11M 



WILTSHIRE. 



WILTSHIRE. 



1138 



eouteik apnUrintinil and civil were bald here, and the town became 

 UM seat of a biahopric. Then WM a outle or fortress, which is 

 mentioned M early M the time of Alfred, and which may be regarded 

 a* the ciudel ; and th city was defended by a wall, within the inclo- 

 rare of which the oathedral stood. Karly iu the 18th century the 

 opprMaloo of the castellans, or captains of the cattle, and their 

 duputet with the bithops and clergy, led to the removal of the 

 cathedral to it* present site. Many or most of the citizens also 

 removed, and the rue of New Saram [SAi.tsiiunr] led to the decay of the 

 qA pin"*, to that in the time of Leland there was not one inhabited 

 boose in it. It returned members to Parliament in 23 Edward I., 

 and again in Si Kdward III., from which period it continued to return 

 them until it was disfranchised by the lieforin Act. It was com- 

 monly referred to as the most striking instance of a rotten borough, 

 continuing to return members when it had neither house nor inhabitant. 

 It contained one house with four inhabitants in 1851. 



n'oaitafBauet, population 2123, about 15 miles N. by E. from 

 Derues, is called in bomesday, Wodetone ; it passed to the Bassets 

 of Wycombf, from whom it obtained its distinguishing epithet. The 

 market -house and the town-hull, as well as the church, which is ancient, 

 are in. the centre of the town. The Independents and Primitive 

 Methodists hare chapels, and there are National, British, and Infant 

 schools, and an Endowed Free school. The market is on Tuesday, 

 and there are four yearly fairs, with a large market for cattle on the 

 second Tuesday in each month. 



att or Market Lavington, population 1189, about 6 miles S. by E. 

 from Devixes, is iu the valley between the greensand and chalk hills 

 on the north-west side of Salisbury Plain. The church, which occu- 

 pies an elevated site a short distance west from the town, is in the 

 perpendicular style. The Independents and Baptists have places of 

 worship, and there are National and British schools. The market is 

 on Wednesday, and there is one yearly fair. An iron-foundry aud 

 agricultural implement manufactory gives some employment. Malting, 

 gardening, and basket-making are carried on. 



The following are some of the more important villages, with the 

 parish populations in 1851, and a few other particulars : 



Aldborne, or Auburn, population 1622, about 9 miles S.E. from 

 Swiii Jou, is beautifully situated in a fertile valley, and was once a 

 place of importance, possessing a market and fairs, which have how- 

 ever been long disused. The church is of Norman date. The 

 Wealeyan and Primitive Methodists and Independents have places 

 of worship, and there are National schools. Ashton-Kcyncs, population 

 1365, about 4 miles W. by N. from Cricklade, is on the left bank of 

 the river Thames, near the Gloucestershire border. The church, 

 which i ancient, has some traces of Norman architecture. The 

 Independents and Primitive Methodists have places of worship. 

 There is a Free school. Sieeple-Athtun, population of the tithing 802, 

 about 4 miles E. from Trowbridge, was formerly a market-town and 

 the seat of a considerable clothing manufacture. The parish church 

 U a lofty and elegant structure, with nave, chancel, side aisles, north 

 and south porches, and a large square tower at the west end. The 

 church was erected about the end of the 15th century. The tower 

 was originally surmounted with a stone spire, which gave the village 

 iti specific designation of Steeple-Ashton. The spire was destroyed 

 in two thunder-storms iu July and October, 1700. There are here a 

 chapel for Baptists, and a National school. A tesselated pavement, 

 somewhat different in style and material from the usual Roman pave- 

 ments, was dug up at bteeple-Ashton. Box, population 1987, about 

 4 miles W. by 8. from Corsham, is situated iu a beautiful valley 

 watered by a small feeder of the Avon, sometimes called the Box 

 Brook. The parish church is an ancient edifice with a spire. The 

 Wealeyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are National schools. 

 There are considerable quarries near Box of the freestone usually 

 called Bath stone, and there are two mineral springs. A station of 

 the Great Western railway is at Box, and the longest tunnel on the 

 line it near this place. Maiden Bradley, population 704, is on the 

 Somersetshire border, 7 miles S.W. from Warminster. The parish 

 church U a atone edifice with a western tower. It was originally 

 built in the reign of Richard II., but has undergone repairs and 

 alterations at various periods. In the village ore a chapel for Inde- 

 pendents and National schools. A'orlh Bradley, population of the 

 tithing 087, is about 2 miles S. from Trowbridge. The parish church 

 U a commodious structure with a flue Norman tower. There are here 

 an Endowed National school and an asylum for six poor parishoners. 

 Broadcloth and kerseymere are made hero. Jiratlon, population of 

 the chapclry 721, is about 2 miles N.E. from Westbury. The parish 

 church U of Norinnu architecture, and has a tower at one corner sur- 

 mounted with a tpire. Bratton camp is an ancient intrenchmeut of 

 irregular form, nearly a mile in circuit, aud inclosing an area of 23 

 acres. Jiramlutm, or Brcmham, population 1619, is 4 miles N.W. from 

 Devizes. The Tillage is near the site of the Roman station Verlucio, 

 and some Roman antiquities, consisting of a bath and portions of a 

 tMMlatod pavement, were found Lere about 60 years since. The 

 church, which is large and ancient, has been restored aud repewed. 

 It has a chapel richly carved, which contains some ancient banners 

 and armour, aud several monuments of the Bayntou family; the 

 tower, with the spire which surmounts it, is 180 feet high. The 

 Wwlejan Mvthoduti aud Baptists have places of worship, aud there 



ore National schools. In the vicinity is Sloperton Cottage, long the 

 residence of the poet Thomas Moore, and the house in which he died. 

