'/tjJajiiyj/iJJ/if/iffif/fj/Jjj/J/f/iiH^i/Jfif/fj 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
THE HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PARISH AND MANOR 
 
 OF 
 
 WOOKEY: 
 
 BEING A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A FUTURE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COUNTY OF SOMERSET. 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS SCOTT HOLMES, M.A. ; 
 
 , Vicar of the ParisJi, 
 
 BRISTOL : 
 C. T. JEFFERIES AND SONS, PRINTERS. 
 

 PREFACE. 
 
 T'HE following little work is an attempt to give to the parishioners of 
 Wookey such information about the place in which they live as I have 
 been able to gather together since I came amongst them. It does not indeed 
 amount to very much, and yet I venture to think that it may be useful in 
 working out the history of the parishes in the neighbourhood. For as their 
 history, which is recorded in Phelps and Collinson, helped me to move a step 
 further in the history of Wookey, so this advance on the County Historians 
 may help others towards fresh discoveries. When I came here, six years 
 ago, I naturally desired to learn all I could of the past history of the place. 
 My first work was a careful study of our Registers. These begin with the 
 reign of Queen Elizabeth, and are continuous down to the present time. I 
 next copied out the Title Deeds and Lease Indentures of the church endow- 
 ments, and was by their help enabled to go back from Elizabeth to Richard the 
 Second's time. On comparing these I found that I had some information con- 
 cerning the families of Wookey for the last fi ve centuries. I could tell the names 
 of some of those who were living here during that time, and that, of course, 
 was something worth the knowing. And in addition I found that there 
 were evidences here in our Records of Wookey of nearly all the Common 
 Fields and Waste Lands of the parish. Then the Episcopal Registers at Wells 
 provided me with information concerning the Church and the Vicars, and 
 the Cathedral Records gave me the list of Rectors and also details of one or 
 two of the Rectorial Leases in the 16th century. Then the Close Rolls and 
 Patent Rolls at the Record office, as well as the Bishop's Temporalities' 
 Papers and the Lay Subsidy Papers , provided me with the lists of Lords of 
 the Manor, the sale of the Church Lands and the names of many more of 
 the inhabitants at different periods. The Hutton MSS. at the British 
 Museum were specially useful in helping me to find several interesting facts 
 concerning our parish, which facts I afterwards verified by studying the 
 Original Registers themselves at Wells. But of all the sources of inform itior, 
 other than those here in Wookey, none were so useful as the many Court 
 Rolls of the Manors of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, which are now 
 preserved at the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth. The second chapter in 
 this book will shew to what a large extent I am indebted to them. Nearly all 
 the customs of the Manor in the 15th century, a large number of the villeins, 
 and a good list of field names I obtained from their study, and with them 
 my search, practically, came to an end. These were the principal sources 
 
 M310197 
 
{J PREFACE. 
 
 of the information that this work contains. Now it is clear that the history 
 of a parish would be incomplete unless it gave some account of the history 
 of the lands of a parish. We ought to be able to say as we stand in any field 
 in the place whether that field formed part of the manor or was glebe land of 
 the church from immemorial times ; and not only this, but also to say 
 whether it was part of the Common Fields of the settlement or of the waste 
 lands, or moors that have been enclosed and apportioned within well known 
 periods. But this is not enough. We ought to be able to trace the history 
 of the owners of the land, and the changes of ownership that have taken 
 place. We ought to be able to state something at any rate generally as to 
 the tenants of the lands from time to time. Who were the villein tenants 
 in the days of villenage ? Who were the principal leaseholders when the 
 days of villenage had passed away ? Of course we cannot say who occupied 
 a particular plot of land, for, except certain well known plots around 
 a well known house, all other lands would be grouped under the head 
 of the common lands. A villein would have so many half-acre strips in the 
 East Field, and so many in the West, and so many in the North Field. 
 These strips would be defined as lying between those of other known 
 villeins. The Rector's property in the East Field is described simply 
 as that which lay between two strips of the bishop. Naturally in time 
 these strips would become well known, and each house would have 
 attached to it a fixed number of strips in each of the common fields and 
 definite rights on the Lammas Meadows and on the Waste Lands. But, at 
 first, each set of strips would be allotted among the tenants according to 
 some recognised arrangement, and at one of the quarterly hall-motes of the 
 Manor. On this account we cannot easilj' say who it was that at any par- 
 ticular period occupied any definite set of fields or strips of lands ; but our 
 hall-mote minutes help us very materially in telling the names of the prin- 
 cipal inhabitants from the 14th century down to the present time. And the 
 information we may glean from them is to this effect, that a very large 
 percentage of the present residents of Wookey is in direct descent from the 
 tenants of the manor, and apparently from those tenants that were in a state 
 of villenage. And this can hardly be otherwise since no great commercial 
 enterprise has caused any sudden increase of the population. When men 
 were living in villenage they had not the power to change their residence, 
 and when those days of villenage were over, if a man was successful in his 
 farming, there was no reason for him to change, and if he had sunk into 
 poverty the overseers of other parishes took good care thac he should not 
 move away from the place where he was domiciled. Tlie information then 
 which I have collected here will shew, 1 venture to think, that the history 
 of our parish is one of gradual progress from an earlier social state. There 
 are no blank pages. There are few periods of rest or retrogade motion. We 
 cannot sever the church from the manor, or the manor from the tenants on 
 
it ; the church, which, in earlier days, was probably built by the lord of the 
 manor, is in turn enriched by the offerings of his tenants. The villeins of the 
 14th century became the Church Trustees and the Church Wardens of the 
 16th century. It is this oneness of our history that I hope will be evident 
 to those who read this little book. 
 
 One remark it is necessary to make on the spelling of the names of the 
 inhabitants. In the first of the two indices, every name is placed in its 
 proper position according to its spelling. It must not be supposed that on 
 this account I regard the various spellings as denoting various persons. If 
 I had stopped at some particular time, I might have come to some decision 
 on the spelling, and made that spelling uniform through the book. But 
 this I found to be more difficult than I cared to undertake, and especially so 
 since we go on from our earlier notices down to the present day. I have 
 therefore adhered to this rule, that wherever I quoted a document I gave 
 the exact spelling of the name in that document, and I leave to the reader the 
 duty of deciding whether the contemporary varieties of names belong to one 
 or to different individuals. In hardly any case will a difficulty arise. It 
 is vain to regret that my information was not fuller and more perfect. No 
 one would have rejoiced more than the writer had it been so ; and yet what 
 is here recorded proves that even a little country village has a history which 
 is worth knowing, and therefore worth writing. 
 
 I have to thank many friends for valuable hints, and among them I 
 must mention especially, the Rev. J. T. Fowler, of Durham, the Rev. H. B. 
 Hyde, of St. Mary, Newington, and Mr. F. H. Dickinson, of Kingsweston. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 3H, line 25, for liherationem read liheracione. 
 
 34 ,, 9, perhaps Clyvedon is the proper reading. 
 39 ,, 27, for Huchyus read Huchyns. 
 90 „ 29, for Allwell read AttweU. 
 122 „ 19, 20, & 22, for Dujfe read iyw/e. 
 ,, ,, 23, for Were read Weave. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter L page 
 
 General History of the Parish. - i 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 History of the Manor and the Manor House - 22 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 History of the Church, the Church Plate, Parish Chests, the 
 Church Bells, and the Free Chapel of Henton .... 71 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 History of the Rectory and List of the Rectors . - - . 79 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 History of the Vicarage and List of the Vicars . - - - 89 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 An Account of the Church Registers and List of the Church- 
 wardens, Clerks and Sextons : - 102 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 An Account of the Ecclesiastical and Parochial Endowments - 115 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 A List of Field Names of the Parish, with occasional Notes - 126 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 Some Notes and Pedigrees of former Wookey Families - - 140 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PARISH. 
 
 JUHE parish of Wookey cannot claim that charter of antiquity 
 which a reference in King William's Great Survey gives to 
 some of its more favoured but less interesting companions. But 
 as we can account for the omission, there is no very great reason 
 why we should distress ourselves on that score. In 1065 Edward 
 the Confessor gave to Bishop Giso fifty hides of land in the 
 neighbourhood of Wells as an endowment for himself and the 
 church of St. Andrew. These fifty hides of land amount now to 
 some 21,988 acres, and include the whole of the present parish 
 of Wells, with portions of Binegar and Dinder, and the whole 
 of the parishes of Wookey and Priddy. But in the time of Giso 
 much of this consisted of barren hill and moorland, and more than a 
 thousand acres was wood or forest land, and not one half was good 
 arable or pasture land. The whole of it was called the territory 
 or manor of Wells, and in it our parish was hidden. There is, 
 however, a charter which claims to be original, and which pro- 
 bably is a copy of an earlier one, which gives the details of this 
 gift of Edward to Giso.^ It records the existence of fifty hamlets 
 or wicks within the territory of Wells, and mentions six of the 
 present districts of our parish, viz., Woky, Henton, Gyrdleg, 
 Bledenhyth, Woky hole and ^bbewyrth. The parish now consists 
 of 3,421 acres of arable and pasture land. It derives its name 
 from the great natural cave in the southern slope of the Mendip 
 hills, from which issue the waters of the river Axe. The word 
 Wookey is probably derived from Wocob or Wocov, which is 
 equivalent to the present Welsh word " gogof " or " ogo," a cave."^ 
 
 On the east and north-east the parish is bounded by the 
 river Axe, and a straight line drawn from the Hole at Wookey 
 hole northwards towards Priddy Church. This eastern bouijdary 
 
 1 Kemble, Cod. Dipl. 816. - c. f. " Wookey," chap. ix. 
 
2 HlSTOTlY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 of the parish is worthy of notice, because, as the late Dr. 
 Guest^ coQJectured, it seems for a time to have been the boundary 
 between the Saxon kingdom of Ceawlin and the British kingdoms 
 of Conmael and Kyndylan. In 577 Ceawlin conquered these 
 kings at the battle of Deorham, and seized all the Mendip land 
 west of a line drawn from Wookey-hole to Bath, being bounded 
 on the south by the Axe in its course from Wookey to the sea. 
 Thus while Wookey was part of the land of the Saxons, Wells 
 was in the, hands of the British and the river Axe has the 
 fame of being the border river between the English and the 
 Welsh from the year 577 to 658, and in that year Cenwealh, 
 by his victory at Pen, extended the boundary of the West Saxon 
 kingdom to the ri^er Barrett. 
 
 As the Axe turns westward and meets the bishop's demesne 
 land near the church, the parish crosses the river and stretches 
 south to the mill stream. It then crosses over the western half 
 of Ben Knowle, and skirts the moor as far as Castle, which is 
 its southmost limit. It then takes a turn westward, and 
 includes portions of the moors south of Henbury and Callow- 
 hill as far as Beggarly-leaze. Here turning northward, and 
 clinging to the high ground that looks westward over Bleadon- 
 hay Causeway, it joins the mill-stream, and keeps along its 
 eastern bank until the river Axe is met again in Knowle moor, 
 near Marchay. Here turning eastward, it follows the southern 
 bank of the Axe as far as Knowle Bridge and Hornsmead, 
 where it strikes across the moor north of Barley Batch, and 
 mounting the high ground above Stroud, dips down again under 
 Greenland's Bush and over Marley Mead, northward up the 
 west side of Ebbor to the neighbourhood of Priddy Church. 
 These are the present limits of the parish, but in the time 
 of William the Conqueror and Bishop Giso all the moorland was 
 more or less a swamp and useless, and the land that was capable 
 of being cultivated was to be found only on the slopes of the 
 hills and the high ground near the church, or above Yarley and 
 Henley. From Trenley to the river, and as far west as Knowle, 
 there was a waste and swampy moor. Knowle Hill was isolated, 
 
 1 Guest, Orig. Celt. 2, 242. 
 
History of the Parish. 3 
 
 and it was not always easy to get to it over Wet-moor from 
 Yarley. In the bishops' time, and up to the year 1548, in the 
 reign of Edward VL, the greater part of this was waste land, 
 belonging to the bishops as lords of the manor of Wookey 
 unenclosed, but reserved for him and his tenants to place on it 
 any of their live stock. The name of Preywater marks the spot 
 to which once a year the cattle and sheep were brought for 
 identification ; and marking as it does the eastern limit of one 
 of the common lands, it shews how the houses of Wookey were 
 crowded round the church and the manor house, and were 
 separated from the hamlets of Wookey hole and Yarley by 
 common fields and waste lands. Oare marks the boundary of 
 the Yarley hamlet, and from there to the manor house no 
 ather building existed. Lin-moor tells us of the time when 
 Knowle-moor had not been drained and enclosed, and when, to 
 the west. of it the ground was too dangerous for cattle to be 
 allowed to stray on it. Now when mentioning the common 
 lands of Wookey, care must be taken to distinguish between 
 such as was waste land and such as was held in common by 
 the lord of the manor and his customary tenants. And it 
 must be borne in mind that the waste lands were gradually 
 changing into the common pasture, meadow or arable lands. 
 In title deeds of the 16th and 17th century, belonging to the 
 church, several of these are mentioned. As far as Wookey was 
 concerned, these common fields referred to, are called the West- 
 field, the Northfield, and the Eastfield. Whether the Eastfield 
 was one portion of ground, or was the name given to several 
 plots of common land, I cannot say. But all the southern slopes 
 of Henley hill were in it, and it extended as far as Buttice lane. 
 All the land in front of Eastcourt House was in it. In 1438 
 we find the rectors of Wookey in possession of a strip of this 
 land, viz., that which at present is part of the vicarial glebe, 
 and as usual it is described between two similar strips belonging 
 to the Bishops of Bath and Wells, one on either side of it. 
 Judging from this one, and supposing all the strips were about 
 the same size, each strip would contain about two acres. The 
 
 Westfield was bounded by the river on the south, and the road 
 B 2 
 
4 History of Wookey. 
 
 to Knowl hill on the north, and stretched from the village as 
 far as the meeting point of the river and the road. The North- 
 field comprised all the land north-west of Henley hill, and was 
 bounded on the east by Hurst batch, on the north by Wurt hill, 
 and on the west by Easton hill. It included the land known 
 as Marley mead and Gagley mead. These were the common 
 fields of Wookey. But in addition to these there were common 
 fields for the inhabitants of Yarley and of Wookey-hole. For 
 Yarley there was the land around Worth, which was commonly 
 called Worth field, and on the hill above there were the arable 
 fields called Goarway field and Sheaf field, together with the 
 greater part of the lord's overland. Wookey-hole seems to 
 have made use of Marley mead. Of course the customary 
 tenants of the Dean and Chapter of Wells, living as they did 
 on the other side of the river, had for the most part to find 
 pasture and arable land in the out parish of S. Cuthbert. In 
 addition to these common fields, there were the waste lands for 
 each hamlet, and into these the tenants would turn their pigs 
 and stock cattle. The waste land for Wookey was over Trenley 
 and Rushlands, and probably also the land south of the river 
 as far as Oare and Wester's grave. For Yarley there was Lin- 
 moor, Wet-moor, and those fields called Mylham, near 
 the bridge at Monksford, which are referred to, as late as 
 1770, as being in the waste ground of Wookey. This system, 
 by which each house in the manor would have certain strips 
 of common land attached to it, dates from a very early period 
 of English history, and was admirably adapted at first for giving 
 every man an interest in the cultivation of the ground. But 
 practically as early as the 14th century the strips in the 
 common fields, the virgates and half virgates of the customary 
 tenants, were bought and sold and bequeathed as if they were 
 freeholds, and without reference to any house in the parish. 
 Oxenleaze, north-west of Knowl farm, seems to have been part 
 of the enclosed land attached to that house. During the 17th 
 century other portions of the waste lands were enclosed ; and 
 among them we may include those moor lands which are called 
 Hornsmead, Ash-moor, Beggarly-leaze, as well as Wet-moor. 
 
History of the Parish. 5 
 
 The enclosure itself was gradual and inevitable, and began as 
 early as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The lord of the manor 
 would have a greater right over the waste lands and moor 
 lands of the parish than he would over the common fields, 
 and this right being more or less undefined, would be purchased 
 by the leaseholders for a nominal sum. In 1782 the final 
 enclosure took place. The manor had been sold in separate 
 lots a few years previously, and as there were no customary 
 tenants, neither was there any lord of the manor. Consequently 
 a dispute soon arose as to the ownership of the common rights 
 of the remaining moors within the parish, and, to settle the 
 dispute, commissioners were appointed by a private Act of 
 Parliament to apportion and assess the reclaimed land among 
 the freeholders of the parish. This was not uncommon about 
 that time, and in many parishes the moors were now enclosed 
 and allotted. Out of the 1,192 acres of new land, the old free- 
 holders of Wookey got 640 acres. A new road, called Dursden 
 road, was made from Rodney Stoke to Old Down through that 
 part of Wookey which was in the old forest of Mendip. The 
 moors that were then enclosed are now known as Knowle-moor, 
 Bleadeney-moor, Ash-moor, Godney-moor, Beggarly-leaze, Hay- 
 moor, and Rowden's moor. 
 
 The river Axe was the source of some wealth to the bishops. 
 William of Worcester visited this neighbourhood with Symon 
 Simeon about the year 1470, and gives a description of the fishes 
 to be caught in it, and the controversy which had arisen between 
 Bishop Bekynton and the people of Wells concerning the right 
 of fishing. He confounds, however, the Croscombe water, which 
 runs past Wells, and past Castle, and joins the Brue below Meare, 
 with the Axe which runs through Knowle-moor, and has its own 
 outlet into the sea a little north of Brean Down. He enume- 
 rates the following fishes as being caught by the Wells people, 
 and probably the same catalogue will answer for both rivers. 
 They were trout, bull-heads or miller's thumbs, loach, small pike, 
 perch or sticklebacks, crayfish, eels and flounders. The wonders 
 of the cave at Wookey-hole seem to have especially struck him, 
 
6 History of Wookey. 
 
 his account of it being as follows : — " Below the parish at Wookey- 
 " hole, about half a mile from Wells, there is a certain narrow 
 " entrance (into the rock) where at the beginning is an image of 
 " a man who goes by the name of the porter, and it is the duty 
 "of the people who desire to enter the hall of Woky to ask 
 " permission of the porter, and they carry in their hands torches, 
 *' which are called in English ' shevys of reed-sedge,' for the 
 " purpose of lighting up the hall. The hall is about as large 
 " as Westminster Hall, and there hangs from the vaulted roof 
 " wonderful pendula of stone. The passage from the entrance 
 " to the hall is about half a furlong long, and is arched with 
 " stones of plane work hanging down from the roof. And there 
 " is a certain broad piece of water between the ' tresance ' and 
 " the hall for the distance of five stepping stones, which stepping 
 " passage is about twenty feet wide, and if a man goes beyond 
 " the stepping stones he falls into the water, which is on all sides 
 *' about five or six feet deep. 
 
 " There is a kitchen in a chamber near the entrance to the 
 " hall of an immense breadth, and roofed in stone. There is 
 '' also a chamber called an ost, for the purpose of drying barley 
 " grain to make beer, &c., and the figure of a woman is there 
 " clad, and holding in her girdle a spinning distaff". 
 
 " And thence people pass on about a hundred paces, and a 
 " man may go along it with dry feet over the stones. And 
 " then the chamber called the parlour follows, which is a round 
 " apartment built of huge rocks, about twenty paces broad, and 
 " in the northern part of the said parlour there is what is called 
 " in English a ' holie-hole,' and in the said well, which is fairly 
 " arched over, there is abundance of the clearest water, the depth 
 " of which water no one is able to say. Moreover, from the said 
 " Woky-hole comes forth a great torrent, which runs into the 
 ** mere, near Glastonbury, for the space of two miles." 
 
 In addition to this account by William of Worcester, there 
 are two more descriptions given by 17th century antiquaries, 
 which are more or less interesting. 
 
History of the Parish. 7 
 
 Camden, in his Britannia, says, "Among tJiese hills, i.e. 
 the Mendip hills, there is a cave or den far within the ground, 
 wherein are to be seen certain pits and riverets. The place they 
 call Ochie-hole, whereof the inhabitants feign no fewer tales, nor 
 devise less dotages than the Italians did of their Sibyl's cave in 
 the mountain Apenninus. The name no doubt grew of Ogo, 
 a British word that betokeneth a den " 
 
 Drayton (1612), in his Polyolbion, a poetical description of 
 the wonders of England, says — 
 
 " Yet Ochie's dreadful hole still held herself disgrae't 
 With th' wonders of this isle that she should not be plac'd 
 But that which vext her most, was, that the Peakish Cave 
 Before her darksome self such dignity should have 
 And th' Wyches for their saltes such dignities should take 
 Or Cheshire should prefer her sad death boding lake 
 And Stonendge in the world should get so high respect 
 Which imitating art but idly did erect. 
 
 We must not forget to add that Clement of Alexandria 
 early in the third century, is supposed by some to refer to this 
 cave in a well-known passage of the Stromata. W^riting there 
 of the thunders of Sinai and the Jewish records of God's appear- 
 ances to Moses and the prophets, he says that these records 
 were copied by the Greeks, and to prove that God is every- 
 where, he records several mysterious phenomena, and then says, 
 
 *' A4yov(TL 8^ Kal olrAs laropias avvTa^dfxevoi, dfi(pi t7)v BperavviKrjv vrjcov Evrpov 
 Ti viroKeifxevov 6p€i' iwl de ttjs Kopv4>7]s X'^'^t^^' e/XTriirTovTos oZv toi dv^ixov iis t6 
 dvTpov, Kal irpocxpyjyvvfiAvov tols kSXttois tov opijyfxaTos, Kvfi^ak(j}v evpiidfius Kpovo- 
 fiivwv T^xo" i^Koveadai'' Ed. Potter. 756. 
 
 Now it will probably have been noticed that hitherto I have 
 said nothing about the celebrated witch of Wookey-hole. Neither 
 Camden or Drayton say anything about her, but William of 
 Worcester records the existence of a stalagmite within the 
 cavern, which may be described as the figure of a woman, clad 
 and holding in her girdle a spinning distaff. This natural forma- 
 tion gave rise, I think, to the legend of the witch, and was not 
 observed after a previous knowledge of that legend. The earliest 
 record of it that I can find is the poem by Dr. Harrington, of 
 Bath, which was written by him about 1748, and first published in 
 
8 History of Wookey. 
 
 1756, in a volume called " Euthemia, or the Power of Harmony." 
 A version of it is given by Bishop Percy in his Reliques of 
 English Poetry, and is as follows : — 
 
 *' In anciente days tradition showes, 
 A base and wicked elf arose, 
 
 The Witch of Wokey hight : 
 Oft have I heard the fearful tale 
 From Sue, and Roger of the vale. 
 On some long winter's night. 
 
 Deep in the dreary dismal cell, 
 Which seemed and was ycleped hell, 
 
 This blear-eyed hag did hide : 
 Nine wicked elves, as legends sayne. 
 She chose to form her guardian trayne, 
 
 And kennel near her side. 
 
 Here screeching owls oft made their nest, 
 While wolves its craggy sides possest. 
 
 Night howling through the rock ; 
 No wholesome herb could there be found ; 
 She blasted every plant around, 
 
 And blistered every flock. 
 
 Her haggard face was foul to see ; 
 Her mouth unmeet a mouth to bee 
 
 Her eyne of deadly leer ; 
 She nought devised but neighbour's ill, 
 She wreaked on all her wayward will, 
 
 And marred all goodly cheer. 
 
 All in her prime have poets sung, 
 No gaudy youth, gallant and young, 
 
 E'er blest her longing armes : 
 And hence arose her spight to vex. 
 And blast the youth of either sex, 
 
 By dint of hellish charms. 
 
 From Glaston came a lerned wight. 
 Full bent to marr her fell despight. 
 
 And well he did, I ween : 
 Sich mischief never had been known, 
 And, since his mickle lerninge shown, 
 
 Sich mischief ne'er has been. 
 
 He chauntede out his godlie booke. 
 He crost the water, blest the brooke. 
 
 Then — pater noster done. 
 The ghastly hag he sprinkled o'er ; 
 When lo ! where stood a hag before, 
 
 Now stood a ghastly stone. 
 
History of the Parish. 9 
 
 Full well 'tis known adown the dale, 
 The' passing strange indeed the tale, 
 
 And doubtful may appear, 
 I'm bold to say, there's never a one, 
 That has not seen the witch in stone, 
 
 With all her household gear. 
 
 But tho' this lerned clerke did well ; 
 With grieved heart, alas ! I tell 
 
 She left her curse behind : 
 That Wokey nymphs forsaken quite, 
 Tho' sense and beauty both unite, 
 
 Should find no leman kind. 
 
 For lo ! even, as the fiend did say, 
 The sex have found it to this day, 
 
 That men are wondrous scant ; 
 Here's beauty, wit, and sense combined, 
 With all that's good and virtuous join'd, 
 
 Yet hardly one gallant. 
 
 Shall then sich maids unpitied moane ? 
 They might as well, like her, be stone. 
 
 As thus forsaken dwell. 
 Since Glaston now can boast no clerks ; 
 Come down from Oxenford, ye sparks. 
 
 And oh ! revoke the spell. 
 
 Yet stay, nor thus despond, ye fair 
 Virtue's the god's peculiar care ; 
 
 I hear the gracious voice : 
 Your sex shall soon be blest again, 
 We only wait to find sich men. 
 
 As best deserve your choice. 
 
 Now the word " witch " or " wych" means a hole or break in 
 the rocks, and to this day it is used for the cavern or basin, 
 out of which the river Axe flows, and old inhabitants still speak 
 of the "Wookey -hole-witch," three words all having the same 
 signification, as " the hole " from which the water issues, and 
 so clearly preserve the original sense of the word. 
 
 About a mile from Wookey-hole the river is diverted from 
 its natural bed and kept in an artificial channel on the high 
 ground for the purpose of acting as a mill stream. This diversion 
 is of great antiquity, but I have not been able as yet to find any 
 account of its formation. Whether any of the four mills that 
 the bishop had on his demesne at this time of Domesday is 
 represented now by the Burcot or Bledeney mills, is a question 
 
10 History of Wookey. 
 
 well worthy of research, the answer to which I shall make every 
 effort to discover. The water from this stream was used to fill 
 the moat around the manor house, and therefore the aqueduct is 
 anterior to the fortifying of the house. What I know about the 
 mills I will mention in the history of the manor. 
 
 We come then to the second peculiarity of Wookey, which 
 seemed worthy of notice by 16th and 17th century antiquaries. 
 If William of Worcester, in 1470, and Camden in 1610, and 
 Drayton in his Polyolbion in 1612, are struck with the wonders 
 of Wookey-hole, Leland, in 1546, and William of Worcester also 
 before him are careful to mention the ancient earthwork at 
 Castle. In early times it clearly was a fortified outpost of the 
 British or the Saxons. It is an isolated hill, with two peaks, 
 the larger one evidently having been scarped and strengthened 
 by a ditch running between the two peaks, and making the 
 southern top a sort of citadel or place of refuge whenever the 
 ramparts of the first should be broken in. It is situated about 
 half a mile from the high ground of Hembury wood, in the moor 
 that reaches from Wookey to Meare. William of Worcester 
 says that "near Wells, about a mile and a half westward 
 " towards the mere, there is a castle called Fenny Castle. It is a 
 " ruin, and had been built of stones, and traces of the offices of 
 " the house are now visible." 
 
 Leland says " there is a Castelle on an hill in this meadow 
 " about Croscombe water whose ruins are still visible. It is 
 " commonly called Fenny Castelle." 
 
 The Croscombe water now runs to the north of it, but 
 formerly it ran round it east, south and west, and brought the 
 hill into the parish. It is now in the out parish of S. Cuthbert. 
 To the north-east, about a quarter of a mile away, and just under 
 Ben Knowl, there is a small field which now goes by the name 
 of Battlebury, and both at Castle and in this field human remains 
 have been found. Dr. Guest told us, as I have said before, that 
 the Axe was the boundary between the British and the West 
 Saxon kingdoms from 577-658 a.d. But I think, on examining 
 the ground of this parish, this statement requires to be somewhat 
 
History of the Parish. 11 
 
 modified. As far as the land between Wookey-hole and Burcot 
 is concerned this was possibly the case. But when the Axe got 
 down into the moors, it must have lost itself in a morass, or at 
 least its banks must have been so low and swampy as quite to 
 prevent it from being a boundary line from Wookey to Wedmore. 
 The southern limit of the West Saxon kingdom must have been 
 then either the line of the Mendip hills as far as Crook's Peak, or 
 else it must have crossed the Axe at Burcot, and clung to the low 
 line of hills which, with one gap at Bleadeney, extends from Ben 
 Knowl to Blackford. Now at Wester's Grave there is a narrow 
 lane which mounts the hill just north of Henbury wood. This 
 lane at the top of the hill has clearly been deflected from its 
 original course. For it evidently continued a straight course on 
 top of the hill until it dipt down at Bleadeney into the moor. 
 Two facts prove the former existence of this lane, even where 
 now it is hard to trace it. First in the earlier parish map there 
 is a foot-path marked down exactly in the position that the lane 
 must have taken : and secondly it was just the path that was 
 necessary to give access to the common fields at the top of the 
 hill, Goarway fields, and the Sheaf fields; in fact, it would be 
 the gore way to one of the common fields. By the side of this 
 lane at the Wookey end there are two fields that bear the name 
 Cold Harbour ; and at the Bleadeney end there are three that 
 open out on to it, which bear the name Harepits ; and just east 
 of Barrow hill there is a field called Cadbury. Barrow hill 
 itself is not unlike Castle hill, and has evidently been partly 
 severed from the hills to the east of it. At the bottom of 
 Hudswell, west of Barrow hill, and at the extremity of this lane 
 there was dug out from the moor a short time ago a large oak 
 pile, which was part of an earlier causeway over the moor, 
 parallel to the present road, but somewhat south of it. This 
 causeway stretched out to the western Barrow hill, and then 
 on again to Pamborough, in the parish of Wedmore. The lane 
 then appears once more, and may be traced on the top of the 
 hills, through Mudgley as far as Blackford, i.e. right across the 
 parish of Wedmore. And in the line of this path there are two 
 fields called Harepits, and one called Hareacre. 
 
12 History of Wookey. 
 
 We have then, I think, sufficient evidence to enable us to say 
 that there was an ancient road or path, perhaps British, and 
 certainly Saxon, running right across the parish from Ben Knowl 
 to Bledeney. And the existence in its neighbourhood of Castle 
 hill and Barrow hill, Battlebury and Cadbury, fall in with the 
 supposition that it had been a British road, and afterwards 
 was a Saxon war-path, and for nearly a hundred years was 
 part of the march lands of the West Saxons. I have found 
 nothing that would indicate its possession by the Romans, but 
 the whole range of hills abounds in Saxon and Celto-Saxon names, 
 a list of which I give in a future chapter. 
 
 We return then to the neighbourhood of Castle hill, near 
 which was a wayside cross in the bishops' times, the basement of 
 which is still visible in the hedge in front of Mr. W. Brown's 
 house. The cross marked the boundary of the parish in this 
 direction, and the nearest point of firm land between the Castle 
 hill and the southern slope of Henbury hill. Forty years ago, 
 and even later, there was an old house on the same side of the 
 road, which was then in the possession of Francis Sheppard, and 
 was formerly, I think, the house of one of the customary tenants, 
 who looked after the bishop's rights on the great southern moor. 
 
 In bishop Drokensford's Register (p. 255) at Wells, there is to 
 be seen an interesting account of the attempt made by certain 
 commissioners of the bishop to excommunicate some people in 
 the neighbourhood of Castle. But the document is very tanta- 
 lizing from the many interesting details it omits to give. Bishop 
 Drokensford, being lord of the manor of Wookey, claimed certain 
 rights and privileges over the moor there. Perhaps his prede- 
 cessors did also, but their registers are no longer in existence, and 
 so we cannot tell exactly the history of the quarrel. But to 
 strengthen his rights bishop Drokensford seems to have erected at 
 Castle certain embankments and sluices to protect the ecclesiastical 
 lands from the floods. Whether his action was understood by the 
 Wookey people as evidence of his intention to erect a mill there, 
 or whether it was his first step towards reclaiming the land, and 
 depriving his customary tenants of their rights on the common 
 
History of the Parish. 13 
 
 moor land, I cannot say. But bishop Drokensford is very much 
 annoyed to find that certain " sons of iniquity " have invaded 
 his new earthworks, and irreverently upturned them, and thereby 
 have endangrered the salvation of their souls. Their names 
 unfortunately are not known, or rather I suspect it was found 
 convenient not to know who did it. However William, the 
 vicar of Doulting, and William, the vicar of Pilton, received orders 
 to go and excommunicate them, and cite them to appear on 
 S. Paul's day, June 30th, 1326, before the bishop at Wells. Now 
 it is only natural that the brothers William would desire to be 
 excused from trusting themselves in the neighbourhood of Castle. 
 If the people had been so wicked as to pull down the bishop's 
 work, they might be inclined, when the vicars of Doulting and 
 .Pilton, came to curse them with bell, book and candle from the 
 hillside of Henbury, to resent their visit, and do some violence 
 to their sacred persons. So attached to the original note in the 
 register, which, by the way, tells us that the document was 
 issued from the manor house at Wookey, is an appendix. The 
 brothers William are still to excommunicate these sons of wicked- 
 ness, but they are to do it now from the altar steps of the 
 churches of Doulting and Pilton, and the citation is quietly 
 dropped. Brother William, vicar of Wookey, gets out of the 
 unpleasant duty altogether. 
 
 The parish, as far as I can discover, has no public history, 
 but in every century it reflects faithfully the social and religious 
 changes that occurred throughout the country. No great battle 
 of which we have any documentary evidence was ever fought 
 here. Certainly in a field near Wookey -hole there was dug up 
 in the time of Henry VIII. a lead tablet, which contained the 
 inscription of a trophy which probably had been fixed up on one 
 of the neighbouring hills. The inscription was — 
 
 TI-CLAVDIVS-CAE. 
 SAR-AVGP-M. 
 TRIE -PVni IMP. 
 XVIDEBRITAN. 
 
 and it is supposed to belong to one of the two trophies erected 
 
14 History of Wookey. 
 
 by Claudius to commemorate the defeat of the Cangi by the 
 propraetor Ostorius, a.d. 49. 
 
 Alfred must have marched along the road on top of Henbury 
 and Yarley on his way from Wedmore eastward. The monks of 
 Glastonbury would make their way past Barrow hill to their 
 outlying tything of Nyland. When the church property was 
 confiscated in Henry YIII.'s and Edward VI.'s time, the manor 
 goes to a London citizen, William Dunche, and the lands at 
 Wookey-hole, which belonged to the Friary at Witham, were, 
 it seems probable, granted first to John Smyth, ^ and then in 
 Philip and Mary's reign to John Waldram.^ It seems as if the 
 Crown had revoked the grant to John Smith, and having leased 
 the Witham property to John Bultings, of Westbury, then 
 granted the freehold to John Waldran, 3 and 4 Philip and 
 Mary, June 2. 
 
 The tenement of the hospital of S. John stood on the site of 
 Mrs. Salmon's cottage, west of the Church Barton, and as late 
 as 1587 is spoken of as in the possession of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 When men were complaining in Elizabeth's reign because the 
 lords enclosed the common lands, and turned their arable fields 
 into vast pasture lands, we find here the public spirited rector, 
 Mr. Subdean Boureman, leaving money to be lent on easy terms 
 to the farmers of the place for the purchase of ploughs. When 
 England was bitterly persecuting the Romanists in the times of 
 the earlier Stuarts, Wookey carefully excludes from all parochial 
 office the tenant of the rectory, because he is a recusant, and as 
 such we find Mr. Robert Godwin paying the usual tax. At the 
 Reformation and under the Commonwealth we lose our vicars, 
 and in Edward VI.'s reign our free chapel of Henton is pulled 
 down, apparently without any authority, by an enterprising 
 native, who doubtless expected that he would never be called to 
 account. The changes in the relationship existing between the 
 lord of the manor and his tenants will be considered in another 
 chapter; it is sufficient here to remark that they follow the 
 
 1 Particulars of Grants, Ed. VI., P. and M. 
 
 2 Harl MSS. B.M. 006, p. 128. 
 
History of the Parish. 15 
 
 usual course, which in every age may be noted throughout the 
 land. It is of interest, however, to compare the population of 
 the place from time to time, and though no definite information 
 is forthcoming, I am inclined to think that the population was 
 never so great as during the reign of George III. During the 
 Commonwealth it was estimated that Wookey consisted of 130 
 families, or about 650 people. In 1822 there were 190 inhabited 
 houses and 223 families, of whom 147 were employed in agri- 
 culture. The population in 1801 was 740: in 1811, 859; in 
 1821, 1,040. In 1861 there were 1,129 inhabitants; in 1871 
 the population rose to 1,139, and at present it consists of about 
 1,018 people, but it has been decreasing for some years past, 
 and if it were not for the existence of the paper mills at 
 Wookey-hole, that decrease would be much more marked. The 
 Lay Subsidy Rolls do not give us a complete account of the 
 inhabitants, but since they preserve the names of the persons 
 taxed, they are very valuable as evidence of the existence of 
 certain families in the place. I have copied four Subsidy Rolls, 
 which gave the names of those in the parish who were wealthy 
 enough to be taxed, and one which contains a list of people 
 here who were too poor, and therefore were certified to be 
 excused, and these, I think, are the only existing lists in which 
 the names are mentioned. The first^ is the list of the susbidy 
 granted by Parliament, 14-15, Henry YIII. This was the 
 memorable occasion when Wolsey came down to the Commons 
 and demanded a property tax of twenty per cent., and was met 
 by a silent refusal on the part of the House of Commons, backed 
 by its Speaker, Sir Thomas More. It is a tax of a fortieth on 
 personal property. 
 
 In Wookey we find — 
 
 William Barrowe William Evans 
 
 Nicholas Boulting Peter Newman 
 
 John Chapell Walter Newman 
 
 Thomas Clarke John Tornar 
 
 Thomas Cullock John Wilcocke 
 
 John Cuppar William Wilcocke 
 Walter Edwardes 
 1 Som. Subsidy, 14-15 Hen. VIII, 
 
16 
 
 History of Wookey. 
 
 William Hancock 
 Alicia Hancock 
 John Loxtone 
 John Lyde 
 Thomas Lyde 
 Thomas Merifelde 
 John Somerton 
 Thomas Stott 
 John Smyth 
 John Smyth 
 Walter Tornar 
 Thomas Tornar 
 William Tokar 
 John Tornar 
 Robert Vyncent 
 Agnes Wyke, widow 
 Richard Wylcocke 
 
 In Yardley Tithing — 
 
 William Baker 
 John Bowlar 
 Nicholas Browne 
 John Bultynge 
 Joan Bultj-nge, widow 
 Nicholas Burgeys 
 Walter Castelle 
 William Castelle 
 John Castelle 
 William Chapelle 
 Agnes Chapelle, widow 
 Thomas Churchonse 
 Richard Churchouse 
 Thomas Clarke 
 John Cullocke 
 John Edwards 
 Nicholas Edwards 
 Walter Gylle 
 
 The date of the next subsidy is not recorded, but it belongs to 
 the time of Edward VI. ^ It is defective, and not nearly so full 
 as the preceding one. In Burcot we find William Yebais, Walter 
 Panter, and John Merifield ; in Wookey in order of wealth, 
 Thomas Clarke, William Chappel, Richard Merifeld, John 
 Wilcock, Thomas Stotte, William Tukkar, John Turner, and 
 Nicholas Bulting. 
 
 The William Chappel that is mentioned here is the man who 
 pulled down Henton Chapel. 
 
 The next is the subsidy of 1597,^ i.e. 39 Elizabeth. The 
 neighbourhood is divided into the four districts of Wookey-hole, 
 Wookey, Burcot and Yarley. 
 
 In Wookey -hole we find 7nention of — 
 
 Thomas Beney 
 Agneta Beney 
 John Boultinge 
 William Hopkins 
 
 In Burcot — 
 
 John Brock 
 John Callington 
 Agnes Hipsley 
 John Hodge 
 Edward Horte 
 1 Som. Subsidy, Edw. VI. 
 
 William Mumford 
 William Pople 
 Johanna Wade 
 David Wilcocke 
 
 Cyprian Joanes 
 Richard Vowles 
 Thomas Whiting 
 Cyprian Whiting 
 
 2 Soni. Lay Sub.ild} 89 Eliz. 
 
HiSTOTiY OF THK PARISH. 
 
 17 
 
 In Wookeij — 
 
 John Barnard 
 Anthony Burge 
 Richard Buxton 
 Anthony Godwyn 
 Thomas Hypsley 
 
 In Yardley — 
 
 Robert Boulting 
 John Browning 1 
 2 
 
 Edward Browning 
 Robert Tayler or Buxton 
 Wm. Burgis 
 Wm. Castle 
 John Chappie 
 Wm. Churchouse 
 Bartholomew Castle 
 Richard Cullocke 
 
 William Millard 
 Thomas Stevens 
 William Trymme 
 John Turner 
 
 Joanna Corpe 
 
 John Collier, senr. 
 
 John Dunkerton 
 
 Margareta Edward, widow 
 
 Richard Edward 
 
 John Ganfielde 
 
 Thomas Hipsley 
 
 John Hooper 
 
 John Lyde 
 
 Robert Tayler, junr. 
 
 Wm. Turner 
 
 John Wilcockes 
 
 The next list is for the tax levied in 1641 by the memorable 
 fifth Parliament of Charles I.^ 
 
 Wookey-hole — 
 Edward Barlowe 
 John Boulting, se 
 
 John Boulting, junr. 
 Joanna Wilcox, widow 
 
 Richard Lyde 
 David Trym 
 
 Wookey — 
 
 John Barnard 
 
 John Buxton 
 
 John Lyde 
 Robert Godwyn, gent., recusant. 
 
 Poll money paid also by Mr. Robert Godwin for Ann Stone, 
 servant. 
 Yarley — 
 
 Robert Buxton 
 
 Robert Browning 
 
 Bartholomew Castle 
 
 Walter Castle 
 
 Robert Chappell 
 
 John Chapell 
 
 John Churchouse 
 
 Thomas Churchouse 
 
 John Corpe 
 
 Thomas Cullock 
 
 domestic 
 
 John Edward e, senr. 
 John Edwarde, junr 
 Edward Hipsley 
 John James 
 Matthew Lyde 
 Thomas Miller * 
 Richard Sage 
 John Smith 
 John Stock 
 John Turner 
 
 So far we have the lists of those who were wealthy enough 
 to be taxed. The last probably includes all the poor, and may, 
 1 Som. Subsidy, 16 Car. 1. 
 
18 HiSTOKY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 I think, be regarded as a complete list of those whose yearly 
 rental was assessed under 20s., and whose personal property 
 was not above £10, and whose houses had not more than two 
 chimneys, with hearths and stoves in them. These are the 
 people who, on this occasion, i.e. for the subsidy of 1670,^ are 
 certified by the vicar, churchwardens and overseers as excused 
 through poverty, and whose names are here recorded as a 
 memorial of the departed poor of our parish. 
 
 Wookey and Yardley — 
 
 Thomas Amey Wm. Browning 
 
 Susan Browning Edward Cottle 
 
 Samuel Gary Elizabeth Lane 
 
 John Chappell John Lloyd 
 
 The Widow Chalcraft Thomas Ganfield 
 
 Mary Chillocke Agnes Masters 
 
 Avice Chium John Meriman 
 
 Jane Chappell Edward Poole 
 
 Daniel Cary John Shenton 
 
 Edward Collier John Stotte 
 
 Mary Cleaves Elizabeth Swallow 
 
 John Ellis Anthony Turner 
 
 Robert Huntley Joan Turner 
 
 Anthony Hellier Stephen Weare 
 
 Wm. French John Wills 
 
 May 10, 1671. 
 
 John Gadd, Vicar. 
 
 John Smith "1 z^, ^i. , „„, 7^„ . David Cooke "I ^ 
 
 John Stott I (^J^^^rchwarden,. ^.^^^^^ Brookman | Over.eer,. 
 
 This is the latest Lay Subsidy Roll which gives us any account 
 of Wookey ;^ and as thirty years afterwards our rate-books begin, 
 giving us a continuous account of the ratepayers down to the 
 present time, it is superfluous to record any further lists of 
 the parishioners. 
 
 The old almshouses in Wells, which were founded by Bishop 
 Bubwith's executors in 1424, in accordance with the instruc- 
 tions they had received from him, possess many deeds relating 
 to their property. Part of that property was in our parish, 
 lying at Wookey-hole, Marley-mede, Wookey and Know), and 
 as the deeds contain the names of many parishioners, some few 
 extracts from them may not be out of place. 
 
 1 Som. Subsidy, 1670. 
 
History of the Parish. 19 
 
 In 1312, John Vutlioukes, of "VVoky, grants lands to John de 
 Ellewelle.i Hugh atte Chapele is one of the witnesses. 
 
 In 1322, Nov. 30, Philip de Button grants to Wm. Pasturel, 
 of Glastonbury, all the lands which Philip de Button had given 
 hira in Woky,^ 
 
 In 1332, Hobert Wayfer, of Wynelesle, and Margaret, his 
 wife, leaves his lands at Knolle juxta Woky to Ralph de 
 Schupton.^ 
 
 In 1394, John Knight, of Chewton subter Mendip, grants to 
 Thomas Tannere, burgher of Wells, 2|- acres of meadow in 
 Marleymede.* 
 
 In 1427, John Alampton, Thomas atte Wode, clerici, and 
 Henry Hogge, grant to Richard Knight, smith, of Wells, and 
 Emeline, his wife, 2^ acres of Meadow in Marley-mede, lying 
 between the demesne of the Bishop of Bath and Wells on the 
 one side, and a ditch and portion of meadow belonging to 
 Reginald Brydde on the other, being a portion of the gift of 
 feoffment of Isabella, relict of Thomas Tannere, lately dead. 
 This is probably one of the first leases granted by the trustees 
 of the Almshouses, the earlier papers naturally being handed 
 over to them when they purchased the property.^ 
 
 In 1425, Thomas Way fere leases to Roger Wyx, and Joanna, 
 his wife, a fulling mill at Woky Hole for 47 years. ^ 
 
 In 1430, Thomas Wayfere leases lands at Estmore to John 
 Beck, of Woky, and John Edward, of Yerdeley. This John 
 Beck was tenant of the house on the east side of the Church 
 Barton, that used to be called Strechistenement.'' 
 
