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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)
"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."
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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This page was last updated on 10th July 2007 .