264 Notes on the History of Mere. 
Tue CuHantry LAnNps. 
In the “ Valor Ecelesiasticus,’ Anno Domini 1534, it is stated 
there are three chantries in Mere Church, and that that they were 
all of the foundation of John Berkeley, Knight. Henry Duvall, 
custos of the three chantries, affirms his portion thereof to be worth 
annually £6 138s. 2d., subject to a deduction of 14s. 1d.; John 
Smith, another cantarist, £6 6s.; and Richard Swayne, a third 
cantarist, £7 12s. 2d., with a deduction of 25s.; making together 
an annual income of £18 12s. 3d. Out of this sum 10s. was 
distributed yearly to the poor, that they might pray for the soul of 
the founder; a rent of 10s. paid to Roger Stourton; and a third 
sum of 5s. to the Dean of Sarum; again reducing the clear annual 
value to £17 7s. 3d. 
In the first year of Edward VI. (1547), when chantries were 
suppressed, it was found that the annual income of the “ Barkelye 
Chauntrie”’? amounted to £23 10s. 10d., with the following 
deductions :— 
£ 
A rent to the King’s manor of Mere 1 
A like rent to the Dean and Chapter of Sarum 0 
Two like rents on land called “‘ Saddleborne,” 
to Mr. Morton and Peter Greene 013 4 
s. a. 
Lid 
6 4 
leaving £21 Qs. 9d. as the clear annual value. 
“The lands belonging unto Barkelyes Chauntrie consist of two parts, and are 
scituate in two several places, viz.: Clopton and in Meere. The lands in Clopton 
are one particular, and the rent of assias goeing out of the same is £5 6s. 8d. 
The lands in Meere are thirty-two parcels or particulars and the rent of assias 
is £18 4s.2d.; one of which parcels are six acres of arable lande lyinge in the 
fieldes of Meere, late John Alford’s; the rent per annum is 4s.6d. The total 
rent of assias is £23 10s. 10d. 
“ It appears on the Rolle of Particulars, where the premises were passed away 
from the Crown to Sir John Thynn, Knight and Lawrence Hyde Esq. for Thomas 
Chafyn Esq. that the said repris’s paid to the Mannor of Meere were extinguished, 
both mannors being in the Crowne; soe that all the repris’s are but 6s. 8d. to 
the deane of Sarum and 13s. 4d. to Morton and Greene out of Saddlebourne ; so 
the remainder is £22 lls. 2d.” 
