DRAYCOT CERNE
Draycot Cerne c. 1839
Draycot Cerne (fn. 1) is 5 km. NNE. of Chippenham. (fn. 2) The suffix Cerne is derived from the surname of the lords of the manor in the Middle
Ages. (fn. 3) The parish included a detached portion,
c. 90 a., between the eastern boundary of Sutton
Benger and the west bank of the Bristol Avon,
called Draycot Sutton in 1778: (fn. 4) it was transferred
to Sutton Benger in 1884. (fn. 5) In the Middle Ages
81 a. of adjoining land to the north may have been
among the lands of a hamlet or farmstead called
Knabwell: the 81 a., Nabals farm, were extraparochial until 1830 when they were added to
Draycot Cerne parish. More of Knabwell's land
may have been added to Stanton St. Quintin parish. (fn. 6) The boundary with Stanton St. Quintin was
altered slightly in 1882. (fn. 7) The parish of Draycot
Cerne, 1,015 a. (411 ha.), was added to Sutton
Benger in 1934. The lands of the former parish
north of the London and south Wales motorway
became part of Seagry parish in 1971. (fn. 8)
A feeder of the Avon on the north-east, and,
in the detached portion of the parish, the Avon
itself, are the only natural features to have marked
Draycot Cerne's boundaries. Its lands were
divided from those of Kington Langley to the west
before the mid 11th century. (fn. 9) Footpaths mark
parts of the former east and west boundaries. Kellaways Clay and Oxford Clay outcrop over most
of the former parish. There are outcrops of Cornbrash in the north and west, Kellaways Sand in
the north-east, and, beside a stream flowing eastwards to the Avon, one of three to drain the former
parish, Forest Marble in the west. (fn. 10) The land is
undulating, highest, over 91 m., in the centre and
north, lowest, below 61 m., in the flatter south.
The Cornbrash favoured arable, but most of the
parish was meadow and pasture and, in the centre,
was for long parkland. (fn. 11)
The main Swindon—Chippenham road crosses
the former parish: in 1727 it was turnpiked from
Chippenham to the junction with the road from
Draycot Cerne to Grittleton through Stanton St.
Quintin, in 1756 from that junction to Christian
Malford, and in 1758 to Swindon. After 1727,
possibly c. 1756, and certainly before 1773, when
there were gates at each end, a new straight section
was made south of the junction; west of it parts
of the old road, which had several sharp bends,
remain as a lane, a bridleway, and a track. The
whole road was disturnpiked in the 1870s. (fn. 12) The
road between Draycot Cerne and Grittleton was
turnpiked in 1756 and disturnpiked in 1875. (fn. 13) The
London and south Wales motorway was built
across the former parish and opened in 1971. (fn. 14)
South of it the road between Draycot Cerne and
Stanton St. Quintin was diverted to join the
Chippenham—Malmesbury road, and north of it
ceased to be a through road. The road which followed the north boundary of Draycot park was
called Scotland Hill in 1885. (fn. 15) In the detached part
of the parish a road which led from that linking
Chippenham, Langley Burrell, and Sutton Benger
south-east to Avon Mill in Christian Malford, was
diverted to run further east in 1778: (fn. 16) it was a
track in 1987. The G.W.R. line from London to
Bristol was constructed north-east and south-west
across the same part of the parish and was opened
in 1841. (fn. 17)
The sum at which Draycot Cerne was assessed
for taxation in 1334 was among the lowest in Startley hundred. (fn. 18) There were 63 poll-tax payers in
1377. (fn. 19) Assessments for taxation in the 16th and
earlier 17th century, often among the highest in
Malmesbury hundred, reflected the wealth of
members of the Long family who owned Draycot
manor and lived in Draycot House. (fn. 20) The population rose from 141 in 1801 to 181 in 1841, declined
to 158 in 1861, a decline attributed to there being
no large household at Draycot House, rose in 1871
to 187, fell to 93 in 1921, and was 113 in 1931. (fn. 21)
The population of the former parish may have
been about the same in 1987.
In 1377 there were two settlements in the parish,
and until the later 19th century there were two
nucleated groups of houses: Lower Draycot,
apparently the larger in 1377 but removed in the
19th century, was between the church and the
Swindon—Chippenham road, and west of it Upper
Draycot was at a bend on the old course of that
road. (fn. 22) Two farmsteads have stood in the south
part of the former parish, and in the north part
there has been scattered settlement from the 17th
century.
