Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Wilton [Map]
Wilton, Wiltshire is in Wiltshire.
In Sep 825 Beornwulf King Mercia defeated Ecgberht, King of Wessex (age 52), at the Battle of Ellendun replacing Mercian with Wessex dominance over the Saxon Heptarchy. Sir Frank Stenton described it as 'one of the most decisive battles of English history'. The location of the battle is not known although a number of locations have been suggested: Wroughton, Wiltshire, Lydiard Park Swindon, Wiltshire and Wilton, Wiltshire [Map].
Assers Life of Alfred 871. 871. 42. Alfred comes to the Throne; Battle of Wilton.94 That same year the aforesaid Alfred (age 22), who had been up to that time, during the lifetime of his brothers, only of secondary rank, now, on the death of his brother, by God's permission undertook the government of the whole kingdom, amid the acclamations of all the people; and indeed, if he had chosen, he might easily have done so with the general consent whilst his brother above named was still alive, since in wisdom and every other good quality he surpassed all his brothers, and especially because he was brave and victorious in nearly every battle. And when he had reigned a month almost against his will - for he did not think that he alone, without divine aid, could sustain the ferocity of the heathen, though even during his brothers' lifetimes he had borne the calamities of many - he fought a fierce battle with a few men, and on very unequal terms, against all the army of the heathen, at a hill called Wilton [Map], on the south bank of the river Wiley95, from which river the whole of that shire is named; and after a severe engagement, lasting a considerable part of the day, the heathen, seeing the whole extent of the danger they were in, and no longer able to bear the attack of their enemies, turned their backs and fled. But, shame to say, they took advantage of their pursuers' rashness96, and, again rallying, gained the victory and kept the battle-field. Let no one be surprised that the Christians had but a small number of men, for the Saxons as a people had been all but worn out by eight battles in this selfsame year against the heathen, in which there died one king, nine chieftains, and innumerable troops of soldiers, not to speak of countless skirmishes both by night and by day, in which the oft-named [King] Alfred (age 22), and all the leaders of that people, with their men, and many of the king's thanes, had been engaged in unwearied strife against the heathen. How many thousand heathen fell in these numberless skirmishes God alone knows, over and above those who were slain in the eight battles above mentioned.
Note 94. Paraphrased and amplified from the Chronicle.
Note 95. A tributary of the Nadder, which it joins near Wilton [Map].
Note 96. Or, perhaps, 'fewness,' reading paucitatem for peraudacitatem (Stevenson).
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 961. This year departed Odo, the good archbishop, and St. Dunstan (age 52) took to the archbishopric. This year also died Elfgar, a relative of the king, in Devonshire; and his body lies at Wilton [Map]: and King Sifferth killed himself; and his body lies at Wimborn [Map]. This year there was a very great pestilence; when the great fever was in London; and St. Paul's minster was consumed with fire, and in the same year was afterwards restored. In this year Athelmod the masspriest, went to Rome, and there died on the eighteenth before the calends of September.
In 1514 Anne Grey Baroness Grey Wilton (age 64) in Wilton, Wiltshire [Map].
Pepy's Diary. 11 Jun 1668. Thence to the inne; and there not being able to hire coach-horses, and not willing to use our own, we got saddle-horses, very dear. Boy that went to look for them, 6d. So the three women behind W. Hewer (age 26), Murford, and our guide, and I single to Stonage; over the Plain and some great hills, even to fright us. Come thither, and find them as prodigious as any tales I ever heard of them, and worth going this journey to see. God knows what their use was! they are hard to tell, but yet maybe told. Give the shepherd-woman, for leading our horses, 4d. So back by Wilton [Map], my Lord Pembroke's (age 47) house, which we could not see, he being just coming to town; but the situation I do not like, nor the house promise much, it being in a low but rich valley. So back home; and there being 'light, we to the Church, and there find them at prayers again, so could not see the Quire; but I sent the women home, and I did go in, and saw very many fine tombs, and among the rest some very ancient, of the Montagus1.
Note 1. The Montacutes, from whom Lord Sandwich's (age 42) family claimed descent: B.
The River Nadder rises at Wincombe Park, Wiltshire [Map] from where it flows past Donhead St Andrew, Wiltshire [Map], Wardour, Wiltshire [Map], where it is joined by the River Sem, Tisbury, Wiltshire [Map], Upper [Map] and Lower [Map] Chicksgrove, Teffont Evias, Wiltshire [Map], Barford St Martin, Wiltshire [Map], Burcombe, Wiltshire [Map] and Wilton, Wiltshire [Map], where it is joined by the River Wylye, past Quidhampton, Wiltshire [Map] after which if joins the Wiltshire River Avon at Salisbury.
