The Semington Brook and Worton Stream contribute to the headwaters of the Bristol Avon. The village of Seend, located nearby, sits atop a hill, positioned more than 90 meters (300 ft) above sea level. To the west and south of the hill lies the Semington Brook, a tributary of the River Avon, while the eastern border is formed by the Summerham Brook, which itself is a tributary of the Semington Brook.. This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed
here. All content is available under the
Open Government Licence v3.0. Although the Domesday Book of 1086 does not specifically mention a manor in Seend, it is believed that during the 11th century, Seend may have been part of the royal manor of Melksham. The earliest documented record of the tenancy of the Seend manor dates back to 1190 when it was held by Wigan of Cherburgh. Wigan's descendants continued to hold the manor until 1297 when John of Cherburgh granted it to Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester. Following Hugh's execution in 1326, Seend was granted to Queen Isabella as part of her dower. In 1331, the manor of Seend was then granted to Edward de Bohun, the twin brother of William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton. William and Edward were younger sons of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford. However, Edward had passed away by 1337, leading to the Crown granting Seend manor to Hugh le Despencer, Baron le Despencer, while still recognizing the life interest of Edward's widow, Margaret. Margaret's death in 1341 resulted in the granting of livery of seisin to Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford. Seend remained in the possession of the Bohun family, passing to Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford upon the 6th earl's death in 1361 and subsequently to the 7th earl's widow until her passing in 1419.In 1421, Seend Manor was granted to Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Stafford, who placed it in trust for her nephew, Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, in 1431. However, the Duke died without heirs in 1447, and by 1461, Seend had come under the ownership of John Bourchier, 1st Baron Berners, the son of Anne of Gloucester from her second marriage to William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu. The second Baron's grandson, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, inherited Seend in 1447 and mortgaged it in 1506. Upon the second Baron's death in 1533, his executors sold Seend manor to William Sharington of Lacock in 1539. William bequeathed Seend to his brother Henry in 1553, who, in turn, passed it on to his daughter Grace and son-in-law Sir Anthony Mildmay in 1581. Sir Anthony Mildmay died in 1617 and Grace in 1620, leaving Seend to their daughter Mary and son-in-law Francis Fane, who was subsequently elevated to the position of 1st Earl of Westmorland in 1624. Seend remained within the Fane family until Charles Fane, 3rd Earl of Westmorland, sold the manor to Sir Richard Blake in 1668.