 In 1430, Thomas Wayfere leases to Walter Dylverton, of 
 Wells, a fulling mill at Woky-hole for 92 years. This is 
 doubtless the one before mentioned. The mill water reached 
 from Delymakere's cottage at the bridge, as far as Wokey hole.^ 
 
 In 1531 this mill is in possession of the Almshouse Trustees, 
 and is rented of them by Robert Chamberleyne. The other 
 Almshouse tenants in Wookey are Thomas Clerk, William 
 
 1 A. H. P. 16. 2 A. H. P. 28. ^ a. H. P. 88. ^ ^ jj. P. 97. 
 
 ^A. H. P. 155. « A, H. P. 143, " A. H. P, 101, ^ A. H, P. 162, 
 
20 History of Wookey. 
 
 Hancock, Nicholas Edwarde for cottages, and Walter Merchaunt 
 and Robert Vyncent for lands. 
 
 In 1592 the tenants are William Dyrick, William Pyttina, 
 John Pyttina, William Gorway and Edward Horte. Some of this 
 land was only copyhold, the tenants having to pay a chief rent 
 to the lord of the manor, in addition to the yearly rent due 
 to the Almshouses. 
 
 When the various bridges in the parish were built I have not 
 been able to discover, except in the case of some of the modern 
 ones. That over the Axe at Wookey-hole is referred to in 1430. 
 In many cases the path was merely a foot-path at the side of 
 the road, with a wooden bridge to carry it over the stream, the 
 road itself going right through the stream. The bridges at Monks- 
 ford and Peascroft were built in 1776. At Prey water there was 
 a bridge similar to the one at Monksford, but in 1836 some one 
 knocked it over, and the parish erected a wooden bridge, which 
 served as a foot path there until quite modern times. Several 
 of the bridges being the connecting link between two parishes 
 were the joint work of both. In 1786, when the last enclosure 
 of the moors took place, ten bridges were built in the new roads 
 that were made, and over the new sluices that were cut. These 
 are now known as Tudway's, Pitney's, Band's, Barnard's, 
 Salmon's. Beggarly-leaze, Hay-moor, Ash-moor, Heme and 
 Furrow bridges. 
 
 In 1830 a select vestry was for the first time appointed. It 
 was evidently an attempt to keep the affairs of the parish in 
 the hands of a few, and to do away with some manifest objec- 
 tions to the publicity of an ordinary parish vestry. The first 
 select vestry consisted of James Snelgrove, John Brown, Wm. 
 HiU, junr , Thomas Stott, senr., Thomas Clarke, Richard Adams, 
 Isaac Stott, of Ripple ; John Stott, John Clarke, Richard 
 Purnell and George Parsons. In 1837, two cottages which the 
 parish had acquired on the Wedmore road, east of Oare, were 
 sold to meet in part the parochial charges necessary to pay for 
 the new Union-house at Wells. Previously the parishioners had 
 rented two or three of the cottages in the Barton, which form 
 
History of the Pakish. i>l 
 
 part of the church endowment, and these, with the two they 
 owned, together with a judicious system of outdoor relief, sup- 
 plied all the necessary requirements of the indigent and feeble. 
 
 One more remark remains before closing this chapter. The 
 County historians speak of certain persons of the name of Wookey 
 as distinguishing themselves in earlier days. In the Somerset 
 Hundred Rolls of Edward I., Richard de Woky appears as a 
 juror. Philip de Wyky occurs in the Perambulation of the 
 Forest of Mendip in 1298, and Collinson refers to a Maurice de 
 Woky in 1331, and a John de Woky in 1408. Certainly the 
 name occurs in none of the deeds belonging to the parish, 
 and only twice in the Register, and then during the time 
 of the Commonwealth. There was no room for a family of 
 any great importance to live here, as the bishop owned nearly 
 the whole parish. If the family ever rose to any real import- 
 ance at all, it did so in some other place. The name occurs on 
 the bishop's manor at Evercreech towards the end of the 15th 
 century, and in the early days of the 17th century a family 
 named Wookey dwelt in the parish of St. Cuthbert, one at 
 Chilcott on the north-east, and one at Wookey-hole on the north- 
 west. But in spite of having searched very diligently, I have 
 found nothing more concerning them in the past. 
 
22 History of Wookey. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE MANOR AND THE MANOR HOUSE. 
 
 /fj\UT of the fifty hides of land which King Eadward gave to 
 ^^ Bishop Giso and his church of St. Andrew in Wells, we 
 j&nd from Domesday that the bishop himself had eight hides in 
 demesne ; or in other words, that he cultivated, or made use of 
 that amount himself, and assigned the rest as an endowment 
 for the church or for some of its officers. Now what was the 
 exact acreage of this demesne land, we cannot say ; nor yet 
 do we know how much of it was in the parish of Wookey. 
 For since the time of the Conqueror much land in Somerset 
 has been reclaimed from the moors, and in Wookey alone 640 
 acres have been added to the lands of the parish during the 
 last two hundred years. At present Wookey contains 3,421 
 acres, and judging from the description of the manor in 1626, 
 it is probable that 2,160 acres consisted of the manorial lands 
 of the bishop, leaving a little more than a thousand acres for 
 other freeholders. But as we may naturally suppose that some 
 of the land of the parish was, at the time of the Domesday 
 survey, either marshy or practically worthless, not only is our 
 estimate of the bishop's demesne land within the parish to be 
 reduced, but also that which remained over and in addition to 
 it. And hence it is clear that while we have no evidence 
 as to the position of the bishop's demesne land within the 
 Domesday territory of Wells, we may fairly say that at any 
 rate it included the greater part of the parish of Wookey. 
 Now the possession of much land in any place involved the 
 necessity for a house. For as a landowner used not then to 
 gather his rents in money, but in kind, he would either have 
 to carry them to the place where he usually lives, or else 
 periodically settle down with his servants on liis various demesne 
 lands, and consume his rents at the place where they grew. 
 

 £Part^ 
 ^ 175 6. 
 
Je^rerr ei' Sr/'sAo/, 
 
The Manor anI) the Manor House. 23 
 
 And so we soon hear of bishops' houses within the territory of 
 Wells. One was built by Bishop John de Villula, the immediate 
 successor of Bishop Giso, probably on what is now the site of 
 the chapter library at Wells ; and I think that not very long 
 afterwards a bishop's house was also erected on his demesne land 
 at Wookey. But unfortunately we have no evidence concerning 
 this Wookey house earlier than the time of Bishop Jocelyn 
 Troteman, 1206-1242. Of him we learn that " Oapellas cum 
 cameris de Wells et Woky notabiliter construxit."^ "He built 
 " chapels and private chambers at Wells and at Wookey that were 
 " worthy of notice." Now as the house he built at Wells had been 
 preceded by an earlier one, so also, I think, was it the case at 
 Wookey. In the present Court-farm house, which contains all 
 that remains of the old Manor-house, there exists between the 
 ruins of the " camera " and the chapel traces of an early hall, 
 which seems to have been built by some bishop before the time 
 of Bishop Jocelyn. This hall appears to have decided the relative 
 position of those two buildings, and I think that the three, viz., 
 the chapel, the hall, and the " camera " would hardly have been 
 placed as they were had Jocelyn built upon vacant ground. 
 This hall is built of local lias, and not of Doulting stone, with 
 which the chapel and camera were constructed, and I cannot 
 imagine that Jocelyn would have been so careful about his 
 chapel, and so careless about his hall. As at Wells, so at 
 Wookey, only a portion remains to be seen. We have to read our 
 story from the traces of the foundations of the walls, or from the 
 stones now covered afresh, probably for the hundredth time, with 
 their protection of rough cast. There is one beautiful remnant 
 which speaks for itself, and tells us at once that it was built 
 by him who erected the west-end of the cathedral. It is 
 the Early English western door of Jocelyn's chapel. Now it leads 
 out of a pantry into a lean-to wash-house, but then lead fi-om a 
 corridor, between the chapel and the hall, into a chapel which 
 was about 20 J feet wide, but the length of which I have not 
 discovered. Probably this corridor was the northern end of a 
 cloister, which ran down the interior side of the eastern part of 
 1 Ang. Sac, vol. 1, 564. 
 
24 History of Wookey. 
 
 the Manor-house. Jocelyn's camera was south-west of this 
 chapel, and distant from it 56 feet. Between these two build- 
 ings was this earlier one, which certainly was the hall in later 
 times, and which, I think, was the hall then. Its length, as 
 compared to its breadth, is remarkable : it is 44 feet long, and 
 only 15 feet wide. All these three buildings run east and west, 
 and the north wall of the hall was almost on a line with the 
 north wall of the chapel. But as the chapel was wider than the 
 hall, naturally the western door of the chapel was south of the 
 centre-line of the hall. Between them, however, as I said 
 before, was this corridor or cloister, running north and south, 
 about 12 feet wide, and therefore the want of uniformity would 
 not appear so striking as would have been the case if the two 
 buildings had touched each other. Proceeding westward, then, 
 through the hall, we come to a door which either led directly 
 into the camera, or else into a cloister that ran along its 
 northern side, and then by a second door on its north wall 
 into the chamber itself. This building, like the chapel, pro- 
 jected considerably to the south of the hall ; and, indeed, its 
 northern wall is almost on a line with the southern wall of the 
 hall. Hence these three buildings give us the outline of a 
 quadrangle about fifty feet square, and this, I think, was the 
 shape of the Manor-house after Bishop Jocelyn had finished his 
 work. And if this was so, then there was considerable likeness 
 between the palace at Wells and the Manor-house at Wookey. 
 Both were built round an inner court, and in both these are 
 traces of the existence of cloisters. Possibly the servants' 
 chambers and the kitchens were to the north of the hall at 
 Wokey, and on the south-east corner of the quadrangle was a 
 gate-house, connected on the east, at any rate, if not on the 
 south, by a cloister or curtain wall. The camera had a large 
 eastern window overlooking the inner court, and probably 
 neither hall or camera had any chambers over them. The hall, 
 I think, had a high pitched roof, and if so, it contrasted 
 strikingly with the flat roofs of the chapel and camera. The 
 whole group of buildings, which I have tried to describe as they 
 probably existed in the 13th century, stood in the north-east 
 
The Manor and the Man ok Houst. 25 
 
 corner of a plot of land, about 6| acres in extent ; and round this 
 on all sides ran a deep moat, the water for which was brought 
 down from the mill-stream by an underground channel at the 
 south-east corner. The moat ran close under the walls of the 
 north side of the house, and about forty feet from the north 
 wall of the hall, and the waters were kept pure and inoffensive 
 by a sluice and underground channel, which led out on the west 
 down to the original bed of the Axe. In the grounds enclosed 
 by the moat, and south-west of the manor house, were one or 
 two fish-ponds, which are mentioned on several occasions, and 
 one of which exists at the present time. We have now described 
 the building as it was in the time of Jocelyn, and as it existed 
 probably for the rest of the time that the Bishops of Bath and 
 Wells possessed it. Bishop Bekyngton, as will be shewn further 
 on, may have inserted several windows, which now exist in the 
 hall ; and one of the later bishops, at the end of the fifteenth 
 century or the beginning of the sixteenth century, may have 
 taken off the old roof of the hall and placed chambers over it. 
 But I have found no evidence in any document about this 
 change, and, judging from the style, it may be as late as the 
 middle of the sixteenth century. Everything, then, that 
 happened at the Manor-house, occurred in the building which 
 I have tried to describe. Here, in the hall and in the chapel, 
 happened those scenes in Bishop Ralph's and Bishop Bekynton's 
 times, which are described further on, and in the hall would 
 meet those villeins and tenants of the manor, from the record 
 of which hall motes I have added a few extracts below. What 
 is, then, the history of the manor, and what were the fortunes 
 of the house 1 The jurisdiction of the manorial reeve extended 
 over the whole of the manorial lands in the parish, and also over 
 those lands of the bishops which were in the tithing of Burcot, 
 in the out-parish of St. Cuthbert. But in the reeve's accounts, 
 as a rule, four ti things are included, viz., the tithings of Wookey- 
 hole, Wookey, Yarley and Burcot, and these divisions are always 
 observed in the assessments for the purposes of a subsidy. The 
 tithing of Yarley, then as now, included Henton and Bleadney. 
 We must bear in mind also, that the bishop, as lord of the manor, 
 
26 History of Wookev. 
 
 would have certain rights over all the common fields and waste 
 lands, and therefore could occasionally take cognisance of the acts 
 of other freeholders in the parish, as far as those acts referred 
 to those fields. 
 
 Now we must clearly understand what is meant by the 
 manor lands of Wookey ; for within the parish lived several 
 people holding lands belonging to the manor under very difierent 
 conditions. Domesday tells us that the bishop had twenty 
 villeins, and fourteen cottagers and six slaves. At that time 
 there was no church here, and therefore no parish priest. But 
 gradually the bishop granted portions of the manor to various 
 persons as endowments for particular services. First he provided 
 indirectly for the parish priest, and gave him a certain amount 
 of land as his freehold. Then he leased out the land at Knowle 
 on condition that the tenant should perform military service for 
 him. Then he assigned rent charges on portions of his manor 
 to certain offices in the cathedral, and ultimately we find within 
 the manor freeholders absolutely independent of the bishop ; 
 leaseholders independent, except for the service under which they 
 held their land ; villeins who, while they had farms were obliged 
 to work on the lands of the bishop, and could not leave the 
 manor without permission of the lord ; and cottagers who, living 
 in their own houses, seem to have been mere servile labourers 
 working for their lord. And lastly, during the earlier times, 
 the slaves who held no land, and had no political rights 
 whatever. All these, with the exception of the last two 
 classes, would have certain rights on the common lands of the 
 parish, they would possess claims to certain strips in the common 
 arable fields and meadows, and also enjoy the privilege of turning 
 out on the then waste lands so many head of cattle, sheep, or 
 pigs. The tenants therefore of the rectory glebe lands, or of 
 the vicars choral, holding, as they did from freeholders, other than 
 the bishop, although they enjoyed certain privileges in the 
 manorial common lands, would not appear as the tenants of the 
 manor at the quarterly hallmotes. The evidence, therefore, 
 which we glean from these manorial court rolls, refers simply 
 to those tenants that held directly of the bishop, and chiefly 
 
The Manok and the Manok House. 27 
 
 to the villeins holding farms of half a virgate in extent. But 
 occasionally it will be found that some of these lands have been 
 sold or bequeathed, and are in the possession of freemen. Such, 
 for instance, are the lands in Marley-mede and elsewhere, which 
 belonged to Thomas Tannere, of Wells, and which his executors 
 gave to the Wells almshouses, and such probably were the lands 
 that came into the possession of the prior of the Charter House 
 at Witham, and the prior and convent of St. John the Baptist 
 at Wells. How these lands ceased to be the holdings of villeins 
 I cannot always say, but of course, even after they had been 
 given to other corporations, they had to pay certain chief rents 
 or dues to the bishop as lord of the manor, and ultimately we 
 find that all the lands were in the possession of freemen, who 
 held them on leases of three lives, and were bound to pay certain 
 dues by way of yearly rent, or occasionally, by way of a lieriot. 
 As therefore the villeins and the virgate, or half virgate, holders 
 are more intimately connected with the manor than those free- 
 men who enjoyed certain privileges on the common lands, but held 
 land in the parish more or less independently of the bishops, it will 
 be most convenient to give all the information I have been able 
 to gain concerning these latter, distinct from the private accounts 
 of the villeins recorded in the Court Rolls. The earliest record 
 consists of an inspeximus of a lease of a farm at Knowl. When 
 Jocelyn became bishop, he naturally asked to see the leases which 
 the tenants held of former bishops, and the Abbey of Bath and 
 Chapter of Wells as guardians of the temporalities of the see 
 during a vacancy, would claim their right of supervision of all 
 leases, lest the bishop should grant any lease to the future 
 damage of the see. The following is an inspeximus by Thomas, 
 prior of Bath from 1228-1258, of an inspeximus by Jocelyn, 
 bishop from 1205-1242, of a confirmation by Robert, who was 
 bishop from 1136-1165, to Walcher, son of Ralph de la Cnolle, 
 of all the land at Knowle which his father had formerly held. 
 The deed is now in the possession of the trustees of the Wells 
 almshouses, because they possess some of the land which formerly 
 belonged to this estate, and it must have been written between 
 the years 1226 and 1242. It gives us evidence of the existence 
 
28 . History of Wookev. 
 
 of the road from Wookey to Knowle and it mentions Nottlelake, 
 which is now the rhine, called Nottlich ; Blakepel, now Black- 
 pool ; and Berlegh, now Barley-batch ; and Hydeclud, which I 
 have not yet identified. 
 
 Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos prsesens scriptum pervenerit 
 Thomas prior Bathonise et conventus ejusdem loci salutem, Sciatis 
 venerabilis patris domini Joscelini episcopi nostri inspeximus in 
 his verbis Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos prsesens scriptum 
 pervenerit Joscelinus Dei gratia Bathoniae episcopus salutem 
 cartam felicis recordationis Roberti quondam Bathonise Episcopi 
 predecessoris nostri inspeximus in his verbis Robertus Dei gratia 
 Episcopus Bathoniee universis sanctae matris ecclesiae filiis tarn 
 prsesentibus quam sera procitate succedentibus salutem Quia filii 
 Dei vocabuntur pacem volentes et unitati insistentes confirma- 
 vimus Wachero filio Radulfi de la Cnoll et heredibus suis totam 
 terram pertinentem a la Cnoll quam pater ipsius tenuit silicet 
 dimidiam hidam terrae cum omnibus pertinenciis libere quiete 
 pacifice et integre in pratis in pascuis in boscis in semitis in 
 pasturis in viis in exitibus et in omnibus aliis consuetudinibus 
 liberis salvo Domini Regis servicio quantum ac tantum terrae 
 pertineat Preterea et firmavimus prsedicto Wachero et heredibus 
 suis unam virgatam terrae quae jacet juxta eandem terram 
 Reddendo inde nobis ipse et heredes sui annuatim tres solidos ad 
 quatuor anni terminos ad Pascham novem denarios ad Nativitatem 
 Sancti Johannis Baptistae novem denarios ad festum Sancti 
 Michaelis novem denarios et ad Nativitatem Domini novem 
 denarios pro omni servicio Prseterea et firmavimus pra^dicto 
 Wachero et heredibus suis totam moram qupe jacet versus partem 
 australem et partem occidentalem silicet inter fontem de Barleg 
 usque a la Nottelake et usque caput vije tendentis a la Cnoll 
 perpetuam relaxationem communis pasturre bosci sub Estun 
 habendam indefensum Hanc quoque nostram donationem et scripto 
 affirmavimus et sigillo nostro coroboravimus cujus rei testes sunt 
 Ivo Decanus Wellensis Robertus Archidiaconus Reginaldus 
 Cantor et totus conventus Wellensis, Goddefridus de Dinre, 
 Thomas de Ebberwurth, Mattheus de Horningdean, Ricardus 
 de Straton, Johannes de Ken, Radulfus filius Senebaldi et multi 
 
Thf. Manor axd the Manor HorsE. 29 
 
 alii clerici et laici Nos itaque predictas confirmaciones et dona- 
 tioiiem dicti Episcopi sicut prefato Wachero et heredibus suis 
 rationabiliter factae sunt, ratas habemus et gratas^ pro nobis et 
 successoribus nostris et eas presenti carta nostra confirmavimus 
 Prseterea concessimus Philippo de la Cnoll qui tenet hereditatem 
 quae fuit dicti Wacheri pro relaxatione communis pasturse quam 
 vendicavit idem Philippus in mora nostra quae jacet inter parcum 
 nostrum de Westbury et cursum aquae tendentis de Woky versus 
 Hydeclud quandam placeam continentera circa unam perticam 
 terrae jacentem inter cursum praedictse aquae et fossatum praedictas 
 morae juxta viam tendentem versus Cnoll et concessimus quod 
 idem Philippus claudere possit viginti acras de mora sua et 
 pratum humi juxta moram illam quae continet decern et novem 
 acras et dimidiam quae mora et pratum jacent ex orientali parte 
 praedictae morae nostrae de Westbury quae debet claudi et per nos 
 et successores nostros sic custodiri quod averia dicti Philippi vel 
 heredum suorum per defectum clausi nostri inde inparcari-^ Con- 
 cessimus eciam dicto Philippo duas acras prati nostrae jacentes 
 inter dictum pratum suum cum eodem prato suo per eum clau- 
 dendas pro quibus dedit nobis et successoribus nostris pro se et 
 heredibus suis mescambium duas acras prati sui apud Blakepel 
 et nos inde seisunt Facient autem predictus Philippus et heredes 
 sui totum predictum clausum suum sic custodiri quod pro defectu 
 clausi sui averia nostra aut hominum nostrum inde non possint 
 inparcari, et de residuo morae ipsius Philippi quod remanet juxta 
 dictum clausum suum praeterea praedictus Philippus pro se et 
 heredibus suis concessit nobis et successoribus nostris viam com- 
 petentem a ponte de Cnoll juxta cursum aquae ex australi parte 
 tendentem versus moram nostram tam ad carriagia facienda quam 
 ad averia fuganda in perpetuura et Sciendum quod praedictus 
 Philippus fecit nobis cartam suam de relaxatione et quietum 
 clameum communis pasturae quam vendicavit in mora de West- 
 bury in haec verba Omnibus ad quos praesens scriptum indentatum 
 pervenerit Philippus de Cnoll eternam in Domine salutem noverit 
 universitas nostra me concessisse et quiete clamasse pro me et 
 heredibus meis venerabili patri domino Joscelino Bathoniae 
 
 ^ Query " gamcas," but the manuscript is in places difficult to decipher. 
 2 Kon possint ? 
 
30 History of Wookey. 
 
 episcopo et successoribus suis totum jus et clameum quod habui 
 vel habere potui in commune pastura morae de Westbury quae 
 jacet ex australi parte parci de Westbury inter domum meam et 
 parcum praenominatum ita quod nihil juris poterimus de cetero 
 ego nee heredes mei aliquo unquam tempore vendicare nobis in 
 eadem. In cujus rei roboratione et testimonio presenti scripto 
 sigillum meum duxi apponendum Hiis testibus Willelmo de 
 Stratton, Waltero Camerario, Philippo de Wik, Gaffredo de 
 Wudeford, Willelmo de Camera, Thomas de Wudeford, Willelmo 
 Bucher, Gaffredo de Brideport, et aliis. Nos itaque pr?edicti 
 Thomas prior Bathonise et ejusdem loci conventus prsedictis con- 
 cessionibus et scriptis Joscelini Episcopi nostri nostrum adhibemus 
 assensum et hac prsesenti carta nostra protestamur.^ 
 
 In the printed epitome of the Close Rolls of Edward III., 
 Edward confirms Bishop Ralph's grant to William de Cammel, 
 canonicus, and Walter de Cammel, servitor, for their lives, and 
 one year more, of all the lands and the tenement in La Worthe, 
 in Woky, which Petronilla de Northom held, paying annually 
 eight marks ; also of the tenement which Henry de la Worthe 
 held next to that of Petronilla de Northom ; also of fifteen 
 shillings and eightpence of yearly rent accruing from certain 
 fulling mills ; also of four acres of land which Margaret, the wife 
 of Peter le Moners holds ; also of a close of land from the 
 demesne land called Merlegh, in the manor of Woky, on con- 
 dition that the said William and Walter do not cut down the 
 oak trees there. ^ 
 
 Again, Edward III. allows Ralph to grant certain lands in 
 Woky by way of an endowment to the brethren of the hospital 
 of S. John the Baptist in Wells ; and permission is also given 
 him to assign to the vicars of the cathedral a certain rent charge 
 on lands in Woky and Conoresby."' 
 
 In Ralph's register we learn more about this grant to the 
 vicars choral. It was granted at Banwell on October 31st, 
 1331, and amounted in all to a yearly payment of £10, a 
 
 * Wells Old Almshouse Papers, No. 1 . 
 
 2 Abb. Rot. Orig. 2, 273. ^ Abb. Rot. Orig. 2, 204. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 31 
 
 hundred shillings from rents of lands at La Pulle, in Congresbury 
 manor, and a similar amount from rents of lands at La Worthe, 
 in Wookey manor, to be paid yearly as long as the vicars live 
 together, and eat their meals in the common hall. 
 
 On February 4th, 1352, we find the same bishop granting 
 to Else de Corscomb, and Margery his wife, all that mill, with 
 the water-course belonging to it, situated within the manor of 
 Wookey, on a yearly payment of fifteen shillings and eightpence. 
 This must be the corn mill at Bleadney, as it is the only one 
 of such antiquity within the manor, except that at Wookey-hole, 
 which was not within the manor, and had a different history. 
 In 1315 we have a patent roll, granting permission to the bishop 
 to exchange with Walter de Rodney the advowson of the church 
 of West Harptree, for certain lands in Worth, which the latter 
 held in soccage. 
 
 Again, in 1402, we find that John Wykyng and Isabella 
 Tanner, of Wells, and others have given to the Prior and Convent 
 of the Charterhouse at Witham certain lands in Woky and 
 Yerdeley, Avhich were held in chief from the Bishop of Bath and 
 Wells as parcel of the manor of Woky. 
 
 We come now to those references which refer more especially 
 to the economy of the manor, and the history of the villeins that 
 worked upon it. These references are nearly all derived from 
 bailifs' accounts and court rolls, either in the Record Office or 
 the Archbishop's library at Lambeth. It will be seen that the 
 bishop derived a money income from many of the tenements, in 
 addition to the labour which the villeins performed on his lands, 
 in return for their houses and half virgates of land ; and this 
 proves that as early as the time of Edward III. there was rising 
 up on the manors, side by side with the villeins, and gradually 
 to take their places, that free yeomanry which, in the 17th 
 century, began to play so important a part in the history of the 
 land. The names of these free tenants are seldom recorded, but 
 in order to give examples of these bailifs' accounts, one is given 
 below in the original, together with a translation, and a transla- 
 tion of a second is printed in full, because of the information it 
 contains concerning the manor house itself, 
 
32 History of Wookey. 
 
 In the Charter Rolls of Henry III. the bishop is declared in 
 possession of a free warren in Woky.^ 
 
 In a Court Roll of 6 Ed. I., 1278, the following names occur 
 in Woky-hole — Walter Castle and John Chamberlyn. In 
 Yardley (Yerdlegh) — Henry Boules, John Srute, Hugh le Deygh, 
 Margeria Bodde, Adam Maynard, John atte Heghelme. In 
 Woky — Henry atte Watere, Gilbert atte Wyk, John le 
 Felaghe, and Adam le Tailler-^ 
 
 In the Somerset Hundred Rolls of Ed. I., Richard de Woky 
 being one of the jurors, it is declared that the Hundred of Wells 
 Forum is the manor of the bishop, for which he has a royal 
 charter. 
 
 On May 9th, 1322, Bishop Drokensford died, and the tem- 
 poralities of the see fell into the hands of Edward III., and the 
 bailifs return the following account : — 
 
 Redditus. Et iidem reddunt compotum de 50^ 6^^, de 
 
 redditibus ad terminum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis 
 Baptistse. 
 Firmae moi- Iidem reddunt compotum de lx« de firm a molendini 
 
 endinoriim. ^ 
 
 de Gledeneye^ aquatici de termino Nat. S. J. B. et 
 
 xiii» iv^ de firma molendini aquatici bladi de Lichlegh 
 
 de termino predicta et de v^ v** de firma molendini 
 
 fullonici de Lichlegh. 
 
 Nulla est piscatura ibidem. 
 
 Exitusmanu- Iidem reddunt compotum de xx« de Vacris alneti 
 em. ^ 
 
 venditi in mora vocata Asshemore et de xviii'^ de 
 
 ciriceto in gardino vendito. 
 
 Venditiopas- Iidem reddunt compotum de ii^ de herbaffio in 
 
 gardino et de ii^ de pasturis inter boscas de Merlegh 
 
 et de v^ de pasturis de Baggerewaye et de ii^ de pasturis 
 
 de Oxenleaze. 
 
 Venditio Et iidem reddunt compotum de xii» de viii acris 
 
 prati. *^ 
 
 prati in Codbuginor pretio acrje xviii*^ et de xiiii^ de vii 
 acris prati in Martynesheymede pretio acr* ii^; de xix« vi*^ 
 de vi acris dicti prati in Hornesmede pretio acrse iii^ et 
 1 C. Rolls, 6 Heu. III. ^ Lambeth MSS., 1098. ^ i.e. Bledeney. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 33 
 
 de xii^ de vi acris in Bencroftes et de xxxiii^ de xi acris 
 prati in Silverlakemede pretio acrse iii^ et de ii^ de 1 
 acra prati in Merleghmede et non plus respondent 
 de prato vendito quia non plus falcare potuit ante 
 liberationem temporalitatum electo supra die to. 
 Venditioope- lidem reddunt de viii^ iiii^ de liiii arruris de ix 
 
 rum. 
 
 custumariorum tenencium dimidii virgatse terrse quorum 
 quilibet arrabit semel qualibus quadrenis a dicto decimo 
 die Maii in festum Nat. S. J. B. 
 
 Nihil reddunt de operibus manualibus quia custu- 
 marii sunt ad gabulum et tantam habuerunt allocanciam 
 pro operibus suis si fecerint opera quantum haec opera 
 valent in denario de consuetudine. 
 
 Recognitiones. Et iidem reddunt de xP de recognitionibus villanorum. 
 
 ^^"^tines*^^* Iidem reddunt de xiiii^ iv^ de perquisitis legalibus 
 de hallagio termino hokked et xi^ v^ de chevagio 
 garcionum et de vi« viii^^ de fine Philippi atte Bergh et 
 de xxvii^ vi^ de finibus Overland et vi» iv*^ de perquisitis 
 unius curiae habitse die Jovis in festo Corporis Christi 
 et de x^ de uno bove proveniente de heriot Adami atte 
 Watere. 
 
 Acquietan- Inde computant in aquietancia unius ipsius^ vi^ de 
 
 redditu pro termino Nat. S. J. B. 
 
 Empcio biadi jjt in iii bushels 1 peck frumenti emptis in libera- 
 cionem messori pro liberacione sua per dicta tempora 
 ii» viii^^ pretio bushel x^. In iii bushels 1 peck ordei 
 emptione in liberacione eadem pro dicta liberacione sua 
 xiii^^ pretio bushel iii^. In stipendio cujusdam messoris 
 per aistatem xviii^. 
 
 Sarclatio biadi. jj^ ^xxi acris de bladis sarclandis x« 1^^ silicet 
 pro acra 1'^ 
 
 Autumpnue. j^-^ prsedictis cxxi acris dicti pro operibus custu- 
 mariorum Episcopi liujus manerii bladis mercendis 
 ligandis et colligendis de v^ pro acra. In stipendio 
 unius hominis pro blade tassando in campis in Mulloni- 
 1 Sic in MSS. 
 i> 
 
34 History of Wookey. 
 
 bus iii^. In dicto blade carriando vii^ xi^. In dicto 
 blade in grangiam tassando iii^. In vadiis a stipendio 
 unius ripereni in autumpno vi^ in grangiam per loca 
 Vetera discooperta recooperienda cum stramine xiv^. 
 
 Summum £iv et ^ vii. 
 
 I venture to add, for the benefit of those who may find the 
 above Latin somewhat difficult, a translation of this interesting 
 account. 
 
 Account of John de Clynedon et Gilbert de 
 
 Borowik, 3 Ed. III., up to the 22nd day of June, 
 
 before the restoration of the temporalities to Bishop 
 
 Ralph, of Shrewsbury. 
 Rents. j^Yid the Same return an account of £2 10s. 6^d. 
 
 from rents, up to the time of the festival of the 
 
 Nativity of St. John the Baptist. 
 Farms of the Tii^ same return an account of £3 from the 
 
 mills. 
 
 farming of a water mill at Gledeneye (i.e. Bledeneye), 
 from the Nativity of St. John the Baptist ; and 
 13s. 4d. from the farming of a water mill for grain 
 at Lichlegh from the aforesaid date ; and of 5s. 5d. 
 from the farming of a fulling mill at Lichlegh. 
 There is no fishery there. 
 OutRoingsof The same return an account of 20s. from five acres 
 
 the Manor. 
 
 of willow, sold in a moor called Ashemore ; and of 
 Is. 6d. from herbs, sold from the garden. 
 Sale of The same return an account of 2s. from herbage in 
 
 Meadows. " 
 
 the garden, and 2 s. for the pasturage between the 
 
 trees at Marley ; and of 5s. from the pasturage of 
 
 Baggerway ; and of 2s. from the pasturage of Oxen- 
 
 leaze. 
 
 Saieofmea- And the same return an account of 12s. from 
 dow grass. 
 
 eight acres of meadow in Codbugmoor, at Is. 6d. an 
 
 acre ; and of 14s. for seven acres of meadow in Martins- 
 hay-mead at 2s. an acre ; and of 19s. 6d. from six 
 acres of the said meadow in Hornsmead, at 3s. 3d. 
 an acre ; and of 12 s. from six acres in Bencrofts ; and 
 
The Manor and the Man ok House. 35 
 
 of 33s. from eleven acres of meadow in Silverlake- 
 mede, at 3s. an acre ; and 2s. from one acre of 
 meadow in Marleymede, and they make no further 
 reply concerning the sale of meadow grass, because he^ 
 was not able to mow any more before the delivery of 
 the temporalities unto the aforementioned elect. 
 
 Sale of Works The Same make a return of 8s. 4d. from fifty-four 
 "arrurse," from nine customary tenants of half a virgate 
 of land, of whom each will plough once a fortnight, 
 from the said tenth day of May to the festival of the 
 Nativity of St. John the Baptist. 
 
 They make no return from manual labour, because 
 the customary tenants are at gavel, and they have 
 such allowance for their labours, if they do their 
 works, as much as the works are worth in money, 
 according to custom. 
 
 Recognitions. ^nd the same return, 40s., from "recognitions " of 
 villeins. 
 
 ^and'^li^^*^^ The same return 14s. 4d. from legal perqui- 
 
 sites from Hallage from last Hock-day, and lis. 5d. 
 from chevage of the men servants ; and of 6s. 8d. from 
 the fine of Philip de atte Bergh ; and of 27s. 6d. from 
 the Overland fines, and 6s. 4d. from the perquisites of 
 one court, held on Tuesday, being the festival of Corpus 
 Christi ; and 10s. from one bull, which came from ^^ 
 the heriot of Adam atte Water. 
 
 Acquittances. The same reckon in acquittance of one man, 6d. 
 for rent, from the Nativity of St. John the Baptist- 
 day. 
 
 Purchase of And in the purchase of three bushels one peck of 
 
 corn, in payment to a reaper for his wages for the 
 said time 2s 8|d., at lOd. a bushel. In purchase of 
 three bushels and one peck of barley in the same pay- 
 ment, for his own payment 13d., at 3d. a bushel. In 
 wages for a certain reaper through the summer, Is. 6d. 
 
 ^ i.e. the Messor. 
 Ij2 
 
36 History of Wookey. 
 
 Cocking of In a hundred and twenty-one acres for cocking the 
 
 wheat, 10s. l|d., viz., at a penny an acre. 
 
 Autumn dues. In the aforesaid hundred and twenty-one acres, for 
 the works of the customary tenants of the said bishop 
 of this manor, for gathering and tying and collecting 
 together the wheat at 5s. an acre. In payment of one 
 man for cocking the wheat in the fields in Mylhams, 3s. 
 For carrying the said grain, 7s. 6 d. For heaping together 
 the said grain into the said grange, 3 s. In the open 
 fields, by payment of one thatcher in autumn, 6s. For 
 covering with straw certain places in the grange that 
 had been for a long time uncovered, Is. 2d. 
 
 Total, £4 7s. Od. 
 
 The above amount was only for a portion of the year. The 
 customary tenants had to plough once a fortnight all the year 
 round. So during these two months they had only accomplished 
 36, and redeemed 54, out of the total 234.^ 
 
 At the Hallmote at Woky, on S. Michael's Day, 1343, Hugh 
 de Somerton is fined 10s. if he does not repair a path near 
 Knycheswode^ before the next court day ; and he also makes 
 certain claims against the bishop concerning some land at 
 Merlegh wood. Walter de Middleton comes into full court, 
 and does homage for the lands he holds of the lord at Woky, 
 and Edmundus de Beauchamp does the same for lands at Cnoll. 
 John Frankelyn and Walter Duke are the reeves.^ 
 
 At a Hallmote, in the next year, Richard atte Naysch is 
 the reeve. Adam Tailler, Thomas White, John Duke, Hugh de 
 Henton, John de Henton, William de Heighelme, and John le 
 
 1 The following notes may be useful : — 
 
 Hallage was a certain payment made by the tenants on the goods they 
 sold, or for the right of free sale. 
 
 Chevage was a kind of poll-tax paid to the lord of the manor for his 
 protection. 
 
 lie corf nition was generally an arbitrary payment, enforced by the lord 
 on the customary tenants, as acknowledgment of their villenage. 
 
 2 Knightswood. » Lambeth MSS., 1176. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 37 
 
 Deighere all appear as plaintiflfs, or defendants, in . domestic 
 quarrels. 
 
 John le Hera and William le Deighere pay 4s. to the lord 
 to be excused the office of bailif of the Bledeneye mill, to which 
 they had been elected by the homage of the manor. The names 
 John de Cadbury, Alanus le Deighere, John Heyne, Henry Drake, 
 and John Strode also occur. ^ 
 
 In the Summer Hallmote of 1354. Nat. S. John Bapt. 27 
 Ed. III. 24 Had. B. & W. Edmundus de bello campo takes 
 a lease of some land at Knolle, lately held by Thomas de 
 Merkesbury, on a lease granted by Robert Burnell, Bishop of 
 Bath and Wells. Henry Botyler is ordered to repair the cottage 
 he holds. John de Westbury is declared a defaulter. Agnes 
 atte Berwe (Barrow), and Richard Basset, holding of the Abbot 
 of Glastonbury, ought to repair the bridge at Bledeneye, which 
 lies too low. John Cosyn and John Duke having been elected, 
 are sworn in to their office as " cadaveratores." Payments are 
 allowed for work in the harvest fields to William atte Harve, 
 a stranger, John le Here, John Stokelyng, William Deyere, 
 Henry Chresshere, Andrew Berde, Ralph Spray, Andrew Cewlie, 
 John Sweet, John Hunte, Richard atte Watere, Walter Dekne, 
 William White, Walter Kymock, William Dekene, Philip Drake, 
 John Brigge, William le Here, Edith Brute, John Rodde, John 
 Yinstrey, Christiana Willames, Juliana Willes, Edith Dekyns, 
 Alice Berwe, Estiva Noggere, and Alice atte Castell.^ 
 
 Eight years afterwards, at another hallmote at Woky, 35 
 Ed. III., 32 R. B. & W. Walter Dekene, John Burgge and 
 Robert Rudde are ordered to repair their houses. Det. de 
 Milton is accused of not restraining a certain watercourse between 
 Knolle and Lakennich.^ 
 
 Twelve years afterwards, in 1374,. at the hallmote of St. John 
 the Baptist-day, we find in Burcot Robert Cherbegend's name as 
 a villein. At these hallmotes the information is given generally 
 by the decennarius of the tithing, and the tithing of Burcot, 
 
 1 Lambeth MSS., 1176. 2 Hji^., 1177. 3 ibid., 1178. 
 
38 History of Wookey. 
 
 though it is in the parish of St. Cuthbert's, Wells, is 
 included in the manor of Wookey, as far as such hallmotes are 
 concerned. Reginald Brid and Walter Dekene are made de- 
 faulters ; i.e. they have not done their work as villeins on the 
 estate, nor have they paid the fines laid on them at previous 
 hallmotes. Kobert Lumbard, a villein, is accused of not residing 
 on his tenement, and is ordered to do so under a penalty of 20d. 
 Philip Drake, a villein, is made a defaulter. The " cadaveratores " 
 announce the death of one steer and one sheep on the moors. 
 Philip atte Bergh pays a fine, and enters on two acres in the 
 Overland, formerly of John Bullockhurd. William Bishop 
 returns into hands of the lord one cottage of " ancient auster " of 
 Agnes White, and Agnes White is allowed to enter on payment 
 of two fines in oije year, and to hold it in villenage.^ 
 
 Nine years afterwards, at the St. Michael's hallmote of 6 
 Kic. II., Reginald Brydd and William Bishop are made defaulters 
 in rent. William White, Isabel Drake, William Jackes, and 
 Elie Wylcocke are mentioned. Alice Hert returns into the hands 
 of the lord a messuage which John Hert formerly held, " ad opus " 
 W. Dekne, and then W. D. comes and pays 53s. fine, and gets it 
 back ; and " unam cameram ex parte oriental i de la Weynyate," 
 one acre of land near Waterletewey, half an acre of land above 
 Prestesmore, half an acre at Stokeslynchesham, and three roods 
 of meadow in Merlymede for his life.^ 
 
 At the next S. Michael's hallmote, in 1384, Cristina Hamme 
 and John Jeol are mentioned. Thomas Clements pays a fine of 
 53s., and enters upon one messuage and fardell of land, of " ancient 
 auster," which John Herox formerly held — " ita quod ducit in 
 uxorem Alice que fuit uxor dicti Johannis." This is crossed 
 out, and re-entered as being returned by William Dekne, who 
 probably was the decennarius of that year. John Drake holds 
 a messuage and fardell of land, lying near the Overland, with 
 Walter Gentilman.^ 
 
 At the " Purification " Hallmote of the next spring, 8 
 Ric. II., Henry Pente, and Andrew, his son, are mentioned in 
 
 1 Lambeth MSS., 1180. = i^ij^^ nsi. s l[^l^l^ ii82. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 39 
 
 reference to a certain watercourse at Silverlakemede, but the 
 document is much mutilated. ^ 
 
 In 14 E,ic. II., Simon Greve, at Burcot, is made a defaulter. 
 John Willcas is accused of obstructing the watercourse at 
 Marchesymede to the lord's injury. The sale of alders is announced 
 in Ashmore, Rowelmore, and at Bercroftes, near Castleburg. 
 John Bek is admitted into a cottage, and John Smith to one of 
 the church cottages, lately in the occupation of John Compton, 
 of Woky.2 
 
 At the "Purification" Hallmote, 18 Ric. II., 1395-6, More- 
 cock, otherwise Carter, is admitted to one messuage, with curtillage. 
 Eighteenpence is obtained from the pasturage of the Westfield, 
 and Is. from the winter pasturage of Merly. The names of 
 Edward Beauchamp, Richard Potter, and John atte Barwe 
 occur. 3 
 
 At the Hockday Hallmote, 9 Henry V., 1422-3, John Yeman 
 is at the Burcot mill. The Yerdeley decennarius presents that 
 Henry Webbe is a defaulter, and that John Porter unjustly, and 
 against the peace, has insulted Thomas Counsell, and hit him one 
 blow, and that Thomas Counsell has wrongly taken and enclosed 
 some land belonging to the common road near his house. Henry 
 Mulward, John Edward, junr., John Turner, Thomas Clerke and 
 Juliana Basset are accused and fined for selling furze to a certain 
 man for cider, and are placed at the lord's mercy ; and complaint 
 is made against John Yeman for excessive charges at the mill. 
 The Woky decennarius presents John Porter, William Brugger, 
 John Mody, Adam Hond, William Joel, and John Huchyus, 
 Senr., for selling furze for cider, and they are fined. Eightpence is 
 recorded from winter pasture in W estleyeland. Entrance is granted 
 to Thomas Clerke, and Isabella, his wife, to a messuage, with 
 curtillage and virgate of land, called La Worthe, which Walter 
 Peynte formerly held. Notice is given also to the tenants of the 
 leasehold lands of Sir Thomas Broke, viz., John Tenor, Richard 
 Sprotte, and to the Prior of the Charterhouse at Witham for 
 the lands which formerly belonged to Thomas Tanner, that they 
 
 1 Lambeth MSS., 1183. - Ibid., 1184. » Ibid., 1185. 
 
40 History of Wookey. 
 
 must come and do homage and fealty to the lord of the manor for 
 their lands. The cadavatores report that one sow was found dead 
 on the moor, but no one was to blame. ^ 
 
 At the St. John the Baptist Hallmote, 2 Henry YI., seven 
 shillings is accounted for from the sale of plaster of Paris. The 
 bailiff yields up the messuage of the late Nicholas Moure, which 
 his widow, Christina, claims to hold ; and also a certain workshop, 
 called Smythchous, which John Smyth, of Westbury, formerly 
 held. William Hunt is ordered to repair his house. ^ 
 
 At a Hallmote, 10 Henry VI., 1432, William Thomas, of 
 Burcot, is accused of excessive charges at the mill. The Woky 
 decennarius presents Walter Huchynes, of Woky-hole, for penning 
 up the watercourse between Stonmede and Merlegh. The names 
 of John Churchouse, Thomas Barnard, Adam Hondo, Thomas 
 Gierke, Richard Smith, John Huchyns and Walter Lovell also 
 occur. ^ 
 
 At the St. John the Baptist Hallmote, 18 Henry VI., 1440, 
 John Bultynge comes for the homagers, and presents that Juliana 
 Dekyn, who held a messuage and fardell of land, of "ancient auster," 
 is dead, whence there comes to the lord as heriot 6s. 8d., which 
 is paid, and Nicholas Dekyn enters on the tenement. Sales of 
 plaster of Paris, and straw, are mentioned, and of pasture at 
 Hornesmede, and the chase in Knollemore and Asshmore. 
 Isabella Dekyn pays 6s. 8d. to the lord for licence to marry. 
 Philip Dekyn yields a messuage and different virgates of land, 
 of " ancient auster," and John Gierke pays the heriot fine, arising 
 from the death of Nicholas North, who held land ad opus 
 Johannis Gierke. Philip Dekyn is to have two acres of arable 
 land from John Gierke, lying below the close, and in le Garston, 
 and one acre at la Stok, and some lying in Brodemede. Thomas 
 De la Hay does homage for lands he holds at Knoll from the 
 lord for military service, and which he enters upon in right of 
 his wife Agnes, sister, and heir of John Tonour. 
 
