From Credelinghale to the Suwardinglegh on its east side. To Wethelegh Brook; and along the brook to the Merewollen. From the Merewollen to the East Meadow. From East Meadow to Wulbikan Hill. From Wulbican Hill to the Hedgerow by South Suddon. From the Hedgerow to the Mererigge. From the Mererigge to the Hagenmedewe. From the Hagenmedewe to the Wring along the stream to Wringforde (or Wyndford). From Wringforde to the Hedgerow east to the Large Spring of Schirebourne. From the Large Spring to Carstie, to the Hedgerow. Again, along the Hedgerow to Wythescombe. From the Combe to Brokenanbrugge. From the "brugge" to Stanbrugge. From Stanbrugge to Wetmeadow. From Wet Meadow to Watercombe. From Watercombe to Ethecombe. From Ethecombe to Elkanlegh. From Elkanlegh to Hylisbrook to the Great Spring. Then along the Brook once more to the Wring. Then along the Wring once more to the west side of the Mead. Then to Preostewe".

Lastly comes the note describing how Glastonbury came to own the estate - all over a century before the Norman Conquest. So Duke Ethelfrith's unfortunate fire, and Athelstan's religious feelings, have preserved for the 20th century the earliest, and one
of the most detailed, descriptions of Wrington. For its interpretation, see the paper The Boundaries of the Manor of Wrington.

Of the other deeds, some give information about agriculture in the early middle ages-mostly about the 13th century. William Baldwin gives "1 acre of meadow in AI Leurimede under Wodefolde on the north side of the water course which I hold of them in the village of Wrington", to the Abbey of Glastonbury, with the agreement clause that "the aforesaid abbot and his convent can enclose the aforesaid acre and improve it together with the whole wood of Wodefold; and can hold it enclosed and fenced without any contra-diction from me or my lawful heirs." William Baldwin reappears as a witness in another deed describing fields: Robert, son of Hugh Faber (the smith) of Wrington,
grants to Hugh de Middilton :

"five acres of arable land and 2 acres of meadow in Suthderlond with appurtenances; which five acres of arable land lie between the land of Robert de Brent on one side and the land of Emma daughter of Adam reeve of Glastonbury on the other, and extend themselves from Tissi-mede, towards the north, up to the land of the said Robert de Brent ; but the two acres of meadow lie in Tisismede on the south end of the aforementioned five acres of land. (Hugh is to render Robert 18d. yearly and 20 silver shillings entry fine. Ends :)

These (being) witnesses: Robert Pyk of Kyngeston, John Culvertail of Sunderlond, William Baldewyn of Wrington and others."

In another deed Robert de Brent (mentioned by Hugh Smith above) guarantees the rights of the Abbot of Glastonbury to have pasture in "la Wode-fold in the manor of Wrington next the abbey court there" (see the paper The Manor and the Manor House). Humfrey de Scouvile's letter, in fashionable French, to ask for pasturing rights on Broadfield has already been quoted. Broadfield was a noted grazing ground: the monks of St. John the Baptist Hospital in Redcliffe, Bristol - one of the biggest medieval hospitals on the then outskirts of the town and sited where Redcliffe roundabout now is - also secured pasturage rights as a favour from the Abbot: a long way from town, in those days.

Other documents reflect the status of their makers. John Tusard makes a public acknowledgment of his social standing and tenurial rights as a villein of Wrington :

"Know that I have acknowledged in full court of Wrington in presence of freemen and villeins of that same town, that I do not hold the property called Tussardes mill except at the will of any abbot of Glastonbury; since I acknowledge myself to hold of my lord Roger the then abbot and his church of Glastonbury rendering services, customs and everything pertaining to the same holding, and paying geld-tax in a tithing, as the other villeins. I render also each year for the said holding to the abbot and church of Glastonbury 30 shillings. And this acknowledgment 1 made on the Sunday next before the feast of the birth of St. John the Baptist at Wrington in the 41st year of the reign of King Henry, son of King John, and on the same day I have entered into the tithing of Wrington, making the oath and giving the penny as is correct, and duly paying geld-tax with the tithing, renouncing for me and my family that I can demand or claim no liberties hereafter in the said property.

These (being) witnesses: Lord Thomas Trevet, then seneschal of Glastonbury, Richard Whyther then bailiff of Wrington, Philip of Chewton, doctor, Richard of Bruges, cleric, being present on the aforesaid day and hearing the aforesaid acknowledgement, and many others."

Other references to the Tusard family (millers and clergy in Wrington) appear in the paper Customs of the Manor 1238. Henry son of James of Glastonbury made a grant of land to his future nephew-in-Iaw Thomas son of Roger de Bourne, of

"1 virgate (i.e., 40 acres) with all its appertenances in Wrington of my own inheritance in free marriage (i.e., as a marriage portion) with Christine my niece, the daughter of my sister Clarice, to have and to hold, of me and my heirs to him and his heirs which of the same Christine shall be legitimately born, freely and quit (i.e., of any claims), entirely and peaceably in perpetuity; saving to the service of the church of Glastonbury, 4s. a year, namely at the four quarters of the year: at Christmas 12d., at Easter 12d., at the feast of John the Baptist 12d., at the feast of St. Michael 12d., and 18d. to the lardarium, for all services and secular demands appertaining to me or to my heirs. So, nonetheless, that if my sister Hawysia returns from pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the middle part of this virgate of land with its appurtenances is given back to my aforesaid sister Hawysia to possess; and if the said Hawysia should die (lit. : 'shall by fate give her life') on the aforesaid journey, the aforesaid Thomas and Christine shall possess the aforesaid virgate of land with its appurtenances in perpetuity. These (being) witnesses: Walter of Butcombe, William of Mourton, Thomas of Winton and many others."

Henry does not sound unduly surprised at Hawysia's long and dangerous journey, despite all the difficulties of 13th century travel; although he seems pessimistic about her safe return, the marriage settlement comes first. The partitioning of the land suggests that it is part of an open field divided into strips in the usual medieval fashion.

DR. N. C. TRICKS.