152 CASTLE HILL, CRANBORNE. 



earthen walls of Wareham. Looking, then, at this interesting 

 earthwork as a whole, I am fully impressed with the idea of the 

 unity of pkn and design of its construction, which cannot be 

 attributed to an earlier age and people than the Saxon proprietors 

 of the soil. This leads me to make a statement in reference to its 

 Saxon origin. It is well known that the Manor of Cranborne was 

 one of the 440 Manors included in that extensive fief of the 

 Saxon age, known as The Honor of Gloucester. Its early Lords 

 were connected with Cranborne. Aylward, grandson of Alfred 

 the Great, is one who may be remembered as founder of the Abbey 

 of Cranborne, in Athelstan's reign ; but he on whose history I wish 

 more particularly to dwell is Brictric^ (or Brihtric), son of Algar, 

 and grandson of Aylward. This powerful Noble, last of the Royal 

 Saxon line in this part of England, was selected, no doubt, in 

 consequence of his wealth and power, by Edward Confessor to go 

 on a mission to the Court of Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, the 

 purport of which is not known, but was most probably connected 

 with the succession to the throne of England. There he unhappily 

 met the Earl's daughter, Matilda, who, it is said, fell desperately 

 in love with him, which, alas ! he did not reciprocate. Not long 

 after his departure and return to England Duke "William of 

 Normandy paid a visit to the Earl of Flanders, and, unlike his 

 predecessor, was so captivated with Matilda's charms as to make 

 her soon his wife. And now the story assumes a tragic interest, 

 for, it is said, that she, soon after her elevation to the throne of 

 England, with burning indignation for the mortification her pride 

 had suffered by Brihtric's indifference, incited her husband to seize 

 on his extensive and rich domains, and to have him confined in 

 Winchester Castle, where death soon ended his misery. This is 

 said to have occurred about the year 1070 (Chronicle of TewJcesbury 

 in Monasticon Angl.). In him died one of the last great Saxon 

 Nobles, whose possessions fell to the lot of the Conqueror. 



Brihtric's name occurs often in Domesday : " Has terras tenuit 

 Mathildis Regina Litelfrome Creneburne Aisemore (Ashmore), 

 which Brihtric held T.R.K" Again, "Terra Sc5 Marie Creneburncns 



