This building is thought to originate from about 1580. It is Grade II* listed and still has its original Elizabethan staircase. It is not clear why it is called the Manor House - before Dissolution the Lordship of the Manor belonged to the Abbey. The history of the Manor is difficult to follow (Luce has more details), most names of the Lords and dates of their Lordships are known but it was often sold, sometimes inherited and none of the incumbents seemed to live here. However in 1743 the Manor was bought by Sir John Rushout and thereafter it remained in his family.
The Manor owned much property around Malmesbury. This was either rented out or let on Copyhold. This curious form of ownership dated back to feudal times and was so called because a copy was made in the Court Roll. An annual rent was paid to the Lord and the land was let on the lives of 3 individuals who did not have to be in any way connected with the property or Copyholder. The copyholder would pick people with long life expectancy but also those whose deaths he would hear about - often members of the Royal family were named. On death a new life had to be added and a heriot or fine had to be paid to the Lord who could not prevent the nomination. If the holder failed to put in the new life a third party could do so and might eventually become the copyholder if he held all 3 lives. This type of ownership was abolished in 1922, but by that time the Manor had sold the freehold of all of the properties.
Messrs. W.&E. Lockstone bought the premises in 1808 and used them as a wholesale and retail grocer. They extended the front towards the road; you can see the shape of the original roof in the stonework on both gable ends. If you inspect the chimney stacks the stonework suggests that a roof was built against each gable, but roofs did not abut, the profile is the same on each end and is puzzling. At the rear, visible from the car park to Abbey Brewery, is an original window. Before the last war Lockstone's provided cigarettes as wholesalers to the workers constructing Hullavington aerodrome. Wartime rationing was based on pre-war usage and so Malmesbury never ran short of fags! The grocers shut in 1968 but it continues to be used as two retail units.
Source: Charles Vernon
