178 The Sistory of the Parish of All Cannings. 



ancient boundaries. Nothing was more uncommon in olden times 

 than the dismemberment of an estate. As it was originally granted, 

 so it descended century after century, and one of the most interest- 

 ing facts known to topographical students is this, — that you may 

 still with the aid of an Anglo Saxon charter, granted originally nine 

 hundred years ago, trace out with tolerable accuracy the border line 

 of many of the Wiltshire parishes. 



For many centuries after the Conquest, the chief fee of the larger 

 of these two Manors of which we are now treating was vested in 

 the descendants of Edward of Salisbury, its Domesday owner. 

 Not a few literary contests have been waged as to his parentage. 

 Those who feel at all inclined to follow out a long and not over 

 interesting discussion, will find, in the references in the foot-note 

 below, enough to tax their patience.^ The tradition of the " Book 

 of Lacock " tells us that he was the son of a valiant Norman soldier, 

 Walter de Ewrus, Count of Rosmar, to whom, in consideration of 

 his services, William the Conqueror gave the whole of Salisbury 

 and Ambresbury, He held the high office of Sheriff of Wilts at the 

 time of the Domesday Survey, and no less than forty estates, large 

 and small, in various parts of the County fell to his share. He 

 appears to have lived to a good old age, for he was standard bearer 

 to Henry I. at the famous battle of Brenville by which an end was 

 put to the rebellion in Normandy. His large estates were divided 

 between his son Walter of Salisbury and his daughter Matilda, 

 who was married to Humphrey de Bohun, the ancestor of the Earls 

 of Hereford. 



The Lordship of this Manor in Etchilhampton fell to Walter of 

 Salisbury. He founded at Bradenstoke, one of the largest of the 

 estates which be inherited, a Priory, and endowed it, amongst 

 other possessions, with "one hide at Etchilhampton." * There are 



' Bowles History of Lacock, p. 39. Arcli. Inst. Joiurnal (1849), p. 213. 

 British Arch. Assoc. Journal (1859), p. 38. 



* In the T. de Nev. (153 b), we have this entry : — " The Prior of Bradenstoke 

 holds one hide of land in Etchilhampton in pure alms of the Earl of Sarum, 

 and he of the King by ancient feoflfment." See also, Placita de quo W. Edw. 

 I., (p. 798) and Hundred Rolls 3 Edw. I. (ii., 273). Amongst Ministers' accounts 

 (temp. Henry VIII.), relating to the temporalities of Bradenstoke, is the 

 following : — " Echelhampton ; — Kedd' Assis.' xxxixs. ivd." New Mon. vi., 340. 