 John Rodde, nativus domini, aged 13, is placed for the year 
 in the care of William Gounsell, the bailif.* 
 
 1 Lambeth MSS., 1186. 2 ibid., 1187. » ibid., 1188. * Ibid., 1189. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 41 
 
 In 1461-2 we have the following Reeve's account, and as it 
 is the only complete one that I have found, and contains much 
 that is interesting concerning the customs of the place, I give 
 a translation in full. 
 
 Account of the Reeve of Wokey. 1 and 2 Edward TV. The 
 account of John Stott, the bailiff there, from the Festival of 
 S. Michael, in the first year of the reign of King Edward IV., 
 to the same date, then next following in the second year of the 
 said king, and in the 19th year of the consecration of Thomas,^ 
 Bishop of Bath and Wells. 
 
 Assized Bents. — And he returns 28s. 6d. from assized rents 
 of seven free tenants, for each quarter 7s. IJd., less 15s. from 
 the rent of one messuage, and 107 acres of land and meadow, 
 formerly of William Cammel, which came into the hands of the 
 lord as an escheat, and is placed to the lord's use below^ Overland, 
 concerning which he has allowance in further accounts, under the 
 head of loss of rent. And 54s. of assized rents of nine half- 
 virgate holders yearly, . viz., for each quarter, 13s. 6d. And 
 65s. l^d. for assized rents of twenty-seven fardel holders to the 
 feasts of Christmas, Easter, and S. John Baptist-day, viz., to each 
 date 21s. 8|d., and 56s. 6^d. for assized rents of the said fardells 
 to the feast of S. Michael ; and 14s. 4|d. of assized rents of 
 fourteen coterelli, to the feasts of the Nativity of our Lord ; 
 Easter, and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, to each date 
 4s. 8fd. ; and 4s. 8|d. of assized rents of the same tenancies to 
 the feast of S. Michael, and 14s. 9d. for larder duty of the said 
 tenancies to the feast of S. Martin. And 5s. 10|d. of assized 
 rent of various tenancies, called gavelerthe, to the feast of 
 S. Michael, and 4s. 5d. for the tribute penny of Peter to the gule 
 of August. Total, £12 8s. l^d.^ 
 
 1 Bekynton. 
 
 2 i.e. in the account under heading Overland. 
 
 3 A mistake has been made here in reckoning the assized rents of the 
 coterelli ; deduct 2d. , and the account comes right. The coterelli were the 
 cottagers who had no arrurae to perform, but were obliged to perform 
 manual labour for the lord. 
 
 Gula August! is the first of that month, vide Jacob's Law Diet. 
 A gavelerthe tenancy is one where a money rent only is made, such as 
 was the case in the fardell holdings. 
 
42 History of Wookey. 
 
 Bents of the Overland. — And he accounts for 47s. from rent 
 of the lands there of the Overland, as is fully set forth in the 
 account for the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Henry VI. ; 
 from 35 acres of land in Waterlete, 8 acres in Buryfurlong, 
 5 acres in Walfurlong, alias Radepole. Seven acres lying fallow 
 produce no rent. Eight acres in Pysfurlong, 4| acres in 
 Highenbury, 6 acres in Walfurlong, alias E-adepole ; 3 acres in 
 Carpeshylle, one acre in Culverhylle, nothing because they are 
 sown with wheat, oafcs, and peas. Concerning four acres byfore- 
 theway, 5 acres at Bencroft, 5 acres at Culverhylle, and 28 acres 
 at Langdowne there is no return, because they lie fallow (quia 
 jacent friscse). Total, xlvii^i 
 
 Rents of Pasture. — And he accounts for Id. for a stych of 
 land at Palmersham, and for 2d. from Thomas Counsell's rent of 
 half an acre in Asshemore, and for 6d. from Peter Gentylman's 
 rent for three roods of pasture in Alleredj and for 66s. 8d. for 
 rent of the pasture called Merley, with eight acres of meadow in 
 Merleymede, and Is. 4d. from the rent of the pasture called 
 Bremelham no return is made, because it is below the lord's 
 barton, and there is no rent for the pasture of Langstring, 
 because it has been fed down by the lord's oxen. Concerning 
 13s. 4d. for the pasture called Bagerweylese no return is made 
 in this year, because it is not made in other years. Total, 
 Ixvii^ v<*.2 
 
 Rent of Meadows. — From 17 acres of meadow in Hornsmede, 
 14 acres in Langstring, 5 acres in Worthemede, 5 acres in 
 Laverham, 2 acres in Syndermore, 6 acres in Bencroft, 1^ acres 
 in Merleymede there is no rent, because they have been mown 
 for the lord's use, as is stated below. And he accounts for 6d. 
 from Wm. Counsell's rent for a portion of meadow in Lydeham, 
 the other sixpence having been paid to the Reeve of Westbury. 
 There is no rent from 20 acres of meadow in Oxenleaze, because 
 they were mown for the lord's use, as is stated below. There is 
 9s. from Walter Stott's rent of three acres in Fermeryham, and 
 Is. 6d. from half an acre from the same Walter in la Rede, with 
 
 * This is right, « xhis is ri^ht. 
 
The Manor axd the Manor House. 43 
 
 the fishing, and 9s. 6d. from Thomas Combe's rent of three acres 
 of meadow in Pylwaterhouse, and 10s. from Walter Stotte's rent 
 of five acres in Lyttulnye, and Is. from John Potter for one acre 
 in Syndermore, near Oldclyfie, and 3s. from John Edward for one 
 acre there ; and 9d. from William Clerk for one acre there ; and 3d. 
 from Thomas Phelps for one parcel of meadow there ; and 8s. from 
 William Stotte for 10 acres in Marty nesmede, with "le lagge;" 
 and 6s, from William Brownynge for six acres there ; and 2s. 4d. 
 from John Tounere for one acre in Worthemede, called Hulk- 
 acre ; and 3s. 8d. from Thomas Felpes for two acres in Tyrlake- 
 mede. Total lv» vi^.i 
 
 Farming of Land in la Worthe. — And he accounts for 12d. 
 from John Warner's rent for one cottage, with curtillage ; and 
 Is, 6d. from John Edward, Senr's, rent for one cottage and 
 curtillage there ; and 2s. from William Stodelman for one parcel 
 of land near Strodewode ; and 5s. from John Rumbold's rent for 
 one grange, and one close of pasture of five acres ; and 2s. 8d. 
 from John Chywe's rent for one cottage and curtillage, and half 
 an acre of meadow ; and 53s. 4d. from Nicholas White for a 
 tenement there, formerly of William Boultynge, with all that 
 belongs to it. Total lxv« vi'^.^ 
 
 Farm of Mills. — And he returns 113s. 4d. from John 
 Edward's rent for the corn mill at Bledeney. Concerning 
 16s. 8d. for one mill called Monerysmille, there is no rent, 
 because it is totally lost; and Is. from John Smith for one mill 
 stone ; and Is. from John Brownyng's rent for the fishing of 
 Martynesey. Total, cxv* iv<^. 
 
 Revenues of the Manor. — There is no rent this year from the 
 pannage"^ of swine. He returns 4s. from a colt, coming as a heriot 
 of John Bernard, at St. Michael's Court ; and 13s. 4d. from a bull, 
 as a heriot of R. White, at the Purification Court ; and 6s. 8d. 
 from a steer, as a heriot of Richard Smith, at Hockday Court ; 
 
 ^ This is right. For the position of these meadows c.f. chap. viii. 
 2 This is correct. 
 
 ^ Pannage is the feed of swine in the woods, such as the mast of beech 
 and acorns. 
 
44 History of Wookey. 
 
 and 6s. for 24 geese at 3d. each ; and from 300 eggs ; and 2d. 
 from the new rent of Nicholas White for half an acre of reed 
 held of the lord ; and 8s. 4d. from 2| acres of reed, sold at 3s. 4d. 
 an acre ; and 21s. 8d. for 130 cocks and hens, at 2d. each. There 
 is no revenue from six acres at Bencroft, because they have been 
 eaten down by the lord's oxen ; and 2s. " de rewanno " in Oxen- 
 leaze sold this year. There is nothing from the sale of stones, 
 or for firewood this year. Total Ixiii^ ii^.^ 
 
 Sale of Corn and Straw. — No wheat was sold this year. There 
 was 26s. from 13 quarters of oats, sold at 2s. a quarter, and £10 
 for four score loads of hay, at 2s. 6d. a load. Total £xi — vi^. 
 
 Sale of Ploitghings {arrurce) and Manual Work. — And he 
 accounts for 25s. 6d. from 136 arrurse, sold at 2:^d. each; and 
 for 4s. Id. from 98 manual works at |^d. each; and 16d. for 
 16 works of harrowing, sold at Id. each; and .£6 13s. 2d. from 
 34 fardell holders, to relieve them from their manual work, 
 according to the agreement made with the lord, payable at the 
 four quarter days, in addition to their assized larder rent and 
 circset previously accounted for, viz., 3s. lid. each, with all the 
 works of John Brownyng, mentioned in the previous account at 
 16^d. ; and 5s. Id from one half-virgate of land, granted to 
 E/ichard Stotteior his manual work, of which he is yearly relieved, 
 beyond 6s. of assized rent, 6d. from larder rent, and Id. from the 
 tribute pence of Peter, and 3s. 9d. allowed as not paid under the 
 head of deficiencies of rent. Total £vii xix^ ii<*.2 
 
 Perquisites of the Court, with Fines. — He returns Is. 2d. from 
 the perquisites of St. Michael's Hallmote ; and 40s. from John 
 Bernard's fine at the same Hallmote ; and 20s. from John Turner's 
 fine, and Edith, his wife, at the same Hallmote ; and Is. 8d. from 
 the perquisites of Hock-day Hallmote ; and 20s. from John 
 Edward, junr.'s, fine at that Hallmote ; and 2s. 6d. from the 
 perquisites of St. John the Baptist's Hallmote ; and 4s. from the 
 
 1 There appears to be an omission of the price of the eggs. If it was 
 Is. this account is correct. 
 
 2 These 34 fardel holders consisted probably of 27 villeins and 7 free- 
 men. There seems to be something wrong in this account ; probably the 
 allowance to E, Stotte should be 2s. Id, 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 45 
 
 perquisites of the P-V'B'M- Hallmote; and 3s. 4d. from John 
 Combe's fine ; and 20s, from Robert Smith ; and 3s. 4d. from 
 Thomas Taylor; and 2s. from John Brownyng; and 13s. 4d. 
 from John Porter, all fined at the same Hallmote. Total, 
 Xvi xi^ iv*^. 
 
 Capitage.^ — And he accounts for Is. from the capitage of John 
 Rodde, a native, abiding near Welewe with John Franceys ; 
 total, 1^. Total Receipts, £lviii — xii — ii^.^ 
 
 Acquittances and Deficiencies of Rent. — And in payment of 
 the bailifi* holding one fardell of land in right of his office, with 
 larder and circset, 8s, ; and in payment of the messor, in right of 
 his office, 8s ; and in payment of eight half-virgate holders, of 
 whom each will plough, and will work once a fortnight through 
 the year, of whom each will be allowed on his rent at Xmas 9d., 
 Easter Is., and St. John the Baptist Day, Is. — 22s. And in 
 discharge of the said customary tenants, who will do one manual 
 work each lawful workday, between St. John the Baptist Day and 
 St. Michael's Day, of whom each will be paid for his work Is. — 
 8s. And there is paid to the Archdeacon of Wells for St. Peter's 
 trilMite, due at the gule of August, 2s. And in deficiency of rent 
 of one cottage with pertinence, lately of William Edward, in the 
 hands of the lord, above accounted for at 3s. 4d., and he is not 
 able to levy more than 8d. — 2s. 8d. And in deficiency of rent of 
 one acre and a half of land near Overbrokewell, and one acre of 
 land at Stanley, reckoned above in the Overland at 7|d., because 
 they were granted to John White for 2d., in augmentation of his 
 tenancy, this year twelvemonth, at the feast of the Purification 
 of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 5|d. And in deficiency of rent of 
 one tenement, with pertinence, lately of William Browning, 
 formerly accounted for under the head of rents of lands at 
 53s. 4d., now granted to Nicholas White for 40s, by Court Roll 
 this year six months, through defect of purchasers, 13s. 4d. Total 
 lxiiii» v^^. 
 
 Autumn Charges. — And for mowing, scattering and carrying 
 
 ^ Capitage was the money obtained from the letting of serfs to other 
 employers. Many superfluous serfs were now to be found on every manor. 
 '•^ This total is probably right, and the total under aiTurse wrong. 
 
46 History of Wookey. 
 
 56 acres, 3 perches, of meadow grass beyond 14 acres done by the 
 customary tenants at lOd. an acre, 47s. 3Jd. ; and for reaping six 
 acres of oats, at 6d. an acre, 3s. ; and for cutting 3 acres of reed 
 for the repair of the Manorial houses and Bledeney mill at Is. 8d 
 an acre, 5s. ; and for Walter Stotte's wages for two days, for 
 carrying the hay from the lord's meadow, 2s; and for John 
 Howleg and Edithe Felpus' wages, to each of them for six days 
 for stacking (pro mullonibus faciendis), as well in the grange as 
 in the lord's barton, to each of them 4d. a day, 4s. Total, 
 lxi8 iii^^. 
 
 Threshing, Winnowing and Sale of Grain. — And for threshing 
 six quarters of wheat, at 3d. a quarter. Is. 6d ; and for threshing 
 eighteen quarters, two bushels of oats, at 2d. a quarter, 3s. ; and 
 for winnowing the whole of the said grain of the lord, at Id. for 
 every three quarters, 8d. ; and for six bushels of peas, at 4d. a 
 bushel, 2s.. Total, vii» ii^. 
 
 Scouring and Embanking. (Clausura.) And for twenty 
 ropes of rhine at Bencroft, for digging and scouring at 2d. a 
 rope, 5s. lOd. ; and for scouring 35 ropes at Hornsmede, and 40 
 ropes at Oxenlease, there is no charge, because they were cleansed 
 by the servants of the lord. Total, v^ x^.^ 
 
 Cost of Management. — And for mending ploughshares, coulters, 
 iron chains and other unavoidable breakages during the year, 2s. ; 
 and for the purchase of eight tacks, Is. 4d. ; and for making one 
 new harrow> with the iron of one old harrow from the store, 
 23^d, ; and for two new carts, 12d. : and for two new hinges, 
 8d. ; and for one new iron chain, Is. 2d. ; and for the purchase of 
 grease for the use of the waggon yearly, 8d. ; and for one pair of 
 wheels, 8s., and in tying of the same by weight, 272 lbs., at Id. 
 a pound, 22s. 8d. ; and for the pasture of eight of the lord's oxen 
 in Merleymede, at 20d. for each oxen, 13s. 4d. ; and for the 
 pasture of one bull and eight oxen of the rector, according to 
 custom, 13s. 4d. ; and for the pasture of six oxen of the Reeve, 
 
 1 A rope, I believe, to be 21 feet. Clausura may mean keeping the 
 rhines clean and deep, and so keeping the cattle on the moor ; or else the 
 enclosure of fresh portions of the moor by means of rhines. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 47 
 
 according to custom, 10s. ; and for pipying of one wheel, 8d. ; 
 and for one axle for the waggon, 4d. ; and the shruddings of one 
 waggon, 6d. ^ Total, <£iii xvii^ xi^J.^ 
 
 Expenses of the Gardens. — Boultyng's wages for 4 J days, 
 John Leke's for 4^ days, Nicholas White for 4 days, at the lord's 
 table, for digging and cleaning the chapel garden there, to each 
 of them 2d. a day, 2s. 2d. The wages of Robert Bowleg, 
 Thomas Taylor, "William Clerk, John Boultyng, John Lock, 
 William Hicks, Richard Bryce, Edward Went, John Wylcocks, 
 John Edward and John Grove, to each of them for three days for 
 digging and thinning of "crocus " for the table of the lord, to each 
 of them 2d. a day, 5s. 6d. And in payment of John Grove, 
 Richard Bryce, Robert Howleg, John Boulting, Roger Gyes, 
 Thomas Taillor, and William Hicks, to each of them for six days 
 and a half, for digging and setting of " crocus ; " of Edward Went, 
 John Ijone, William Wylcocks, John Galwey, to each of them for 
 five days and a half ; of William Courte for four days, and John 
 Edward for two days, to each of them 4d. a day, 22s. 4d. And 
 in parying fourteen pannse of garden *' crocus," at 20d. a panna, 
 23s. 4d. And for cutting the said garden. Is. 4d., and to William 
 Hicks for levelling the said crocus-bed. Is. 2d. ] total, lv« x^.^ 
 
 Repairs. — John Burgh's wages for eleven days, 3s. 8d. ; John 
 Chapell for a week. Is. 6d. ; Walter Bale for one week. Is. 6d. ; 
 Robert Bernard for two weeks and two days, 3s. 6d. ; Walter 
 BalstafF, for two weeks and two days, 3s 6d. ; Thomas Hylle, for 
 one week. Is. 6d. ; and Walter Burgh for four days. Is. ; doing car- 
 penter's work and making le sperys in the hall for the lord's table, 
 with 9d. for their lodgings, 16s. lid. ; and for seven oak boards, 
 bought for the same, 3s. 6d. ; and for seven walshbords for the 
 same. Is. 3|d. ; and for the purchase of spiks for the same. Id. ; 
 total, 21s. 9<^d. ; and for making the gate of the crocus garden, 
 4d. ; and for two hinges for the same, with fastener, 8d. ; and for 
 
 1 This amount does not seem right. Concerning the rector's oxen, c.f. 
 Sale of manor, 1553. I do not understand the clause m '* shrudacione unius 
 plaustri vi^i." 
 
 - This seems to be wrong by one man's wages for six and a half days. 
 
48 History of Wookey. 
 
 150 laths, lOd. ; and for 1,500 tiles, 5s. ; and for 500 lath nails, 
 7d. ; and the wages of John Tyler, senr., and John Tyler, junr., 
 covering the roof of the camera and bakehouse, for two days, to 
 each of them 6d. a day, Is. 8d. ; and to a servant for them for the 
 aforesaid time, 8d. ; and to John Hicks, the carpenter, for two 
 days, for mending the door of the grange and the dovecot, at 4d. 
 a day, 8d. ; and to the same John Hicks for making the racks in 
 the kitchen, 2d ; and to Walter Stott for the carriage of four 
 loads of stone from Cheddar to Bledeney mill, in addition to six 
 cart carryings of the Reeve, and servants of the lord to the said 
 mill, at Is. 4d. a load, 5s. 4d. ; and to making^ of the said mill, 
 26s. 8d. 
 
 Expenses of the HaW there. — And for 9,250 lbs. of lead bought 
 for it; 4,950 lbs. of Poklode at 3s. 2d. a hundred, more in all, 
 3s. 4d. ; 4,300 lbs of lead of Myndsplede, at 4s. 6d. a hundred, 
 less in all, 2s. — £17 15s. lid. And of John Heyman, of Stoke, 
 for the carriage of 4,950 lbs. of lead from Bristol to Woky, with 
 Is. 6d. for delivery at Bristol, lis. And to E-ichard Wele, for 
 four weeks and three days, and to Walter Bale, for two days 
 and a half, carpenters, for scraping the lead-lath, and buying 
 stone for the hall, of whom each took 5d. a day, 12s. 3|d. ; and 
 to John Baker and Thomas Pegyn, for sawing 875 led-laths and 
 Onysbord, at Is. a hundred, 8s. 9d. ; and for 21 boards of walnut, 
 for " les Fimbrells," 3s. lOd. ; and for 4,600 led-nails and hacche- 
 nails, bought at the same, at 2s. 6d. a thousand, less in all, 5d. — 
 11. Id. ; and Thomas Pyerson, for 1,000 bordnails, 4s, ; and to 
 John Smith, of Woky, for seven pounds of iron made into cram- 
 pons, for binding of the stonework of the hall, 7d. ; and to John 
 Plummer, senr., for 5 weeks and 1 day, and to Richard 
 Plummer for 5 weeks and 2^ days, and to John Plummer, of 
 Bristol, for 1 week and 5^ days, to each of them 3s. a week ; and 
 to John, the son of John Plummer, for 1 week and 5 days, at 2s. 
 a week ; for melting the lead for roofing of the hall there, 41s. 2d. ; 
 and to John Horts for 7 weeks and 1^ days, and to William 
 
 1 *' Making" must mean repairing. 
 ^ i.e. at Wookey Manor House. 
 
■fiiE Maxor and the Manor House. 4^ 
 
 Lang for -1 weeks and 2 clays, for laying the lead of the 
 hall, and for serving on the said plumbers, to each of them at 2s. 
 a week, 23s. 2d. ; and for 550 lath-nails, bought at 2d. a hundred, 
 lid. ; and for one hundredweight of wedges, 8d. ; and to William 
 Hyne, for making le lateys for le fimbrells of the hall, for 5 J 
 days, at 4d. a day. Is, lOd. ; and to John Stowell, the stone- 
 cutter, for making the lavatory under the cupboard, and to 
 William Waron, plasterer, for 5 days for fixing the said lavatory, 
 and for bemefillying and parjecting^ of the said hall, who 
 receives daily 5d. — 2s. ; and for twelve bushels of lime, with one 
 bushel of limestone, for the said hall, 6d. ; and to John Tyler, for 
 one lay laying on tiles over the cloister there, 5d. ; and to John 
 Synyer, of Congresbury, for collecting and sifting the said lead 
 scrapings, 27 cwt., at 6d. a cwt., 13s. 6d. ; and for six quarters 
 of coals, bought for the same, at 6d. a quarter, 3s. Total 
 
 expenses of the hall, <£24 15s. 8Jd. 
 
 Total, <£xxiv ii« ix'K^ 
 
 Wages of the Servants. — In payment of two domestic servants, 
 to each yearly 10s., 20s., and for their sustenance, at 4 qrs. 
 2 bus. of barley, to each of them 2 qrs 1 bus. yearly, at 4d. a 
 bushel, lis. 4d. Total, £i. xi« iv'i. 
 
 3 Customs of the Villeins. — And for the custom called the 
 "gust" of the villeins at the feast of St. Martin, Is. 2d. ; total, 
 i^ ii^. 
 
 Fapneiit of Moneys. — And paid to Master Richard Swan, 
 into his hands, for the stables of the lord's hostel as for money 
 thirteen quarters of oats and 3d. a bushel, and four score loads 
 of hay, at 2s. 6d. a load ; £11 6s. Od. Total, £xi vi«. 
 
 Sum of the total expenses and charges, £54 13s. 9|d., and so 
 there is due to the lord 78s. 5d., which the receiver paid on 
 the account, and so it is settled. 
 
 1 BemcfiUylng was the filling up between the ends of the roof timbers, 
 after they have been placed on the top of the wall. 
 
 Parjecting — Rough-casting. 
 
 2 These totals do not seem to tally. 
 
 3 The gustus villanorum was probably a money payment, made in lieu of 
 the entertainment on S. Martin's Day, which the lord was accustomed to 
 make to his customary tenants. 
 
 £ 
 
50 History of Wookey. 
 
 Wheat.'^ — And about 6 qrs. of wheat, received from the total 
 outgoings of the grange, and 9 bushels of wheat received from 
 circset, to the Feast of S. Martin ; total, 7 qrs. 1 bus. 
 
 From which in payment of a half-virgate, granted to Richard 
 Stotte at a fixed rent, 1 bushel, and for seed over six acres of 
 land, in Walfurlong, alias Radepole, three acres of land at 
 Combedyche, three acres at Carpeshylle, four acres at High 
 Henbury, one acre at Culverhylle, 2 qrs. 6 bus. of wheat, so that 
 it took one bushel one peck of wheat an acre, and on the whole 
 three pecks more. And in the keep of two servants there yearly, 
 to each of them 2 qrs. 1 bushel ; 4 qrs. 2 bushels. Total amount- 
 ing to above. 
 
 Oats. — And about 18 qrs. 2 bushels of oats received from the 
 total outgoings of the grange ; total, 18 qrs. 2 bushels. 
 
 Of which in seed over seven acres of land in Pisfurlong, seven 
 acres in Buryfurlong, three acres in Walfurlong, alias Radepole, 
 4 qrs. 6 bushels, taking two bushels an acre, and four bushels 
 more on the whole ; and for the keep of two servants yearly, four 
 bushels, and sold to the stables of the hostelry for one tallage 
 13 qrs ; total amounting to above. 
 
 Peas. — And 6 bushels of peas received for sale ; total 6 
 bushels. 
 
 For seed for one acre of land in Walfurlong, alias Radepole, 
 two bushels, and for the sustenance of the lord's dovecote in 
 winter, four bushels ; total, 6 bushels. 
 
 Geese. — And from 24 geese, coming from customary tenants 
 rearing geese this year ; total, 24 geese, and sold below, and so 
 accounted for. 
 
 Cocks and Hens. — And from 130 cocks and hens coming from 
 circset to the feast of St. Martin, from 26 customary fardells of 
 land, the tenants of which each pay one cock and four hens ; 
 total, 130, and sold below, and so accounted for. 
 
 Bggs. — And from 300 eggs, coming from the collection of the 
 Messor at Easter ; total, 300 eggs, and sold below, and so 
 accounted for. 
 
 1 What follows is on the back of the preceding account, and is probably 
 the account of the Messor. The word "infra" is used generally for any 
 other place in the account. 
 
The Manor akd the Manor House. 5l 
 
 Hay. — And 110 loads of hay from last year, and 16 loads 
 from 14 acres of meadow at Langstring ; and 6 loads from 5 acres 
 in Laverham ; and 23 loads from 17 acres in Hornesmede ; and 
 10 loads from 5 acres in Worthemede ; and 12 loads from 6 acres 
 in Bencroft ; and 2 loads from 2 acres in Syndermore ; and 
 2 loads from 1 acre 3 perches in Merleymede ; and 30 loads from 
 30 acres in Oxenlese ; total, 211 loads of hay. 
 
 Of which 30 loads were used for the keep of 8 oxen and 
 I cow during the winter, and 80 loads Avere sold for the tables 
 of the hostelry ; total, 110 loads, and there remains 101 loads. 
 Reed. — And 6 acres of reed this year ; total, 6 acres. 
 Of this half an acre was sold to Nicholas White as appears 
 above, and in repairing the manorial houses and the mill at 
 Bledeney, 8 acres, and for sale below 2^ acres ; total equal to 
 above, and so it is settled. 
 
 Graserthe and Gutferme. — And from 18 arrurre, coming from 
 nine half-virgate holders, of whom each will plough once with 
 the lord for two days at the sowing time of wheat. From the 
 fardell holders there is nothing, because it comes below in the 
 rent; total, 18 arrurse. 
 
 From which in allowance of one half-virgate, as above, two 
 arrurse, and in ploughing the lord's land at wheat sowing time, 
 1 6 ; total as above. 
 
 Arrurce. — And from 225 arrurae, coming from nine half- 
 virgate holders, of whom each will plough with the lord once a 
 fortnight through the year, one plough more being deducted on 
 account of three weeks' festival, so from each of them twenty-five 
 arrurse, at the price of 2:^d. an arrura ; total, 225. 
 
 From which, in allowance of one half-virgate as above, 25 
 arrurse ; and for wheat sowing on the lord's land, 1 6 arrurse ; 
 and for oat sowing, 16 arrurae ; and in turning up the fallow 
 ground of the lord, and ploughing it the second time, 16 arrurre ; 
 and in carrying the lord's hay from the meadow, 16 arrurse ; and 
 for sale below, 136 ; total as above. 
 
 Manual Works. — And from 252 manual works coming from 
 nine half-virgate holders, of whom each will work once a week 
 
52 llisToiiY OF WookeV. 
 
 one work, and for the second week three works between the 
 feasts of St. John the Baptist and St. Michael, so from each 
 there will be 28 works ; and from 24 manual works arising from 
 12 cottage holdings, of whom each will sow grass seed in the 
 lord's meadow for two days ; and from 4 works coming from 
 one cottage holding, now in possession of John Gentylman ; from 
 24 fardell holdings there is nothing, as it is below in the cash 
 account ; total, 280 works. 
 
 From which, in allowance of one half-virgate holding, as 
 above, 28 works; and in mowing, scattering and carrying 14 
 acres of meadow, over and above six acres three perches in cash 
 account, four score works ; and in reaping, tying and collecting 
 29 acres of wheat, at two works an acre, 58 works, over and 
 above six acres below in cash account ; and for reaping the lord's 
 wheat, 16 works ; and for sale below, 96 works ; total as above.^ 
 
 Harroiving. — And from 18 works of harrowing, coming 
 from nine half virgate holders, of whom each will harrow for 
 two days for seed of wheat. From the fardell holders nothing, 
 because it is below in the cash account ; total, 18 works. 
 
 Of which, in allowance of one half-virgate as above, two 
 works ; and for sale below, 16 works ; total as above. 
 
 Woky. — The account of the reeve there, ending on the morrow 
 of St. Michael, the second year of Edward IV. 
 
 The above account gives us some information concerning the 
 customs of Wookey. When we compare the portion of the 
 account for the year 1329 with this of 1462, it appears that 
 the free tenants remain the same in number — i.e. seven. The 
 half-virgate holders seems to have been in a lower state of 
 villenage than the fardell holders, for while the former have to 
 perform their fixed number of arrurse and manual works, the 
 latter always compound for them by a fixed payment in money. 
 During the above period a change seems to have taken place, 
 for in the former account the customary tenants only perform 
 their ploughings, and pay a fixed sum in lieu of their manual 
 
 1 This is probably correct, and previous account wrong by two works 
 overcharged on John Ouutylman. 
 
The Manor anu the Manor House. 53 
 
 works ; while in the latter the fardell holders are all at gavel, 
 and the half-virgate holders are no better than the coterelli ; 
 being bound to perform both manual work and ploughing. The 
 nine half-virgate holders pay six shillings a year for their tene- 
 ments, and holding under grasererthe and gutferme tenure, they 
 have to plough for two days at wheat sowing. Also they have 
 to plough or do an equivalent in carting once a fortnight during 
 the year, one fortnight only being allowed for holiday time. 
 Also for the seven fortnights between June 24th and Sept. 29th, 
 they have to perform twenty-eight manual works, viz., one the 
 first week, and three the next. Finally they have to perform 
 two manual works each, of harrowing at seed time. The un- 
 certainty whether a villein would be called upon to perform his 
 allotted amount of ploughing or manual work, or would be 
 allowed to compound, would be a continual source of annoyance 
 and a constant reminder to them that they were villeins and not 
 free men. As the total number of arrurce and opera manualia of 
 the nine half-virgate holders is accurately reckoned up, it is 
 probable that they were all villeins, while those tenements that 
 were not all held by villeins would be probably among the fardell 
 holdings. The fardell holders pay a fixed sum as rent, and also 
 fixed money charges in lieu of ploughing, or any other service. 
 
 The coterelli, or cottagers, pay a fixed sum for rent, and do 
 two manual works each at fjrass sowinjjf time. 
 
 The Wookey Yirgate contained 60 acres, and the fardell 
 15 acres. 
 
 Graserthe and Gutferme Tenure was that which imposed upon 
 the holder certain ploughings on the lord's lands, as well as 
 a certain amount of ditching. The Wookey Overland seems to 
 have extended from Wester's Gate to Castle, then to Langstring, 
 and so back again by way of the top of Yarley. At any rate, 
 if the Overland was a definite portion of land. But I rather 
 think that under that head was included such villein holdings 
 as fell into the hands of the lord by way of escheat from time 
 to time. These might be anywhere in the parish, and would 
 after a time be regranted to other villeins. Part of the Overland 
 
54 History of Wookey, 
 
 seems once to have been at Knowle ; and this is probable, if the 
 Knowle estate fell into the hands of the bishop. 
 
 The demesne land, or home farm, as we would now call it, 
 seems to have been about 115 acres, i.e. much about its present 
 size. 
 
 There were three officers of importance in the manor. The 
 Decennarius, or tithing man, who appeared at the hallmotes at 
 the head of the homagers. The Prsepositus, or bailiff, who took 
 the place of the bishop in his absence, and the Messor who was 
 the harvestman who looked after the lord's harvest. There was 
 also a mill bailiff, or elected overseer, whose duty it was to watch 
 the mill both for the lord and his tenants, lest there should be 
 any cheating or carting of grain to other mills. 
 
 At the St. John the Baptist hallmote, held on June 25th, 
 4 Ed. IV., 1461, William Gierke, in the name of all the homage, 
 presents that John Barnard, junr., son of ... . Barnard, 
 a nativus of the lord by descent, is staying at Shyre, in the 
 county of Surrey, without permission, and his nearest of kin, 
 promises that he shall be present himself at the next hallmote. 
 Also that William, the son of John Hycks, a nativus of the lord 
 by descent, is staying at Mere with his mother without permis- 
 sion. A steer and two colts are reported by John Moleyns as 
 having been impounded for straying, and are now in the custody 
 of the bailiff. The Messor comes and presents 7d., coming to his 
 office from small attachments, as appears from his accounts.^ 
 
 Walter Pyers has, to the Feast of St. John the Baptist, to 
 repair his house well and sufficiently, under a penalty of 20s. 
 He is given another day, at the request of John Lyde, William 
 Gierke and Walter Stotte. 
 
 John Turner is placed " in misericordia " because he has not 
 repaired his ruinous tenement, and in the name of the homage 
 he is bidden to do so by next moot day, under a penalty of 40d. 
 
 A certain ditch is to be viewed at Bledeney, between the 
 tenements of Walter Pyers and Peter Brownying. Also at the 
 suggestion of the lord a view is taken of a certain ditch on the 
 
 ^ Lambeth MSS., 1098, a. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House, 55 
 
 south side of Fermeryham, which now lies suffocated, to peoples' 
 injury, because John Sawyer, junr., John Chapell, John Chuwe 
 and Robert Howlegge hold the scouring, as it is said, and enquiry 
 is to be made by the next hallmote whether the scouring of the 
 said ditch is for the advantage of the lord and his tenants or not. 
 
 The presenters of the homage and the nearest relations are 
 ordered to produce, by the next hallmote, Thomas, the son of 
 Nicholas Dekyn, a nativus domini, attached to his manor of 
 Woky, now staying at Hyghworth, near Faryngdon. 
 
 To this hallmote William Clerk, and Alice, his wife, comes 
 and returns into the hands of the lord one messuage and one 
 fardell of land of ancient auster, at Bledeney, for the use of 
 John Clerk, their son, and Edith, his wife ; and there is a 
 heriot fine, according to custom (13s. 4d). And on this 
 come the same John and Edith, and give to the lord for fine 
 13s. 4d., for the position of holding the said messuage and fardell 
 of land, to be held and had by them as ancient auster in 
 villenage, according to the customs of the manor, for the 
 customary rent and service thence first due. And so, then, 
 they have seisin, and do fealty to the lord. 
 
 In 1514 John Tupper is accused of excessive charges at the 
 Burcot mill. John Taylor is appointed decennarius of the Burcot 
 tithing, and admitted by William Taylor. At Yerdlegh, Nicholas 
 Browne, carpenter, and Richard Chur chouse are mentioned, and 
 at Woky Peter Nywman, carpenter ; and John Tupper is admitted 
 decennarius by Nicholas Boultyng. This reeve's account is much 
 faded, and hardly legible. ^ 
 
 At the St. John the Baptist hallmote, 31 Henry VIII., 
 Richard Wylcock, John Atwyll, William Burg and John Chyme 
 are mentioned, as also Knoll Bridge and Lake Mewth.^ 
 
 John Tailler, als Buxton, William Trym, Thomas Milward 
 are presented for the office of reeve, and John Tailler is admitted 
 to it ; also John Somerton, William Trym and John Wylcock for 
 the office of harvest overseer, or Messor, and William Trym is 
 admitted. 
 
 1 Lambeth MSS., 1190. - Ibid., 1191. 
 
o6 History of Wookey. 
 
 Edward Hypplsley and John Hort, in the name of the whole 
 homage of Burcot; come and declare that all is well there up to 
 that day. 
 
 This is the last hallmote account at Lambeth. The other 
 bundles of manuscripts contain hallmote accounts of bishops' 
 manors; but Woky is no longer among them, as it has passed into 
 the hands of the Dunche family. 
 
 We must distinguish between these minutes of hallmotes and 
 the reeve's accounts. The former would contain the notices of 
 the fines, and the authority for certain acts ; and the latter would 
 give us the total receipts from the tines, and the expenses incurred 
 in carrying out the repairs or improvements ordered, and also 
 the details of the revenues of the lord. 
 
 There are five valuations of the manor of Wookey previous to 
 the death of Henry VIII. On the first occasion it is reckoned 
 with Wells in Domesday, 1086, as worth £30 a year. Two 
 hundred years after, in 1291, we find, for the purposes of the 
 taxatio of Nicholas IV., the manor of Wookey alone assessed at 
 £25 Is. 3d. a year. Again, in 1426, during the reign of 
 Henry VI., when John Stafford was bishop, Wookey manor is 
 reckoned as worth £39 lis. 4d. a year. In Henry the Eighth's 
 time Wookey was twice appraised ; once when Hadrian de 
 Castello was bishop, i.e. 1504-1518, on which occasion it was 
 reckoned as worth £50 5s. 4d. yearly ; and on the second occasion 
 during the episcopacy of William Knight, when it was surveyed 
 for the purposes of the general spoliation of the Church, and the 
 account of which is preserved in the Valor Ecclesiasticus, 1541. 
 This last I give briefly in English. 
 
 In assised rents, as well of free tenants, as of customary dues 
 yearly, in addition to the fee of 18s. Ifd., due to 
 W. Churchouse, the bailiff, there is a clear rent of 
 £46 16s. 6d. 
 The perquisites of the Manor Court, and other casual pay- 
 ments, average about £1 3s. 4d. 
 And the average of fines on the leases of land, £1. 
 So that there is a clear income of £48 19s. lOd. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 57 
 
 At the time of the Valor Ecclesiasticus the manor was 
 leased out to Thomas Clerk, and the terms and cause of 
 the lease I have found recorded in the Chapter Records at 
 Wells. The deed is dated April 6th, 1544.1 Thomas Clerke, 
 of Wookey, armiger, had been granted by his brother, bishop 
 John Clerke, 1523-1541, a lease for sixty three years of three 
 closes of land under Wells Tor, and within the bishop's park, 
 and on condition that he gives up this lease, bishop Knight 
 grants him a lease of the manor of Wookey. The indenture 
 is made out in the names of Thomas Clerk, and Anthonia, his 
 wife, and the property is leased to them for their lives, and 
 one year afterwards, at a yearly rental of three shillings and 
 fourpence. The amount of the fine is not stated. The place is 
 described as consisting of the house, or mansion, with all the 
 houses, buildings, barns, stables, dovecots, sheds, gardens, orchards, 
 waters, pools, fish-ponds and pastures. The property was 
 bounded on the north side by the running water, i.e. the Axe, 
 that flows between the parish church of Wookey and the house, 
 or mansion, as far as Boltyng Bridge, and from there to the road 
 that joins the high road from Wedmore to Wells on the west, 
 and then on the south by the high road to Wells as far as the 
 great entrance gate, and so back to the river Axe. Thomas 
 Clerke is forbidden to take away lead from the roof of the hall, the 
 chapel, the large camera, and the other buildings, and he is not 
 allowed to cut down any of the large trees. In addition to this 
 he receives the lease of twelve acres of land on the meadow called 
 le Maris, below the said manor, which was lately in the tenure 
 of Walter Serger and William Chappell is the bishop's attorney 
 to give seisin. Should Thomas Clerke require any stones for the 
 necessary repair of the buildings, they will be provided from the 
 bishop's quarry, in the park at Westbury. 
 
 This brings us down to the time when Wookey ceased to 
 belong to the bishops of Bath and Wells ; but to make the account 
 more perfect, there yet remains the few references I have been 
 able to find concerning the mills within the parish, and the 
 occasional notices in the bishop's registers of events that occurred 
 
 ^ Ledger D. 
 
58 History of Wookey. 
 
 in the Manor-house itself. The one mill that, without any doubt 
 belonged to the manor, was that at Bleadney. At the time of 
 the Domesday Survey, four mills are recorded as in the possession 
 of the bishop, within the territory of Wells. Of these, two 
 certainly were in the parish of Wells, the Outmills and the In- 
 mills ; probably one was at Wookey-hole. But it is impossible to 
 say whether the mill at Burcot,^ or the mill at Bleadney, was 
 included, because we have no evidence as to the time when the 
 mill stream from Henley to Bleadney was made. The mills, how- 
 ever, are divided into corn mills and cloth mills. It will have 
 been noticed above, that during the vacancy after the death of 
 Drokensford, 1329, the bailif returns rents from the water-mill 
 at Bledeneye, and a corn mill and a fulling mill, both at 
 Lichlegh. 
 
 On February 4th, 1352, as has been mentioned before, 
 bishop Ralph grants to Else de Corscomb, and Margera, 
 his wife, and their lawful heirs, all the mill, with its water- 
 course in the manor of Wookey, at a yearly payment of fifteen 
 shillings. This is probably the mill at Bleadney or Lichlegh. 
 After this comes two references to mills at Wookey-hole, which 
 were within the parish, but not exactly parcel of the manor. 
 In 1425, Thomas and Anderna Wayfere lease to Roger and 
 Joanna Wye a fulling mill at Wookey-hole for forty-seven 
 years, and five years afterwards Thomas Wayfere leases to 
 Walter Dylverton a fulling mill at Wookey-hole, which capit a 
 ponte ex opposite cotagii Roberti Delymakere usque ad Woky- 
 hole. 
 
 On August 24th, 1536,^ bishop Gierke leases to William Bell, 
 
 and Anna, his wife, and James, their son, all the water-mill at 
 
 Bleadney, and one close of meadow in Goscland, in the pool below 
 
 the manor of Westbury from the Overland,^ paying yearly to the 
 
 bishop and his successors thirteen shillings and fourpence, and 
 
 when any stones for repairs, or fresh mill-stones were required, 
 
 the bishop would find them. 
 
 ^ We must bear in mind that the tithing of Burcot was included in the 
 jnanor of Wookey, though it is not in the parish of Wookey. 
 - Probably the Overland of the manor of Westbury. 
 3 Chap. Doc, Ledger D, 
 
 i 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. *59 
 
 There is one more reference to the mills during the lifetime 
 of Thomas Gierke. It is not quite intelligible, because it was at 
 a time when the manor had ceased to belong to the bishops ; but 
 as it occurs in the bailif s account of the bishop's temporalities at 
 the time of bishop Barlow's flight, and before bishop Bourne's 
 arrival, and during the reign of Philip and Mary, it may point 
 to an intended restoration, which the brevity of Queen Mary's 
 reign frustrated. Walter Paynter,^ of Burcot, pays seven shillings 
 rent for a water-mill and a cloth-mill, and Thomas Gierke pays 
 forty shillings for one water-mill in Burcot, and forty shillings 
 for another water-mill in Wyke, i.e. Wookey-hole, and twenty- 
 four pounds for the farming of the four mills, called the Out-mills 
 and the In-mills. 
 
 Now as places are interesting by reason of the events that 
 took place within them, the history of the Manor-house would 
 not be complete without a reference to some of those events 
 which are recorded as having occurred there. Of course what- 
 ever happened there had reference to the bishop and the diocese. 
 The Manor-houses in Somerset were distinctly private residences 
 of the bishops up to the time of bishop Bekynton. They were 
 houses where the bishops retired for rest and quietness, and they 
 continued as such until the latter half of the fifteenth century. 
 And as long as we find the bishops acting as bishops within the 
 diocese, so long do we find them in personal occupation of their 
 Manor-houses. But when they began to make use of Gommissary 
 Generals and Bishops in partibus for the performance of the 
 necessary episcopal duties in the diocese, then they began to lease 
 out their Manor-houses, and confine their residence to Wells, or 
 Bath, or London. When the Manor-house at Wookey was last 
 inhabited by a bishop, I cannot say, but I do not think that 
 it was often visited by its owners after the death of Bekyngton. 
 
 In the fourteenth century it was often visited by bishop 
 Drokensford and bishop Ralph. Here, on June 6th, 1324, 
 Drokensford issues his commission to the vicars of Doulting and 
 Pilton to proceed against the " sons of iniquity," who had pulled 
 down the embankments at Gastle. Out to the Manor-house at 
 
 1 Bishops' Temp. 2 P.M. 47a. Record Office. 
 
60 History of Wookey. 
 
 Wookey, the clean of Wells^ (Walter de London) has to come in 
 1339, to present to bishop Ralph as he sits in his camera, the 
 new statutes of the cathedral, that they may be confirmed ; and 
 again on May 31st, of this same year, about vesper time, come 
 Richard de Tychemersh and Philip de Bristol, vicars in the 
 Cathedral of Wells, and acting as Commissaries of the Dean and 
 Chapter, and present to the bishop a loaf of bread, a pig, and one 
 skin full of wine, being half of the annual rent due from the 
 Abbot and monastery of Glastonbury to the bishop, and the 
 bishop at once orders them to be distributed to the poor. 
 
