Barton
Farm
The Tithe Barn should probably rather be called the manorial or demesne barn : the Abbess of Shaftesbury was at once tithe-owner and lady of the manor. It is a remarkably fine building of the kind,the massive stone walls and a shingle roof supported bymrrnous oaken beams and ties. Its internal dimensions are180 x 30 feet: its date probably the earlier part of the fourteenth century, some would put it later, some considerably earlier.The Tisbury Barn, also on the estate of Shaftesbury Abbey, and very similar to this one, is said to have been built about A.D.1260.
Ccommencing with the time of Edward I, there was a period of increasing prosperity for Bradford. There are many indications of this in the large buildings which were now erected. That remarkable barn, called Barton Barn, well known to architects for its Early English roof, framed from the ground as to be independent of the walls,is certainly built in the earlier part of this period. By whom the barn was built is a matter of doubt. Very little can be made out of Aubrey's observation that he saw in 1670, at the point of one of the gables, the hand and battle-axe, the well known crest of Hall. It is quite possible, moreover, that Aubrey's eyes may have rather deceived him, for certainly among the present ornaments of the gables there is not one that looks at all like the remnant of the hand or battle-axe
| 1001 | King Aethelred II granted the Manor of Bradford to the Abbey of Shaftesbury |
| 1300-1400 | Barton Farm established between the 13th and 14th centuries |
| 1535 | The Manor of Bradford brought an income of £154 21s 5d to the Abbey of Shaftesbury. |
| 1539 | Shaftesbury Abbey, including Bradford Estate surrendered to King Henry VIII |
| 1546 | Sir Edward Bellingham is granted Manor by King Henry VIII |
| 1551 | leased to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke |
| c.1550 | Antony Webb payeth for the farm of Barton by the year - £22 18d |
| 1571 | Henry, Earl of Pembroke renews 21 year lease |
| 1576 | Manor granted to Sir Francis Walsingham by Queen Elizabeth I |
| 1584 | Dowry settled on his daughter Frances when she marries Sir Philip Sydney(dies 1586) |
| 1590 | Frances marries Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex(dies 1601) |
| 1603 | Frances marries Richard de Burgh, 4th Earl of Clanricarde (dies 1635) |
| 1610 | Manor leased to Constance Lucy, widow to hold for for her sons George, Robert and Francis at a rent of £22.3s a year |
| 1613 - 1616 | A large part of Manor sold, including a number of vilages forming the Bradford hundred |
| 1632 | Frances Countess of Clanricarde (nee`Walsingham) dies |
| 1633 | Honora, daughter of Frances marries John Powlett, 5th Marquess of Winchester, |
| 1635 | John Paulet, 5th Marquis of Winchester inherits after Richard de Burgh dies |
| 1660 | Francis Lucy holding the Manor |
| 1675 | John Paulet, 5th Marquis of Winchester dies and estae goes to his son Lord Francis Powlett |
| 1696 | Lord Francis Powlett dies and his wife holds Bradford estate until 1728 |
| 1738 | Paulet Wrighte, son of Francis`s daughter Ann and the Rev. Nathan Wrighte. |
| 1741 | Paulet Wrighte is shown as paying 14s. Poor Rates twice as much as the Duke of Kingston. |
| 1774 | Paulet Wrighte, son of Paulet Wright inherits Estate and sells to Paul Methuen of Corsham |
| 1850 | John Cam Hobhouse(1st baron Broughton) purchases Estate from the 2nd Baron Methuen |
| 1891 | Sir Charles Parry Hobhouse (Lord Broughtons nephew) purchases estate from heirs |
| 1907 | Sir Charles transfers the manor to his son Charles E.H. Hobhouse, later 4th Baronet |
| 1941 | Charles dies and manor descends to Sir Charles Chisolm Hobhouse |
| 1991 | Sir Charles John Spinney Hobhouse of Monkton Farleigh Manor succeeds to Manor |
1774 April 5th & 6th. By Indentures of Lease & Release made between Powlett Wright Englefield in the County of Berks. Esq. of the one part & Paul Methuen of Corsham in the County of Wilts. Esq. of the other part.
