1

Nonsuch House.
Nonsuch House is said to have been built by Lord Digby in 1646, from whom it
descended to the Norris family.1 The Norris’s of Nonsuch descend from William
Norris, whose monumental epitaph and coat of arms in Bromham Church shows that
he was born in 1656. William Norris also owned Sheldon House, Chippenham. He
was a Fellow of Lincoln’s Inn. He married Elizabeth the daughter of Jacob Self of
Benacre (Beanacre, near Melksham?). They had had three sons William 1717, John
1718 and Self; and two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Their son William, (see Nat
biography) died 26 January 1794; there is a monument to him on the south choir wall,
Exeter Cathedral. Their daughter Mary was baptised at Bromham in 1694; she
married Sir William Hanham, of Neston, at Bromham church on 15 June 1717. Sir
William had succeeded to the title of 3rd Baronet Hanham in 1710.
Mr Edward Kite gives us the following description of the house as it appeared in
William Norris’s time:

“At Nonsuch, as at Sheldon, Mr Norris seems to have indulged his taste for
improvements – but to a much greater extent; for (apparently about the year 1700),
the older house of Lord Digby was partly pulled down, and its remaining portions
accommodated with its entrance gateway, walled court and balustrade work, a good
specimen of the type of domestic architecture prevalent during the reign of Queen
Anne. The terrace garden seems also to have been laid out at the same period. Here
are two larch trees, traditionally said to have been some of the first trees of this kind
planted in England, and brought to Nonsuch in flower pots. From the brashy nature of
the soil they have flourished there, and although now quite old, are comparatively
very small specimens of their kind. The stables are perhaps of older date than the front
of the present house, which has continued to the present time without material
alteration to interfere with the uniformity of its outline. In the garden front a
projecting window has been added with very good effect.
To the older building of Lord Digby belongs apparently a relic still preserved in the
house, but at present unfixed. This is a cast iron back of a fire grate, which the writer
remembers years ago to have seen in use in one of the rooms on the ground floor, with
a date of about 1690. It represents the full faced figure of a blacksmith, in the costume
of the period, holding a large hammer – a forge and other accessories being near him.”

Mr Kite also thus explains the ill-feeling that John Rolt, afterwards Rector of
Bromham, exhibited in a somewhat peculiar manner against Mr Norris:

“The following letter, written at about this date by a member of the Danvers family,
and addressed to Walter Grubbe, Esq, Potterne, is here given, as it may help to explain
a history which attaches to the monument of Mr Norris in Bromham Church.
Sir,
Last post but one, I gave you account of my intentions concerning Mr Norris. I
wish I had seen you first as I did Sir Edward Warneford here. My desire is that I be
noe way an obstruction to ye busness, nor that a snare to mee. I cannot safely act with
a man (who) has deceaved me soe much. I can never believe him more, and ye rather
than that he will indever to putt all the quicks and tricks of his profession in my way,
as hee has alreaddy don; if he bee found soe necessarye as not to be parted with, I
shall be glad to be discharges meself, without giving anye offence or hinderance to
those that ar concerned in ye business, which (I hope) in your integritye will justifye.
Your most humble servant,
 2

John Danvers.”

The letter was dated - “June 7th 25.” (1725?) Addressed to Walter Grubbe, Esq.
Att his house in Potterne.
To be left with ye Post Master At ye Devizes, Wilts.”

