other buildings in Bath, Viz: the new Hospital which stones, lime and paving stones was given by Mr Allen and came to upwards of £960.
Then in the year 1767 came to Bath and was by the goodness of Mr Collibee, then Mayor, and the rest of the Corporation voted in City Surveyor of Bath and began the new Market and shambles, and laid the stone for the new Town Hall in the year 1769, one Mr Alderman Chapman of Lyncombe, Mayor. I continued till one Serjeant Blatchly died, then I was made a Serjeant, and still continued my place of Surveyor till the year 1771 after the new prison was finished: ordered then making the reservoirs under Beechen Cliff to bring the Water to Bath in the lead pipes in the year 1767, and in the year 1769 began 94 the new reservoir of Bathwick to bring the water from Bathwick down over Mr Pulteney’s Bridge, which springs he gave to the City, all on the north side; the stone set up marked B.C. Bath City Springs. Gave the design for Simpson’s great room built in the year 1750: the stone work came to £300, and was brought up by water, on the carriage, the same as Nutt’s garden building was carried on. In 1736 built a long malt-house and brew house, by the stone-yard at the back of Claverton street, which came to £256 and was rented by a company of gentlemen at £180 a year, and a great piggery the company was. Mr Collins, draper, Mr Goulding, Mr Rivers, Mr Bevan, Mr Penny, Mr Robinson.
I was always kept close to the Church of England till the day of my death, and when I heard of the death of my friend Jolling, I considered my own end: Examined all measuring books from 1731 to the end of 1773, being 42 years; there you will find the many measurements of different parts where I being concerned, and went through many difficulties, and if I had my time to begin again, I should have penned down more than this book would contain. For my own part I had always too much business upon my hands, both for Mr Allen, and other parish business. I worked at the new end of the council room, built by one College, a Sidmouth architect at that time in Bath about the year 1725. The said Richard Jones worked at the Monument on Lansdown about the year 1722, and in 1725 at the buildings next the old Town Hall in Bath, which was done by the Chamber of the City, one Mr Chapman, then Chamberlain, father of the said Alderman Chapman. See my drawings of the other piece at Widcomb, done for one Squire Bennett, and his summer house in his garden; likewise Hampton Church, and Claverton Church, and see all my drawings, and not to burn them, and all my moulds which would serve a freemason in his work.
The carriage road and cranes did not cost Mr Allen less than £10,000. He had five shares in the navigation valued at £400 each; he had 32 shares in the Sun Fire Office in London. About the year … he contracted with the Governors of St.Bartholomew’s Hospital in London to serve the stone for the four piles of building: for a certain sum of money, which building was all completed the year he died. I went and measured the last pile in the year 1764: all the piles came to £1975, add four times this sum. For the Cross Posts, his contract with Government for the first seven years was £2,000 a year; the second contract £4,000; the third contract £6,000; and his last contract £8,000, for that he had it granted for his life, which he had for nearly 40 years. I saw a stated account about 26 years before his death, and which shewed that the Cross Posts brought him in clear £16,000 a year – clear of all deductions. A short survey of that pious and good man Mr Ralph Allen, from the time he came to Bath till his death, follows.
He was born in Cornwall, and brought to Bath by one Sir John Trevelyan, and being a scholar, he was placed to one Mr Quaish, then Postmaster of all the Cross Posts, and he failing, then one General Wade, about the year 1708 x x x x x x x x x x x x x was induced to take the Cross Posts by General Wade, who was his bond-man to government. He then set out with one Henry Lance, his man, to all the Cross Post towns in England to settle the Post Offices in all the towns, which he did with great success, and about the year 1715 was a great man in helping to discover to General Wade about the Rebellion, and began to get rich in abundance. He married up a natural daughter of the General’s, by whom he had one son, who died young, and in order to make himself known to the world, took the freestone quarry, and set forward to make the carriage road, after the navigation was finished, and was chosen one of the Corporation, and so continued till he was Alderman, and then he resigned his gown after serving his Mayoralty out. A few years after, about the year 1752 he bought Claverton Estate, cost £18,000 and then began to build there, and altered the great house, and extended his coach road from his house to Claverton; he made coach roads through all his lands which was about ten miles round. He caused to be built in Bath Garden for his use, five long houses which cost £10,000 at least. All the time Bath Garden work was going on (which was the Parades) four carriages were going the hill constant, and over the water; - four ditto loading on the hill; - two ditto loading block to each to Dolemead; - four ditto spare, if any misfortune should happen: each carriage cost £40. When Mr Allen bought Coomb Down and Colthurst estate, he then bought Parker’s estate reaching to the Burnt-house gate and then began to make his coach road. About 1740 he bought Hampton estate which cost £17,000, and then began to build at Hampton several houses and some alterations were made in the great house. About the year 1742, he began to plant the warren, which was a rabbit warren before. The portion planted is now called Fir Forest, and then he began to plant firs all over his estate, which extended five miles in length; his coach-roads through his estate measured at least ten miles. Never was so great a plantation by one private gentleman 95 in all 55,146. In the year 1755 he ordered me to build the bridge over the pond; the foundation stone was laid by Mr Allen May 29th. 1755. The carriage road down the hill by which one carriage went down loaded, and drew up the empty one, - an exceedingly good contrivance, - was finished that year by my plan. In 1762 began the Castle in the warren, and was built in a quarter of a year to my plan. A plan was drawn for another long pile at the point of the hill, facing the London road and Hampton, but I put him off that, which would have cost £250. In the year 1739 began the great works in Bath Garden for the Parades, the north side begun first, and the common sewer, under the directions of Mr Wood, architect. The stone for these four piles of buildings was all brought up by water with carriage roads in two barges, and came with two carriages in each barge four times a day, and hauled up by a capstan: together with the cross streets Pierrepoint and Duke Street, the number of houses stands thus with the work from the year 1740 to 1751 – 2864 – 15 – [sic].
Built the new obelisk in the Square by order of Mr Nash, and he paid for it. Enlarged the Pump Room and put on a ballustrade by order of one Mr Henry Atwood, Mayor of Bath. Built all the houses in the withy bed; ten houses; - the White Hart Inn, and a Tennis Court: built John Gibbs’s Turner’s court - the stone work came to £110 – by Gibbs’s mill at Widcombe Parish, with all the houses on Coomb Down, and in the road: at the same time began Mr Allen’s great house under the direction of Mr Wood up to one story, the rest was carried on by me till the house was completed. This began after Mr Allen came into …. to live and then he ordered me to make drawings for to extend his buildings longer, which was carried on with great success. In the body house was laid a block of stone well squared for the foundation. The house was about seven years in building, and on the south side of the house stood a pedestal, about 300 feet from the house, which ascended with four steps, and around that pedestal was four marble pannels of all the great work General Wade did in Scotland. A large bridge over the river there, and the two pannels represent a road cut through the rocks for passengers, and a third pannel was another bridge, and a fourth pannel was the men blowing up the rocks to make a free passage to the country and bridges.
When Mr Allen found his death approaching, he went with me, and chose out the spot of ground where his vault and monument should be in the Church yard, and a drawing I made for that purpose, which Mrs Warburton would not let me finish as I would: about five days before he died he sent for me to bring him the drawings of the burial place, and told me if he lived any time he would see it done in his life time, and ordered me to leave it till the next day, which I did, and before I saw him again he died and left directions with one Mr West, Apothecary, to give it me, which he did. Mr Allen was one of the greatest men of the age as will plainly appear by my book of his life and great charities.
But to return to my own time, and the work I carried on. About the year 1752 built the New Bridge over Newton, which was done in two years to my desire, and Mr Allen took to do for £1,000. Then I did building at Hampton estate, and built a new Church for Mr Allen at his own expense. Then he was going to build a Chapel at Beachley, but he was disappointed of the ground by one Squire Lewis, of St Pierre, and when he went to Weymouth, he built a great deal there, - a house for himself and his family – I served it. He then had an estate left him at Exeter, which I served, and was there several times; and when he bought Claverton estate of one Mr Skrine, he then ordered me to plan the great house there, and made a great many alterations. Built a new Farm house, and pulled down the old one, which adjoined the great house before, and made a great many alterations. Built a new School room for the Parson; cost £150. Made many alterations in the Church, and would have built a new tower had he lived, and a gallery, and altar piece, which he did.
