WEST OR BISHOP'S LAVINGTON
The parish of West or Bishop's Lavington lies on
the northern slopes of Salisbury Plain about 6 miles
south of Devizes. (fn. 1) It covers 5,906 acres of land and
5 of water. (fn. 2) The southern part of the parish, about
4 miles in breadth, lies on the Chalk uplands of the
Plain, and in the south-western corner reaches over
600 ft. above sea-level. Northwards as the parish
descends the slopes of the Plain it narrows to a width
varying from I½ to ½ mile and drops to about 200 ft.
A spring rising near the middle of the parish, in a slight
wooded ravine, is the source of Bulkington Brook which
flows through the village of West Lavington, east of the
village of Littleton Pannell, and northwards out of the
parish. The parish boundaries were adjusted by Order
of the Local Government Board in 1883 bringing Gore,
formerly in Market Lavington, into West Lavington,
and placing Fiddington and Black Dog, formerly in
West Lavington, in Market Lavington. (fn. 3) There was at
one time a chantry chapel at Gore near the cross-roads
known as St. Joan à Gores Cross, but no trace of this
remains above ground. (fn. 4) The main road from Devizes
to Salisbury (A 360) runs through the parish from
north to south. The village of West Lavington lies
along this road on the Gault and Greensand strip at the
foot of the Plain. The village of Littleton Pannell, also
in the parish of West Lavington, lies farther north
along the same road. The secondary road from Urchfont to Westbury (B 3098) intersects the main road
between two villages. The railway line from Westbury
to Stert, opened in 1900, (fn. 5) crosses the northern end of
the parish and Lavington station lies about ½ mile
north of Littleton Pannell.
Within the parish 4,203 acres of land are held by
the War Department, having been acquired at various
times between 1910 and 1936. (fn. 6)
Dial House, in the village of West Lavington and
east of the main road, is a medium-sized house of the
early 18th century. It is built of red brick with stone
dressings. The interior retains some contemporary
panelling, bolection moulded fireplaces and a wide
staircase of elm. To the right of the Dial House is a
small building, part of an earlier house, built of rubble
and now used as kitchen offices. Littleton House, in the
village of Littleton Pannell, was rebuilt early in the 19th
century. All that remains of the earlier building are
some internal and parts of the flank walls. Fiddington
House was used as a private lunatic asylum at least as
early as 1817 (fn. 7) and is still in use for this purpose.
In 1840 there were seven public and five private
carriage roads within the parish. (fn. 8) In 1825, amidst
somewhat riotous celebrations, the toll-gates at Littleton
cross-roads were burnt never to be replaced. (fn. 9) In the
mid 19th century flints for the roads were dug on the
downs within the parish in considerable quantities. (fn. 10)
At times either the supply was not over abundant or
labour for digging was scarce, for in 1739 the sale of
flints to any turnpike or into any other parish was
prohibited. (fn. 11) Stone for building and a soft chalk-stone
for making lime were quarried in the parish in the 19th
century (fn. 12) and a stone-quarry and lime-kiln are mentioned in an 18th-century survey. (fn. 13) A public wateringplace called Gore Cross Pond for the inhabitants of
West Lavington is mentioned in the Inclosure Award
of 1840. (fn. 14)
West Lavington suffered from a disastrous fire in
1689 when 226 bays of building were burnt and
damage done to the value of £5,367. 18s. 8d. (fn. 15)
The accounts of the churchwardens, the overseers
of the poor, and the surveyors for the highways show
there to have been 2 churchwardens and 2 overseers for
the whole parish, and 2 surveyors for Lavington and 1
for Littleton. (fn. 16)
William Talman, Controller of Works to William
III, architect of Chatsworth, of other palaces, and of the
alterations to Hampton Court Palace, was born at West
Lavington where he had property. (fn. 17) Matthew Hole,
Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, was Vicar of West
Lavington from 1673–4. (fn. 18)
Manors
At the time of the Domesday Survey
WEST LAVINGTON was held in chief
of the king by Robert Blund as successor to
Achi. (fn. 19) Robert's sons-in-law, William de Aldeleia and
Robert de Aumale, held of him 7 hides and 1 virgate
respectively. (fn. 20) Inc. 1136 King Stephen granted Roger,
Bishop of Salisbury, the service and land of William, son
of Malger of Lavington, of the fee which he held of
Gilbert Blund. (fn. 21) This appears to have conveyed to the
bishop the principal estate in West Lavington, but the
estate seems at first to have been annexed to the manor
of Potterne and not to have been an independent
manor. As late as 1565–6 it was claimed that West
Lavington had been so annexed, that 'time out of mind'
the tenants of Lavington had done suit at the court of
Potterne, that the customs of the two manors were the
same, and that they had only recently been divided. (fn. 22)
In 1146 the Bull of Eugenius III confirming the episcopal estates to the bishop refers to 'Potterne with
Lavington', (fn. 23) West Lavington may thus have been
included, although not specifically mentioned, in the
Empress Maud's charter of 1148 restoring Bishop's
Cannings and Potterne with all appurtenances to the
bishop after their seizure by Stephen. (fn. 24) In 1212 with
Potterne and Bishop's Cannings it was seized by John
and given into the custody of the Constable of Devizes. (fn. 25)
It was presumably restored with Potterne to the bishop
shortly afterwards, and like Potterne remained in the
hands of the bishop throughout the Middle Ages. In
1294 the bishop was granted free warren in his
demesne lands at West Lavington. (fn. 26) In 1428 Cecily
widow of John Bernard held land in West Lavington
of the bishop, as did Nicholas Cricklade and Agnes his
wife. In both cases the land was said to have been
previously held by Thomas de Parham. (fn. 27) In 1416
Nicholas Cricklade and Agnes his wife had conveyed
a messuage, land, and a rent in West Lavington to
Thomas Cricklade, Robert Ford, and John Hamme. (fn. 28)
In 1430 John Ewastas and Joan his wife conveyed a
messuage and land in Littleton to Richard Fyton, John
Fauntleroye, and Nicholas Cricklade. (fn. 29)
Several holders of other estates in West Lavington
can be traced during the Middle Ages. In 1195 Peter
son of Simon surrendered his claim to ½ a hide of land
there in return for 2 acres and a field to be held of the
Bishop of Salisbury at an annual rent of 2s. (fn. 30) Peter's
father may have been Simon de Ponte, for in c. 1228
Bishop Poore granted to Walter Pas, his servant
(serviens nosier), ½ hide in Lavington in a field called
'Burfeld' formerly held by that Simon. (fn. 31) Two hides
in West Lavington were included in the endowment
of De Vaux College made by Giles, Bishop of Salisbury, in c. 1260. (fn. 32) In 1535 this property was yielding
a rent of £2 a year. (fn. 33) After the Dissolution it was
granted with other property belonging to the college to
Sir Michael Lyster. (fn. 34) In 1255 ½ a fee owing castle
guard duty at Devizes Castle lay in West Lavington.