It is witnessed that in consideration of the sum of £2500 to the said Powlett Wright paid by the said Paul Methuen. He the said P. Wright did grant, bargain, sell, release & confirm unto P. Methuen (in his actual person) & his heirs all that Manor or lordship & hundred of Bradford in the said County of Wilts and all & singular the Messuages, Granges, Mills, Houses, Edifices, Barns, Stables, Dove houses, Orchards, Gardens, Lands, Tenements, Meadows, Feedings, Pastures, Commons, Wastes, Furzes, Heaths, Moors, Marshes, Woods, Underwood's, Trees, Waters, Fishing's, Fisheries, Warrens, Mines, Quarries, Rent Charges, & other Rents & services as well of free Tenants as Customary Tenants Escheats, Merriots, Courts Leet, Hundred Courts & other Courts, view of Frankpledge, Appertances, Chattels, Waifs, Strays, Chattels of Felons & fugitives & of felons of themselves & part in original …, Warrens, fairs, Markets, Tolls, customs.., franchises, privileges, profits, commodities, emoluments & the rents whatsoever as well spiritual as temporal of whatsoever sort nature or kind or by whatsoever named they were known named or accounted .. lying being coming going or happening within the Towns, Fields, Parishes, places, Tythings, Lordship or manor & Hundred or Hamlets of Bradford, Attworth, otherwise Atford, Trowle otherwise Trolle, Stoke, Leigh, Wraxall, Holte & Wynesleigh otherwise Wynersley in the said County of Wilts & Elsewhere in the said county of Wiltshire to the said Lordship or manor & hundred of Bradford or.. of them belongs or in any wise appertains or as member part or parcel of the same Lordship or manor & Hundred or either of them therefore had known accepted used or reputed which said Lordship or manor & hundred of Bradford were formerly part & parcel of the possessions of the dissolved Monastery of Shaftesbury in the County of Dorset (except …if always reserved end of the now abstract Grant & release unto the said Powlett Wright his heirs & Asps. All that Messuage & Farm with the houses, outhouse, lands, Meadows, Pastures, Feedings & appurtenances hereunto belonging called Barton Farm. And all that wood called or known by the name of Grip Wood And all those several closes or pieces of ground part of a living called Hutchings's livings. And all those several closes or pieces of ground formerly belonging to the Swan Inn living And all those several closes or pieces of ground part of a a living called Smiths living And Also two pieces of land called Walter's lands & part of a living called Bailey's Living which said closes of ground called Hutching`s living, The Swan Inn living & Smith's & Baileys living were then added to the said farm called Barton farm and the said farm & several Closes or pieces & parcels of ground … before excepted were then in the occupation of Farmer Samuel Bethell as Tenant to the said P. Wright. And also except all that.. Farm with the .. lands, meadows, [pastures, feedings & appurtenances thereunto belonging called or known by the name of Lady Down Farm & such said Farm called Lady Down Farm were then in the occupation of farmer George Biggs as Tenant to the said P. Wright. And also a certain Piece or Parcel of Ground then in the occupation of John Bailward as tenant to the said Powlett Wright And also one acre of land (little more or less) lying in a certain Common meadow called Ewe Mead lately purchased by the said P. Wright of Mr Thomas Baskerville & then in his possession as tenant to the said P. Wright And also a little Garden then in the occupation of Mr Francis Yerbury as Tenant to the said P. Wright. And also a little piece or parcel of ground lying in an enclosure belonging to Mr Cooper Esq. & then I the occupation as tenant to the said P. Wright. And also a certain piece or parcel of ground then or late part of Smith's living & then in the occupation of Mr Richard Whatley as tenant to the said P. Wright. And also a certain piece of land part of a living called Roachs`s living in the occupation of George Symes. And Also 5 several Pieces or parcels of Land then or late part of the living called Smiths living & then in the occupation of Thomas Timbrell. And also 3 several Pieces of land part of a living called Beachs`s living in the occupation of Mr Thomas Johnson. And also 2 tenements or dwelling houses with the Outhouses & garden thereunto belonging situate and being in Barton Farm yard & then in the occupation of Mr Richard Smith who held the same for a term of 99 years determinable with 3 lives And also except nerveless to the said P. Wright, his heirs & Apps a right of fishing with Nets or Engines in the River Avon part of the said manor from the top of a certain Garden called Barton Orchard then in the occupation of Samuel Cam Esq, to the bottom of the said Garden on that side next the Garden only at all times All each said Messuages, Farms, Lands Tenements Herediaments then excepted were part of the said manor or Lordship of Bradford & were lying in the said Parish of Bradford) & the said manor or Lordship & hundred & all & singular other the Premises in or about the 18th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth were granted by her the said Queen to Francis Walsingham Esq. one of her principal Secretaries & his under the yearly rent of £13 16s 8 1/2d payeable to the said queen her heirs & successors for ever. And the …, And all the Estate , and also .. to be taken at the Costs & Charges of him the said P. Methuen his heirs .. of all or any of the Deeds .. & writings touching or concerning the said Abbey demised.. or any part .. with said P. Wright then had in his custody or power or .. come by, without Suit at law or Equity to hold the same unto the use of the said P. Methuen his heirs & Aps for ever.