In the year 1691 the then representative of the Bayntun family (Henry) died at the
early age of twenty-seven, leaving two young children – a son and a daughter – (John
and Anne) under the guardianship of Walter Grubb Esq, of Eastwell House, Potterne,
M.P. for Devizes.
After the death of their mother Anne in 1703 (who had married secondly The Hon.
Francis Greville), Mr Grubb took the children under his charge, and they were
brought up at Eastwell House. The son (John) inherited his fathers’ Bromham estates;
he also married but died in 1716 leaving no children. His sister (Anne) then became
the heiress of the Bromham estates, which she conveyed, by her marriage, to Sir
Edward Rolt, of Sacombe Park, Hertfordshire.
Of Edward and Anne Rolt’s children, their eldest son Thomas inherited the
Sacombe Park estate; her second eldest son Edward inherited Spye Park and the
Bromham estates; and their third eldest son John became rector of Bromham.
Anne, nee Bayntun, Rolt, died in 1734; Walter Grubb, who had been her guardian,
had died in 1715, and William Norris died in 1730. It is apparently to some business
in connection with the Bromham property and its heiress, which had been entrusted to
Mr Norris that the letter from John Danvers to Mr. Grubb refers.
The Bayntun and Danvers families were connected by the marriage of Sir Henry
Bayntun, M.P. for Devizes, died in 1616, with Lucy, daughter of Sir John Danvers.
There is a map, dated 1705, showing the lands in Bromham and Chittoe belonging
to William Norris, of Nonsuch2.

William Norris died on Sept 7 1730, at the age of 74 yrs and was buried in
Bromham Church. It was at this time that the Revd Thomas Self, a cousin of Mrs
William Norris, was the rector of the parish. John Norris, William’s eldest son, erected
a marble monument to his father’s memory, no doubt with the full permission of the
Rev Self. It was placed in the chancel, within the altar rails, close by the chantry
chapel which contains the tombs of the Bayntun family. The Norris memorial has an
inscription, written in Latin, surmounted by an urn, and a shield bearing the Norris
arms. The, transcribed, inscription reads:

Here lies William Norris, Esquire, Fellow of Lincoln’s Inn. An expert in municipal
law, a greater council and defender in adverse causes and equally good in favourable
ones. Endowed with the greatest powers of mind and body he adorned the role he
gained and envy was beneath him. While he successfully devoted himself to the
interests of his numerous progeny, worn out by age and toil he fell peacefully asleep 7
September 1730 A.D. after he had completed 74 years. Lest the memory of the best of
fathers should perish from his family or of a man of outstanding merit from his poor
clients, his heir and executor of his will, John Norris, Esquire, had this small
monument of his great love and devotion set up.

In 1741 the Revd John Rolt, a younger son of the heiress, Anne (nee Bayntun) Rolt,
succeeded Revd Self as rector of Bromham. Although he was only 19 yrs old at the
time of Mr. Norris’s death, he appears to have had bitter recollections of the injuries
 3

inflicted on his family, as in 1775, forty five years after William Norris’s death, at the
time of the erection of a memorial tablet in the church to Dr. Season (see Famous
Residents), the rector took occasion to write the following lines, which were
sculptured on it, and placed in the chancel near the Norris monument :-

Henry Season M.D.

Who died Nov. ye 10th 1775
Aged 82 yrs.

Tis not the Tomb in marble polished high,

The sculptured Urn, or glittering Trophies nigh,
The classic learning or an impious stone,
Where Latin tells what English blushed to own,
Can shroud the guilty from the Eye of God,
Incline His balance or avert His Rod;
That hand can raise the Cripple and the Poor,
Spread on the way or gathered at the door,
And blast the Villian tho’ to altars fled,
Who robes us living and insults us dead.
25 Austin Friars, London. J. Rolt.

