324 



A Sketch of the Parish of Yatesbury. 



which runs over the crest of Cherhill Hill, and down into the valley 

 below, the lower part of which is the only portion of down land in 

 the parish. 



Yatesbury is bounded by Abury on the east, Cherhill on the south, 

 Compton Basset on the west, Highway and Hilmarton on the 

 north-west, and Winterbourne Monkton and Berwick Bassett on 

 the north-east. Though apparently on table land, and actually in 

 a very insignificant depression, which is scarcely perceptible unless 

 on a close scrutiny, Yatesbury lies at a considerably lower level than 

 Broad Hinton, 1 to which the land very gradually rises in an almost 

 continuous though gentle ascent of some four miles to the north : 

 but it stands somewhat higher than Abury, from which it is distant 

 three miles to the west, and which, lying on the same plateau, is 

 visible from the whole parish, together with the long range of 

 Hackpen beyond it, stretching across the eastern horizon as far as 

 Barbury Camp. Then, while five miles from its post and market 

 town — the ancient and loyal borough of Calne — Yatesbury claims 

 the distinguished honour of being equidistant from the four largest 

 towns of North Wilts, Swindon on the north, Devizes on the south, 

 Marlborough on the east, and Chippenham on the west ; and though 

 it is true they are somewhat too distant for constant communication, 

 being each nine miles off as the crow flies, it is not to be denied 

 that with respect to position, and in reference to the most important 

 towns of North Wiltshire, Yatesbury is a remarkably central spot ! 



The area of the parish is small, comprising only 1667 acres: the 

 gross estimated rental standing at £2780 2s. 10^., and the rateable 

 value at £2502 18s. 4<#. The general character of the land is the 

 broad open down, which has been long since reclaimed' and brought 

 into cultivation, for the soil — chalk and clay — is heavy and productive 

 and notoriously good for wheat crops. By far the greater part of 



1 Broad Hinton stands higher than any other village on these downs, indeed 

 may well be called the watershed of our district ; inasmuch as the springs which 

 rise to the south flow to the Kennet and so to the Thames, while those which 

 rise to the north flow into the Avon and so into the Bristol Channel. Stukeley 

 says " the country here is very high though not appearing so to he : they pretend 

 'tis the highest ground in England." (" Abury described," page 18.) 



