336 



Notes on Durrington. 



in 1443, 1444, 1449, sheep fetched such very high prices for that 

 age as 4s., 3s. S^d., 4s. 2d. respectively. The only explanation that 

 suggests itself is that in one of the waves of lawlessness which 

 swept over South Wilts in the latter part of the 14th century and 

 the first half of the 15th, this and other neighbouring villages must 

 have been laid waste. In 1381 armed peasantry from the neigh- 

 bourhood seized Salisbury Market Place : in 1450 the Bishop of 

 Salisbury was murdered. And in those days no insurance covered 

 losses by incendiary fire ; so that recovery would be very slow. Per- 

 haps that was the cause why the rent of the chief tenant of the 

 college fell from £40 10s. in the middle of Henry the Sixth's reign 

 to £11 13s. 4d. in 1 Eichard III. 



And it also explains what would otherwise be a great puzzle. There 

 is a p.m. inquisition on the death of Kalph Thorpe in 1446,which states 

 that he held certain houses and land, which seem to be those of the 

 chief tenant of Durrington of the Warden of New College, Winchester. 



Inq. p. m. 25 Hen. 6. No. 88. 

 Ealph Thorpe. 



Inquisition taken at Ambresbury in Co. Wilts on Monday in the Feast of 

 All Souls 24 Hen. 6 [1446] before John Eo...e Esq. Escheator of the Lord 

 the King, by the oath of John Rowe, William Botreaux &c Jurors, who say 

 that Ralph Thorpe Esq. in his demesne as of fee of the manors of Boscombe, 

 Burdensballe and Powlesholt with the appurtenances . . . The Jurors 

 further say that the said Ralph Thorp held on the day that he died in his 

 demesne as of fee 2 messuages in Durrington each of which is worth yearly 

 beyond reprises in all issues 3d. also 2 acres and one rood of meadow called 

 Hosermede which are worth yearly in all issues 20d., and pasturage for 100 

 sheep and 8 beasts going and pasturing in the pastures of Boshynee & 

 Duryngton aforesaid, which is worth yearly 9*. ; also one cottage which 

 is called Goldecote, with one close which is worth yearly beyond reprises 

 12d. ; also 27s. of the rent of assize issuing yearly from the lands and tene- 

 ments of divers tenants in Durrington aforesaid, to be paid at the feasts of 

 Easter and St. Michael by equal portions ; also a certain water called Mille 

 ponde, which is worth nothing yearly beyond reprises ; also a certain fishing 

 in the common water called above which is worth nothing by the year beyond 

 reprises. The Jurors say that the messuages, lands, pasture, rent, water and 

 fishing aforesaid are held of the Warden of New College, Winchester, but by 

 what service the Jurors know not. 



But Winchester College has no such name as Kalph Thorp on 

 its roll. The firmarius, or tenant, of the manor farm under Henry 

 VI. until o0-31 of his reign was John Thurberne; then James 