The rhyming lines were obliterated many years ago and the memorial has been
repositioned on the east wall of the south porch. The memorial to William Norris has
also been moved from the chancel to the south wall of the south aisle of the church.
John Norris appears to have spent the earlier years of his married life at Batheaston.
At a later period he purchased the mansion of the Scott family at Chippenham, known
as “The Ivy” or “Ivy House”, where he appears to have resided during the latter part
of his life.
Two of the bells in Chippenham Church bear the inscription, “The gift of John
Norris Esq” and, “John Norris Esq and Anthony Guy, Gent, Churchwardens”. This
Anthony Guy was, in 1741, the oldest of the burgesses of Chippenham and sheriff of
the County of Wilts. According to the late Mr James Waylen, John Norris and two
other Chippenham gentlemen, fearing Guy’s influence in the pending election;
contrived his arrest on a frivolous charge and had him conveyed to Devizes and kept
in custody until the election was over.
John Norris died in 1752 and was followed by his widow, Elizabeth, in 1756; both
are believed to have been buried at Chippenham. Their eldest son, William, baptised
at Bromham in 1717, married Elizabeth Fox, daughter of John Fox of London, in
1747. After their marriage William and Elizabeth resided at Nonsuch. They had 10
children baptised at Bromham between 1749 and 1765. Unusually, the actual birth
dates of these children are given in the baptism book. This shows us the status of the
owners of Nonsuch House. Among the estates included in their marriage settlement
were the manors of Chippenham, Sheldon, and Lowden, with the market and
shambles of Chippenham; the manor of Avebury, with Avebury Farm and Brinsden
Farm; the Ivy House and grounds. Nonsuch House and grounds; the farms of Upper
Sheldon, Lower Sheldon, Pipmore, Starveall, Rowden Down, The Derriards, near
Chippenham; Westbrook farm and Nonsuch farm at Bromham; and numerous other
detached properties in Wiltshire 2.
 4

Two years after the death of his mother, William obtained a private Act of
Parliament to free Ivy House from the trusts of his marriage settlement, as it was
“liable to excessive repairs”, and “detached from the other settled estates”, in order
that it might be sold.
During the 18th century, at the time when the roads were turnpiked and made up,
William Norris was selling stones from his fields at Westbrook, Bromham. His
account book has the following: Received in real money, for stones raised in the
ground called Tomlins at West Lane for the year 1757, = £33 15shillings (£33.75p)
His total profit on stones for the 12 years, to 1762 was £230 4 shillings (£230. 20p).
For the next 12 years to 1774 his profit was even better, £307 3.
In 1766 Norris writes: 3 tenements and gardens in Stockwell Lane, let to J. Knee, T.
Cooksey and Fennell, are all contiguous and almost adjoined to Nonsuch Gardens.
Regarding these three cottages, he much later writes: Memo. That the three tenements
in Stockwell Lane, rented by Knee, Cooksey and Fennell were pulled down in the
year 1774, having been a long nuisance to Nonsuch House and Gardens, and brought
little or nothing clear after deducting repairs etc.
He also writes: October ye 6 1794. A high wind blow’d down an elm at ye Chantry.
18 faggots were made; William Grey took them at 4s/6d. Also a maiden oak in Hare
Leaze; Pepler had the faggots towards his compliment.
Also in 1779. ‘Farmer Robt. Fennell holds lands and tenament, orchard etc at West
Lane’.
William served as Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1759. He died in 1794, leaving four sons
and six daughters; there is a memorial brass to him on the south choir wall, Exeter
Cathedral; it reads: In memory of William Norris of Nonsuch, Wilts. (There must be
a story here!)
Upon the death of William, his eldest son, also called William, who was born at
Nonsuch on 6 April 1754, inherited his part of the estates. He soon became very much
in debt, and in order to satisfy his creditors, he sold some of his lands. The sale, in 4
lots, took place on 20th July 1796 4. (WSRO. 415/45).
(1) A farm and lands at Bromham, to John Gaby of Westbrook (House) dwelling
house, barn, etc and land totalling 32a.3r.26p.*
(2) An Inn, called Beckhampton House, to William Edmonds of Kennet, the
leaseholder, £180.
(3) Avebury Great Farm, to John Brown of Avebury, £7,430.
(4) Lower Sheldon Farm, Chippenham,to Matthew Humphry of the Ivy House,
£4,500.
*The purchase price for this lot was £970. This farm and lands, in early times it was
known as: ‘Cooksys Farm’, stood opposite, north west of Nonsuch House; the farm
house and buildings were demolished c.1860.
This William died intestate, and without issue, on January 27 1801, and eventually
his estates, including Nonsuch, descended to his infant niece, Elizabeth, the daughter
of his deceased younger brother John. William’s mother, Mrs Elizabeth Norris, died
on 31 May 1805, leaving surviving two sons and four daughters, who all continued to
reside at Nonsuch until the day of their death. They all died unmarried, James was the
last to die, on January 3 1835.
Of James strange tales are told, such as that contained in the following paragraph
taken from the Devizes Gazette of July 9 1835:

“A great number of the inhabitants of Devizes, Calne, Chippenham, Melksham and

the adjacent neighbourhood, have, during the last few days, been attracted to the sale
 5

by auction, by Mr Broxholm, of the effects of the late Mr. (James) Norris of Nonsuch
House, a short distance from each of the above places, - not we believe in
consequence of the value of the effects, but to their having been the property of a
gentleman of very peculiar and eccentric habits. Mr Norris, who died six months
since, was the last of the highly respectable Wiltshire family of that name, which
family, we have been told, had inhabited Nonsuch for a century and a half. The
deceased had, a great number of years ago, been troubled with erysipelas of his face,
and the operation of shaving was attended with so much pain that he at last
determined to allow his beard to grow, and it eventually hung on his chest. Naturally
bashful, he was now averse to anyone seeing his person. He entirely secluded himself
from society and saw no one but his housekeeper, and she but a very few minutes at a
time. He lay in bed during the day, and roamed about his ground or read during the
night. He took his meals in the kitchen, but no one saw him eat. A short time before
his servants retired to rest (at which hour he usually got up) they placed a kettle of
water on the fire, and some milk and bread and butter on the table in the kitchen, of
which he partook, and on their rising in the morning he went to bed. For several years
previous to his death he became utterly regardless of personal cleanliness. Though
possessed of great wealth, he clad himself in rags, and scarcely ever consented to a
change of linen. The drawing-room, we have been informed, had not been unlocked
for ten years preceding his death. He had a good library, and was fond of reading in
his early years. We have heard that he was a great botanist. The house was built by
Lord Digby in 1646, and from whom it descended to the Norris’s. The sale, which
commenced on Tuesday, does not conclude until Saturday.”

Although Thomas Moore, of Sloperton Cottage, lived opposite Nonsuch House he

makes no mention of it or of the Norris’s in his journal. There is the story told of
James Norris – that he would hide in a ditch, to watch Bessy Moore, the poets’ wife,
who was apparently very attractive, pass along the road.
Nonsuch passed from James Norris to his niece Elizabeth, the daughter of his
brother John Norris. Elizabeth had married in 1820 Rev Bourchier Marshall, the
rector of Bow, Devon. Elizabeth Marshall died in 1828, one year after her husband.
Shown paying the Bromham poor law tax in 1836 is: For Nonsuch House, late James
Norris.’ is Elizabeth Osbourne (possibly a relation of Elizabeth (Norris) Marshall). At
this same time a John Marshall paid the tax on the garden and woods at Nonsuch, the
entry reads for - ‘late J. Norris’.
The children of the marriage between Elizabeth and the Rev. Marshall, when they
had severally attained their majority, sold Nonsuch House; this was in 1844. Later, at
a sale held on 22 March 1858, John Starky, of Spye Park, purchased Rhotteridge
Farm, Bushy Marsh Farm and land at Sandridge hill (Lane) from a Miss Marshall.
At the 1844 sale Mr West Awdrey, a solicitor, of Monkton House Chippenham
purchased lots 1 and 3; this was Nonsuch House and the parkland, he taking
possession on 29 September 1844. William Perrett, of Bromham, purchased lot 4, this
was 16 ½ acres of land, for this he paid £1,438 18 shillings 11 pence; this is now part
of Sloperton Farm. Mr J Banks, the owner of the Bromham brewery, purchased lots 9,
10 and 11 for £1,150. (4).
Eight years later, on 29 September 1849, Mr West Awdrey conveyed Nonsuch
House and the parkland to the Revd Meredith Brown. The Revd Brown was the first
vicar of the recently created, in 1845, parish of Chittoe St Mary; no doubt, the Brown
family had lived at the house, as tenants, prior to the purchase. Their daughter, Fanny
was baptised at Chittoe in February 1847.
 6