 Bishop Bubwith, 1407-1424, seems to have been especially 
 fond of Wookey, and when in the neighbourhood appears to have 
 spent more time here than at the palace at Wells. Here, on 
 September 6th, 1412, he ordains Hugo Ford and John Croft, and 
 on September 9th of the same year he grants an indulgence of 
 forty days to all the parishioners and others who, having con- 
 fessed and received absolution, shall also contribute to the repair 
 of the causeway from Bleadeney to Parnborough. One would 
 judge that Bubwith had taken to heart the bad roads of Somerset 
 in his time, for by his will he left a thousand marks for the 
 " reparacion and amendment of unsafe and miry ways within the 
 "County of Somerset." Living much at Wookey, he would 
 naturally know the state of the parish church, and to him I think 
 we may fairly ascribe the building of the aisles and tower. 
 Certainly the ruinous state of the chancel attracted his notice, 
 for on July 5th, 1423, he issued his commission for the repair 
 of the chancel, and sequestrates Mr. Sub-dean Mockyng's revenues 
 to pay for the restoration of that which he had allowed to get 
 into such a dilapidated state. And here, on October 27th, 1424, 
 the good old bishop died. 
 
 In the published correspondence of bishop Bekynton, three 
 of his letters are dated from Wookey, on August 30th, 1445, 
 September 21st, 1452, and April 18th, 1447. On August 23rd, 
 1446, a remarkable scene took place in the chapel of the Manor- 
 house. John Forest, dean of Wells, was just dead, and there 
 had been some attempt to foist upon the chapter a stranger. 
 
 1 c.f. Reynold's History of Wells Cathedral. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 61 
 
 Jolm de la Bere liad bribed pope Eugenius IV., and had come 
 down with the pope's nomination in his pocket, and probably with 
 a letter of recommendation from the king. But the clergy of 
 the cathedral hold out for their rights, and appear at Wookey 
 l^efore bishop Bekynton, as he sits on his tribunal seat in the 
 chapel, for the purpose of proving to him that a valid election 
 had taken place. The circumstance is of sufficient interest to be 
 recorded at greater length, and it becomes specially noteAvorthy 
 when we remember that the chapter were working in the teeth 
 of a papal recommendation. Dean Forest died on March 25th, 
 1446,1 ai^d Qn Sunday, April 8th, John Raynold, the sub-dean, 
 and John Bernard, the succentor, call a meeting of the resident 
 prebendaries in the Chapter-house, and declare that on the Sunday 
 after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a chapter will 
 be held for the election of a dean, and that all prebendaries and 
 persons interested are to appear and take part in the election, or 
 to abide by the decision of those present. On August 22nd, 
 being the day mentioned, the mass of the Holy Ghost is sung in 
 the Chapel of the Virgin Mary in the cloister of the cathedral, 
 and the Veni Creator is repeated, and then a procession is made 
 to the Chapter-house, the bells being rung in honour of the event. 
 There are John Raynold, the sub-dean, William Stevens, the 
 precentor, Thomas Bubbwith, the archdeacon of Wells, J. Storth- 
 wart, the chancellor, John Bernard, the succentor, Richard 
 Hoore, the provost, and many of the prebendaries. Those who 
 cannot come take care to send their proxies. William Langton, 
 Thomas Been, John Tregodek and Benedict ap Howell, notaries 
 public are present to ensure the performance of all formalities, 
 and to describe the proceedings accurately. John Pedewell, 
 John Bekyngton, Robert Caton and Thomas Chrewe, perpetual 
 vicars, are present as witnesses. At the north and south doors 
 of the cathedral, and at the entrance of the Chapter-house the 
 names of the absentees are read over, and they are summoned to 
 appear. Then they proceed, and elect as dean Nicholas Carent, 
 a licentiate in laws, being a prebendary and canon of the 
 cathedral. 
 
 1 Bckyuton's Regiater, f. 20S. ' 
 
62 History of Wookey. 
 
 On the next day, i.e. August 23rd, the events of the previous 
 day are recorded to bishop Bekyngton by Richard Cordon, doctor 
 of laws, and with him apparently are the sub-dean and the 
 succentor. Bekyngton is in his chapel at Wookey, and together 
 with the three ambassadors of the chapter come seven witnesses 
 as to the fitness and the good life of the dean elect, Nicholas 
 Carent. They prove to the bishop's satisfaction that he is of an 
 honest life, and in priest's orders. The witnesses are Alexander 
 Hody, armiger, John Godewyn, gentleman, and Thomas Lyte, 
 gentleman, of Lytescary, John Pedewell and John Bekyngton, 
 priest vicars, and Thomas Chrewe and John Haydon. Soon after- 
 wards Nicholas Carent comes and makes his profession of 
 obedience, and on the 27th Bekyngton issues from Wookey 
 letters to the sub-dean and the precentor to install the new 
 dean. 
 
 Now this election would be a very ordinary affair but for the 
 notes of Gascoigne^ on the action of John de la Bere. De la Bere 
 was Lord High Almoner to Henry YL, and had given fourteen 
 hundred marks as a bribe to pope Eugenius IV., that he might 
 be made dean of an English cathedral without consulting the 
 wishes of the chapter. On the death of Dean Forest he had 
 obtained letters from Henry YI. to the chapter of Wells to instal 
 him as dean by virtue of his papal provision. The chapter man- 
 fully resisted him, and refused him admission into the cathedral, 
 and brought down excommunication upon them. This, however, 
 was soon taken away, when Henry gave de la Bere the vacant 
 see of St. David's. He was clearly unfit for the post, both on 
 account of his age and his attainments, for on this account, after 
 he had been made a bishop, he is excused from attending 
 parliament. 
 
 We must now return to the history of the manor, and we 
 arrive at a difficult time, between the time when the bishops were 
 undoubtedly in possession of the manor, and those days when the 
 family of the Dunches possessed it. On October 10th, 1548,^ 
 bishop Barlow receives from the Crown, probably on account of 
 a previous cession of the episcopal manor of Chard, the manor of 
 
 1 Loci e L.V. p. 25. '- Pat. Roll. 2 Ed. VI., pt. 7. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 63 
 
 Wookey for himself and his heirs, and with a license to sell. On 
 February 4th, 1549, Barlow makes Edward, Duke of Somerset, 
 a gift of this manor of Wookey. In 1552, after the attainder 
 and execution of Somerset, it would seem as if Barlow had got 
 back the Deanery-house and the manor of Wookey, and then 
 exchanged them for the palace at Wells, and the manor and 
 hundred of Wells with Edward YI. But as Wookey is not 
 mentioned, there is no evidence to prove that it ever got back 
 into the bishop's hands, except that in the Chapter Records 
 (ledger E. 67) there is a certain barganizatio et venditio of 
 Wookey, to Ed. VI., in Eeb. 1552, and in 1553 the manor 
 of Wookey is sold by the Crown to William Dunche, gentle- 
 man, of London. As the particulars of the valuation are given 
 in the deed of sale, it is worth while to record them. There 
 are two accounts, the one being rather descriptive of the property 
 and in English, and the other a summary of the rents. 
 
 Parcella terrarura^ possessionum Edwardi nuper Ducis Somer- 
 setse de fellonia attincti ac quondam Episcopi Bathonise et 
 Wellensis. 
 
 Manerium de Woky. 
 
 Valet in Redditibus assissis tam liberorum quam custumario- 
 rum tenementorum ibidem per annum solvendis ad festos 
 ibidem usuales; £23 lis. 4d. 
 Firmis terrarum dominicalium ibidem cum capital i domo 
 
 manerii per annum, £16 9s. Id. 
 Firmis molendinorum ibidem cum xxi*^ de firma piscarii aquae 
 
 de Marsesheye per annum, £5 14s. 4d. 
 Exitus manerii ibidem per annum, £1 lis. 7d. 
 Yenditio arundinum ibidem per annum, 7s. 6d. 
 Venditio bladi videlicet vii mod : frumenti pro 15'^ le mod : 
 
 hoc anno, 8s. 9d. 
 Perquisitse curiae ibidem communibus annis, £1 6s. 8d. ; 
 
 total, £49 9s. 3d. 
 Then on the back of this sheet is an account which has been 
 carefully corrected by Henry Lake, auditor, who examined it on 
 January 27th, 1553.^ He allows a yearly payment made to the 
 1 Particulars of Grants, 7 Ed. VI. - ie. 1552. 
 
64 History of Wookey. 
 
 rector and the church of Wookey for the pasturage of one bull 
 and eight oxen, as it was an ancient custom, but he objected to an 
 annuity to Thomas Clerk of 13s. 4d., which had been granted to 
 him and his wife for their lifetime by letters patent of the late 
 bishop of Bath and Wells, and he disallows certain wages or 
 allowances made to the bailiff, viz., 8s., and the messor, viz., 8s., 
 and he states that there remains a yearly rental of £47 9s. lOd. 
 But this seems again to have been corrected, and valued at 
 £48 lis. 2d., by allowing Clerk's annuity, and 8s. to the bailif, 
 ultimo die Januarii Anno, VII. Eegis Edwardi pro Willelmo 
 Dunche. This is the end of the original Latin account, and 
 probably it is the account which was made either at the time 
 that Barlow handed over the manor to Somerset, or by some 
 clerk or official of the court after Somerset's attainder, 
 and when an inventory was taken of the traitor's possessions. 
 When W. Dunche applied for the property in 1553, it would 
 appear that the old valuation was used the second or third time, 
 with some further notes and corrections in English. The last 
 note on the first runs thus — 
 
 The clear yearly value of the said manor is <£48 lis. 2d., 
 
 Which reckoned at twenty-six years' purchase is £1,262 13s. 4d. 
 To be paid within twenty days. 
 
 To this is attached two other pieces of parchment, on the first 
 of which is the following : — " This bill made the first day of 
 March in the seventh year of the reign of our sovereign Lord 
 Edward VI. by the grace of God, king of England, France and 
 Ireland, defender of the faith and of the Church of England and 
 Ireland in earth the Supreme Head, witnesseth that we William 
 Dunche, esquire, and Mary Dunche do require to purchase of 
 the King's Majesty by virtue of His Grace's commission for the 
 sale of lands the Manor, messuage, lands, tenements, rents, and 
 hereditaments, contained and specified in the particulars and 
 rates hereunto annexed being of such clear value as in the same 
 particulars and rates is mentioned. In witness whereof to this 
 bill we have put our seals and subscribed our names the day and 
 the year aforesaid. 
 
 " Per mo William Dunche." 
 
The Maxor and the Maxok HorsE. 65 
 
 Then again, on another sheet, is the following : — " The Manor 
 of Wookey, in the County of Somerset, parcel of the possessions 
 of the Bishop of Wells." 
 
 Hembery Wood containeth 28 acres, whereof 16 acres being 
 well set with underwood of five years' growth, valued at 9s. 6d. 
 an acre, 9 acres being thin set with underwood of like age, 
 valued at 5s. the acre, and three acres, the residue being for the 
 most part spoiled, valued at 3s. the acre, which, at the several 
 rates aforesaid, amounteth to the sum of <£10 6s. The soil of the 
 said 28 acres, valued yearly at 6d. an acre, cometh to the sum of 
 14s., which, at 20 years' purchase, amounteth to the sum of £14. 
 In the hedgerows and in the closes of the tenements belonging 
 to the said manor, be growing elms for the most part 
 shredde, which suffice for hedge-bote, plough-bote, fire-bote and 
 house-bote for the Manor-place and 62 tenements there, and 
 valued at 12s. the year, and at 6d. the year, and 300 residences 
 at 4d. the year,^ which, at the several rates aforesaid, amounteth 
 to the sum of £7 10s ; the total, £34 10s. 8d. 
 
 The king to discharge the purchaser of all incumbrances, 
 excepting the leases and the covenants of the same, and also the 
 repairs above remembered. 
 
 The purchaser to have the issues from the feast of St Michael, 
 the Archangel. 
 
 The purchaser to be bound for the value of the woods. 
 
 E-OBKRT Bowis, Walter Mildmaye, 
 
 TiiOM. NoRwicEN,^ John Gosnold. 
 
 It is impossible to describe all the corrections in these 
 documents, or to understand the arithmetic. In the Patent Rolls 
 7 Ed. VI., pt. 4, is the conveyance of Wookey to William 
 Dunche, and the sum mentioned there is £1,330 3s. lid. One 
 of the leases to which William Dunche would be bound was that 
 of the Manor-house itself, which was then in the occupation of 
 Thomas Gierke. Thomas Gierke died two years afterwards, on 
 March 2nd, 1555, and whether his wife availed herself of the 
 
 1 I do not quite understand this description. 
 
 - These were the Commissioners for Survey of King's Courts, and 
 payments of rents and revenues. 
 
66 History of Wookey. 
 
 terms of the lease which bishop Kiiight granted, I cannot tell ; 
 but there is no evidence of her burial here, and therefore I am 
 inclined to suppose that she gave up the house and went to live 
 elsewhere. There is some uncertainty as to the possession of 
 the manor in the next reign, for in the Bishop's Temporalities 
 Papers, 2 Philip and Mary, there occurs the following : — " Exitus 
 Manerii. Et de iii<^ de toto homagio de Wyke pro redditu vocato 
 le Wynearde Sylver soluto ad terminum Hock et xxii^ et obolo 
 de toto homagio de Wokey pro quodam redditu vocato le Wyn- 
 earde Sylver soluto ad terminum Hock non reddit hie eo quod 
 oneratur in compotu praepositi de Wokey sicut continetur 
 ibidem." 
 
 Now this yearly fee for vineyards, payable on the second 
 Tuesday after Easter Week, would naturally be paid to the lord of 
 the manor, and as far as Wookey was concerned, and not Wookey- 
 hole, this lordship was, at the time of Philip and Mary, in the pos- 
 session of William Dunche. But if this was the case, I cannot 
 explain this extract from the accounts of the bishop's Temporalities. 
 I have only one supposition to make, and no evidence with which 
 to support it. Dunche was a very strong Protestant, and in the 
 next reign was an active agent of Cecil's. It is just possible 
 that he was not seized of the manor before Edward died, and had 
 therefore to wait until the end of Queen Mary's reign ; and 
 in the meanwhile bishop Bourne so far made good his claim as 
 to make it possible for such an account to be reckoned in the 
 payments due to the bishop of the see. At any rate, whatever 
 may have been the fate of the manor in Queen Mary's reign, it 
 was certainly sold to William Dunche, of London, by Edward VI., 
 and is found in his possession in the second year of Queen 
 Elizabeth. On May 12th, 1552, W. Dunche obtains an annuity 
 for life of £100 from Edward VI. In the same year he obtained 
 a grant of the manor of Lytle Wytnam,^ in Berkshire, which had 
 been parcel of the Monastery of Abingdon. During the reigns 
 of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. he was auditor of the Mint, and 
 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth he was for some time M.P. for 
 Wallingford. He died in 1597, and on February 22nd, 1597-8, 
 
 1 Little Witteuham. 
 
The Manor and the Manor Hofse. 67 
 
 Edmund Dunclie obtains licence to enter upon the manor of 
 Wookey. William Dunche had two sons, Edmund and Walter. The 
 latter was a counsellor of Gray's Inn, and an M.P. for Dunwich, 
 temp. Eliz. He died in 1594, leaving a second son William to 
 succeed to him, or rather it would appear that the son William was 
 born in the year of his father's death. We have now to gather 
 together the threads of our evidence. On July 16th, 27 Eliz., 
 Walter Dunche is granted a lease for twenty-one years of the 
 manor of Avebury. In a title deed, 1614, of the church lands 
 of Wookey, Edmund Dunche is spoken of as Firmarius of the 
 manor of Wookey during the infancy of William Dunche, of 
 Avebury. In 1622 there is another deed which speaks of 
 William Dunche as Dominus Manerii de Wokey. It seems clear, 
 then, that William Dunche, the elder, left the manor of Little 
 Wittenham to his eldest son Edmund, and the manor of Wookey 
 to his second son Walter. But as Walter had died three years 
 before his father, Edmund Dunche, the elder, acts as guardian for 
 his nephew William, the only surviving son of Walter. This 
 William would be under age in 1614, but would be over it in 
 1622. It was during this period, and in the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth, that the Manor-house lost mucli of its former beauty. 
 The chapel which Jocelyn had built was standing when Thomas 
 Gierke took the lease, and we may be quite sure that it existed 
 and was probably used by him to the time of his death in 1555. 
 Who the next tenant was I am not quite sure. But I think 
 Mr. David Trym was the tenant in the early part of the 17th 
 century. He died in 1663 at the advanced age of eighty -eight. 
 His son Valentine, who was baptised at Wookey in 1613, is 
 spoken of as belonging to Wells, and died two years before his 
 father. Valentine held a lease for 99 years of the Manor-house 
 of Evercreech. We now come to the second sale of Wookey 
 manor. On September 1st, 1626, William Dunche obtains a 
 licence to alienate the manor of Wokey and all its appurtenances 
 within the county of Somerset to Samuel Kolle. The licence 
 was as follows : — 
 
 " Rex, quibus ad quos, tfec, salutem. Sciatis quod nos de 
 gratia nostra speciali ac pro duodecim libris solutis virtute 
 f2 
 
68 History of Wookfa'. 
 
 literarum patentium concessimus et licenciam dedimus ac pro 
 nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris quantum in nobis est 
 per presentes concedimus et licenciam damus dilectis nobis 
 Willelmo Dunch Armigero et Margaretsei uxori ejus quod ipsi 
 manerium de Woky alias Wookey cum pertinenciis ac decern 
 messuagia, decem cotagia, duo molendinas, unum columbarium, 
 viginti gardina, viginti pomaria, centum et viginti acras terrae, 
 quadringenti acras prati, centum et viginti acras pastures et bruere, 
 quingenti acras morse decem et novem solidos decem denarios 
 reddentes, libertatem piscaturse et liberam warennam cum per- 
 tinenciis in Woky, Wookey-hole, alias Wookey-hole, Godney, 
 Worth, Henton, Castle, Yardley, Ripple alias Ripley, et Blead- 
 ney, in comitatu nostro Somersetae, quae de nobis tenementa in 
 capite ut dicitur dare possint et concedere et alienare aut cog- 
 noscere per finem vel per recuperationem in curia nostra coram 
 justiciariis nostris de Banco aut aliquo alio modo quocumque ad 
 libitum ipsorum Willelmi et Margaretae dilecto et fideli nostro 
 Samueli Rolle militi et dilectis nobis Hugoni Fortescue armigero 
 Henrico Rolle armigero et Johanni Rolle generoso Habendum et 
 tenendum eisdem Samueli Rolle Hugoni Fortescue, Henrico et 
 Johanni ac heredibus et assignatis suis ad opus et usum ipsorum 
 Samuelis et Hugonis, Henrici et Johannis ac heredum et assig- 
 natorum suorum in perpetuum. In cujus rei testimonio, &c., 
 apud Westmonasterium. Sept. 1." 
 
 This shews us that the lands of the manor were reckoned at 
 least as at twelve hundred acres, and it is evident that the 
 common fields had by this time been enclosed and allotted. The 
 underwood probably refers to the plantations north of Marley- 
 mede, as Hembury wood had been cut down a few years 
 previously. The manor remained in possession of the RoUes 
 from 1626 to 1769, and as far as I can gather was held by 
 trustees for five members of that family, viz., Samuel Rolle, 
 1626 ; Sir Francis Rolle, of Shapwick, 1678 ; Samuel Rolle, of 
 Shapwick, circa, 1710 ; John Rolle, son of Samuel Rolle, 1733- 
 1750; and Denys Rolle, of Shapwicke, until his death in 1768, 
 when the manor was sold in plots to many of the former lease- 
 
 1 This Margaret was the daughter of Sir John Cooper, of Rockborne. 
 
The Manor and the Manor House. 69 
 
 holders. John Rolle seems to have changed his name from Rolle 
 to "Walter, and I am not sure of the relationship between him and 
 the last lord of the manor, Mr. Denys Rolle. During the time 
 that the manor was intact and in lay hands, there were the 
 following tenants at the Manor-house : — Mr. Thomas Gierke, 
 from 1544 to 1555. During the first half of the 17th century 
 Mr. David Trym lived there, and died there in 1663. Then 
 Mr. Thomas Muttelbury held it until 1711, and after him his 
 son, John Muttelbury, until his death in 1715; and his widow 
 remained here two years afterwards. After that a Mr. T. Strode 
 inhabited it until 1756, and then William Peirce^ till his death 
 in 1765 ; and he left it to his sister. Lady Montague Bertie, who 
 died here in 1781. The remainder of the lease was sold by 
 Augusta, Lady Burghersh, to Clement Tudway, and his first 
 tenant was probably Mr. John Meaden, who lived here in 1785, 
 Thomas and Ann Tucker lived here from 1792 to 1836, and 
 Mr. Matthew Teck from 1816 to 1820. 
 
 In 1769, William Wellington, of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, 
 and John Chubb, of Bicton, in the County of Devon, clerk, 
 trustees under an Act of Parliament of the late Denys Rolle, 
 renew the leases of most of the tenants on the estate, and in 
 the same year offer the whole manor for sale in separate portions. 
 There were one hundred and eighteen lots, amounting to thirteen 
 hundred and twenty-three acres, on which were sixty-one houses 
 or cottages, and on which seven freeholders held quit rents. The 
 estimated yearly value is reckoned at £947 5s. 6d. The actual 
 rental received by the lord of the manor was .£57 6s. Irld., and 
 two hundred and thirty-five eggs, one penny more in lieu of eggs, 
 and one yearly goose. This, of course, does not include occasional 
 fines on the renewal of leases and heriot fines on the death of 
 one of the lives. All the land is leased out on three lives, except 
 the acre called the Reeve of Wookey, which is naturally in hand, 
 and a piece of waste ground which had been lately enclosed, and 
 was let at a fixed yearly rental. The heriot was generally the 
 best beast, sometimes the best piece of household goods, and 
 
 1 i.e. William Ekius Peirs, aa he was generally called. 
 
70 History of Wookey. 
 
 occasionally a money payment. It would be interesting to know 
 the names of those copyhold tenants who then bought the free- 
 hold of their farms. The following families, I think, certainly 
 bought their holdings then, viz., the Averys, Bands, Barnards, 
 Buttons, Churchouses, Clarkes, Cooks, Elvards, Denbes, Hills, 
 Laxes, Lydes, Pitneys, Salmons, Sheppards, Stottes and Weares, 
 and Mr. Clement Tudway bought the Manor-house and home 
 farm. But with the disappearance of the Manor courts the 
 interest of the manor dissolves into an interest in the general 
 history of the parish. 
 
 Some day, perhaps, I may be able to add to the above 
 account some more information concerning the manor ; but that 
 will depend very much on those in the parish, who possess old 
 leases and title deeds, and have not as yet allowed me the 
 privilege of looking over them. 
 
 The following additional notes on some of the mediiieval words 
 in this chapter may be useful : — 
 
 Cadavatores were villeins appointed to look after the moors and waste 
 lands, and see that none of the lord's cattle turned out there came to any 
 harm through the neglect of any of the tenants of the Manor. 
 
 Capitage. — As the holdings on a manor could not be increased in 
 number, naturally there grew up a number of villeins, whose labour the 
 lord did not want ; and towards the end of the fifteenth century these men 
 became a source of trouble to the lord and to the government. Where 
 possible the lord let these superfluous hands out to any employer who 
 guaranteed to produce them when called upon. 
 
 Circset, or church set, was a certain measure of wheat which every man 
 gave on St. Martin's day to holy church. Afterwards it was compounded 
 for, and a money payment was made. 
 
 Hallwote was the moot or meeting of the villeins of the Manor in the 
 Manor-hall, under the presidency of the lord, or his deputy the steward. 
 
 Hedge-hote and house-hote denote the right of the tenant to use timber 
 growing on the farm for the repair of the fences and the farm buildings. 
 
The Church. 71 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 I HAVE not yet found any definite information concerning the 
 building of the Church. No mention is made of its erection in 
 Drokensford's Register, and when the first institution of a vicar 
 occurs there, it seems clear that the church and the vicarage 
 had existed for some time. We must look then to the twelfth 
 or thirteenth century for its erection, and in all probability a 
 church was first built here during the' episcopacy of Bishop 
 Robert, 1136-1166. He was the first to give separate estates 
 to certain dignitaries of the cathedral, and having founded the 
 Deanery, endowed it with the Church of Wookey. In the Liber 
 Ruber of the cathedral we read how " Robertus episcopus 
 ecclesiam de Woky decano dedit.''^ Certainly there was a church 
 here in Joscelin's time, for he effects an exchange between the 
 dean and the subdean, making the subdean rector of Wookey, 
 and charging the rectory with the payment of a vicar in Wells 
 Cathedral. This exchange took place between 1209 and 1213, 
 though some such plan had already been decided upon in 
 Savaric's time, 1192-1205. Now in examining the present 
 building it is evident that the oldest portions are the eastern 
 window of the chancel, with the east and north chancel walls 
 and the font. None of these portions present any marked 
 features of a style, but certainly they are later than the twelfth 
 century, and seem to speak of a late thirteenth century architect, 
 influenced by the tastes which afterwards developed the Geo- 
 metrical or Decorated style. The east window is a triple lancet, 
 with faint attempts at tracery in the head, either plain crockets 
 or cusps. Now as this window is not unlike, as far as it goes, 
 the west window of Burnell's Chapel in the Palace at Wells, it is 
 possible that it was erected about the same time, and if so, then 
 it dates between 1275-1292. During the next hundred and fifty 
 1 L. R.,f. 13. 
 
72 History of Wookey. 
 
 years the rest of the church was built, except the south-east 
 chapel ; but there is no trace of the former nave, or any evidence 
 as to the size of the first church ; and so honeycombed is the 
 nave with vaults that I fear no trace ever will be discovered. 
 There is nothing remarkable about the present building. The 
 pitch of the roof is low, and both aisles and the nave arfi under 
 one wide roof. The capitals of the pillars on the south are a 
 little earlier than those on the north, and at the east end of 
 both aisles were altars, and through the corners of the chancel 
 walls are two long squints. At the side of the north squint 
 is the staircase to the rood loft, and as on the south the eastern 
 wall has been taken down to give access to the south-east chapel, 
 the squint gives the appearance of great weakness to the southern 
 arm of the chancel arch. But this is only in appearance, because 
 the thrust of the central arch has been provided for by an arch 
 and external buttress on the south-east of the aisle. The chancel 
 was thoroughly repaired in 1423 by bishop Bubwith, and in all 
 probability the flat-headed window in the south of it was 
 inserted at this time, as well as the small door on the south. 
 In 1437 an interesting event occurred concerning the festival 
 of the dedication of the Church. It appears that it was dedi- 
 cated on the octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, i.e. 
 September 16th, but as this was an inconvenient time of the 
 year, being harvest time, the Dedication Festival was changed by 
 permission of bishop Stafford, and at the request of the rector, 
 vicar and parishioners, to the Sunday next after St. Jerome's 
 day, i,e. September 30th. ^ ^ 
 
 The south-eastern chapel is usually supposed to have been 
 built as a mortuary chapel for the remains of Thomas Clarke, 
 who died at the Manor-house in 1555. He left 6s. 8d. for the 
 Church, and desired that he should be buried in it. As the date 
 
 1 Harl. MSS. 6966. Sept. 11, 1439. Festuni dedicationis ecclesiie de 
 Woky in honorem sancti Matthaei ad petitionem rectoris, vicarii et 
 parochianorum ejusdem mutatur ab octavo Nativitatis Marian, quod fuit 
 tempiis messis, ad dominicam diem proximam post festum sancti Hieronymi 
 et XI dierunv indulgentia concessa est qui in ilia ecclesia vel cimiterio 
 Orationem Dominicam cum Salutatione Angelica dixerit mente pia, 
 
 2 c.f. Stafford's Register, f. clix. G 
 
The Church. 73 
 
 of his death is on his monument within this chapel, and a blank 
 is left for that of his wife Anthony, she may have built it during 
 her life time, putting her name on the stone, and leaving a blank 
 space for the date of her death. There is no evidence however 
 that she was buried here, and I think her original intention was 
 never carried out. 
 
 The Church then consists of a nave of three bays, and a chancel, 
 north and south aisles, a south porch, a south-east chapel, extend- 
 ing as far east as the wall of the chancel, a lean-to vestry on the 
 north chancel wall, and a small tow^er containing five bells. On 
 the north-east of the tower there is a spiral staircase running 
 up into a pinnacle at the top, about sixteen feet above the 
 roof of the tower. The dimensions are as follows : — Chancel, 
 23ft. 6in. X 14ft. 4in. ; nave 40ft. Gin. x 18ft. 9in. ; aisles, 
 9ft, 2in. X 9ft. 8in., and same length as the nave ; tower, 14ft. 
 square and 63ft. high in three stages ; south chapel, 23ft. 6in. 
 by 14ft. 2in. 
 
 In 1635 was issued, through the influence of Archbishop 
 Laud, the order for the removal of the Communion Table to the 
 eastern wall of the chancel, and for railings to be placed before 
 it as a protection against profanation.^ Bishop Pierce was 
 especially careful to carry out this order as far as this diocese 
 was concerned, and the parish seems to have then procured a 
 new altar, and to have fenced it round with rails. The altar, 
 which is still in use, and the rails which are now used as a 
 low screen before the south chape], belong to this date, and the 
 date 1635 is carved in four places on the rails. During the 
 eighteenth century numerous repairs went on in the way of 
 painting and adapting the old benches to the pew system, and 
 the churchwarden's accounts are full of items concerning such 
 charges. 
 
 In 1711 Mr. Fry is paid five guineas for painting, in the 
 Church, the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's 
 Prayer. 
 
 In 1721 Robert Broadbeard is paid one shilling for a book 
 concerning the plague. 
 
 1 Gardiner's England, vol. 8, p. 114. 
 
74 History of Wookey. 
 
 In -1728 the weathercock, which had only been put up in 
 1705, has to be taken down and repaired. 
 
 In 1744 the nave was reseated in elm by Mr. Parfitt, of 
 Wells, the seats in the north and south aisles being repaired with 
 the old material from the nave, at a total cost of £60. 
 
 In 1748 the Tenor Bell was recast by Mr. Bilbee, and the 
 five bells were rehung by Bush, of Chewstoke. 
 
 In 1783 the churchwardens let to Mr. Savidge one of the 
 new pews in the north aisle, next to Mr. Mackinnon's, at a 
 rental of five shillings a year. 
 
 In 1795 the parish, at a vestry held January 27th, agreed to 
 the proposal of Mr. Michell, of Burcott, to build a gallery in a 
 place then decided upon, the stairs going up into the singing 
 gallery to be turned into the belfry for this purpose. 
 
 Numerous small repairs are from time to time recorded, and 
 during the reign of Queen Anne it would appear from the large 
 amount of lead purchased and made use of that the greater part 
 of the Nave roof was reloaded. 
 
 In 1772 the Vestry Boom was built by Mr. Webber, and 
 paid for out of the Church Endowment Fund. 
 
 In 1776 the Church Tower was reloaded. 
 
 In addition to these entries the churchwarden's Presentments 
 to the Archdeacon give us some information. The confession 
 that seems to be written between the lines of every one of them 
 is that the churchwardens knew well what ought to be done, but 
 that they had not the energy to undertake it, and so they hand 
 on the information to the Archdeacon. 
 
 In 1730 they report that the King's Arms had fallen down. 
 
 In 1735 they complain that tiles, boards and lumber lie in 
 the north aisle, and ought to be removed. 
 
 In 1743 complaint is lodged against the lay impropriator, 
 Mr. T. Peirs, on account of the ruined state of the Church fences 
 and the chancel. 
 
 In 1746 Mr. R. Kingston is appointed sequestrator and 
 curate in charge of the parish. 
 
The Church. 75 
 
 In 1765 complaint is lodged against W. Ekins Peirs for not 
 repairing the north wall of the churchyard. 
 
 In 1739 the Bible, which is as early as 1623, is reported 
 as imperfect ; and ten years afterwards, this complaint being 
 repeated year by year, a new one was procured. The old one 
 still exists, carefully preserved in the Parish Chest, but I do not 
 know what has become of this second Bible. 
 
 Church Plate. 
 The sacred vessels are very interesting. The chalice is a 
 long silver Elizabethan one, provided with a close fitting cover, 
 and has the genuine date 1572 on the handle or knob of the 
 cover. In this year many of the local churches gave up their 
 old mediaeval plate and purchased new vessels, probably follow- 
 ing the example of the Cathedral, and marking the crisis on the 
 Papal excommunication of Queen Elizabeth. The paten, flagon, 
 and a second chalice are also of silver, and are of the time of 
 George I. There is also a large pewter -flagon and two pewter 
 alms plates, the date of which I cannot fix. None of these 
 vessels have any inscription or lettering which would give a hint 
 as to the donor or the occasion when they were obtained for the 
 Church, and it is impossible to hazard an opinion on account of 
 the vagueness of our information as to the exact time when they 
 were acquired. 
 
 Parish Chests. 
 
 There are three parish chests, concerning which some record 
 ought to be preserved. The earliest has no date, and is made 
 of thin oak, now thickly coated with paint. It has the initials 
 E. B. and R. L. on the front panel, and I think there can be no 
 doubt that they stand for Edward Barlow and Bichard Lyde, 
 who in 1634 were sidesmen together, and probably about that 
 time were also churchwardens together. The second is a small 
 oak chest, for which now a stand has been provided, and it bears 
 the date 1689, with the initials T. C. and H. M., i.e. those of the 
 churchwardens for that period, Thomas Corpe and Hugh Merifield. 
 
 The third is a plain strong oak chest, with two locks and a 
 double padlock. It was provided for the Church by the church- 
 wardens in 1764, and was made by James Mills, of Wells. 
 
76 History of VVookey. 
 
 In 1871 the Church was thoroughly repaired under the super- 
 vision of Mr. C. E. Giles, at a cost of £1,300. A reredos and 
 five stained glass windows have been given, chiefly in memory 
 of persons connected with the parish, and the panels of the 
 lower part of the 16th century screen, which had stood under 
 the arch between the south aisle and the south-east chapel were 
 made use of in a new pulpit. The organ, which had been given 
 to the Church in 1836 by Mr. T. Wear, was also enlarged and 
 removed to its present position. Tn 1883 a new clock, chiming 
 the quarters, was given to the Church by A. T. Burnett- Stuart, 
 Esq., the successor of the Codwyns at the Rectory-house. 
 
 In October, 1772, Mr. Edward Band, of Wookey Hole, who 
 had purchased a considerable amount of land at the sale of the 
 manor, obtained a faculty for a pew, but this had lapsed long 
 before the restoration of the church. 
 
 The Bells. 
 There are five bells in the tower, of which the oldest is the 
 third. The inscriptions are as follows : — 
 
 1. — The Tenor Bell. " Mr. Thomas Stroode, Mr. Bayley, church- 
 wardens. T. Bilbie fecit. 1719." This was an older bell, 
 which being cracked was recast in that year. It was 
 broken again before 1748. Mr. Bayley was not church- 
 warden in 1719, T. Stroode having as his partner Thomas 
 Stott in that year. 
 
 2. — The second has the inscription, " Geeve thanks to God, 1615." 
 
 Possibly the gift of Robert Godwyn on the birth of his 
 
 eldest son. 
 3. — The third has two holes in the head of it, but they have 
 
 been carefully plugged up with a nut and a shield of leather. 
 
 It has the inscription "^ I^ J Nazarenus § rex § luderrn." 
 4. — The fourth bears the note, " Mr. George Cook, Mr. George 
 
 Baker, churchwardens, 1735. T. Bilbie." 
 
 5. — The lightest bell has a number of stamps upon it, and 
 between every one is a stamp of the Tudor Rose, sur- 
 mounted by a royal thistle. On the side of the bell is a 
 
The CHuRrH. 77 
 
 shield with the date 1639, and the letters KB., E. H., 
 and A. R. The first pair are those of the churchwardens 
 for the year, viz., Robert Buxton and Edward Hippisley, 
 and the third I think stands for Richard Abowen. 
 
 The Feee Chapel of Henton. 
 
 I must not, in this account of the Church of Wookey, forget 
 to mention the old and the new chapel at Henton. When the old 
 one was built I cannot say. It stood in the field west of the 
 present building, and Avas pulled down in 15.50 by William 
 Chapell, of Wookey, who appropriated the lead, stone and 
 bell to his own use. A copy of the report of the inquisition, 
 which was held in 1562 to obtain information concerning this 
 piece of robbery, is in the parish chest, and is as follows : — 
 
 " Inquisitio indentata capta apud Glastonburie in comitatu 
 Somerset octavo die Augusti anno regni dominae Elizabethae 
 Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae Reginse Fidei Defen- 
 soris &c. quarto, coram nobis Roberto Penruddock et Johanne 
 Harryngton, armigero, et Edwardo Wilshire, generoso, commis- 
 sionariis dictae dominae Reginae virtu te commissionis ejusdem 
 Dominse Regina3 de Curia Saccarii eis directse huic inquisitioni 
 annexse per sacramentum Willelmi Drew, Ricardi Merifield, 
 Johannis Wilcock, Johannis Wilmot, Johannis Bolting, Johannis 
 Brock, Thomae Churchouse, Johannis Edwards, Johannis Turnour, 
 Roberti Plentin, Ricardi Gonwyn et, Johannis Marlow proborum 
 et legalium hominum comitatus predicti. Qui dicunt super sacra - 
 menta sua quod quidam Willelmus Chapell nuper de Woky in 
 comitatu predicto diruit et postravit unam liberam capellam 
 vocatam St. Thomas Chapel et certum plumbum et unam cam- 
 panam ad valenciam cxxvi^ et viii*^ ab inde cepit xii annis elapsis 
 et ea convertit ad usum suum proprium absque aliquo jure quae 
 premissa juratores prsedicti dicunt quod de jure devenirent ad manus 
 dominae Reginae auctoritate et pretextu cujusdam acti parlia- 
 menti tenti apud Westmonasterium anno primo Edwardi VI. nuper 
 Regis Angliae inde editi et provisi. Qamquidem summam' Johannes 
 Chapell executor predicti Willelmi Chapell concedit coram com- 
 missionariis remunerare manibus dictae dominae Reginea secuu- 
 
78 History of Wookey. 
 
 dum tenorem acti predict!. Et ulterius dicunt juratores predict! 
 quod quidam Wm. Turrie nuper de Welles in comitatu predicto 
 diruit evulsit unam aliam liberam capellam vocatam Horringdon 
 Cliapell infra parochiam de Welles predicto et certum plumbum 
 super eandam capellam existens ad quantitatem quinque toune 
 ad valenciam xx^^ et ij campanas ad valenciam cxx^ et unam 
 calicem argenti cum tectura ad valenciam cxxxiii^ et iv.^ et 
 maremium, lapides et ferrum valoris cxP v*^ in toto cxxiv^i viii^ 
 iv*^ citra decem annis elapsis cepit et implicavit ad usum suum 
 proprium et eadem absque jure detinuit a tempore nuper regis 
 Edwardi sexti et a manibus Marie nuper Anglige Reginae ac a 
 manibus predictse dominae Elizabethae nunc Anglise Reginae quae 
 de jure nunc remunerare debet ad usum dictse dominae reginae 
 virtute et pretextu acti parliament! predict!. In cujus re! 
 testimonio tarn predictorum commissionariorum quam juratorum 
 predictorum huic inquisition! sigilla alternatim apposuerunt. 
 Datum die, anno et loco supradictis. 
 
 Egbert Penruddock. 
 John Haryngton. 
 Edward Wilsiiire. 
 Three labels attached, but no seals. 
 
 The above gives us some insight into the uncertainty and law- 
 lessness of the times, when Bishop Barlow was being squeezed 
 between the Protector and the Crown, and the former was 
 gathering up every piece of church property into his own hands. 
 ^ The loss that Henton then sustained was not repaired until this 
 century. During the time when Mr. Thorpe was vicar of 
 Wookey an effort was made to build a church once more at 
 Henton. Canon Barnard, the vicar of St. Cuthbert's, helped 
 very materially in the cause, and at last, on Wednesday, October 
 20th, 1847, a building, consisting of a nave and chancel, witli 
 a bell turret at the west end of the nave roof, was consecrated. 
 It was dedicated to our Lord under the title Christchurch, 
 Henton ; and at the same time the Rev. William James Shearly 
 was instituted as the first vicar. Since then there has been 
 four others, viz. : — 
 
 1870. — Augustus William Grafton. 
 
 1875. — Sydenham Harry Augustus Hervey. 
 
 1876. — John Palmer. 
 
 1880.— Walter Goldin Alford. 
 
The RectoFwY and the Rectors. 79 
 
 CHAPTER LY. 
 
 THE RECTORY AND THE RECTORS. 
 
 ITN speaking of the church it has been mentioned that the first 
 ^ Rector of Wookey was the first Dean of Wells. Bishop 
 Robert, 1136-1166, endowed the niiw dean of Wells with the 
 church of Wookey. It would be interesting to discover whether he 
 assigned to this ofiice part of his own demesne here, or siaiply 
 took a portion of the general estate with which Giso had endowed 
 the cathedral, and allowed the dean to use it as peculiarly his 
 own. In all probability the latter course was adopted. This 
 endowment, however, was soon found to be too small for such 
 an important ofiice as that of the dean. When the number of 
 prebendaries began to increase, and each provided for their vicars 
 at Wells out of their prebendal estates, the regulation of such 
 a body grew in difiiculty and in importance. Now it is not 
 quite certain whether Bishop Robert founded the subdeanery 
 as well as the deanery. Certainly it seems not only to be in 
 existence, but to have been in existence some time when Joscelin, 
 in 1209, sanctioned the exchange between the dean and the sub- 
 dean of their lands in Wookey and Wed more. In the Liber Ruber, 
 bishop Savaric is mentioned as sanctioning some such scheme. 
 However, this transaction was not simply an exchange, but 
 also a large increase of income for the dean. For as Wookey 
 was small, and the bishop himself had a Manor which included 
 the greater part of the parish, there w^as not any opportunity 
 to increase the dean's endowment here. So the subdean was 
 called upon to give up his estate at Wedmore, and the dean 
 to give up his rectory at Wookey, and the dean received instead 
 the subdean's estate, together with the rectory of Wedmore, and 
 the subdean became the rector of Wookey. This formal exchange 
 was sanctioned by Bishop Joscelin on June 3rd, 1209, and on 
 September 13th, 1213, we learn that the rectory was then worth 
 
80 History of Wookey. 
 
 in rent of demesne lands £3 19s. 5d., customary rents £1 Is. 4d., 
 several tithes £10 13s. 4d., total £15 14s. Id. After deducting 
 from the present rectorial glebe those allotments in the moors 
 that were assigned to this rector in 1786, and also those fields 
 that are now situated in what formerly was a part of the Wookey 
 common fields, it would appear that the original endowment, 
 in addition to the tithes and certain mortuary fees, consisted 
 of about 37 J acres of land. In 1235, Peter of Chichester, dean 
 of Wells, died leaving certain lands in Marley Mead, and Bishop 
 Joscelin appropriates them ad opus episcopi. Now since part 
 of the rectorial glebe is in Marley meadow, it seems not unlikely 
 that this portion of land was part of the original grant of Bishop 
 Robert in 1140, which had been leased out to Dean Peter for 
 his life, and that ultimately it was divided between the subdean 
 and the Vicars' Choral, or chantry priests of Wells. In 1541 
 the subdean and the Vicars' Choral are scheduled in the Valor 
 Ecclesiasticus as possessing lands at Marley Mead. Dean Peter's 
 interest in lands at Yarley Joscelin bought for £3. In 1291, 
 for the taxatio of Nicholas IV., the rectory was valued at £20 
 a year. 
 
 About the year 1310 there was a prolonged controversy 
 between Dean John Godele and William de Yatton, the sub-dean. 
 It seems that the sub-dean had been visiting ecclesiastically the 
 parishes of Wells, Wookey, Evercreech,Chilcompton andWestbury, 
 and this conduct of his was resented by the dean. At last it was 
 brought before Bishop Drokensford, who, in October, 7th, 1321, 
 gave his decision. The sub-dean was to have visitatorial powers 
 in Wells and its suburb in the absence of the dean, but Wookey 
 the Bishop takes under his own and his successor's supervision 
 " ac dictee ecclesiae de Woky visitacionein ad nos et successores 
 nostros jure episcopali pertinere debere ordinamus." On the 
 sub-dean also he imposes perpetual silence concerning this matter, 
 and fines him for the benefit of the dean in ten casks of wine, 
 or their value in money. In the Nonae Rolls^ of the 14 
 Edward III, i.e. 1340-1, the commissioners for Wookey, Thomas 
 
 * c.f. Nona? Rolls in vol. of Lay Subsidy, Somerset. Record Office, 
 H Edward III. 
 
The Rectukv am) the RectoKcj. $1 
 
 Bernard, William Neel, Richard atte Putte, Hugh atte Chapele, 
 John Dukes, John Stokelyng and John Robeir say they are not 
 able to tax the church of Wookey, because the rector there has 
 in demesne of the endowment of his church, arable lands, 
 meadows, one dovecot, one mill, the tithes of hay, offerings 
 and dues, and the small tithes, which are worth yearly 
 i^l3 6s. 8d. They say that the ninth bale of sheep skins is 
 worth .£vi xiii. iv. The Commissioners have included the 
 vicarial tithes with those of the rector. The glebe mill mentioned 
 here I have not yet identified, nor have I found any record 
 of it elsewhere. In 1423, bishop Bubwith sequestered the 
 rectory on account of the dilapidated state of the Church, owing 
 to the neglect of Nicholas Mockyng, the sub-dean. The vicar 
 of Wookey, with John Halbkyn, of Woky, and John Thomas, 
 of Wedmore, are constituted guardians of the rectorial endow- 
 ments "ad competenter ac sufficienter reparacionem defectuum 
 " notorie apparentium ac existent ium realiter in cancello dictae 
 " ecclesiae ac mansionis et ediliciarum eidem pertinentium." 
 