Lower Draycot in 1773 andc. 1839 consisted
of the rectory house and other houses east and
west of the lane between the church and the main
road. (fn. 23) An ornamental fishpond was formed in a
feeder of the Avon as a feature of gardens laid
out c. 1769 south of Draycot House; (fn. 24) in 1773
a bridge carried the lane over the pond, north of
which the lane was then the main drive of Draycot
House. (fn. 25) In 1808 or earlier and c. 1839 the main
drive ran south-east from the Stanton St. Quintin
road. Between c. 1839 and 1885 the land between
the pond and the Swindon—Chippenham road was
taken into the grounds of Draycot House, the rectory house and all the other buildings beside the
lane were demolished, and gate piers, a gate, and
a lodge were erected on the north side of the main
road. (fn. 26) The lane again became the main drive of
Draycot House. An avenue of Wellingtonias was
planted along it and those on the east stood in
1987. The bridge across the pond was rebuilt in
stone c. 1956. (fn. 27) A wall was built on the west and
north sides of the park before 1870. (fn. 28) To the west
the wall had gone by 1987 when the north part
was ruinous. Gothic stone lodges were built on
the east side of the Stanton St. Quintin road in
1869 and 1889. (fn. 29) A farmstead called Draycot Park
Farm was built between them in the period
1885–99. Scotland Lodge, so called in 1885, (fn. 30) was
built on the south side of Scotland Hill before 1773
and rebuilt in Gothic style in 1862. (fn. 31) A house called
the Cottage stood in the east part of the park in
1773, and possibly in the 17th century. (fn. 32) A pair
of rustic gabled cottages built on its site in 1858 (fn. 33)
was one house in 1987.
Upper Draycot is reached by an east—west section of the old Swindon—Chippenham road, called
Day's Lane in 1987. In 1773 a few houses were
on the south side of that road and others were
on the west side of a lane leading north from it. (fn. 34)
In the north part of the hamlet Manor Farm was
built, possibly in the later 16th century, as an east—
west range. A north—south range was built on the
north side at the east end in the 17th century,
and in the 18th a pedimented doorcase was inserted
on the south front and a new staircase was constructed. Stables north-west of the house were
built c. 1924 (fn. 35) and large farm buildings north of
it in the period 1974–83. (fn. 36) The village school and
an adjoining cottage which stood south of Manor
Farm were incorporated after 1920 in a large stone
house, in 1987 called the Grey House. (fn. 37) Cottages
south of the school were replaced by three pairs
of stone estate cottages built in Gothic style in
the later 19th century. (fn. 38) Houses which stood c.
1839 on the south side of the old main road (fn. 39) were
replaced in 1874, 1974, (fn. 40) and c. 1985. (fn. 41) On the
north side a parish cemetery with a chapel, built
of stone to the designs of J. F. Bentley, was opened
c. 1883. (fn. 42)
A mill stood beside the Stanton St. Quintin road
until the later 19th century. (fn. 43) Further north, a pair
of stone estate cottages was built in 1904, (fn. 44) and
two bungalows were built after 1972. (fn. 45) Mount
Pleasant Farm, built to the west before 1808 (fn. 46) at
Parsonage barn, which stood in 1773, (fn. 47) was demolished between c. 1940 and 1987. (fn. 48) Nabals Farm,
north of Scotland Hill, was standing in 1773, (fn. 49)
was partly of stone rubble and partly timberframed, and had a thatched roof. (fn. 50) The house was
rebuilt, and its farm buildings were renewed, in
the later 20th century. (fn. 51)
From the 18th century or earlier, (fn. 52) there have
been only two farmsteads, Roward and Lake, in
the south part of the parish. The east—west range
of Lake Farm was built in the 17th century or
earlier: c. 1800 that range was altered and reroofed, and a short wing was added on the east
end of the north side. Roward Farm, called Roward House and described as newly built c. 1637, (fn. 53)
has a north—south range with stone-mullioned windows. It was enlarged in the 18th century and,
westwards, in the earlier 19th when a new south
entrance front was also constructed.
Manor and other Estates.
Brass of Sir Edward of Cerne and his wife ellen
In 1066
Edric held the estate later called DRAYCOT
CERNE. Geoffrey the marshal held it in 1084 or
earlier and in 1086 by serjeanty. In 1086 the estate
included a burgage in Malmesbury. (fn. 54) Geoffrey's
heir, either his son or grandson, was Robert de
Venoix, (fn. 55) in possession in 1130. (fn. 56) William de
Venoix held Draycot in the years 1191–6, (fn. 57) and
his heir Robert de Venoix held it in 1197. (fn. 58) Robert
held it by serjeanty of marshalcy in the years
1210–12, (fn. 59) and possibly before 1214, certainly
before 1220, had been succeeded by his son John. (fn. 60)
Members of the St. Germain family unsuccessfully
claimed the estate from members of the Venoix
family in 1197 and 1220–1. (fn. 61) John de Venoix, presumably another, was succeeded in 1260 by his
son John, (fn. 62) whose overlordship was last mentioned
in 1275. (fn. 63) The manor was said to be held of the
king in chief in 1393. (fn. 64)
In 1228 John de Venoix subinfeudated Draycot
to Henry of Cerne. (fn. 65) The manor was held by Geoffrey of Cerne in 1242–3 (fn. 66) and in the years 1250–5
by Geoffrey's son (fn. 67) Philip. From Philip's son
Henry of Cerne (d. 1296), who held it in 1275
or earlier, the manor passed in the direct male
line to John (fn. 68) (d. 1327), John (fn. 69) (d. 1344), and
John (fn. 70) (d. 1346). From the third John, the manor
passed to his brother Edward, (fn. 71) later Sir Edward,
of Cerne (d. 1393), to Sir Edward's relict Ellen
(d. 1418), and to Sir Edward's son Edward (fn. 72) (d.
