Ancient Church of Trowbridge. 



221 



who was the son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, was at one time 

 the principal acting feoffee for the management of the affairs of the 

 manor. 1 The courts of the manor were, I presume, held in these early 

 days within the precincts of the castle, and near about what are now 

 called " the Courts." There still remains, as it seems to me, a not 

 uninteresting tradition of the Cardinal's rule here — a small inn 

 situated in the Courts still bears the sign of " The Red Hat/'' 



To return now a little to the direct course of our narrative, we find 

 that, though our records are scanty and sources of information few, 

 we have ample proof to show the growing importance of the manor 

 itself during this period. Numerous, as we sh all presently see, were 

 the lands held " under the manor of Trowbridge." No doubt one 

 of the earliest works of this century was the erection of a Church 

 for the use of the retainers of the castle, and those who now began 

 to form and inhabit the town that grew up around it. Where this, 

 the original parish church of Trowbridge, stood, is now matter 

 only of conjecture. Tradition points out as its site, a spot till 

 recently called " Parsonage Corner," close by the present entrance 

 gate© of the Rectory House. Evidences of all the contiguous ground 

 having been at one time used for purposes of interment have not 

 been wanting. During the restoration of the present church, a few 

 years ago, some fragments of shafts, capitals, and the like, were 

 found imbedded in the walls of the chancel, and are still preserved, 

 and these, judging from their mouldings and general appearance, 

 would seem to have been portions of a church of Early English date 

 and character, erected probably towards the end of the twelfth or 

 the commencement of the thirteenth century. It was certainly 

 built previously to the foundation of Lacock Abbey in 1229, for 

 the charter by which the Countess Ela endowed that religious house 

 was witnessed, amongst others, by " Sir Peter, Parson of Trow- 

 bridge " (domino Petro persona de Treuhrigge )? 



1 It may just be mentioned that there seems at one time to have been a mestie, 

 or subordinate, manor within the manor of Trowbridge, called the manor of 

 Trowbridge Dauntsey. Thus in Jones' Index to the Records we have this 

 entry: "The Queen's hands to be removed from the Manor of Trowbridge 

 Dantesey in Wilts : to be delivered to Thomasine Dantesey." Paoch. Record, 

 10 Eliz., Roll 4. 



2 See Bowles's Lacock, Appendix, p 10. 

 VOL. XV. NO. XLIV. X 