 In 1444,1 John Raynold, sub-dean and rector, leases to John 
 Edwards, junior, and Alice, his wife, for their lives, a messuage, 
 with curtilage in Henton, at an annual rent of 3s. 4d. ; the 
 witnesses being William Gascoigne, William Voel, John Chapelle, 
 John atte Castle, John Brownyng. Feast of St. George, 22 
 Henry YI. 
 
 In 1533,'- William Bowerman, sub-dean andrector, leases for 
 eight years to John Trench, " Chapman of Norton Canons," the 
 rectory house and lands, at an annual rental of £22. Oct. 15th. 
 25 Henry VIII. 
 
 In 1541 we have the value of the benefice at the time of 
 Henry VIII. 's survey of Church lands. We read there that 
 Woky annexa est subdecanatui ibidem. William 
 Boureman is the sub-dean. The rectory is annexed 
 to the sub-deanery, and is worth yearly in demesne 
 lands £3 19s. 5d. ; in rent of customary tenants, 
 £1 Is. 4d. ; in tithes, £10 13s. 4d. ; in oblations, 
 with other offerings, £6 5s. lid. ; total, £22. 
 1 Wells Cathedral MSS., 304. ^ W. C. MSS., 751-335. 
 
82 HiSTOKY OF VVOOKEY. 
 
 In annual payment to one vicar choral in Wells 
 Cathedral 5s. ; 
 
 And there remains to the rector £21 15s. ; 
 
 The tithe of this is 46s. 6d. 
 In 1548, February 25th, William Bowerman, the sub-dean, 
 leases to William Godwyn, of Wells, the rectory house and 
 lands for eighty years, at an annual rent of <£22. He reserved, 
 however, for hin;self and his successors the advowson of the 
 Church and the wood at Stroud ; this latter, of course, in case 
 he or his successors should have to repair the chancel. This 
 lease gives us the first description of the property I have been 
 able to find. He leaves " all his rectory and parsonage, mansion- 
 places, houses, orchards, gardens, barns, stalls, culver-houses, and 
 stables and all the glebe lands, pastures, meadows, woods and 
 moors ; and also all messuages, fines, tithes, fruits, mortuaries 
 and other issues and emoluments. 
 
 Henceforth the family of the Godwyns were the leaseholders 
 of the rectory for more than 150 years, and during the greater 
 part of this time they were the tenants of the Kectory-house. 
 We will have something to say about them when we discuss the 
 families of Wookey and their history. 
 
 From this time it becomes difficult to trace the records of the 
 benefice. It was in private hands, and doubtless the papers were 
 destroyed from time to time as a new lease was drawn up. We 
 have, however, a copy made subsequent to the year 1706, of the 
 terrier of the rectory property in 1634, and this gives us a full 
 account of the houses and all the lands belonging to them. It 
 was made October 23rd, 1634, by Thomas Mydleham, vicar; 
 Thomas Churchouse, Richard Abowen, churchwardens ; Edward 
 Barlowe, John Fussell, John Smith, alias Hooper, and John 
 Chappell, sidesmen ; Robert Godwyn and David Trym, gentlemen ; 
 Richard Lyde, John Corpe, John Taylor, (dias Buxton, William 
 Cottle, husbandmen. The finding of the above jury is signed 
 also by Henry Turner, John James, John Browning, John 
 Browning, Richard Gullock, and Robert Poole. 
 
 The parsonage house contained a hall, a parlour, a kitchen, 
 a buttery, a scullery, a pantry, and ;i brewhouse, with chambers 
 
The Rectory and the Kectors. 8^ 
 
 over them one storey high ; a coal-house, two stables, a malt- 
 house with a loft over it, a wagon-house, a hog-stye with a hen- 
 roost, a cow-stall, an ox-stall, a barn, a hay-house, an ear-house, 
 a fatting-stall, a dove-house with a garden, two orchards and a 
 court adjoining, and three acres^ in the common moors belonging 
 to it, called Waterhays. 
 
 A tenement, called Webs, containing a hall, another room, 
 a loft over the hall and an hay-house, and half an acre in the 
 common moor. 
 
 A house in the churchyard, containing one hall and a buttery, 
 with a loft over them. 
 
 A house at Henton, containing a hall, a buttery, with a 
 chamber over the buttery, a barn, a hay-house, a garden and an 
 orchard. Thefollowing glebe lands are also specified : — Twenty -three 
 and a half acres of meadow land, called Hulk Acre, Hornsmead, 
 Gapper's Stile, Pressmoor, Stonemead, Marley-mead. Forty-nine 
 acres of pasture land at Trenley, Rushlands, Holi brook, Barleigh, 
 Stroud, Highovers, Gaglie Lane, and on the way to Litley Bridge. 
 Seventy-two acres of arable lands in the common fields of Wookey, 
 known as Wookey-field, West-field, East-field, North-field and 
 Bicknoll-field. 
 
 The tithes of corn and all other grain, teazel, hemp, flax, 
 turnips ; the tithe of hay and of sixty acres of rectorial glebe at 
 Paddimore ; the tithe of geese, coppice, underwood and moots-^ 
 when any trees shall be rooted up. 
 
 Ten shillings from the lord of the manor payable -at Michael- 
 mas, 8s. 4d., called Martin's Rent,'^ from ten copyhold tenements 
 in the village of Wookey, and 4d. every Easter from the vicar 
 of the parish. 
 
 This full account of the endowment of the rectory is followed 
 shortly after by the report of the Commissioners of 1650.* The 
 
 1 It would almost appear from this as if the strips in the common fields 
 were each half an acre. But by this time many of the strips must have 
 been thrown together. 
 
 ^ Moots, i.e. Trunks with large roots. 
 
 3 A survival of circset, payable on St. Martin's day. 
 
 ^ Lambeth Library MSS., Survey of Church Lund^, IGiO, vol. 1, p. 2'J:1. 
 G 2 
 
84 History of Wookey. 
 
 survey of Church lands, ordered by the Commons of England 
 as part of the fulfilment of the Act for the abolishing of deans, 
 deans and chapters, canons and prebends of cathedral and colle- 
 giate churches and chapels, took place during the years 1649 
 and 1650. The surveyors for the rector of Wookey were 
 William Richardson, Alexander Lawson, Nicholas Combe and 
 James Hibbins. Their account is as follows : — 
 
 "^Re^ser^e^d*^ All that Mansion-house, called the Parsonage-house 
 situated, lying and being in Wookey, in the County of 
 Somerset, we value at £10. 
 
 All those tenths and tithes of all, and all measures 
 of corn and grain yearly coming, growing, arising 
 and renewing within the parish of Wookey aforesaid, 
 together with all the tenths and tithes to the said 
 rectory, belonging and appertaining, with the appur- 
 tenances, we value communibus annis at £80. 
 
 Memorandum. — All the premises before-mentioned, with the 
 appurtenances, were by William Roberts, doctor in divinity, sub- 
 dean in the Cathedral Church of Wells, in the County of 
 Somerset, by his indenture, dated 13th November, II. Charles ; 
 ^^"ioiSd^ "^PP^*"- demised unto William Prowse, his heirs and 
 TotheSesyJi? assigns, To hold for and during the natural 
 ~^2. lives of Elizabeth Godwyn, wife of Robert 
 ^''wm. Webb. Godwyn, of Wookey aforesaid, gentlemen. Joseph 
 Godwyn and Edward Godwyn, sons of the said 
 Robert and Elizabeth, and the lives of every of 
 them longest living ; paying therefore yearly during 
 the said term, unto the said sub-dean and his 
 successors, the sum of &'2'2, at the two most usual 
 feasts or terms in the yearly equal portions over 
 and above the said rent, per annum, £127 17s. 8d. 
 
 Memorandum, by covenant, of the said leases, the said lessor 
 and his successors are to l)ear and pay all and singular rents, 
 duties, and sums of money due to be paid, as wel] as to the 
 king and his successors, as to any other Ordinaries out of the 
 said Rectory or Parsonage. The said lessee coveuanteth to pay 
 
The Rectory and the Rectors. 85 
 
 the said rent at the Font Stone in the Cathedral Church of Wells 
 aforesaid. And if the said rent or any part thereof be unpaid 
 by the space of three months next after any the said feasts, in 
 which it ought to be paid, that then the lessor may re-enter. 
 The lives are all in being. The advowson, patronage, nomina- 
 tion and right of presentation to the parish church of Wookey 
 did belong to the sub-dean aforesaid, as appropriator of the 
 Rectory aforesaid. 
 
 Returned into the Registrar's office, September 27th, 1650. 
 
 This valuation seems to be based on the supposition of a 
 yearly rent, without any fine being paid for renewal of lease ; 
 the improvements being reckoned in the estimation of the yearly 
 value. In 1681, February 28th, the Rev. William Levinz, the 
 sub-dean, leases the rectory once more to the Godwyn family. 
 This time it is to the second Mr. Joseph Godwyn, of Wookey, 
 at the usual rental of £22. In this lease I find Stroud wood 
 included among the glebe lands. Formerly Stroud wood was 
 specially excluded, in order to make provision for the repair of 
 the chancel ; and had it been on this occasion also, there would 
 not occur sixty years hence so many complaints against the lay 
 impropriator for his neglect of the chancel fabric. The lease 
 is on the lives of Joseph Godwyn and Ellianor, his now wife, 
 and Richard Godwyn, their son. Andrew Hall and Joseph 
 Elvard are appointed to give seisin of the property. This is 
 the last occasion of the Godwyns having the lease of the rectory, 
 and from them it passed into the hands of the Peirs. Joseph 
 Godwyn died here in 1725, and Eleanor in 1731. Richard, the 
 son, does not appear to have lived here after his father's death, 
 and in all probability the Godwyn's sold their interest in the 
 lease early in the century to the Peirs ; keeping for themselves 
 only the house and a portion of the land. In 1686, Thomas 
 Peirs, of Wells, a grandson of bishop Peirs, and son of William 
 Piers, archdeacon of Taunton, died, leaving in his will .£100 
 "to the child his wife now goeth with, if a son," for the purchase 
 of his life in the parsonage of Wookey. The child proved to 
 be a boy, and was named Thomas after his father ; and about 
 1709 married Penelope, daughter of William Matravers, of 
 
86 HiSTORYx or WOOKF.Y. 
 
 Norton St. Philip's. It seems probable, from the testimony of 
 the Church rate-book, that he came to reside here immediately 
 after the death of Mrs. Godwyn. There is a tablet in the tower 
 to the memory of all his children. His wife died in 1752, and 
 he followed her in the next year. Now as the rectorial property 
 appears to continue in the hands of the Peirs' family until 1781, 
 it would seem probable that one of the sub-deans, in the early 
 part of this century, had granted to the Peirs' family a new lease, 
 and most likely this was about the time of the death of Mr. 
 Godwyn. 1 On the death of Thomas Peirs, William Ekins Peirs, 
 his cousin, succeeded to the lease, and resided in the Rectory- 
 house. He was a bachelor, and in addition to the rectory he 
 became a tenant, and possibly a leaseholder of the Manor-house. 
 He died in 1765, leaving his interest in both places to his sister. 
 Lady Elizabeth Montague Bertie. It was during the time of 
 the Piers that the great change took place both in the appearance of 
 the house and in its name, and if it is true that the small oriel 
 over the porch, and the corbels and spandrils had formerly been 
 in the Manor-house, then in all probability the rebuilding of the 
 Rectory-house occurred during the occupation of it, and of the 
 Manor-house, by William Ekins Peirs, or Lady Elizabeth Bertie, 
 his sister. Phelps says that the change took place during the 
 tenancy of Colonel Peirs, but I have found no documentary 
 evidence concerning it, nor yet as to the change of name. It is 
 generally agreed that the corbels and carved spandrils originally 
 came from Jocelyn's cloisters, south of the cathedral, which were 
 taken down when bishop Bekynton and his executors built the 
 present cloisters. Why the Rectory-house was called Mellifont 
 Abbey, I have not been able to discover. Lady Elizabeth Bertie 
 died in 1781 at the Manor-house, but up to the time of her 
 death she was paying a church rate for Mellifont Abbey as 
 well, and I think after her death the place was inhabited 
 by Mr Edward Band. When the place was rebuilt, the house 
 in the churchyard, mentioned in the Terrier of 1634, was brought 
 in as offices for the enlarged house. 
 
 1 i.e. about 1725. 
 
The Rf.ctory and the Rectors. 87 
 
 Two more leases of the rectorial property were made after 
 this. On July 1st, 1790, the Rev. Charles Moss leased it to 
 John Salmon, Esq., of Wookey, on the lives of Sarah, Francis 
 and Hester Salmon. On April 15th, 1837, Henton Inn, part of 
 the rectorial property was leased out, and on April 17th, 1837, 
 the Rev. C. E. Keene leases Mellifont Abbey, as it was now 
 regularly called, to William Watson and John Lax, Esqrs., 
 trustees for the Salmon family. 
 
 Since then the property has been enfranchised by the Salmon 
 family, and the freehold of the house and gardens is now in the 
 possession of A. Burnett-Stuart, Esq., the present tenant. He 
 lias possessed himself also of the freehold of the Manor-house, 
 and reviving the times of William Ekins Peirs and Lady Elizabeth 
 Bertie, has not indeed created such changes in the building, but 
 has altered the course of the river Axe and turned it into the 
 northern bed of the moat that used to exist round the Manor- 
 house, and so like them has wrought an improvement at the 
 expense of history. 
 
 The following is the list of the rectors of Wookey being sub- 
 deans of Wells; Ivo, however, was the first rector, being the 
 first dean, and he was succeeded by Ricardus de Spakeston. At 
 the time of the exchange Thomas Dinant was the sub-dean, and 
 with him our list begins. I am indebted for it to my friend 
 the sub-dean. 
 
 1199. Thomas Dinant 
 
 121.3. Alard 
 
 1219, Lambert 
 
 1280. Robert de Berkeley 
 
 1233. WilUam 
 
 1237. William de Button 
 
 1241. Walter St. Quintin 
 
 1245. Hugh de Rumenal 
 
 1255. John de Axebrugge 
 
 1266. William le Rous 
 
 1297. Richard de Winton 
 
 1312. William de Yatton 
 
 1324. Walter Brown 
 
 1334. Walter de Burton 
 
S8 History of Wookey. 
 
 1334. Walter de Hulle 
 1342. Matthew de Valence 
 1.342. William de Lavinton 
 1.350. William Camel 
 1382. Thomas Bingham 
 1391. Nicholas Pontesbury 
 1409. Nicholas Mockyng 
 1424. .John Reynold 
 1450. Thomas Boleyn 
 1457. John Spekyngton 
 1462. John Wansford 
 1491. William Boket 
 1500. Robert Wldowe 
 1505. John Hans 
 1508. Reginald West 
 1516. Thomas Lovell 
 1524. James Fitzjames 
 1531. William Boureman 
 1572. Philip Bisse 
 1584. Jacob Bisse 
 1607. Robert Scott 
 1614. Thomas James 
 1629. William Roberts 
 1638. Thomas Bayley 
 1660. James Dugdale 
 1660. James Masters 
 1665. Francis Mundy 
 1679. William Levintz 
 1698. Henry Layng 
 1716. John Whitehead 
 1721. John Rogers 
 1729. Timothy Collins 
 1765. Sir Thomas I'anson 
 
 1773. John Paine 
 
 1774. Charles Moss 
 
 1800. Charles Thomas Barker 
 
 1812. Houston Radcliffe 
 
 1822. Charles Edmund Ruck Keene 
 
 1849. Edgar Huxtable 
 
 1861. Charles Marcus Church 
 
The Vicarage and the Vicars. 89 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE VICARAGE AND THE VICARS. 
 
 /JXWING to the loss of the earlier episcopal Registers it is 
 ^^ impossible to state the exact date of the creation of the 
 vicarage. As with the church, so with the vicarage ; they are both 
 seen coming out of the cloud of past events ; we do not find them 
 in their beginning, but only when fully grown, and we are left to 
 conjecture on mere hints, culled from analogy, to enable us to 
 state their age. In 1291, the proposed crusade of Edward I. was 
 an excuse for imposing a tax on all church property. The tenths 
 of all spiritual goods of England, Scotland, and Wales were 
 granted to Edward by Pope Nicholas IV., and from the lists 
 then drawn up, and which are still preserved, we are able to give 
 some date to many of the older vicarages. As the vicar of 
 Wookey does not appear on this list, we may conclude either that 
 then the vicarage did not exist, or else that the vicar escaped 
 taxation on a plea of poverty. Now during the latter half of 
 the 13th century the popes were particularly active in compelling 
 all beneficed clergy either to reside in their parishes, or to create 
 and endow out of their emoluments perpetual vicarages. The 
 fashion of sending a priest to a parish, without allowing him any 
 specified or adequate income was condemned, and so we find that 
 in England many ancient vicarages begin during the early years 
 of the 14th century. If the Registers of bishop William de 
 Marchia, or bishop Walter Hasleshaw, who were bishops of Bath 
 and Wells from 1293 to 1308, should ever be discovered, either 
 amid the archives of the Vatican, or elsewhere, I firmly believe 
 that the institution of the vicarage of Wookey would be found 
 recorded therein. The Registers at Wells begin with that of 
 bishop Drokensford, 1309-1329, and with the exception of the 
 gap from 1366-1400 are fairly complete, and bring us down to 
 the present time, The list of the vicars begins, as far as we have 
 
90 History of Wookey. 
 
 any really dependable evidence, with the episcopate of Drokens- 
 ford, and the omissions that are conspicuous, and the reason for 
 the absence of dates before some of the names will be explained 
 further on. In Drokenford's Register, the appointment of William 
 Brid is not coupled, as is usual afterwards, with the name of his 
 predecessor, and the cause of the vacancy. This may be because 
 Brid was the first vicar. But if so, then it is strange that, as 
 with so many other parishes, the creation of the vicarage is not 
 recorded also. On the other hand, it is not safe to argue from the 
 silence of the register, because that was the age when vicarages 
 were beginning, and the form of recording the institution of a 
 vicar would only become stereotyped after some lapse of time. 
 The date of institution is given whenever I have been able to 
 discover it. 
 
 1246. John le Poch 
 April 6, 1313. William Brid 
 Feb. 28, 1331. John de Suttona 
 March 30, 1338. Thomas de Milverton 
 Dec. 15, 1348. John de Camel 
 March 21, 1349. Richard de Haslaye 
 1389. John Compton 
 
 John Baker 
 Dec. 25, 1404. John Brent 
 March 21, 1435. Thomas Goldcliffe 
 July 11, 1453. John Combe 
 Aug. 22, 1472. John Wellyknow 
 April 8, 1477. John Edwards 
 June 22, 1506. John Cayrell 
 May 7, 1516. Richard Allwell 
 
 Richard Eryngton 
 March 30, 1546. Alexander Berkeley 
 
 Henry Howe 
 Jan. 18, 1559. Christopher Webster 
 Oct. 10, 1569. Gilbert Harvey 
 Feb. 17, 1572. John Kelway 
 Feb. 13, 1592. Richard Poughnell 
 Dec. 9, 1595. Thomas Mydleham 
 
 Samuel Yerworth 
 Jan. 6, 1661. John Gadd 
 Feb. 2, 1672. Thomas Stott 
 
 Morgan Jones 
 
The Vicarage axd the Vicars. 91 
 
 Edward VVooton 
 
 William Hill 
 
 Thomas Ford 
 July 14, 1747. Eobert Kingston 
 Aug. 7, 1748. Henry Arnold 
 Dec. 22, 1 778. William Keate 
 March 9, 1795. Evan Davies 
 March 10, 1801. Charles Moss 
 Nov. 23, 1801. John Stevens Phillott 
 Jan. 26, 1839. Edward Sneyd 
 Nov. 20, 1839. William Thorpe 
 Dec. 13, 1849. Theodosius Burnett Stuart 
 July 17, 1868. Morton Drummond 
 Dec. 2, 1879. Thomas Scott Holmes 
 
 The earliest record of the Vicarage-house is in one of the title 
 deeds relating to the endowments of the Church. It is dated 
 January 14th, 1420-1, (7 Henry V.,) and in it a certain tenement 
 is described as extending to a certain lane, ex opposito Messuagii 
 de antiquo vocati la Vikersplace. From this it is clear that a 
 house had been in existence here for some years. Now, un- 
 fortunately, the Bishops' Registers are lost for the time between 
 1363-1401, and consequently a statement in another document 
 leaves the way open for some time. The earliest deed concerning 
 the endowments of the Church bears the date 1389 (13 Rich. II.) 
 and in it a house called Strecchistenement is said to have lately 
 been held by John Compton, capellanus perpetuus. This John 
 Compton may have been the immediate predecessor of John Baker, 
 as vicar of Wookey, and if so, Strachey's tenement was occupied 
 for a time by the vicars. I cannot find any other statement 
 concerning this man Compton, ^ nor yet of Strecchistenement 
 where he lived, and therefore I can only mention this as what 
 appears to me to be a possible conjecture, and it is only on this 
 evidence that I have ventured to put John Compton among the 
 list of vicars. It will have been noticed that I have inserted 
 the name of a vicar in the middle of the 13th century. This 
 man was not a perpetual vicar, but I think he was acting as the 
 deputy of the sub-dean. ^ 
 
 1 But c.f., p. 39. - Liber Albus 1, fol. 66 b. 
 
92 History of Woo key. 
 
 In the Chapter E-ecords at Wells there is an inspeximus by 
 the Chapter of a charter of Hugh de Roumenal, sub-dean of Wells 
 and rector of Wookey, of a grant of two acres of land at Wookey 
 to John le poch de Exon, clerk, and Juliana de Wokey, his wife. 
 Now in the East-field of Wookey the rectors had two acres of 
 freehold between adjoining strips that belonged to the bishops as 
 lords of the manor, and these two acres were afterwards given 
 as a perpetual endowment to the vicarage. They consist of the 
 strip of land that reaches from the Back Lane as far as East- 
 court House. It seems probable, therefore, that as these two 
 acres were regarded as sufficient endowment for the vicars after- 
 wards, they were given by Hugh de Roumenal on a life lease 
 to this John le poch Clerk, because he was acting as his deputy 
 here in the parish at that time. On this account I have ventured 
 to place him at the head of our list. 
 
 In 1438 there is no doubt where the vicar's house is, for on 
 August 12th John Reynold, sub-dean of Wells, grants to the 
 vicar of Wookey and his successors two acres of land, with their 
 appurtenances, lying in the Eastfield of Wookey, between the 
 land of the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells on both sides, and 
 which abuts upon the house of the said vicar ; a yearly payment 
 of fourpence being made to the said John Reynold and his 
 successors for ever. In the Clerical Subsidy of 1426, the vicarage 
 is valued at six marks ; and again in 1445, during the episcopate 
 of Bekynton, when a tenth of Church property was granted by 
 Convocation in aid of the war against the Turks and Saracens, 
 the vicar of Wookey is assessed in ten marks, and pays tenpence. 
 
 In 1535, in Henry the VIII.'s Valor Ecclesiasticus, the entry 
 concerning the vicarage is as follows : — 
 
 WoKY. — Ricardus Eryngton Vicarius Vicaria ibidem. Valet 
 per annum, viz., in terris dominicalibus, 3s. 4d. Decimse 
 lanse et agnorum lxi« viii*^. Oblaciones cum decimis 
 personalibus £ix x* viii''. Sic nunc in toto remanet 
 clare, <£xii xv* viii<^. 
 
 The vicarage there is worth yearly, in rent of glebe lands in 
 demesne, 3s. 4d. ; tithes of wool and lambs, 61s. 8d. ; oblations 
 
The Vicarage and the Vicars. 93 
 
 and personal tithes, i£9 10s. 8cl. So now there clearly remains 
 £12 5s. 8d. 
 
 It is clear, then, from this that land in Wookey — and that 
 probably some of the best in the parish — was worth only Is. 8d. 
 the acre. But this is further reduced when we remember that 
 such land would bring with it certain pasturage on the commons 
 and moors of the parish, and possibly certain strips in the arable 
 fields of the place. 
 
 Our next record concerning the vicarage is the statement in 
 the terrier of 1634, which was made during the incumbency of 
 Mr. Mydleham, and in it we get our only description of the 
 vicarage house itself. The names of the jury are given in the 
 history of the Rectory. 
 
 The vicarage house contains one hall and a kitchen, without 
 chambers over them ; two parlours and a buttery, with chambers 
 over them, and a little study, with a barn and stall, a hay-house, 
 a hog-stye, and a stable. Item — one garden backsides and 
 orchard, and a close called the Croft, containing in all two acres ; 
 and one way for the vicar of Wookey aforesaid, leading from the 
 Vicarage-house aforesaid towards the Church there, lying between 
 the backside house and garden of Richard Web, of Wookey afore- 
 said on the east, and the Church Barton and Church House of 
 Wookey aforesaid on the west, paying yearly to the King's 
 Majesty and his successors for the same as a chief rent, the sum 
 of fourpence being demanded. 
 
 Item — the Easter Book, containing therein personal and privy 
 tithes, offerings, church duties, the tithe of kine white and the 
 tithe of calves, colts, lambs, pigs, eggs, dove-houses, and of all 
 other living creatures except the geese. 
 
 Item — the tithe of wool, gardens, orchards, and all fruit trees 
 within the said parish, saving such as are tithe free to the 
 rectory or parsonage of Wookey aforesaid. 
 
 This account of the ancient dues to the vicar of the parish, 
 made at a time when men were beginning to look forward 
 with much fear to the future, and when the Church, under the 
 able administration of Laud, was setting itself in order, is 
 
94 History of-Wookey. 
 
 attested by the vicar, churchwardens, sidesmen, and those of the 
 parishioners who had also signed the Terrier of the rectorial dues 
 and possessions. And this presentiment was not ill-grounded, 
 for only fifteen years afterwards there comes another valuation 
 of the vicarage, short and incisive, as if the valuers had for ever 
 done away with Easter dues, Church duties, and such like, and 
 had decided that the minister of the parish should have a fixed 
 income in money. 
 
 In the survey of the Church lands, ordered by the last days 
 of the reforming parliament in 1649, it is stated that the 
 vicarage is worth £26 13s. 4d, a year, and that the then incum- 
 bent is Mr. Felix Fearne. And again, in the Presentment of 
 Jurors, November 26th, 1650, we find that the "parish of 
 " Wookye consisted of about one hundred and thirty familys, and 
 " is populous, where one Mr. Felix Fearne is the present preach- 
 " ing minister, the glebe and tithes belonging to the vicar 
 *' worth yearly almost twenty pounds." 
 
 It would have been most interesting had the Terrier on this 
 later valuation given us the acreage of the glebe lands, as it 
 would have been a clue by which we might be able to approxi- 
 mate to a date for the enclosure of the common fields of the 
 parish. Certainly this happened either during the latter days of 
 Elizabeth's reign, or during the early part of the 17th century. In 
 a deed belonging to the Church lands of the year 1636, mention is 
 made of the West-field as lately enclosed, and in one of the year 
 1601, in leasing some land, exception is made to a portion of 
 land in Rushlands, as if at the time of the enclosure the lease- 
 holder of an auster tenement had paid more than his share, in 
 order that he might obtain the freehold for himself. At any 
 rate, during this century the glebe of the vicars is increased by 
 three acres and twelve poles of land at Henley, which were 
 allotted to him from the East-field of Wookey. 
 
 During the 18th century little change seems to have taken 
 place liere.^ In all probability the vicars were more or less non- 
 
 ^ In Hooper'8 Return, 6 Quecu Anne (1708), the vicarage is returned as 
 worth £24 los. 8d. 
 
The VicAKAGE and the Vicars. 95 
 
 resident, and the Vicarage-house was let out to others ; and 
 there are still people alive who have heard that the clerk's house 
 used to be in the Back Lane. In 1729 a grant was made to the 
 living by the Governors of Qneen Anne's Bounty of £200, and 
 this was met by a grant from Dr. Roger's benefaction of a 
 similar sum, and this £400 was expended, I believe, on fourteen 
 acres of glebe land at Glastonbury Wick. In 1763, the Rev. 
 Henry Arnold, D.D., vicar of the parish, gave £50, Mrs. 
 Horner's Trustees £50, Mr. Pyncombe's Trustees £100, and 
 Queen Anne's Bounty £200, and this was invested in the 
 purchase of a house and two fields, but not until the beginning 
 of the present century. When the Rev. J. S. Phillott came 
 here in 1801, he intended to reside in the parish, but found 
 that on account of the delapidated state of the Vicarage-house it 
 was then impossible ; and therefore he made use of the last money 
 grant made to the endowment fund to purchase an acre and a 
 half, or thereabouts, of land, with a house upon it; the whole 
 being known as Salvage's plot and home ground. The house he 
 enlarged and made suitable for his residence, and probably took 
 away the stones from the old house, and used them up in the 
 building of the new. During these improvements and alterations, 
 Mr. Phillott lived at Westbury, and when he came here he pro- 
 bably was the first vicar who had resided for more than seventy 
 years. For some time during the incumbency of Dr. Arnold, 
 Mr. Hollyer Allen, the rector of Rodney Stoke, used to act as 
 curate here, and from the fact that he died, and was buried here 
 October 4th, 1771, it would seem probable that he had lived here. 
 Once more there was an enlargement of the Vicarage-house. In 
 1849, during the time of Mr. Burnett-Stuart, the house which 
 Mr. Phillott had built was found to be too small, and several 
 rooms were added, at a cost of £600, the half of which was 
 borrowed from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners on the income of 
 the benefice. In 1883, after the great tithes had fallen in, the 
 Commissioners increased the income of the vicar by a yearly 
 grant of £20. 
 
 Now it is evident, on looking over the above list of vicars, 
 that the parish did not escape the ecclesiastical storms of the 
 
96 History of Wuokey. 
 
 16th and Uth centuries. The period of reform in Edward the 
 VI. 's reign, and the troublous times under the Commonwealth, 
 was felt here sufficiently strong to deprive the parish of the 
 vicars. Alexander Berkeley, a monk from one of the monas- 
 teries which Henry had suppressed, certainly died away from his 
 benefice, and was probably one of those clergy who would not 
 accept the English Prayer Book, and was therefore expelled from 
 his cure. Samuel Yerworth, after having endured the annoyance 
 of two rival preachers within the Church for several years, was 
 at last expelled in the autumn of 1655. And it is worth noticing 
 also, that on the accession of Elizabeth, and on the return of 
 Charles II., the clergy who were placed here had been previously 
 expelled from other benefices. Christopher Webster, appointed 
 vicar of Wookey in 1559, had formerly been vicar of Burnham ; 
 and John Cadd, appointed in 1661, had previously been rector 
 of Charlynch. The following incidental notices of the vicars I 
 have gleaned from various sources, but chiefly from the Episcopal 
 Registers and the University Degree Books, and seem to com- 
 plete the account of the history of our vicars. The gap between 
 Richard de Haslaye and John Baker, and the uncertainty about 
 John Compton, is caused by the loss of the Bishops' Registers for 
 that period. 
 
 John Brent had been rector of Mattingho, now Martinhoe, 
 in the diocese of Exeter, and in 1404 exchanged with John 
 Baker. 
 
 John Wellyknow is called Capellanus. Perhaps he had some 
 work also in the cathedral. 
 
 John Edwards was probably a native of the parish, his 
 relations having settled down here many years previously. We 
 find many Edwards's living at Yarley in the 16th century, and 
 they seem to have had considerable influence in the parish. 
 He resigned in 1506, receiving il 6s. 8d. yearly by way of 
 pension out of the revenues of the vicarage, and was certainly 
 alive ten years later. His successor, John Castell, or as Hutton 
 spells it, John Cayrell, was appointed by Lewis Pollard, sergeant- 
 at-law. This man was probably the agent of John Hans, a non- 
 resident sub-dean of Wells. 
 
The Vicakage and the Vicars. 97 
 
 Richard Ei^ngtorCs (B.A., Nov. 16th, 1510) appointment was 
 probably during the episcopate of John Clark, whose register only 
 exists as far as the year 1534, and therefore I have been unable to 
 give the date of his institution. His name occurs very often in the 
 Yalor Ecclesiasticus, and he seems to have acted almost as an 
 agent for Henry's Commissioners. His name appears as vicar 
 of Wookey, Communicarius of the Estates of the Cathedral, 
 bailiff of Westmere, receiver of the Abbey of Bruton, vicar of 
 Westbury, with the chapelry of Priddy annexed, priest of the 
 new college within the Cathedral, and prebendary of Barton. 
 There may have been two or more persons of that name however. 
 
 Alexander Berkeley , or de Barclay, as Anthony Wood calls 
 him, was born at Berkeley, in Somerset, and educated at Oriel 
 College, Oxford, under Thomas Cornish, bishop of Tenos, in 
 partibics, and suffragan of Bath and Wells. For a time he was 
 one of the priests of the College of St. Mary Ottery, his patron, 
 bishop Cornish, obtaining that post for him. After the bishop's 
 death, he entered a Benedictine monastery ; and when the monas- 
 teries were dissolved, he became vicar of Much Baden, in Essex, 
 and in 1546, vicar of Wookey. He died at Croydon in 1552, his 
 will being proved June 10th, 1552. In his earlier days he was 
 a poet, and afterwards wrote many lives of the saints. His 
 works are, *' The Figure of our Mother Holy Church, oppressed 
 by the French King," " The Miseries or Miserable Lives of 
 Courtiers," English Lives of S.S. Margaret, Katharine, Ethelreda, 
 George," &c. ; and he also translated into English, and in 1508 
 dedicated to Thomas Cornish "The Ship of Fools," a book which 
 was of some notoriety at the time. 
 
 Henry Howe died in 1558. His name heads the list of burials 
 in the parish register. When he was appointed and whether 
 he was a reformer or not I cannot say. Bishop Barlow's register 
 does not exist and the name does not occur in Bourne's. He 
 witnesses Thomas Clerke's signature to his will. 
 
 Christopher Webster (B.A,, Nov. 23rd, 1527), had been 
 presented to the vicarage of Burnham March 9th, 1543, and we 
 may safely say that he was a protestant. 
 
 H 
 
98 History of Wookey. 
 
 Gilbert Harvey was appointed by the bishop, the presentation 
 having lapsed to him, probably, through the great age and feeble 
 health of Wm. Bowerman, the sub-dean. Dr. Bowerman died 
 about this time, but when, I cannot exactly say. During the 
 time of Gilbert Harvey there is an entry in the Register which 
 would make us suppose that he was non-resident. 1571, April 
 12th, Christian Lane, daughter of Mr. Lane, curate, baptized. 
 There were several families of this name in Wells about this time. 
 A Mistress Alice Lane, wife of Mr. Peter Lane, is buried there in 
 1613. 
 
 Thomas Mydleham. I have not yet discovered anything 
 about this vicar. From 1636-1661 a Mr. Purify Mydleham was 
 vicar of Westbury. There must have been a family of this name 
 in the neighbourhood for, in 1589, six years before his appoint- 
 ment here, Mr. Mydleham was married to Margery Collier in the 
 Bishop's Chapel at Banwell. She died in 1624, and for his 
 second wife he married in 1626, Mary Web, his next door 
 neighbour, in the Church Barton, whom he had himself baptized 
 in 1603. 
 
 Samuel Yerworth was born in Dorset about 1591, and went 
 to Oxford at sixteen in 1607. He read Hebrew with some success 
 and in 1650 published a book called " Introductio ad lingnam 
 Ebraicam brevissima." He was expelled by the Puritans in 1655, 
 and his place was filled by Mr. Felix Fearne. He was never 
 instituted to the vicarage because Bishop Peirs retired from the 
 Diocese in 1645 when the rebels visited the county and did 
 not return till 1660. 
 
 John Gadd wsis ordained priest on June 9th, 1639, by bishop 
 Piers, and was appointed rector of Charlinch May 9th, 1639. He 
 vas expelled thence by the Puritans and came here at the 
 Restoration. 
 
 We now come to a serious gap in our list of vicars. I have 
 not been able to find any institution to the benefice between the 
 years 1673 and 1747. Mr. Thomas Stott died and was buried 
 here Decenjber 7th, 1673, and Mr. Robert Kingston was 
 appointed on the nomination of the king through lapse on July 
 
The Vicarage anu the Vicars. 99 
 
 14th, 1747. No mention of Wookey is to be found in the yearly 
 returns for the diocese between these years in the Record Office, 
 and I can give no explanation of the omission of the four names 
 I have inserted. Thomas Ford actually signs in the Parish Vestry 
 Minute book as vicar towards the end of his time, and therefore 
 there need be no hesitation about accepting him He is present 
 at the Yestry Meetings from 1723-1746, so that our gap is 
 diminished to the interval between the years 1673-1723. Now 
 in 1683 there is an entry in the Registers of Burials at Westbury 
 to the effect that a certain woman was buried on the affidavit 
 made before Mr. Jones, minister of Wookey. I have no evidence 
 to prove that he was vicar, but here is a statement that at present 
 I cannot deny. There was also a Mr. Jones, vicar of some place, 
 in the diocese of Bath and Wells, who was disqualified in 1688 
 by his refusal to take the oaths of allegiance to William and 
 Mary. In the churchwardens' accounts from 1702-1730, the names 
 of the other two clergymen occur with such frequency as to 
 warrant us in saying that they were either curates, ministers, or 
 vicars. The Rev. Edward Wooton preaches twice a year for the 
 Second Poor Charity from 1704-1711, and receives each time a 
 fee for his trouble. The Rev. William Hill appears as curate 
 from 1713-1720 and also preaches for the second Poor. In the 
 Presentments of the churchwardens to the Archdeacon of Wells in 
 1746, Mr. Robert Kingston appears as the curate and sequestrator. 
 This last title may give us a clue to our difficulty, but as the 
 chancel was very much out of repair this may only refer to the 
 sub-deanery estates. 
 
 The Rev. Morgan Jones, who is mentioned in the Westbury 
 Register as minister here, may be the same as the man who 
 took his degree from S. John's College, Oxford, 1673, and 
 became Fellow of Jesus and Master of Arts, July 4th, 1676. 
 
 Robert Kingston, Lincoln College, Oxford, B.A., Feb. 25th, 
 1724, M.A, June 22nd, 1728, was ordained deacon, June 8th, 
 1729, and for nearly twenty years was an assistant curate of 
 St. Cuthbert's Church, Wells. He probably lived in Wells and his 
 family rose to some distinction there. He was buried in 
 H 2 
 
100 History of Wookey. 
 
 St. Cuthbert's Church, and in the N.E. aisle there is a tablet to his 
 memory with this inscription : " H.S.E. Robertus Kingston, A.M. 
 "hujusce ecclesiae vicariis per vicenos annos Adjutor, ecclesise 
 *' parochialis de Woky non ita pridem ipse factus Yicarius. 
 ** Pastor erat et fidelis et bonus, amicus certus, vir integer, uxori, 
 "liberis, famulis, familiaribus, pauperibus denique et bonis 
 "omnibus charus' vixit, deflendus obiit IV. Aug., 1748 annum 
 " ageus XLITI." 
 
 Henry Arnold, of Balliol College, Oxfrd, B.A., Oct. 15th, 1742, 
 1742, M.A., July 4th, 1745, B.D. and D.D., April 21st, 1761, was 
 probably non-resident. His assistant curate was for some time 
 the Rev. Hollyer Allen, rector of Rodney Stoke, who died here 
 and was buried, Oct. 4th, 1771. 
 
 William Keate was also non-resident. The Rev. John Pearse 
 was his curate for some years. 
 
 Evan Davies was, in addition to being vicar here, rector of 
 Ilchester and vicar of Pilton. He died and was buried at Pilton, 
 Jan. 14th, 1812, aged 56. 
 
 Charles Moss was the son of Charles Moss, the then bishop of 
 Bath and Wells. He was educated at Christchurch, Oxford, and 
 took his degree in 1783, M.A., 1786 and D.D., 1797. He was 
 appointed sub-dean of Wells and rector of Wookey within a year 
 after his appointment to this vicarage. In 1807 he was made 
 bishop of Oxford, and died 1812. 
 
 John Stevens Phillott was the eldest son of the Rev. James 
 Phillott, rector of Bath. He was educated at Balliol College, 
 Oxford, and took his degree June 14th, 1797. Immediately 
 afterwards he was ordained on a title his father had given to the 
 Abbey-church at Bath. He held no other preferment but this 
 vicarage. 
 
 Edward Sneyd was of Christ's College, Cambridge, B.A, 
 1826, M.A., 1830 ; minor canon of Durham, 1831 ; vicar of 
 St. Margaret's, Durham, 1834; vicar of Wookey, 1839; rector 
 of Witton Gilbert, 1839; vicar of St. Oswald's, Durham, 1848- 
 1862. Died August 3rd, 1866, aged 71. Mr. Sneyd only held 
 
The Vicarage am) the Vicars. 101 
 
 Wookey from January to November, 1839. His wife died here, 
 and owing to the Tithe Commutation arrangements he was not 
 very happy in his relations with the parishioners. 
 
 William Thorjye of Merton College, Oxford, took his degree 
 in 1824. He became vicar of Chattisham, Suffolk, 1830, vicar of 
 Wookey, 1839, rector of Weeley, Colchester, 1849 and died 1875. 
 
 Theodosius Burnett-Stuart of Queen's College, Cambridge, took 
 his degree as 13th wrangler, 1827, and was afterwards elected 
 fellow and dean of his college. He became vicar of Northaller- 
 ton in 1840, and vicar of Wookey by exchange in 1849. He 
 died in 1868. 
 
 Morton Drummend of Caius College, Cambridge, took his 
 degree in 1856 and M.A., 1860. He was ordained to the curacy 
 of Castle Cary, 1858. In 1861 he was appointed vicar of 
 Exmoor, in 1868 vicar of Wookey, and in 1879 rector of 
 Wanstead. 
 
 In the Register mention is made of three persons whose names 
 do not appear in the above list. 
 
 In 1571 there is an entry that on April 12th Christian 
 Lane, daughter of Mr. Lane, Curate, was baptized. 
 
 On January 8th, 163 J, Mr. Anthonie Buxton, a minister, was 
 buried. He was probably a brother of Mr. Robert Buxton and 
 received the legacy of John Browning for preaching fifteen 
 sermons. 
 
 On May 23rd, 1650, John, son of Mr. Felix Fearne, minister, 
 and Bridgett, his wife, was baptized. This puritan we know 
 about from the report of the Commonwealth Commissioners. 
 
102 History of Wookei'. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE PARISH REGISTERS, CHURCHWARDENS, CLERKS 
 
 AND SEXTONS. 
 
 Y / 1 E are very fortunate in having such old and perfect 
 ^^M> Registers. They have been well kept, well bound, and on 
 the whole are remarkably clean. The register of burials begins 
 with the name of Mr. Henry Howe, vicar of the parish, who died 
 in the year 1558, and the register of births, burials, and 
 marriages have been regularly kept from 1565. Previous to the 
 year 1598 the entries were made on loose pieces of parchment or 
 paper, but in that year the churchwardens, John Turner and John 
 Browning bought 42 leaves of parchment at a cost of 8s. lOd. and 
 had all the entries on the loose papers copied on them. This 
 lasted as the register book till the year 1639 when Edward 
 Hippisley and Robert Buxton, churchwardens, bought 20 leaves 
 more at a cost of 3s. In 1669, 18 leaves more were added by 
 Edward Hobbs and Hugh Merifield at a cost of 4s. 6d. In 1702, 
 54 more leaves were added by John Stott and Thomas Churchous 
 and the whole were bound at a cost of 10s. 8d. In 1767 40 leaves 
 more were added by Thomas Bailey and Joseph Elvard, and the 
 whole were rebound by Mr. Carr, of Wells, for 17s. 
 
 Such is the old register bringing down the entries of marriages 
 to 1758, and of baptisms and burials to 1812. From these dates the 
 modern books begin, there being three volumes of marriage registers, 
 viz. 1754-1814; 1814-1837; 1837 to the present time ; and one 
 for burials and two for baptisms. The writing is all by the same hand 
 from 1565 to 1598. Then Mr. Mydleham seems to have kept 
 them himself almost to the time of his death in 1647. The hand- 
 writing of Stephen Weare, the celebrated parish clerk, is then 
 visible, though Mr. Samuel Yerworth sometimes makes the entries 
 himself until 1655. From this time until his death in 1680, 
 Stephen Weare, who had been sworn in as registrary for the 
 
The Pakish Eegi«ters. 103 
 
 parish, keeps the books and makes the entries. To him succeeded 
 John Turner, and from about the end of the 17th century down to 
 the present time the entries were made either by the vicar for 
 the time or somebody acting for him. Thomas Ford countersigns 
 several leaves about 1730, and Wm. Keate in 1781. 
 
 There are several interesting pieces of information to be found 
 in this old register. 
 
 1573. At this time baysalt was sold 3s. id. le bush. : and wheat 
 for 4s. le bushell in Wells market. 
 
 In 1597, we read that "at this time in Wells market, wheat 
 was sold for 16s. the bushel, beanes at 13s. the bushell, barley at 
 10s. the bushell, barley malt at 10s. the bushell, dredg at 6s. 8d. the 
 bushell, oates at 5s. 4d., barley graynes for hogges at 8d. the bushell, 
 and bay salt at 7s. 6d. 
 
 1609. Mr. Anthony Godwyn of this parish died at London, 
 the 22nd of November, and was buried in Clement Danes Church 
 without Temple Bar, the 23rd of November, and a funeral sermon 
 was preached for him by Mr. Allen in Wookey Church, 14th 
 December. 
 
 Mr. A. Godwyn held the lease of the Rectory now called 
 Mellifont Abbey. 
 
 In 1612. "About this time Hembury Wood was sold and 
 cutte." 
 
 1614. This Lent white herins were sold 2 a penny and red 
 herins 5 for 2^. and egs two for a penny or five for two pence. 
 
 In 1614. " Robert Buxton was buried the 31st of March. 
 He gave to the poor of the parish of Wokey X^^, to every one of 
 the almesfolkes of Wells vi^ a year and to divers other several 
 poor people worthye legacies. 
 