The private charities, I believe, exceeded his public ones. He caused to be paid by his clerk not less than £100 per week for a considerable time, and little less till towards his latter end: he did not employ less than 100 men of all kinds, so that his death was a great loss to this part of the country. And see the goodness of Mrs Warburton, when a little before his death, he desired her to “let everything remain as it is.” “Believe me it shall be obeyed,” was the reply, and in about four years after his death, she stripped the house of all the furniture, and sold it, which was exceedingly good furniture: sold all the marble chimney pieces, marble tables, wainscot doors, damask hangings, and left nothing but bare walls, and sold off all the valuable pictures. I believe never was such a distruction made in so short a time after his death; and so good a man as he was! She caused to be pulled down one of the neatest gothic pile of buildings which stood in the Lodge field which Mr Allen took a great deal of notice of to all gentlemen that came, - to 96 shew it, - from it was an exceeding fine prospect into Wales and Wiltshire, and Somersetshire; then I could have £30 a year for that house if she would have granted a coach road from Claverton down, but her answer to me was she would not be overlooked by any person: poor Mrs Allen cried when she came to hear she had ordered it to be pulled down. In short when I found her so arbitrary, I was glad when she ordered me off, for it would have grieved me to the heart, to have seen all things pulled down and sold for such trifles. One crane was sold for £10, which cost £80 – another sold for £8, which cost £50, one that loaded the block stone. The horse crane yielded nothing but the tumbler, iron, and chain. In short, she put off all the old servants in general; indeed I was the last, and many more things I could relate of her misconduct. Her poor Uncle never brought her up to be so arbitrary: when she came to him a poor girl, and hardly clothes to her back, till a person was sent to Wells to meet her and clothed her, one James Hyett. I sold off all the old iron wheels and chains, and brass work of the carriages, came to £100. Mr Allen told Mr Dodsley, the gardener, and me, he would take care of us as long as we lived, but through Mrs Warburton he left us out of his will: only left us one year’s salary.
I never knew but one thing blameable of him, - in putting off his Chaplain, one Mr Chapman, for being a little free with his niece, Mrs Tucker, afterwards marrying her up with Mr Warburton. In short what I have seen myself Mr Chapman could not keep being great with her, for she would play with him in an indecent manner. Mr Allen, I must needs say, was a zealous man for the Church of England, and kept close to it, and so made all his servants about him do the same. In the year 1745 he raised a company of men in the time of that unnatural rebellion, and clothed them, and had a Captain, and I was Lieutenant, and one Mr Higgs was Ensign, and four Serjeants, and four drums, and two field-days in a week, and marched to Bath, and exercised in the Market Place before some thousands of spectators, and gave great satisfaction; they continued till the rebellion was over; it cost him about £2000. Their clothing was blue lined with red. I enlisted 50 men in one day, and had them all sworn, and so was kept on till the rebellion was all over, when the men were sorry to be discharged, and in my speech to Mr Allen, and the other gentlemen there present, I told them in behalf of myself, and the rest of the company, they were ready to engage in such affair when called upon again, and I had the honour of a great many thanks.
In this altered Bath Bridge to my draft, and the Temple in the wood, and all the houses at Dolemead, and at Widcombe, which was done for Capt. Tucker, - and many things more that went through my doing, which had I penned down would be more than this book would contain. Built the castle in the warren to my design, but I would have built it larger, for an object to be seen further off, but was hindered by my master and other gentlemen. When Mr Warburton was made Dean of Bristol in the year 1759, I was sent then to survey the Deanery, it being a sad old place: represented it to Mr Allen; he ordered me to make a drawing, and build it, which I did, and the expense amounted to upwards of £900. The dilapidations I brought in to repair the old house, came to about £100, so as the old Dean died very poor, Mr Allen let the executors off for £60. When the Deanery was all finished, and for to be furnished, Mr Warburton was made Bishop of Gloucester; then I was sent to Gloucester to examine the dilapidations, and to make drawings for all the rooms in that palace, and likewise all the fronts, and I served the whole, and brought in the dilapidations £100, which was paid the Bishop, but for all my trouble for the Deanery, and likewise the palace of Gloucester, he gave me only £5, which I took it very hard, as it was worth 20 guineas, and I was told by one Mr Hill, of Marlborough, he would not have done it for less. However, as I was servant of Mr Allen, I put up with it, and when I came off from Mr Allen, the Bishop sent to me in the gallery, and told me that as I had behaved well in my service to Mr Allen, he should think of me if anything should lay in his power, but he never thought of it after, and as to her, she would never speak when I met her.
Many other buildings and businesses I did for the Corporation, and attended the Committee every Tuesday night, till the Mr Wam (query – Harry?) Attwood, a plumber, put me by, and as he was always a very bad friend to me, and never spoke well of me, as I was informed, and yet I never gave him any provocation for so doing. In my life time was I to recollect all the passages I went through, it would break a man’s heart, but I took all these things with patience, and never laid it to heart, - nay many things did not mention even to my family. In 1774, by the directions of the Mayor, Mr Bennett, I caused the stones to be put up in the new ground granted to the City in Bathwick meadows, as may be seen by my plan, which ground was given by Mr Pulteney. In the year 1772 and 1773 began the new prison, Mr Horton, the Mayor, laid the first stone; it was completed in 1773 and prisoners taken in … 97
The clothes of the men raised by Mr Allen during the rebellion in 1715 [sic], was blue turned up with red; Mr Allen bought all the guns, drums, halberds, pikes, belts, and swords, which cost him £150, and when Mr Allen was dead, Mrs Warburton sold it all off for £30: she made me finish some pig-styes, before she would suffer me to go and finish his Monument, which was sore against my will, and because it took up some time she begrudged every farthing that went for it. The day after his death the Bishop of Gloucester sent for me to go and get a grave dug for my master. I told him there was a vault and a monument to be done which would take up some time; his answer to me was ‘what must he be kept above ground till that was done’. I told him “No, there was a vault in Claverton Church, in which were but two coffins, and I could get leave of Mr Graves, the Minister, to put him there, till the vault and monument were done”; - then said he ‘go and get leave’, so that after his death he was soon forgot by them as though he never was there. The poor of the parish, and of the neighbouring parish had a great loss in him. He gave to the poor of Weymouth yearly money, and did many good deeds there: he kept a poor man that came out of his country to ask for work and charity, and kept him as long as he lived, which was about 5 years, giving him six shillings a week besides lodging and eating.
Particulars from Mr Allen’s Will
£ To Mrs Allen 500 Ditto Annuity (4tly payments) 1,300 Mr Allen, his brother 2,000 Mrs Allen, for Charities 1,000 Mrs Warburton 5,000 Mr Philip Allen, his Nephew 1,000 Mr Ralph Allen, his Nephew 5,000 Mrs Mary Allen 10,000 To Capt. Tucker 10,000 Mrs Elliot; his sister 3,000 His Nephews 1,000 Capt Tucker (after Mrs Allen’s death) 5,000 Mrs Allen, after her Aunt’s death 5,000 Mr Sparrow, Rector of Walcot 500 Mr Sparrow’s son 100 Mrs Ann Bennett 100 Dr. Oliver 100 Revd. Mr Knipe, his Chaplain 100 Mr Jerry Pierce; his Surgeon 100 Revd. Mr Hurd 100 Mr Alderman Chapman 100 Mr Wm. Hope 100 His Footman 10 To George Langdon, the Porter 10 Francis Braedon, footman 10 Sarah Taylor £7, Ann Skreen £7 Two Kitchen Maids, each 7 Mrs Pierce: Housekeeper 40 Mary Towson 10 Ann Ward, Dairyman [sic] 7 Samuel Prynn: his Clerk 400 His Wife 100 Mrs Moore 100 Bishop of Gloucester 500 Mr Pitt (Rt Hon.) 1,000 Mr Alderman Chapman 100 Francis Braedon 400 98 James Durnall, and his Children 200 Mr Lewis Clutterbuck: Attorney 100 To Mr Lobb, Minister 100 Ralph Mould, his Godson 100 Three Children of Mr Fielding 300 William Wane, his Clerk 100 James Dodsley, his Gardener 100 Samuel Shelwood, footman 50 Richard Jones. his Clerk; his first Servant in the Stone work, one year’s wages 45 Mr Fraser: his Butler 40 Mrs Askew: his Housekeeper 20 His Coachman 16 Thomas Durnall, Groom 8 Samuel Hall: Postillion 10 Pitt, the Groom, and Do. 10 Thomas Sherer, footman 20
Other deeds of Mr Allen; he made six men free of London before they could work at £20 per man £120 Gave, towards building Queen’s Square Chapel 50 Ditto, towards St Michael’s Church 50 To the General Hospital, all the stone, lime, and paving, - value 900 To Hampton Church, all the stone, lead and timber which cost - 400 To the Bath Hospital yearly till his death 11 To Exeter Hospital, annual 10.10.0 To Charity School, Bath: Annual 10.10.0 He built the Deanery at Bristol, at the cost of 900
Mr Allen lived in a good hospitable manner, and kept a good house; plenty was given to all comers and goers. He left to the Hospital at Exeter two houses for ever valued at £18 per annum. He gave towards building a new Church at Portland £50. He gave his sister Elliot a draft on the Governor of St Bartholomews Hospital which I had when I came to settle for the last pile of Buildings £500, and which Mrs Warburton knew nothing about till I stated the account. He gave one Mr Baker, a cousin, £30; I paid the money in Bristol. He gave to one Samuel Perry, of Monkton Combe, towards rebuilding his house after it had been burnt down, £36. He gave money to every countryman of his that came to ask for charity. He did not pay less to the tradesmen in and about Bath than £800 (Query £8,000?) per Annum. He left by his Will £500 towards building a new Town Hall in Bath.