Thirty years earlier Roger de la Folye had owed such
service for 2 fees in West Lavington but he had withdrawn it. (fn. 35) In 1255 (fn. 36) and 1288–9 (fn. 37) the ½ fee was held
by Robert dc Saucey whose service had been commuted for an annual rent of 10s. In 1418 the fee was
held by John de Lavington who died that year holding
as of the castle of Devizes for a rent of 10s. a principal
messuage called 'Lavingtonesplace' with lands and
tenements in West Lavington. The property had been
settled on John for life under the name of John, son and
heir of Ralph Clerk of West Lavington, with reversion
to Thomas Edward, son of William Flour's daughter
Maud and the heirs of Thomas. John Edward was
said to be the immediate heir. (fn. 38) In 1428 John Edward
was holding land in West Lavington of John Stourton
said to have been held previously by Ralph le Clerk. (fn. 39)
Persons styled le Clerk had held lands in West Lavington in the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1281 William,
son of Geoffrey le Clerk of Lavington, quit-claimed a
messuage, land, and rent to the Bishop of Salisbury. (fn. 40)
In 1305 a Geoffrey le Clerk, (fn. 41) in 1329 a Geoffrey le
Clerk and Ralph his son, (fn. 42) and in 1367 Nicholas, son of
William le Clerk, (fn. 43) held land there. The land held of
Devizes Castle is next heard of in 1630 when Sir John
Dauntsey died seised of an estate called Newgate Farm
comprising 200 acres of land, 4 acres of meadow, and
200 acres of pasture. This he held of the castle in
socage, at a rent of 10s. At the time of Sir John's death
it was let to one William Bower. (fn. 44)
In 1367 Nicholas, son of William le Clerk (see above),
John Rucote and Maud his wife conveyed to John
Auncel of Littleton a messuage, a mill, a carucate of
land, 2 acres of meadow, and ½ acre of wood in West
Lavington. (fn. 45) This estate may later have become the
'manor of Littleton Auncells' conveyed by William
Beckett and Anna his wife in 1693 to George Bowditch and James Townsend, (fn. 46) and in 1703–4 to the
Earl of Abingdon. (fn. 47)
The Dauntsey family, which had long been prominent in the neighbourhood, held land in West Lavington
at least as early as 1474 when John Dauntsey was
granted 4 messuages, 60 acres of land, 6 acres of
pasture, and pasture for 2 oxen and 80 sheep in West
Lavington by Richard Beckett and Edith his wife. (fn. 48)
In the 16th century the manorial rights in West
Lavington were leased to various individuals, but it is
far from clear what exactly happened. Early in the
reign of Elizabeth there was a lawsuit between John
Webbe and Sir Henry Chivers, who both claimed the
manor. (fn. 49) Webbe's case was that Bishop Audley of Salisbury (1502–1524) granted the manor'about 14 July,
6 Henry VIII' (1524) to William Webbe, his father,
who had left it to the complainant. Chivers had somehow obtained the possession of the deed and had pretended to have reversion to the property. In reply
Chivers said that the lease had been granted to William
Webbe (for fifty years), but that by a deed of 6 June
1548 Bishop Capon had granted the manor for ninetynine years to John Barnaby, who had sold his lease to
Chivers. In the course of the lawsuit Webbe modified
his claims by admitting that Chivers was lord of the
manor in virtue of the lease to Barnaby, but nevertheless claimed that Chivers had trespassed on his lands.
He further stated that the bishop had originally leased
the manor to William Frinnell, who sold it to Robert
Long, from whom it passed to his widow Alice, later
the wife of William Webbe, grandfather of John.
Chivers was evidently a litigious man, for between
1564 and 1567 he was again at law, with Robert Blake
and with William Flower. (fn. 50) The latter case is particularly interesting, for it concerned not only the lordship
of the manor (admitted to be the right of Chivers) but
the right of Flower as a copyhold tenant to let his land.
