This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com HIS TO RIC A. L NOTES RELATING TO THE PARISHES OF £atrumlit am Spargrant, CUM UPTON NOBLE. Cuf A/o £ 44+ NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS. Aitkens, Rev. C. H. Manser, W. Allan, Col. 2 # Massey, Mrs. Arnold, Rev. F. Middleton, Rev. S. Milard, J. 59 W. Moody, T. Neale, J. 35 • Barnard, J. Oliver, Miss Batcombe Library Parfitt, E. Baylis, H. , T., Semr. Bown, T. , T., Junr. Boyce, Miss C. Perrett, J. Bradley, T. Phippen, C. Brown, Capt. Pond, Mrs. Burton, Lady Rabbitts, Rev. H. Campbell, Miss Rashdale, Miss Cary, T. Rickard, Miss Clarke, Mrs. Rumsey, – Cock, W. Russell, Rev. A. Collings, J. Seagram, Mrs. 55 - Selwin, Rev. S. Dinsdale, F. Shears, C. Doman, W. Shortland, Archdeacon Du Cane, A. Sinclair, J. Dyne, Mrs. 1 Steeds, Mrs. Earle, E. Stephens, Mr. and Miss England, - Swaine, J. Ernst, Capt. , Miss Farbrother, J. Sweet, Miss Fitz, – Talbot, Hon. and Rev. E... Foster, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. G. Francis, - , Rev. H. Friend and Winten, Messrs. ,, J., Senr. Genge, W. ,, J., Junr. Gibbons, Jno. ,, Jas. T: 1ppett, Milss 55 Miss £, E. Grafton, Rev. A. Trew, - Grey, Miss Wale, Miss Hannam, E. Welsh, J., Junr. Heginbotham, Dr. Wheller, A. Hodinott, G. White, Rev. J. Hunt, Mrs. ,, Gen. Hutton, H. ** W. King, Mrs. Wickham, Mrs. Macdonald, Col. W. P. 2-- Wicks, G. 35 Capt. J. C. Wylde, Mrs. F. 55 ERRATA. Page 32 (6th line), for “stain,” read “stained.” , 36 (21st line) do. do. , 39 (last line), for “are,” read “is.” , 45 (13th line), for “form,” read “from.” HISTORICAL NOTES RELATING TO THE PARISHES OF #atrumlit and $pargrußt, CUM UPTON NOBLE; COLLECTED FROM A U T H E N T I C R ECO R D S , wiTH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ABOVE CHURCHES. DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO IMIR. s. WIC KIHA. M., BY GRANT W. MACDONALD. SHEPTON MALLET: PRINTED BY ALBERT BYRT, BOOKSELLER. 1865. TO MRS. WICKHAM. MADAM, In hopes that the following pages, which I have compiled from the Parish Records and other sources, may be interesting to yourself and the parishioners generally, I dedicate them to you with your permission, not only because your life has for many years been anxiously devoted to the welfare of all around you, but as the relic of one who was the greatest benefactor and friend of this Parish, and whose life reflected the highest virtues that can adorn the Christian character. Though the following notes may not convey much amusement nor instruction, yet I respectfully present them to you, in testimony of the high respect and regard in which you are held in this Parish, and sub scribe myself Your faithful servant, GRANT W. MACDONALD. Batcombe Rectory, November 26th, 1864. P R. E. FA C E. -e THE chief design of the following compilation, is to give to the Parishioners of Batcombe and Upton Noble, a knowledge of the past history of those Willages. In collecting his materials the Author has spared neither labour, nor research. He has gathered his information, during his leisure moments, from documents contained in the Church Chest of Batcombe; and in the posses sion of the Clergyman ; from Collinson's History of Somerset; and other authentic sources. The statements he makes are accurate, and will, he believes, bear rigid scrutiny. An apology is due to the Subscribers, for the delay which has taken place in the publication of the work; which owing to the season of the year has been unavoidable. To those persons who have kindly assisted the Author, by allowing access to books and documents under their charge, he here begs to tender his most grateful acknowledgments. G. W. M. Batcombe Rectory, January 28th, 1865. - NOTES. THE beautiful and picturesque Parish of Batcombe, lies in the Hundred of Whitestone, about two-and-three-quarter miles North by East from the Railway Station at Bruton, and nine miles West of the manufacturing and market town of Frome. It is in the Bishopric of Bath and Wells, the Archdeaconry of Wells, and Deanery of Castle Cary; and contains the hamlets of Eastcombe (or Aishcombe); Bat combe; Westcombe; Alham; and Spargrove. The Part of the Parish lying immediately around the Church, and which is denominated Batcombe, may properly be termed the Village, and consists of two long streets of houses, lying from North-east to South-west : the North eastern part is called Kale Street, and the South-western Batcombe Street. The Parish is