By J. U. Powell, M.A. 



123 



Traces of the Eeformation are found in the reports of Edward 

 the Sixth's Commissioners in 1553, who visited Hill, Kingston, 

 Longbridge ; and Monkton, and who took away some of the church 

 plate at Hill Deverill. Is it the recollection of this that survives 

 in the oral legend that " church plate " is buried in a certain field- 

 well or hidden in a lane ? It seems to point to more than the ordinary 

 " buried treasure " of folk-lore. The Commissioners also reserved 

 plate "for the King's use," at Hey tesbury,Horningsham,Tytherington, 

 Knook, both Coclfords, Upton, and Boy ton. 



The date of the registers at Hill must be placed earlier than 

 was stated in Wilts Arch. Mag. vol. xxviii., p. 242, for, although the 

 earlier register itself is lost, the copies of the entries made in it are 

 preserved in the Decanal registry at Salisbury. They are in good 

 handwriting, and well preserved, and run from 1587 to 1721. They 

 give many names, all of which have now disappeared from the 

 parish, though some occur close by. They also give the names of 

 churchwardens and clergy, so that it is now possible to make out 

 a more complete list than that which is given in Hoare or in Wilts 

 Arch. Mag., vol. xxviii., p. 241. 



In the time of the Commonwealth — 1654 — we find Mr. John 

 White ejected from his living by the Parliament, and presumably 

 William Parry, Vicar of Longbridge Deverill, was another victim 

 of this time. 1 In 1707 we first hear of a school ; it was at Longbridge, 

 and thirty-two children were taught. £4 per annum were " given 

 by a private person," and the offertory was applied to it. 



Two names, which are still sometimes heard at Brixton, " The 

 Liberty," and " Smoke Alley," have some interest in connection 

 with the Church. The name of "The Liberty," or "Liberties," 

 still used in Brixton, probably illustrates its ownership by a religious 

 house, the Abbey of Bee, in Normandy, and the Abbot's right of 

 private jurisdiction. Possibly the name " Smoke Alley " points to 

 the same fact, for in some manors, formerly belonging to religious 

 houses, there is still paid, as appendant to these manors, the ancient 

 Peter's Pence, by the name of Smoke money." 2 The " Liberties " 



1 Wilts Notes and Queries, Dec, 1900, No. 32, p. 376. 

 3 T. H. Baker, Wilts Arch. Mag., xxix., 330. 