On 26 December 1573 the queen conveyed to
William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley, the lordship, manor,
prebend, and parsonage of West Lavington. (fn. 51) It was
then stated that on 29 November of the same year the
Bishop of Salisbury had leased this property to the
queen for seventy years. Burghley had had some
interest in West Lavington before this, for in 1571
Thomas Duck, Yeoman of the Cellar, had petitioned
him for a lease of 'the farm called West Lavington,
Co. Wilts.' (fn. 52)
The lease of 1573 did not run its full term. In 1630
Sir John Dauntsey died seized of the manor of West
Lavington, holding it of the Bishop of Salisbury as of
his manor of Bishop's Lavington. Sir John also held in
West Lavington, Newgate Farm of Devizes Castle (see
above) and another estate of the bishop. This latter
estate comprised 200 acres of land, 12 of meadow, 60
of pasture, and common pasture for 5 oxen and 300
sheep, and had been purchased by Sir John from
William Brouncker. (fn. 53) The manor passed to Sir John's
granddaughter Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Danvers. (fn. 54)
In 1640 the bishop made a lease of the manor to Sir
John Danvers, Henry his son, and Elizabeth his
daughter. (fn. 55) West Lavington was sold in 1649 as part
of the bishop's lands, to Edward Cressett, who paid the
Commonwealth Commissioners £667. 8s. 3d. for it. (fn. 56)
Evidently Danvers retained his tenancy, for in 1659
the manor was the subject of a conveyance by Robert
Danvers, alias Villiers, and Elizabeth his wife and Anne
Lee, widow. (fn. 57) Elizabeth and Anne were the daughters
of Sir John Danvers, and the manor was assigned to
Anne, for in 1681 it was in the possession of her
daughters Eleanor wife of James Bertie, Lord Norreys
later 1st Earl of Abingdon, and Anne wife of Thomas
Wharton. (fn. 58) The settlement of that year was probably
for the purpose of conveying it to Eleanor and James,
for in 1731 it was in the possession of their heir
Willoughby Bertie, later 3rd Earl of Abingdon. (fn. 59) In
1761 the 4th Earl conveyed it to Robert Palmer and
Thomas Walker. (fn. 60) This may have been one of the
stages in its sale to the Duke of Marlborough who
acquired it c. 1766 and settled it early in the 19th
century on his second son afterwards created Baron
Churchill. (fn. 61)
In 1840 when the Inclosure Award for the parish
was made Lord Churchill held a freehold estate in West
Lavington as well as lease- and copy-hold estates held
of the Bishop of Salisbury as of his manor of Bishop's
Lavington. With the exception of approximately
62 acres, all the allotments made under the award were
to Lord Churchill. 4 a. 12 r. 12 p. were allotted to
John Giles in respect of his estate held of the Bishop of
Salisbury; 50 a. 3 r. 19 p. were allotted to James Tilby
in respect of his freehold estate, and 7 a. 2 r. 21 p. went
to the vicar in respect of his glebelands. (fn. 62) From Lord
Churchill (d. 1845) the manor passed through his son,
the 2nd Baron, to his grandson, the 3rd Baron, created
Viscount Churchill in 1902. In 1903 Lord Churchill
and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in whom the
overlordship of the bishop was vested, were joint lords
of the manor. (fn. 63) In 1905 the manor house and most of
the property were bought from Lord Churchill by
Mr. H. T. Holloway. (fn. 64) A further purchase from the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1913 made Mr. Holloway sole lord of the manor of West Lavington. (fn. 65) In
1939 his son, Mr. H. T. Holloway, was lord of the
manor. (fn. 66)
West Lavington Manor lies north-east of the church.
A doorway reused in the present building to form a
small porch is the only trace of a 16th-century house.
The initials I. D. and D. M. above the door possibly
stand for John and Margaret Dauntsey (d. 1559 and
1571). In the 17th century the house was extensively
rebuilt and the gardens laid out in ornamental style by
Sir John Danvers to whom Aubrey attributed 'a fine
fancy, which lay chiefly for gardens and architecture'.
The gardens, Aubrey says, were full of 'irregularities
both natural and artificial'. A portico 'full of water
workes' was added on the north side of the garden by
the Earl of Abingdon inc. 1686. (fn. 67) The only part of
the present house dating from the 17th century is the
side elevation towards the road built of rubble with
square mullioned windows. The gateway may also be
part of the 17th-century rebuilding. Built of ashlar
it has a round-headed arch flanked by Doric pilasters
supporting an entableture and moulded pediment surmounted by three finials. In 1908 the house was extensively restored and modernized by its owner
Mr. H. T. Holloway.
At the time of the Domesday Survey LITTLETON
PANNELL was held by William of Aldrie as a tenant
of William of Eu. In the time of King Edward the
estate had been 'tainland' belonging to the church of
Salisbury and was held by Alestan of Boscumbe. (fn. 68)
Before 1190 property in Littleton was held by the
Hose or Husee family, for at about that time Henry,
son of Henry Husee, confirmed his father's grant of a
rent from a mill there to Dureford Abbey (Sussex). (fn. 69)
In 1219 Henry, son of Henry Hose, rendered account
of 2 marks for 1 knight's fee in Littleton. (fn. 70) Matthew
Husee (son of Henry Husee IV) held the fee in
1235–6. (fn. 71) In 1238 the Sheriff of Wiltshire was
ordered by royal writ to enforce the surrender by
Matthew Husee to Maud Husee of a carucate of land
of which Henry Husee, her grandfather, had been
seized at his death. (fn. 72) This Maud Husee married
William Paynel and in 1253 the couple were given
seisin of Littleton, which had been taken into the king's
hands by reason of the death of Matthew Husee. (fn. 73) In
1255 William Paynel held 1 fee in Littleton Pannell
owing castle guard service at Devizes Castle. (fn. 74) William
Paynel, son of William and Maud, held Littleton in
1308. (fn. 75) The younger William died in 1317, leaving
the manor to his younger brother John. (fn. 76) John died
two years later, and left to his daughter Maud, wife of
Nicholas de Upton, 2/3 of the manor. (fn. 77) Possibly the
other ⅓ was the dower of William Paynel's widow, Eve.
