193 



®[jc Cfjiivcljcs of p^urlborouglj. 



By the Rev. Chr. Wordsworth and C. E. Ponting, F.S.A. 



ST. PETER'S. 

 By Rev. Chr. Wordsworth. 



(Partly read at the Marlborough Meeting of the Sovieti/, 1905.) 



" The churches of Marelberg" in the plural number are mentioned 

 in two early documents in the chartulary commonly called " the 

 Osmund Register," which I have closely examined. These docu- 

 ments date in 1091 and 1158 respectively (ff 21, 22, b.) At a 

 still earlier date (about 1085-6) Domesday Book mentions a single 

 church in "Marleberge" (iii. a. 65, c.) incidentally; but from the 

 nature of that record this does not necessarily imply that it was 

 the only church here, but that one hide of land with a church was 

 held, under the crown, of William of Belfou at that date ; the same 

 record in fact implies that there was a second church, as St. 

 Osmund, Bishop of Sarum, also held, " in alms, half a church " 

 here " with half a hide of land, belonging to it," as the previous 

 sentence in Domesday records. Preshute is not specifically named 

 in Domesday, but Manton is named as held, of Milo, by Rainald 

 (xiv. b. 71. b.). Milo Crispin married an heiress, Maud, the 

 daughter of Robert de Oigli, a prime supporter of the Norman 

 Conqueror. There was a Rainald Canut who held under the King 

 in Chippenham. 



About 1223 — 28 all three churches, St. Mary's, St. Peter's, and 

 " Prestchett " are styled " the churches of Marleberge," and are 

 stated to have been at that time in the Bishop's donation, and to 

 form part of the Cathedral prebend of Marlborough and Blewbery, 

 which was dissolved and vested in the see about 1540. 



The earliest recorded name of a cleric at St. Mary's that I have 

 found is one " John the Rector," who is mentioned in an luspeximus. 