1419). The manor was held for life by Edward's
relict Isabel (fn. 73) (fl. 1438). The reversion was settled
in 1438 by John Herring, a descendant of Geoffrey
of Cerne, on William Rangebourne (d. 1450) for
life with remainder to John Long. (fn. 74)
From John Long (d. 1478), who was of Draycot
in 1452, the manor passed from father to son, to
Thomas (fn. 75) (knighted 1501, d. 1508), Sir Henry (fn. 76)
(d. 1556), Sir Robert (fn. 77) (d. 1581), and Sir Walter (fn. 78)
(d. 1610). From Sir Walter, whose disinheritance
of his eldest son gave rise to the legend of a ghostly
hand preventing the writing of a deed of disinheritance, Draycot passed to his eldest son by his
second marriage, Sir Walter Long (fn. 79) (d. 1637). The
manor was sequestered in 1645 from that Sir
Walter's son James, later Sir James Long, Bt.,
a royalist, and restored to him in 1649. (fn. 80) From
Sir James (d. 1692) the manor, except Draycot
House, park, and other lands settled for life on
his relict Dorothy (d. 1710), (fn. 81) passed in turn to
his grandsons Sir Robert Long, Bt. (d. 1692), Sir
Giles Long, Bt. (d. 1697), and Sir James Long,
Bt. (d. 1729). The reunited estate descended in
the direct male line to that Sir James's son Sir
Robert Long, Bt. (d. 1767), Sir James Long, from
1784 Tylney-Long, Bt. (d. 1794), and Sir James
Tylney-Long, Bt. (d. 1805). (fn. 82) John Long
(d. 1478) and six of his successors as lord of the
manor represented Wiltshire constituencies in
parliament. (fn. 83)
Catherine Long, the sister of Sir James (d.
1805), inherited Draycot Cerne manor and in 1812
married William Wellesley-Pole, from 1812 PoleTylney-Long-Wellesley, and from 1845 earl of
Mornington. She was succeeded in 1825 by her
son William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley, from
1845 styled Viscount Wellesley, who became earl
of Mornington in 1857. William, earl of Mornington (d. 1863), devised the manor to his cousin
Henry Wellesley, Earl Cowley (d. 1884), from
whom it passed in the direct male line to William,
Earl Cowley (d. 1895), and Henry, Earl Cowley
(d. 1919). In 1920 Henry's son Christian, Earl
Cowley, (fn. 84) sold Draycot House and park, c. 600
a., to Philip Ashworth. (fn. 85) In 1923 Herbert Dixon
(cr. Baron Glentoran 1939, d. 1950) owned
them. (fn. 86) Lord Glentoran sold that estate in 1946
to a syndicate of farmers, led by S. W. Maundrell,
which sold the land in portions. (fn. 87)
A manor house stood in 1399 when Ellen of
Cerne was licensed to employ a chaplain to serve
an oratory in it. (fn. 88) The stone house may have been
altered or rebuilt for John Long (d. 1478), whose
parents' coat of arms was depicted in the oriel window of the hall. (fn. 89) Draycot House, so called in
1695, (fn. 90) was c. 1542 described as a 'fair manor
place' and stood in a park. (fn. 91) The Long family lived
in the house and its successor from the mid 15th
century to the earlier 19th. The appearance in the
house of the date 1574 and the coats of arms of
Sir Henry Long (d. 1556) and Sir Robert Long
(d. 1581) suggest some later 16th-century alterations. The gabled south entrance front was of
four bays c. 1670. A two-storeyed porch, built for
Sir Walter Long's father-in-law, James Ley, earl
of Marlborough (d. 1629), was in the westernmost
bay, and, on the ground floor, the oriel window
of the hall was in the second bay from the east. (fn. 92)
That house was replaced in 1784 by another
built of stone (fn. 93) to plans drawn up in 1769 for Sir
James Long. (fn. 94) The new house (fn. 95) had a south-east
garden front of 13 bays: the five central bays projected and were of three storeys surmounted by
a pediment; the four bays on each side were of
two storeys with attics concealed by parapets. The
principal rooms were in the north-east part of the
house. (fn. 96) The north-east front was also of two storeys with attics and a parapet, and it had a segmental bay of two storeys at each end. Terraces from
which steps led down to formal gardens ran the
length of both those principal fronts. A north-west
wing, added in 1864 to the designs of R. J.
