By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 77 



James I. In Nov. 1574, Lord Buckhurst sold Easton to John and 

 Thomas Lytc, then tenants under lease : and in January 1575, they 

 sold the Manor House and Farm to John Snell Esq., father of 

 Sir Thomas, of Kington St. Michael's. After an interval of 48 years 

 Sir Charles Snell, son of Sir Thomas, in the year 1623 sold^ the 

 Manor Farm and House to John Langton of Bristol, merchant, 

 in whose family it remained xintil the year 1704. A Pedigree 

 of the Langtons, deduced chiefly from the Title Deeds, is annexed. 



On the 28th ^March 1704, the Manor was again sold, (with lands 

 in Kington and Yatton,) by Robert Langton and Anna his wife, to 

 "Walter White Esq., of Grittleton, for £3325 : on whose death 

 without issue in 1705 it passed, by marriage of his youngest sister 

 and coheiress Elizabeth, to Richard Salwey Esq., of the Moor, Co. 

 Salop. He died in 1712. In 1796 this Estate, the Priory of 

 Kington and the Down Farm, all being then the property of "VVm. 

 Hale Esq., were sold by auction, when the Manor Farm was bought 

 by Mr. Collett, then tenant, whose son is the present owner and 

 occupier. 



The Manor House is vcr)' large and well built, in the old Wiltshire 

 style so common in this neighbourhood, with bold gables, orna- 

 mented freestone chimneys, and casement windows. In 1630, 

 soon after it had passed from the Snells to the Langtons, all the 

 older house then standing was taken down and rebuilt, except the 

 Hall and some smaller portions. The parts rebuilt by the Langtons 

 are distinguished by dates and initials. On one chimney " I L. 

 A L. 1G30." (John and Alice Langton) : on another "T L. 1664." 

 (Thomas Langton) : and on the west front " I L. 1631." (John 

 Langton). The older part which they did not take down, is still 

 left, and forms a north wing. Its principal window, described 

 by Aubrey as of " peculiar old fashion, " is of six lights, divided 

 by stone mullions and crossed by one transom. Above it is another, 

 once of like size, but now partly blocked up. The two stand out 

 in bold projection under a sloping tiled roof. The other windows in 

 tliis more ancient portion, being of ecclesiastical style with cinquefoil 



• Sir Charles's reason for selling is mentioned above p. 45. The suoceoding links 

 II the history are taken from the original documents in the author's possession. 



