Calne

In 1754 the leading interests at Calne were in Thomas Duckett, who owned the manor of Calne and Calstone, and William Northey, who owned the prebend manor of Calne. In January 1754 John, 1st Earl of Shelburne, acquired Bowood and with it a foothold in the borough, which he and his son proceeded to extend during the next ten years. In 1761 William, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, bought the estate of Bremhill for £57,000; in 1763 the manor of Calne and Calstone for £28,000; and in 1765 the prebend manor for £12,000. By now he had secured complete control of the borough, but his purchases of farms and estates around Calne continued throughout this period.1Lansdowne mss.