CLAIM TO SIX WILTS VILLAGES

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2516, 1 April 1930, Page 7

CLAIM TO SIX WILTS VILLAGES

THE SCUDMORE ESTATE Two brothers, Mr Alfred Scudamore, of Devizes (England) and Mr Frank Scudamore, of Bath, are claiming to be the heirs to a property which covers six villages in Wiltshire, an estate at Swainswick, Somerset, and one at Holme Lacy, Hertfordshire. Mr Frank Scudamore and his brother hold that they descend from the Norman family of Scudamore, a daughter of which house, Frances, was the only child and heir of Viscount Scudamore, of Holme Lacy, and married the third Duke of Beaufort, from whom she was divorced in 1743-

When he ivas a little boy, Mr Scudamore says, he heard his grandmother talking to his grandfather about the property, and asking “When will you claim your rights,” He has copies of wills dating from 1771 to 1875, but his search for evidence is not yet complete. Mr Scudamore and his brother are looking for a will of John Griffin Scudamore, who died in 1811, to help with their claim to the Swainswick prpe.rty. It is also believed that there is some evidence in the regi'strs of Wellow Church which would help them to their Hereford claim. The villages to which they claim heirship are Upton Scudamore, Sutton Veny, Bishopstrow, Corsley, Norridge and Norton Bavant, all within a few miles of Warminster.