LAVINGTON, or MARKET (EAST), a parish in
the hundred of SWANBOROUGH, county of WILTS, comprising
the market-town of East Lavington, and the
tything of Easterton, and containing 1438 inhabitants,
of which number, 1061 are in the town of East Lavington,
6 miles (S.) from Devizes, and 90 (W. by S.) from
London. The town is situated in a fertile valley, at the
base of the chalk hills which form the northern boundary
of Salisbury plain, and consists principally of one
street: the trade is chiefly in corn and malt. The market
is on Wednesday; and a fair is held on the 10th of
August. A court baron for the manor is held twice a
year. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and
diocese of Salisbury, rated in the king's books at
£ 14.2. 6., and in the patronage of the Dean and Canons
of Christ Church, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St.
Mary, stands on a lofty eminence, hence the popular
name of Steeple-Lavington given to the town. There
are two places of worship for Independents. Here is a
free school for the education of thirty-six children. The
learned and laborious antiquary, Dr. Thomas Tanner,
Bishop of St. Asaph, and author of the " Notitia Monastica,"
was born here, in 1674, his father having been
vicar of the parish; and at his death, in 1733, he bequeathed
£200 for the benefit of the poor.