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supreme head of the Church. But by the 31st March of that 
year, the opposition to the King’s demands was broken down and 
on that day Prior Horde and fourteen monks signed the 
surrender. Two others, one of whom was the said Nicholas 
Balland, apparently did not sign the document. The nett value 
of the Priory, at the date of surrender, was £248.* Walter Lord 
Hungerford was appointed Chief Steward and Surveyor, and the 
buildings were sold to him by Tregonwell. Three months later 
we find a letter from Hungerford to Cromwell, complaining that 
Sir Thos. Arundell had “sold and despoiled and carried away a 
great part of the Church and other superfluous buildings,” which 
shows that the work of demolition was immediately begun. 
Hungerford also states that Harry Champneys, of Orchardleigh, 
had broken into thie Prior’s Cell and taken away “King’s Evi- 
dence,” or title deeds, and he begs for the Manors of Norton and 
Hinton. These incidents indicate the “ugly rush” which had 
set in for Monastic plunder. At the close of the year the site of 
the Priory and the Grange, some quarter mile distant, were 
granted to Hungerford for 21 years. Hungerford did not, how- 
ever, long enjoy his acquisition, for he was attainted and beheaded 
on Tower Hill in the following summer, on the same day, it is 
said, on which Cromwell was beheaded, and all his property, 
Hinton included, passed to the Crown. Several members of the 
Hungerford family had shared the same fate, the third Lord 
Hungerford having lost his head in the Wars of the Roses, and 
his son, Sir Thomas, eight years later. The Priory came into 
Hungerford possession again in 1578, after passing through 
several hands. We find the names of John Bartlet, William 
Crouch, Matthew Colthurst (who probably erected the present 
Manor House), and Edmund Colthurst, who is described in 1573 
* The Prior received £11 as a gratuity and an annuity of £44, and 
the Monks gratuities of £29 16s, 8d. and pensions amounting to 
£119 6s. 8d. 
