By J. E. Nightingale, F.S.A. 



845 



Alfyne, "a lady," had a vision of her coming preferment from S. 

 Edith, but the chronicler does not mention her name {stanza 1182). 



On the eve of the Conquest, we learn from Mr. Freeman's history 

 of that event (vol. 2, p. 513, 1st ed.), who, after alluding to the 

 building of Westminster Abbey by her husband, Edward, the con- 

 secration of which took place on December 28th, 1065, says, "The 

 great ceremony had been preceded by a lesser one of the same kind. 

 The Lady Eadgyth had re-built the church of the nuns at Wilton, 

 the church of her sainted namesake, the daughter of Edgar. * The 

 fabric had hitherto been of wood, but the Lady now reared a stone 

 minster, pressing on the work with unusual haste, in pious rivalry 

 with her husband. The new building was hallowed by Herman, 

 the bishop of the diocese." 



In the account of Wilton Abbey given in Modern Wilts, which 

 was written by the Rev. John Offer, and who died almost before its 

 completion, it is stated that the Abbess of Wilton at the time of 

 the Conquest was Christina, sister of Edgar Atheling, but Mr. 

 Freeman has the following passage in his History of the Norman 

 Conquest. Not long before the Conqueror's death " The iEthling 

 Eadgar, discontented with the small honour he received at William's 

 hands, left his court by leave, and went at the head of two hundred 

 knights to join the Norman warriors in Apulia. His sister Christina 

 about the same time took the veil in the Abbey of Romsey, of 

 which before many years she became the abbess." 



Six years after the Conquest we get a gleam of light thrown on 

 the Abbey of Wilton and its inmates from the contents of a charter, 

 a copy of which has lately been found amongst the Chapter muni- 

 ments at Wells. 1 It is dated 28th February, 1072, and is simply a 

 deed of sale of certain lands at Combe, in Somerset, to the Bishop of 

 Wells ; but the transaction took place at Wilton, before the royal 



Odo, Bishop of Baieux." Canon Jones, in his Domesday for Wiltshire, lias 

 pointed out that these two hides were situated at Ditch ampton, adjoining- Wilton, 

 and were then held by the Bishop of Baieux, half-brother to the Conqueror. 



The name of Toli is found in Domesday as one of the owners or tenants of 

 lands at Tollard in the Hundred of Chalk. Canon Jones thinks it possible that 

 the name of Tol-lard may have derived its origin from this tenant or owner. 

 1 Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological Society, vol. 22. 



