1596 Inventory of William Weston

Derived from DD/WHh/129 at Somerset History Centre

Sir William Weston was notable in the history of Stalbridge Weston. The inventory of his possessions was taken on 4th August 1596, appraised by Edmund Mydwynter, Thomas Awbrey, John Yong and Symon Crouche. The list is recorded by room, of which there are more than nineteen (including the stable):

• The Haule: A formal entrance or meeting space
• The Parler Chamber: A private living or sitting room.
• The Inner Buttery: For storage of drinks.
• The Outter Buttery: Additional storage for barrels and tubs.
• The Dyneing Chamber: A formal room for meals.
• The Chamber between the Dining and Broad Chambers: A transitional room.
• The Broad Chamber: Likely the principal or guest bedroom.
• The New Chamber over the Study: Indicates the presence of an office.
• The Milke House: A dairy production area.
• The Kytchen: For food preparation.
• The Brewhouse: For making ale or beer.
• The Trowe House: Storage for barrels and salting tubs.
• The Malting HouseA building used for malting, that is: soaking, germinating and drying grain to produce malt for brewing. Also referred to... In full.: For processing grain.
• The Woole House: For processing or storing wool.
• The Cheese House: Specialized dairy storage. The Chamber next the Cheese House.
• The Chamber next the Street.
• The Chamber within the same.
• The Staule (Stable): For livestock and gear.
  Additionally, a Chapple Chamber is mentioned in the general goods section, suggesting the house had its own private chapel.

The inventory reflects a person of means and a high standard of living for the late sixteenth century, and features:

• Luxury textiles and specialized equipment.
• Luxury Furniture: A chair of white damask (£1), a chair of blue velvet (£1 6s 8d), and a stool of cloth of tissue (6s 8d).
• Textiles and Bedding: Several standing and truckling bedsteads, needlework cushions, and a large quantity of diaperA type of woven linen cloth with a small, repeating diamond or geometric pattern. The term had nothing to do... In full. (patterned) and damask linens.
• Weapons and Armour: A crossbow with benders, a fowling piece (gun), and traditional pole-based arms including a black bill and a hobbard (halberdA halberd is a versatile thirteenth- to sixteenth-century, two-handed polearm, typically 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5–6 ft) long. The head is... In full.).
• Reflecting his work in Ireland there are several items brought back, including a significant collection of high-status clothing including a black cloth gown faced with velvet (£4), a satin doublet, and velvet hose.

The itemised values are subtotalled by room with an overall total of £82 6s 5d^* reflecting Sir William Weston as a member of the wealthy upper gentry. His home was equipped for brewing, malting and dairy activity, while his luxury textiles and military gear – specifically those from Ireland, correlate with his high status career in Elizabethan administration. Note also the pole arms!

* There is an unresolved discrepancy of £2 12s 5d between the values of individual items and the recorded total.