Before 1325, the manor was in the hands of John, 2nd
Lord Hastings of Abergavenny. (fn. 78) How John acquired
it is not clear. The only clue is the fact that his father
had been continuously associated with John Paynel,
with whom he was at the siege of Carlaverock in
1300. (fn. 79) In 1328 Juliana, widow of John, 2nd Lord
Hastings, married William de Clinton, later Earl of
Huntingdon. (fn. 80) In 1344 Gilbert de Berwick, the Earl's
steward in Wiltshire, conveyed 2/3 of the manor of
Littleton Pannell to William, Vicar of Potterne, John
de la Roche, and Walter Cambon, for a period of seven
years. (fn. 81) William Paynel's widow was still living at this
time and may have held the other ⅓ of the manor; it
is not, however, recorded in any inquisition postmortem. (fn. 82) Littleton 'Husee' was mentioned among the
possessions of John, 4th Lord Hastings, Earl of Pembroke, after his death in 1375. (fn. 83) It was then said that
long before his death he enfeoffed Walter Amyas, John
Abraham (and others named) with all the said lands. (fn. 84)
This John de Hastings was the son of Laurence de
Hastings, heir of John and Juliana. His only son and
heir died childless in 1389, and in 1391 Littleton was
in the hands of Reynold, Lord de Grey of Ruthin,
whose grandfather had married Elizabeth, daughter of
John, 1st Lord Hastings by his first wife Isabel. (fn. 85)
Reynold was then granted licence to enfeoff Robert,
Bishop of London, and others with the manor. (fn. 86) In
1404 Reynold conveyed it by fine to John Chitterne
and John Broke, clerks and others, with reversion to
the heirs of Chitterne. (fn. 87) Chitterne in 1409 conveyed
Littleton to Broke and others, (fn. 88) and in the same year
Broke released all his right in the manor to John Wakering and others. (fn. 89) The purpose of this series of conveyances is not clear, but in 1427–8 Richard Milbourne
held ½ fee in Littleton of the Duke of Gloucester as of
Devizes castle. (fn. 90) Another half was held by William
Walraund and Richard Feton, and the holdings were
all described as 'late of William Clinton'. (fn. 91) Simon
Milbourne held the manor in 1464, and when he died
on 11 September of that year it passed to his son
Thomas. (fn. 92) Simon had held it of the enfeoffment of
Robert Hungerford, Lord Hungerford, and Robert
Hungerford, Lord Moleyns. In 1535 an inquisition
on Richard Milbourne referred to his father Henry,
living in 1517, and stated that Henry's father was
named Sir Thomas. It also mentions that Richard had
sisters Isabel, Joan, and Elizabeth. (fn. 93) In 1542 ¼ of the
manor was among the possessions of William Beckett,
being held of Edward Twyner and Edith his wife, late
the wife of Richard Milbourne, deceased. (fn. 94) In 1544
½ the manor was conveyed to William Button by Robert
Tyderlegh and Elizabeth his wife, with warranty
against the heirs of Elizabeth. (fn. 95) In the following year
Edward and Edith Twynyhoo conveyed property
described merely as 'the manor' of Littleton Pannell to
William Button; this was a mortgage—Edward owed
Button £400 and the conveyance was in return for this
debt and a further advance of £100. Button was to
hold the manor for the lifetime of Edith. (fn. 96) Button's
son William made over the manor in 1549 to Robert
Tyderlegh, with warranty against the heirs of Margaret. (fn. 97) It seems probable that Tyderlegh's wife,
Elizabeth, was the sister of Richard Milbourne and the
heiress to the Milbourne property. When he died in
1578, however, it was stated that Elizabeth his wife
was to enjoy the manor which was held of the queen as
of her castle of Devizes for life, in spite of the fact that
Robert had granted it in 1573 to his second son
Richard. (fn. 98) In 1586 Richard Tyderlegh, son of Robert,
obtained confirmation of his father's grant of the manor,
paying a fine of £8 for it. (fn. 99) Elizabeth, Robert's widow,
gained similar confirmation in 1591 of her life interest
in the manor. Here, it was stated that her husband had
left it to her in his will, which implies that she was not
the heiress in her own right. (fn. 100) It is, of course, possible
that Robert Tyderlegh married successively two women
named Elizabeth. Richard Tyderlegh conveyed the
manor in 1608 to Robert Tyderlegh, 'junior'. (fn. 101) Robert
Tyderlegh 'senior' conveyed it in 1628 to John Pole
and William Fry; it was still among the property of
the Robert Tyderlegh who died in 1638. (fn. 102) From the
inquisition of 1638 it appears that one Robert Tyderlegh died in 1610, and his wife, Elizabeth, in 1632.
The subject of the inquisition was Richard Tyderlegh
their son, and Robert's heir, then 17 years old.
In 1688 Robert Tyderlegh and Mary his wife conveyed Littleton Pannell to James, Earl of Abingdon. (fn. 103)
In 1767 Willoughby, 4th Earl of Abingdon, obtained
permission by private Act of Parliament to exchange
the manors of Littleton Tytherleigh and Littleton
Becketts for an estate of greater value in Berkshire. (fn. 104) In
1771 the Littleton property had come into the hands
of William, 5th Earl of Radnor, (fn. 105) and remained in the
hands of his heirs until 1899 when Mr. H. T. Holloway, of West Lavington, purchased the Beckett estate. (fn. 106)
In 1903 Charles Awdry was the principal landowner in
Littleton. (fn. 107)
The house at Littleton Pannell called à Becketts was
rebuilt and enlarged in red brick in 1904 leaving little
or no trace of the earlier house. According to tradition
it was in this house that Captain Henry Penruddocke,
brother of the better known Colonel John Penruddocke, was murdered by a Parliamentarian soldier in
1644. Captain Penruddocke was buried in West
Lavington churchyard and his fate is recorded in the
parish register. (fn. 108)
Church
The church of West Lavington with its
tithes, coupled with the church of Potterne
and its tithes, were among the endowments granted by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, to his
cathedral chapter in c. 1091. (fn. 109) The grant of these two
churches led to the foundation of the prebend in Salisbury Cathedral (fn. 110) usually known as that of Potterne,
but sometimes as that of Potterne and Lavington, (fn. 111) or
simply that of Lavington. (fn. 112) In 1254 the prebend was
assigned to the Bishop of Salisbury and has since remained with his successors. (fn. 113) The date of the first
presentation by the bishop to the church of West
Lavington is not known. He presented in 1302 (fn. 114) and
thenceforth until 1552. In that year John Gough
presented by permission of the bishop. (fn. 115) In 1568 the
advowson appears to have been leased with the manor
to Henry Chivers, clothier, who presented that year; (fn. 116)
in 1577 and 1580 William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley,
to whom the queen had leased the manor, prebend, and
parsonage, presented. (fn. 117) In 1592 John Dauntsey, who
held the manor of the bishop, presented, (fn. 118) but when
the manor was leased in 1640 to Sir John Danvers and
his son and daughter the bishop reserved the advowson
to himself. (fn. 119) It is not known, however, who exercised
the right of presentation between 1640 and 1660 when
the title to the living was disputed. In 1645 John
Thornburgh was instituted vicar, (fn. 120) but in 1660 he was
a petitioner to the House of Lords for securing the
tithes and other profits of sequestered livings. (fn. 121) His
rival claimants appear to have been Thomas Byrom
who died in 1656 and is described in the register of
burials as 'vicar of this parish', Thomas Etwall who
succeeded Byrom, and Bartholomew Shorthose who
apparently succeeded Etwall. (fn. 122) In 1661 the bishop
presented and Thornburgh is said to have resigned in
favour of Shorthose. (fn. 123) The prebend and rectory were
again leased with the manor in 1681, (fn. 124) but the advowson remained in the hands of the bishop and has remained with his successors to this day.
