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Westhay Farm
Westhay Farm
In 1086, there were in the parish of Stanton St Gabriel 12 farms, some 800
acres of arable land, 5 landless slaves, 3 tenant farmers (called villeins)
and 8 small holders (called bordars) as well as the household of Alfred
Pincerna who was Robert of Mortain’s cup bearer.
A charter of 1238 shows that Joan, Queen of Scotland (right) (who was
also Henry III’s sister), held:
“… one hundred and twelve acres and a half in Stanton… with the villeins and
all that goes with them being William Attebrigg, Richard Sebern, William West,
Thomas Dalket, Richard Prikes, Robert Eleyne, Gilbert Wet, Roger Dispensar,
Gilbert Brid, Richard Slibern and Martin de Staunton and twenty two croftmen
and a meadow at Hilton and twenty nine acres of meadow in the marsh and 15
acres of meadow in Hay to the West.…”
Digory’s eldest son was christened Digory Gordge in 1659. He took over Westhay and ran it with
his wife Ann. But he only outlived his father by eight years. Digory’s eldest son was christened
Digory Gordge in 1694. He took over the family farm and also became a customs officer. He died
in 1755. Digory’s eldest nephew was christened Digory Gordge. He was prosecuted in 1765 for
aiding and abetting smugglers.
In 1903, 94-year-old Digory Gordge was interviewed in the South Wales Evening Post. He told how,
as a boy, he smuggled tubs of French brandy and once hid with his brother in a church and heard
the preventive men shouting ‘Where be they? Which way be they gone?”
In 1782 the three tenements were sold to their occupiers, who all worked the land.
In 1816 an industrialist from Bridport who had made money in the Napoleonic War, bought all the
buildings and land at Westhay.