182 Swindon, its History and Antiquities. 



What Swindon market is now we all know. But the most singular 

 thing to modern ideas is the fact of this great landowner, Valence, 

 having the right to erect a gallows in Swindon : of his own au- 

 thority to try, and execute offenders. This irresponsible power 

 vested in one man must often have led to great abuses. What a 

 contrast to the ballot box of to-day — when we seem about to err on 

 the other hand, by diffusing power too widely. The manor of 

 Swindon remained in the hands of the Valences and the Talbots, 

 their relatives, until a late period. But a great many other smaller 

 proprietors are mentioned. In 1316, the State Archives record, 

 Everard holds in Swindon the third part of one ploughland of 

 William Spilman by Sergeants : worth Xs. a }ear. Philip Avenel 

 holds lands worth £4 in Swindon, under the Abbess of Winchester, 

 and she of the Crown in chief, and pure alms of ancient feoffments. 

 Robert de Pont arch holds Swindon for the tenth part of a knight's 

 fee, in chief of our lord, the King. Avenel is a name still well 

 known at Chiseldon ; and Everard survives at Wanborough. In 

 Edward the Third's reign: Robert of Blunsdon (Bluntesdone), for 

 the priory and convent of Ederose, holds at Swindon and Blunsdon 

 lands and goods. Robert of Blunsdon, for the Priory of 

 Ederose, holds in Swindon one tenement and one ploughland. 

 Christina, wife of John Atte Berghe, had certain rents at Swin- 

 don in Richard the Second's time. In 1401, Joan, a descendant 

 of the Duke of Gloucester, had land here. Thomas de Neville, 

 in 1407, claimed the third part of the manor of Swindon. Three 

 silver coins found in the fields at Westlecote appear to be of 

 Edward the Second. The best preserved shows a crowned 

 head, with the inscription EDWARD * * * ANGLI. The reverse 

 is divided into four quarters, by a cross, and in each quarter are three 

 small dots, with these letters in the margin, NDON (London) C1VI. 

 The other two are similar. On one, EDW — R can be traced, and 

 on the other LONDON CIVI. It has been stated that it was 

 while riding between Swindon and London that Bolingbroke was 

 overtaken by Mowbray, and a conversation ensued which resulted in 

 a mutual accusation of treason. Both were banished. Holy rood 

 Church at Swindon was dedicated to St. Mary in 1302, and Richard 