In 1291 the vicarage of West Lavington was valued
at £5 (fn. 125) and in 1535 at £11. 16s. 4d. (fn. 126) In 1139 Roger,
Bishop of Salisbury, enhanced the value of the church
by granting to it the tithes of Littleton Pannell. (fn. 127)
Tithes from the demesne of Matthew Husee, Richard
Burdun, and Humphrey Escuville in the same place
were the subject of a composition made in 1239
between the prebendary, Elias de Derham, and the
priory of Jumeaux (Amiens dioc). By this the priory
accepted an annual rent of 10s. in lieu of the tithes
claimed. (fn. 128) An agreement between rector and vicar
concerning tithes was reached in 1324 when the
bishop, as rector, granted to William of Lavington, the
vicar, the rectorial tithes of Fiddington in exchange for
the vicarial tithes of West Lavington. (fn. 129) Reference to
this agreement is made in the glebe terriers of 1609,
1704, and 1783. (fn. 130) In 1609 and 1704 the vicar received the tithe of 120 sheep belonging to a tenement
called Long Hayes in East Field, and of 50 sheep
belonging to a tenement called the Prebend in West
Field. (fn. 131) In 1704 he had also all tithes from all closes,
crofts, and old inclosures in the parish except where
these were made out of the arable fields; the tithe of a
small butt in East Field; the tithe of Frith Coppice and
of all withy beds and underwood and also cow- and
calf-white. He had all the tithes of Fiddington; all
oblations and offerings; the herbage and profits of the
churchyard, and an augmentation of £30 a year out of
the estate of the Earl of Abingdon. (fn. 132) An augmentation
of £20 a year had been approved in 1655 by the
Trustees for the Maintenance of Ministers. (fn. 133) In 1764
the great tithes were leased to the Duke of Marlborough and were worth £469. 17s. 3d. (fn. 134) In 1704 the
glebe comprised 4 acres of arable in West Field, 1 butt
of arable in East Field, both free of tithe, and 10 acres
of arable in Bower Field said to have been lately annexed to the vicarage by Gilbert, Bishop of Salisbury.
There was also pasture for 10 beasts in the common
fields of Fiddington. (fn. 135) In 1783 the glebe was uninclosed and lay in small parcels in the 3 fields mentioned above. The ½ acre in East Field was let. The
vicarage house, built of stone with brick front, stood in
9 acres of garden. (fn. 136) In c. 1800 the vicar surrendered
the glebe to the Duke of Marlborough in return for
£16 a year and a close called Place Orchard. (fn. 137)
In 1654 the parsonage house and its appurtenances
were sold for £23 by the Commonwealth Commissioners to Thomas Badcock. (fn. 138) It was then said to have been
leased in 1640 when the manor was leased to Sir John
Danvers, Henry his son, and Elizabeth his daughter. (fn. 139)
In the fire at Lavington in 1689 (see above) damage
estimated at £615 was sustained by this property and
twenty-nine bays of building were burnt. (fn. 140) This was
possibly a piece of rectorial property to be distinguished
from the vicarage house. Its site may be marked by a
farm-house called the Parsonage standing south of the
church.
In 1657 the Trustees for the Maintenance of
Ministers gained approval for a plan to unite the
parishes of West Lavington and Little Cheverell. (fn. 141)
There is no evidence, however, that this was done. The
two parishes were merged for ecclesiastical purposes in
1914. (fn. 142) When Fiddington was transferred to the parish
of Market Lavington in 1883 it was placed for ecclesiastical purposes in the parish of Easterton. (fn. 143)
The parish church of ALL SAINTS is situated
about half-way between the extreme points, north and
south, of the parish. It stands on rising ground to the
west of the road from Salisbury to Devizes. The churchyard is entirely surrounded by roads. The church
comprises a chancel, nave, north and south aisles and
porches, north transept, north and south chapels, and
west tower. It was built in the latter half of the 12th
century and partly rebuilt in the 13th when the nave
appears to have been shortened and the tower rebuilt.
In the 14th century the tower arch was reduced both
in height and width and the upper part of the tower
rebuilt on a smaller scale. The two chapels were added
in about the middle of the 15th century. The one to
the south of the chancel is known as the Beckett
Chapel; the other, known as the Dauntsey Chapel,
replaced the south transept which appears to have been
destroyed for its erection. Another chapel was later
added to the north side of the chancel and now houses
the organ. A wide three-centred arch opening from
the aisle to the Dauntsey Chapel was probably made
about the middle of the 16th century, and the original
door in the west blocked. In 1847 extensive repairs
and restorations were carried out, including new oak
roofs to the nave and aisles, the opening of the clerestory
windows (which had been bricked up) and the removal of the dormer windows from the south aisles.
The aisle walls were raised to their original height and
parapets were erected. The gable of the north transept
was rebuilt and the roof reslated. The external stair
was removed from the west front and traceried windows
inserted in the tower and north aisle. Both the porches
were rebuilt, and external entrances made to the
chapels. The east wall of the chancel was rebuilt and
a triple lancet window inserted. The north door to the
chancel was blocked, the galleries removed, a new pulpit
provided, and the whole church refloored and reseated.
The soffit of the arch leading to the Dauntsey
Chapel is decorated with four black letter d's joined
together on square panels, and this motif also occurs
among fragments of stained glass in the west window.
There are two tomb recesses in the south wall of the
chapel, one with a semi-recumbent figure of Elizabeth
Dauntsey, d. 1636, the other bearing a stone effigy of a
woman but without inscription. Between these is a
marble monument to Henry Danvers, d. 1654. On the
east wall is a brass to John Dauntsey, d. 1559, another
to Margaret Dauntsey, d. 1571, and a third without
inscription. In the Beckett Chapel there is a carved
16th-century oak altar-table of unusual length and a
piscina in the south wall. The chapel is entered through
the original south doorway to the chancel which was
reversed when the chapel was built. It is fitted with a
15th-century counter-boarded oak door. There are floor
slabs to William Beckett, d. 1677, and John Harvest, d.