[The following Note relating to the writer of this M.S. is prefixed to the copy from which this has been transcribed.] “Richard Jones was the father of Mr Jones, who for many years was Serjeant of the Mace for the City, and who lived at one of the houses, before being taken down, at the Old Bridge, opposite to Mr Allison’s, Greyhound Public House, afterwards where Mr Clough, Gun-smith, lived, – the last incumbent” of the premises.
The Life of Richard Jones
Notes. This transcript is taken from an M.S. held in Bath Central Library, itself a hand-written transcript of an earlier M.S., as the opening paragraph states. The Library also holds a typed version, with one or two errors in the text. The narrative jumps about between ‘I’ and ‘he’, as Jones changes his mind on the format. It also skips about between dates, as points occurred to the narrator. 99
[Page 94] St.James’s Church stood at the south-east end of Stall Street, near the South Gate of the old city. Its parish also extended outside the gate.
1703: There is no entry for the baptism of Richard Jones in 1703 in the St. James’s register. There is an entry for 1700.
‘Blind Gate’: it is not known exactly where the Blind Gate stood, but Jones seems to be referring to the Old Post House and the house now known as Ralph Allen’s Town House.
‘Mr.Harford’s in the Church Yard’: This was the house known as Marshal Wade’s, No.14 Abbey Churchyard. The Survey has been studying this house for some time, without, like others, finding any connection with Marshal Wade. A study of this house is included with Ralph Allen’s Town House in Elizabeth Holland’s essay ‘The Forerunners’, published in The Survey of Bath and District, no.22, October 2007
‘The square’: Queen Square. An article by Philip Jackson on the Queen Square Chapel was published in The Survey of Bath and District No.5.
‘the new Hospital’: Bath General Hospital.
[Page 95] ‘the new Town Hall’: the new Georgian Guildhall on the east side of the High Street. See Bath History, Vol.V, 1994 for an article on Thomas Baldwin by Jane Root.
‘Mr.Alderman Chapman’: son of William Chapman the Distiller, below, and owner of Lyncombe Farm, now called Lyncombe Hall.
‘Simpson’s great room’: his ballroom, 1750.
‘a great piggery the company was’: In Bath History, Vol.VIII, 2000, p.107, Mike Bone explains that breweries fed their used grains to pigs.
‘the new end of the council room, built by one College’: College = Killigrew, who designed the southern redevelopment of the Stuart Guildhall in the High Street. See Bath History, Vol.X, 2007, for an article on the model of the Stuart Guildhall by Michael Bishop.
‘1725 ... the old Town Hall’: as above. ‘one Mr.Chapman, then Chamberlain’: William the Distiller.
‘Squire Bennett’: Philip Bennet, owner of what was then probably called ‘Squire Bennet’s’, now called Widcombe Manor. It is thought that Richard Jones probably made working drawings rather than designed the new frontage to the house. ‘his summer house’: possibly the building called the Garden House: cf.John Hawkes, The Survey of Bath and District, No.18, November 2003, on the possible history of this site.
‘a natural daughter of the General’s’: it is not thought that this is correct. Ralph Allen’s two wives are known.
[page 96] ‘Turner’s Court’: Tennis court.
[page 97] ‘the neatest gothic pile’: the Lodge.
‘(query Harry?)’: the name that looks like ‘Wam’ in the M.S., is really Warr, i.e. ‘Warr Attwood’. See 100 Jane Root, op.cit.
‘the castle in the Warren’: Sham Castle. Pevsner suggests that it was designed by Sanderson Miller though built by Richard Jones, 1762. (By then it would scarcely have been visible from the Ralph Allen Town House.)
[page 99] ‘Greyhound Public House’: a Greyhound Public House is given as being at the foot of Holloway, by the Old Bridge.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our thanks are due to Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Grants to Voluntary Societies for financial support for this volume. Thanks are also due to Colin Johnston, Principal Archivist, B&NES, for assistance with this study and also permission to modify and republish the Ralph Allen Estate Map and to
101 publish transcripts of material from the Record Office, items 3, 4, 8 and 9. Also to Bath Library for permission to publish the Life of Richard Jones, item 10, and the fan illustration on page 2, and to Mary Hawkes for permission to reprint material by the late John Hawkes.
We wish to thank Dr.John Wroughton for his labours in producing the index, which will be a valuable reference both for students of Widcombe and Lyncombe and for family historians.
Our thanks also to everyone else who has helped and advised us.
READING
Peter Addison, Around Combe Down, 1998.
Trevor Fawcett, The Bagatelle and King James’s Palace: Two Lyncombe Pleasure Gardens (with notes on Lyncombe Spa and Wicksteed’s Machine).
Michael Forsyth, Ed., Bath, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Yale University Press, 2003: Prior Park, pp.94- 100; Ralph Allen Drive and Prior Park Road, pp.221-222; Sham Castle, p.275; Claverton Manor, p.276.
Richard Irving, A History of the Byfield Mine, Combe Down Heritage Society, 2005.
Marek Lewcun, ‘Bath Archaeological Trust’, The Survey of Bath and District, No.18, November 2003: ‘Quarry Acre’ in an Anglo-Saxon Charter, Bathwick, p.7.
Marek Lewcun, ‘Prior Park’. The Restoration of the Wilderness, Survey No.21, October 2006, p.8.
Ianto Wain, ‘Oxford Archaeology: Combe Down Mines’, Survey No.20, October 2005, p.4.
John Wroughton, A Community at War, The Civil War in Bath and North Somerset, 1642-1650, The Lansdown Press, 1992.
John Wroughton, Stuart Bath, Life in the Forgotten City, 1603-1714, The Lansdown Press, 2004.
John Wroughton, Tudor Bath, Life and Strife in the Little City, 1485-1603, The Lansdown Press, 2006.
