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Che Bistary of Longleat. 
By the Rey. J. E. Jackson, 
Rector of Leigh-Delamere.1 
BrrorE reading to you what I have been able, at rather short 
notice, to collect upon the subject of Longleat, I beg most respect- 
fully, on the part of this Association, to thank the Noble Marquis 
for the opportunity he has so kindly given us of hearing its history 
on the spot. To myself the opportunity appears to be singularly 
favourable, since, after his Lordship’s munificent hospitality, I may 
venture to presume that you will all be disposed to receive less 
critically the imperfections of this paper. 
Being a Topographical Society, it is our first duty to know exactly 
where weare. Weare in Wiltshire certainly; otherwise, we should 
have no excuse for being here. But though the house stands within 
this county, the woods and grounds lie partially in Somerset, which 
begins about three-quarters of a mile off on the way to Frome. As 
to the Hundred; so long as we followed the high road hither from 
Warminster we were within that Hundred; but from the moment 
of entering Longleat Park, we have been, and now are, in the 
Hundred of Heytesbury. With respect to Parish, a much greater 
nicety of distinction is necessary, for I believe the case to be that 
the library, and the south front of the house, are in one parish, and 
the rest in another. When the Noble Marquis writes his morning 
letters he is in Horningsham; when he goes to dinner, he is in 
Longbridge Deverill. 
Having taken our bearings, the next question is, what is the 
proper meaning of the name of Longleat? It is a very peculiar 
one, perhaps unique. Sir Richard Hoare suggests that it may 
be derived from Jonga and lata, two Latin adjectives signifying 
1 This Paper was read from the garden terrace at Longleat, after the enter- 
tainment given by the Marquis of Bath to the members of the Wiltshire 
Archwological Society, on Wednesday, August 6th, 1856. 
