226 



Mates on the History of Mere. 



this was the seat of the flax trade, nearly every house possessing a 

 looin. Another mill, called "Tucking Mill," has recently been 

 destroyed, but it had ceased to be used as such for many years, 

 having been converted into a cottage. It stood at the south-west 

 corner of the sewage farm. 



The Hundred of Mere, 



-as at present constituted, comprises the parishes of Mere (four 

 tithings, viz., The Town, Woodlands, Chadenwyche, and Zeals), 

 Kingston Deverill (a portion of), Maiden Bradley, Stourton, and 

 West Knoyle. It was formerly more extensive. In "Exon 

 Domesday " East Knoyle and Monkton Deverell are included, thus 

 making the complete number of ten tithings, but the two latter 

 parishes have been transferred to other hundreds — the former to 

 Downton, by the Bishop of Winchester, in 1330, the latter to South 

 Damerham. Annexed is the description given in Exon Domesday : 



" In the hundred of Mere are 86 hides and a half and 1 virgate. Of these 

 the Barons have in demesne 34 hides and a half and half a virgate. ' Of them 

 the King has in Knoyle 17 hides and a half in demesne. The Abbot of 

 Glastonbury 5 hides. The Abbess of Wilton 4 hides and 1 virgate. Walter 

 Gifard 4 hides. Gilbert Maminot 3 hides and a half and half a virgate. Godric 

 the huntsman one virgate. And for 51 hides are paid to the King 15 pounds 

 and 6 shillings. But of this money there were not paid 74 shillings from 

 Knoyle Regis, the land of Earl William, at any of the usual terms, but for it 

 the 4 collectors of the tax retained 12 pence. Saulf however retained the tax of 

 1 hide and 1 virgate which he holds of Gozelin de Reveire, to wit seven shillings 

 and six pence." 



Now, although the hundred has lost two parishes, viz., East 

 Knoyle, 5352 aores, and Monkton Deverill, 1735 acres, the present 

 extent is much greater than that here recorded. If we take a hide 

 as being say 120 acres and a virgate 30 acres, the area would be 

 10,410 acres, whilst the parishes still forming the hundred have an 

 acreage of nearly 19,000, after deducting a certain portion of 

 Kingston Deverill (undefined, but still considered to be in the 

 hundred of Amesbury) . The present hundred consists of : — Mere, 

 7313 acres; West Knoyle, 1906; Kingston Deverill (the whole 

 parish), 2651 ; Maiden Bradley, 4550 ; and Stourton, 3386 ; total, 



