WARMISTER, (Wiltshire) near 6 m. E. of Frome in Somersetshire, 80 cm. 99 mm. from London, stands on the Deveril, near the
source of the Willybourne, and had heretofore great privileges, with exemption from all tribute or tax, It once bel. to
the family of Mauduit, on whose forfeiture of it, Richard II. gave it to the elder Spensers. Then it went to the family of
Hungerford, and in the R. of Edw. IV. it came by marriage to Ld. Hastings; but after that Ld's. execution in the R. of
Rich. III. it was given to Howard D. of Norfolk, the first Earl-marshal of that family. 'Tis a populous place, with very
good inns, and of much more consequence than most of the Bors. in this Co. though it sends no member to Pt. However, it
has the honour of giving title of Baron to the Viscounts Weymouth. In Camden's time it was famous for a great corn Mt.
which still continues on S. and the malt trade here is greater than in any T. of the W. of England, Bristol and many Ts.
in Somersetshire being supplied with it from hence, where are also jobbers, who deal in cheese, and carry it into
Hampshire, and other Cos. from Somersetshire and Wiltshire Here is also a considerable trade in wool and cloth. Its Fairs
are April 11, Aug. 10, and Oct. 28. There are camps on the downs on the E. side of the T. viz. Battlebury, which, from its
double works, is supposed to be Danish, and Scratchbury, which is a square fortification, with only a single trench. On
the W. side of the T. is Clay-Hill, so high, that 'tis seen many ms. round. 'Tis steep on every side, with a hillock on
the top, which, at a distance, looks like the crown of a hat. 'Tis never resorted to but on Palm-Sunday, when, if the
weather be fair, 'tis covered by the young people from the adjacent parts, whose chief diversion is to see one another
slip and tumble to the bottom.