Fonthill Gifford

The name of the village and parish derives from the Giffard family, landowners, beginning with Berenger Giffard who was lord in 1086. The Marvyn family were lords of the manor from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. Among them were Sir John Marvyn (c.1503–1566), MP and High Sheriff, who purchased the adjoining Compton Bassett manor; and his son James (1529–1611), also MP. Fonthill then passed by marriage to George Tuchet, later Earl of Castlehaven. and in the next year the estate was granted by the king to Baron Cottington, ambassador and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Apart from an interruption during the Civil War the estate continued with the Cottingtons until sold to William…