History goes under hammer in Swindon

Both items are going under the hammer at Dominic Winter Book Auctions, in Maxwell Street, on April 11.

The first is a document which could rewrite the history of Malmesbury, as well as providing archaeologists with important new clues about the town.

The document is a manuscript order from Nicholas Devereux, Parliamentary Governor in the town to Roundhead Captain William More, written at the height of the Civil War on May 21, 1645.

In the document Devereux orders More to fortify his garrison at Bradenstoke, and this provides new clues on where the Parliamentary forces were stationed and raises the question of whether defences were actually built there.

Auctioneers' documents expert Richard Westwood-Brookes said: "Malmesbury was a town of considerable strategic importance in the early years of the Civil War, commanding high ground in otherwise fairly even countryside.

"As a result it changed hands no less than six times finally falling to Parliament under a force commanded by Edward Massey in May 1644.

"From the evidence of this document we now know that the garrison was stationed at the site of Bradenstoke Priory, which is known locally as 'Clack'.

"Although there have been suggestions that troops were stationed there at some time during the Civil War, this document clearly indicates that that was their long term home, and provides the first known indication that defences were proposed.

"It obviously remains to be established by archaeologists whether the works were actually carried out but it seems logical in view of the turbulent history of the town that the Parliamentary forces would have wanted to consolidate their hold, by strengthening their defences.

"It could be, therefore, that hitherto overlooked features in the ground at Bradenstoke could prove to be the long lost defences of the Roundheads."

The document carries as estimate sale price of £300-£350.

Also going under the hammer is a treat for family tree fans, who will be queuing up to see if they are related to George Washington, first President of the USA, in a manuscript pedigree of Washington carried out in the generation after his time, which contains many Wiltshire names.

Mr Westwood-Brookes said: "The pedigree was painstakingly worked out by one of the 19th century's leading genealogists a man with the magnificent name of General Plantagenet Harrison.

"Harrison wrote definitive histories on Yorkshire and Lincolnshire as well as indulging in producing extensive family trees of very famous men.

"The Washington pedigree traces the line back to the reign of King Stephen on the throne between 1135 and 1154 where he identifies a 'Lord of Washington' from the Richmond area of North Yorkshire.

"The pedigree then traces the line across Westmoreland, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Durham, North-umberland, Northampton-shire, Lancashire and Wiltshire as well a tracing the line in Virginia, USA, and ends with the first generation after Washington's death, suggesting a date of mid-19th century for when it was compiled.

"Many hundreds of names are recorded. The pedigree also provides an insight into the painstaking researches which Harrison must have undertaken, as there are a considerable number of annotations, corrections and observations in pencil and ink throughout."

The document is 17ft long, and is in general need of conservation. But with the necessary professional work can be restored to its original state.

It is estimated to fetch somewhere between £700-£1,000.