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John Aubrey's Visit to Blunsdon St. Andrew


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This information is from the book   Wiltshire Collections   by John Aubrey and John Jackson, published by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society* in 1862.

Text     by John Aubrey (1660s)
Notes     by John Jackson (1860s)



Text

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"Highworth, Cricklade and Staple Hundred
Bloundesdon (St. Andrew's)

"Stands nobly, it is beheld by a stately prospect from the South-west:   it is a faire gothique house, with a great Hall after the old fashion, built by the Lord Chandois temp. Hen. 8.   In the Church or house is nothing for an Herald.   Traditur, that the Church here was sometime larger than it now is, and that here was a village adjoyning, as appeares by the ruines, which howses were swallowed up by the Mannour house."





Notes

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John Aubrey died before was able to research and publish the notes he made during his journey around Wiltshire.   Some two hundred years later John Jackson undertook this task, and below is his corrections and updated information.

"About three miles from Swindon.   In 1282 Roger de Writele gave land in Blunsdon to the Abbess of Godstow.   For the estate which he held he did suit at the court of Adam Stratton of Sevenhampton.   A charter of A.D.1321 (Inq. a. q. d.) witnesses that the Advowson was in that year appropriated by Robert Hungerford to the Monastery of Ivy Church:   but this gift seems to have been defeated.   This Manor (held under Dunstanville of Casle Combe and Mautravers, jointly, see Wilts. Archaeol. Mag. II 282) and the Advowson, belonged A.D.1201-1348 to a family whose name is variously spelt, As: Ace: Aze: Aas: or Wace.   A Henry de Blunsdon was Almoner to Edw. I.; a chantry, with a priest to pray for his soul, was founded in Sarum Cathedral c.1398.   In 1361-98 the manor belonged to Fitzwarine; in 1440 to Andrew; in 1445 to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, [see "North Bradley;"] in 1454 to James Audley; in 1459 to John Ferris (or Ferrars) who was Sheriff of Wilts.   This family was twice in trouble.   In 1. Hen. VII. Ferris of Blunsdon was attainted as a partisan of Rich. III.: and an Edmund Ferris of Blunsdon St. Andrew was included in the attainder of Edmund Delapole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, in 1513, when the manor was granted to Sir Giles Brydges.   His son, Sir John, was created 1554 Baron Chandos of Sudeley, and lived here.   Henry, 2nd Earl of Clarendon was owner in 1667.   This family presented to the living the Rev. Josiah Pullen, afterwards Vice Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford; whose favourite elm is still known as "Joe Pullen's tree," on Headington Hill near that city.   About 1770 the Clarendon family sold their estate.   The Kecks of Great Tew, Oxon, were proprietors here in 1714, whose estate has passed to its present owner Mr. Calley."


* This book is no longer covered by copyright regulations.   The Society is happy for information from the book to be copied, although ask that an acknowledgement to the Society is placed with the reproduction.   (The copyright of any images from the book is owned by Mandy Ball so they are covered by copyright regulations - see our   copyright conditions   of use.)   The Society can be contacted at:   The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire.   Telephone:   +44 (0)1380 727369.

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