28 On the History of Chippenham. 
every statement that may be made, rests upon the evidence of 
original documents. 
The Manor haying been for some hundreds of years private 
demesne of the Crown, began under the early Norman Kings to be 
granted out piecemeal, until at length it was all disposed of to 
various subjects. The matter will be clearer if taken in the follow- 
ing division :— 
I. Grants to LayMeEn. 
II. Grants to Rericious Hovsss. 
I. Tue Grants to LaymMen consisted of 
1. The Manor of Sheldon and Lordship of the Hundred of 
Chippenham. 
2. Rowdon. 
3. Lowdon. 
4. Chippenham and Pewsham Forest. 
1. Toe Manor or Suetpon, (forming the western side of the 
Parish,) AND THE LorpsHIP oF THE HuNDRED oF CHIPPENHAM. 
This was given by one of the early Norman Kings, (the authority 
does not state which) to William de Beauvilain, a Norman, on 
whose death it reverted to the Crown. In 1231, King Henry III. 
bestowed it upon Sir Walter de Godarville and his heirs. The 
Godarvilles were also Norman. They had another estate in Wiltshire, 
at Cheverell, and were keepers of Clarendon Forest. The last of 
them left two daughters, coheiresses, one of whom married Sir 
Godfrey Gascelyn, of a Dorsetshire house; who, in right of his wife, 
became owner of Sheldon, and lord of the Manor of Chippenham. 
The Gascelyns continued for about 174 years, from 1250 to 1424, 
during which time they obtained for the town two of its fairs; one 
held on the 17th May, and the Long Fair held on the 22nd June. 
In grateful memory for these benefits, Chippenham still wears as 
one of its two coats of arms, the shield of Sir Walter Gascelyn— 
a golden field surmounted by ten billets azure, and a label gules. 
There are copies of the charters for these fairs, as well as many 
particulars of the Gascelyn property, in deeds dated at Sheldon, 
from which it appears that the family resided there. It ended in 