Withers, (fn. 97) was of three storeys. The house, except
the cellars, was demolished c. 1955. (fn. 98) Stone from
it was used to adapt a north—south range of outbuildings as a house, called Draycot House, for
Mr. E. J. Bent c. 1956. West of that house a large
square stone stable block of c. 1864 (fn. 99) and farm
buildings survived in 1987.
Draycot House was bought c. 1950 by Mr. Bent.
The largest portion of land, c. 200 a. in Draycot
park, was bought before 1955 by J. N. Green,
from whom it passed before 1963 to J. R. Pinniger.
Mr. Bent bought it from a Mr. Trent in 1973–4
and owned it in 1987. (fn. 100) In 1920 the remainder
of Draycot Cerne manor was sold to B. Crundell,
who immediately sold it in portions. (fn. 101) Roward
farm, 63 a., was sold, possibly c. 1920, to Arthur
Newman, (fn. 102) from whom it was bought in 1930 by
R. L. Ward. Some of its lands were sold c. 1966
and incorporated in Lake farm. Mr. R. C. Ward
owned the remainder in 1987. (fn. 103) Lake farm, 130
a., was bought by Clifford Windell, the owner in
1939. (fn. 104) W. T. Greenhill owned it in 1955, and
in 1987 members of the Greenhill family owned
the 300-a. farm. (fn. 105) Manor farm, 79 a., was bought,
possibly c. 1920, by Sir Hugh Levick, who sold
it between 1924 and 1927 to P. E. Hawkins. (fn. 106) In
1986–7 Hawkins's son Mr. P. E. Hawkins sold
the farm, then of 128 a., to Mr. Richard Hawker. (fn. 107)
Mount Pleasant farm, 93 a., was sold in portions. (fn. 108)
In 1242–3 Ela Longespée, countess of Salisbury, held ½ knight's fee at Knabwell. (fn. 109) The overlordship of NABALS passed with the earldom of
Salisbury and was last expressly mentioned in
1349. (fn. 110) In 1382 and 1491 the estate was said, inexplicably, to be held of the abbot of Malmesbury. (fn. 111)
The estate called Nabals was held of the countess of Salisbury in 1242–3 by Amice, relict of
William of Knabwell, and by his coheirs. (fn. 112) One heir
may have been Eve, wife of Richard of Lea, who
in 1250 conveyed 2 yardlands, which became
Nabals farm, to Robert de la Mare (fn. 113) (d. 1272).
The lands descended in the direct male line to
Peter de la Mare (d. 1292), Robert de la Mare (fn. 114)
(d. 1308), Peter de la Mare (d. 1349), who was
granted free warren in them in 1318, and Sir
Robert de la Mare (fn. 115) (d. 1382). (fn. 116) Sir Robert was
succeeded by his relict Maud (d. 1405) (fn. 117) and
daughter William, the wife of Sir John Roches.
From William (d. 1410) (fn. 118) the estate passed to her
daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Walter Beauchamp, (fn. 119) to Sir Walter (d. 1430), and to his and
Elizabeth's son Sir William (d. 1457), from 1449
Lord St. Amand. (fn. 120) In 1477 Lord St. Amand's
relict Elizabeth, wife of Sir Roger Tocotes,
conveyed the estate to her son Sir Richard Beauchamp (from 1491 Lord St. Amand, d. 1508),
whose estates passed to John Baynton (d. 1516),
great-grandson of Elizabeth, wife of Sir Walter
Beauchamp. (fn. 121)
Nabals farm afterwards passed, possibly like
Charlton Tantum manor, to Sir Henry Long who
died holding it in 1556, (fn. 122) and it afterwards descended in the Long family with Draycot Cerne
manor. In 1920 Nabals farm, 100 a. in Draycot
Cerne, Sutton Benger, and Stanton St. Quintin,
was offered for sale as part of the Draycot estate. (fn. 123)
It was owned in 1955 by L. Haines, (fn. 124) who in 1979
sold the farm, 50 a., to Mr. G. T. Ridout, the
owner in 1987. (fn. 125)
Economic History.
