Leland’s Journey through Wiltshire. 177 
From Ramesbyri on to Great Bedwine a 3 miles, moste parte 
throwghe the forest of Sawernake. 
The toune is prevelyged with a Burges at the Parliament; yet 
it is but a poore thinge to sight. There lieth in the churche, in 
the south isle one Adam Stoke a famose man, and another of that 
line by him under a flatte stone. The Stokes were lords of Stoke 
Haule! ther by. The lands of whom descendyd on to the Lords 
Hungarfords ; but whereas I harde ons that there was a castelle or 
forteres at Greate Bedwine; [the ruines and plot whereof is yet 
seene, vi. 71.] I could there heere nothinge of it. 
_ [Thens a 2 miles by wooddy ground to Little Bedwine, wherby I 
passed over Great Bedwine brooke. v1. 71}. 
Little Bedwine a mile lower: whither cummith the streame that 
passinge by Great Bedwine levith it on the right ripe. This 
water goeth toward Kenet. And Hungerford is a 3 miles from 
Greate Bedwine. 
From Bedwine a good mile to Chauburne village.2 [Going out 
of Chalburne I passed over a litle stream called Chauburn water. 
vi. 71.] The trew name wherof as I gesse should be Chaulkeburne 
for it risithe and rennith in chalky ground. It riseth a litle above 
the village, and levith it on the right ripe, and so going about a 2 
miles lower resortith either into Bedwine water, or els by itself 
goeth into Kenet river. 
The house of the Choks was firste greatly advaunsyd by Choke, 
Chief Judge of England, that attayned lands to the sum of 600 
1 Now Stock Farm in the parish of Great Bedwyn. Gena or Geva, widow of 
Sir Adam de Stoke of Rushall, married Sir Robert de Hungerford, and died 
A.D.1335. In 1431, Thomas Stokke conveyed to Sir Walter Hungerford (the High 
Treasurer, great nephew of Sir Robert) the manor of Stoke and lands elsewhere 
in Wilts. [Close Rolls}. It was afterwards for many years a residence of the 
Hungerfords, some of whom were Members of Parliament for Great Bedwyn. 
The second monument mentioned by Leland is believed to have been that of Sir 
Roger Stoke, son of Sir Adam. Both are still preserved. 
2A “good” two miles to (now called) Shalborne. 
3 It resorteth into Bedwyn water. 