102 INDEX of names and places
Original spellings are normally used with alternatives given in brackets
Abbey Green 94 Bartlett’s 55 Bishop of Bath & Wells 9, 12 Abbey Green Street 1 Bartlett, Thomas 92 Bishop’s Park 8-9, 81 Abbet, Thomas 60 Bassett, Sir William 10 Bitching Clift (Bitchincliffe) 28, 30, 40 Adkins’s Field 54 Batch, the 53, 59, 62, 77, 78 Bitton 82 Alder Bed Mead 42 Batcombe 84 Blakelee (Blakely) 46, 65, 92 Alder Bed or Moor 42, 77, 78 Bathampton ix, 2, 10-11, 21 Blakeley Field 3 Aldermoor 44 Bathampton Camp 11 Blakely Close 89, 91 Alder Moor Field 42 Bathampton Down 11 Blanchett, Eleanor 32 Allen, Charles 57, 62 Bathampton, vicar of 21 Blatchley, Mr 58 Allen, Elliot 99 Bathampton Warren 11 Blatchly, Sergeant 95 Allen, Miss x Bath & North East Somerset Council ix Bleachly 57, 59 Allen, Mrs 7, 97 Bath & Wells (Diocese), Comy.Court of/Bishop Blind Gate 94, 100 Allen, Ralph x, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, of 79, 86 Blind Lane 4 12, 13, 41, 43, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56-7, Bath Bridge 97 Bloomfield Road 5 58, 64, 65, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85, Bath Priory and Priors 8, 12-13, 40 Boden, Joseph 15, 18, 29 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 94-100, (his chapel) 96, (his Bath Central Library 100 Boles, Mr 62 chaplain) 97, (beneficiaries under his will) 98- Bath, City of ix, 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 18, 21, 23, 24, 30, Bolwell, Ephraim 43 99 31, 32, 69, 72, 74, 80, 82, 84, 94 Bolwell, John 43 Allen, Ralph Warburton 87 Bath, Corporation of 18, 29 Bone, Mike 100 Allen, Robert 29 Batheaston 72, 80, 81 Botwick, John 31, 39 Allen’s Row 3 Bath Garden 95, 96 Bo(u)lton, John 58, 61, 63 Allison, Mr 99 Bath History x, 100 Bowling Alley 3, 46, 55, 56, 65, 89 Alway, Henry 24 Bath Hospital 99 Bowrne, William 92 Aman, Mr 59 Bath Record Office ix, x, 1, 40, 88 Boy, Simon 59, 60 Amer, John 57, 64 Bath Records Society ix Box 77 Ammons Bank 44 Bath Reference Library 4 Bradford-on-Avon 5, 9 Ancient Deeds ix Bath, Rectory, Rectors, Vicarage & Vicars of Bradly, William 56 Andrew, Rees 58 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, Brass Knocker Hill 9 Angel Inn 59 40 Breach Hills 50 Ansty, John Bath to Weymouth railway 10 Breach, the 47 Ansty’s Lodge 11 Bathesweeke, vicar of 24 Breaks Mead 42 Appleton Down 61 Bath(e)wick 9, 18, 31, 45, 84, 95 Brewhouse 46, 56, 65 Apple Tree Fields 42 Bathwick Meadow 98 Brick, Joseph 59 Ash Ground 57 Bathford 85 Brick-kiln (Brickiln) Fields 3, 51, 65 Atkins (Ground) 79 Bayley, Thomas 41, 45 Brick Kiln Grounds 60 Atwood, Warr 97, 101 Baylye, Mr (& House) 20, 55, 89 Bridge Foote 28 Atwood, George, the Elder 82 Bayly’s Close 91, 92 Bridgend 62 Atwood, Henry 96 Beach 82 Brim Lands 42, 43, 44 Atwood, James 56, 57, 58, 61, 64 Beal, James 61 Brimsden, James 58, 64 Atwood, John 29 Bean Close 3, 47, 54, 56, 65, 90 Bristol 7, 76, 85, 100 Atwood, Thomas 57, 60, 62, 64 Beard, William 92 Bristol, Dean of 97; Deanery of 99 Atwood, William, the Elder 76, 77, 82, 83 Bear Lyes Wood 41 Broad Close 31, 61 Atwood, William, the Younger 82, 83 Beard, Giles 92 Broad family 46, 65 Aubrey, John 10 Beast Fair 57 Broad Mead 41, 58 Avenue Place 6 Beachley 96 Broad, Samuel 56 Avon Ford Mead 42 Beckington 72, 80, 82 Broadway 61 Avon, river 2, 6, 8, 13, 85 Beechen Cliff (Beeching Clift - see also Brockley 84 Avon Wharf 2, 6 Bitching Clift) 3, 46, 58, 65, 95 Brookinan, R. 64 Awbrey, parish of 31 Beechingclift Wood 58 Brook Mead 42, 44 Axbridge 84 Beestons 60 Brown, Capability 2 Bellmead 57 Broxall, Nathaniel 64 Bagatelle, the 55 Benbows 84 Browns Mill 59, 62 Bagbeer, Edith 85, 86 Bennet estate ix Bruck, John 60 Bagbeer, Peter 85, 86 Bennet, Philip (‘Squire’) 3, 46, 47, 50, 54, 56, Bruckman, Robert 58 Baileys Close 50, 56, 89 57, 64, 65, 68, 89, 95, 98, 100 Brucks, Mr 57 Bake House 92 Bennet’s corn mill 3 Brucks, William 60 Baker, Joseph 58, 64 Berkeley, Charles 84, 85 Brunkard, Mr 62 Baker (Ralph Allen’s cousin) 99 Berkeley, Edward 84, 85 Bruton 84 Baker, William, (the Younger) 19, 20, 25, 37, Berkshire 77 Bruton Hospital x, 84, 85, 86, 90, 91 38 Bernell, E. 64 Buchman, Widow 59 Baldwin, Thomas 100 Bevan, Mr 95 Buckland, John 17, 18, 32, 34, 39 Bamfield, Mr 62 Biggs, Charles 92 Bullman, Thomas 23, 24 Bampfylde, Coppleston Warre 2 Bigges (or Bigge or Biggs), John 15, 16, 17, 18, Bullock, Joseph 58, 64 Bar Banks 44 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, Burch, Widow 62 Bar Banks Orchard 44 34, 36, 39, 40 Burnt House Grounds 49 Barn Close 41, 54, 59, 75, 77, 78, 81, 82 Biggs Orchard 61 Burnt House/Gate 5, 96 Barn, the 76, 77, 78, 81, 82, 83 Biggs, son of Mr 30 Bush, Henry 85 Barracks 64 Biggs, Thomas 31, 92 Bush, Mr 46, 53, 54, 57 Barracks Farm x Biggs, Widow 58, 64 Bush, Robert 85 Barracks Lead 61 Bishop, A. 64 Bush, Samuel 52, 54, 65 Barracks Mead 61 Bishop, Edward 57 Bush, Thomas 58 Barrell, Edward 57, 58 Bishop, Michael 100 Bushells Foxall 58 103 Bushell, Widow 58 Cloud, (Close) 23 Crabb Tree Ground 61 Bush’s Meadow 53 Clough, Mr 99 Crabtree Hays 60, Bush, Thomas 17, 25, 64 Clutterbuck, Lewis 88, 89 Crane Houses 49 Bushells’ Tineing 50 Coach & Horses Inn 58, 60 Creese, Goodman 29 Bushell, Widow 50, 54, 64 Cole, Mr 60 Creese, John 26, 30, 40 Buthays 90, 91 Coles Execrs 59, 64 Cromwell, Peter 93 Butler, John 38, 40, 62 Collaby, E. 58, 64 Cross Keys Farm, 92, 93 Butt Ash Garden 47, 65, 92 College (Killigrew), Mr 95, 100 Cross Keys Ground 49 Colles, Mr x Cross Keys Inn 5, 60, 84, 91 Cam, the river 8 Colles, Humphrey 12 Cross Posts 95 Carriage Inn 6 Collett, Hannah 79 Cross, the 50 Cart Way Field 42 Collett, Sarah 74, 78 Crosst Garden, the 59 Castle in the Warren [Sham Castle] 96 Collett, Simon 58, 64, 79 Cuffs Corner 60 Chambers, Mr 57 Collett, Simon, the Elder 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80 Culverwell (or Coulverwell) 3, 47, 66, Chambers, Robert x Collett, Thomas 12, 13, 74, 76, 77, 82, 83, 84 70, 71, 72 Chambery, family of 50 Collett, Thomas, the Younger 74, 78, 79, 80 Currages House 60 Chambery, Samuel 50, 53, 54 Collett family 12, 13, 46, 53, 83 Chambery’s Meadow 49 Collett’s Farm 54 Dagger, James 92 Chambery, Widow 52, 54 Collibee, E. 64 Dagger, John 62 Chandler, Thomas 58, 64 Collibee, Mr 