Draycot was a 5-hide
estate which in 1086 included demesne, with 4
servi and 2 ploughteams, and had on it 7 villani
and 10 coscets with a total of 3 teams. There were
40 a. of meadow, and the pasture was 2 furlongs
long and 1 furlong broad. (fn. 126)
From 1257, in return for pasture rights granted
to Sutton Benger tenants in the detached portion
of Draycot Cerne, each Sutton team at three days'
notice ploughed ½ a. in Draycot's open fields. (fn. 127)
The demesne of Draycot manor in 1296 included
160 a. of arable, 30 a. of highly valued meadow,
and pasture worth 10s. yearly. In 1344 it included
240 a. of arable, of which 66 a. were inclosed and
worth 4d. an acre yearly; of the 174 a. in the open
fields, 100 a. were worth 2d. an acre and 74 a.
were worth 1d. an acre. There were in addition
51 a. of demesne meadow and 40 a. of inclosed
demesne pasture. (fn. 128) Besides the demesne and the
glebe, in 1250 there were within the manor three
small estates and a fourth holding of pasture. (fn. 129)
Nabals farm in 1308 included c. 60 a. of arable,
1 a. of meadow, and pasture, (fn. 130) and in 1382 was
apparently all pasture. (fn. 131) Customary tenants of the
manor paid rents totalling 6s. 8d. in 1296. (fn. 132) Before
1393 Sir Edward of Cerne, without licence, freed
four Draycot neifs and their families. (fn. 133)
Common husbandry prevailed in the parish in
1511, (fn. 134) and in the early 17th century Home and
South were open fields, (fn. 135) possibly south ot the
Swindon—Chippenham road. The main period of
inclosure may have been the mid 17th century:
the glebe, with only 8 a. of c. 50 a. inclosed in
1632, was entirely several in 1678. (fn. 136)
Roward farm was created c. 1625, probably at
an inclosure, as a 19-a. farm. In 1637 it had a
new farmhouse and was of 22 a., mostly inclosed
from South field. (fn. 137) Lake farm may also have been
created at an early 17th-century inclosure. In 1647
it comprised inclosed arable, formerly in Home
field, and meadow land and was held by lease for
£41 a year. (fn. 138) In 1651 and presumably earlier the
demesne was held in portions by leases. (fn. 139) It was
in two farms in 1731: Draycot or Home farm was
212 a., of which 143 a. were arable, 37 a. were
pasture, and 32 a. were meadows; the second farm,
248 a., included c. 200 a. which were formerly,
and were again later, parkland. Lake farm was 115
a. in 1731, another farm, possibly Manor, was
65 a., five farms, including Roward, were of
20–50 a., and there were 10 smallholdings. (fn. 140)
In 1808 Draycot or Home farm, 212 a., had
107 a. of arable, 94 a. of pasture, and 8 a. of
meadows; in 1839 it had 216 a. of which 84 a.
were arable and the rest pasture; and in 1851 it
was an arable and pasture farm of 180 a. It was
worked in 1808 and 1851 from Draycot Farm
north-west of Draycot House. By 1808 the acreage
of Roward farm had doubled to c. 41 a. Its acreage
in 1839 was 78 a., and c. 93 a. added from Draycot
farm before 1872 again more than doubled Roward
farm, which in 1872 also had 13 a. in Kington
Langley. Lake farm increased from 131 a. of
meadow and pasture in 1808 to 162 a., mostly pasture, in 1839. Between 1851 and 1872 c. 29 a.
in Sutton Benger were added to the farm. Manor
was a pasture farm of 58 a. in 1808 and of 68
a. in 1839 and 1851. A further 12 a. were added
to it before 1872. Nabals farm had 84 a. in 1794
and 1808, 81 a. in 1839 when it was pasture, and
81 a. in 1851 and 1872. (fn. 141)
In the 19th century some land in the parish,
71 a. in 1808, c. 90 a. in 1839, and c. 34 a. in
1851, were in farms based in Sutton Benger. The
parish in 1839 contained c. 760 a. of pasture, of
which c. 200 a. were in Draycot park, and c. 140
a. of arable were worked in a four-field rotation. (fn. 142)
There were 215 a. of arable in 1876, but thereafter
arable farming declined and in 1936 no land was
ploughed. In 1867 corn, mostly wheat, was grown
on half the arable and leguminous and fodder crops
on the remainder. After c. 1876 corn crops were
usually grown on two thirds. Most of the parish
has been meadow and permanent pasture in the
19th and 20th centuries. The acreage on which
grasses were grown in rotation, 104 a. in 1876,
was 12 a. in 1936. In the same period the proportion of the grassland which was mown increased
from a quarter to a third. There were on average
c. 200 cows, c. 120 sheep, and c. 60 pigs in the
years 1867–1936. (fn. 143)
There were six farms based in the parish c. 1920.
