Vol 1: The Bluets - Lackham Countryside Centre

The Bluets 114
therein, and in her chace and park took deer, and in her warren
hares, rabbits, etc., cut clown her trees growing in the woods
within the chace, fished in her stews and free fisheries at
Maresfeld, carried away fish, trees, deer, etc. and also
assaulted her bailiffs and servants exercising their offices
within the honour of L'Aigle. 495
Breaskspear‘s excavation of Lacock Abbey in 1900 found evidence for
what was probably Sir John‘s tomb
Each gable was pierced by a window and the south wall had
two windows. The monument of Sir John Bluet, who was
buried in this chapel and around which four candles were
maintained daily, was probably provided for from the first
and occupied the centre of the wall between the windows; a
large block of foundation stone was found projecting inside
the wall face, which probably formed the support to this 496
Ralph Bluet VI held in knight‘s fee in Lackham in 1316, and at Littlecote
in Hilmarton. Limited evidence for Ralph is to be found, but in 1309 he
and Margery (presumably his wife) had bought the Manor of Beanacre;
three years later he conveyed it to John and Eleanor Bluet 497 and of
course he has already been seen acting as an Inquisition juror ( see
above) .
It is not uncommon for there to be disputes arising from a will, and there
is evidence of this with John‘s. There were three trustees (executors)
of John‘s will – Roger of Chippenham (the parson of Heddington), and two
Roberts, the parsons of Bromham and Ditteridge. There was a dispute
about payments to be made under the terms of the will - first Robert le
Poleter of New Salisbury brought an action against the trustees for £14
495
Calendar Patent Roll Edw II vol 2 1313 – 1317
496
Breakspear, H (1900) Lacock Abbey Church The Archaeological Journal pp4-5
WANHS WT138/13
497
Victoria County History Wiltshire VII pp 98-99
Beanacre Manor was first mentioned in a claim by the Prioress of Malmsbury in
1296 but may have been in existence before that. It was rented by the family of
William de Beanacre but they lost it for defaulting on payments. See Victoria
County History Wiltshire for more details.