52, 54, 56, 95 Dalamore, Walter 85 Chanter, Daniel 43 Collibee’s Down 48, 66 Davidges Bottom 6 Chanter, John 43 Collibee’s Upper Down 49 Davise, John 26 Chantery Mead 60 Collibee’s Wall 51 Deane, John 22, 30 Chapel, (New) 94 Collier, J. 60 Deer Park 7, 92 Chapman, Alderman 95, 100 Collins 56 De Montalt Place 6 Chapman, Henry 15, 18, 27, 29, 32, 33, 36, 40, Colthurst Down 48, 56, 66 Dell, the 3 55, 88 Colthurst, Edmund 7, 12 Dewenish, Rt. 92 Chapman, John 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 Colthurst Estate 96 Deverell, Peter 42-3, 45 Chapman, Mike ix, x, 1 Colthurst, family of 89, 91 Devizes 80, 83 Chapman, Mr 19, 20, 33, 34, 62, 97 Colthurst/John Hall/Kingston Estate 40 Dicke, John 74 Chapman, Richard, clothier 40 Colthurst, Martha 86 Ditcher, William 92 Chapman, Scarborough 88 Colthurst, Matthew 12 Dodd, Mr 92 Chapman, Walter 35, 36, 38, 40, 69, 71, 72, 74, Collins, Mr 95 Dodsley, Mr 13 88 Collins Well 60 Dole Meadow (or Meade) 2, 15, 19, 22, Chapman, Walter, snr (of The Hart Inn) 40 Colthurst, Mr x, 3 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 46, 56, 65, 85, 90, Chapman, William 58, 64, 88, 91, 95, 100 Colthurst, Thomas 85, 86 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97 Charity School 99 Colethurst’s Hill 66 Dolemeads Gate 3 Charmburys 42 Colthurst’s House (& gardens) 46, 55, 65 Dolling, Henry 59, 64 Charmburys Acre 42 Colthursts Little Tineing 46, 65 Dorset 32 Charmbury, Francis 82, 83 Colthurst’s Ox Barton 46 Down, the 84, 89 Charmbury, James 44, 59, 64 Colthursts Tenements 56 Downfield 90, 91 Charmbury, Thomas 44 Colthursts Tineing 46, 56, 65 Downing (or Odenzells) 33 Charlton, J., his map of 1799 ix, x Colthwists house 31 Dry Arch 4 Cheap Street 40 Colthwists Tenement 31 Dry Nashes 41 Chequer Inn 58 Colthwist West Meade 31 Duke, Charles 56, 60 Chew Magna 78 Colverwell 56 Duke Street 96 Chilcompton 85 Colverwell Wood 56 Dyke, John 70 Chippenham 77 Combe (Monkton Combe) ix, 46, 47, 54, 65, 76, Dundas Aqueduct 7 Church Furlong 41 81, 82 Dunkerton 19 Church Ground 62 Combe Down 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 48, 49, 66, 94, Dunsmead (or Meadow) 57, 65, 89 Church Street 3 96 Dunt, William 59, 60 Church Stile 42 Combe Edge 93 Durley 22 Church Yard 94, 100 Combe Field 5, 50 City Surveyor 95 Combe House x Earlestoke 85, 87 Clark, Ann 58 Combe Stile 70, 71, 72 East Cammell 84 Clarke, John 62 Combes, Mr 19 East Down 5, 48, 66 Claverton ix, 2, 9, 10, 11, 21 Coombs, John 57, 58, 60 Eastern Lawnes 13 Claverton Church 10, 98 Cooper, James 58 Eaton, John 70, 73, 74 Claverton (Clarkon or Clarton’s) Down 8, 9-10, Committee for Plundered Ministers 15, 18 Edge, the 47, 65, 79 46, 77, 80, 81, 88, 95, 97 Common Field 86, 91 Edge Tineing 65 Claverton Down House 9 Common Poor House 90 Edgerton, Richard 56, 59 Claverton Down Road 9 Community at War ix, 40 Edmonds, Richard 61 Claverton Estate 95, 96 Conygree 8, 81 Edwards, John 59, 64 Claverton Manor 1, 10, 66 Coniger 8, 10 Edwards, Mr 58 Claverton Parsonage 10 Cope, John 58, 64 Elford, Joane 28 Claverton School Room 10 Coppice Wood 70, 71, 72 Elkertons Ground 62 Claverton Street 2, 3, 95 Corbyn, John 61, 75, 78, 79, 80 Elkingtons 58 Claverton Woods 9 Cornwall 95 Elizabeth, Queen 33 Clements, family of 92 Corsham 77 Elme Close 15, 18, 22, 29, 30, 31, 63 Clement(s), George 52, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, Cosbew Ground 61 Elm Noursery 56 64 Cottle, Francis 26 Englishcombe (see also Inskcombe) 5 Clements, sister of George 58, 64 Cottle, Richard 92 Englishcombe Lane 61 Clements, Mary 52, 54 Cottle, Thomas 26 Entry (or Entery) Hill 4, 5, 40, 51, 52, Clements, W. 64 Coulthurst, Thomas 58, 64 58, 61 Clements, Widow 58 Coward, Thomas 84, 85 Evans, P. 57 Cliff (or Clift), Matthew 18 Cox, John 69, 72, 75, 76, 80, 82 Everlays 42, 44, 45 Clift, Roger 58, 64 Cox, John Hippisley 84 Everlays Coppice 45 104 Exeter 96 Gorton, Roger 59 Hick(e)s, John 52, 54, 59, 64, 89 Exeter Hospital 99 Goslett, Henry 19 Hide, Robert, the Younger 32 Gothic Lodge 8 Higgins, James 92 Farley, Mrs 92 Goulding, Mr 95 Highfeild 32 Farm Acre 50 Grace, James 53 High Street 100 Farm House, the 41 Grace, John 60, 62 Hill Close, 27 Farm Pin 42, 44, 45 Grants Wood 54, 79 Hill, Mr 57, 97 Fawcett, Trevor 55 Graves, Mr 98 Hill, the 90 Fir Forest 11, 96 Graves, Richard 10 Hill, William 57, 59, 60, 88 Fir Plantations 6-7 Gray, Widow 59 Hipsley, John 78, 79 Firs Field 7 Grays Execer. 64 Hobbs, Mr 19 Firs Mine 6 Grays Ground 59 Hocome 41,44 Fisher, Christian 27 Great Bean Close 91, 92 Hocome Bottom 44 Fisher, Francis 92 Great Chisels 41 Hocome Corner 42, 44 Fisher, Jane 33 Great Dolemead 91 Hocome Field 44 Fisher, John 12, 32, 69, 71, 75, 76 Great Hocome 42 Hocome Orchard 42, 43 Fisher, Joyce 69 Great Hocome Field 44 Hocome Tining 42 Fisher, Robert 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, Great House, the 66 Holbrook, family of 91 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40, 43, Great Lydes Pasture 43 Holder, Charles 1, 10, 44 44-5 Great Mount Hill 45 Holder, Richard 43 Fisher, Sarah 43 Great Pit Lands 42 Holland, Elizabeth ix, x Fisher, Thomas 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 Great Pitts 61 Holloway 85, 87, 101 Fisher, Widow 47, 65 Green Down 5, 48, 49, 66 Holy Trinity Church 6 Fisher, William 69 Green Dragon Inn 61 Home Close, the 41, 43 Fishers Garden 46, 58, 65 Green Lane 5, 53 Home Ground, the 41, 43 Fishers Mill 19 Greenway 44, 45 Home Mead 61 Fishery 57 Greenway, Mr 94 Home Stall, the 43, 44, 53 Fish Pond 75, 77, 78 Greenway, Thomas 59, 64 Home Stead House 44 Flatt, the 92, 93 Green Way Field 42, 57, 60, 61 Hooper, N. 62 Fletcher, Edward 59 Greyhound Public House 59, 99, 101 Hopeyard (Hop Yard), the 13, 58, 75, Flower, Mr 58 Grist, Widow 56 77, 78 Fooks Ground 31 Guide to the Estates of Ralph Allen around Bath Hors(e)comb(e) 5, 6, 49, 52, 54, 56, 57, Foot of the Hill (Tenement) 65 ix 58, 59, 61, 62, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 Forfield 22, 28, 29, 57 Guildhall (Georgian) 100 Horscomb Field 53 Forfield Garden 57 Guildhall (Stuart) 100 Horsecombe Old House 59 Forsith, Dorothy 31 Gunnings Grounds 62 Horsecombe Vale 5 Forsith, John 31 Gwyn, Mr 17, 25, 39 Horseman, Thomas 20, 36 Fosse Way 8 Gwyn, Samuell 