September 2026 issue of SDNQ

The September 2026 issue of SDNQ (vol. 40, part 404) contains the following articles, book reviews, queries and news:

Articles:

  • Kathleen Thompson, ‘A new document for Keynsham Abbey?’ Kathleen Thompson discusses what a document discovered in Bristol Archives (44786/2 page 173) reveals about the economic and social position occupied by Keynsham Abbey in medieval Somerset and how the document may have been acquired by the Rev. Henry Thomas Ellacombe (1790-1885). With a list of the Endowments of Keynsham Abbey as shown in the Valor Ecclesiasticus.
  • Laurence Keen, ‘Some observations on recent publications relating to Sherborne Missal and excavations at Sherborne Abbey’. Laurence Keen highlights two new publications: Marian Campbell’s Limoges Enamels: French Art in Mediaeval England (2025) which includes details of a Limoges plaque depicting the angel of St Matthew mounted into the wooden cover of the Sherborne Cartulary, and Weiling Xu’s ‘Representations of Architecture in the Sherborne Missal’, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 178 (2025) in which he examines the 93 representations of architecture in the Sherborne Missal.
  • Stuart A. Raymond, ‘Sexey’s apprentices, 1663-1697’. Stuart Raymond has abstracted from the archives of Sexey’s Hospital, Bruton, held by Somerset Heritage Centre (DD/SE/46) details of 50 boys apprenticed in the 17th century by Sexey’s charity. The list includes the names of the apprentices, date of indenture, name of father (where provided), and names of the masters with their residence and occupation. Trades to which the boys were apprenticed include shoemaker, boddice maker, victualler, felt maker, tailor, cloth worker, cordwainer, clothier, glover, carpenter, serge weaver, fuller, joiner, mason and blacksmith.
  • Mark Forrest, ‘Edward III’s visit to Corfe Castle in 1356’. In the Records of the King’s Remembrancer held at TNA Mark Forrest has discovered a previously unknown visit made by Edward III to Corfe Castle in September 1356. The records reveal extensive repairs carried out to Corfe Castle in advance of the King’s visit and demonstrate the castle’s strategic importance as a strong point protecting the coastal region from French raids.
  • Tony Scrase, ‘The chapel of St Thomas, Southway, Outparish of St. Cuthbert, Wells’. Tony Scrase looks at what is known about the medieval chapels that once served Southway and recommends the need for further research.
  • Philip Ashford, ‘A murderer from Merriott (born c.1471)’. During a visit to Rye in East Sussex, Philip Ashford chanced upon the story of John Purchase of Merriott in Somerset who in c.1500 sought sanctuary in the church at Rye. In the archives at East Sussex Record Office Philip discovered John Purchase’s confession (RYE 60/4 f.94r) in which he admitted murdering a vagrant at Ottery St Mary, Devon, and stealing a mare in Lewes, before seeking sanctuary.
  • A.J. Scrase, ‘The early career of Richard Hygons, composer of Wells reconsidered.’ Further to A.J. Scrase’s previous article about Richard Hygons (SDNQ, 38, pt.388, pp.317-23), he presents a revised picture of Hygons’ earlier years, suggesting that Hygons became a probationary vicar choral in 1458, was perpetuated in 1459 and in 1460 was granted a house on Vicars Close. He believes Hygons felt unable to take the oath to become a sub-deacon and withdrew from the vicars and cathedral, later marrying a freeman’s widow before in 1479 returning to the cathedral as master of the choristers.

Notes:

  • An heraldic cabbage on Sir Anthony Ashley’s monument at Wimborne St Giles.

    Louise Ryland-Epton, ‘Cabbages’. A surprising reference by the 17th century antiquarian John Aubrey to the arrival of the cabbage in England led Louise Ryland-Epton to a monument to Sir Anthony Ashley (1551-1628) in the church at Wimborne St Giles which local tradition suggests includes the representation of an heraldic cabbage. According to John Aubrey, Sir Anthony Ashley was the first person in England to cultivate cabbages and, after an expedition with the Earl of Essex to Cadiz (Cales) in 1596 where he plundered a Spanish noblewoman’s jewels, Ashley became the subject of pun, quoted by Aubrey in his Natural History of Wiltshire – ‘Sir Anthony Ashley had got more by Cales, than ever he [had] done by Cabbage’. Louise Ryland-Epton’s edition of John Aubrey’s Natural History of Wiltshire will be published by The Hobnob Press in September 2026.

  • Colin, J. Brett, ‘Tudor iron works in Luccombe’. Colin J. Brett’s discovery of the 1589 will of George Bathrum of Wychanger in Luccombe (TNA, PROB 11/73/199) provides the earliest known reference to iron in Luccombe and provides evidence that iron ore was mined in Luccombe two centuries earlier than previously thought.

Queries:

  • SDNQ Dorset Editor Mark Forrest asks readers if they know of any instances before the 20th Century of the plural use of ‘the Purbecks’ to describe the two hundreds or the two bailiwicks of Purbeck Forest?

Book Reviews:

Events:

  • A reminder of the joint SDNQ/BALH conference ‘Rebellion and Protest across Six Centuries’ at Sherborne on 17 October 2026. Discounts available for SDNQ and BALH members. For more details visit SDNQ BALH 2026 Conference

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