1671. The font is early 15th century. The tower has a
battlemented parapet and an octagonal stair turret with
sundials on two of the faces. There are 17th-century
memorial tablets to Peter Anderson, d. 1699, John
White, d. 1693, Thomas White, d. 1675, and Jenevera
Yerbury, d. 1672. Between 1817 and 1828 a 15th-century manual of the Salisbury Use was found in a
wall of the chancel. (fn. 144) A new altar was placed in the
chancel in 1928 and electric light was installed in the
same year. The parish registers begin in 1597 and are
complete. (fn. 145) Those for the years 1597 to 1803 have
been transcribed by Bernard French and edited by
R. W. Awdry. (fn. 146) Edward VI's Commissioners left 12 oz.
silver tor the church and took 3 oz. (fn. 147) The church plate
now comprises a chalice and two patens (one with a
foot) bearing hallmarks for 1640 and given by William
Bower, d. 1645, and a tankard-shaped flagon hallmarked 1680 and presented in 1790. (fn. 148) There are six
bells, all made by James Wells of Aldbourne, the sixth
bears the date 1810. (fn. 149) They were rehung in 1928. (fn. 150)
Provisions for the building of a church house were
made in the will of William Dauntsey dated 1542. (fn. 151)
Dauntsey, an alderman and mercer of London, was
born at West Lavington towards the end of the 15th
century and died about 1553. (For his other benefactions to West Lavington see below—Schools and
Charities.) If a church house were ever built no trace
of it remains today.
Nonconformity
According to the returns
made for Bishop Compton in
1676 there were then 3 dissenters in West Lavington. (fn. 152) David Saunders, whose
life and work provided Hannah More with the materials
for The Pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, was born at
Littleton Pannell in 1717 and was buried in West
Lavington churchyard in 1796. Saunders, a farm
worker, influenced by the teaching of Wesley spent
much of his life teaching and preaching in West
Lavington and the neighbouring parishes. His followers
met first in his cottage at Littleton and later at Cornbury
Mill. (fn. 153) A Baptist chapel was built at Littleton Pannell
in 1848 with seating for 150. In 1949 the congregation numbered 33 and there were 38 pupils and 33
teachers in the Sunday school. (fn. 154) The Wesleyan
Methodist chapel, given and furnished by the brothers
H. T. and T. Holloway in memory of their father, was
opened in 1900. (fn. 155)
Agriculture
The Domesday Survey shows
that both West Lavington and
Littleton had decreased in value
between the time of Edward the Confessor and 1086.
William le Blund's estate in West Lavington was valued
at £12 in 1086, having been worth £15 T.R.E. (fn. 156)
Littleton, held by William de Aldrie, was worth £8 in
1086, and £10 T.R.E. (fn. 157) After its acquisition by the
Bishop of Salisbury in 1136 (see above Manors), and
throughout the Middle Ages, West Lavington never
became so valuable a property as the neighbouring
episcopal manor of Potterne. In 1291 it was valued at
£45. 10s. (fn. 158) In 1535 its net value was given as £56.
9s. 3d. (fn. 159) The only known medieval survey of West
Lavington is one of 1284 when the see of Salisbury was
vacant for a few weeks only. An area of 7½ acres of
meadow was then valued at 2s. an acre, and there was
pasture worth 107s. 11½d. Works of villeins were sold
for 56s. 8d. and perquisites of court were worth
£4. 10s. 4d. (fn. 160) The manor of Littleton was surveyed
three times in the 14th century. In 1316 there was a
capital messuage without a garden worth 12d. and a
dovecot worth 20s. a year. There were 200 acres of
arable; 35 acres of this when sown with wheat were
worth 8d. an acre; 10 acres when sown with fine wheat
were worth 6d. an acre; 12 acres when sown with
barley were worth 6d., and 30 acres when sown with
oats were worth 4d. an acre. There were 12 acres of
meadow worth 18d. an acre, common pasture for great
beasts worth 10s. a year, pasture for 200 sheep worth
16s. a year, and 3 acres of wood worth 12d. a year.
Rents of assize were valued at £9. 15s. 6d. a year payable at four terms. Pleas and perquisites were worth
20s. a year. (fn. 161) Three years later 2/3 of the manor comprised a messuage with a garden worth 2s. a year,
79 acres of arable worth 3d. an acre, 4½ acres of meadow
worth 4s. 6d. a year, 2 acres of wood worth 6d. a year,
and 13 acres of common pasture worth 2d. an acre.
There was one free tenant paying 6s. a year and 19
villeins paying for all services £6 a year. Pleas and
perquisites were worth 40d. a year. (fn. 162) In 1325 there
was a messuage with curtilage worth 5s. a year, 80 acres
of arable worth 4d. an acre, pasture worth 32s. 4d.,
wood worth 2s., 6 acres of meadow worth 18d. an acre,
and a water-mill and land worth 40s. There were 4
free tenants holding 1, 8, 1, and 2 virgates respectively,
and paying 15s., 5s. 4d., 6s., and 20d., respectively for
their land. One bond tenant paid 16s. for a virgate,
another 8s. 10¾d. for ½ a virgate, another 7s. for ½ a
virgate, and 6 others paid 5s. each for 8 acres. There
were 9 cottars of whom 2 paid 5d., and 7 paid 20s.
between them. The works of the bond tenants and
cottars were worth 6s. 2½d. The net value of the manor
was given as £10. 15s. 11¼d. (fn. 163) Twenty-five years later
the manor was valued on the death of John de Hastings
at £5. (fn. 164)
The manorial customs of West Lavington were
enumerated in 1566 in the course of a suit heard in the
Court of Requests. They were said to be as follows:
(i) Controversies regarding ownership of property
within the manor were to be heard in the first instance
in the manorial court. The lord of the manor was not
to proceed against a tenant in another court until he
had taken presentment of homage in his court, (ii)
Tenants might cut wood on their own land up to 20 ft.