18, 35 Horton, Mr (Mayor) 98 Four Acres, the 43, 61 Hospital (General) 94, 99, 100 Four Nedges 89, 91 Half Moon Inn 62 Houlton, Mr 50 Fox Earths 77, 78 Hall, John x House, Samuel 59, 64 Fox, Mr 58 Hall, William 86 Howell, Widow 61 Foxhill Lane 4 Ham, the 43, 44 Huckings, John 62 Foxshole 53 Hamilton, Mr 60 Hudd, Thomas 30, 38 French Grass Ground 43, 71, 72 Hampton (Bathampton), Manor of ix, 41-55, 66 Hugh Sexey estate x Fry, William 43 Hampton Church 95, 99 Hums(t), Edward 59, 64 Furlongs, the 58, 59 Hampton Down 10, 41 Hungerford, Giles 73, 74 Further Pitts 61 Hampton Estate 96 Hunt, John 84 Gaies, Mr, his house 31 Hampton Mill & Ham 41, 45 Hunt, Mr 62 Gallows Tyning 59 Hampton Rocks 10 Hunt, William 57 Garden House 100 Hampton Warren 41 Huntsman Inn 61 Garlick Ground 62 Hanging Furlong 41 Hurdle Field 4 Gate House 92 Hanging Lands 91, 92 Hyatt, Mr 62 Gay, John 86 Hangingland Field 56 Hyett, James 97 Gay, William 84, 92 Hanginglands Lane 4, 9 General Hospital 94, 99, 100 Hangingland Paddock 90 Impropriator 19, 21, 23, 30, 40 George Inn 10, 40 Hangingland Tineing (Tyning) 47, 65, 89, 90, Ingrams Acre 42 Geston, Mr 58 91 Inncocks Mead 42 Gibbons, Sarah 77, 78 Harden, Mr 57, 62 Inkscomb [Englishcombe] Style 58, 59, Gibbs, Alice 59, 64 Harford, Mr 94, 100 60 Gibbs, James 51, 54, 57, 59, 64, 65 Harford, Sarah 41-2, 45 Inkscombe Lane 62 Gibbs, John 20, 96 Harrington, Mr 59 Irish Harp Inn 62 Gibb’s Mill 3, 96 Harris, Edward 52, 54 Island, the 41 Gibbs, Mr 57 Harris, family of 91 Itinerary, of John Leyland 12 Gibbs, Rosewell 52, 54, 59, 64 Harris, John 52, 54 Gibbs, Widow, her ‘Craft’ [croft] 31 Harris’s Old House 5 Jackson, Philip 100 Gingell, Widow (Elizabeth) 59, 64 Hattaway, William 59 Jacob, R. 59 Glaine, Thomas 92 Hawarden, Lord x James, Charles 51, 54, 59, 60, 64 Glass House & Estate 5, 57 Hawkes, John ix, x, 1, 2, 4, 12, 67, 68, 100 James, Edward 85, 86 Gloucester, Bishop of 87, 97, 98 Haycombe 86 James, Elizabeth 85, 86 Gloucestershire 22, 32, 80, 82 Hay Corner 31, 61, 89, 91 James, John 62, 85, 86 Goddard, Edward 73, 74 Hayes fields x, 1 James, family of 91 Goodhind, William 73 Hayes, the 34, 37, 38, 84 James, Mr 49 Golding, James 30 Hazlegrove 84 James, Widow 48, 49, 59, 64 Golding, Mary 30 Head, Ann 62 James, William 85, 86 Goldisborough, Catherine 73 Helps, Ambrose 92 Jefferies, Richard 57 Goldisborough, John 72, 73, 74 Helson, Richard 61 Jeffery, Mr 94 105 Jewelling Mill 55, 57 Longe, Anne 28 Masters, James 20, 31, 36, 38 John of Tours 8 Longe (or Long), George 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, Master(s), John 17, 18, 32, 34, 39 Jolling, Mr 95 25, 26, 27, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39 Matthews, Mr 58 Jones, Joseph 77, 79 Longe v. Fisher ix, 15-40 Meer Stones 75, 76 Jones, Mr 99 Long Rag 42 Melancholy Walk 4, 56 Jones, Richard x, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 56, 96-101 Long Rag Orchard 44 Merchant, Edward 60 Jones, Samuel 61 Loops 92 Meredith, Richard 15, 18, 36, 38, 39 Jones, Walter 62 Loops Hill 47, 51, 65 Middle Barn Close 71, 72 Johnston, Colin ix Loops Horscomb 49 Middle Hays 61 Loupe, William 85, 91 Midford Brook 8 Keevil, Allan x Lower Barn Close 70 Midford Hill 5 Kelson, George 92 Lower Coombs 46, 65 Midford Road 6 Kennell Ground 61 Lower Edge 65 Midford Valley 6 Kennet & Avon Canal 3, 7, 10 Lower Foxsle 59 Mildmay, Harvey 84 Kingham 50 Lower Grove 94 Midsomer Norton 85 Kingham Quarry 6 Lower Hays 61 Millard, Joane 28 King’s Circus 1 Lower Lodge 3 Millard, Richard 60 Kingston, Duke of x, 54 Lower Orchard 75 Millards Upper Tenement 59 Kingston estate x Lower Radneys 53 Mill Close 51, 90 Kington, Mr 89, 90 Lower Weavers Meade 41 Mill Mauth (Mill Mouth) 3, 30 Kissmearse Hill 8 Lower Wood 66 Mill Orchard 27, 28 Kitchen Garden 48, 66 Ludloe, Moses 32 Mill, the 12, 57, 59 Knight, Mr 46 Ludwell, Widow 76, 81, 82 Milsom, Dal. 92 Knight’s Orchard 55, 92 Lydes Coppice 43 Milsome, Charles 58, 59 Knight, William 56 Lydes Field 43, 45 Milsome, Thomas 59 Lydiat, John 56 Monk’s Mill 94 Lancashire’s Garden 46, 65 Lyncombe ix, 8, 59, 61 Monkton Combe ix, 1, 4, 5, 6, 12, 69, Lancashire, William 58, 59, 92 Lyncombe & Widcombe, manor of x, 4 70, 71, 72, 73, 99 Lancaster, Richard 46, 56, 57 Lyncombe & Widcombe, parishes or lordship of Monmouth 94 Lance, Henry 95 x, 19, 25, 32, 33, 34, 40, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, Monny Field 8 Lane End 89, 91 80, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 Montague 84 Lane End Field 47, 65, 92, 93 Lyncombe & Widcombe, church of 33 Montalt, Lord de x, 5, 89, 90, 91, 93 Lane End Garden 47, 65 Lyncombe Bottom 65 Monument, the 8, 98 Lane End Upper Field 47, 65 Lyncombe Brook 3 Moody, Abraham 62 Lanes, Mr 49 Lyncombe, farm of 19, 23, 24, 100 Mo(o)re(s), the 30, 31, 59, 60, 63, 76, Langeford, Edward 12 Lyncombe Hall 100 81, 82 Langley, John 92 Lyncombe Hill 3 Moors Barn 57 Lansdown 10, 69; (monument) 95 Lyncombe House 59 Morrices (field) 54 Lansdown, Charles 59 Lyncombe Pond 59 Morris, George 76 Lawn(e)s, The 7, 12, 30, 40, 47, 66, 69, 75, 80, Lyncombe Vale 3 Morris, William 61 81, 92 Mounsher ye Barber 60 Lay Rector 40 Mabbot, Mr 60 Mount Hills 43,45 Lay Splot 89 Maddox, Joyce 87 Mount Hills Field 45 Leland, John 9, 12 Maddox, Richard 87 Mount Pleasant 50, 61, 64, 65 Lent, Mr 57 Magdalen Estate ix, 68 Mount, the 11 Lewin, Charles 86, 89, 91 Magdallen Hill 62 Mullins, Stephen 61 Lewis, Benjamin 72, 74 Magdallen Mead 61 Mullins, Thomas 58, 60, 61, 64 Lewis, Mr 58 Magdalens Hospital (and Master of) 60, 64, 85, Murford, John 60, 64 Lewis, Squire 96 87, 88 Lidmans (or Lidnams Furlong) 84 Maggs, James 56, 57, 60 Nash, John 96 Life of Richard Jones x Maggs, John 61, 90, 91 Nash Lane 44 Life & Times of Ralph Allen x Maltby estate ix, 68 Nashs Mead 43, 45 Light, Jonathan 56 Malt House 54, 62 Ne(i)dges the 3, 54, 56, 57, 89, 92 Limpley Stoke 9 Malting Office 46, 65 New Bridge 96 Lincomb Bottom 47 Manning, Robert 62 New Inn 3, 50, 54, 55, 62, 65 Little Bleachly 57 Mansion House 3 Newman, Francis 84 Little Bean Close 91, 92 Mansion Seat 41 New Road 65 Little Chantry Mead 57 Marchant, Ann 83 Newton 96 Little Chisels 41 Marchant, Edward 13, 51, 54, 64, 65, 80, 81, 82, Nicholas, Widowe 25 Little Close 44 83, 84 Nine Acres, the 41, 42, 43 