182 Leland’s Journey through Wiltshire. 
I saw as I went out of the toune, Bromeham Haul lyenge in a 
botom about a 3 myles of. 
STEEPLE ASHTON. [vu 86. ] 
From The Vies to Steple Assheton a 6 myles, by champaine but 
frutefull grounde, and good wood plenty in some places. It isa 
praty little market toune, and hath praty buyldinge, “ 
It standith muche by clothiars. 
There is in it a very fayre churche, buylded in the mynd of men 
now lyvinge. 
The spired steple! of stone is very fayre and highe, and of that 
it is cawllyd Steple Assheton. Robart Longe, clothyar, buyldyd 
the northe isle, Waltar Lucas, clothiar, buildyd the sowth isle, of 
theyr proper costes. The abbey of Ramesey in Hamptonshire had 
bothe personage impropriate and the hole lordshipe. 
Syr Thomas Semar? hathe it now of the Kyng almoste with the 
hole hundred of Horwelle alias Wharwelldown, with muche fayre 
woods. 
BROOKE HALL, NEAR WESTBURY. [vu. 86]. 
From Steple Assheton to Brooke Haule about a 2 myle by woody 
ground. Ther was of very auncient tyme an olde maner place 
wher Brooke Hail is now, and parte of it yet appearithe. But the 
new buyldynge that is there is of the erectinge of the Lorde 
Steward unto King Henry the vij. The windowes be full of rud- 
1 This spire, 93 feet high above the tower, having been seriously injured by 
lightning in July, 1670, the parishioners proceeded to repair it, but when it was 
almost finished, in October the same year, a second storm threw it down, with 
part of the tower and the body of the church. The spire has never been restored. 
The church was built 1480-1500. 
2 Sir Thomas Seymour, the Protector’s brother, Lord Sudeley and Lord High 
Admiral, executed 1549. The manor of Steeple Ashton (besides Imber, Eding- 
ton, and other estates) was granted to him at the dissolution of monasteries ; and 
on his death reverted to the Crown. The author of the Hist. of Mere (p. 122) 
overlooked this when he said that Sir Thomas had “ no connexion with our county.” 
