72 Collections for a History of Seagry. 
of Brokenborough to the Abbey of Malmesbury, the boundary is 
described as running past “ Segmead,’” which most likely represents 
what is now called Seagry Meadow. 
In another grant by King Ethelred, A.D. 982,' to the same 
abbey, several names are given in describing the boundaries of 
Rodbourne, which may still be identified at Seagry, as “ Sceorte- 
leye,’ now Startley; and “ Fegeran-thorn” (white-thorn), now 
corrupted into “ Five-thorns Lane”; and “le Hethen buryels,” 
which will be alluded to presently. 
The village of Seagry was originally comprised in the ancient 
hundred of Sterkele. At various times this name was spelt Sterkel, 
Sterkele, Stercklei, and Steorch-leah, this latter being the oldest 
mode, and was in use in Anglo-Saxon time, its signification being 
the “ young beasts’ run.” This hundred, together with two others, 
was merged into that of Malmesbury, somewhere between the years 
1540 and 1690. 
Seagry is mentioned twice in Domesday Book, A.D. 1087. One 
portion is thus described :— 
“Durandus de Gloucester [he was Sheriff of Gloucester] himself holds SecREre. 
Two Thanes held it in the time of King Edward [the Confessor]; and they paid 
geld for five hides. The land is four carucates. Of this there are in demesne 
two hides, and there is one carucate: and there are three villans, and two 
borders with three carucates. There are forty acres of meadow. It was worth 
forty shillings, it is now worth fifty shillings. 
‘Two milites hold the manor of Durand. They who held it in the time of 
King Edward could go whither they wished.” * 
The other is thus :— 
“Drogo Fitz Ponz holds Szerre of the King. Wiflet held it in the time of 
King Edward, and paid geld for five hides. The land is four carucates. Of this 
there are in demesne two hides and there is one carucate: and there are five 
villans and six bordars, and five coscets, with one carucate. There are two mills 
paying twenty-two shillings and four pence; and thirty acres of meadow. A 
house in Malmesbury pays nine pence. It was worth sixty shillings ; it is now 
worth seventy shillings.” + 
*See Mr. J. Y. Akerman’s paper on the possessions of Malmesbury Abbey, 
in ‘‘ Archewologia, vol. xxxvii., p. 268. 
*Jones’s Wilts Domesday, p. 97. The meaning of “going whither they wished” is, that under 
the Feudal system manors of a certain class were held under some chi@flord. Some were bound 
to a particular chief lord: Others might transfer their allegiance to any superior lord they 
pleased, (See ditto, Introduction, p. xxvi.) 
+ Ditto, p, 119: 