Little Dolemead (or meadow) 33, 46, 55, 56, 65, Marchant, Elizabeth 13, 80, 83, 84 Noad’s Corner 5 89, 91 Marchant family 12, 13 No Mans Land 60 Little Field 43, 52, 56, 62, 65 Marchant, John 13, 21, 60, 80, 83 North Cadbury 84 Little Field Tineing 47 Marchant, Mary 83 North Road 5,7 Little, Francis 76 Marchant, Mr 54 Nott, Nathaniel 77, 79 Little Hocome 41, 42 Marchant, Rachael 83 Nutt, Mr 95 Little Lawn(e)s 71, 72, 73, 74 Marchant, Richard 59-60, 64, 80, 83, 84, 85 Little Lydes 43 Marchant, Sarah 83 Obelisk, the 96 Little Mount Hill(s) 43, 45 Market Place 97 Od(d) Down 5, 8, 54, 57, 61 Little Tyning 90 Marlborough 97 Odenzells (or Downing) 33 Lockyer, Edith 23 Marlborough, Duchess of 7 Odwood(s) Down x, 5, 49, 84 Lodge Field 8, 92 Marlin (or Mardlin) Lands 30 Ofeild(s) (meadows) 19, 21, 23, 26, 30, Lodge, The x, 7, 12, 13, 54, 72, 80, 81, 82, 83, Marsh, Ben 60, 64 39 88, 101 Martin, John 59 Old Bridge 101 Long Lands 41, 45 Martin, Mr 59 Oldfield 60 Lodge Lawns 60, 83 Martyn, William 17, 25 Old parke x London Road 96 Mary Magdalen, Hospital, Master of 30, 86 Old Rank, the 6 106 Old Wells Road 5 Post House 100 Robins, Mr 62 Olive, Peter 62 Pound Close 43 Robinson, Johnson 58 Orange Grove 94 Powell, David 60 Robinson, Mr 95 Orchard, Lawrence 56 Powell, Henry 57 Robinson, Thursby 58 Orchard Portman 84 Powell, James 60, 64 Rock Close 59 Orchard, the 41, 81, 82 Powell, John 60 Rodmore 23, 26, 59, 60 Orchard, Thomas 18, 34 Price, Widow 56, 59 Rodney’s (Horsecombe) 54 Orchard, Tobias 24 Prior of Bath 7, 9, 12 Rogers, George 23, 24 Overton, John 1, 41 Prior Park 1, 3, 5, 8, 80, 88, 94 Rogers, John 60, 61, 64, 89, 91 Ox Barton 65 Prior Park Buildings 3 Rogers, Samuel 59, 60 Prior Park House 92 Rogers, Thomas 61 Pack Horse Inn 61 Prior Park Mansion 4, 13 Rookery, the 4, 48, 66, 92 Padduck, (Paddock) the 47, 48, 56, 66 Prior Park Road 3, 55 Root, Jane 100, 101 Palladian Bridge 3 Prior’s Park 12-13, 14, 69, 70, 71, 75, 76, 81, 82 Rose, Charles 80, 83, 84 Parades, the 96 Prior’s Park Lawnes 72, 73, 81 Rosemount 40 Parkes, the 30,40 Prior’s Park Lodge 72 Royalists ix, 40 Park Hays 47, 65, 89, 91 Pritchard, David 58 Royalty, the 50, 54, 57 Park House 3,8 Pritchard, Thomas 59, 60, 64 Rudley, Mr 32 Park Lodge 7-8 Prowse, Thomas 84, 85 Ruffenedge 61,62 Parker, Dr 60, 64 Prynn, William 61 Rufferidge 57 Parker Estate 96 Pryor’s Park House 12, 13, 77, 78 Rugg, Mr 62 Parker, family of 91 Priory House 7 Rug(ge)s Meade 31, 62 Parker, John, widow of 60, 64 Prison (new) 98 Ruggs Orchard 92 Parker, Mary 32 Priston 7 Rustic Bridge 4 Parker, Mr 5, 49, 54 Pritchard, Thomas 57, 60 Parker, Thomas 27 Pullings 57 St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London 95, Park Wood 54 Pulteney’s Bridge 95 99 Parson, E. 60 Pulteney, Mr 98 St Gregory’s Cross 5 Parsonage House 45, 56 Pump Room 96 St James, parish of 94 Parsonage Orchard 57 Puritans ix, 40 St James’s Church 100 Parsonage, the 57, 59 Purlewent, Walter 29 St Michael’s Church 99 Parsonage Tythes & Tenths 75, 76, 78, 79, 80 Purnall, William 92 St Peter & St Paul Church (also rectors Parsons, John 26 Purnell, Fisher 85, 86 & vicars of) 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29 Parsons, Mary 74 Purple Orchard 44 St Pierre 96 Parsons, Mr 58 St Thomas à Becket Church ix, 40 Parsons, Thomas 60, 61, 62, 64 Quaish, Mr 95 Salmon, Hannah 85, 86 Parsons, William 32 Quarry 57, 60, 94 Salmon, Thomas 85, 86 Passons, Thomas 50, 65 Quarry Ground 49 Saunders, Gregory 26 Patches, the 41 Quarry, Widow Smith’s 51 Sarvent 58 Peach, R.E.M. x Quay 94 Savage, William 85, 86 Pearce, George 92 Queen Square 94, 100 Second Edge Tineing 47 Pearce, Samuel 92 Queen Square Chapel 99, 100 Seet, Widow 60 Pearce, William 61, 64 Serjeant of the Mace 99 Pellen (or Pelling), John 15, 18, 35, 36, 37, 38, Radneys 53 Sexey, Hugh, Hospital of 84, 85 39 Radneys fields 6 Seymour, Sir John 17, 18, 32, 34, 39 Penny, Hugh 60, 64 Radneys Upper Piece 52 Sham Castle 11 Penny, Mr 95 Ragg Orchard 90, 91, 92 Sheels 57 Perry Mead 62, 91 Ragg Pasture 91 Shickle, Rev.C.W. ix Perry, Samuel 99 Rag(g), the 47, 62, 65, 90 Shills 65 Phelips, Edward 84 Railroad 2, 3 Shills Arable 50 Phelps, daughter of 57 Rainbow Woods 8, 9 Shepherd, Mr 92 Phelps, John 60 Rainbow Woods Farm 9, 10 Shepherds’ Walk 5 Phelps, Mr 61 Ralph Allen Cottages 55 Shepards Wood 4, 47, 56, 66 Phelps, Nicholas 61 Ralph Allen Drive 3, 4, 5, 6 Sheppard, Anne 28, 69, 70, 75, 76, 79 Phillips, John 60 Ralph Allen Estate & map ix, 41-55, 68 Sheppard, John, 69, 70, 75, 76, 79, 81, Pierce, Mr 58 Ralph Allen’s Town House 100 82 Pierrepoint Street 96 Read, Mr 92 Sheppard, John, snr 69 Pigot(t), John 84, 85 Reading 77 Sheppard, George 69 Pill 84 Rebellion, 1715 95 Sheppard, William 69, 70 Pinker, Hannah 78 Reck Close 61 Sheppards Mead 56, 59 Pinkerd, Thomas 69, 75 Records of Bath History ix Shepperds Copse 57 Pitcher family 46, 94 Red Lion (Lyon) Inn 5, 60 Sherborne 32 Pitchers Stable 56 Rich, Giles 61, 64 Short, Alderman 62 Pitt Lands 42, 45 Richardson, Mr 61 Short Rag Orchard 44 Player, Anthony 30 Richardson House 64 Shoulder of Mutton 44 Poole estate 1 Richmans Peice 62 Shute, Anne 73 Poole family 4, 12, 13 Ricketts, Mr 6 Shute, Catherine 70, 74 Poole, Mary 13, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74 Ricketts, Richard 52, 54 Shute, Elizabeth 80, 81 Poole, Thomas 12, 69, 71, 72 Ring (o’) Bells Inn 56, 60 Shute, John 80, 81 Poor House 43, 65 Ring, Robert 58 Shute, Margaret 76, 82 Pope, Alexander 13 Ring, Thomas 58 Shute, Mary 12, 70, 74 Pope, William 60 Rivers, Mr 95 Shute, Richard 12, 72, 73, 76, 77, 80, 82 Pope’s Walk 4 Robbins, Parson 51, 54 Shute, Thomas, snr 12, 70, 73, 74 Portman, Henry William 84 Rob(b)ins, Thomas ix, 7, 8, 46, 56, 65, 67 Shute, Thomas, jnr 12, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74 Porter, Carew 60, 64 Robbins, Walter 60-61, 64 Shute, Thomas (son of jnr) 70, 73, 74 Porter’s Lodge 94 Robbins, Widow 64 Shute, William 73, 77, 80, 81 Portland 99 Roberts, Richard 86 Shute, William, the Younger 82 107 Shute, Zachary (Zachariah) 70, 73, 74 Taplyn, William 21 Want Lands 42,44 Shutes Lawns 56 Temple, the 97 Warburton, Bishop 7 Shutes, Thomas 53, 54, 71 Ten Acres 41 Warburton, Mrs 7, 96, 97, 98, 99 Sidenham field x, 1 Tennis Court 96, 101 Ward, Christopher 85, 86 