Draycot Park farm was nominally of 607 a. but
included woodland and parkland, and the parkland
was leased in portions to other farmers in the
parish. Lake, 130 a., Manor, 79 a., Roward, 63a.,
and Nabals, 100 a. including land outside the
parish, were dairy farms. Only on Mount Pleasant
farm, 93 a. including former glebe, was farming
mixed. (fn. 144) In 1987 only Manor farm was a dairy
farm. The lands of Roward farm were leased for
the grazing of beef cattle, on Lake farm beef cattle
were reared and corn was grown, Draycot Park
was an arable farm, and Nabals was a mixed farm. (fn. 145)
Most men in Draycot Cerne were farm labourers
in 1831. (fn. 146) No trade or craft seems to have flourished in the parish. (fn. 147)
Land in the parish had been imparked by c.
1542. (fn. 148) In 1639–40 Draycot park included a lower
park and an upper park. (fn. 149) It had been impaled
by c. 1680 and remained so in 1769. (fn. 150) In 1731
the c. 200 a. of parkland were used for agriculture, (fn. 151) but were again parkland in 1827 and were
grazed by deer in the 19th and early 20th century. (fn. 152)
Before 1920 the parkland was leased in portions
for grazing. (fn. 153)
In 1086 there was woodland 4 furlongs long and
2 furlongs broad. (fn. 154) Nabals farm included 4 a. of
woodland in 1808 and 8 a. in 1920. In 1808 there
were only 6 a. of woodland in Draycot park. (fn. 155)
Trees, mainly oaks, were planted north of Draycot
House in the 19th century and the park contained
plantations of c. 55 a. in 1839, of c. 70 a. in 1880,
and of 126 a. in 1920. (fn. 156) Much woodland was cut
after 1946, and little remained in 1987. (fn. 157)
There was a mill at Draycot in 1086. (fn. 158) In 1296
a water mill could be used only in winter. (fn. 159) Three
water mills formed part of Draycot Cerne manor
in 1344, (fn. 160) and a mill remained part of the manor
until the later 19th century. From the 17th century
or earlier there was apparently a single mill, (fn. 161) that
on the west side of the Stanton St. Quintin road
driven by a tributary of the Avon. It ceased to
work apparently between 1868 and 1872 and was
demolished before 1885. (fn. 162)
Local Government.
Courts for Draycot
Cerne manor were held from 1296 (fn. 163) or earlier to
1848. (fn. 164) The only extant records are for 1511,
1647–50, 1652, and 1758–1848. At a court held
in 1511 common husbandry was regulated, and
the ringing of pigs and the repair of cottages were
ordered. (fn. 165) From 1647 or earlier, although no lord
is known to have received a grant of leet jurisdiction, the court was called view of frankpledge with
court baron. Between 1647 and 1652 it may have
been held only once a year, in spring, to transact
a mixture of leet and manorial business: deaths
of customary tenants were recorded, customary
holdings were surrendered and new tenants were
admitted, the repair of roads, ditches, watercourses, and cottages was enjoined, and tithingmen were elected. (fn. 166) Courts with the same title
were held twice a year in the period 1758–71, and
in the period 1772–1848 once a year in autumn.
Early 19th-century courts were marked by the giving of a dinner, probably at Sutton Benger, by
the lord of Draycot to the tenants. The only business was the election of tithingmen, and, from
1820, of haywards, and provision for the repair
of roads and bridges. (fn. 167)
Vestry meetings, at which overseers of the poor
and churchwardens were elected and poor rates
were set, were held from the earlier 19th century. (fn. 168)
Sums spent on poor relief rose from £89 in 1775–6
to £125 in 1802–3 when 50, a third of the population, received outdoor relief. In each of the years
1813–15 c. £170 was spent on relieving an average
of 16 paupers continuously and 6 occasionally.
Although Draycot Cerne then spent less than most
parishes in Malmesbury hundred, its paupers were
relieved comparatively generously. (fn. 169) Average
sums of £165 in the years 1816–21, £84 in 1822–4,
£93 in 1825–9, £102 in 1830–4, and £114 in
1834–6, were spent. (fn. 170) The parish maintained a
poorhouse in the early 1830s (fn. 171) and in 1830
employed a surgeon to attend paupers. In 1831
parishioners agreed to give, for each £20 at which
their lands were rated, a day's work to an unemployed labourer. (fn. 172) Draycot Cerne became part
of Chippenham poor-law union in 1835, (fn. 173) and, as
part of Sutton Benger, part of North Wiltshire
district in 1974. (fn. 174) A burial board was formed in
1883 to administer the parish burial ground and
chapel opened in that year. (fn. 175)
Church.
