Its owners and some historical connections - Lackham Countryside ...

The Manor of Alderton 3 rd edition
charge about the country making certain of his facts by looking at
them with his own eyes” 343
Charles Darwin said that “few more careful observers ever lived than Montagu”
344 and quotes from George’s works in several places.
George had little income, but he received a bequest from Thomas Hedges, his
uncle by marriage, of £200 per annum from the Alderton estate. He lived at
Easton Grey, where one of his daughters was born, 345 and then, on Thomas
Hedges’ death, at Alderton House.
Towards the end of the eighteenth century [George] formed a
deep and lasting attachment to another lady, Mrs. Dorville, the
wife of a city merchant 346 , a woman of talent and education, who
made beautiful drawings for his books 347
It is probable that George was already associating with Mrs Dorville when he
moved to Easton Grey – an elderly resident of Alderton recalled that one of
the Montagu’s kept a Mistress at the Manor House and this would have been
possible after the Montagu’s moved out.
Mrs. Dorville moved, with George, as he was posted around the country with
the Regiment, while his family lived at Alderton and Easton Grey 1 348 . She and
George Montagu had several children, who were acknowledged by him. In his
will 349 George gives an annuity to Eliza Dorville – “my beloved friend” – with
343 Allen, David The Naturalist in Britain: A Social History, quoted in
http:/www.Montagumillenium.com/research/h_1815_george.htm
344 Darwin, Charles (1896) The descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Species
quoted at http:/www.Montagumillenium.com/research/h_1815_george.htm
345 June, the Countess Badeni pers.comm. July 99
346 “John, merchant/London” Transcript of Will PROB11/1570-389 dated 10/3/1805,
transcription held at WANHS Museum, Devizes
347 Lacock inscriptions ibid
348 Cleevely, R pers. Comm.
349 . Will of George Montagu
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