 1622. Hannah, the wife of John Crooker and daughter unto 
 Thomas Mydleham, vicar of this parish, departed this life on 
 Monday morning, the 22nd of September, and was buried the 24th 
 of the same September, being that day of the moneth, 1598, on 
 which she was baptized. 
 
 We can surely forgive the poor old vicar the length of this 
 entry. Twenty-five years afterwards they laid him in the same 
 grave. Is it not with us unto this day ? 
 
104 History of Wookey. 
 
 1624. John Browning aged about 25 years, died March 21st, 
 who died as he lived very honestly and godly. He gave to the 
 poor of the parish £5 and for certain preachers that should preach 
 15 sermons in the church of Woky £5 more, and for to be spent 
 at his burial £10. He was buried March 24th. 
 
 1635. Mr. Anthonie Buxton, a minster, was buried January 8th. 
 
 1653, Oct. 9. Collected at Wookey, in the county of Somerset, 
 for the town of Marlborough, in the county of Wilts, who had 
 great loss by fire, towards the relief of the poor there, and the 
 rebuilding of the town, at two several collections, 27s. 6d. and 12s., 
 making in all 39s. 6d. Samuel Yerworth, vicar. 
 
 In 1655, Mr. Samuel Yerworth was expelled by the authorities 
 of the Commonwealth, but ere he departed he is careful to 
 mention the fact. Here ends the Weddings that were before the 
 new act in force, Sept. 29th, 1655. Noted by me, Samuel 
 Yerworth, vicar, April 22nd, 1655. 
 
 1656. January 6th. Baptized John, son of Richard and 
 Jane Turner of Ripple. The godfathers and grandmotliers were 
 three hundred years of age. 
 
 The following account of Thomas Edwarde and his will also 
 appears among the burials for the year 1596. He was the son of 
 Anthony and Margaret Edwarde of Henton, Thomas Edwarde, 
 the son of Margaret Edwarde of Yardly, widow, being of the age 
 of nineteen years and nine months, departed this life July 28tli, in 
 the year next above written and was buried the 29th of the same 
 month, in the parish church of Woky. This Thomas Edwarde in 
 his lifetime was a virtuous young man, beloved of the most honest 
 persons and inhabitants within the parish of Woky, and such a one 
 as right well affect the poor, as by the last will and almost the last 
 word that he spake it may and doth appear, the tenor of whose 
 will is as followeth. 
 
 July 27th, 1596. Thomas Edwarde of Woky in the county of 
 Somerset, husbandman, being perfect of mind and memory did 
 make his last will noncupative in manner and form following viz : 
 he gave three pounds of current English money to the poor of the 
 parish of Woky aforesaid, to be put out yearly from time to time 
 
The Pakish Kegisteks. 105 
 
 for the relief and benefit of the poor there for ever at the Feast 
 of St. Michael the Archangel by two of his next of kin, the vicar 
 of the same parish, and the two churchwardens for the time being, 
 every of their successors taking sufficient security as well for 
 the principle as the increase, which increase he willed to be dis- 
 tributed by the aforesaid persons and their successors to the 
 poor according to their discretion upon the feast of the Saint 
 yearly. 
 
 Item, he gave also to the church and parish of Woky afore- 
 said 3s. 4d., and to the church of Wedmore 2s., and to the poor 
 of the almshouses of Wells 2s. Witness thereunto John Edwarde, 
 brother of the said Thomas Edwarde. To this will was annexed 
 and underwritten an administracion granted by the right worship- 
 ful Mr. James Bysse, doctor of divinity, sub-dean of the cathedral 
 church of St. Andrew in Wells, and ordinary of the parish of 
 Woky, aforesaid, unto Margaret Edwarde, mother of the said 
 Thomas Edwarde, and to John Edwarde, brother of the said 
 Thomas. Dated at Wells, August 9th, 1596. 
 
 In 1680, we read that Stephen Weare, who was a long time 
 clerke of this parish and had while he lived seven wives successive- 
 lie, was buried May the 20th. 
 
 In 1678, we find the first notice of that act of parliament 
 which was passed to promote the agricultural interest of the 
 kingdom. We then read such entries as the following : — Alice, the 
 wife of Thomas Churchouse, was buried the 28th of October in 
 sheep's wool only. 
 
 1703, Thomas Randall was buried the 26th of November, 
 and the same night was a mighty hurriance of wind which rent 
 and spoiled many dwellings together with outhouses, and threw 
 down innumerable multitude of trees and drove many ships out of 
 the sea into the meadows by reason of the very great tempest at 
 night. 
 
 This was the storm which threw down the chimney at the 
 palace and caused the death of Bishop Kidder as he lay in bed. 
 
 Formerly the only collections made in parish churches, except 
 those for the poor at the celebration of the Holy Communion, 
 

 
 s. d. 
 
 Collected 
 
 1 7i 
 
 >> 
 
 
 1 2i 
 
 , loss 
 
 by 
 
 
 
 
 3 2^ 
 
 
 
 3 6| 
 
 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 
 1 10| 
 
 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 
 10 
 ) 5 
 
 106 History of Wookey. 
 
 were authorised by Royal brief. There is a list of the collections 
 made in Wookey Church under this authority, and the cause 
 for which the money was collected. It is as follows, omitting 
 the amount of loss : — 
 
 1703. Twyford, loss by fire 
 
 Spittlefield, loss by fire 
 
 William Odell, of St. Giles' -in-the-Fields, 
 
 fire 
 J ohn Wapping, in County of Middlesex 
 
 Great Massingham, loss by fire 
 
 William Brompton, loss by fire ... 
 Francis Dorset, loss by fire 
 
 1708. Great Yarmouth, loss by fire, Aug. 1st ... 
 Bewdley, loss by fire, Aug. 22nd 
 Altonbury-cum-Weston, in County of Huntingdon, 
 
 loss by fire, Oct. 3rd „ 7f 
 
 1709. Lisburne, in Ireland, loss by fire ,, 13^ 
 
 Strand, loss by fire ,, IH 
 
 Branchley Church, damaged „ 2 Oi 
 
 At ye head of y® Cannon Gate at Edinburgh, in 
 
 North Brittan, loss by fire. Amount illegible. 
 Harlowe, in the County of Essex, loss by fire ,, 
 St. Mary Redcliff'e Church, in Bristol, damaged ,, 
 
 1710. Llanvilling Church, damaged ... ... ,, 
 
 A briefe for y*^ relief, subsistence, and settlement of 
 
 the poor distressed palatines .. . ... ,, 
 
 Protestant Church of Mittau, in Courland , , 
 
 Market Rayson, loss by fire ... ... ,, 
 
 Stoak, in the County of Suffolk ... ... ,, 
 
 The Parish Church of Aston-super-Mercy, in yo 
 
 County of Chester ,, 10 
 
 The ancient borrough and towne of Stockton-upon- 
 
 Tees, in the County of Durham, Stockton 
 
 Church ... ... ... ... ... ,, 
 
 Chalfont St. Peter's Church, in the County of 
 
 Buckingham ,, 
 
 Rotherhith Wall, in the County of Surrey, loss by 
 
 fire 
 
 Northfleet and Durant, loss by fire ... ,, 
 
 Twyford, in the Countie of Barks, loss by fire ,, 
 St. Mary Rotherhith Church, in the Countie of 
 
 Surry 
 
 Lie, in Devon, loss by fire ,, 
 
 Ensham, in the County of Oxen, loss by fire ,, 
 
 1712. St. Mary's Church, in Colchester, demolished in the 
 
 Civil War „ 2 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 9^ 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 8i 
 
 
 
 9^ 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4 
 

 
 111 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 91 
 
 
 
 4^ 
 
 
 
 6i 
 
 
 
 7^ 
 
 
 
 4i 
 
 The Parish Registers. 107 
 
 1713. The town of Rudgley, in County of Stafford ,, 
 The steeple of the Parish Church of Adderley ,, 
 Colverton Church, in the County of Leicester ,, 
 Witheridge and Chilton, loss by fire .. ,, 
 
 Richard Salter, *' of our City of London " ,, 
 
 Quatford Church, in County of Sallop ... ,, 
 St. Mary's Church .... Devon ... ,, 
 The Church of Burton-upon-Trent, in the County 
 
 of Stafford „ 3 2J 
 
 Southwell Church, in the County of Nottingham, 
 
 damaged ... ... ... ... ... ,, 18 
 
 Warmingham Church, in County of Chester, 
 
 damaged ... ... ... ... .- ,, 7 
 
 William Adams, of Heathill, in the County of 
 
 Stafford „ 10^ 
 
 1715. Shipwash Church, in the County of Devon, 
 
 damaged ... ... ... ... ... ,, 13 
 
 Woodham Ferry's Church, in the County of Essex, 
 
 damaged ... ... .. ... ... ,, 3 
 
 St. John Baptist Church, in Southover, in the 
 
 County of Sussex ,, 4| 
 
 All Saints' Church, in the borough of Derby, 
 
 damaged ,, 5 
 
 Leighton Church, in the County of Salop ... ,, 4 
 
 Botisham, in the County of Cambridge, loss by 
 
 fire „ 4i 
 
 The earlier collections do not appear to have been made in 
 church, but rather from house to house ; but afterwards the 
 fact that the sum had been collected in the parish church of 
 Wookey is always stated. There are four or five other entries 
 at the top or bottom of a page, but the names are quite illegible. 
 
108 
 
 History of Wookey. 
 
 CHURCHWARDENS OF WOOKEY. 
 
 1562. William Drewe 
 
 John Edwards 
 
 1598. John Turner 
 
 John Browning, the elder 
 
 1602. Mr. Anthony Godwin 
 
 Bartholomew Castle 
 
 1613. David Trym 
 
 John Smyth also Hooper 
 
 1618. John Chappell 
 
 Nicholas Marshfield 
 
 1629. David Trym 
 
 John Chappell 
 
 1634. Thomas Churchouse 
 
 Richard Abowen 
 
 1633. John Hooper als Smyth 
 
 John Ffussell 
 
 1639. Edward Hippisley 
 
 Robert Buxton 
 
 1644. Richard Sage 
 
 Thomas Hotkins 
 
 1646. John Heliar 
 
 Edward Barnard 
 
 1650. Thomas Churchouse 
 
 Richard Westwood 
 
 1669. Thomas Hobbe 
 
 Hugh Merihfield 
 
 1670. John Smith 
 
 John Stott 
 
 1689. Thomas Corpe 
 
 Hugh Merifield 
 
 1696. William Clarke 
 
 William Chappell 
 
 1699. Richard Ballar 
 
 Richard Millard 
 
 1700. JohnTutten 
 
 John Luflfe 
 
 1701. Thomas Barnard 
 
 Thomas Watts 
 
 1702. John Stott 
 
 Thomas Churchouse 
 
 1703. John Browning 
 
 John Randall 
 
 1704. John Barnard 
 
 George Brookman 
 
 1705. George Masters 
 
 David Cooke 
 
 1706. James Tibbs 
 
 John Turner, of Bleadney 
 
 1707. John Cooke 
 
 William Browne 
 
 1708. Thomas Tibbs 
 
 Stephen Weare 
 
 1709. William Gale 
 
 William Wills 
 
 1710. JohnRooe 
 
 Thomas Gale 
 
 1711. Richard Clarke 
 
 John Elford, for Mr. Muttlebury 
 
 1712. John Poole 
 
 John Churchouse 
 
 1713. Richard Browning 
 
 John Plumer 
 
 1714. David Cooke 
 
 John LufFe 
 
 1715. Richard Clarke 
 
 Joseph French 
 
 1716. Johi) Barnard 
 
 William Glover 
 
 1717. Do. 
 
 John Watts 
 
 1718. William Chappell 
 
 George Allford 
 
 1719. Thomas Strode 
 
 Thomas Stott, or Mr. Bayley 
 
The Parish Registers. 
 
 109 
 
 1720. 
 
 Thomas Peirs 
 
 Thomas Gale 
 
 1721. 
 
 Thomas Peirs 
 
 Thomas Gale 
 
 1722. 
 
 William Gale 
 
 Thomas Lyde 
 
 1723. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1724. 
 
 Richard Clarke 
 
 John Elford 
 
 1725. 
 
 John Barnard 
 
 William Gale 
 
 1726. 
 
 George AUford 
 
 John Watts 
 
 1727. 
 
 James Gale 
 
 Do. 
 
 1728. 
 
 Do. 
 
 James Tibbs 
 
 1729. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1730. 
 
 Francis Sheppard 
 
 Robert Day 
 
 1731. 
 
 Francis Sheppard or . 
 
 John Luflf Charles Stott 
 
 1732. 
 
 Thomas Strode 
 
 Joseph Midleham 
 
 1733. 
 
 John Barnard 
 
 Thomas Stott 
 
 1734. 
 
 George Cooke 
 
 George Baker 
 
 1735. 
 
 Thomas Baily 
 
 James Stott 
 
 1736. 
 
 Thomas Strode 
 
 William Cook 
 
 1737. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1738. 
 
 John Willcox 
 
 Nathaniel Cook 
 
 1739. 
 
 William Gale 
 
 Joseph Elvard 
 
 1740. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1741. 
 
 Edward Band 
 
 John Butt 
 
 1742. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 174.3. 
 
 Samuel Were 
 
 John Butten 
 
 1744. 
 
 William Hodges 
 
 Do. 
 
 1745. 
 
 William Hill 
 
 Isaac Stott 
 
 1746. 
 
 John Salmon 
 
 Do. 
 
 1747. 
 
 Edmund Wilkins 
 
 Edmund Cozens • 
 
 1748. 
 
 Thomas Strode 
 
 Thomas Bailey 
 
 1749. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1750. 
 
 Charles Stott 
 
 Charles Savage 
 
 1751. 
 
 Thomas Baker 
 
 John Hill 
 
 1752. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1753. 
 
 William Gale 
 
 John Stott 
 
 1754. 
 
 William Ekins Peirs 
 
 John Butten 
 
 1755. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1756. 
 
 William Hughes 
 
 Do. 
 
 1757. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1758. 
 
 William Hill 
 
 John Stott 
 
 1759. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1760. 
 
 John Butten 
 
 George Cook 
 
 1761. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1762. 
 
 William Cooke ' 
 
 James Stott 
 
110 
 
 HiSTOKY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 1763. William Cooke 
 
 James Stott 
 
 1764. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1765. Thomas Bailey 
 
 Joseph Elvard 
 
 1766. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1767. Abraham Goater 
 
 Thomas Stott 
 
 1768. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1769. Henry Mackinnen 
 
 Thomas Ruddick 
 
 1770. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1771. Edward Band 
 
 Nicholas Goddard 
 
 1772. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1773. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1774. Thomas Baker 
 
 James Stott 
 
 1775. John Salmon 
 
 John Butten 
 
 1776. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1777. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1778. Thomas Baker 
 
 James Stott 
 
 1779. John Butten 
 
 John Salmon 
 
 1780. John Salmon 
 
 Do. 
 
 1781. John Meadens 
 
 John Clark 
 
 1782. Do. 
 
 John Band 
 
 1783. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1784. John Salmon 
 
 James Weare 
 
 1785. Do. 
 
 Isaac Stott, Junr. 
 
 1786. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1787. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1788. Do, 
 
 Do. 
 
 1789. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1790. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1791. bo. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1792. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1793. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1794. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1795. Thomas Barnard 
 
 Thomas Weare 
 
 1796. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1797. Isaac Stott 
 
 Do. 
 
 1798. John Hill 
 
 Do. 
 
 1799. John Band 
 
 Do. 
 
 1800. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1801. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1802. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1803. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1804. Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1805. George Yeap 
 
 Do. 
 
The Parish Registeks. 
 
 Ill 
 
 1806. 
 
 John Pitney 
 
 Thomas Weare 
 
 1S07. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1808. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1809. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1810. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1811. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1812. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1813. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1814. 
 
 William Stott 
 
 John Weare 
 
 1815. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1816. 
 
 John Weare 
 
 William Stott 
 
 1817. 
 
 John Weare 
 
 Do. 
 
 1818. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1819. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1820. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1821. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1823. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1824. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1825. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1826. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1827. 
 
 Do. 
 
 George Barnard 
 
 1828. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1830. 
 
 William Pitney 
 
 Richard Clarke 
 
 1831. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1832. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1833. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1834. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1835. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1836. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1837. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1838. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1839. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1840. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1841. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1842. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1843. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1844. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1845. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1846. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1848. 
 
 Edward Hill 
 
 George Salmon 
 
 1849. 
 
 James Hill 
 
 Do. 
 
112 
 
 History of Wookey. 
 
 1850. 
 
 James Hill 
 
 George Salmon 
 
 1851. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1852. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1853. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1854. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1855. 
 
 William Caseley 
 
 John Hill 
 
 1856. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 George Salmon 
 
 1857. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1858. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1859. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1860. 
 
 George Salmon 
 
 William Caseley 
 
 1861. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 Robert Salmon 
 
 Do. 
 
 1862. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1863. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1864. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 Wm. S. Hill, of Oare 
 
 Do. 
 
 1865. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1866. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1867, 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 William Vincent 
 
 1868. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1869. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1870. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1871. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1872. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do, 
 
 1873. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1874. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1875. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1876. 
 
 William Caseley 
 
 Do. 
 
 1877. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1878. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Augustus Burnett-Stuart 
 
 Do. 
 
 1880. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1881. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1882. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1883. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1884. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Robert Welch 
 
 1885. 
 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
The Parish Clerks. 
 
 113 
 
 THE PARISH CLERKS. 
 
 I have not got a very perfect list of the Clerks and Sextons 
 because the Churchwarden's accounts are not always kept in an 
 equally diffusive manner. Sometimes payment is made to a man 
 under his name, and sometimes under his office, as clerk or sexton, 
 and therefore considerable difficulty arises in making out the 
 order of succession. 
 
 The parish clerks are as follows : — 
 
 1. Thomas Fry 
 
 2. Thomas Davys 
 
 3. Robert Beeny 
 
 4. Richard Baker 
 
 5. Stephen Weare 
 
 6. Thomas Watts 
 
 7. Thomas Light 
 
 8. William Mulford 
 
 9. Anthony Turner 
 
 10. Abraham Boulting 
 
 11. William Boulting 
 
 12. Thomas Clements 
 
 13. Edward Clements 
 
 14. John Monk 
 
 15. George Dennis. 
 
 died March 17th, 1571. 
 buried September 28th, 1577. 
 February 22nd, 1618. 
 July 25th, 1631. 
 May 20th, 1680. 
 September 25th, 1683. 
 
 December 5th, 1731. 
 
 March 24th, 1763. 
 
 October 21st, 1764. 
 
 July 18th, 1792. 
 June 30th, 1829. 
 June 11th, 1834. 
 August 9th, 1851. 
 
 That the men whose names are given above were parish clerks 
 is generally stated in the entry of their burial. I have no 
 proof for Thomas Light, except his signature as a witness on 
 a deed of the year 1697. The following are the seven wives 
 of Stephen Weare : — 
 
 1. Elizabeth Colboume, married May 8th, 1626. 
 
 2. Hannah Salmon, married November 18th, 1630; died August 
 31st, 1648. 
 
 3. Katheren died November 28th, 1652. 
 
 4. Gartred Blinman, married April 14th, 1653 ; died August 4th, 1668. 
 
114 History of Wookfa'. 
 
 5. Jane Collier, of Croscombe, married December 20tli, 1668 ; died 
 
 November 21st, 1571. 
 
 6. Mary Lane, of Priddy, married February 26th, 1672 ; died December 
 
 6th, 1677. 
 
 7. Joan Ford, of Langford, married February 7th, 1678. 
 
 The Sextons. 
 
 The sextons are yet more difficult to find. My list is as 
 follows : — 
 
 William Denbeigh, buried February 11th, 1704. 
 
 Nicolas Boulting ,, August 2nd, 1705. 
 
 Charles Boulting „ April 19th, 1730. 
 
 John Day, senior ,, Feb. 11th, 1753. 
 
 John Day, junior ,, December 14th, 1782. 
 
 James Day, died January 10th, 1853, sexton for 42 years, 
 
 Joseph Day, died December 23rd, 1858, sexton for 5 years. 
 
 Samuel Robins, died 1868. 
 
 John Adlam, retired, 1872. 
 
 Robert Masters. 
 
Mansio 
 Rectoris de Wokv 
 
 Messuagium 
 Vicarii de Woky 
 
 Qu^dam venella ex oppositoMess^ 
 
 Terra 
 
 Prioris 
 
 Sancti 
 
 Johannis 
 
 Baptistse 
 
 de 
 Welles 
 
 The 
 
 Church 
 
 Barton 
 
 Strecchei 
 teiiemenl 
 
 Regia Via sive 
 
 Via de Woky 
 
 ^cclesia 
 de Woky 
 
 A rough chart of a portion of Wookey in 1430, 
 auster tenement given as an endowmeut 
 
Teri-a 
 Episcopi 
 
 iti( 
 
 j^uo vocati la Vikersplace 
 
 Terra 
 
 Episcopi 
 
 lei-ra Episcopi 
 
 Jefferiej'Br 
 
 iwing the path, to the Vicarage and the small 
 the cliurch some time before 1389. 
 
Endowments. 115 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND PAROCHIAL ENDOW- 
 
 MENTS. 
 
 JTTHE Church endowments, as far as we have any record 
 concerning them, began with the house and plot of land 
 on the eastern half of the present Church Barton. When this 
 was given as a source of income for the Church expenses, I 
 cannot say. But in 1389 we find John Wareyn de Welleslegh, 
 canonicus ecclesiae cathedralis Wellensis, and John Hillary 
 sending greeting to all the faithful, and informing them that 
 they had granted to John Bek, of Woky, and Alice, his wife, 
 that tenement with one fardell of land which is called Strecches- 
 tenement, on a lease for their lives, at a yearly rent of 8s., to 
 be paid quarterly. This tenement is then said to have been 
 lately in the tenure of John Compton, " chaplain." Now from 
 this I should say that these two were trustees on behalf of the 
 Church, but what other connection they had with the parish 
 I cannot say. Certainly neither were rectors of the place. 
 Who Johannes Compton, capellanus perpetuus, was, I do not 
 know, but he may have been a vicar here. However, in one 
 of the hallmotes of 1392, John Bek and William Smith are 
 admitted to two of the Church cottages ; and this agrees 
 with the second lease to John Bek. Three years afterwards 
 the same property is leased to John Bek, and Edith, his 
 wife. Perhaps Alice had died in the meantime, and John Bek 
 wished to have the lease renewed for the sake of safety. The 
 next deed is a grant by John Carter, alias Morekoc, of Chewton, 
 carpenter, to Richard Bokkyng, burgher, of Wells, and Alicia, 
 his wife, of the western portion of the present Church Barton. 
 It is described as being between the cottage and garden of John 
 Bek on the east, and the house of the Prior of the hospital of 
 St. John the Baptist, in Wells, on the west, having the high 
 I 2 
 
116 HlSTOIlY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 road on the south, and a certain lane on the north, which ran 
 in front of the house called La Vickersplace. It was 37 feet wide 
 and 141 feet long, from road to lane. Not a month afterwards 
 Richard Bokkyng sells it to John Spray, alias Hankyns, of Woky. 
 These are dated 7 Henry V. = 1420. We then lose sight of it 
 until the seventeenth year of Henry YII. = 1502, when a certain 
 "William Sawyer grants it to twelve trustees, and from that date 
 we can trace its history. But with regard to the former house 
 and its fardell of land, we find in 1488 a Thomas Brown, of 
 Yenell,^ husbandman, granting the house and garden to John 
 Selcok on a lease of 99 years, who pays him annually 3s. 4d. as 
 rent ; and as no mention is made of the fardell of land, I suppose 
 it had gone to endow some one or something else. Then in 
 1492 Thomas Browne, son and heir of Kichard Browne, of 
 Yenell, grants to five trustees all his lands and hereditaments 
 in the parish of Wookey, without specifying what they were. 
 From this time, then, we can trace the history of this piece of 
 land. The trustees evidently buy up or get rid of John Selcock, 
 for in the same year they grant it to John Turner, of Woky, 
 and Christine, his wife, on a lease for life, paying on the festival 
 of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist one red rose. Probably 
 the fine that Turner paid, in order to get the place on such 
 easy terms, was made use of to settle John Selcock's claims. 
 
 In 1583 we find two important changes in the indenture 
 of the lease of this last piece of land. First, there appears to 
 have been set up within the narrow strip, in addition to the 
 older one to the north, a house, which is now called Church- 
 house. For when leasing this other house, with its small plot 
 of ground, the right is reserved of ingress, egress and regress 
 through the ground to the Church-house. And, secondly, we find 
 for the first time any hint about the allotment of the moors. For 
 the house is leased out, with its garden and the common there- 
 unto belonging. From this time there is much difficulty in 
 tracing the distinct history of the two plots of land and their 
 houses. But previous to the year 1689 we find that the trustees 
 
 1 Where Yenell is I do not know. 
 
Emjowments. 117 
 
 let, with their former possessions, portions of land in the West- 
 field, in the North-field, and in the East-field, and very shortly 
 afterwards these appear as fields in Rushlands, Greenswaybush 
 and Henley, and probably are the common lands allotted to the 
 tenements, being mentioned in 1583, and now in 1689 having 
 distinct names. The allotments on Knowle-moor were granted to 
 the Church trustees as possessors of auster tenements, by the 
 Commissioners for the enclosure in 1786. There were clearly, 
 then, two enclosures of the moors, one probably during the reign 
 of Queen Elizabeth, or James I., when the fields at Henley, 
 Greenswaybush and Rushlands were given us, and the other in 
 George III.'s reign, when the Knowle fields w^ere added. I pre- 
 sume there was some exchange of lands between the rectors and 
 the Church trustees, because we have no land at Greenswaybush 
 now, but have some land at Stroud, which was formerly rectorial 
 glebe, and the rectors had no land at Greenswaybush, but now 
 have. When this exchange took place I cannot say. 
 
 Our next endowment was rather for the benefit of agriculture 
 than for the use of the Church. It is the bequest made by the 
 rector, who was sub-dean, the Rev. William Boureman, for the 
 increase of ploughs and better maintenance of tillage. Our deed 
 is dated October 4th, 1561. He gave i£20 " from his love for 
 the public interest of the people of Wookey," into the hands of 
 Christopher Webster, vicar, William Drewe and John Edwardes, 
 churchwardens, and Henry Clarke, Richard Godwyn, John 
 Chapell, John Turner, Thomas Churchehouse, John Bulting, 
 William Beny, John Wilcockes, Nicholas Boulting, William 
 Toker and Robert Buxton in trust as a continual stock, to be 
 delivered to four honest men of the parish who had land to till, for 
 their use for two whole years. The accounts were to be audited on 
 the Sunday next after the Feast of St. Michael, in the Church- 
 house of Wookey. Before receiving the loan they were to find 
 sureties, and no one was to receive it twice within a space of four 
 years from the end of his first tenure, and the men are to be chosen 
 fairly from all districts of the parish. How long this charity 
 continued I have no means of finding out, but in 1776 it la 
 
lis History of Wookey. 
 
 scheduled in the Donation Act Paper as lost, and probably it did 
 not survive the troubles of the 17th century. 
 
 We next come to the legacy of Joan Browning, to the Second 
 Poor.^ Joan Browning, a widow lady of Yarley, left £50 for 
 the poor of Wookey, and our first deed bears date 23rd September, 
 23 Charles I. = 1647-8. David Trym, John Chapell, John Brown- 
 ing, Senr., E,. Lyde, J. Corpe, and E. Hippisley are the first 
 trustees. They declare that they have purchased the land of 
 John Stock, of Yarley, and 1^ acres of arable land at Oare for 
 the poor of Wookey. Stock's land consisted of 1^ acres, lying 
 below the Yeo at Yardley, 1| acres at Monkford, H acres at 
 Hornsmead, and 2 J acres in the common field, called Knowle- 
 field. 
 
 The next legacy is that which Thomas Churchhouse, of Henton, 
 left by his will, May 11th, 1661, in which he charged his lands 
 at Aishwick with a yearly payment of 10s. to the second poor 
 of Wookey. 
 
 We then come to W. Council's gift of £20 to the second poor, 
 and £10 the interest of which is to be given to the vicar for 
 preaching two sermons a year when the people came to receive 
 the charity. 
 
 W. Council died July 11th, 1715, and in 1731 the people of 
 Wookey subscribed £72, and with that money, and Council's 
 £30, the messuage, orchard and pasture land, called Webb's 
 Cribb, and Webb's was purchased from William Chappell, of 
 Wookey, yeoman, together with Gully-house and Goarway-fields, 
 the first set of trustees being Thomas Strode, John Lufie, Junr., 
 John Watts, Senr,, and John Watts, Junr., Eichard Clarke, 
 George Cooke and John Poole. 
 
 In 1778, Dr. Arnold, vicar of Wookey, who died September 
 6th of that year, left by will £10 for the second poor, and this 
 seems to have been immediately distributed, and not invested in 
 land. 
 
 In 1798 Mrs. Ann Elvard, who was buried October 28th, 
 left by will £100, the interest of which was to be distributed in 
 bread to the poor of the parish, and in 1822 the Eev. T. B. 
 
 ^ i.e. the grade next above recognised paupers. 
 
Salmon, who died June 20th of that year, left £20 more for the 
 same purpose. The interest of this £120 is now yearly dis- 
 tributed, according to the terms of the Charity. 
 
 The following catalogue of deeds in the Parish Chests illus- 
 trates the foregoing statements : — 
 
 1. Lease of land to John and Alice Bek, by John Warreyn de 
 
 Welleslegh, and John Hillary, Strecchestenement. Die 
 Mercurii in festo S. Michaelis. 13th Rich. II. 
 
 2. Lease of land to John and Edith Bek by above. Die Martis 
 
 proxime post festum S. Mariae Magdalense. 16th Rich. 11. 
 Two copies. 
 
 3. John Carter, alias Morekoc, carpenter, grant of house and 
 
 garden in Wookey to Richard Bokkyng, burgher of Wells, 
 and Alice, his wife, January 14th, the 7th of Henry Y. 
 
 4. Richard Bokkyng grants his cottage to John Spray, alias 
 
 Hanky ns, of Wookey. Feb. 10th, 7th of Henry V. 
 
 5. John Hillary, Capellanus, de Schirborn, leases the house that 
 
 John Bek had, to John Schapel, and Isabella, his wife. 
 Sunday before Michaelmas. 11th of Henry VI. 
 
 6. John Hillary de Schirborn, in Com. Som. capellanus, leases 
 
 the cottage which Bek had, to John Colyer, and Joanna, his 
 wife, and John, their son, October 1st. 18th Edward IV. 
 Two copies. 
 
 7. Thomas Brown de Yenell, in Com. Som., husbandman, grants 
 
 to John Selcock, of Wells, his house in Wookey, April 8th. 
 3rd of Henry VII. Two copies. 
 
 8. Thomas Brown de Yenell, son and heir of Richard Brown^ 
 
 grants to John Edwarde, vicar of Wookey, John Chapell, 
 William Wylkokke, Thomas Clarke, farmer, and Thomas 
 Clarke, his son, all his lands, tenements, and reversions in 
 Wookey. May 8th. 7th Henry VII. 
 
 9. Thomas Browne de Yenell grants to above trustees all his 
 
 claims and future title and inheritance in Wokey. May 
 12th. 7th Henry VIL 
 
120 History of Wookey. 
 
 10. John Edwarde and other trustees lease a cottage to John 
 
 Turner, of Wookey, and Christina, his wife, and Alicia, 
 
 11. Wm. Sawyer grants to John Edwarde, John Chappell, 
 
 Walter Edwarde, Wm. Wilcok, John Oastel, of Fenny 
 Castel, John Smyth de Yardeley, Richard Churchouse, 
 Thomas Edwarde, Thos. Turner de Bledeney, Wm. Browning 
 de Bledeney, and Thos. Gierke, his cottage, between John 
 Turner's and the house of the Prior of S. John Baptist 
 Hospital. S. Katharine's Day. 17th Henry VII. 
 
 12. Wm. Willys or Sawyer makes John Cupper and Nicholas 
 
 Plumley, his lawful attomies, to give seisin of above cottage 
 in Woky. Date same as 11. 
 
 13. Wm. Wyllys, mason, releases above trustees (ii) from all 
 
 claims by him or his relations on his cottage in Wokey. 
 Witnesses : John Rodeney, miles, Edmund Mille, John 
 Powlet, armiger, John Standewyke, Walter Vincent, and 
 above attornies. December 1st. 17th Henry VII. 
 
 14. John Wyllys or Sawyer, son of W. Willys, releases trustees 
 
 from all claims he may have on the cottage. December 12th. 
 17th Henry VII. Witnessed by Nicholas Trappe, tunc 
 Magister de Welles, Richard Burnell, John Standerwyke, 
 John Tupper and Thomas Squery. 
 
 15. Richard Eryngton, vicar, Thomas Gierke, armiger, William 
 
 Ghapel], Walter Edward, Thomas Gierke, junior, William 
 Hancock, and William Castell, lease on their lives to 
 Richard Eysshe, Alice, his wife, and Alice, his daughter, 
 the cottage which John Turner lately held. September 8th. 
 22nd Henry VIII. Witnessed by Robert Tupper, Walter 
 Gastel, John Fysshe and John Turner. 
 
 16. William Castle, sole surviving trustee, grants cottage (15) to 
 
 new trustees, i.e. Christopher Webster, vicar, Richard 
 Godwyn, William Drew, John Chapell, senior, John Wyl- 
 coxxe, Thomas Churchouse, John Bowlting, William Hooper 
 or Smythe, William Tucker, and John Turner. Wookey, 
 October 15th. 1st Elizabeth. Two copies. 
 
Endowments. 121 
 
 17. Above trustees lease cottage (15) for three lives to Thomas 
 
 Chapman, Isabella Gardener, whom he is going to marry, 
 and their son if they have one. January 20th. 2nd Elizabeth. 
 Two copies. 
 
 18. William Bowerman, or Boureman, clerk, parson of Wookey, 
 
 and Christopher Webster, vicar, grant to John Edwarde, 
 William Drewe, Henry Clarke, Richard Godwyn, John 
 Chapell, John Turner, T. Churchouse, J. Bulting, William 
 Beeny, J. Wilcockes, Nicholas Boulting, W. Toker, and 
 Robert Bulton, <£20 to be lent out to farmers for purchase 
 of ploughs. October 4th. 4th Elizabeth. 
 
 19. T. Churchouse and William Tucker grant a cottage to Thomas 
 
 Chapman, on his own life, and that of Isabel and John 
 Chapman, his wife and son. November 25th. Elizabeth 25. 
 On the outside under date, July 2nd, 1601. — Premissa infra 
 scripta concedunt Edith Webb, uxor Ricardi Webb et 
 Ricardus Webb tilius eorum Ricardi et Edithse, except ill 
 yards lying in Rushlands. 
 
 20. T. Churchouse and William Tucker, lease to John Fish, junior, 
 
 and Alys Tanner, his future wife, the cottage (ii), allowing 
 ingress and egress to the church house. March 25th. 25th 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 21. T. Churchouse and William Tucker grant cottage (20) to new 
 
 trustees, Anthony Godwyn, John Kelway, John Barnard, 
 J. Turner, J. Cullock, E. Beeny, W. Turner, J. Chapell, 
 J. Willcox, Anthony Edward, W. Churchouse and Thomas 
 Corpe. December 16th. 29th Elizabeth. 
 
 22. W. Tucker and T. Churchouse grant to new trustees, as above, 
 
 the cottage which Chapman occupies. December 20th. 29th 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 23. Emmanuel Beeny, of Wqkyhole, and John Chapell, of London, 
 
 grant cottage (22) to new trustees, Robert Godwyn, Thomas 
 Mydleham, Bartholomew Castle, senior, David Trym, J. 
 Boulting, junior, J. Chapell, junior, J. Taylor alias Buxton, 
 R. Baker, J. Smyth or Hooper, T. Churchouse, junior, 
 
122 BlSTORY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 E. Hipsly, and H. Beeny. This cottage, Edith Web, widow, 
 lately held. May 8th, 16U. 
 
 24. E. Beeny grants to David Trym, J. Chapell, W. Castle, J. 
 
 Boulting, T. Mydleham, J. Tayler, R. Browning, J. Corpe, 
 J. Smyth, T. Churchouse, junior, E. Hipsley, and R. Poole, 
 the cottage (23) which, Edith, wife of Anthony Fish, now 
 occupies. June 26th, 1622. 
 
 25. Above trustees grant to Richard Web, on lives of self, Eliza- 
 
 beth, his wife, and John and Edward, their sons, their 
 cottage (24), and all lands appertaining, except 3 yards in 
 Westfield, of Wookey, lately enclosed. February 20th. 2nd 
 Charles I. 1626. 
 
 26. Surviving trustees, David Trym, J. Chappie, T. Corpe, 
 
 J. Boulting, T. Lyde, and W. Churchouse, grant cottage to 
 Elizabeth, wife of Edward Whiting, of Eson,i Mary Boulting, 
 wddow, daughter of E. W. and M. B., daughter of M. B., 
 on their lives. Edward Whiting is now in occupation of 
 cottage in right of his wife. April 8th. 17th Charles II. 
 There must have been a new creation of trustees between 
 24th and 26th. 
 
 27. J. Chapell, T. Corpe, and J. Boulting, grant the cottage (26) 
 
 to John Eyers, of Wookey, carryer, on his own and the 
 
 lives of Mary and Ruth, his wife and daughter. 
 
 With the cottage now goes 2. J acres in Northfield, 2 acres in 
 
 Eastfield, 
 June 25th. 6th William and Mary = 1694. Two deeds. 
 
 28. Another lease, March 20th. 10th William and Mary = 1698. 
 
 29. Another lease, August 25th. 1st Anne = 1702. 
 
 30. Purchase by John Stock, of Yardley, of tenement and fifteen 
 
 acres of land at Yardley, and in the common fields for £120 
 from Oliver, Earl of Bolingbroke and others, heirs and 
 assignees of Robert Chamberlyn, Esq., Alice, his wife, and 
 others. May 25th. 12th Charles I. 
 
 31. May 16th, 1646. Conveyance by J. Stock of his land and 
 
 tenements to the trustees of Joan Browning's legacy. 
 ^ i.e. E^ton 
 
Endowments. 123 
 
 32. David Trym, J. Chapell, J. Browning, R. Lycle, J. Corpe, 
 
 R,. Hippisley, purchase part of above land of J. Stock and 
 other lands for 2nd Poor Charity out of £50 left by Joan 
 Browning. September 23rd. 23rd Charles I. 
 On April 19th, 1658, D. T. and J. B. fill up vacancies by 
 appointing G. Trym, T. Corpe, J. Browning, junior, and 
 T>. Tutten ; other four being dead. 
 
 33. Three deeds relating to creation of new feoffees, for the 
 
 Browning Charity, viz. : D. Trym, J. Browning, D. Tutton, 
 T. Lyde, B. Turner and T. Corpe. July 13th. 15th Charles 
 II. 
 
 34. New Browning trustees, D. Tutton, T. Lyde, T. Corpe, Hugh 
 
 Merifield, J. Lyde, and R. Lyde. 
 
 Three deeds dated October 3rd. 34th Charles II. 
 
 35. New Browning Trustees. Three deeds dated December 10th. 
 
 7th William III. Hugh Merifield, R. Lyde, J. Stott, John 
 Luffe, J. Poole, and George Brookman. 
 
 36. New Browning Trustees. April 28th and May 9th. 12th Anne. 
 
 John Luffe, John Poole, George Brookman, W. Clarke, 
 "W. Barnard, and Joseph Luffe. 
 
 37. New Browning Trustees. January 28th. 2nd George II. 
 
 John Luffe, G. Brookman, J. Luffe, junior, J. Poole, R. 
 Clark, and William Weare. 
 
 38. New Browning Trustees. December 31st. 17th George II. 
 
 R. Clarke, J. Poole, J. Barnard, J. Stott, G. Strode, and 
 G. Cooke, junior. 
 
 39. In 1777, G. Strode is sole surviving trustee, and on May 2Cth, 
 
 conveys Browning lands to John Band, J. Clark, J. Stott, 
 J. Weare, and T. A. Salmon. Deed not forthcoming. 
 On February 20th, 1808, T. A. Salmon, Rector of Rodney 
 Stoke, sole surviving trustee, grants Browning lands to J. 
 S. Phillott, vicar of Wookey, E. W. Band, T. B. Weare, 
 J. Pitney, and J. Stephens as the new trustees. 
 
 40. Council's Legacy. 
 
 W. Chapell bargains for one year his cottage at Henton, 
 called Webb's Cribb, and four acres called Webb's to T. 
 
124 History of Wookey. 
 
 Strode, J. Luffe, junior, J. Watts, senior and junior, E-ichard 
 Clarke, George Poole and J. Poole. Conveyance made in 
 order that his usage may be legally turned into their poss- 
 ession. March 24th. 4th George II. 
 
 41. March 25th. 4th George II. = 1731. Mr. John Luffe to Mr. 
 
 Butler. Assignment to attend the Inheritance in Trust 
 for Mr. Strode and others. Council's Charity. 
 
 42. August 20. 7th George III. = 1767. Council's Charity. Lease 
 
 for year by surviving trustees to Baily and Riddick by 
 Richard Clarke and John Poole. 
 
 43. March 20th. 7th George III. = 1767. Baily and Riddick to 
 
 Richard Clarke, John Butten, Thomas Gale, Benjamin 
 Brooks, Francis Sheppard, John Poole, senior, and John 
 Poole, junior. Council's Charity. Lease for a year. 
 
 44. March 21st, 1767. Release by above to above new Trustees. 
 
 45. October 18th, 1792. Council Charity. Thomas Clark to John 
 
 Clark and Abraham Stott, to be by them released to T. C. 
 and six or seven other new trustees. 
 
 46. October 20th, 1792. John Clark and Abraham Stott convey 
 
 Council Endowment to Thomas Clark, senior, and Thomas 
 Clark, junior, John Church Clark, William Stott, son of 
 Isaac Stott, David Stott, son of the late James Stott, 
 Thomas Bailey Weare, William Barnard, and Francis 
 Sheppard. 
 The later church and charity deeds are well known and easily 
 read, and therefore do not call for any note. 
 
 For the sake of convenience the following lists give the names 
 of the owners and tenants of the two houses that stood in the 
 Church Barton. 
 
 The owners of the Eastern-house were John Warreyn, of 
 Wellesleagh, 1389 ; John Hillary, Capellanus, deSchirborn, 1433 ; 
 Thomas Brown, of Yenell ; Thomas Browne, of Yenell, son and 
 heir of Richard Browne, of Yenell, 1492 ; Church Trustees, 1492. 
 The tenants were John Compton, Capellanus Perpetuus ; John 
 and Alice Bek, 1389 ; John Bek and Edith Bek, 1393 ; John and 
 Isabel Schapel, 1433; John and Joanna Colyer, 1480; John 
 
Endowments. 125 
 
 Selcock, 1488; John and Christine Turner, 1492; Richard and 
 Alice Fysshe, 1531 : John Dunkerton, Thomas and Isabel Chap- 
 man, 1583 ; Richard and Edith Web, 1602. This is the house 
 called Strecchistenement. 
 
 The owners of the Western-house were John Carter or More- 
 cock, 1420 ; William Wyllys or Sawyer; Church Trustees, 1502. 
 
 The tenants, as far as I can gather, were Richard and Alice 
 Bockyng, 1420; John Spray or Hankyns, 1421 ; John Fish and 
 Alice Touner, 1583. 
 
