198 The History of the Parish of All Cannings. 



Thomas, seventh Baron West and La Warre, was in great favour 

 with Henry VII. He assisted that King in obtaining the Crown, and 

 in reward for his services, received a grant of several of the estates 

 that had belonged to John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, who was slain at 

 Bosworth Field,and which by the Duke's attainder were at thebestowal 

 of the King. In the second year of Henry YIII. he was appointed 

 a Knight of the Garter. He was twice married, leaving by his 

 first wife, two sons, Thomas who died in his father's life-time, and 

 by his second wife, three sons, Owen, George, and Leonard. 

 Eventually, Marj', daughter of Sir Owen West, became sole heiress, 

 and the ancient Barony of West as well as that of La Warre, is 

 still in abeyance between her descendants, if any now be existing. 

 Nor, as the authorities hold, can it be any prejudice to their claims, 

 that William, son of Sir George West, who is the ancestor of the 

 present Earls of Delawar, was in 1570 created Baron La Warre. 



We have not been able to ascertain the exact descent of the 

 Manor of Allington for the next fifty years. After that time it 

 it seems to have become the property, it is believed by purchase, 

 of Sir Stephen Fox, the well known minister of Charles II. His 

 son Stephen was advanced to the peerage in 1741, as Baron, and in 

 1756 as Earl, with the title of Lord Ilch ester. From him descends 

 the present Earl of Ilchester, who is now the Lord of the Manor. 



The public records contain a few entries respecting some sub- 

 infeudations, or some early occupiers of land in Allington. Thus 

 towards the close of the reign of Henry III. (c. 1270), we have 

 Robert de Tregoz, in the first instance granting half-a-Knight's fee 

 (about two hides and a half, or some 450 acres), in "Kainges and 

 Almigeton," (Cannings and Allington), to Peter de Podington. 

 This land was afterwards held under the same Peter de Podington 

 by one " William Drois."^ The name of this tenant in its modern 

 form "Drew," is still well known in the neighbourhood. The 

 amusing controversy waged some few years ago as to the meaning 

 of the name " Drew's Pond " will not soon be forgotten in Devizes. 



In the time of Henry IV., (c. 1412), John Bennet ^ is entered as 

 having been possessed of messuages and lands at Allington. 



1 Test, de Nev. 137a. « Inq. p. M., 13 Hen. IV. 