The Brown’s are shown in residence at Nonsuch at the time of both the 1851, and
the 1861 census. Most of their large family were born at Nonsuch, ten children were
at home when the 1861 census was taken.
At the age of 46, in 1867, Rev Brown resigned the living of Chittoe; one source
claims that he had ‘lost his faith’; this fact is not proven. However, the family
continued to live at Nonsuch.
The Rev. Francis Kilvert, of diary fame, was a visitor to Nonsuch; he was an
admirer of the Rev Brown’s daughter, Henrietta. In 1876 he wrote of ‘Ettie’ Brown
that:

She was admirably dressed in light grey with a close fitting body which set off her
exquisite figure and suited to perfection her black hair and eyes and her dark Spanish
brunette complexion with its rich glow of health which gave her cheeks the dusky
bloom and flush of a ripe pomegranate.

Their romance blossomed and they frequently exchanged letters and poems. The
romance was short-lived however, her parents wished for someone more than a lowly,
poorly paid, curate for their daughter. On Thursday 20 April 1876 Francis received
two letters, one from ’Ettie and one from Mrs Meredith Brown saying that the
romance must end. ’Ettie was dispatched to India, and she later married William
Wright. He was a brother of one of her brothers’ in law and was a professor at the
Indian Government College. Henrietta had been baptised at Chittoe on 12th December
1849.
At the time of the 1881 census the Reverend Brown and family are living at
Christchurch, Hampshire; and Nonsuch House is occupied by, 63 year old, John R.
Gwatkin his wife Emma and their daughter, Annie, plus three servants. At that census,
John Gwatkin says that he ‘Lives on monies’. The Gwatkin’s have been at the house,
as tenants of Revd Brown, since at least 1877, this date being the first year they paid
the annual £87 land tax.
The Rev. Meredith Brown died in February 1895, aged 75; he was buried at
Chittoe. Nonsuch House then passed to his eldest son, Meredith Meredith Brown (See
the chapter, ‘Famous Residents’ for further details). Meredith was married, and living
at Hullavington House, at the time of his father’s death and Nonsuch House continued
to be let to other tenants. The census of 1901 shows that Henry Edmunds, aged 75,
along with his family and servants, are the residents. Henry being described as:
‘Living on his own means.’
After the death of his wife, Maria, (Leaving no issue; as far as can be ascertained)
Meredith M. Brown moved back to live at Nonsuch; he then played an active part in
the life of Bromham village. Both of the village cricket and football teams played
their home games in Nonsuch Park. He was also a great supporter of Bromham
church. In October 1912, Meredith purchased a green Rolls Royce car, it was a 20hp,
two seater, registered AM2673; he was only the third person in the parish to own a
car.
Meredith Meredith Brown died in 1920; and a commemoration plaque was placed
at the base of the tower crossing in Bromham church, and a window in the north wall
of the nave was glazed with stained glass in his memory. Nonsuch then passed to
Meredith’s brother, Rev Stafford Brown and a couple of years later he sold it to
William Albert Bankier; a man of private means, born Glasgow, Scotland. Both
William Albert, and Allan A. Bankier, of Nonsuch Park, are shown on the 1925
 7

