1825.] Memoirs of the Rev. William Bunce. employment of his parochial duties, and a deportment equally amiable in all his relative and social connexions. In his person he was slight and wellproportioned; his address and manners were those of a gentleman in the first class of society; never abject, but always respectful to his superiors; of a cheerful temper and pleasant conversation with his equals; and to his inferiors, particularly those in depressed circumstances, benevolent and charitable to the full extent of his power in principle and practice. Having done particular credit to himself and his College at the University, he was by special favour allowed to take his degree sooner than he could otherwise have obtained it, and admitted by dispensation to Deacon's Orders at the age of twenty-one, and to full orders by a similar favor; but it was not on these academical advantages, nor on any superior talents, that his best pretensions to distinction were founded; they were uniformly and constantly evinced by the whole tenour of his life. With regard to his discourses from the pulpit, he never aspired to be a popular preacher, though in his younger days he was generally followed, his voice being strong and clear, and his delivery graceful; but his style of composition admitted no rhetorical embellishments, for which he candidly confessed his inability, and judiciously made choice of the plain and practical language of "Melmoth's great Importance of a Religious Life," for his model; in which there is not a sentence, nor perhaps a word, that is not perfectly intelligible to any common capacity. "In earnest and impressive style The truth divine he taught; Or senseless terms perplext." The only public occasion on which he was appointed to preach, was at a General Meeting of the Cinque Ports, held at New Romney on the 24th of July 1750. The sermon in MS. is in my possession: it was highly approved, and, as customary when delivered before any public assembly, requested to be printed; but this he was too diffident to consent to. The whole account of that General Meeting, called 31 a Brotherhood and Guestling, which continued several days, and has been since assembled but twice, at the distant periods of twenty and fort yyears, was published in the Canterbury paper of the 28th July 1750, in which Mr. B.'s sermon was honorably mentioned. In the Gentleman's Magazine for Sept. 1801 is a correct engraving of his residence, the old parsonage-house of St. Peter's; and in the poetical department of the same Number are some elegiac lines inscribed to his memory by his only surviving son, who, at the advanced age of seventy-three, has recently commemorated the fiftyninth anniversary of his father's decease, and now communicates the above particulars of his life, the termination of which, on the 12th of June 1766, at the age of fifty-two, was attended with some peculiar circumstances that throw a lustre on his last moments, similar to that of a fine sunset at the close of a summer day. On the evening preceding his departure, with the happiest composure he took a very affectionate leave of his afflicted family, and separately gave his children his last paternal blessing; after which he was attended by his particular friend the Rev. John Conant (brother to the late Sir Nathaniel), who succeeded him in the Rectory; and he also admitted, at their own request, some few of his parishioners, to whom, in the feeble accents of his expiring breath, he gave a final exhortation* and solemn benediction, as the last act of their faithful Minister, and desired them to join in the commendatory prayer at the point of departure, which they fervently did, and beheld in him the blissful tranquillity in which a truly Christian Pastor can die. Yours, &c. W. B. 32 Life of Dugdale.Compendium of County History. information, in the most courteous manner. My present appearance in this friendly circle is to solicit aid towards a work which I am now preparing for the press, under the title of "The Life, Diary, and Correspondence of Sir William Dugdale." Original Letters written by, or addressed to that distinguished Antiquary, or any other documents, or information, connected with his lite