By the Rev. Canon J. E. JacJcson, F.S.A. 



43 



Salisbury at Ramsbury, for which they were excommunicated ; and 

 that Henry Esturmy, the elder, was stripped to his shirt, and 

 whipped round the Marlborough Market Place by the Vicar! One 

 or two stories about them are printed in Mr. Waylen's History of 

 Marlborough. They continued here as principal owners for about 

 three hundred and forty years. The last male of the family, Sir 

 William, died in 1426, possessed of a considerable part of this neigh- 

 bourhood, and holding Savernake Forest and West Baily, as of 

 Marlborough Castle. His daughter and heiress married Roger 

 Seymour, of Hatch Beauchamp, Co. Somerset, and so all the Esturmy 

 possessions passed to the great historical House of Seymour. The 

 old house at Wolfhall had been the principal residence of the chief 

 owner of Savernake, and the property adjacent ; but the Seymours 

 left it for Tottenham. I have no account of royal visits to Savernake, 

 except one of King James I. He was passionately fond of hunting, 

 and was frequently at Wilton for the purpose with the then Earl of 

 Pembroke. The King came to Savernake, and a young gentleman 

 of good family, of the name of Waldron, was killed in his presence 

 in Tottenham Park, by the rebound of a stag. 



I do not propose — even if our time would allow — to carry down these 

 memoranda of Savernake through the time of the Seymour owners ; 

 because you will find something about them and their connection with 

 it in a paper in the Society's Magazine (vol. xv., 140) ; but will only 

 add, that from the Seymours it passed (along with other large 

 property in this neighbourhood) by an ultimate heiress into the 

 hands of the family whose present representative has done us the 

 honour to preside to-day at our meeting. He has also kindly bidden 

 you to enjoy the scenery and share the hospitality of Savernake 

 Forest, without any fear of your dogs being expeditated, or yourselves 

 summoned as trespassers before any Justice " Itinerans." On your 

 way you will see a column placed in 1781, by Thomas, Earl of 

 Ailesbury, partly in gratitude to an uncle for the estates ; partly in 

 commemoration of the recovery of health by King George III. 

 Also at the House you will see the celebrated Savernake Horn (fully 

 described in our Magazine — vol. vi., 265 — by the Rev. John Ward, 

 formerly Vicar of Great Bedvvyn), and the magnificent pedigree of 