rated in the King's Books 2 &26 14s. 4d. : and contains 3147 acres; viz., 663 Arable, 2072 Meadow and Pasture, 60 Garden, 120 Orchard, and 232 Woods and Plantations. The following shows the census which has been taken every year since 1801. In the year 1801 the population was 667; in 1811, 719; in 1821, 792; in 1831, 839; in 1841, 773; in 1851, 742; in 1861, 714. The oldest written authority we have is “Adam de Domerham. i. 85,” where we find that the extensive manor of Batancumbe was given by AElsi, the Major-Domo of King Edgar, to the Monastery of Glastonbury. The following is taken from Domesday Book, the Great Survey of England of William the Conqueror, A.D., 1086. “TERRA SANCTAE MARIE GLASTINGBERIENSIs” “IPSA ECCLA TEN BATECVBE. T. R. E. GELD B P. XX HID. TRA. E. XVI. CAR. DE EA ST IN DNIo. IX. HIDE ET III. V TRE. ET IBI. II. CAR. ET WI, SERVI. ET IIII. VILLI ET XIIII. BoRD CU. III. CAR. IBI MoLIN. REDD. V. soLID. ET XX. ACPA. ET VI. AC PASTURE. ET XL. Ac silve. VALET ABBI. VII. LIB. DE HAC TRA HUI M. TEN. RogBRI. II. HID. WLUUI TENUIT 3 T. R. E. ET N POTERAT AB ECCLA SEPARARI. IBI HT. I. CAR. CU. I. SERVO. ET III. BoRD. IBI. XII. AC PA. ET X. AC PASTURE. VALET XX. soLID. DE UPSA TRA EID M TEN. AZELIN IN WEST CUBE. VII. HID ET III. v TRE. ALSHILLA TENUIT T. R. E. ET N POTERAT AB ECCLA SEPARARI. IN DNIO ST. II. CAR. ET VI. VILLI ET VII. BoRD ET VI. cotAR cu. I. SERVo HNT. II. CAR ET DIMID. IBI. II. MOLINI REDD. V. soLID. ET XII. AC PA. ET XII. AC PASTURE. ET XVI. AC SILVE. WALET. IIII. LIB ET X. solID. DUE HIDE DE HAC TRA SUER DE TRA VILLOR. ET ALIE. W. ERANT TAIN LAND.” TRANSLATION. “THE LAND OF ST. MARY, GLASTONBURY.” “The Church itself holds Batecube. In the time of King Edward it gelded for twenty hides. There is land for sixteen ploughs. Thereof are in demesne nine hides, and three virgates of land. And there are two ploughs, and six serfs, and four villeins, and fourteen cottages, with three ploughs. There is a Mill rendering five | 4 shillings, and twenty acres of meadow, and six acres of pasture, and forty acres of wood. It is worth to the abbot &7. Of the land of this Manor, Roger holds two hides. Ulwi held them in the Time of King Edward, and could not be separated from the church. He has there one plough, with one serf, and three cottagers. There are twelve acres of meadow and ten acres of pasture. It is worth twenty shillings. Of the same land of this Manor, Azelin holds in Westcube seven hides and three virgates of land. Alshilla held them in the time of King Edward, and could not be separated from the church. In demesne are two ploughs, and six villeins, and seven bordars, and six cottagers, with one serf, having two ploughs and-a-half. There are two Mills rendering five shillings, and twelve acres of meadow, and twelve acres of pasture, and sixteen acres of wood. It is worth £4 and ten shillings. Two hides of this land were villenage and five others were thane land.” In reading this account we should bear in mind as regards the measures of land, that “the hide was the measure of land in the Confessor's Reign, the carucate,” which is to be interpreted ploughed land, “that to which it was reduced 5 by the Conqueror's new standard.” The hide is generally supposed to be equal to 120 acres, and money is generally estimated at thirty times its present value. In the 22nd year of the Reign of King Edward I., A.D., 1293, the monastic estates of Batcombe were rated at £21 15s. 0d., and in the Reign of King Edward III., the abbot had a charter of free-warren for them, granted by that King. On the dissolution of the Monastery at Glas tonbury the advowson of the Parish Church of Batcombe was granted, 36 Henry VIII. to James Bisse and his heirs. In 1689 it came into the possession of Humphrey Buckler, and on his death, of Thomas Buckler, his son. It became by purchase the property of Rodney Bridges, Esq., of Avington, in this County, in 1728, and from this family it descended to the Duke of Chandos. From him it was bought by the Coney family in 1790. It was purchased from them by the Rev. John Browne, who is the present Rector and Patron of the living. The following is a list of the Rectors and Curates from the 2nd year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, A.D., 1560 : RECTORS. CURATES. 1560, RichardEborne. 1560, 1613,PhilipBisse,D.D.1598to 1598, 1613, M.A.1641,RichardBernard, M.A.1645,EdwardBennet,}1688to 1641, M.A.1661,RichardAlleine, 1645, 1647,EmanuelHartford.