58 



Malmeshury Alley in its Bed Bays. 



The subject of this Paper has strictly been Malmesbury Abbey in 

 its best days lefore the Dissolution : and all I have attempted to do, 

 is just to give a slight outline of the position which, when in its full 

 strength and efficiency, the monastery filled. How it and the rest of 

 the great Monastic System came to be dissolved is a very wide field on 

 which we cannot enter. The monasteries being such large land- 

 owners, filled for centuries a most important space in the social 

 history of England. Their influence extended to every department 

 in the very daily life of the country. Many years have now passed 

 away since the mighty step of abolishing them was taken. 



So many other changes have taken place, that we can very well 



They equalled many of the lighter wines of France ; and while due care was- 

 taken of the vineyard at Hammersmith, a great deal of very good wine was obtained 

 there for sale, yet neither of these were favourable spots. The Bath vineyards might 

 serve as a better example for the husbandman, who should consider only profit 

 from them : the juice of the grapes was sold there as it was pressed from the 

 fruit, and the owners had no further care than managing the ground and gathering. 

 4 1 have known ' says Mr. Hanbury, ' good wine made and grapes growing in 

 England, and have drank our Burgundy no way inferior, as my taste could find 

 out, to that noted wine which we have constantly imported from that country.' " 

 The Dean of Ely, Dr. Thomas,, supplied the following extract from the 

 archives of the church : — 





£ s. 



d. 



Exitus Vineti 



2 15 



3i 



Ditto Vinese 



10 12 



2 



Ten Bushels of Grapes from the vineyard 



0 7 



6 



Seven Doha Musti from the vineyard, 12 Edward II. 



15 1 



0 



"Wine sold for 



1 12 



0 



Verjuice 



1 7 



0 



One Dolium and one pipe filled with new wine 







For wine out of this vineyard 



1 2 



2 



For verjuice out of the same 



0 16 



0 



No wine but verjuice made 9 Edward IV. 







Madox History of Exchequer, i., p. 364, writes : that the Sheriffs of North- 

 hamptonshire and Leciestershire were allowed in their account, for the livery of 

 the King's Vinedresser, at Rockingham, and for necessaries for the vineyard. 



Sir Edward Barry, describes the vineyard at Pain's Hill, p. 468. " The 

 ingenious Mr. Miller shews from ancient Eecords that in many parts of England, 

 and particularly near abbeys and monasteries, good wines were made, and that 

 these places are still distinguished with the name of Vineyards : but how they 

 were rooted up and neglected, there are no clear accounts left. (Speechly on the 

 Vine, 4to, 1790, p. 197.)" 



See also Gentleman's Magazine, 1775, p. 513, and 1786, p. 918. 