in length and 1 ft. in diameter without incurring
punishment for waste, such wood being accounted
underwood, (iii) Tenants might freely plant or remove
plants on their holdings. (iv) A tenant might remove
at will any house built by him on his land. (v) Should
a tenant's house be burnt or damaged, the lord had to
provide timber for its repair. If he failed to do so, the
tenant might cut down timber on his own land for this
purpose, (vi) A copyhold tenant might let his land
from year to year without the consent of the lord of the
manor. (fn. 165)
According to a 17th-century survey the manor of
West Lavington, then called Lavington Dauntsey in
Lavington Episcopi, comprised besides the manor
house, garden, and orchard, 2 pastures called the
Sandes, the Ash-yard, an orchard and ground by the
mill together valued at £50; a little farm with sheep
sleight worth £90; Chancellor's Farm with sheep
sleight and arable land on Chancellor's Ball worth
£100; a third part of Goredowne worth £25; Gore
Close worth £2. 10s.; some closes of pasture and
meadow called Rowborough worth £13. 10s.; and a
water grist-mill with some land worth £24. There were
also 23 leaseholders paying rents varying from £10. for
a farm called 'Parrhams or Court Farm' to 1s. for a
messuage and land. (fn. 166) In 1784, when the Duke of
Marlborough was principal landowner in West
Lavington, rack-rents were worth £1,430. 17s. 3d.,
leaseholds £406. 6s., and copyholds £409. 10s. 6d.
The duke retained in his own hands only 4 a. 2 r. 7 p.
of arable and 29 a. 1 r. 11 p. of pasture. (fn. 167)
As in the case of other parishes on the northern
slopes of the Plain, West Lavington has a share of the
rich loam soil at the foot of the escarpment and the
poorer soils on the downs above. It is thus both arable
and sheep-farming country. Evidence exists of sheep
farming on a single farm on a considerable scale in the
16th century. John Webb, who had rented a farm in
West Lavington from the Bishop of Salisbury, stocked
it with 1,394 sheep. On subletting it in 1556 to
Thomas Hulle, clothier of Devizes, Webb agreed to
raise the flock to its full number of 1,800 (fn. 168) In 1766
there were 6,298 sheep in the parish, (fn. 169) and at some time
in the 18th century there appear to have been nine
sheep droves covering 52 a. 4 r. 38 p. (fn. 170)
In 1801 wheat covered 620 acres in the parish,
barley 688, oats 130, potatoes 17, peas 147, beans 47,
rape and turnips 72, and rye 9. (fn. 171) An area of 4,248 a.
3 r. 27 p. of the open and common fields of West
Lavington was inclosed in 1840 under the Act of
1836. (fn. 172) Market-gardening appears to have flourished
in the 19th century, vegetables being sent to Salisbury
and Bath. (fn. 173) In the Inclosure Award 'the vineyard' is
mentioned as a landmark, but it is unknown whether
grapes were ever cultivated in the parish.
Mills
In 1086 there were 2 mills at Littleton
paying 30s. and 1 mill at Lavington paying
5s. (fn. 174) Between 1190 and 1196 15s. rent from
a mill in Littleton, formerly held by Edmund Lubin,
was confirmed to Dureford Abbey (Sussex) by Henry
Husee. (fn. 175) In 1325 John de Hastings died in possession
of a water-mill within his manor of Littleton. (fn. 176) A mill
at Lavington was included in the grant made in 1367
to John Auncel of Littleton, (fn. 177) and when the manor of
Littleton Auncells was conveyed to George Bowditch
and James Townsend in 1691–2 a mill was included. (fn. 178)
A water-mill at Littleton was included when the manor
was conveyed in 1549 to Robert Tyderlegh by William
Button. (fn. 179) This mill appears to have descended with
the manor and is mentioned in the settlement of 1608
between Richard and Robert Tyderlegh, (fn. 180) and in 1638
in the inquisition on the death of Robert Tyderlegh. (fn. 181)
A water grist-mill at Lavington is mentioned in the
survey of 1639, (fn. 182) and when the Commonwealth Commissioners sold the manor in 1649 to Edward Cressett
it included 'a water grist mill and mills and water
courses late belonging to the bishop of Salisbury'. (fn. 183)
Schools
William Dauntsey (see above—
Church), by his will dated 1542, provided
for the building of a school at West
Lavington. The schoolmaster was to receive £10 a
year and one of the eight 'chambers' in the almshouses
also erected under Dauntsey's bequest (see below). (fn. 184)
The administration of the whole charity was entrusted
to the Mercers' Company. In 1598 the schoolmaster's
salary was raised to £15. At this date each of the seven
almspeople received 10s. 10d. a quarter; in 1635, by
decree of Chancery, the amount payable by the Company to the schoolmaster and almspeople together was
increased to £60. By the same decree Sir John Danvers,
whose wife Elizabeth was the heiress of Sir John
Dauntsey, was granted £100 for repairing and enlarging the school and almshouses. (fn. 185) At the beginning of
the 19th century the schoolmaster's salary was increased in two instalments to £70, and between 1810
and 1831. the Mercers' Company spent some £2,500
in rebuilding the almshouses and repairing and altering
the school building. In 1856 the school and master's
house were rebuilt and the almshouses repaired for
about the same sum, and in 1875 £500 was spent on
enlarging the school. (fn. 186)
By 1859, when there were about 50 boys learning
reading, writing, and arithmetic and receiving religious
instruction under Dauntsey's bequest, the schoolmaster's salary had risen to £150 and house. £40 was
paid to an assistant, who at the time of the inquiry
was a certificated teacher. (fn. 187)
Shortly after this date (1854) a site for another
school was conveyed in trust by the Rt. Hon. Jacob
Pleydell Bouverie and Lord Folkestone. (fn. 188) This was at
the east corner of Sand Ground on the Devizes road.
