The Dominicans

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

THE DOMINICANS
Domenic was the founder of the Dominicans or Black Friars. He was a Spaniard. We hoped to find some connection between the old Manor House and the great merchant order of friar-preacher, the Dominicans. The order was founded at Toulouse and the Black Friars first came to England in 1221.

Henry III. bestowed his patronage on them and this powerfully promoted their work.

In Wiltshire they set up a community at Wilton, arriving there about the year 1245.

They went on at Wilton for about 36 years, afterwards removing to New Sarum (Salisbury).

Wilton was not altogether abandoned by the Black Friars but was made a Cell to Salisbury.

About the end of 1280 the Black Friars established themselves in Fisherton Anger. Leland writes “In this Fissehertoun now a suburb of New-Saresbyre . . . an House of Black Friars was builded not far from Fisherton Bridge.”

The house or priory stood on the river bank (River Avon) opposite sites where the County gaol and the infirmary were afterwards erected. The cell at Wilton stood in what is now West Street. No traces remain.

We have not been able to trace the Dominicans any further than Wilton towards Chicklade.

(The Black Friars of Wiltshire by the Rev. C.R.F. Palmer)
(Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine No.LIII).

But in a Chicklade garden a few years since a valuable and interesting discovery was made. While digging down to a depth of 7 in. – 9 in. on to the chalk the owner discovered a round white and rather heavy object. When the chalk was removed a lead seal was revealed. This was examined at Salisbury Museum and identified as a bulla or Pope’s seal which was attached to papal correspondence when despatched from Rome. On the face of the Seal are the heads of S. Peter and S. Paul; on the back ‘Alexander IIII.’ We are happy to be able to reproduce photographs of obverse and reverse of this Seal.

Obverse and Reverse of Papal Bulla.

Alexander IV. was Pope from 1254 to 1261.