History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...

SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF LACKHAM ESTATE
Lackham lies in the great crook of the River Avon between Chippenham and
Lacock. In the Domesday Survey, it is recorded as one of the manors
granted to the "Stormy" William of Eu who rebelled against William Rufus
and was blinded and mutilated in 1096. During the 12th Century, the Estates
were held by the Earls of Norfolk, with a family of Bluets as tenants. Sir
John Bluet became owner in about 1306 until 1349.
Edmund Baynard married Elinor, youngest daughter of Sir John Bluet, in
1349 and took Lackham as his seat, A succession of the Baynard families
held Lackham until 1636 (287 years). The last of the family had two
children, Edward, who died young, and Mary, who married Captain James
Montagu, the son of the Earl of Manchester, in 1635. The Montagu family
held Lackham until 1835 (199 years). At this time, economic and other
pressures forced the sale of a large portion of the Estate. Between 1790
and 1796, James Montagu 5th demolished the old Manor House and replaced
it with a Georgian one, the present house, now the County Agricultural
College.
Between 1835 and 1945, there were seven different owners.
Captain
Rooke
Name Years in
Residence
Henry
Caldwell
The
Marchioness
Stapleton -
Bretherton
Sir George
Errington
22 as tenant
23 as owner
1813-1858 In
1835 bought
estate
Acreage
Purchased
590 £30000,
Per acre
£68
1858-1866 590 £40,000
Per acre
£51
1866-1883 585 £46,000
Per acre
£80
183-1893 585 Probably
tenant to
Lady
Stapleton
Amount Paid Remarks
Built top
storey to
house