rary or personal history, will be very acceptable, and ensure my grateful acknowledgments. The Life will be given in Dugdale's own words, from the Ashmolean MS. (July, with copious Notes. Interleaved Pocket Almanacks supply his Diary from 1643 to 1686, with the exception of only three years; and of Letters I have already collected more than one hundred and seventy, including those of Dod'sworth, Somner, Spelman, Twysden, Junius, Archer, Wood, and a long train of antiquarian worthies. And now, after an intimacy of thirty years, I remain, most excellent Sylvanus, not merely " Yours, &c." but, to use the expressions of Lightfoot to Dugdale," the unfained honourer of your worth, and one ready to serve you;" WILLIAM HAMPER. COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY.-WILTSHIRE. SITUATION AND EXTENT. Boundaries, North, Gloucestershire: East, Hampshire and Berkshire: South, Hants. and Dorset.: West, Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and Dorsetshire. Greatest length, 54; greatest breadth, 34; square 1372. Province. Canterbury. Dioceses. Salisbury; Kingswood, a peculiar to Gloucester; and one parish to Winchester. Circuit, Western. ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. British Inhabitants, Cangi, a tribe of the Belgæ; Hædui. Stations, Cunetio, Folly Farm near Marlborough; Mutuantonis, Easton Grey ; Antiquities. British Earthworks, Southley-wood, near Heytesbury, (vulgarly called Robin Hood's Bower, &c.); Bokerly ditch; Elder Valley; Grymsditch; Hamshill ditches; Old ditch (resembling Bokerly); Wansdike; Sutton Common (resembling an amphitheatre in miniature). Druidical or British Remains, Avebury (a series of circles, with two extensive avenues of upright stones); Brome near Swindon, a row of upright stones; Stonehenge. Cromlechs at Clatford-bottom, Littleton-Drew; Rockley, Mountain field heath of. Encampments*, Amesbury, called Vespasian's Camp; Badbury (supposed by Whitaker to be the "Mons Badonicus" of the ancients); Bagdon; Barbury; Battlesbury; Beacon Hill; Bilbury Rings or Wily Camp; Bluusden Hill near Highworth; Bratton (successively occupied by the British, Romans, Saxons, and Danes); Broad chalk, called Bury Orchard; Bury wood near Slaughtenford; Casterly near Uphaven; Castle Rings; Chesbury near Great Bedwin; Chidbury near Everley; Chiselbury; Chlorus's camp; Church Ditches; Clay Hill; Clearbury Ring (constructed by Cerdic or his son Cynric); Cotley Hill (used as an exploratory post); Haydon; Hay's Castle; Knook (British, but afterwards used by the Romans as Castra Stativa); Liddington; Martinsall near Marlborough; Newton Toney; Oldborough castle; Old castle near Mere; Old Sarum; Pen-pits; Roddenbury; Rolston; Roundway Hill near Devizes; Scratchbury Hill; Sherston; Spilsbury called Castle Ditches; Warminster; West down or Hanging Langford; West Kington; Whichbury; Whiten-hill; White-sheet Hill (occupied by Britons and Saxons); Wickball; Winkelbury; Woodyates Inn; Yarnbury (originally British, but subsequently strengthened by Romans and Saxons), Abbeys of Bradford (founded by St. Aldhelm ante 705); Kingswood (built in 1139 by William de Berkeley); Malmesbury (founded about 630 by Meyldulph, a Scot); Stanleigh (established in 1151 at Lokeswell, removed to The difficulty of discriminating Roman from British, &c. being so great, I have classed them under the general head of Encampments. Stanleigh 1825.] Compendium of County History.-Wiltshire. 33 Stanleigh by Maud the Empress); Wilton (founded in 773 by Wulstan Earl of Wiltshire, converted into a Nunnery). Priories of Avebury (founded 1100 by William de Tankerville); Bradenstoke (founded 1142 by Walter de Eureux); Bradfield; Brioptune; Bromham (founded by Baldwin de Riperiis); Charlton, Great (founded in 1187 by Reginald de Pavely); Chissenbury; Clarendon (founded by Henry II.); Clatford (founded temp. Wm. I. by Sir Roger Mortimer); Corsham, (founded temp. Wm. I.) another (founded temp. Hen. II.); Ivychurch (founded temp. Hen. II.); Kingswood (founded in 1139); Longleat (founded by Sir John Vernun or Vernon, temp. Edward I.); Maiden Bradley (founded in 1190 by Hubert Bishop of Salisbury, formerly a hospital for leprous women, founded