Bromham electors register. In 1930 Major A. Bankier sold Nonsuch House to Captain
John Henry, & Lady Katherine McNeile of Kippilaw, St. Boswells, Scotland.
John McNeil had married, in 1927, Lady Katherine Pleydell-Boverie the second
daughter of Jacob Pleydell-Boverie the sixth Earl of Radnor, and (Julia(n) Eleanor his
Countess. John and Lady Katherine had four sons, Robert J, Donald H, John B and
Alistair P. Lady Katherine devoted many years to public service. Amongst these she
was elected to Bromham Parish Council in 1946, and served as a councillor for many
years. She served, as the Bromham representative, on the Devizes Rural District
Council, again for many years. She was also an elected member of Wiltshire County
Council from 1947 until 1960. Lady Katherine served as a churchwarden at St Mary’s
Church, Chittoe. She was the chairman of the Bromham Conservative Association.
She was a long time member, of the Bromham Women’s Institute, also serving as their
president. In 1960, she became the president of the Wiltshire Federation of Women’s
Institute’s, in the same post that her mother, the Countess of Radnor, had once served.
Lady Katherine died on 12 November 1961, aged 67. In her honour a department at
Roundway hospital, Devizes was named the Katherine McNeil clinic. Her husband,
John, married twice more, having no other issue; he died in April 1974 aged 85.
Their eldest son Robert (Rory) married in 1955, Igrayne Anne Peard, the daughter
of Clifford James Peard D S O at Taunton and they and their family, daughter
Penelope, sons Peter and James, then lived at Nonsuch House until 2008 when they
changed houses with their son James, and their daughter-in-law Henrietta and their
children. Prior to the exchange they had lived next door, at Nonsuch Cottage. (erected
c. . . . . . .? (pre 1886)). Igrayne died in 2012, and Rory died in October 2014.
James John Peard McNiel married the Honourable Henrietta Cecilia Imogen Peake
the daughter of Martin R Peake, 2nd Viscount Inglby, and his wife Gladys, at Rydale,
Yorkshire in 1990. James and Lady Henrietta have a son Miles Mark J, and two
daughters, Matilda Iris S and Rachel Cecelia.
After WWII, the Bromham Football club were able to return to play their matches
in Nonsuch Park, by the kind permission of Captain John and Lady Katherine
McNeile. This time the pitch was east of the original site, nearer the eastern end of the
park. Changing rooms, complete with bathing facilities, were erected on the site in
1957; these were declared officially open on 26 October. Bromham F.C. transferred to
play their matches on the Jubilee Field, in the centre of the village, once the pavilion
and changing rooms had been erected there.

1. Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette of July 9 1835.

2. WSHC. X6/91. A map of the Nonsuch estates, 1705.
3. Wiltshire notes & queries vol. 2.
4. WSHC.473/277. William Norris account book, 1766 – 1815.
5. WSHC. 473/281. refers to this sale.
Edward Kite. Notes on the Norris Family WANHS lib. DZ SWS MSS 771

Cooksey’s Farm.
The farm stood north west of Nonsuch House, about 200 yards (182m) from the
A3102 road (587 on tythe map of 1843). The farm buildings and house no longer
stand. Presumably a Mr Cooksey was a previous tenant.
From William Norris account book we find that the late William Cooksey’s farm
was let to Roger Pearce until 1766 and then next to John Gee 4. From Michaelmas
1779 Robert Fennell holds the lands, tenement and orchards at Westbrook and West
 8

Lane that ‘were late let to John Gee’. In 1786 John Newman took over the tenancy
that was late let to Robert Fennell, but he was only there for three years as in 1789, on
October 30 George Powney took on the tenancy that was lately let to John Newman.
George Powney, and his wife Elizabeth, who were both born at Hilmarton, are my
three times great grandparents; George is shown paying the Land Tax in 1790 –
‘Farmer Powney for 'Cooksey's' £1.3s.10d.’
The farm, of about 16 acres, consisted of the following land, map numbers from the
1843 tythe map.
584 Lower mead.
584a Picked mead.
585 Little 3 acres.
586 Home ground.
587 Homestead, gardens etc.
588 Middle ground.
In 1799 Ann Hatter was found not guilty of stealing from George Powney of
Cooksey's Farm, Bromham, - 'Eight tines, from the barn' [Wilts Quarter Sessions
Volume 2]. In 1810 George Powney moved from Cooksey’s Farm to take over the
adjoining Nonsuch Farm.
The next tenant at Cooksey’s farm in 1810 was Joseph Brown. He later moved just
along the road to Wyatts Farm. Cooksey’s Farm was included in the sale by the Norris
family in 1844; the purchaser was J. Gaby of Westbrook House. In 1851, the census
shows that Thomas Summers is now the farmer at Cooksey’s Farm. It seems that the
house and buildings were demolished soon after this date, and the land incorporated
with other farms.