A church stood at Draycot Cerne in
the later 12th century. (fn. 176) The rectory was united
with the vicarage of Seagry in 1939 and severed
from it in 1954. (fn. 177)
The church was the subject c. 1170 of rival gifts
made by Ralph de St. Germain and Robert de
Venoix, possibly him who held the manor in 1130,
to Salisbury chapter. Robert claimed to give a pension of 10s. from the church, and Ralph claimed
to give the church itself. (fn. 178) Although c. 1180 Salisbury chapter presented Reynold, the nephew of
Ralph, as rector, (fn. 179) the right of the Venoix family
to present rectors prevailed and in 1228 John de
Venoix granted the advowson to Henry of Cerne. (fn. 180)
The advowson descended like Draycot Cerne
manor, and the lords presented. (fn. 181) The king presented in 1345 because John of Cerne (d. 1346)
was a minor, (fn. 182) and Edward of Cerne (d. 1419)
presented in 1410 and 1412–13. (fn. 183) The king's presentee in 1452 was evidently not instituted because
in the same year John Long presented a rector
who was. (fn. 184) By grant of a turn the Revd. Jeremiah
Awdry presented in 1850. (fn. 185) The advowson passed
with the manor to Christian, Earl Cowley, who
transferred it to B. Crundell in 1921. Crundell
immediately sold it to the A.M.A. Syndicate Ltd.,
from whom it was bought in 1923 by Herbert
Dixon, later Baron Glentoran. In 1939 Lord Glentoran became entitled to present for the united
benefice of Seagry with Draycot Cerne at the
second and third of each three turns. In 1947 he
transferred the advowson to S. W. Maundrell (d.
1963), whose executors in 1966 transferred it to
the bishop of Bristol, the patron in 1987. (fn. 186)
The rectory was worth £7 in 1535, (fn. 187) £50 in
1650. (fn. 188) In the years 1829–31 its average income
of £234 made it one of the poorer livings in
Malmesbury deanery. (fn. 189)
By 1678 tithes from demesne land had been
compounded for £20 a year. (fn. 190) It was presumably
for such tithes that the rector received a composition of £146 in 1832. (fn. 191) In 1839 the tithes were
valued at £280 and commuted. (fn. 192)
Before 1225 the rector held 1 yardland, possibly
given by a member of the Venoix family. (fn. 193) It was
confirmed to the rector in 1256. (fn. 194) In the 1550s
the glebe included a rectory house which was
ruinous. (fn. 195) The glebe measured c. 50 a. in the 17th
century (fn. 196) and earlier 19th, (fn. 197) 55 a. in the later
19th. (fn. 198) The rectory house, which in 1839 stood
on the west side of the lane south of Draycot
House, was demolished when in 1879 the rector
gave it with 14 a. north of the Swindon—Chippenham road in exchange for 19 a., on which a new
stone rectory house of three storeys and a basement
was built, south of the road. (fn. 199) Part of the glebe,
34 a. called Mount Pleasant farm, was sold to
William, Earl Cowley, in 1894 when it was added
to the Draycot estate. (fn. 200) The 19 a. were sold later. (fn. 201)
After 1950 the incumbent lived in Kington Langley Vicarage (fn. 202) and Draycot Cerne Rectory was sold
in 1952. (fn. 203)
In 1304 the rector, Henry of Cerne, was licensed
to study for two years. (fn. 204) Curates are known to have
assisted the rector or to have served the cure in
the years 1550–3, 1601–9, 1650, 1675–6, 1725,
1757, and 1848–50. Two or more became rectors. (fn. 205)
John Rand, rector from 1631, was sequestered in
1650. (fn. 206) The minister intruded in his place received
£12 a year in 1650, Rand's wife £13, and the assistant curate £25. (fn. 207) Rand was restored in 1662, and
in that year he complained that a churchwarden
prevented him from wearing a surplice and neglected to supply bread and wine for communion.
The parish then lacked the Book of Homilies and
Jewell's Apology. Because there was no flagon,
Rand used a jug or 'vinegar glass' for the consecration of communion wine. (fn. 208) Daniel Fettiplace,
rector 1712–35, was also rector of Yatesbury. (fn. 209)
Francis West, rector 1779–1800, in 1783 held two
services each Sunday and some weekday services.
He administered communion at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun to an average of 20 communicants. West was also rector of Dauntsey, curate
of Kellaways, and occasionally did duty at
Seagry. (fn. 210) Although the living was a meagre one,
the presence of the Long family at Draycot House
attracted in the 18th century and early 19th incumbents such as Edward Ernie, later styled Sir
Edward Ernie, Bt., rector 1746–60, (fn. 211) and Andrews
Windsor, rector 1800–12, a brother of Catherine,
Lady Tylney-Long (d. 1823), and son of Other
Windsor, earl of Plymouth. (fn. 212) Henry Barry, rector
1812–50, was also rector of Upton Scudamore. (fn. 213)
He lived in Draycot Cerne and in 1832 held two
services each Sunday and services on holy days.