temp. Stephen); Marlborough (founded ante John); Monkton Deverill (founded ante 1086); Monkton Farley (founded about 1125); Okeburn (founded 1149 by Maud de Wallingford); Poulton (founded about 1337 by Thos. de St. Maur or Seymour); Ransbury (founded in 905); Stratton (founded temp. Wm. I. or II.); Tisselbury (founded ante 720); Uphaven (founded temp. Hen. I.) Nunneries of Amesbury (founded by Elfrida, widow of King Edgar, refounded 980); Kington (founded ante 1156); Laycock (founded in 1232); Malmesbury 2 (one founded ante 603); Wilton (founded in 800 by Elburga, sister to King Egbert, refounded in 871). Churches of Amesbury (ancient and curious); Ansty (the oldest church in the diocese); Avebury (part of its architecture old); Bishop Canning's (the interior Anglo-Norman); Boyton (but little alteration in its architecture since 1301); Calne (handsome tower at the North-east end); Castle Combe; Chippenham (some part very ancient); Chitterne St. Mary; Codford St. Mary; Crudwell; Devizes St. John (most interesting to the Architectural Antiquary); St. Mary (chancel part early Norman); Draycot; Eddington; Fisherton de la Mere; Great Bedwin (partly Norman); Great Durnford; Heytesbury; Holt; Kington St. Michael (supposed erected temp. Henry III. but apparently earlier); Laycock; Little Bedwin; Malmesbury, St. Paul (some remains visible); Marlborough, St. Mary; Melksham; Mere (one of the best in South Wiltshire with regard to its architectural appearance); Monkton Deverill; Oaksey (Anglo Norman remains); Ramsbury (considered the mother Church to Salisbury); Sherston; Steeple Ashton (handsome); Tisbury; Westbury; West Knoyle (situate, more antiquo, adjoining to the Manor-house). Chapels of Fugglestone (now used as lodgings for the poor); Little Horningsham; Salisbury, near Harnham Bridge, to receive alms of the passengers for repairs; Tytherington (founded by Empress Maud, a mean building resembling a barn); West Lavington (entirely demolished). Stone Pulpit. Codford, St. Peter, now enclosed in the wall, the first step only visible. Fonts. Ashley; Avebury; Boyton (on a large circular column, once surrounded by four smaller ones); Brembill; Chitterne All Saints and St. Mary (both ancient and plain); Great Durnford (Saxon); Kingston Deverill; Horningsham (old, but mutilated); Longbridge Deverill; Malmesbury, St. Mary Westport; Preshute (very large and curious); Stanton St. Quintin; Stockton. Castles of Calne; Castle Combe; Devizes (built by Roger Bishop of Salisbury, temp. Henry I.) no remains; Downton; Farley (built by Robert de Curcelles, temp. Wm. I.); Laycock (ascribed to the British King, Dunwallo Mulmutius); Longford (modern); Ludgershall (ascribed to the British King Lud, hence Lud-gar's Hall); Malmesbury (built by the heroic Roger Bp. of Salisbury); Marlborough; Mere (built by Richard Earl of Cornwall in 1253); Old Sarum; Stourton (built by Sir John de Stourton, temp. Henry V. or VI. near the site now occupied by the magnificent mansion of Sir R. C. Hoare, bart.); Trowbridge (erected temp. Stephen); Wardour. Mansions. Chitterue (bearing a monastic appearance, used as a farm house); Mere Park (very ancient, originally moated); Stanton St. Quintin; Studley (formerly of the Hungerfords); Woodlands at Mere (now a farm-house); Zeals Manor House. Tanner. Aubrey says by Empress Maud. GENT. MAG. July, 1825. PRESENT 34 Compendium of County History.-Wiltshire. PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. [July, Rivers. Avon, Upper and Lower; Bourne; Brue; Colne; Deverill; Kennet; Marlan; Nodder; Stour; THAMES; Were; Wily. Inland Navigation. Kennet and Avon Canal; Thames and Severn Canal; Wilts and Berks Canal, with several branches. Lakes. Bowood; Charlton Common (the largest in the county); Shirewater; Earl Stoke Park, of considerable dimensions; Stourhead; Wilton Park. Eminences and Views. Beacon Hill, near Amesbury, 690 feet high; Bidcombe Hill, from which the sugar-loaf mountain, near Abergavenny, is seen; Bowood, the cascade truly picturesque; Box, a small village of great beauty; Bradford, very picturesque; Broxmore, highly picturesque; Cheril Hill; Clay Hill, surrounded by ditch and rampart; East Knoyle, rich and beautiful prospects towards