The River Wylye rises on the White Sheet Downs, Wiltshire [Map] from where it flows past Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire [Map], Monkton Deverill, Wiltshire [Map], Brixton Deverill, Wiltshire [Map], Hill Deverill, Wiltshire [Map], Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire [Map], one kilometre south of Warminster, Wiltshire [Map], Bishopstrow, Wiltshire [Map], Norton Bavant, Wiltshire [Map], Heytesbury, Wiltshire [Map], Upton Lovell, Wiltshire [Map], Boyton, Wiltshire [Map], Sherrington, Wiltshire [Map], Codford St Mary, Wiltshire [Map], Fisherton de la Mere, Wiltshire [Map], Wylye, Wiltshire [Map], Steeple Langford, Wiltshire [Map] after which it is joined by the River Till at Serrington, Wiltshire [Map].
Thereafter it flows around Great Wishford, Wiltshire [Map], South Newton, Wiltshire [Map] to Wilton, Wiltshire [Map] where it joins the River Nadder.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Wilton Abbey [Map]
Around 963 King Edgar "Peaceful" I of England (age 20) abducted Wulfthryth of Wilton (age 26) from the nunnery at Wilton Abbey [Map].
On 16 Sep 984 (or possibly, 985, 986 or 987) Edith of Wilton (age 21) died at Wilton Abbey [Map].
Letters and Papers 1528. 18 Jul 1528. R.O. St. P.I.314. 4528. Thomas Benet, Priest, to Wolsey.
Repaired to Wilton [Map], and used every effort to bring over the nuns to Wolsey's wishes. Found them untoward, and put three or four of the captains of them in ward. Has closed up the doors, that none might have access to the nunnery. Found only the new elect and her sisters compliant. As they are now visited by the plague, and much straitened in their lodging by the burning of their dormitory, thought it best to advertise Wolsey before taking further proceedings. Wilton, 18 July.
Hol., p.1. Add. Sealed. Endd.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Wilton House
In 1583 Anne Lady Herbert was born to Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 44) and Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke (age 21) at Wilton House.
On 10 Oct 1584 Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery was born to Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 46) and Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke (age 22) at Wilton House.
In 1640 Anne Lady Herbert (age 57) died at Wilton House.
Evelyn's Diary. 20 Jul 1654. In the afternoon we went to Wilton, a fine house of the Earl of Pembroke, in which the most observable are the dining room in the modern-built part toward the garden, richly gilded and painted with story, by De Crete; also some other apartments, as that of hunting landscapes, by Pierce; some magnificent chimney-pieces, after the best French manner; a pair of artificial winding stairs of stone, and divers rare pictures. The garden, heretofore esteemed the noblest in England, is a large handsome plain, with a grotto and waterworks, which might be made much more pleasant, were the river that passes through cleansed and raised; for all is effected by a mere force. It has a flower garden, not inelegant. But, after all, that which renders the seat delightful is, its being so near the downs and noble plains about the country contiguous to it. The stables are well ordered and yield a graceful front, by reason of the walks of lime trees, with the court and fountain of the stables adorned with the Cæsars' heads.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Aug 1665. And my Lord Mayor commands people to be within at nine at night all, as they say, that the sick may have liberty to go abroad for ayre. There is one also dead out of one of our ships at Deptford, Kent [Map], which troubles us mightily; the Providence fire-ship, which was just fitted to go to sea. But they tell me to-day no more sick on board. And this day W. Bodham tells me that one is dead at Woolwich, Kent [Map], not far from the Rope-yard [Map]. I am told, too, that a wife of one of the groomes at Court is dead at Salsbury; so that the King (age 35) and Queene (age 55) are speedily to be all gone to Milton. God preserve us!
Evelyn's Diary. 11 Mar 1705. An exceedingly dry season. Great loss by fire, burning the outhouses and famous stable of the Earl of Nottingham (age 57), at Burleigh [Rutlandshire], full of rich goods and furniture, by the carelessness of a servant. A little before, the same happened at Lord Pembroke's (age 49), at Wilton. The old Countess of Northumberland (age 82), Dowager of Algernon Percy, Admiral of the fleet to King Charles I., died in the 83d year of her age. She was sister to the Earl of Suffolk, and left a great estate, her jointure to descend to the Duke of Somerset (age 42).
On 10 Sep 1759 George Augustus Herbert 11th Earl Pembroke 8th Earl Montgomery was born to Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery (age 25) and Elizabeth Spencer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery (age 22) at Wilton House.