The school built the same year and opened in 1855
consisted of two rooms 31 ft. by 19 ft. by 15 ft. high,
in which were taught 50 to 60 girls (by an uncertificated mistress), and 40 to 50 infants, mainly boys (by
an 'elderly' woman). The school was well built and
furnished, but lacked a playground. There was also in
1859 a dame school in a cottage, attended by some 20
children. (fn. 189)
Dauntsey's school was nominally a grammar school,
and as such was fully reported on by the Schools Inquiry Commission of 1867. (fn. 190) In fact, however, it was
at this time only an elementary school; the top form of
7 boys (average age 12) 'wrote from dictation and read
fairly. They know hardly any geography. Many of
them... did a few simple sums', and one boy knew a
little algebra. No examinations were held or prizes
given, and no boy had gone to any university within the
last five years. Attendance was irregular owing to the
claims of farm work. The headmaster, who was also
Vicar of Erlestoke, deputed practically all the teaching
to his assistant, who was now getting £70 a year. The
inspector considered that the school as then constituted
was 'a very doubtful benefit to the parish. It has
paralysed any attempt at establishing an ordinary
parochial school', and local opinion was said to agree
with him. It was significant that the neighbouring
farmers were not sending their sons to the school,
and in its then state were not anxious to apply more
of the ample funds from Dauntsey's endowment
towards its improvement. (fn. 191)
In 1887 the reorganization of Dauntsey's charity
was taken in hand. Under a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners of 1891 the amount payable by the
Mercers' Company towards the fulfilment of the educational part of the charity was fixed at £1,800, (fn. 192) of
which not more than £400 was reserved for a primary
school, and the remainder was to be applied to the
foundation of the Dauntsey Agricultural School. (fn. 193) A
new elementary school was also built, to accommodate
400 boys, girls, and infants, and opened in 1898; in
1902 the average attendance was 139. (fn. 194) The recognized accommodation has been reduced, and stood in
1950 at 286 (184 mixed, 102 infants), at which date
the average attendance was again 139. The staff consisted of a headmaster and four assistants. (fn. 195)
Charities
The charities of West Lavington
are important and valuable though
not numerous. (fn. 196) The benefactions of
William Dauntsey are the most important source.
Dauntsey, by his will dated 1542, directed his
executors to purchase a plot of vacant ground north of
the vicarage of West Lavington, on which to erect a
church house (see above—Church), a school house
(see above—Schools) and eight almshouses. One of the
last-named was to be for the schoolmaster and the others
for five beadmen and two beadwomen, who were to
receive 10s. 10d. each, quarterly. In 1553, after
Dauntsey's death, the administration of the whole
charity was entrusted to the Mercers' Company, of
which Dauntsey had been a member. The rent of some
twenty houses in the City of London, then amounting
to £47. 8s. 4d., was applied to providing the necessary
funds. This property increased in value, and in 1611
the share of the almspeople in the proceeds was raised
from £15. 13s. 4d. to £23. 13s. 4d. a year. In the
1630's Sir John Danvers and Elizabeth (Dauntsey) his
wife brought a suit against the Company concerning
the administration of the charity, which was settled by
Chancery decree in 1635. By this decree the amount
payable to the schoolmaster and almspeople together
was increased to £60 a year, and Danvers was granted
a lump sum of £100 in consideration of having repaired and enlarged the school and almshouses. In
return he agreed for himself and his heirs not to criticize
the Company's conduct of the charity further, but
'conceiving and hoping, that if any extraordinary improvement should thereafter be made of the messuages
and lands... the said company were of such integrity
and piety, that... they would not fail to enlarge the
said allowances'.
In the event, the allowances remained at the same
level until 1801, when a gratuity of £45 was given to
the almspeople. Two years later the value of the property had increased to £600 a year and the almspeople
were allowed 5s. each weekly, with 13s. 4d. each
quarterly. A small annual balance of £1. 6s. 8d. was
accumulated until sufficient to provide greatcoats for
the men and cloaks for the women. In 1810 the almshouses were rebuilt in brick with a central timber clock
turret. They provide a sitting-room, bedroom, and
'buttery' for each occupant, and a common room for
washing, baking, and brewing. In 1821, when the
Charity Commissioners reported, the right of appointing the almsmen and almswomen was exercised by the
family of the Duke of Marlborough as lords of the
manor of West Lavington.
Between 1824 and 1830 the allowances were at 6s.
a week, and from the latter date 8s., to both men and
women. By 1830 the number of beadwomen had been
raised to 5, and from that year £3 annually was spent
on clothing. When the Charity Commissioners again
reported (1834) the total cost of the almshouses was
£238 annually. Various improvements in the buildings
had been carried out; these included houses for the
extra beadwomen and a clock and tower, and the total
cost was upwards of £1,325.
The Dauntsey charity was the subject of various
inquiries during the next half century. By 1861 the
value of the estate had gone up to £1,462. 10s., but the
allowances to the almspeople remained as in 1834.
Under the 1891 scheme of the Charity Commissioners
the Mercers' Company lost their exclusive right to
administer the charity, but were allowed to appoint 10
of the 19 Governors to whom it was entrusted. The
right of appointment of future almsmen and almswomen
was vested in the Governors and the total allowance
from the charity in respect of the almshouses was fixed
at £260 a year, out of a total of £2,000 assigned for the
various purposes of the Dauntsey charity.
In 1904 the almspeople consisted of two married
couples, four widowed or single men, and four widows
or single women. Each couple and each single inmate
was allowed 8s. a week with an extra 8s. in Christmas
week, together with clothing. The average cost of the
latter item was £2 per man yearly. There was a waitinglist of candidates for admission.
There is another set of three almshouses in West
Lavington village to the west of the Salisbury—Devizes
road known as the South Bank Almshouses. They are
said to have been endowed by the lord of the manor in
1499, but as far back as 1834 no deeds or writings survived to confirm this. At this date, when the almshouses had recently (1831) been rebuilt, they were
occupied by three women, each of whom received 1s.
a week out of the manor. In 1904 the allowance was
4s. 4d. a month, with a blanket, and coal, beef, and
groceries at Christmas from the lord of the manor. The
inmates were all in receipt of poor relief, and in their
selection by the lord of the manor preference was given
to women of West Lavington over those from the
hamlet of Littleton.
In 1786 it was recorded that a certain Mr. Moore
had, at an unknown date, left £40 for the benefit of the
poor, producing £2 a year. This charity was already
'lost' by 1834.