 Jiithop' t-Cannings, imputation 3925, is about 3 miles N.E. from 

 Devizes. Bishop's-C'aunings has a fine cruciform church, with uave 

 and side aisles, transept, south porch, a chautrey on the east side of 

 the south transept, another chantrey chapel, and a lady chapel, uow 

 used as the chancel The church was repewed in 1820. Tlun arc 

 National schools. Cattle Combe, population 557, about 6 miles N.W. 

 from Chippenham, has an ancient gothic church with a tower, chapels 

 for Independents and Baptists, and National schools. Paper-making 

 and malting are carried on, and in the neighbourhood there are corn- 

 mills. Conley, population 1473, is about 5 miles W. by N. from 

 Warniinster, on the Somersetshire border. The church is a neat early 

 English edifice, recently rebuilt, with a square tower. The Baptists 

 and Independents have places of worship, and there is a National 

 school. Crudviell, population 781, is about 4 miles N. by E. from 

 Malmesbury, near the Gloucestershire border. The church is a very 

 ancient edifice, but has been altered and repaired at different periods ; 

 it is chiefly in the early English style. Tho Baptists have a chapel, 

 and there is a National school. Longbridge Deverhill or 1>. 

 population 1378, about 3 miles S. from Warminster, is so called to 

 distinguish it from four other villages to which the name of Dever- 

 hill is common. The church is ancient, and contains the burial-plan: 

 of the Bath family. There are a chapel for Primitive Methoui-l , 

 National schools, and some almshouses. Lougleat House, the splendid 

 mansion of the Marquis of Bath, standing iu a well-wooded park about 

 12 miles in circumference, is on the border of the county, about 5 miles 

 W. from Longbridge Deverhill. The clothing manufacture gives em- 

 ployment to some persons in the parish, Fonthill lii/ord, population 

 442, is about 2 miles S.E. from Hindou. The church, built by Alder- 

 man Beckford, is constructed after the model of a Grecian temple, 

 with a pediment and a tower surmounted with a dome. There are 

 National schools. The extensive park in which is the site of Fonthill 

 Abbey, lies between Hindon aud the village of Fonthill Gifford. The 

 magnificent structure raised here by the celebrated William Beckford, 

 author of ' Vathek,' was entirely removed after the fall of the lofty 

 central tower in 1825. Froxfidd, population 571, is chiefly noticeable 

 on account of the Duchess of Somerset's Hospital, or almshouses, for 

 30 widows of laymen and 20 widows of clergymen. The buildings 

 form an oblong quadrangle of considerable extent, and the institution 

 is under the charge of a steward, a chaplain, and other officers. The 

 parish church, which is seated on high ground a short distance from 

 the village, is a brick building with a low tiled roof, llilperton, popu- 

 lation 996, about a mile N.E. from Trowbridge, shares in the cloth 

 and kerseymere manufacture of that town. There are here a small 

 parish church, chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and Baptists, and 

 National schools. East Knoyle, population 1110, is about 2 miles S. 

 from Hiudon. The church, a cruciform stone building with a western 

 embattled and turreted tower, stands on elevated ground. There are 

 National schools, a lending library, aud a branch of the Wiltshire 

 Friendly Society. East Knoyle was the birthplace of Sir Christopher 

 Wren, whose father was rector of the parish. Lacock or Laycodc, 

 population 1653, about 3 miles S. from Chippeuham, near the right 

 bank of the Avon, was formerly a market-town. The church is ou 

 ancient gothic edifice with a spire. The Independents have a chapel, 

 and there are National schools. Lacock Abbey, now the seat of thu 

 lord of the manor, was formerly a nunnery, founded about 1232. 

 Potterne, population 1778, about 2 miles S. from Devizes, is pleasantly 

 situated iu a sheltered aud picturesque valley. The church, a Norman 

 edifice, has been repaired and internally restored. A large square 

 tower, embattled, with turrets and pinnacles, rises from the intersection 

 of the uave aud transepts. There are here a chapel for Wesleyau 

 Methodists, National schools, and some parochial charities. Purton, 

 population 2087, about 4 miles S. from Cricklade, is pleasantly situated 

 on elevated ground. The church is a commodious and handsome cru- 

 ciform gothic structure with two towers ; the one which rises from 

 the intersection of the nave and chancel is surmouuted with a lofty 

 spire. The Primitive Methodists and Independents have places of 

 worship, and there are National schools. Samtbury, population 2096, 

 on the left bank of the Kennet, about 12 miles S.E. from Swindon. 

 Ramsbury was made the seat of the bishopric erected in the 9th or 

 10th century by the dismemberment of Wiltshire from the diocese of 

 Sherbourne; the see was removed after an interval to Wilton, and 

 was afterwards reunited to Sherbourne, the cathedral being fixed at 

 Old Sarum, from which it was removed to Salisbury. The church is 

 spacious, and consists of a nave and two aisles, a chancel, and a massive 

 western tower. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists and Inde- 

 pendents have places of worship, aud there are National schools. 

 Ramsbury formerly had a market. Jiowde, population 1128, is about 

 2 miles W.N.W. from Devizes. The church, partly rebuilt iu 1833, is 

 a gothic edifice with a square embattled tower at the west end. The 

 Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are National schools. 

 Rlierslon Alagna, or Great Khertton, population 1589, is situated near 

 the head of the river Avon, about 6 miles W. by S. from Malmesbury. 

 Sheraton is supposed to be the Sceorstane of the Saxon Chronicle, the 

 scene of an indecisive battle in 1016 between Edmund II. (Irousiite) 

 and Canute, who engaged during the battle in personal conflict. The 

 village is partly within, tha site of an ancient encampment, part of 