Dorsetshire; Hermitage Hill, Codford; New Park, charming and extensive view; Savernake Forest, peculiarly fine scenery; Silbury Hill, the largest barrow perhaps in Europe; Standlynch House, from the high grounds, the prospect one of the finest and most varied in the county; Earl Stoke Park, pleasure grounds, and fine prospects from the hills; Swindon Park; Stourhead Topwood Hill; Stourton Church-yard, beautiful prospect over a well-wooded and undulated scene thickly covered with laurel; Westbury Down, 775 feet high. Natural Curiosities. Bowood, many petrifying springs; Chippenham chalybeate springs; Heywood mineral spring; Holt mineral spring; Malmesbury, Daniel's well, where Holy Daniel watched by night; Holy Well, in which St. Aldhelm bathed in all weathers; Melksham chalybeate and saline aperient springs; Middle Hill Spa; Stourhead, Paradise Well, from six fountains here the Stour rises; Weston Birt floods, called Shireburn. Public Edifices. Bradford Bridge of nine arches, very ancient; another of four arches; Charity School opened in 1712. Calne Free School, founded by J. Bentley, esq. by will dated 1660; Market House and Town Hall; Chippenham Bridge of 21 arches; Charity School. Corsham Hospital; Market House, erected in 1784 by late P. Cobb Methuen, esq. Cricklade Free School, founded by R. Jenner, esq. of London, who died 1651. Devizes Free Grammar School; House of Industry; Market Cross erected by Lord Sidmouth; New Gaol; Town Hall. Downton Borough Cross; Free School, founded by Giles Eyre, esq. Farley Hospital, erected 1678 by Sir Stephen Fox, with a Charity School. Froxfield Almshouse, founded by the widow of 4th Duke of Somerset (see vol. LXXI. p. 306). Heytesbury Hospital, founded by Robert Lord Hungerford and Margaret his widow, about 1472. MALMESBURY Cross, erected temp. Henry VII.; Free School; Town Hall, formerly St. John's Hospital. MARLBOROUGH Free Grammar School, founded by Edward VI. in 1651; Free School, founded in 1712; Market House; Prison. SALISBURY; Bleckyndon's Hospital, founded in 1683; Bricket's Hospital, founded in 1519; City School, founded by Queen Elizabeth; Close School, founded by Bishop Poore; College of Matrons, erected by Bishop Ward; Council House, erected 1794 by Earl Radnor; County Gaol; Crane Bridge, of stone; Eyre's Hospital, erected 1617; Fisherton Bridge, of Stone; Free Grammar School; Froud's Hospital, erected in 1750; Godolphin's Charity School; Harnham Bridge, first built 1244; Infirmary, erected 1767; Poultry Cross; Saint Nicholas Hospital; Sunday School; Taylor's Hospital, founded in 1698; Trinity Hospital, founded 17 Ric. II. by John Ellis. Trowbridge School. Tytherton, Calloways School for Moravian Children. Warminster Assembly Room; Free Grammar School; Markethouse. Westbury Town Hail. West Lavington Free School and Almshouse, founded by Wm. Dantsey in 1542; Wilton Free School; Town Hall. Seats. Wilton House, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Lieutenant. 1825.] Compendium of County History.-Wiltshire. Bowden Park, Mrs. Dickenson. J. M. Eyre, esq. Clarendon Lodge, F. H. Bathurst, esq. Conholt Park, Sir W. Meadows, bart. Donhead Hall, J. G. Kneller, esq. Earlstoke Park, Geo. W. Taylor, esq. M. P. Lacock Abbey, John Grossett, esq. Lake House, Amesbury, Rev. Edw. Duke. Landford House, T. Bolton, esq. Lodge, S. Greathead, esq. Laverstock, Sir J. Burrough. 85 Liddiard or Lydiard Park, Visct. Boling broke. Littlecote Park, Major-Gen. E. L. Popham. Lucknam, Sawyer, esq. Melchett Park, John Osborne, esq. Farley House, John Long, esq. Norman Court, Charles Baring Wall, esq. Odstock, Sir Thos. Webb, bart. Old Warren Cottage, Wanley Sawbridge, esq. Pyt House, John Benett, esq. M.P. Rowd Ashton Park, R. G. Long, esq. Rushall, Sir Edward Poore, bart. Salisbury College, Wadham Wyndham, esq. Palace, Bishop of Salisbury. Everleigh House, Sir J. D, Astley, bart. M.P. Salthorpe Lodge, Mrs. B. Pye Bennet. Farley House, Lieut.-col. Houlron. Fern House, Thos. Grove, esq. Park, Michael Joy, esq. bart. Heywood House, Westbury, A. Ludlow, esq. Lackham House, James Montagu, esq. Sandridge Park, Lord Audley. Lodge, Mrs. Schomberg. Stourhead, Sir R. C. Hoare, bart. Studley Hill, J. B. Angell, esq. Studley |