126 History of Wookey, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 THE FIELD NAMES OF WOOKEY. 
 
 JJTHERE is nothing so interesting and valuable, in an historical 
 "^ point of view, as a complete and accurately-spelt list of 
 the names of the fields and hills, and houses and lanes in a 
 parish. Indeed, from them we can almost arrive at a general 
 knowledge of the history of the parish. We look first for those 
 old English names which may tell us of the district before the 
 time of Domesday. In certain cases we may look and discover 
 Celtic names which tell us of the place before our Saxon or 
 English ancestors settled down here. Perhaps occasionally such 
 names tell us of British slaves working for English masters, and 
 calling the districts by names which these masters did not under- 
 stand. Then in English times, and coming down to the days 
 of Elizabeth, we may look, and will certainly find in such a 
 list, many a hint and much accurate information concerning the 
 old system of agriculture, when the tenants of the Manor lands 
 were villeins of the lord of the manor, and had attached to 
 their houses strips of land in the common fields to till for their 
 own sustenance. We will find the land divided into arable 
 lands, and waste or unenclosed lands. We will discover traces 
 of the paths which lead to these parallel strips ; not indeed in 
 the modern lanes, though sometimes in them, but in the names 
 of the fields through which those paths once ran. And coming 
 down to later times, we find the names of many of the lease- 
 holders of the Manor lands attached to the lands which once 
 they cultivated. If the Manor is no longer intact, but as in 
 our own case, has been sold in plots, these names will be 
 especially numerous, because they were the names by which 
 the fields were described when the memorable sale took place. 
 Last of all, there should not be wanting many a hint as to the 
 enclosure of the moors and waste lands of the parish. These 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 127 
 
 enclosures went on regularly from the sixteenth to the end of 
 the eighteenth century, and invariably leave their traces behind 
 them 
 
 Now it will be probably asked where we are to find the old 
 names. Of course, if we could hold an inquest and get a jury of 
 experienced natives, and go with them from field to field, we would 
 gather together a large amount of information. But as this is 
 practically impossible, the book which will afford us the largest 
 amount of information is the Tithe Commutation Apportionment 
 book, in which the name of every field is recorded. In our own 
 case the value of this list varies very much. In some parts of the 
 parish it contains many valuable old names, but in other parts 
 it is very meagre. This clearly arose from the varying ability 
 of those who were called in to the help of the Commissioners. 
 Some of them knew their lands, and some did not ; or if they 
 did, yet they did not know how those names were spelt. But 
 in addition to the Tithe Book, we have in Wookey a large 
 and valuable collection of deeds connected with our Church and 
 Charity endowments, and all of them afibrd help in this search 
 for old names. The most valuable mine for wealth of this 
 kind is, however, to be found among the Court Rolls and the 
 Rolls of the Hallmotes of the Manor. The bundles of Court 
 Rolls and bailiff''s accounts concerning Wookey, which are now 
 in the Lambeth Library, and which I made use of in Chapter ii., 
 assisted most materially in the following collection. The only 
 drawback to them arises from our ignorance as to where these 
 places are. In many cases the names have been lost, and the 
 fields have now got some common and modern name, which tells us 
 nothing of that field's history. It will be found therefore in the 
 list below that I have put down sometimes two different spellings 
 of one word, and probably I have given in some cases an old 
 and a new name for the same field. I have not felt justified in 
 correcting the Tithe Book, or omitting any name recorded in 
 an ancient deed. The list is not a perfect one, and in some 
 cases it is manifestly unsatisfactory. Had I been able to dis- 
 cover any of the Court Rolls subsequent to the year 1553, I 
 might have improved and enlarged it. The numerous fields that 
 
128 History of Wookey. 
 
 possess names simply descriptive of their size, are chiefly to be 
 found on those moors that were enclosed in 1786. Dennis' plot 
 and Denbis' paddock and Stott's orchard tell us of some of the 
 leaseholders in the days before the Manor was sold and divided. 
 The reeve of Wookey, the Overland and the Folly, refer to 
 the days when the manorial tenants were the lord's villeins. 
 Lastly, it will be noted that there are seven words which end in 
 ham, viz., Bremelham, Fermeryham, Jackwellham, Keynsham, 
 Laborham, Lydeham and Palmersham. If the ending is ham, 
 then probably these are the names of early settlements, and may 
 take us back to the time of Edward's gift to bishop Giso ; but 
 if the ending is ham, then they refer to enclosures on the moors 
 in the vicinity of old houses. Bremel-ham was probably attached 
 to Bleadney-mill, and Jackwell-ham may have been an enclosure 
 belonging to Batch-house, now known as Knowle-farmhouse. 
 Lydeham was probably near to Lydis-close, if it is not an 
 older name for the same field. There was a family in this 
 parish of the name of Lyde during the 16th and 17th centuries. 
 Keynsham was probably the enclosure of a man named Keynes. 
 The Keynes were villeins on the Manor during the 15th and 
 16th centuries. I have not been able to discover the position 
 of Fermeryham and Palmersham. 
 The Acre. 
 Two Acre. 
 After Stile. 
 Alders, in Beggarly-leaze. 
 Allered. 
 
 Almshouse Close, in Marley-mead. Portion of an old freehold, 
 held by the Wells Almshouses, in the Manor of Wookey. 
 
 ASHAY. 
 
 Ashemorb. Between Castle and Beggarly-leaze. 
 Atwood's Coat. The hilly slope south of Hembury wood. 
 Babstones. Babblestones, in the hollow between Trenley and 
 
 Easton-hill. 
 Ball Thorn. 
 
 Barrow Hill, overlooking Bleadeney Causeway, 
 Batch, a hill, 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 120 
 
 Batch House, now called Knowl-house. 
 
 Barley Batch, the northern slope of hill-side of Trenley. 
 
 Barrow. Both the isolated hill between Bleadney and Para- 
 borough and the hill at Hudswell have this name. Tt gave 
 a name to a local family. 
 
 Bean Close. 
 
 Beggarly Way. Badgerlea Way. It occurs in the Court Rolls 
 once as Baggerewey. 
 
 Beggarly Leaze. 1 think there can be no doubt that Beggarly 
 is modern form of Badgerlea. 
 
 Bencroft. Right bank of river, just west of Knowl-bridge. 
 Bean Croft. 
 
 Benknowl Hill. 
 
 Binnings Hembury. 
 
 Blackpool. Left bank of river by the ford, on Knowle road. 
 
 Bleadeney. This word varies in spelling from Bleddenhyth in 
 the spurious charter of Eadward to Bladonhay. Perhaps 
 the earliest is the most correct. The oak piles of the old 
 wharf were dug up but a short time ago. 
 
 Bore Hays, or Boor Hays, now called Bove Hays. 
 
 BowERSHiLL. Tlie hill on the right-hand side when going from 
 Castle up Callow-hill. 
 
 Bremelham, probably Brimble or Bramble-ham. 
 
 Briery Paddock. 
 
 Brimble Hay. The field below the second mill at Bleadney. 
 
 Broad Mead. 
 
 Brook Well. The spring at Hurstbatch, and also at Yarley. 
 
 Brown's Batch. 
 
 Bryant's Ground. 
 
 Bryant's Lane. 
 
 BucKNOWL Close. This must be Ben Knowle Close, as it is 
 on the southern slope of that hill. 
 
 Bull Baiting Plot. North-west slope of Henley-hill, over- 
 looking Gagley mead. 
 
 Burton's Croft. 
 
 Burr Lands. 
 
 Buryfurlong. 1461, 
 
130 History of Wookey. 
 
 Button's Paddock. 
 
 BuTTiCE Paddock. 
 
 Butts House. The second house on the left of the road on 
 
 Hillier's Lane at the top of Yarley. 
 BuTTiCE Lane, the strip of land in the East-field that lead to 
 
 the strips running east and west. 
 Butts. A field on right of Buttice lane. 
 Buxton's Ground. 
 Byforetheway. 
 
 Cadbury. The battle entrenchment. 
 Callow Hill. Bare-hill. 
 Calves Close. 
 Cats Hill. 
 Castel Burg. 
 Castle Bridge. 
 Carpeshylle. 1461. 
 Carp Mead. The field at the corner of the road leading from 
 
 Castle lane to Hay hill. 
 Chapel Land. The site of the old free chapel at Henton, 
 
 demolished in 1550. 
 Church Furlong. A portion of the Church endowment in the 
 
 common fields of the parish. 
 Churchlands. 
 Cinder Meads. 
 Clarke's Haye. 
 Claw Pit. A field on northern slope of hill. Perhaps near 
 
 Clay Pit lane. 
 Clover Close. 
 Cold Harbour. Two fields on higher side of lane, mounting 
 
 hill beyond Wester's grave. 
 Coat. Side of a hill on left of road to Yarley, and opposite 
 
 Worth cottage. 
 codburgmoor. 1330. 
 Common Mead. 
 Coneybury. 
 Coombedyche. 
 The Coonche, above Wookey-hole. 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 131 
 
 Cook's Orchard. 
 
 CoRp's Plough Ground. 
 
 Coppice. 
 
 CowwAY Close. 
 
 Cowper's Croft. 
 
 Croft. 
 
 Cuff's Ground. 
 
 OuNNiGAR Field. Perhaps Coney yard, or the rabbit warren. 
 
 Culver Hill. 
 
 Culow Hill Paddock. 
 
 Denbis Paddock. 
 
 Dennis Plot. Probably taken from the name of the last lord 
 of the Manor. 
 
 Dry Close. 
 
 DuRSDEN. Durden, a thicket of- wood in a valley. That part 
 
 of Wookey within the limits of the old forest of Mendip. 
 DuMMiCE Lane, parallel to Buttice lane, and to the west of it. 
 East Cadbury. 
 Easton Hill. 
 East Court Yard. 
 East Mead. 
 
 Ebbor. (Ebbewyrth. (Ebb's settlement. 
 Elm Close. 
 
 Elin Close. The field next but one beyond the School. 
 Fermeryham. 1461. 
 Fisher's Orchard. The first house on the right on the top of 
 
 Yarley. 
 The Folly. Perhaps Folkland, a narrow strip of land leading 
 
 to Goarway fields. 
 Ford Close. 
 Forget's Close. 
 Furlong. 
 
 Gagley Mead. Gagel-mead, where myrica gale grows. 
 Gales Shortbridge. 
 Gass Mill. 
 
 Gaston. One of the fields on the northern slope of the hill at 
 Worth. 
 K 2 
 
132 History of Wookey. 
 
 Glover's Callow Hill. 
 
 G OAR WAY Fields. Goarway was a remnant of the common land, 
 
 which did not fit in with the furlong strips. 
 Goss Ground. Gorse ground. The field directly over Wookey- 
 
 hole. 
 Great Ground. 
 Great Hamblyn. A field on the top of the lane which leads 
 
 from Wester's grave to Yarley, at the end of the first turn 
 
 to the left. 
 Green's Bush. 
 Greenswaybush. 
 Greenlands Bush. 
 
 Grutbedless, in Wetmoor. Gravel-bed leaze. 
 Half-a-Yardland. 31 acres, a common holding of a customary 
 
 tenant. 
 Hamm. 
 
 Hams Mead. Portion of Keynsham meadow. 
 Hanging. A meadow on side of a hill. 
 Hang Gaston. The grass enclosure on the side of a hill. 
 Hare Pits. Perhaps herepath, but see chapter i. 
 Hembury Wood, formerly about 20 acres; cut down in 1612. 
 Hembury Close. 
 
 Henley .... Honey Lea, 1647. 
 Heskeard. Ashgarth, the field on side of lane at the back of 
 
 Mrs. Toogood's house at Worth. 
 HiGHOVER. High Shore. Side of steep, right bank of river, 
 
 just before the great bend at Bur cot. 
 HiGHENBURY. Is this the earlier form of Hembury ? 
 Higher Knowl. 
 Hill End. 
 Hill Head. 
 Hill Top Close. 
 Hill Ladden. 
 Holly Brook. Hollow brook. The stream at the bottom of 
 
 Barley Batch. 
 holloway. 
 Honey Mead. 
 
Thk Field Names of Wookey. 133 
 
 Hope. Side of a hill, or low ground amidst hills. 
 
 Hopkins. 
 
 Horse Paddock. 
 
 horxsmead. 
 
 House Down. 
 
 Hqddleswell, or Hudswell, the group of houses on the western 
 slope of Barrow -hill. 
 
 Hulk Acre. Hillock acre. 
 
 Hunter's Close. 
 
 HuRSTBATCH. Wood on the hill north-east of Marley-mede. 
 
 Hydeclvd. 1330. 
 
 Hypes. Humpy ground above Callow-hill. 
 
 Inwick Paddock | Western limit of Bleadney settlement on 
 
 Inwick j road to Wedmore. 
 
 Iron Mills. The old mill at Henley. 
 
 Jackwell Hams. The settlement by the deep rhino (jaque) at 
 Hornsraead, or perhaps so called from an early settlement 
 there of a family of some good name, like Jack. A villein, 
 named William Jackes, is mentioned in 1383. 
 
 Keynsham Mead, near Hornsmead. 
 
 King Gaston. In Knowl-moor. 
 
 Knight's Coppice. 
 
 Knight's Wood, or Knycheswode, formerly about five acres. 
 134.3. 
 
 Kipple. 
 
 Laborham and Laverham. An early settlement near Callowhill. 
 
 Lakennich. 1362. 
 
 Lake Mewth. 
 
 Langdown. 
 
 Lane End Paddock. 
 
 La Stok. The triangular field at junction of lanes from Hem- 
 bury and Oare, near Wester's grave. 1-140. 
 
 Laverham. 
 
 Lax's Cunnigar. 
 
 Le Garston. 
 
 Leg Close, called also Le La<:cse. 1461. The field in Knowl- 
 moor at the junction of the mill-stream and the river Axe. 
 
134 History of Wookey. 
 
 This is the common name for the narrow strip that some- 
 times projects beyond the usual square shape of a field. 
 
 Letney, a field by the side of the mill-stream (leat) between 
 Bleadeney and Marchay. 
 
 LiCHLEGH. 1330. 
 
 Lin Moor. The westernmost limit of Wet-moor, adjoining 
 Knowl-moor before it was enclosed. Lyn welsh for lake. 
 
 LiNMOOR Hill. 
 
 Little Hay Bridge, probably Letewey-bridge. Just by this 
 bridge the stream joins the tail- water from the mill below 
 Hurst batch. 
 
 Littlewood. 
 
 Little Perry Lake. 
 
 Little Ripple. 
 
 Lythelnye. Letney. 
 
 Long Land. 
 
 Long Croft. 
 
 Long Hornsmead. 
 
 Long Down. 
 
 Long String Meadow. Southern slope of high ground over- 
 looking Ash-moor. 
 
 Lower Lin Moor. 
 
 Long Ley. 
 
 Long Style Close. Close on steep side of Long String meadow. 
 
 Lydeham. There was a family named Lyde here for many 
 years. 1461. 
 
 Lydis Close. This most likely is the same enclosure as the 
 preceding. It is on the southern slope of Perry Lake lane. 
 
 MacKinnon's Orchard. 
 
 Manganese Ground. 
 
 Marley Mead. 
 
 Marley Orchard. 
 
 Marigold Paddock. 
 
 Mark Main Close. The high ground above Long String 
 meadow. 
 
 Marshfield. 
 
 Marshy Mead. 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 135 
 
 Marcesymede. 
 
 Marteynesey. 
 
 Martyxsmede. 
 
 Meadow Gagley. 
 
 Mead End. 
 
 Mellifoxt Abbey .... A modern name for the old 
 
 Rectory-house. 
 Middle Close. 
 
 Mill House. ^ 
 
 Monkswood Close, near Monksford, on road from Wookey to 
 
 Yarley. 
 Monerysmylle. 1461. c.f. Peter le Moners. Close E-olls, Ed. 
 
 III., p. & c£. 30. 
 Monksford. 
 MooR Close. 
 Mylhams. Several meadow fields on either bank of river near 
 
 Monksford. 
 Narrow Way. 
 New Close. 
 
 NoTTELAKE. 1330. Now Nottlich. 
 Northfield. 
 Nursery. 
 Oare. Boundary. 
 Oarfield Close. 
 Oak Leaze. 
 Oldclyffe. 1461. 
 Orchard Ripple. 
 Oxleaze, north-west of Knowl farm, on the right bank of 
 
 the Axe. 
 Overland. The high ground above Henton Church is now 
 
 called Verland or Overland, but I doubt whether the name 
 
 belonged to any fixed portion of the Manor. 
 Paddock. 
 Palmersham. 
 Paradise. 
 Peascroft Bridge, where the road from Burcot to Wookey 
 
 crosses the stream. 
 
136 History of Wookey. 
 
 Peaspurlong. 
 
 Perry Lake Close. 
 
 Pigs Paddock. 
 
 Pin Paddock. 
 
 Pin Lake. Spring on side of hill overlooking Beggarly -leaze. 
 
 Plantation. 
 
 pRESSMOOR, also Prestemore. Priest's-moor, the waste land used 
 
 by the rector of Wookey, and which was added to the 
 
 rectorial glebe after the moors were enclosed. 
 Preywaste. 
 Preywater. 
 Priggers. 
 Punch Bowl Inn. 
 Pylwaterhorne. 
 Pysfurlong. 1461. 
 Quaker's Close. On the south of the upper road called Perry 
 
 Lake lane, running from Castle to Bleadney. 
 Quarry Ground. 
 Padepole. 1461. Probably Read Pool, the pool that used to 
 
 exist just below Bead farm, south-east of Hudswell. 
 Radpord's Orchard. 
 Reed. Now Read Farm. 
 Reeve of Wookey, an acre of the portion of common land 
 
 assigned to the customary tenant, who acted as reeve for 
 
 the year for the lord of the manor. 
 Ring o' Bells Inn. 
 Ripple Orchard. 
 RiGLEY. Ridge lea. 
 Ripplehay. Ripley hay. The reaping meadow. 
 
 RiVERCLOSE. 
 
 Robins Close. 
 
 RODES. 
 
 Rooks. 
 
 Rough Pasture. 
 
 Rocks' Close. 
 
 Rowelmore. 1391. 
 
 Rushley. 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 137 
 
 RusHLANDS. Lands in the former waste lands o£ Wookey, south- 
 east of Trenley. 
 KusHLANDs Orchard. 
 
 RuBBiNGHOUSE PiECE .... AbovB Wookey-holo mill. 
 Savage's Home Ground, the site of the present vicarage. 
 Savage's Mead. 
 
 SiDELANDS. 
 
 Stlverlakemede. 1330. 
 
 Sheaf Fields. The high ground overlooking the western portion 
 
 of Ashmoor. 
 Sheepland. 
 Shotsbridge. One of the fields south of the Croscombe water, 
 
 on the left of the road from Castle to Godney. 
 Smoke Combe. East of Ebbor vale. 
 Spearing's Orchard. 
 Spragam Close. In the Wookey Westfield, between the river 
 
 and the lane, from Wookey to Monksford. 
 Spragger's Close. One of these names must be wrong, as the 
 
 fields are adjacent. 
 South Hill. 
 Shop Close. A portion of the large field between Wester's 
 
 grave and Oare. 
 Stock's Paddock. 
 Starve Acre. 
 Stacks Ground. 
 Stean Lands. Stone Lands 
 Steep Land. 
 Stokeslynchesham. 1383. John Stokelyng is one of the Jury 
 
 for the Nonse Assessment, 1340. c. f. p. 80. 
 Stott's Orchard. 
 Stroud, also called Strodeboscus. The sub-dean's wood at the 
 
 end of Buttice lane 
 Stroud Bottom, under Easton-hill. Stroud, low ground near 
 
 water. 
 Stone Meadow. 
 Stubby Close. 
 Stony Ground. 
 
138 History of Wookey. 
 
 Stoneley. On the high ground above Yarley. 
 
 Starvegate Close. 
 
 SuLLOw Share Plot .... Ploughshare plot. A field 
 
 on the right as one goes up Callow-hill lane. 
 Swatch. Swash ; puddle of water. 
 Stubble Ground. 
 Sylverlakemede. 
 Teazil Close. 
 Tibb's Orchard. 
 
 TiTLANDS. 
 
 Trenby. Probably a corruption of the next name. 
 
 Trenley. 
 
 Trucklepath. a path only large enough "to roll" a small 
 barrow. A field between Yarley and Knowl hill, in Lin- 
 moor, through which runs a foot-path. 
 
 The Piece. 
 
 Toad Acre. 
 
 Top Ground. 
 
 Turn Hill. 
 
 Turn Yards. 
 
 Twin Hill Field. 
 
 Tyning. An enclosure. 
 
 Tyrlickmede, between Ashmoor and Beggarly leaze. 
 
 Walpurlong. 1461. 
 
 Wasp Hill Orchard. 
 
 Watch Close. 
 
 Water's Grave. 
 
 Waterlyway Orchard, probably Waterleteway Orchard, on 
 the side of the Mendip mills. 
 
 Wellway Orchard. 
 
 Well Close. 
 
 Webb's Gribs. I think this ought to be Crib. 
 
 Weary Furlong. The large field, at the back of the houses in 
 the lower village, which reaches to the river at Preywater 
 bridge. 
 
 Westleyeland. 1391. 
 
The Field Names of Wookey. 139 
 
 Westmead. 
 
 Wester's Grave. 
 
 What Hill. North-east of Knight's wood. Probably Wourt- 
 hill from ^bbawurt. Weordig, an estate or farm. 
 
 "Withy Bed. 
 
 Worth. 
 
 Wookey, the only other forms are Woky, Okey, and Ochie. If 
 it is not connected with Wokob, there may be some con- 
 nection with " Wok " in Woking and Wokingham. 
 
 Wookey Field. 
 
 Woollen's Close. 
 
 Woollen's Two Acre. 
 
 Woollen's Paddock. 
 
 Woodlands. 
 
 woodfall. 
 
 Yards 
 
 Yonder Knowl. 
 
 Yardley. Formerly Gyrdleg, or Yleg. The yard meadow, 
 meadow of sixty acres. 
 
140 History of Wookey. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LOCAL FAMILIES. 
 
 TTOWEVER well we may know the laws and ways by which 
 ■^ surnames arose, yet there is always a peculiar pleasure in 
 finding instances and examples of those methods among the 
 names of the inhabitants of the parish in which one is interested. 
 In the Inspeximus of Thomas of Bath, we find two forms in 
 existence. There is the man distinguished by his connection 
 with his father's name, and there is his father described in con- 
 nection with his residence. We have, first of all, Radulphus 
 de la Cnoll, and then we have Walcher, or Wacher, described 
 as the son of Ralph. This is in the early years of the 13th 
 century. Then towards the end of that century we have men 
 described by the nature of their work — there is Hugh le 
 Deygh, and John le Felaghe, and Adam le Tailler. At the same 
 time we meet with several instances of surnames arising from 
 the locality of a man's house. There is John atte Heighelme, 
 Henry atte Watere, and Gilbert atte Wyk. Wyk is Woky, 
 for we find that one of the first fields in the parish, as one comes 
 from Theale is called Inwick. The water is possibly that at 
 Wookey-hole. Then in the next century we get Richard atte 
 Putte, so-called probably from the lias quarry above Yarley ; 
 Hugh atte Chapele, called so from the old free chapel at Henton ; 
 Alice atte Castell, which needs no explanation ; John atte Crosse, 
 from the proximity of his house either to the old cross at Castle, 
 or to that at Yarley. Then comes Richard atte Naysch, and 
 Agnes atte Berwe ; which latter name appears also as atte Barwe, 
 and refers to the Barrow at Hudswill. Later on in the 15th 
 century we have John atte Hawe, and John de Cadbury, and 
 John le Here and William atte Bergh ; and in the 16th century 
 John Atwill, or atte Well, a name which finds a place among the 
 
Local Families. 141 
 
 the list of vicars at that time, and many a man called atte 
 Churchouse. These are the beginning of the words, and as is 
 often the case, they are far more interesting than their modern 
 representatives. But yet these modern forms exist here in 
 our parish, and we do well to connect them with their ancestors. 
 Still we have our Days, and Pitts, and Chapells, and Churches, 
 or Churchouses, and Castles, Waters, Taylors, Atwills, Barrows, 
 and Crosses, good English names, which we hope may long exist 
 to tell of our local history, and give examples of the growth of our 
 surnames. In the accompanying notes on the Wookey families 
 I have not ventured to give many genealogies, because I desire 
 to be as accurate as possible, and though I may in cases have felt 
 sure of my connecting link, yet because I have not any evidence 
 for them, I have left these genealogies imperfect and frag- 
 mentary. The Barnards and the Brownings occupy much space 
 in the register during the reign of Elizabeth, but the former 
 migrated to Wells parish, and the latter to Glastonbury, in the 
 18th century, and so they have lost their claim to be reckoned 
 as old Wookey families. The Days have baffled all my efforts to 
 arrange the generations into a pedigree, and have ever and anon 
 brought in fresh Days from Axbridge or Wells. The Stotte's and 
 the Clarkes' reach back into the old days of villenage. John Stott 
 is bishop's reeve in 1461, and there were several Clerks, or 
 Clarks, as the name is often spelt, in that same year. The 
 Glanvilles came from Wedmore, and they are of great antiquity. 
 But as it is impossible to arrange all their pedigrees, so it is 
 unnecessary to refer to every family now existing here. The 
 accompanying notes have been compiled after considerable 
 research ; and I should much wish, were it possible, and the 
 scope of my work allowed, to have made this chapter much 
 fuller and the pedigrees more perfect. Since, however, this 
 required a study of many ancient wills and many a pile of old 
 brown family papers such as exist, I know, in several families in 
 this parish, I am obliged to relinquish my search. The wills of 
 Wookey are few and not ancient. All the records of the old 
 peculiar jurisdiction of the subdean were badly kept, and but a 
 scanty fragment of them has found its way into the district 
 Probate Office. The family papers are still kept from me. 
 
142 History of Wookey. 
 
 Barnard — Eor some time past I have been searching the 
 parish for the old tombstones that from time to time have been 
 sold by previous churchwardens as useless lumber. The last that 
 I rescued was on its face in the yard of the Church farm, and 
 belonged to the Barnard family. The Barnards are a very old 
 family, and were tenants of the manorial lands for several 
 centuries. The first wedding recorded in the register is that 
 of John Barnard and Elizabeth Plomby in 1565. It would be 
 impossible to give full pedigrees of all the families of this name ; 
 but I state below that of the William Barnard, who died in 
 1694, and whose tombstone I have lately rescued. 
 
 Anthony Barnard=f=Edith Servier, 1587, 
 I 1639. 
 
 Anthony Elizabeth=Rich. Web, Joan=John Illary, Edw.=y=Margaret 
 1591, I 1594 1618 1596 1619 1606 
 
 1624. I 
 
 Civilie=Thomas Rowsell Anthony, 
 1622 1642 1624 
 
 I 1 \ 1 H 
 
 William=j=Mary West wood, Richard Edward John, Elizabeth, 
 1629 1657 1632 1635 1639 
 
 1694 I * 1700 1634 1644 
 
 I "— T 1 i 1 1 1 
 
 William William Rich. Eydeth, Margaret John,=j=Susannah Thos.=f=Joan 
 
 1657 1658 1659 1661 1663 1665 
 
 1657 1658 1671 =John 
 
 Catecoat 
 1696 
 
 Blanning, 1666 
 1700 1709 
 
 1716 
 
 Brook - 
 man, 
 1691 
 1694 
 
 I 1 \ 1 1 1 I 1 
 
 William Margaret Richard John Thomas Joseph Francis Mary 
 
 1696 1697 1700 1702 1703 1712 1694 1694 
 
 1721 1694 1694 
 
 Where a second date is given below the first, it refers to the death 
 of that person, and the first date after a marriage is the date 
 of the marriage. 
 
 Browning. — The family of Browning, as far as I can discover, 
 was settled on one of the manor holdings in the tithing of Yarley. 
 They were much mixed up with the Buxtons and Edwards 
 during the early years of the 17th century, and they were at 
 one time certainly given to Puritanism. John Browning, in 
 1624, left money for the endowment of a preachership here, and 
 Joan Browning, the widow, who died in 1639, left that £50 
 with which our endowment for the Second Poor Charity began. 
 
Local Families. 141 
 
 I have not been able to make out a pedigree of them, because 
 they are so many in number during the early years of our 
 register, that I cannot do anything more than guess at their 
 relationship. In 1597 there are three John Brownings settled 
 at Yarley, and one Edward Browning. In 1641 there is a 
 Robert Browning settled there. Joan Browning, our bene- 
 factress, was a Lyde, and married John Browning, Senr., in 
 1599. Her husband died before 1620, and it was her so 
 John, born in 1600, who in 1625 endowed the preachership. 
 
 Buxton. — The Buxton family had great influence in this 
 family during the early part of the 17th century. They were 
 strong Puritans, and when in 1624 Mr. John Browning, of 
 Yarley, left money for the endowment of a preaching minister, 
 Mr. Anthonie Buxton accepted the post, and was probably a 
 thorn in the flesh to the old vicar, Mr. Middleham, from 1624 
 to 1635, when Mr. Buxton died. I have not been able to 
 make a pedigree of this family, but it appears that Thomas 
 Buxton, or Buckston, as the name is sometimes spelt, was one 
 of the many who emigrated from Somerset to New England. 
 In 1657, Thomas' sons, John and Anthony, returned to Somerset 
 on a visit, and died and were buried here in February, 1658. 
 They seemed to have stayed with their uncle, John Buckston, 
 at Yarley, as all three died within a week of one another, and 
 possibly were carried off" by some fever. The Buxtons used to be 
 called Taylors, sen^., and the first of the family that I can find are 
 Robert Taylor, sen^', in 1562, and Robert Taylor, Jun^., in 1597. 
 The former died in 1611, and the latter in 1614. Robert Taylor, 
 Senr., had two sons, Robert and Anthony, and these two both 
 had sons named John. John, Robert's son, becomes " Taylor, 
 alias Buxton," and that description clings to the family all 
 through the seventeenth century. He married, in 1594. Joan 
 Stott, and had issue Robert, 1599 ; Anthony, 1601 ; John, 1603 ; 
 James, 1604; Joan, 1606; and Mary, who died in 1612. This 
 John died in 1614. Anthony's son, who is described as John 
 Taylor, alias Buxton, Junr., married in 1599 Isabel Browning, 
 and had issue Mary, 1600; John, 1601; Thomas, 1602-1604; 
 William, 1604; Thomas, 1606; Christian, 1607; and Anthony, 
 
144 History of Wookey, 
 
 1609. He died, I think, in 1628. Anthony was the young 
 minister of 1635, Thomas went to New England, probably with 
 the Illarys and other Somerset folk in 1643, and John settled 
 at Yarley, and died with his nephews in 1658. 
 
 Chapell. — The Chapell family is one of great antiquity, and 
 derived their name from the free chapel of St. Thomas at Henton. 
 When the registers begin in 1560, there are so many families of that 
 name that I find it impossible to give a pedigree of any length 
 of any one branch. The first notice I have is of a John atte 
 Chappie in 1389. In 1420 we have mentioned in the parish deeds 
 a John atte Chappie de Henton juxta Woky. In 1433 we have a 
 John Chapel and Isabella, his wife. In 1488 a John Chapel is 
 mentioned, and three years later, two of that name, a senior and 
 a junior, are mentioned as trustees of the church endowments. 
 In 1522 there is a John Chapel, of Woky, and a William Chapel, 
 of Henton. This latter is the gentleman who pulled down Henton 
 Free Chapel. In 1616, a John Chapel, of the City of London, is 
 mentioned as one of the Church Lands' Trustees, and towards 
 the end of this century two blacksmiths at Henton were called 
 John Chapel. During the first hundred years of our registers 
 there are eleven marriages of Chapels, thirteen births, and sixteen 
 deaths. During the eighteenth century there are many more 
 entries in the books, but now there are no longer any families of 
 that name here, though the name still exists in the surrounding 
 villages. 
 
 Churchouse. — I have found no record of a building called the 
 Church-house earlier than the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but the 
 family of Churchouse is recorded as belonging to Wookey more 
 than century before that. There were two families of that name 
 in 1522, in the tithing of Yarley, which included Henton, as a 
 Richard and a Thomas Churchouse appears as contributing to the 
 Lay Subsidy. Richard Churchouse appear as a witness at the 
 signing of one of the Church deeds in 1492. William Churchouse 
 appears as the bishop's bailiff in the Valor Ecclesiasticus 1541, 
 and a John Churchouse is recorded among the villeins at the 
 Hockday Hallmote of 1432. The name occurs during the 17th 
 
Local Families 145 
 
 century among the lists of Churchwardens and Church Trustees, 
 and towards the end of the century they were leaseholders of 
 manorial tenements at Yarley and in Henton. It is to be 
 regretted that they have allowed their name to sink down into 
 the meaningless modern form Churches. Perhaps the C among 
 the initials on the chimney stone in some of the houses near 
 Yarley, if it does not refer to Clarke, stands for Churchouse. 
 
 Clarke. — The following notes concerning the Clerkes or Clarkes 
 I have been able to gather from various sources : — 
 
 The name is a common one, and occurs in the parish papers 
 during the time of Henry VII. In 1488 a John Clerke wit- 
 nesses the signature of Thomas Brown. 
 
 In 1491 a Thomas Clerke, senior, and Thomas Clerke, junior, 
 became trustees of the church endowments. 
 
 In 1502 a Thomas Clerke again appears as one of the trustees. 
 
 Thomas Clerke. — The leaseholder of the Manor-house was a 
 brother of John Clerke, the bishop of Bath and Wells. Now 
 Thomas Clerke, in his will, leaves 3s. 4d. to the church of 
 Much Livermere in Suffolk. In 1502 the will of Clement 
 Clerke, of Much Livermere, is proved, and in it mention is made 
 of a son, Thomas, and several brothers who were monks. Hence 
 I think the following pedigree will perhaps be correct : — 
 
 Clement Clerke, of Much Livermere and 
 I Bury St. Edmunds. 
 
 I 1 
 
 John, a monk. Bishop Thomas=f=Anthony. 
 
 of Bath and Wells. 
 
 Antholin=John Henry^Elizabeth Ann=pHammond Alice^p . . . Hill 
 Newton I ' 
 
 f \ 1 
 
 Elizabeth. Johanna. Anthoin. 
 
 Claxton, of Elizabeth. 
 
 Bury St. 
 
 Edmunds. 
 
 I 1 1 1 
 
 John. Thomas, Elizabeth. Antholin. 
 
 Thomas Clerke was elected M.P. for Wells in 1547, and con- 
 tinued to represent the city for six years. He died March 2nd, 
 1555-6, and is buried in our S. E. Chapel. His will is proved at 
 London on May 23rd of the same year. It was made November 
 23rd, 1554, and from it I extract the following items : — 
 
 h 
 
143 HlSTOHY OF WOOKEY. 
 
 First, — I bequeath my bodye to Christian buriall in the 
 church of Wookey, or where yt shall please my executors or where 
 such as shall have the order thereof may think convenient. 
 
 I give to the Cathedral Church of Wells 3s. 4d., to the Church 
 of Wookey 6s. 8d., Lockinge 3s. 4d, Kingesten Seymer 3s. 4d., Great 
 Livermere, in the county of Suffolk, 3s. 4d., towards the repara- 
 tion of every the said churches, and to be prayed for. 
 
 Item. I will that there be twentye marks of lawfuU money 
 bestowed among the poor people of Wells and Wookye, in manner 
 and form following : that is, ten marks the day of my burial, five 
 marks the month after, and other five marks the end of the year 
 next after my decease. ^ 
 
 Item. I will that there be other twenty marks delivered 
 shortly after my decease, to be employed and bestowed in the 
 reparacyons and amending of the high way between Wookey and 
 Wells. 
 
 Then follow bequests and legacies to his children and grand- 
 children. He gives " to my friend, Dr. Egeworth, a pott of silver 
 with a cover marked with T. and C." and " to my Lord Busshopp, of 
 Bath and Wells, Doctor Bourne, one ewer of silver parcell gilte." 
 He leaves to his servant, William Gervys, a life interest in his 
 mill and ground at Reward. To his son-in-law, Hamond Claxton, 
 he leaves his barber's bason and ewer of silver. He makes 
 Anthoin his wife, and Hamond Claxton his executors. The will 
 is signed by John Clarke, Thomas Gierke, Henry Howe, John 
 Wylcocks. 
 
 The John Gierke and John Wylcocks are Wookey people and 
 his neighbours at the Manor House. Henry Howe was vicar of 
 Wookey at the time. 
 
 In S. Cuthbert's Church in Wells is a tablet to a Clara Gierke, 
 1547, and an effigy of a certain Henry Gierke, and possibly this is 
 the son of Thomas Gierke. Henry Gierke died in 1574, and in 
 his will desired to be buried near his daughter, Elizabeth. He 
 mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and his sons, William and Thomas, 
 
 1 This Trental and Anniversary dole clearly shows the mind of Thomas 
 Clerks. 
 
Local Fa^jtlies. 
 
 W 
 
 and his cousin, Sir Rowland Clarke. Subdean Bowerman, rector 
 of Wookey, makes a Henry Clarke one of the trustees of his 
 bequest of £20 to the parish. Agnes Clarke, a widow, was 
 buried in 1572. The inscription on Thomas Clarke's tomb in the 
 church is : " Here lyeth the body of Thomas Clarke, Esquire, and 
 " Anthony, his wife, whiche Thomas departed in God the 2nd 
 
 " day of March, 1555, and also Anthony departed the day 
 
 " of of whose soul God have mercy." I would caution 
 
 readers, however, about the parentage of Thomas Clarke, 
 because it is only a probable one. The name was common all over 
 England. There was a Thomas Clarke, senr. in Wookey in 1491, 
 and many others before that date; and in several parishes in the 
 diocese I have met with Clarkes during the 16th century, but 
 there can be no doubt that Thomas Gierke, of the Manor-house, 
 was a stranger to the parish. 
 
 Denhe. — The following pedigree of the Denbees I have been 
 able to make out entirely from the Parish Registers, and from 
 the bundle of family papers which in this case I have been allowed 
 to inspect. I can vouch for its accuracy. The name is variously 
 spelt Denbeigh, Denby, Denbe, and Denbee. I find the name 
 in the 16th century, but cannot connect the entries earlier than 
 the middle of the seventeenth. 
 
 William Denbigh=pValentina, 1655. 
 
 Winiam=f=Elizabeth Mary, 
 Browning, 1656 
 1670 
 
 1719 , 
 
 I , 1 Jame8,=f=Joan 
 
 John, James, Eliza, 
 1673. 1683. 1686. 
 
 ^ 1 
 
 George=f=Mary, Julian, d 1660 
 
 I Hughes, 
 1680. 
 
 Susannah, Martha, 
 1709. 1707. 
 
 — — ^ 1 1 
 
 George, Sarah, Rich.=f=Eliz. 
 
 Phelps, 1685, 1687. ' 1 
 
 1705. 1743. 
 
 ^Hannah Hayes, 1714 
 
 1 
 
 Mary 
 1706. 
 
 William, 
 
 1717,= 
 
 1784 
 
 Elizabeth 
 
 Brooks, 
 
 1752. 
 
 Francey, Mary. 
 
 1720 
 
 1734. 
 
 Hannah, Samuel, 
 1723, 1725, 
 
 1764. 1726. 
 
 Samuel, Joseph, 
 1731, 1732, 
 
 1749. 1806. 
 
 Samuel, 
 
 1720, 
 
 1724. 
 
 James, 
 1723. 
 
 Ann Cuff, 
 1755, 
 1798, 
 
 Ann, 
 1726. 
 
 1.2 
 
148 
 
 History of W 
 
 UOKET. 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 George,=i 
 
 1759 
 
 1827 
 
 =Elizabeth Lyde, Thomas,= 
 1785. 1760, 
 1824. 
 
 =Hester Glover, William, 
 1793, 1764. 
 1827, 1770. 
 
 Anne, Jo 
 1786. 17 
 
 hn, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, 
 89. 1790, 1794= 
 
 1790, Wm. Wills, 
 1824. 
 
 Mary, 1797, George, Thomas, 
 = Jonathan 1800, 1802, 
 Marhsfield. 1841 -fEliza- 
 i beth. 
 
 Thomas, 
 1836. 
 
 Sarah. 
 
 Dunche. — The following pedigree of the Dunches will help to 
 explain the history of the Manor : 
 
 William Dunch,=i=Mary, daughter of William Baron, 
 
 of London and Little Wytnam ; ob. 
 1597. 
 
 Edmund=f=Anna Fettyplace, 
 mar. 1576 ; ob. 
 1628. 
 
 of London : died 1605. 
 
 Walter, =pDeborah, daughter of Jas. 
 
 born 1552 ; ob. 
 1594. 
 
 Walter, 
 ob. s.p, 
 1586. 
 
 Pilkington, bishop of 
 Durham. 
 
 1 
 
 Samuel. 
 
 Edmund, 
 bap. 1582; 
 ob. 1595. 
 
 William, bapt. 
 1578; ob. 1612; 
 m. Mary Crom- 
 well, aunt of 
 the Protector 
 Oliver. 
 
 John, 
 ob. s.p. 
 1586. 
 
 Mary,=Wm. 
 Winchcomb, 
 ob. 1646. 
 
 Edmund. Wiiliam,=Margaret, Deborah. Ruth. Mary= Ann. 
 
 bap. 1594. dan. of Sir Sir John 
 
 John Cooper, Philpot. 
 
 of Rockborne 
 
 Edwards. — I have found it quite impossible to trace up the 
 pedigree of the family of Edwards. I find a John Edwards, 
 junr., mentioned in 1421, who was probably a villein on the 
 manor. In 1461 a John Edwards rented the Bledeney corn mill 
 of the bishops, at a rental of <£5 13s. 4d. a year. A John 
 Edwards was appointed Yicar in 1477, and resigned his benefice 
 in 1506, but was alive in 1516. At that time there was also, 
 
 c. f. Noble's Memoirs of Protectoral House of Cromwell, ed. 1787, 
 vol. 2, p. 156. In Harl. MSS. 1139, fol. 121c. Walter appears as the 
 elder son of Wm. Dunch, and the second son is called Edward ; but as 
 there certainly was an Edmund Dunch, and as no Edmund appears in 
 this MSS. until 1603, there can be hardly any doubt that the reading 
 adopted was correct. Whether Edmund was older than Walter or not I 
 cannot say. 
 
 The first date after a marriage is the date of that event, and in all cases the second 
 date la that of the death. 
 
Local Families. 149 
 
 in addition, a Walter Edward and a Thomas Edward. In the 
 reign of Queen Elizabeth there were two families at least, of 
 which the heads were John Edward and Anthony Edward ; of 
 this latter I can give a short pedigree. 
 
 Anthony Edward=15fi7, Margaret Burge, 
 died 1592. | died 1617. 
 
 — H 
 
 Thomas, John,=f=Agnes Whiting, of Burcott. 
 
 born 1576 ; born 1877 ; 
 
 died 1596. died 1618. | 
 
 I 1 1 ' 1 1 1 
 
 Christian. Margaret. Richard. John. Agnes. Thomas. 
 
 In 1580 there was a Richard Edward of Yardley and a John 
 Edward of Ripple. 
 
 There is a will of Alice Edward of April 24th, 1627. She 
 left sixpence to the parish church and sixpence to the poor of 
 the parish. This Alice was a Brownyng, and married William 
 Edward in 1588 ; she does not appear to have any sons, as she 
 bequeaths her property to her son-in-law and her relations on 
 her own side. 
 
 Thomas, the son of Anthony, who died in 1596, is the exem- 
 plary young man whose will is given among the extracts from the 
 Registers. 
 
 Godwin. — The family of the Godwins were connected with 
 Wookey for many years, and they held a lease of, and probably 
 occupied the Parsonage House for 170 years. The lease of the 
 Rectory to Mr. William Godwyn for 80 years, in 1548, is the 
 earliest record I have found which connects them with the parish. 
 The pedigree is very confusing, for there was a large family of the 
 name in Wells, and at one time there was a family at Burcot, and 
 one at Wookey Hole in addition to that at the Rectory. Mr. 
 William Godwyn was not buried here as far as I can gather from 
 our records, but his son, Anthony, was twice married in the 
 church here. He spent much of his time and of his money over 
 some law suits, and died in London, and is buried in S. Clement 
 Dane's Church. What were the causes of all his troubles, and 
 the particular law suit which cost him so much, I do not know. 
 His will was proved March, 1610, and bears on the face of it 
 
150 History of Wookey. 
 
 traces of that sorrow which comes of a weariness of controversy. 
 His son, William, seems to have offended him, for in the will he 
 leaves him only 40/- to buy a ring with, at the same time uttering 
 a fervent wish that God might convert him and make him an 
 honest man. Robert, the third son, succeeds his father in the 
 Rectory House. At his father's death he was still under age, 
 and the lease of the property, which was drawing to a close, was 
 renewed before the year 1628 by Mr. William Prowse, on the 
 lives of Robert and his wife, Elizabeth, and their sons, Joseph 
 and Edward. Robert had married in 1613 Elizabeth Smithies, of 
 Wrington, and his father-in-law, Mr. John Smithies, in his will, 
 1626, speaks of his son-in-law, Robert Godwin, as a "man not 
 conformable to the laws of the Church of England." This opinion 
 is confirmed by the fact that in 1641 he pays a tax of £2 as a 
 recusant. The will of Robert Godwin is proved July 26th, 1664. 
 In it he describes himself, at the time when he wrote it, as old and 
 infirm. 
 
 Joseph Godwyn, his grandson, gets a lease of the Rectory in 
 1681, on his own life, and of Eleanor, his wife, and Richard, his 
 son. In the following list I have only inserted the names of 
 those in immediate relationship to the tenants of the Parsonage 
 House. 
 
 William God wyn,=f Christian Burgess, of Batcombe, 
 of Wells. I d 1592. 
 
 I ' 
 
 Anthony=i=l. Joan Goad, of Wookey Hole, 1579. 
 d 1609. I 2. Elizabeth Maye, 1588. 
 
 1 1 ~~~\ _ .1 irr — T"": — it —'^ 
 
 William Christian Alice Thomas Robert=f P]lizabeth John, Joan, 
 1581. 1582. 1584. 1587. 1589. I Smythies, 1590, 1592, 
 
 1613. 1594. 1594. 
 
 I 1 1 
 
 Joseph=j=Susan Walrond. John Marie 
 
 1615 I 1616. 1617. 
 
 1668 I 1 1 
 
 Joseph,=FEleanor Hicks, Henry, 1651. 
 1649, d 1731. 
 1725. 
 
 Ellinor Susanna Joseph Ellinor Ann Richard EHzabeth Mary 
 1672. 1673. 1674, 1675, 1676. 1077. 1078. 1680, 
 
 1672. 1675. 1675. 
 
 I 1 1 1 — 
 
 Joseph, Thomas, Ellinor, Robert, 
 1682. 1683. 1685. 1687. 
 
Local Families. 151 
 
 Only the second Mr. Joseph Godwyn and his wife were buried 
 here, and the only monument we have belonging to them consists 
 of a small slab in the pavement at the foot of the Clerk tomb, 
 with the inscription, " The daughter of Joseph Godwyn, who died 
 the 30th of January, 1672." This was the eldest child, Eleanor, 
 and the first of the three daughters who received their mother's 
 name. She was ten months old, having been baptized March 30, 
 1672, and therefore the modern date of her death would be 1673. 
 
 The will of the former Joseph Godwin was proved in Septem- 
 ber, 1668. There exists an inventory of his personal property at 
 Wookey, which was signed by Mr. Thomas Muttelbury of the 
 Manor House, Stephen Weare, the then parish clerk, and Robert 
 Elford, a yeoman. The rooms of the parsonage house are thus 
 enumerated : the hall, parlour, kitchen, room by the kitchen, 
 hall chamber, long chamber, chamber within the long chamber, 
 little chamber within the hall chamber, and the study chamber. 
 His personality is reckoned as worth £615. He probably died 
 in Wells, for his bed and feather boulster is mentioned as lying 
 there. 
 