Nonsuch Farm.
Philip Pepler is at Nonsuch Farm in 1806 and he pays the Land Tax upon it for the
next four years.
In 1810 George Powney moved from nearby, adjoining, Cooksey’s Farm to take
over Nonsuch farm. The farmhouse stood at the junction of Wyatts Lane (A3102) and
the road to Manor farm, on the western side of the road to Chittoe. This farm had a
larger acreage than George’s previous farm and his sons were now old enough to help
him run it. George then paid the £3.10s.5d. Land tax each year; and continued to live
there until his death in 1844.
From the poor rate valuation book of 1838, when he is aged 81, we can see that he
is farming the following 87 acres; this was made up of 37 acres of arable, and 50 acres
of pasture, most of the land being close to the farm buildings.
Map number - [Tythe map, 1843, of which the numbers seem to match]
575 Homestead, barn and yard etc.
576 The seven acres. 7 acres. arable. [Just n.w. of the farmhouse] also called
Long Fennells.
577 Long Fennells, part. 12 acres.
578 Home ground. 12 acres. [ 8 acres of pasture and 4 acres of arable ]
599 Cobwell 2 acres. [ east of Mill Lane]
574 Wyatts Lane.
573 The eleven acres. 11 acres. arable. [just east of Nonsuch Park]
529 Home ground. 22 acres. pasture. [now part of the Nonsuch Parkland]
527 The five acres. 5 acres. pasture. [Field west of Stockwell Lane,]
521 The five acres. 5 acres. pasture. " " " " "
520 The four acres. 4 acres. pasture. " " " " "
 9

413 Common ground 3 acres. arable. [ At Loophill / The Common ]

George’s name appears in the Churchwarden's account book, February 1823. –

Rates not received, George Powney, 12s/5d. In the same book two years later is
entered - Received of Farmer Powney for a rate due 1823, 12s/5d.
George Powney died at Nonsuch Farm, Bromham on 11 May 1844, aged 86.
John Breach is at ‘Powney’s Farm’ at the time of the 1851 census. [Rather
confusingly there is another ‘Powney’s Farm’ in Spye Park, at this same time.] John is
still farming here at the time of the 1861 and again at the 1871 census.
The late Mr. Roland Davis told me that a relation of his, Mrs Matilda Hillier, lived
here just prior to it being demolished, hence the house taking her name ‘Tilly’s
Corner’. Roland said that it was ‘Just a pile of stones’ when he was a lad (early
1900s). The farmhouse is shown, standing, on the 1900 O.S. map, but was gone by
the time of the 1924 O.S. map.

Meredith Meredith Brown. “The most famous oarsman of his day”.

Meredith Meredith Brown was born in 1845, at Tockenham, Wilts; he was the
eldest son of the Rev. Meredith and Mrs. Eleanor Brown. The family came to live at
Nonsuch House, Bromham when Meredith was still a baby. This was when his father
took the living, and so became the first vicar, of the newly created parish of Chittoe,
St Mary. No doubt Meredith, junior, had a happy childhood living at Nonsuch House,
along with his parents and his many brothers and sisters.
He was educated at Radley, and at Trinity College Oxford where he excelled in
several sports including running and rowing. He rowed at number 7 in the Oxford
boat at the university boat race of 1864 and he rowed as stroke in the following two
years, 1865 and 1866; in all three years the Oxford boat was triumphant. He was
acknowledged to be the most famous oarsman of his day. At the ‘Regatta
Internationale’ that was held at Paris in 1867 he paired up with E.L.Corrie and they
won the World (Pairs) Championship.
Meredith worked as a stockbroker in the City of London, becoming the senior
partner in the firm of Steer, Lawford and Co. He married Miss Maria Cotes in 1868
and they lived at Hullavington House. From Hullavington railway station he could
easily commute to his office in London. Maria died in 1894 and was buried at
Hullavington; the rather splendid lych gate at the entrance to St Mary’s churchyard
was erected to her memory.
Meredith’s father the Rev. Brown died in February 1895, and buried at Chittoe.
Upon his fathers’ death Meredith inherited Nonsuch House. At this time he also
owned Hullavington House and practically all of the villages of Hullavington, Seagry
and both Upper and Lower Stanton St Quintin.
In the early years of the 20th century Meredith moved back to live at Nonsuch and
from then on he played a large part in the life of the village. He was the President of
both the Bromham cricket and football teams and he allowed them to play in Nonsuch
Park. He was also a great supporter of the parish church and a regular member of the
congregation; he also enjoyed playing the church organ.
In September, each year, he gave a treat to all the village children, those of both
schools, and also the children of the Sunday schools. This took the form of a party in
Nonsuch Park, with swings, swinging-boats, and a tea. This was followed by
organised races; and then by a scramble for nuts and sweets. He was always ready to
help parishioners who had fallen on hard times and there were many examples of his
generosity to parishioners.
 10

