By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 323 
Esq., of Whaddon. The precise year in which the mortgage was 
not paid off, and the manor rested with the Longs, I cannot at this 
moment name, but it must have been after 1610. 
The ‘“ Manor of Ashton” (as already intimated) included several 
Ashtons. There are no less than seven mentioned in the survey of 
1604, and in the other MS. authorities I referred to. 
1. Steeple Ashton. 
. West, and Little West Ashton. 
. Chapel, or Rood Ashton. 
. Saucere’s Ashton. 
. Middle Ashton. 
. Hurdcote’s Ashton. 
. Sulden, Silden, or East Ashton. 
1. SrerpLe AsHton.—The present parish begins, as is very well 
known, at Polebarn [properly,I believe, Paul’s Barn] Gate ; and from 
that point, all, for several miles, was in ancient times, part of the 
Great Forest of Selwood. That Forest lay in two counties, Somer- 
set and Wilts. It began down near Bruton; and the Wiltshire 
part was called “The Wiltshire Walk.” The original bounds were 
afterwards reduced. About the year 1650, there were some law 
proceedings going on about the ancient limits and rights, and all 
the “oldest inhabitants” of the day were fetched in, to say what 
they knew about the matter. For this story I am again indebted 
to a Longleat paper. ) 
In this document, a.p. 1660, William Bishop says, that twenty- 
three years before [which would be 1627], deer used to feed in 
Keevil Woods and Littleton Woods. There was a keeper’s lodge 
on Hag’s Hill; and his father had often told him that a herd of 
bucks did usually live on the low grounds joining. 
* Willum ” Stylman also (speaking, 1650) declared that “ within 
these six years, Mr. Long did cut 600 oaks in Slow-grove and 
Ammer-acre ; and had inclosed, contrary to the Forest Laws.” Of 
_ course, nothing could possibly be more irregular, if Willum Stylman 
knew what he was talking about: but no doubt some learned | 
gentleman, for the accused, very soon convinced the Court, that poor 
Willum Stylman’s memory was very bad, and in a word that “ Mr, 
“I GD ob CO w 
