60 Bradford-upon-Avon. [ The Manor. 
There are several subjects, on which much interesting information 
might be collected together, with reference to Bradford. On four 
of them, we will place before our readers such materials as we have 
been able to gather for the purpose. The subjects we select ,for 
illustration are ;— 
I. Toe Manor. 
Il. Tue Parisn Cuurcu. 
Ill. THe Parocuta, Cuarittes. 
IV. THe Worrutss oF BRADFORD. 
THE MANOR.! 
It was, indeed, a goodly portion that Ethelred bestowed on the 
Abbess of Shaftesbury when he gave her the monastery (cenobium) 
at Bradford, with all the surrounding lands. She held this gift in 
Srankalmoign— (in liberd eleemosyna)*—or free-alms, as it was term- 
ed, a tenure which exempted those who held lands under it (as 
was the case with most of the ancient monasteries and religious 
houses) from all fealty to the king as their superior lord, on the 
ground of their rendering spiritual and higher services. The words 
of the charter,’ in fact, are most explicit as to the nature of the 
gift. Three services only were required of the Abbess, as, indeed, 
of all who held under a like tenure, viz., help in repairing the high- 
ways and bridges, in building castles, and repelling invasions. 
Though in reality but the tenant ‘in capite’ under the king, yet 
1 My obligations are due to the Right Hon. Lord Broughton for permission to . 
inspect documents relating to the Manor, as also, to Mr. Phelps, his Lordship’s 
Steward. The like privilege was granted to me with reference to the Prebendal 
Manor by Mr. Bessell, the Steward of the Dean and Chapter of Bristol. For 
many interesting extracts relating to similar subjects, I have been indebted to 
Mr. H. C.J. Groves. 
2“ Abbatissa de Sco. Edwardo tenet manerium de Bradeford, Attworth, 
Wrokeshal, Holte, Trulle, Winsleg, Wlfleg ( Woolley) et Ludington de rege in 
pura et perpetua eleemosina de veteri feufamento.” Testa de Nevill, p. 153. 
3 The words of the charter are, ‘‘ preescripta villa (se. Bradeford) cum omnibus 
ad se rite pertinentibus, campis, silvis, pascuis, pratis, ita sane ut ego tpse illam 
in usus possederam proprios venerabili supradicte familiz Christo sanctoque 
martyri incessanter famulanti semper subjugetur liberrima, tribus tantummodo 
exceptis communium laborum utilitatibus; si contingat expeditionem promovert, 
arcem pontemque construi.” Codex Aly, Sax, iii, 319. 
