143 



Gamages, Prior of St. Guthlac's, Hereford, was elected Abbot. It is hardly likely 

 that any Prior of Kilpeck was so advanced at a single step. The whole account 

 of the elections is given in the Abbey registers. 



In 1317, there were sad complaints that the monks were not well treated at 

 the dependent cells, and one John Thokey issued injunctions to the Priors of St. 

 Guthlac, Ewenny, Bromfield, Stanley, and Kilpeck, ordering one mark to be 

 given to each monk annually, half at Christmas and half at Easter, for a feast. 

 He forbade, however, on pain of partial excommunication, the use of flesh or 

 wine during Advent and the three weeks preceding Lent, except in case of 

 sickness. 



In 1422—48, Kilpeck Priory was dissolved. The monks were withdrawn 

 to Gloucester, and from that time Dewchurch and Kilpeck were considered an 

 ordinary manor of St. Peter's, and were let to tenants as such. In 1535, the 

 annual value of this manor was said to be £7 5s. 5Jd. net. 



In 1539, the great Abbey of St. Peter was dissolved, and a grant of this 

 manor was made to Baldyn Treville, from whom it descended to the Booths, and 

 the Olives, and, later still, it has changed hands, and is on the Mynde estate, and 

 in the possession of the Symons family. 



KILPECK CASTLE 



Was reported to be in ruins before the introduction of gunpowder, in fact 

 as early as the reign of Edward I., 1272-1307. Two fragments, of Early English 

 work, are the sole remains of masonry to be found on the site of this ancient castle. 

 These remnants, one on the north about 40 feet in lennth and 18 feet high, 

 the other on the west about 30 feet long and 14 feet high, at a distance 

 apart of about twenty yards, represent the ruins of a polygonal shell keep, with 

 faces of 13 or 14 feet each. This keep, or citadel, is built upon the summit 

 of an elevated knoll measuring about 25 yards north and south, and 40 yards east 

 and west. This elevation is surrounded by a ditch and extensive outworks, which 

 in like manner are encompassed by a ditch, save where the natural contour of the 

 ground admits of the institution of a steep slope as an escarpment. Beyond the 

 outer ward, on the south, is another large platform occupying an area of three or 

 four acres, separated by a broad ditch. On the west are traces of a series of 

 embankments, terminating, at a distance of about 200 yards, in a large embank- 

 ment across a deep dingle. Mr. George Clark, author of Mediceval Military 

 Archileeture, considers that these are indications of a series of long and deep 

 ditches of water, or lakes, to strengthen the defences of the Castle upon its 

 western side, and, we will add, to serve as fishponds. The entrances to the outer 

 ward are upon the south by a flanked deep hollow way, and on the east aloug the 

 ditch. A causeway leads from the outer ward across the intervening ditch to the 

 mound upon whose summit the shell keep is built. 



We always respect a suggestion from so experienced an authority upon 

 ancient military defences as Mr. George Clark, we will therefore quote his 

 inference drawn from his examination of these works. " Originally, advantage 



