136 



Abridgement of the History of the 



manor, and many proofs of Roman occupation, such as coins, 

 figuline fragments, &c. are occasionally turned up by the plough 

 or spade on the hill-tops. One among other relics, a small imperfect 



sepulchral bas-relief carved in the 

 rough stone of the country, is 

 given in the adjoining wood-cut. 

 It represents a hunter spearing a 

 stag, of which animals probably 

 the surrounding woods afforded 

 in those days an abundant stock. 

 "Within a short distance of the 

 Foss-road, where it borders on 

 the Manor of Combe, but within 

 the adjoining parish of Nettleton, 

 stands a remarkable oblong bar- 

 row, with a cromlech or trilithic 

 eoman sepulchral BAs-RELiEr. kistvaen on the top, composed of 

 three large stones, two upright ; the third, which no doubt once 

 rested upon — now leans against them. The barrow was partly 

 opened by Sir R. Colt Hoare ; and the present proprietor, Mr. 

 Poulett Scrope, has recently made further researches in it, which 

 brought to light several interments, but without any of the weapons, 

 ornaments, or instruments usually found in places of sepulture. 



In the Domesday Survey of Wiltshire, two vills are mentioned 

 by the names of " Cumbe" and " Come," respectively ; one of 

 which must refer to Combe Biset, in the south of the county, the 

 other to Castle Combe. And it is a singular circumstance that 

 several letters patent obtained in the reigns of Henry VI., 

 Edward IV., and Henry VIII. by the Lords of Castle Combe, for 

 the purpose of securing certain privileges to the tenants of this 

 manor, as having been a royal demesne at the time of the conquest 

 (which deeds are still extant), uniformly recite as applying to this 

 manor the survey of Domesday which from indubitable evidence 

 must have related not to it, but to Combe Biset. This mistake is 

 perhaps to be explained by the little interest which the officers of 

 Exchequer who searched " the Book of Domesday" for the survey, 



