56 The Saxon Boundaries of Dovmton, Wilts. 



Ebbles bum and to Beordun.) This description is not quite in- 

 telligible. " Slanting " probably refers to the boundary line being 

 on the slope of the down. It would be interesting to be able to 

 verify the " three crundels " ; I conjecture that they mean the 

 abrupt ends of Grim's Ditch between 20 and 21, where the ditch 

 may have been originally interrupted by thick wood (Pitt Kivers, 

 Excavations in Bokerly, Vol. III., 9.) This explanation seems to 

 tally with the Cradwan Crundel in the Down ton boundary (1). 



On Burcombe Down (Beordun) it turns east, to the bank's end 

 (perhaps "Hoop-side"; it is called Hafuc Mine — Hawk lynch in 

 No. 2 charter) to the little road, over haycumb, to the little road, to 

 the stone, to the heath westward, to the barrow at the ridge ivay, (in 

 the south-west corner of the Hare Warren) (25). Then eastwards 

 along the ridge way to the Britfordingea's boundary, then south to 

 Stretford. The present parish of the " Britford people of the 

 water," as they are here called, runs up to the race course, about a 

 mile to the east of the point marked by a bank (26) at which our 

 boundary turns south to Stratford Tony, where the circuit of 

 Bishopstone began (18). It is possible that Britford extended 

 further west than it does now, across the intervening strips be- 

 longing to Stratford Tony and Coombe Bissett, so as to touch the 

 Bishopstone boundary where it leaves the ridge way. 



The accompanying map will enable the reader to follow out 

 these boundaries from point to point of the ancient charter. Though 

 it has gradually passed by exchange or purchase into other hands, 

 this manor of a hundred hides was for centuries held by the Bishops 

 of Winchester or their lessees, as successors of S. Birinus, by one 

 of the oldest title deeds in existence, on the free gift of Cynwalc, 

 King of Wessex, to the Church, twelve centuries ago. 



