John Aubrey, in his Natural History Of Wiltshire, written between 1656 and 1691, noted:
“The Gawens of Norrington, in the parish of Alvideston [Alvesdiston], continued in this place four hundred fifty and odd yeares. They had also an estate in Broad Chalke, which was, perhaps, of as great antiquity. On the south downe of the farme of Broad Chalke is a little barrow called Gawen’s-barrow, which must bee before ecclesiastical lawes were established.”