The parishioners of Bromham were so impressed with his generosity, over many
years, that in 1911 they decided that it was time to try to say thank-you to him. On
Saturday evening 22 September parishioners crowded into the schoolroom for a
presentation. This took the form of a scroll, which had been signed by all and sundry,
and by a handsomely designed, and richly chased, silver rose bowl, on an ebony
plinth. The bowl bore the following inscription: ‘Presented by the Parishioners of
Bromham to M. Meredith Brown Esq., Nonsuch A.D. 1911’.
In part of his long speech of thanks, while mentioning why he so much enjoyed
helping others, Meredith said:

“I hope, this next week, to be able to get the advice of, I suppose, the first specialist in
the world – at least, he was called in when King Edward was dying and remained with
him until he died. – with regard to a case in this village, the case of an old friend of all
of us. But I am only able to do that, and I take no credit for it, because I happen to
know the people in London”.

The above ‘case in the village’ is a reference to when he paid for his friend, and my
grandfather, A.E.Powney, who was suffering with a kidney problem, to spend time at
St. Bartholomew’s hospital, London, and for him to be seen by the above ‘specialist’.
Meredith Meredith Brown died at his London house on 21 December 1920, aged
76, and was buried alongside his wife at Hullavington. The rector of Bromham, Rev.
Thorold, conducted the funeral service. His many friends, including titled and other
famous persons attended the funeral. A memorial service was later held in St. Aslem’s
Church, London.
In 1921 the rector of Bromham, Rev. J. Thorold, The Duke of Beaufort, Lord Long
of Wraxall and John Spicer of Spye Park launched an appeal for a memorial to
Meredith to be placed in Bromham Church. At a result of this appeal a window, in the
north wall of the nave, was glazed with stained glass and a brass plaque was placed at
the base of the tower crossing in Bromham church. These were dedicated at a special
service, held in the church, at 3.30pm on Monday 2 February 1922. The Duchess of
Beaufort unveiled the brass plaque.

Stockwell Lane. Three cottages stood in the lane, now known as ‘Stoney Lane’,
on the Nonsuch side of the brook, north of Stockwell Coppice. From William Norris
account book (3) is:

‘Memo. - That the three tenements in Stockwell Lane, rented by Knee, Cooksey and
Fennell were pulled down in the year 1774, having been a long nuisance to Nonsuch
House and Gardens, and brought little or nothing clear after deducting repairs etc’.
So it seems that the rent Mr Norris received from the cottages did not cover his costs.

(I must check the Norris map of 1705, to see if the cottages feature thereon?
Answer – no they don’t.)
1

2. WSHC. X6/91. A map of the Nonsuch estates, 1705.

3. Wiltshire notes & queries vol. 2.
(1) WSHC.473/277. William Norris account book, 1766 – 1815.
(2) WSHC. 473/281. refers to this sale.

Dennis Powney, Bromham Area History Group,

 11

Victoria Cottage, Bromham, SN 15 2 HA.

(01380 850979) dennis.powney@lineone.net 20014