 Muttlehury. — The family of Muttelbury lived here during 
 
 the latter portion of the 17th century, and for sixteen years in 
 
 the 18th century. Probably Mr. T. Muttelbury inhabited the 
 
 Manor House after Mr. David Trym's death. His family was 
 
 as follows : 
 
 Thomas Muttelbury,=T=l. Francis Dickinson, d 1691. 
 d. 1708 I 2. Mary Muttelbury 
 
 I 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 
 
 Margaret Mary Frances Thomas | Charles Katherine Wynefred Thomas 
 
 John,=Mary 
 b. 1689 
 d. 1715 
 
 Thomas Muttelbury's will was proved October 30th, 1711. 
 He has conveyed to Frances Day, of Wells, his manor of Bradney 
 for his son, and for raising portions for his daughters. He men- 
 tions Mary, Frances, Catherine, and Wyneford, and his son, John 
 and his wife, Mary. He gives his manor house of Wookey to his 
 son, John, for the interest and term he has in it. John is sole 
 executor, and it would appear that both Thomases, Charles and 
 Margaret, were dead before the will was made. 
 
152 History of Wookey. 
 
 John's will was proved November 19th, 1715. He left to his 
 wife, Mary, the manor house of Wookey, where he now lives, and 
 which he or others for him hold on a lease from John Rolle. 
 
 He leaves 20/- for a ring to Frances Wilkins, of Leicester, 
 probably his sister who had married in the interval. 
 
 Peirs. — The following notes on the Peirs family are too dis- 
 connected to allow me to make up a pedigree of the family, but 
 as far as I state them, I think they are correct. 
 
 Thomas Peirs, of Wells, died in 1686 ; he then left £100 for 
 the purchase of an interest in Wookey Parsonage for the child, 
 his wife " now goeth with," if it proved a male. 
 
 William Archdeacon, of Taunton, had two sons, Thomas and 
 William. He was the son of William Peirs, bishop of Bath and 
 Wells, 1632-1670, and died 1682. We have then 
 
 William, bishop of Bath and Wells, 
 d 1670 I 
 
 William, Archdeacon of Taunton, 
 d 1682 I 
 
 Thomas. William. 
 
 Next, since the child mentioned above proved to be a boy, we 
 have the following pedigree : 
 
 Thomas, =f=probably Mary, who died 1724, 
 d 1686. I aged 70. 
 
 Thomas, =j=Penelope Matravers. 
 1686, I 
 1753. I 
 
 William John Matravers Ann Thomas William Betty Mary 
 
 1711-1713 1714-1732 1716-1729 1718-1719 1721-1724 1723 1725 
 
 inft. 1741 
 
 Thomas Peirs, who is styled in his will, dated October 24th, 
 1752, as of Wells, makes his kinsman, William Ekins Peirs, his 
 sole heir and executor of all his lands, but he does not name his 
 possessions. 
 
 Among the grandsons of William Peirs the Archdeacon was 
 one William Piers who, in 1708, married Elizabeth Ekins, of 
 Baltonsborough — whether he was an elder brother of Thomas, 
 
Local Families. 153 
 
 who was born in 1686, I cannot say. However, from that mar- 
 riage we have the following pedigree : 
 
 Winiam,=rElizabeth Ekins. 
 d 1764. I 
 
 I 1 \ ' 1 1 
 
 William George, Rebeeca,=James Mary, Elizabeth =f=Lord 
 Ekins, d before d 1740. Kennard an I Montague 
 
 1765. his father. infant. Bertie. 
 
 Augusta=pJohn Lord Burghersh Frances 
 
 Augusta Fane a son a son a son, heir to g. g. father W. P. 
 
 Thomas Peirs, who died in 1753, in his will, dated October 
 24th, 1752, makes his kinsman, William Ekins Peirs, his sole heir 
 and executor of all his lands ; but he does not state exactly either 
 his relationship or his lands. William Ekins Peirs was a barrister. 
 His will was proved in London, February 5th, 1765. He entailed 
 all his estates on his sister, Lady Elizabeth Montague Bertie, with 
 remainder to Frances Bertie. He recommends to his sister his 
 servant, Henry Mackennin, to be employed in laying out im- 
 provements ; she leaves Mackinnin £100. 
 
 Trym. — The Tryms lived at the Manor House during the first 
 half of the 1 7th century, and probably during the latter half of the 
 sixteenth. The following pedigree is, 1 think, correct ; but I 
 have not evidence for the first David being the father of William, 
 though, I think, it is probable. 
 
 David Trym 
 d 1582 I 
 
 1 ^ n 
 
 David=f=Julian Ceely, William^pJoan 
 
 b. 1575 I b. 1577 , ^ 1 
 
 d. 1603 I d. 1649 Christian Anthony 
 
 I 1 1 1 \ 1 1 
 
 Leonard Valentine =pMargaret George Elizabeth Ann Edward Jane 
 b. 1612 I 
 d. 1660 
 
 Valentine George David 
 Valentine Trym's will was proved August 14th, 1660. He 
 desires that a blue stone be laid on him, and he leaves 20/- to the 
 poor of Wells, 10/- to the Wells almshouse, and 10/- to the poor 
 of W^ookey. He leaves to his wife his tenement at Milton and 
 some land at Chesterhill. He conveys to trustees his manor house 
 at Evercrich, which he held of Thos. Bennett, Esq., for 99 years, to 
 
154 History of Wookey. 
 
 be sold for portions for his daughters, but he does not mention 
 them by name. 
 
 A William Trym is mentioned in 1540 in the account of the 
 S. John the Baptist, Halmote, as admitted to the office of Messor. 
 
 David was buried in the south-east chapel, and on a tablet 
 on the wall is the following account of the family : — 
 
 " Underneath lye the bodies of David Trym, gent, and Julian, his wife. 
 Shee (of y® family of ye Ceelys) died JanX. 6, 1663, aged 88. (Near them 
 lye also Edward and Jane, their son and daughter) To whose dear memories 
 Anna, their 2nd daughter, wife to Dr. Robert Peirce, of Bathe, dedicated 
 this small monument. — Requiescant in pace. 
 
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 
 
 Abowen, Richard, 77, 82 
 
 Adams, Richard, 20 
 
 Adlam, John, 114 
 
 Alampton, John, 19 
 
 Alard, 87 
 
 Alford. W. G., 78 
 
 Allford, G., 108, 109 
 
 Allen, Hollyer, 95, 100 
 
 Anne, Queen, 95 
 
 Ap Howell, Benedict, 61 
 
 Arnev, Thos., 18 
 
 Arnold, Henry, 91, 95, 100, 118 
 
 Attwell, Richard, 90 
 
 Atwyll, John, 55 
 
 Axebrugge, John de, 87 
 
 Bailey, Thos., 102, 110 
 Baily, Mr., 124 
 Baker, George, 76 
 
 „ John, 48, 90, 91, 96 
 „ Thos., 110 
 „ Wm., 16 
 ,, R., 113, 121 
 Bale, Walter, 48 
 Ballar, Richard, 108 
 Balstaff, Walter, 47 
 Band, Edward, 86, 110 
 „ E. W., 123 
 „ John, 110, 123 
 Barker, C. T., 88 
 Barlow, Edward, 17, 75, 82 
 * Barnard, Canon, 78 
 
 John, 17, 54, 121, 123 
 ,, George, 111 
 „ Thos., 40, 110 
 Wm., 123, 124 
 Barrowe, Wni., 15 
 Barwe, John atte, 39 
 Basset, Juliana, 39 
 „ Richard, 37 
 Bayley, Mr., 76 
 
 Thos., 88 
 Beauchamp, Edmund de, 36 
 
 ,, Edward, 39 
 
 Beck, John, 19 
 Been, Thomas, 61 
 Beeny, Agnes, 16 
 „ E., 122 
 „ Robert, 113 
 „ Thos., 16 
 „ Wm., 117, 121 
 Bek, Edith, 119 
 
 ,, John, 39, 115, 119 
 Bekyngton, Bishop, 5, 25 
 
 John, 61, 62 
 Bell, Wm., 58 
 Bello Campo, Ed. de, 37 
 Berde, Andrew, 37 
 Bergh, Philip de, 33, 35, 38 
 Berkeley, Alexander, 90, 96, 97 
 
 ,, ' Robert de, 87 
 Bernard, John, 43, 44, 61 
 Robert, 47 
 Thomas, 81 
 Bertie, Lady Montague, 69, 86 
 Berwe, Agnes atte, 37 
 
 Berwe, Alice, 37 
 Bilbee, T., 74, 76 
 Bingham, Thos., 88 
 Bishop, Wm., 38 
 Bisse, Jacob, 88 
 „ Philip, 88 
 Bliimian, Gartred, 113 
 Bodde, Margaret, 32 
 Boket, Wm . 88 
 Bokkyng, Richard, 115, 119 
 Bolevn, Thomas, 88 
 Bolingbroke, Oliver, Earl of, 122 
 Borowyk, Gilbert de, 34 
 Botyler, Henry, 37 
 Boules, Henry, 32 
 Boulting, Chas., 114 
 Boultyng, John, 17, 47, 77, 120, 122 
 Mary, 122 
 
 Nicholas, 15, 55, 117, 121 
 „ Robert, 17 
 
 Wm., 43, 113 
 Boureman, Wm., 14, 18, 88, 117, 121 
 Bowis, Robert, 67 
 Bowlar, John, 16 
 Brent, John, 90, 96 
 Brice, Richard, 47 
 Brid, Reginald, 38 
 
 „ Wm., 90 
 Bridport, Gaffred de, 30 
 Briyge, John, 37 
 Bristol, Philip de, 60 
 Broad beard, Robert, 73 
 Brock, John, 16, 77 
 Broke, Sir Thos., 39 
 Brooks, Benjamin, 124 
 Brookman, George, 123 
 Richard, 18 
 Brown, John, 20 
 
 „ Nicholas, 16, 55 
 „ Richard, 116, 119 
 „ Thos., 116, 119 
 „ W., 12 
 
 Walter, 87 
 Browning or Brownyng, Edward, 17 
 
 ,, Joan, 118, 122, 
 
 John, 17, 44, 45, 
 81, 82, 101, 102, 
 104, 118, 123 
 „ ,, Peter, 54 
 
 Robert, 17, 122 
 ,, ,, Susan, 18 
 
 Wm,, 18, 43, 45, 
 120 
 Brugger, Wm., 39 
 Brute, Edith, 37 
 Brydd, Reginald, 19, 38 
 Bucher, Wm., 30 
 Bubwith, Bishop, 18, 81 
 
 Thos., 61 
 Bullockhurd, John, 38 
 Bulting. Joan, 16 
 
 „ John, 14, 16, 40, 117, 121 
 „ Nicholas, 16, 114 
 Bulton, Robert, 121 
 Bury, Wm., 55 
 Burge, Anthony, 17 
 Burgeys, Nicholas, 16 
 
15( 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Burgh, John, 47 
 Burgis, Wm., 17 
 Burgge, John, 37 
 Burghersh, Lady Augusta, 69 
 Burnell, Richard, 120 
 
 „ Bishop R., 37, 71 
 Burnett-Stuart, T., 91, 101 
 
 A. T., 76, 87, 112 
 Burton, Walter de, 87 
 Bush, Mr., 74 
 Butler, Mr., 124 
 
 „ John, 124 
 Butt, John, 109 
 Butten, John, 109, 110 
 Button, Philip de, 19 
 
 „ Wm. de, 87 
 Buxton, Anthony, 101, 104 
 
 „ John, 17 
 
 „ Richard, 17 
 
 „ Robert, 17, 77, 101, 102, 103, 11^ 
 Bysse, James, 105 
 
 Cadbury, John de, 37 
 Calling-ton, John, 16 
 Camel, John de, 90 
 
 „ VVm.,88 
 Cammel, Walter de, 30 
 
 Wm. de, 30 
 Cammell, Wm., 41 
 Carent, Nicholas, 61, 62 
 Carey, Samuel, 18 
 Carter, John, 115, 119 
 Cary, Daniel, 18 
 Caton, Robt., 61 
 Caseley, Wm., 112 
 Castell, Alice atte, 37 
 
 John, 16, 96, 120 
 „ Walter, 16 
 „ Wm.,16, 120 
 Castle, Bartholomew, 17, 121 
 „ John, 81 
 „ Walter, 17, 32 
 „ Wm., 17, 122 
 Cayrell, John, 90, 96 
 Ceawlin, 2 
 Cenwealh, 2 
 Cewlie, Andrew, 37 
 Chalcraft, Widow. 18 
 Chamberlyn, John, 32 
 
 Robert, 19, 122 
 Chapele, Agnes, 16 
 
 „ Hugh atte, 19, 81 
 Chapell, Jane, 18 
 
 „ John, 15, 17, 18, 47, 55, 77, 81, 
 
 82, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123 
 „ Robert, 17 
 
 „ Wm., 16, 57, 77, 118, 120, 123, 108 
 Chapman, Thos., 121 
 Cherbegend, Robt., 37 
 Chichester. Peter of, 80 
 Chillock, Mary, 18 
 Chium, Avice, 18 
 Chresshere, Henry, 37 
 Chrewe, Thos., 61, 62 
 Chubb, John, 69 
 Church, C. M., 88 
 Churchouse, John, 17, 40, 121, 108 
 Richard, 16, bb, 120 
 Thos., 108, 82, 16, 17, 77, 
 102, 105, 117, 118, 120, 
 121, 122 
 Wm., 17 56, 121, 122 
 Chuwe, John, 55 
 Chywe, John, 43, 65 
 Clarke, 118 
 Clark or Clarke, Anthony, 73 
 
 Clark or Clarke, Henry, 117, 121 
 
 John,20,97, 123,124, 110 
 „ Richard, 108, 111, 109, 
 
 123, 124 
 „ Thos., 15, 16, 20, 72, 
 
 119, 120. 124 
 Wm., 123 
 Cleaves, Mary, 18 
 Clements, Thos., 38, 113 
 
 „ Edward, 113 
 Clerk or Clerke, Alice, 55 
 
 „ Anthonia, 57 
 
 Edith, 55 
 „ Isabella, 39 
 
 „ John, 40, 55, 57 
 
 Thos., 19, 39, 40, 57, 59, 
 
 64, 65, 67 
 Wm., 43, 47, 54, 55 
 Clynedon, John de, 34 
 CnoU, Philip de, 29 
 
 „ Wacher, 29 
 Colbourne, Elizabeth, 113 
 Collier, Margery, 98 
 ,, Jane, 114 
 „ Edward, 18 
 „ John, 17 
 Collins, Timothy, 88 
 Colyer, John, 119 
 Combe, John, 45, 90 
 ,, Nicholas, 84 
 „ Thos., 43 
 Compton, John, 39, 90, 91, 96, 115 
 Conmael, 2 
 Cook or Cooke, 118 
 
 David, 18, 108 
 „ John, 108 
 
 George, 76, 123, 109 
 „ Nathaniel, 109 
 
 William, 108, 109, 110 
 Cooper, Sir John, 68 
 Cordon, Richard, 62 
 Cornish, Bishop Thos., 97 
 Corscombe, Else de, 31, 58 
 Corpe, Joan, 17 
 
 „ John, 17, 82, 108, 118, 122, 123 
 „ Thos., 75, 121, 122, 123 
 Cosyn, John, 37 
 Cottle, Edward, 18 
 
 „ Wm , 82 
 Council, Wm., 118 
 Counsel, Thos., 39, 42 
 Wm., 40, 42 
 Courte, Wm., 47 
 Cozens, Edmund, 109 
 Croft, John, 60 
 Crooker, John, 103 
 Cullock, John, 16, 121 
 Thos., 15, 17 
 Richard, 17 
 Cuppar, John, 15, 120 
 
 Davies, Evan, 91, 100 
 Davys, Thos., 113 
 Day, James, 114 
 
 „ John, 114 
 
 ,, Joseph, 114 
 
 ,, Robert, 109 
 De Castello, Hadrian, 56 
 Deighere, Alanus le, 37 
 ,, John le, 37 
 Wm. le, 37 
 De la Bere, John, 61, 62 
 De la C.'ioll, Radulphus, 27 
 
 „ Walcher, 27 
 
 De la Haye, Thomas, 40 
 Delymakere, Robert, 58 
 
157 
 
 Dekene, Walter, 38 
 
 „ Wm., 37, 38 
 Dekne, Walter, 37 
 Dekyn, Edith, 37 
 
 „ Isabella, 40 
 
 ,, Juliana, 40 
 
 ,, Nicholas, 40, 55 
 
 ,, Philip, 40 
 
 „ Thos., 55 
 Denbeigh, Wm., 114 
 Dennis, Georg-e, 113 
 Deygh, Hugh, 32 
 Dinant, Thos., 87 
 Dinre, Goddefridus de, 28 
 Doulting, WiUiam of, 13 
 Drake, Henry, 37 
 
 „ John, 38 
 
 „ Philip, 37, 38 
 Drew, William, 77, 117, 120, 121, 108 
 Drokensford, Bishop, 80, 89 
 Drumniond, Morton, 91, 101 
 Dugdale, James, 88 
 Duke, John, 36, 37, 81 
 
 „ Walter, 36 
 Dunche, Edmund, 67 
 
 ,, Mary, 64 
 Walter, 67 
 
 Wm., 14, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 
 Dunkerton, John, 17 
 Dylverton, Walter, 19, 58 
 Dyrick, Wm., 20 
 
 Ebberwurth, Thos. de, 28 
 Edward or Edwards, Alice, 81 
 
 Anthony, 104, 121 
 „ John, 16, 17, 19, 39, 
 
 43, 44, 47, 77, 81, 
 90, 96, 117, 119, 
 120 and 121 
 „ Margaret, 17, 104 
 
 „ Nicholas, 16, 20 
 
 „ Richard, 17 
 
 „ Thomas, 104, 120 
 
 Walter, 15, 120 
 Wm., 45 
 Elford, John, 108, 109 
 Ellewelle, John de, 19 
 Ellis, John, 18 
 Elvard, Ann, 118 
 
 „ Joseph, 102, 109, 110 
 Eryngton, Richard, 90, 92, 97, 120 
 Evans, Wm., 15 
 Eyers, John, 122 
 
 Fearne, Felix, 94, 98, 101 
 Felaghe, John le, 32 
 Felpes, Thomas, 43 
 Felpus, Edith, 46 
 Ffussell, John, 106 
 Fish, Anthony, 122 
 
 „ John, 121 
 Fitzjames, James, 88 
 Ford, Hugh, 60 
 
 ,, Joan, 114 
 
 „ Thos., 91, 99, 103 
 Forest, John, 60 
 Fortescue, Sir Hugh, 68 
 Franceys, John, 45 
 Frankelyn, John, 36 
 French, Wm., 18 
 Fry, Mr., 73 
 
 „ Thos., 113 
 Fussell, John, 82 
 Fysshe, John, 120 
 „ Richard, 120 
 
 Gadd, John, 18, 90, 98 
 Gale, Thos., 108, 109, 124 
 Gales, James, 109 
 
 „ Wm., 108, 109 
 Galwey, John, 47 
 Ganfield, John, 17 
 
 „ Thos., 18 
 Gardener, Isabella, 121 
 Gascoigne, Wm., 81 
 Gentilman, Peter, 42 
 
 Walter, 38 
 Giles, C. E., 76 
 Giso, Bishop, 1, 2 
 Glover, Wm., 108 
 Goater, Abraham, 110 
 Godele, John, 80 
 Goddard, Nicholas, 110 
 Godwyn, Anthony, 17, 103, 108, 121 
 Edward, 84 
 
 „ Elizabeth, 84 
 
 „ John, 62 
 
 „ Joseph, 84, 85 
 
 „ Richard, 77, 85, 117, 120, 121 
 Robert, 14, 82, 84, 121 
 
 ,, William, 82 
 Goldcliffe, Thos., 90 
 Gorway, Wm., 20 
 Gosnold, John, 65 
 Grafton, A. W., 78 
 Greve, Simon, 39 
 Grove, John, 47 
 Gullock, Wm., 82 
 Gyes, Roger, 47 
 Gylle, Walter, 16 
 
 Halbkyn, John, 81 
 Hamme, Cristina, 38 
 Hancock, Alice, 16 
 
 Wm., 16, 20, 120 
 Hankyns, John, 77 
 Hans, John, 88, 96 
 Harrington, John, 77 
 
 Dr., 7 
 Harve, Wm. atte, 37 
 Harvey, Gilbert, 90, 98 
 Haslaye, R. de, 90, 96 
 Hasleshaw, Bishop, 89 
 Haydon, John, 62 
 Heghelme, John atte, 32 
 Heliar, John, 108 
 Hellier, Anthony, 18 
 Henton, John de, 36 
 Hera, John le, 37 
 Here, John le, 37 
 Here, W^m. le, 37 
 Herox John, 38 
 Hert, Alice, 38 
 ,, John, 38 
 Hervey, S. H. A., 73 
 Heyman, John, 48 
 Heyne, John, 37 
 Hibbins, James, 84 
 Hicks, John, 48 
 ,, Wm..47 
 Hillary, John, 119 
 Hill, Wm., 20,91 
 
 ,, John, 109, 112, 110 
 Hippisley or Hipsley, Agnes, 16 
 
 ,, Edward, 17, 56, 77, 
 
 102, 108, 111, 122 
 
 ,, James, 111, 112 
 
 „ R., 118, 123 
 
 Thos., 17 
 W. S., 112 
 
 Hobbs, Edward, 102 
 Hodge, John, 16 
 
158 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Hodges, Wm., 109 
 Hody, Alexander, 62 
 Hogge, Henry, 19 
 Holmes, T. S., 91 
 Hond, Adam, 39, 40 
 Hooper, John, 17, 121 
 
 Wm., 120 
 Hopkins, Wm., 16 
 Hoore, Richard, 61 
 Horner, Mrs., 95 
 Horningdean, Matthew de, 
 Hort, John, 56 
 Hortc, Edward, 16, 20 
 Horts, John, 48 
 Hotkins, Thos,, 108 
 Howe, Henry, 90, 97, 102 
 Howleg, John, 46 
 
 Robert, 47 
 Howlegge, Robert, 55 
 Huchyns, John, 39, 40 
 
 Walter, 40 
 Hughes, Wm., 109 
 Hulle, Walter de, 88 
 Hunt, Wm., 40 
 Hunte, John, 37 
 Huntly, Robert, 18 
 Huxtable, Edgar, 88 
 Hycks, John, 54 
 Hylle, Thomas, 47 
 Hyne, Wm., 49 
 
 Fanson, Sir Thos., 88 
 Ivo, Dean of Wells, 28, 87 
 
 Jackes, William, 38 
 James, John, 17, 82 
 ,, Thomas, 88 
 Jeol, John, 38 
 Joanes, Cyprian, 16 
 
 Jocelvn or Joscelin, Bishop, 23, 24, 71, 7i 
 Joel, William, 39 
 Jones, Morgan, 90, 99 
 
 Keate, William, 91, 100, 103 
 Keene, C. E., 87, 88 
 Kelwav, John, 90, 121 
 Ken, John de, 28 
 Kidder, Bishop, 105 
 Kingston, Robert, 74, 91, 98, 
 Knight, John, 19 
 
 ,, Richard, 19 
 
 „ VVilliam, 56 
 Kymock, Walter, 37 
 Kyndylan, 2 
 
 Lake, Henry, 63 
 Lambert, 87 
 Lane, Alice, 98 
 
 „ Christian, 101 
 
 „ Elizabeth, 18 
 
 ,, Mary, 114 
 
 „ Peter, 98 
 Lang, Wm., 49 
 Langton, Wm., 61 
 Laud, Archbishop, 73 
 Lavington, Wm. de, 88 
 Lawson, Alexander, 84 
 Lax, John, 87 
 Lavng, Henry, 88 
 Leke, John, 47 
 Le Moners, Peter, 30 
 Le Rous, Wm., 87 
 Le Poch, John, 90 
 
 Levinz, Wm., 85, 88 
 Light, Thomas, 113 
 Lloyd, John, 18 
 Lock, John, 47 
 London, Walter de, 60 
 Lovell, Thomas, 88 
 
 „ Walter, 40 
 Loxton, John, 16 
 Luffe, John, 108, 109, 118, 123, 124 
 
 ,, Joseph, 123 
 Lumbard, Robert, 38 
 Lyde, John, 16, 17, 54, 123 
 
 „ Matthew, 17 
 
 ,, Richard, 17, 75, 82, 118, 128 
 
 „ Thomas, 16, 62, 122, 123, 109 
 
 Mackinnen, Henry, 110 
 Marchia, Bishop Wm. de, 89 
 Marlow, John, 77 
 Marshfield, Nicholas, 108 
 Matravers, Wm., 85 
 Masters, Agnes, 18 
 
 ,, George, 108 
 
 ,, James, 88 
 Robert, 114 
 Maynard, Adam, 32 
 Meaden, John, 69, 110 
 Merchaunt, Walter, 20 
 Merifield, Hugh, 75, 102, 123 
 
 „ John, 16 
 
 „ Richard, 16, 77 
 
 „ Thomas, 16 
 Merkesbury, Thomas de, 37 
 Meriman, John, 18 
 Mockyng, Nicholas, 60, 81, 88 
 Mody, John, 39 
 Moleyns, John, 54 
 Monk, John, 113 
 More, Sir Thomas, 15 
 Morecock or Carter, John, 39, 115 
 Moss, Charles, 87, 88, 91, 100 
 Moure, Nicholas, 40 
 Mulward, Henry, 39 
 Mulford, William, 113 
 Mumfoid, Wm., 16 
 Mundy, Francis, 88 
 Muttelbury, John, 69 
 
 Thomas, 69 
 Michell, Mr., 74 
 Middleham, Joseph, 109 
 Middleton, Walter de, 36 
 Mildmaye, Walter, 65 
 Millard, William, 17 
 Mille, Edmund. 120 
 Miller, Thomas, 17 
 Mills, James, 75 
 Milverton, John de, 90 
 Milward, Thomas, 55 
 Mydleham, Thos., 82, 90, 98, 103, 121, 122 
 „ Purify, 98 
 
 Naysch, Richard atte, 36 
 Neel, W'lliam, 81 
 Newman, Peter, 15, 55 
 
 „ Walter, 15 
 Noggere, Estiva, 37 
 North, Nicholas, 40 
 Northom, Petronilla de, 30 
 Norwich, Thomas, Bishop of, 65 
 
 Paine, John, 88 
 Palmer, J., 78 
 I'anter or Paynter, Walter 
 Pat sons, Geortfe, 20 
 
INDEX. 
 
 159 
 
 Pasturel, "VS illiam, 19 
 Pearse, John, 100 
 Pedewell, John, 61, 62 
 Pegn, Thomas, 48 
 Peirs or Peirce, Bishop, 73 
 
 ,, Thomas, 74, 85, 109 
 
 „ William, 69, 85 
 
 ,, Wm. Ekins, 75, 86, 1 
 
 Pente, Andrew, 38 
 
 ,, Henry, 38 
 Pen ruddock, Robert, 77 
 Peynte, U alter, 39 
 Phelps, Thomas, 43 
 Phillott, J. S., 91.100, 123 
 Pilton, William of, 13 
 Pitney, J., Ill, 123 
 
 „ William, 111 
 Plentin, John, 77 
 Piumley, Nicholas, 120 
 Plummer, John, 48, 108 
 
 ,, Richard, 48 
 Poch, John le, 92 
 Pollard, Lewis, 96 
 Pontesburv. Nicholas, 88 
 Poole, Edward, 18 
 118 
 
 ,, George, 124 
 
 „ J., 123, 124 
 
 „ Robert, 82, 122 
 Pople, William, 16 
 Porter, John, 39, 45 
 Potter, John, 43 
 
 „ Richard, 39 
 Poughnell, Richard, 90 
 Powlet, John, 120 
 Prowse, William, 84 
 Purnell, Richard, 20 
 Pyers, Walter. 54 
 Pyerson, Thomas, 48 
 Pyncombe, Mr., 95 
 Pyttina, John, 20 
 
 William, 20 
 
 Radclifie, Houston, 88 
 Randall, Thomas, 105, 108 
 Rayiiold, John, 61, 81 
 Reynold, John, 88, 92 
 Richardson, W illiam, 84 
 Riddick, Mr., 124 
 Robeir, John, 81 
 Robert, The Archdeacon, 28 
 Robert, Bishop, 71, 79 
 Roberts, William, 84, 88 
 Robins, Samuel, 114 
 Rodde, John, 37, 40, 45 
 Rodeney, John, 120 
 Rodney, Walter de, 31 
 Rogers, John, 88 
 
 Dr., 95 
 Rolle, Denys, 68, 69 
 
 ,, Francis, 68 
 
 „ Henry, 68 
 
 ,, John, 68, 69 
 
 ,, Samuel, 67, 68 
 Rooe, John, 108 
 Rumbold, John, 43 
 Roumenal, Hugh de, 87, 92 
 Rudde, Robert, 37 
 Ruddick, Thomas, 110 
 
 Sage, Richard, 17, 108 
 Salmon, Francis, 87 
 
 „ George, 111, 112 
 
 „ Hester, 88 
 
 „ Mrs., 14 
 
 „ John, 109 
 
 Salmon, T. A., 123 
 T. B., 119 
 Robert, 112 
 Sawyer, John, 65 
 
 „ William, 120 
 Schapel, John, 119 
 Schupton, Ralph de, 19 
 Scott, Robert, 88 
 Selcock, John, 116, 119 
 Senebaldus, Ralph, son of, 28 
 Serger, Walter, 57 
 Shearly, W. J., 78 
 Shenton, John, 18 
 Sheppard, Francis, 12, 109, 124 
 Shrewsbury, Bishop Ralph, of, 25 
 Smith, John, 14, 16, 17, 18, 39, 48, 82 
 
 „ Richard, 40, 43 
 
 „ Robert, 45 
 
 ,, William, 115 
 Smyth, John, 40, 120, 122 
 Snelgrove, James, 20 
 Sneyd, Edward, 91, 100 
 Somerton, Hughde, 36 
 
 ,, John, 55 
 
 Somerset, Edward, Duke of, 63 
 Spakeston, R. de, 87 
 Spekyngton, John, 88 
 Spray, John, 116, 119 
 
 „ Ralph, 37 
 Sprotte, Richard, 39 
 Srute, John, 32 
 Squery, Thomas, 120 
 Stafford, John, 56 
 Standewyke, John, 120 
 Stephens, J., 123 
 Stevens, Thomas, 17 
 William, 61 
 Stock, John, 17, 122, 123 
 Stodelman, William, 43 
 Stokeljng, John, 37, 81 
 Stone, Anne, 17 
 Storthwayt, J, 61 
 Stott, Abraham, 124 
 
 „ David, 1-24 
 
 ,, James, lti9, 124 
 
 „ John, 18, 20, 41, 102, 103 
 
 „ Isaac, 20, 109, 110, 124 
 
 ,, Richard, 44 
 
 ,, Thomas, 16, 20, 90, 98, 108 
 
 „ Walter, 42, 46, 48, 54 
 
 „ William, 43, 111, 124 
 Stowell, John, 49 
 St. Quintin, Walter, 87 
 Strachey, 91 
 Straton, Richard de, 30 
 Stratton, William de, 28 
 Strode, 118 
 „ G., 123 
 „ J., 37, 108 
 „ T., 69, 76, 108, 109, 124 
 Suttona, John de, 90 
 Swallow, E izabeth, 18 
 Swan, Richard, 49 
 Sweet, John, 37 
 Symeon, Simon, 5 
 Synyer, John, 49 
 
 Tailler, Adam le, 32, 36 
 Tanner, Alys, 121 
 „ Isabel, 19, 31 
 ,, Thomas, 19, 39 
 Tajler or Buxton, . ohn, 55, 82, 121, 122 
 „ Robert, 17 
 
 „ Thomas, 45, 47 
 
 Teck, Matthr.v, 69 
 Tenor, Joi.u, 39 
 
160 
 
 Tibbs, James, 108 
 
 „ Thomas, 108 
 Thomas, William, 40 
 
 „ John, 81 
 Thorpe, William, 91, 101 
 Tokar, William, 16 
 Toker, William, 117 
 Tonour, Agnes, 40 
 Tornar, John, 15, 16 
 
 „ Thomas, 16 
 
 „ Walter, 16 
 Tounere, John, 43 
 Trappe, Nicholas, 120 
 Tregodek, John, 61 
 Trench, John, 81 
 
 Trym, David, 17, 67, 69, 82, 108, 118, 122, 
 123 
 
 „ George, 123 
 
 „ Valentine, 67 
 
 „ William, 17, 55 
 Tucker, Thomas, 69 
 
 William, 120 
 Tudway, Clement, 69, 70 
 Tupper, John, 55, 120 
 
 Robert, 120 
 Turner, Anthony, 113 
 Turner, Edith, 44 
 
 „ Henry, 82 
 
 ,, Joan, 18 
 
 „ John, 17, 39, 44, 54, 77, 102, 116, 
 117, 120 and 121 
 
 „ Richard, 104, 123 
 
 „ Thomas, 120 
 William, 17 
 Tutten, D., 108,123 
 Tychemersh, Richard de, 60 
 Tyler, John, 48, 49 
 
 Valence, Matthew de, 88 
 Vincent, Walter, 120 
 William, 112 
 Vinstrey, John, 37 
 Voel, William, 81 
 Vowles, Richard, 16 
 Vuthoukes, John, 19 
 Vyncent, Robert, 16, 20 
 
 Wade, John, 16 
 Waldram, John, 14 
 Walter, John, 69 
 Wansford, John, 88 
 Warner, John, 43 
 Waron, William, 49 
 Watere, Adam atte, 33, 35 
 
 ,, Henry atte, 32 
 
 „ Richard atte, 37 
 Watson, William, 87 
 Watts, 118 
 
 „ John, 124 
 
 „ Thomas, 100, 113 
 Wayfere, Anderna, 68 
 „ Thomas, 19, 58 
 Robert, 19 
 Weare, J. , 110, 123 
 
 „ Stephen, 18, 102, 105, 113, 108 
 
 „ Thomas, 76, 110, 111 
 
 „ T. B., 123, 124 
 
 „ William, 123 
 Web, Edith, 121, 123 
 
 Web, Mary, 98 
 
 „ Richard, 93, 121, 122 
 ,, Henrv, 39 
 Webber, Mr., 74 
 Webster, Christopher, 90, 96, 97, 120. 121 
 
 127 
 Welch, Robert, 112 
 Wele, Richard, 48 ♦ 
 
 Welleslegh, John Wareyn de, 115, 119 
 Wellington, William, 69 
 Wellyknow, John, 90, 96 
 Went, Edward, 47 
 West, Reginald, 88 
 Westbnry, John de, 37 
 White, Agnes, 38 
 ,, John, 45 
 
 „ Nicholas, 43, 44, 45, 47, 51 
 ,, Richard, 43 
 ,, Thomas, 36 
 ,, William, 37 
 Whitehead, John, 88 
 Whiting, Cyprian, 16 
 „ Edward, 122 
 ,, Thomas, 16 
 Widowe, Robert, 88 
 Wik, Philip de, 30 
 Wilcock, John, 15, 17, 77, 117, 121, 109 
 
 ,, William, 15 
 Wilcox, Joan, 17 
 Wilkins, Edmund, 109 
 Willames, Christiana, 37 
 Willcas, John, 39 
 Willes, Juliana, 37 
 William, 87 
 
 ,, the Conqueror, 12 
 Wills, John. 18 
 
 ,, William, 108 
 Wilmot, John, 77 
 Wilshire, Edward, 77 
 Winton, Richard de, 87 
 Wode, Thomas atte, 19 
 Woky, John de. 21 
 „ Philip de, 21 
 ,, Maurice de, 21 
 ,, Richard de, 21 
 Wookey, William of, 13 
 Wooton, Edward, 91, 99 
 Worcester, William of, 5 
 Worthe, Henrv de la, 30 
 Wudeford, Gatfred de, 30 
 ,, Thomas de, 30 
 Wye, Joanna, 58 
 
 „ Roger, 58 
 Wyke, Agnes, 16 
 
 ,, Gilbert atte, 32 
 Wylcocke, David, 16 
 „ Elie, 38 
 „ John, 16, 55 
 
 Richard, 16, 55 
 William, 119, 120 
 Wylcocks, John, 47 
 Wylcoxxe, John, 120 
 Wyx, Roger, 19 
 
 Yatton, William de, 80, 87 
 
 Yeap, George, 110 
 
 Yebais, William, 16 
 
 Yeman, John, 39 
 
 Yerworth, Samuel, 90, 96, 98, 102, 104 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Almshouse Documents relating to Wookey - - 18, 19 
 
 Altar Rails placed in the church in 1635 - - 73 
 
 Archdeacon of Wells, Peter's pence paid to - - 45 
 
 Axe, River, fish caught in it - - - - 5 
 
 ,, boundary of West Saxon territory - - 1 
 
 Bailiff's amount of Manorial Revenues during a vacancy - 32 
 
 ,, during time of Bekyngton - - - '41 
 
 Ban vt-ell, My dleham married in bishop's chapel at - - 98 
 
 Barrow Causeway . - . . . l\ 
 
 Bay Salt, price of - - - - - 103 
 
 Berkeley, Alexander, his numerous works - - 97 
 
 Bible, a new one bought .... 75 
 
 Bleadney bridge at - . - - - 37 
 
 ,, mill 31, bailiff of 37, repairs to 48, lease of - 58 
 
 Bridges in Wookey - - - - - 20 
 
 Bubwith's Will, benefaction under ... 60 
 
 Burcott Mill, payment of rent for - - - 59 
 
 Burnham, C. Webster, vicar of ... 97 
 
 Buxton, Anthony, a preaching minister - - 101 
 
 Cadavatores, duties of the .... 70 
 
 Capitage, meaning of .... 45 
 
 Castle, account of 10, destruction of embankment at - 12 
 
 Charlynch, Gadd, rector of - - - - 98 
 
 Cheddar, stone brought from .... 4g 
 
 Chevage, meaning of - - - - 3d 
 Church, description of 71, dimensions 73, mortuary chapel in 
 
 72, new gallery in 74, restored - - - 7fi 
 ,, Cottages, notice of - - - - 39, 115 
 
 ,, Bells, description of - - - - 76 
 
 Church House, first notice of - - - - 116 
 
 Church Plate, description of - - - - 75 
 
 Churchwardens, list of - - - - 108 
 
 Cider, fines for selling furze for - - - - 39 
 
 Cirscet, meaning of - - - - - 70 
 
 Clerks, list of parish - - - - - 113 
 
 Cloister of the Manor House - - - - 23, 49 
 
 Collections for other places - - - - 106 
 
 Compton, John, perhaps a vicar - - 91 
 
 Conoresby, rent charge on lands at - - - 30 
 
162 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Coterelli, an account of the - - - . 53 
 
 Crocus Garden J expenses of the - - - . 47 
 
 Dean, election of, in place of Dean Forest - - . 61 
 
 ,, and Sub-(iean, quarrel concerning jurisdiction - 80 
 
 Dedication Festival, change of day of - - - 72 
 
 Edward, John, pension from vicarage - . . gg 
 
 ,, Thos. , his will and exemplary life - - 104 
 
 Eggs, customary payment to the Lord of the Manor - 44 
 
 Enclosure of Moors ----- 5 
 
 Eryngton, Richard, his numerous offices - - - 97 
 
 Excommunication, threat of - - - - 13 
 
 Faculty for a pew - - . . . 75 
 
 Fardell holders, account of the - - - - 53 
 
 Feame, Felix, a preaching minister ... 94 
 Fulling Mills - - - - 30, 32, 34, 58, 59 
 
 Oavelerthe Tenancy, meaning of - - - 41 
 
 Orasertlie and Gutferme Tenancy, meaning of - - 51, 55 
 
 Godwyn, Anthony, buried at St. Clement Dane's Church - 103 
 
 Gustus Villanorum, meaning of - - - 49 
 
 Hallage, meaning of - - - - - 36 
 
 Hamlets of VVookey - - . . . 1 
 
 Harvey, Gilbert, appointed by the bishop - - 98 
 
 Hearth Tax, excused - - - - - 18 
 
 Hembury Wood cut down - - - - 103 
 
 Henton, Free Chapel, inquisition concerning its destruction - 77 
 
 ,, vicars of - - - - - 78 
 
 Herrings in Lent - - - - - 103 
 
 Howe, Henry, witnesses Gierke's will - . . 97 
 
 Hurricane of Wind, a memorable - - - 105 
 
 Knowle, lease of land there 27, water-course at - - 37 
 
 Knychewode, path near .... 35 
 
 Lane, Peter, Harvey's curate - - - . 98 
 
 Large Trees, not to be cut down - - - 30, 57 
 
 Lavatory, fixing of the * - - - 49 
 
 Lead, brought from Bristol for the Hall . - - 48 
 
 Le Poch, John, lease to 92, perhaps a vicar - - 90 
 
 License to marry - . . - . 40 
 
 Manor, size of - - - - 22 
 
 ,, assessment of - - - - - 56 
 
 ,, leased to T. Clerk .... 57 
 
 „ fate of in reign of Edw. VI. - - - 63 
 
 , , description of in the reign of Edw. VI. - 63 
 
 Manor, licence to sell to Rolle family ... 67 
 
 ,, account of Hnal sale .... 69 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 163 
 
 Manor House, description of supposed shape - - 23, 24 
 
 ,, Jocelyns's buildings - - - 23 
 
 ,, repairs at - - - - 47 
 
 „ alterations at the Hall ... 48 
 
 „ bishop Bub with dies here . - - 60 
 
 ,, tenants of during reign of Queen Elizabeth - 67 
 
 ,, ,, till sale of manor - - 69 
 
 Marlborough, collection at Wookey for town of - - 104 
 
 Martinhoe, Brent, rector of - - - - 06 
 
 Merlegh, lease of land at - - - - 30 
 
 ,, Wood, claim against the bishop - - 30 
 
 Messor, duties of the .... 54 
 
 Military Service, lands held on - - - - 40 
 
 Mills at Wookey ... 58 
 
 Mill Stream, uncertain antiquity ... 9 
 
 Much Baden, Berkeley, vicar of - - - 97 
 
 Nave of church reseated . - - . 74 
 
 Noises in Wookey Hole .... 7 
 
 North aisle of church, lumber in - - - 74 
 
 Overland, fines of 35, remarks on the 53, various fields in it - 42 
 
 Oxen of rector, allowance for ... - 46 
 
 Pannage, meaning of .... 43 
 
 Parish Chests, account of - - - - 75 
 
 Path, ancient, at Henbury - - - - 11 
 Peter's Pence - - - - - 41, 44, 45 
 
 Plaster of Paris, sale of - - - 40 
 
 Preachers, benefactions for - - - - 104 
 
 Recognition, meaning of - - - - 36 
 Rectory, formation of 79, assessment of for house tax 80, 
 leased out by Raynald 81, leased out by Boureman 
 81, account of in Valor Eccles. 81, Boureman's 
 second lease 82, terrier of possessions in 1634, 82, 
 account of in time of Commonwealth, 83, leased out 
 
 by Levintz 85, by Moss 87, by Keene 87, sale of - 87 
 
 Rectors, list of - - - - - 87 
 
 Reynold, John, grant by the vicars ... 92 
 
 Rodney, Walter de, holds lands in socage - - 31 
 , , Stoke, Holly er Allen, rector and curate in charge of 
 
 Wookey ..... 95^ 101 
 
 Second Poor Endowment - - - - 118 
 
 ,, W. Council's bequest for - - . 118 
 
 Select Vestry ..... 20 
 
 Sextons list of - - - - - 114 
 
 Statutes of Cathedral, presentation to bishop Ralph of - 60 
 
 Stray Cattle impounded .... 54 
 
 Strecchistenement, notice of - - - - 91 
 
 Tillage, bequest for better maintenance - - - 117 
 
164 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Tithings in Manor of Wookey - - - - 25 
 
 Title Deeds, list of Wookey - - - - ng 
 
 Vestry Room built - - - . . 74 
 
 Vicarage, institution of unknown ... 39 
 
 , , grant of land to - — - - 94 
 
 ,, augmentation of - - - - 95 
 
 ,, House, original name - - . - . 91 
 
 „ ,, ,, site .... 92 
 
 „ ,, change of site - - - 85 
 
 ,, ,, increase of .... 95 
 
 Vikersplace, la, notice of - - - - 91 
 
 Villeins, letting for hire of - - - - 40 
 
 Warren, free, bishop possesses a - - - 32 
 
 Waste lands of Wookey - - - - 3 
 
 Westbury, Purify Mydleham, vicar of • - - 98 
 
 ,, overland ..... 53 
 
 Winter Pasture at Westleyland ... 39 
 
 Witham, Grant of Isabel Tanner to Prior of - - 31 
 
 Wookey, size of parish .... 1 
 
 ,, not mentioned in Domesday - - 1 
 
 ,, meaning of name .... 1 
 
 ,, boundaries of parish - - - - l 
 
 ,, population of 15, various lists of parishioners - 15,16,17 
 
 ,, a family name .... 2I 
 
 ,, ordination at - - - - 60 
 
 ,, common fields of - - - - 3 
 
 ,, Sale of church property at - - - 14 
 
 Wookey Hole, account of - - - - 6 
 
 ,, ,, witch, meaning of term ... 9 
 
 ,, ,, mill, lease of - - . - 58 
 
 „ ,, Roman Inscription found there - - - 13 
 
 Yerworth, S. , author of Hebrew Grammar - - 98 
 
v/ 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 Thi, book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 ThJS book Qu ^ ^^^^ ^^ ^j^.^j^ renewed. 
 
 Kenewed°bcS^ a« subjea to immediatetecaU 
 
 
 LD 2lA-40m-4,'63 
 (D647lBl0)476B 
 
 General Library 
 
 University of California 
 
 Berkeley 
 
iviSlOlS? 
 
 U. C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES^ 
 
 CDbl3m47 
 
"'^^mmmmmm. 
 
 •^