Sidenhams Meade 30, 40 Themes, Mr 56 Ward, Dorothy 85, 86 Sidmouth 95 Thistle Lease 56 Ward, Thomas 53, 54 Simpson’s Great Room 95, 100 Thistly (Thesilly) Close 47, 48, 66 Ward, Widow 62 Singers, Thomas 61, 64 Thistly (Thistle) Ground 4, 60, 70, 71, 72 Warminster Road 5, 10 Six Acres, the 42 Thomas, David 85, 87 Warren House 11 Sixteen Acres, the 42 Thorp(e), Thomas 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 41, 46 Water Mill 69, 75 Skrine, John 92 Three Acres 23 Watts, Mr 62 Skrine, Justice 61, 64 Three Cornered Close 21, 23, 26, 30 Weavers Great Mead 41 Skrine, Mr 96 Three Cornered Ground 60, 63, 89 Webb, Mr (son of Dr) 31, 36 Skrine, William 1 Three Cornered Padduck 47, 51, 65 Webb, Nicholas 18 Sleight, the 64 Three Halfe Acres 23, 27 Webb, Robert 12, 69, 72, 75, 76, 80, 82 Slope, the 4, 47, 66 Tinkling, William 62, 64 Webb, Dr George 15, 18, 31, 36, 38, 39, Smallcombe Wood 9 Thomas, John 7 64 Smith family 46, 48 Thomerlin, Kirsd. 61 Weekes, John 35, 84 Smith, John 64, 87, 88, 91 Tomkins, Samuel 62, 64 Weekes, Thomas 22 Smith, John, widow of 61, 64 Town Hall 95, 99, 100 Weekes, William 36 Smith, Joyce, jnr 87, 88 Trevelyan, Sir John 95 Welch, William 60 Smith, Joyce, snr 87, 88 Tucker, Capt. 97 Welchnut [Walnut] Tree Ground 62 Smith, Martin Stafford 91 Tucker, Elizabeth 85 Wellow 72 Smith, Milo 61, 64, 85, 86, 87 Tucker, Mrs 97 Wells 8, 23, 97 Smith, Milo, widow of 61, 64 Tucker, Sarah 43 Wells Way 5 Smith, Mr 61, 62, 93 Tucker, William 61, 85 Welton Lodge 3 Smith, Philippa 87, 88 Tucking Mill 6, 53 Westbury upon Trym 80, 81 Smith, Widow 48, 51, 52, 54, 65 Tucking Mill wood & meadow 6 West, John 43 Smith, William 6, 61 Tudor Bath, 40 West, Mr 96 Somerset 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, Turner, Abraham 62, 64 West Down 5 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 46, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, Turner, Mr 62 Westfield 58 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 91, 97 Turner’s Court 101 West Hill 23, 57 Somerset & Dorset Railway 5 Twelve Acres, the 43 West(ern) Lawns 13, 71, 72, 73, 74 Somerset Coal Canal 6 Twenty Acres, the 42 West Mead 15, 22, 25, 26, 60, 89, 91 Somerset Record Office x Twerton 5, 8 Weston 26, 69, 80, 86 Somerset Record Society ix Twerton Road 50 West, Thomas 57 South Gate 100 Twerton’s (or Twivertons) Lane 84 Weymouth 96, 98 Southside 77, 78 Tylee, John 57, 59, 61, 62, 64 Wheat Close(s) 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83 South Stoke 5 Tylee, Joshua 62, 64 Wheat Ground 81 Spargrove 84 Tyler, Charles 94 Whippy, family of 91 Sparrow, James 86, 87 Tyler, John 89 Whitaker, Stephen 58 Spear, Mr 62 Tyndale, Thomas 85, 86 White Hart Inn 3, 56, 92, 96 Sperrin, Mr 60 Tynings (Tineing or Tining), the 3, 41, 42, 44, Whites Ground 62 Spincke, Dorothy 18 59, 70, 89 Whites Meadow 89 Spincke, Mr 25 Tynte, Sir Charles 84 White, Thomas 61, 62, 64 Spincke, Thomas 18 Wicksteed’s House (& Garden) 50, 55, Spotterweeke 32 Upper Barn Close 70, 71, 72 65 Spring Bottom 49 Under Cliff 42, 43, 45 Wickstead’s Machine 3 Square, the [Queen Square] 96 Under Cliff Field 44 Wickstead, Mr 3, 57 Stagg, John 69, 70, 71, 74 Under Court Mead 41 Widcombe (or Witcombe) ix, 1, 2, 3, 5, Stalls, Church of St Mary de 40 Under Stowles 42, 44 8, 9, 12, 13, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, Stall Street 40, 100 Upper Combes 50, 65 31, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 46, 56-63, 66, 69, Stawe Acres 61 Upper Edge 47, 65 76, 77, 79, 89, 92-3, 97 Stewards Field 92 Upper Grove 94 Widcombe & Lyncombe History Study Stewards House 92 Upper Hayes 30, 40, 61 Group x Stibbs, Mr 60 Upper Lodge 5 Widcombe Brook 3 Stone Easton 84 Upper Weavers Mead 41 Widcombe, chapel or church of 15, 20, Stonehouse Lane 5 25, 37, 38, 39, 89 Stone, John 29 Vestry Survey, 1727 ix Widcombe Common Field 69, 75, 86 Stone Mead 42 Vine, John 92 Widcombe Crescent 3, 55 Stone Mines 6 Vinegar Down 5 Widcombe, cure of 25, 26, 27, 33 Stone Yard 56, 94 Vineyard, the 5, 49 Widcombe Field 4, 48, 50, 51, 57, 59, Stop, Thomas 60 Vine Yard Field 41 61, 62, 65, 84, 91 Strange, Samuel 60 Vowles, James 61 Widcombe Field Way 4 Stratton, Thomas 85 Virginia 85 Widcombe Hill 3, 9, 46, 65 Street, William 89 Widcombe House 3 Strong, William 57 Wade, General George 7, 95, 96; (his house) Widcombe, impropriator of 17, 19, 21, Summer Lane 5 100 30, 40 Sumpcion, Mr [Sumpsion] 62, 64 Walcot 26 Widcombe Manor 88, 100 Sun Fire Office 95 Wall, Richard 21 Widcombe, parish, parsons, parsonage, Survey of Bath & District ix, 12, 100 Wall Tyning 84 rectory & vicars of 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, Surt Wood 5,49 Walnut Tree Sheels 57 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, Surt Wood Field 49 Walter, Ann 13, 81, 82 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 71, 74, 96 Survey of Old Bath ix, 11 Walter, Mary 81 Widcombe Street 50, 65 Sydenham 61 Walter, William (snr) 13, 81 Wilkinson, Mr 59 Tagg, John 75, 79, 80 Walter, William (jnr) 81, 83 William Rufus 8 Taplyn, Magdalin 21 Wansdyke 5, 8 Willis, Edward 92 108 Williss, Richard 58 Wilshire Close 23 Wilshire Leaze 23 Wilsheire, Johane 30 Wilsheire, Thomas 25, 26 Wilshire, Walter 19 Wiltshire, county of 31, 72, 77, 80, 83, 85, 87, 97 Wiltshire, family of 47, 48, 49, 57, 90, 91 Wiltshire, Ann 62, 64 Wiltshire, James 90 Wiltshire, Jeremiah 62, 64 Wiltshire, John 57, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64, 88 Wiltshire, Mary 90 Wiltshire, Richard 62, 64 Wiltshire, Richard, jnr. 64 Wiltshire, Walter 62, 64 Wiltshire, Widow 62, 64 Wiltshire, William 50, 58, 59, 60, 62 Wiltshire’s Garden 56 Wiltshire’s Tineing 46, 65 Windham, Mr 61 Wintle, Samuell 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 Wise, John 62, 64 Wise, Walter 51, 54, 62, 64, 65 Withy Bed 3, 56 Wood, John 1, 3, 5, 6, 96 Wood Field 5 Wood Leaze 70, 71, 72 Woodruff, Widow 62, 64 Wood Street 94 Woodward, Edward 62, 64 Woodward, John 62, 64 Woodward, Joseph, widow of 62 Woodwood, Hannah 62, 64 Wridleton [Writhlington] 21 Wrington 81 Wroughton, Dr John ix, 4 Wyatt, Henry 32 Wyatt, Joan 27 Wyatt, John 27, 28 Wyatt, Robert 22 Yew Cottages 3 Yonder Everlays 45 Yonder Mount Hills 43, 45
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