Covenants by the said P. Wright that he was seized in fee (except as appears by the now.. that he had good right to convey ( except as aforesaid ) .. for quiet enjoyment free from encumbrances ( except a certain sum of £1-18s payable out of the said manor or lordship & Hundred of Bradford & lands & premises that belong at the Feast of St. Michael to a certain Foundation for the maintenance of 3 Old Women called the Old Almshouse lying within the said manor of Bradford & being part thereof and which said sum of £1-18s should then & at all times there after be paid by the said Paul Methuen his heirs & Aps. To be issuing out of the said manor or Lordship & Hundred so granted to him as aforesaid. And also except 3 several Copies of Court Rolls granted by the Ancestors of the said P. Wright of 3 several Tenements ( part of the said Manor & by the now abst. Indre intended to be conveyed to the said P. Methuen & his heirs) to Thomas Haskell, John Tucker & Uriah Anst for certain lives in the said cops. Named and to several leases granted by the said P. Wright & his ancestors of 6 Tenements or dwelling houses lying in or near the Town of Bradford aforesaid ( aprt of the said Manor & by the now .. to be granted & conveyed to the said P. Methuen & his heirs) to Tomas Bush, Susannah Hutchings, John Fielder, William Gaisford, Jonas Jones & Roger Marks for certain terms of 99 years determinable on certain Lives in the said leases .. named. And except such other leases as might have been granted by the said p. Wright & his ancestors of the cottages & lands lying on the common waste Grounds of the said Manor or Lordship & Hundred of Bradford & so intended to be conveyed to the said P. Methuen & his heirs) And for .. that the said P. Wright his heirs or Aps should at any time or times thereafter make default in payment of the said yearly rent of £13 -16-81/2d or any part thereof….
George 3 6 26 By an act of parliament therein passed entitled "an Act for inclosing lands in the Parish of Bradford in the county of Wiltshire".
That there were within the said parish of Bradford certain Commons & waste lands called Atworth otherwise Atford Common, Bradford Leigh & Forwards Common - that Charles Herbert, Earl Manvers claimed to be entitled to a Manor called the Manor of Bradford in the said parish - that Paul Methuen Esq. claimed to be entitled to a manor called the Manor of Bradford in the said Parish & that the Dean & Chapter of Bristol claimed to be entitled to a manor within the said Parish called the Prebendal manor of Bradford.
And reciting that the said Earl Manvers Elizabeth Hale Widow, Daniel Clutterbuck esq. & divers other persons were entitled to rights of Common over the said Commons & Waste lands in respect of their several Ests
And reciting or noticing the act passed in the .. year of his majesty's reign commonly called the General Enclosure act.
It was enacted that Thomas Davis of Hornigham , Wilts, Gent. Should be appointed commissioner for dividing, allocating & enclosing the said Commons & waste lands …
.. And it was further enacted that nothing in the said Act should vary lessen or destroy any right of any persons whom so ever to hold or attend the annual Fair usually held on the aforesaid Common called Bradford Leigh … the said Act received the Royal Assent on the 23 May 1818. By the Award of the said Thomas Davis the Commissioner appointed by the Bradford Enclosure Act did allot & award the said p. Methuen as Lord of the Manor of Bradford for in lieu of his right that the following be allotted and enclosed.