Ancient Church of Trowbridge. 221 
who was the son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, was at one time 
the principal acting feoffee for the management of the affairs of the 
manor.! The courts of the manor were, I presume, held in these early 
days within the precincts of the castle, and near about what are now 
called “the Courts.” There still remains, as it seems to me, a not 
uninteresting tradition of the Cardinal’s rule here—a small inn 
situated in the Courts still bears the sign of “The Red Hat.” 
To return now a little to the direct course of our narrative, we find 
that, though our records are scanty and sources of information few, 
we have ample proof to show the growing importance of the manor 
itself during this period. Numerous, as we sh all presently see, were 
the lands held “under the manor of Trowbridge.” No doubt one 
of the earliest works of this century was the erection of a Church 
for the use of the retainers of the castle, and those who now began 
to form and inhabit the town that grew up around it. Where this, 
the original parish church of Trowbridge, stood, is now matter 
only of conjecture. Tradition points out as its site, a spot till 
recently called “ Parsonage Corner,” close by the present entrance 
gates of the Rectory House. Evidences of all the contiguous ground 
having been at one time used for purposes of interment have not 
been wanting. During the restoration of the present church, a few 
years ago, some fragments of shafts, capitals, and the like, were 
found imbedded in the walls of the chancel, and are still preserved, 
and these, judging from their mouldings and general appearance, 
would seem to have been portions of a church of Early English date 
and character, erected probably towards the end of the twelfth or 
the commencement of the thirteenth century. It was certainly 
built previously to the foundation of Lacock Abbey in 1229, for 
_ the charter by which the Countess Ela endowed that religious house 
was witnessed, amongst others, by “ Sir Peter, Parson of Trow- 
bridge ?? (domino Petro persona de Treubrigge).* 
1 It may just be mentioned that there seems at one time to have been a mésne, 
or subordinate, manor within the manor of Trowbridge, called the manor of 
Trowbridge Dauntsey. Thus in Jones’ Index to the Records we have this 
entry: ‘‘The Queen’s hands to be removed from the Manor of Trowbridge 
Dantesey in Wilts: to be delivered to Thomasine Dantesey.” Paoch. Record, 
10 Eliz., Roll 4. 







2See Bowles’s Lacock, Appendix, p 10. 
‘VOL. XV.—NO. XLIV. x 
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