108 The Sheriff’s Turn, Co. Wilts, A.D. 1439. 
Warminster, close to Southleigh (or “Sowley”’”) wood, Here was an 
Oak called “ Iley Oak,” or “the Hundred Oak.” Sir R. C. Hoare 
(H. of Warminster, p. 11) prints a document of A.D. 1651, m 
which it is stated that “The Courts holden by the Sheriff, called 
‘The Sheriff’s Turn Courts’ are kept at ley Oak.” And ina MS. 
Register (at Longleat) of the Protector Duke of Somerset’s Estates 
in Wiltshire, is this entry: “ Out of Corsley Manor,” (near War- 
minster) “was paid vilj® yearly, to the Sheriff’s Turne at Hundred 
Oke. 
1A lively discussion was conducted some years ago in this Magazine, about 
the site of the celebrated Battle of Aithandun; in the course of which, an 
ingenious suggestion was made by Dr. R. C. Alexander Prior as to the route 
taken by King Alfred (V. 193). The stages of the King’s advance against the 
Danes, according to the two old authorities, the Saxon Chronicle and Asser, had 
been, from Athelney to the ‘‘ Petra Ecbrighti,” or Ecgbright’s Stone in the 
eastern part of Selwood: where he was met by the Men of the Counties 
Somerset and Wilts and part of Hants.. Next day to Aeglea or Iglea where 
he encamped for one night. On the third day he encountered the Danes at 
AMthandun, defeated and drove them into a stronghold. Dr, A. Prior, [on the 
supposition that Ecbright’s stone was Brixton Deverell] suggests that ‘‘Iglea” 
(if that is the real word) would from its meaning, (viz., “‘ island flat’’) be found 
probably in the vale of Wyly near Heytesbury ; in which case the Down above 
Heytesbury might be Athandun, and Bratton Camp, the stronghold. This 
suggestion is, so far, curiously supported by the fact that in the vale of Wyly, 
two miles below Warminster near Bishopstrow Church, there is a ground 
marked in old maps as an island formed by the river Wyly and another small 
contributory stream: also, that about 400 yards from this are, still existing, the 
remains of a Camp, called ‘‘ The Buries.’’ Iley Oak or the oak where the folk 
of the Hundred of Warminster attended the Sheriff’s Court was contiguous to the 
Camp called ‘The Buries.” A very old man told me that the exact site of this 
oak (now gone) was close to Lord Heytesbury’s Lodge at Sowley Wood (of 
which wood, [ley Wood forms the eastern part). A spot to which the Hundred 
had for centuries been summoned to meet the Sheriff, being notorious, might 
have been fixed upon as a rendezvous for military muster. 
But Brixton (Deverell) could scarcely have been Ecgbryght’s stone, for in 
Domesday Book Brixton is distinctly called ‘‘ Brictrie’s Town.” This according 
to the meaning of the Anglo-Saxon word ‘‘ town,” would signify the en- 
closed, or separate lands of some great owner of the name of Brictric: but 
‘¢Kegbryght’s Stone” indicates a wholly different origin, viz, a Memorial 
of some circumstance or transaction connected with a hero of the name of 
Ecgbryght: either a combat, or a compact with neighbours, a limit of property, 
or some other of the many purposes for which great stones used to be set up in 
ancient times. If therefore in that neighbourhood any such Stone should still 
be forthcoming, bearing to this day a name at all approaching that of ‘‘ Eegbright’s 
