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Marlborough History
The pre-historic Mound in
the grounds of Marlborough College is the first visual evidence of human
occupation in the area, probably of the same age as
the larger Silbury Hill five miles to the west. Further evidence of people
living here comes from the discovery of the "Marlborough Bucket" an Iron-age
Burial Bucket with decorations of human heads and animals on sheet bronze
found near to the entrance of St. Margaret's Mead.
The Romans lived two miles to the East of Marlborough at Mildenhall (Cunetio),
which lay at the junction of several important roads. Roman coins have been
found near Tinpit (to the east of Marlborough), The Parade, Herd Street
and near The Mound. The Roman Legions were recalled in 410AD. The first
written record of Marlborough dates from 1087 when the Doomsday Book was finished.
A Saxon settlement grew up around The Green and two early river crossings were made
at Isbury Lane and Stonebridge Lane. In 1067 William I took control of the
land around Marlborough and he set Roger, Bishop of Sarum the task of
building a wooden motte and bailey castle on the pre-historic mound. This was completed around 1100, (stone was first used to update
the Castle around 1175) and when William I set out to conquer the West Country
in 1068 he would have travelled through Marlborough. He imprisoned
Agelric, Bishop of the South Saxons in Marlborough in 1070. William also
established a Mint in the town, which coined the last six types of William
I and the first of William II silver pennies. The name of the town shown
on the coins is Maerlebi or Maerleber.
William I established the neighbouring forest as a favourite Royal hunting ground and
the Castle became a Royal residence and the court often came to Marlborough.
Henry I kept his Easter here in 1110 and Richard I gave the Castle to his
brother John in 1186. Henry II was at Marlborough Castle for talks
with the King of Scotland. King John, apart from being married here spent
much time in Marlborough and even established a Treasury, later Henry III
was also married here and held Parliament when the "Statute of Marlborough"
was passed, this gave rights and privileges to small land owners and limited
the right of the King to take procession of land. This seven hundred year
old law states that no one shall seize his neighbour's goods for alleged
wrong without permission of the Court.
The Castle fell into decay by the end of the 14th century but remained the property of The Crown, Edward VI
then it passed to the Seymour family, his mother's relatives.
The 1204 Charter of King John gave the Borough an annual eight-day fair commencing on the vigil
of the Assumption of Our Lady in which all might enjoy the liberties and
quittances customary in the fair at Winchester. He also established that
weekly markets may be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The hiring fairs
at Marlborough are first noticed in 1831 but the fact that they are held
on the Saturdays before and after Old Michaelmas Day shows that their origin
is from well before 1751. They are now pleasure fairs.
Marlborough has developed since then as most other small towns and villages,
building and re-building often brought about by fire but in 1642 this peaceful
existence was shattered by Civil War. The Seymours held the Castle for the King but the Town
was for Parliament, as the Kings headquarters were in nearby Oxford he could
not allow this to continue. "A Town the most notoriously disaffected
of all that Country, otherwise, saving the obstinacy and malice of the inhabitants,
in the situation of it very unfit for a garrison…this place the King saw
would prove quickly an ill neighbour to him, not only as it was in the heart
of a rich County, and so would straighten him, and even infest his quarters."
The King sent George, Lord Digby to take the Town. He left Oxford at the
head of four hundred horse on the 24th November for Marlborough. When he
arrived he chose to talk first, thus giving the inhabitants a chance to
throw up defences and to recruit fellow countryman until they had about
seven hundred poorly armed men. At this point the Town issued a reply to
Digby. "The King's Majesty" he declared, "providing he were attended
in Royal and not in war like wise, should be as welcome to that Town as
ever was Prince to People; but as to delivering up the good Town of Marlborough
to such a traitor as Lord Digby… they would sooner die". Eventually
after initial skirmishes Royalist troops infiltrated the Town down its
small alleyways, the Town was captured, looted and many buildings
burned, one hundred and twenty of the defenders were taken prisoner and
marched in chains to Oxford. The Town was later abandoned by the King and
took no further part in the war.
On April 28th 1653 The Great Fire of Marlborough burnt two hundred
and fifty houses to the ground. Fire swept through the Town in 1679 and
again in 1690. This time an Act of Parliament was passed "To prohibit the
covering of houses and other buildings with thatch in the Town of Marlborough".
The Chamberlains' accounts can give a glimpse of the day-to-day administration
of the Town.
Public Whippings were a common occurrence until the early 19th century.
The stocks and whipping post are still held at the Town Hall.
1692. 1 shilling paid to the Constable for whipping Coleman's boy
1771. John Hillier was publicly whipped for an error that he had fallen
into about a silver pepper-box.
One day five culprits also received a whipping, two for stealing iron, another
for stealing a brass pot, another for converting butter to his own use,
while the fifth was found in the hand of another man's pocket.
Even women did not escape whipping. Mary Price who was publicly whipped
for stealing an apron. In 1807 eleven prisoners for transportation were sent from our Town
Gaol to Bristol to embark for some of his Majesty's plantations in the Colonies.
By-Laws in former times:
All inhabitants shall sweep before their houses every Saturday night.
An inn holder shall not entertain in his house any Townsmen on Sundays or
Holy Days during the time of Common Prayer or sermon, on pain of a fine
of ten shillings. Any Townsman found in such a place shall be sent to prison
at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Every inhabitant shall have continually in readiness Clubs, Bills or Pikes
for suppressing outcry, breach of the peace, or outrage and assisting the
Mayor and other officers of the Borough in executing their duties.
Administration
1578….For making the Ducking Stool. seven shillings and sixpence.
1579….Paid for an iron to burn vagabonds through the year.
1586….Paid for making new stocks. Paid for two thumb manacles.
1604….Paid Chessam for whipping a rogue.
1609….Paid for whip cord and whipping two wandering people and sending them
to Manton. 1613….Fourteen persons, including six women, were convicted of
petty larcenies and were whipped until they bled.
1615….John Martyn was indicted as a incorrigible rogue and convicted to
be burned in the left shoulder with letter R and whipped.
1652….Paid for a pair of new Maces. £16.00. These maces are still in
use at Town Council ceremonies.
Town Crier
1804….Paid Town Crier for crying the donkey not to run on the Green.
Paid Town Crier for crying Mad Dogs twice.
Paid Town Crier for whipping two Irish Men, one stealing shurt, the other
for telling a lye to the Mayor.
Paid the Town Crier for crying the cows not to run the streets by night.
The Lifeboat
Captain N.J. Reed R.N., of Marlborough, with his wife and daughter collected
nearly £400.00 and donated it to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
for the purchase of a new lifeboat and transporting carriage. Named "The
Royal Wiltshire", she was exhibited at Marlborough on 17th June 1864. Launched
at Dover on 25th August 1864, the lifeboat saw service on the Dover station
between 1864 and 1878. During that period she was launched on service nine
times and rescued twenty-two lives. |
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