PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 33 



Rudford. Rodesford, anciently Rudeford. Derives its 

 name from the redness of the soil, and from a ford over 

 the Leadon. Highleadon is a hamlet. Highleadon House 

 was held for the King during the Civil Wars by Colonel 

 Myn. There was a skirmish at Rudford, and when the 

 C>anal was being dug several skeletons were unearthed. 



Some of the Welshmen killed in the battle of Highnam 

 were buried at Barber's Bridge, in Rudford, where their 

 bodies were found by the late W. P. Price, Esq., who 

 erected a Monument to their memory. See Article in 

 Cotteswold Club Proceedings. 



Names of places and fields in Rudford : Snow's Close, 

 Little Martins, Big Martins, Rowet, Puggle Hole, Pinch 

 Field, Far Heel, Home Heel. 



Newent, anciently Noent. Said by Leland to mean 

 New Inn, there being only a single house when communi- 

 cation was first opened up with Wales by this way. 



There was anciently an Alien Priory at Newent. of 

 which very little now remains. John Home was burnt in 

 the yard belonging to the Priory in the persecution in 

 Queen xMary's reign. 



In Cugley is Crocket's Hole, where one Crocket and 

 Home hid themselves in the reign of Queen Mary. After- 

 wards in 1665, one Fairfax, a disbanded soldier, advised by 

 Lilley, the astrologer, came down from London, and 

 opened this Hole in hopes of finding great riches therein, 

 and drew many people thither. Some of them went into 

 the hole and told incredible things concerning it ; at last 

 one Witcombe going in drunk and dying there put an end 

 to all further examination. Crocket's Hole has recently 

 been opened by Major How, of the Stardens, but nothing 

 very remarkable has been discovered. 



Tythings and Hamlets of Newent : Newent, Nellfields 

 Farm, Compton and Court Orchard, The Scar, formerly 

 Water's or Athlord's Place, Hays, or Heges, as in Domes- 

 day, Stardens, Ford House, Waterdine, Callow Hill, 

 Malswick, Wvndham's, Cugley, Boulesdon, Kilcote. 



