270 



of this incredulity I desired, nevertheless, to submit to the judgment 

 of the Club an idea which has long had for me an agreeable 

 fascination. 



Notes on the History of Twerton. By the Rev. W. S. Shaw. 

 Read March 15, 1871. 



The Name 

 Is of doubtful meaning. Mr. Earle derives it either from 

 set-over-tune = at bank town, or set-wser-tune = at the weir 

 town. In Domesday Book it is written Twertone, but this is not 

 much guide, as the names appear there as they were pronounced 

 and not always as they were spelt. Another derivation which has 

 great probability is from Twy-ford-town, the town of the two fords.* 

 In the Registers at Wells the name is thus variously spelt : in 

 1316 Twyvrton, in 1410 Twyforton, in 1623 Twiverton, 1638 

 Twirton, 1723 Twerton. 



In Domesday Book we have the following account of Twerton : 



The same Nigel {i.e., the same who held also Englishcombe) holds of the 

 Bishop Twertone. 



Three Thanes held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for 7 hides 

 and half. 



The arable is 10 carucates. 



In demesne there are 3 carucates, 6 serfs, and 7 villans, and ISbordars with 

 6 carucates. 



There are two mills of 30 shillings rent and 15 acres of meadow land. 



It was and is worth 10 pounds. 



Goifl&'id holds of the Bishop Twertone. 



A Thane held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for 2 hides and 

 half. 



The arable is 2 carucates and half, which there are in demesne, with 4 

 bordars and 2 serfs. 



There are two mills of 30 shillings rent, and 7 acres of meadow and 3 acres 

 of coppice wood. 



It was and is worth 60 shillings. 



This land Alured held of the Queen Eddid, now the Bishop holds it of the 

 King as he says. 



The above account may be perhaps made more intelligible by 

 the following remarks : 



• Collinson's Somerset, vol. iii., p. 347. Wood's Description of Bath, vol. 

 i., p. 97. 



