Tropenell Cartulary facts for kids
The Tropenell Cartulary is an old English medieval book. It's a special type of manuscript called a cartulary. This book was put together for Thomas Tropenell (who lived from about 1405 to 1488). He was a wealthy Wiltshire landowner in the 15th century.
What is a Cartulary?
A cartulary is a medieval book or roll where important old documents were copied. Imagine it like a very old filing cabinet, but all the papers are copied into one big book! People in the Middle Ages used them to keep records of their land and property. This helped them prove who owned what.
The Tropenell Cartulary's Story
The Tropenell Cartulary was created during the time of King Edward IV. It tells the story of how Thomas Tropenell slowly grew his land and property. He wanted to make his estates bigger, and the book shows his journey, including some legal fights he had along the way.
This special book is a single, large volume. It's written on vellum, which is a type of fine animal skin used for writing before paper was common. The main reason for the book was to prove that Thomas Tropenell owned his manors (large estates) and other lands. It contains copies of many deeds, charters, and other important papers. Without this cartulary, most of these old documents would have been lost forever!
What's really cool is that this book is still kept at Great Chalfield Manor. This is the very place where it was first made! The book has stayed with the house and its owners for hundreds of years.
