BRUTON ABBEY. 1 1 



who nrnde Bruton Abbey his residence by Converting it 

 into a mansion. In the cbancel of Bruton ebureb is a 

 mural monument to this baronet and his two wives. From 

 bim the Manor of Brewton descended successively to Sir 

 Henry Berkeley : Sir Maurice Berkeley : Sir Charles 

 Berkeley, 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge, a.D. 1617 : Mau- 

 rice, 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge, A.D. 1668. 



The Abbey of Brewton appears by the parish books to 

 have been in the possession of Wm. Norris, Esq., and 

 others, from 1698 to 1704, when Lady Anne Mason had 

 it tili 1709. She was sueeeeded by Sir John Brownlowe, 

 tili 1715, when the estate was purchased by William 

 Lord Berkeley, Baron of Stratton, who afterwards resided 

 at the abbey. The Manor of Brewton was devised by 

 Lord Berkeley to Charles Berkeley, Esq., his 2nd son, who 

 sueeeeded his father in 1741, about which time the pre- 

 sent cbancel of Bruton church was erected by him. He 

 also built the abbey stables. He was found drowned in 

 the fish pond, August 1, 1765, and was sueeeeded by his 

 eider brother John Lord Berkeley, Baron of Stratton, who 

 likewise resided at the abbey. On his death, being the 

 last male of his family, the moiety of Bruton Manor was 

 sold, in aecordance with his will, to pay legacies. 



The great hall of the abbey was destroyed by fire on 

 Micbaelmas-day, 1763; and the abbey was taken down 

 A.D. 1786. The following oeeur among the entries in the 

 Bruton registers : 



23 July, 1624. Capt. Henry Berkeley and his soldiers 

 went from Brewton to Breda, in the low countries, against 

 Spain. 



1641. This year was Brewton's fear. 



1642. All praise and thanks to God still give 

 For our deliverance Matthias' eve. 