In 1850–1 an average congregation of 15 attended
the Sunday services. From 1954 and in 1987 the
rectory was held in plurality with the vicarage of
Kington Langley. (fn. 214)
The church of ST. JAMES, so called in the later
19th and the 20th century, (fn. 215) was called All Saints'
in the later 12th century, (fn. 216) St. Peter's in 1763 and
1915. (fn. 217) It comprises a chancel, a nave with north
chapel and south porch, and a west tower. (fn. 218) On
the west wall of the chancel the weathering for
the chancel roof of the 12th-century church survives, and it suggests that parts of the nave walls
are also 12th-century. A small chancel arch which
was enlarged in 1848 was possibly of the 12th century or earlier. (fn. 219) The chancel was rebuilt and
enlarged in the early 13th century, and, apart from
the construction in the 14th century of a canopied
tomb recess in the north wall over a 13th-century
effigy of a knight, was not altered thereafter. In
the early 14th century a south doorway and two
north windows, and in the 15th century a south
window, were inserted in the nave. In the later
15th century the porch, which has two pairs of
three-light openings on the east and west, and the
tower were built. The upper stage of the tower
was later rebuilt, perhaps in the 17th century. In
1692 a mortuary chapel for members of the Long
family was built against the north doorway of the
nave. (fn. 220) A west gallery which hid the tower arch
c. 1850 had been removed by c. 1863 when a new
west window was constructed. The north chapel
was rebuilt in 1865. At about the same time the
nave and chancel roofs were reconstructed, a new
window was inserted in the nave, and the nave
was repewed. (fn. 221) Monuments which commemorate
members of the Cerne and Long families include,
in the chancel, a memorial brass to Sir Edward
of Cerne (d. 1393) and his wife Ellen (d. 1418),
and the painted altar tomb of Sir Thomas Long
(d. 1508). (fn. 222) Traces of wall paintings survived in
the chancel in 1585. (fn. 223)
In 1891 the parish had a chalice, paten cover,
paten, and flagon of 1702 given by Dame Dorothy
Long (d. 1710). (fn. 224) The chalice and paten survived
in 1987. (fn. 225) The tower in 1987 contained a bell cast
in 1808 by James Wells of Aldbourne. (fn. 226) Registrations of baptisms and burials begin in 1691, of
marriages in 1692. (fn. 227)
Nonconformity.
There were Quakers living in Draycot Cerne in the later 17th century
and the 18th. (fn. 228) They were described as numerous
in 1669 but in 1676 there were only seven. (fn. 229)
Education.
In 1704 Dame Dorothy Long (d.
1710) and Dame Anna Mason gave a yearly income
of £5 for a schoolmaster to teach poor children
in Draycot Cerne. A school was built, possibly
c. 1786 by Sir James Tylney-Long, Bt. (d. 1794). (fn. 230)
It was well run in 1808. (fn. 231) A master taught 10 boys
there in 1818. Sir James's relict Catherine then
supported a girls' school, which may have been
held in the same building. (fn. 232) The schools merged
and in 1833, besides 10 supported by the charity
income, other children were taught. (fn. 233) The two
teachers who taught 18 children in 1846–7 (fn. 234) were
perhaps the parish clerk and his wife who in 1858
taught c. 20 children. (fn. 235) There were c. 30 pupils
in 1868–9 when it was claimed that few boys in
the parish were unable to read and write. (fn. 236) The
school was closed c. 1903 (fn. 237) and thereafter Draycot
children went to school in Sutton Benger and
Kington Langley. (fn. 238)
Charities for the Poor.
Dame Dorothy
Long (d. 1710) and Dame Anna Mason in 1704
gave a yearly income of £2 for the poor. (fn. 239) In 1782
Martha Angel, Sir James Tylney-Long, Bt., and
Charles Long each gave £10 for the poor. In the
1960s the income of the combined charities, c.
£2 yearly, was allowed to accumulate and bread
was bought for the poor. The income was added
to that of Rachel Long's charity in the 1980s.
Dorothy Long and Anna Mason in 1704 gave
£5 a year to apprentice poor children from the
charity school. In the early 19th century a pupil
was apprenticed every three years, and in the early
20th boys were apprenticed to the head carpenter
of the Draycot estate. In the later 20th century
the income was allowed to accumulate and in 1986
money was given for a student to buy books.
By will proved 1781 Rachel Long gave £3 a year
for the poor. That, and £1 yearly of unknown
origin, was spent on coal for 29 people in 1832.
In 1905 coal bought with the £4 was given to each
poor householder in Draycot Cerne at Christmas. The income was allowed to accumulate in
the 1960s and 1980s, and coal was occasionally
distributed.