WiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...
is a
historic countyThe historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires. They were used for various functions for several hundred years and continue to form, albeit with considerably...
located in the
South West EnglandSouth West England is one of the regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area, covering including Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It has a population of almost five million, and includes the area often known as...
region.
Early history
The English conquest of the district now known as Wiltshire began in 552 AD with the victory of
SaxonAnglo-Saxons is the term usually used to describe the invading Germanic tribes in the south and east of Great Britain from the early 5th century AD, and their creation of the English nation, to the Norman conquest of 1066...
CynricCynric of Wessex ruled as king of Wessex from 534 to 560. Everything known about him comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. There he is stated to have been the son of Cerdic, and also to have been the son of Cerdic's son, Creoda...
over the native Britons at
Old SarumOld Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
, by which the way was opened to
Salisbury PlainSalisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
. Four years later, pushing his way through the
Vale of PewseyThe Vale of Pewsey is an area of Wiltshire, England to the east of Devizes, centred on the town of Pewsey.-Geography:The vale is an extent of lower lying ground separating the chalk downs of Salisbury Plain to the south from the Marlborough Downs to the north. It is around long and around wide....
, Cynric extended the limits of the
West Saxon kingdomThe Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest of...
to the Marlborough Downs by a victory at
Barbury HillBarbury Castle is an Iron Age hill fort situated in Wiltshire, England. It is one of several such forts found along the ancient Ridgeway route, and is now managed as a country park by Swindon Borough Council. It is situated on Barbury Hill, a local vantage point, which, under ideal weather...
. At this period the district south of the
River AvonThe River Avon is a river in the counties of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset in the south of England, sometimes distinguished as the Salisbury Avon or the Hampshire Avon.-Etymology:...
and the
River NadderThe River Nadder is one of the chalk stream rivers of southern England, much sought after by fly fishermen because of its clear waters and abundance of brown trout. It is one of the main tributaries of the River Avon, rising from a number of springs and small streams at Donhead St. Mary in south...
was occupied by dense woodland, the relics of which survive in
Cranborne ChaseCranborne Chase is a Chalk plateau in central southern England, straddling the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. The plateau is part of the English Chalk Formation and is adjacent to Salisbury Plain and the West Wiltshire Downs in the north, the Dorset Downs to the south west and the...
, and the first wave of West Saxon colonization was chiefly confined to the valleys of the
River AvonThe River Avon is a river in the counties of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset in the south of England, sometimes distinguished as the Salisbury Avon or the Hampshire Avon.-Etymology:...
and the
River WylyeThe River Wylye is a classic southern England chalk stream; champagne clear water flowing over gravel. Consequently, it is popular with anglers keen on fly fishing.- Course :...
, the little township of
WiltonWilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The River Wylye meets the River Nadder at Wilton.-...
which arose in the latter giving the name of Wilsaetan to the new settlers.
By the 9th century the district had acquired a definite administrative and territorial organization, Walstan,
ealdormanAn ealdorman is the term used for a high-ranking royal official and prior magistrate of an Anglo-Saxon shire or group of shires from about the ninth century to the time of King Cnut...
of the Wilsaetan, being mentioned as early as 800 as repelling an attempted invasion of the Mercia. Moreover, Wiltunscire is mentioned by
AsserAsser was a Welsh monk from St. David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. In about 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St. David's and join the circle of learned men which Alfred was recruiting for his court...
in 878, in which year the
DanesThe Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , is a historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the "Danes" held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. It is contrasted with "West Saxon Law" and "Mercian law". The term has been extended by modern historians to...
established their headquarters at Chippenham and remained there a year, plundering the surrounding country. In the time of Athelstan
mintsA mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is normally related in a fashion that more closely ties to the political situation of an era...
existed at Old Sarum,
MalmesburyMalmesbury is a south Cotswold town and civil parish in south west England in the county of Wiltshire. The town is close to Cirencester, Chippenham and Swindon and surrounded by rivers on three sides.- Geography and administration :...
, Wilton,
CrickladeCricklade is a small town in north Wiltshire in England, on the River Thames, situated midway between Swindon and Cirencester.Cricklade is twinned with Sucé-sur-Erdre in France.In the 2001 census the population of the town was 4,132....
and Marlborough. Wilton and
SalisburySalisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. It has also been called New Sarum to distinguish it from the original site of settlement to the north of the city at Old Sarum, but this alternative name is not in common use. Similarly, a native of Salisbury may be known as a "Sarumite", but...
were destroyed by the Danish invaders under
Sweyn I of DenmarkSweyn I Forkbeard, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in English Sven the Dane, also known as Swegen and Tuck , was king of Denmark and England, as well as parts of Norway. He was a Viking leader and the father of Cnut the Great...
in 1003, and in 1015 the district was harried by
CanuteCnut the Great , also known as Canute or Knut or Cnut Sweynsson, was a Viking king of England and Denmark, Norway, and parts of Sweden...
.
Land ownership after the Norman Conquest
With the redistribution of estates after the Norman Conquest more than two-fifths of the county fell into the hands of the
churchChristian Church and church Christian Church and church Christian Church and church (Greek kyriakon, "thing belonging to the Lord"; also ekklesia (Latinized as ecclesia, "assembly") are used to denote both a Christian association of people and a place of worship. In the phenomenological sense there...
; the possessions of the
crownThe Crown is a corporation sole that in certain countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as in any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof, represents the legal embodiment of executive government...
covered one-fifth; while among the chief
layIn religious organizations, the laity comprises all persons who are not clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the term lay priest...
proprietors were Edward of Salisbury, William, Count of Eu, Ralf de Mortimer,
Aubrey de Vere IIAubrey de Vere II was also known as "Alberic[us] de Ver". He was the second of that name in post Norman Conquest England, being the eldest surviving son of Alberic or Aubrey de Vere who had followed William the Conqueror to England in or after 1066.Their lineage is probably Norman, possibly...
, Robert Fitzgerald, Miles Crispin, Robert d'Oily and Osbern Giffard. The first
Earl of WiltshireThe title Earl of Wiltshire is one of the oldest in the Peerage of England, going back to the 12th century. It is currently held by the Marquess of Winchester, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the marquess....
after the Conquest was
William le ScropeWilliam le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was a close supporter of King Richard II of England.-Life:He was a soldier-adventurer in Lithuania, Italy and France, where he served with John of Gaunt. Gaunt made him seneschal of Aquitaine in 1383. He then joined the household of Richard II, as chamberlain...
, who received the honor in 1397. The title subsequently passed to Sir James Butler in 1449,
Sir John StaffordJohn Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was an English nobleman, the youngest son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham.In 1461 he was made a Knight of the Bath....
in 1470,
Thomas BoleynSir Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire and 1st Earl of Ormond, KG was an English diplomat and politician in the Tudor era, and the father of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. As such, he was the maternal grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born at the family home, Hever...
in 1529, and in 1550 to the
Paulet familySir William Paulet was an English statesman who attained several peerages throughout his lifetime: Baron St John , Earl of Wiltshire , and Marquess of Winchester .-Family origins and early career in Hampshire:William Paulet was eldest son of Sir John Paulet of Basing, near Basingstoke who...
.
The
BenedictineBenedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
foundations at Wilton, Malmesbury and
AmesburyAmesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is most famous for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is in its parish, and for the discovery of the Amesbury Archer – dubbed the King of Stonehenge in the press – in 2002.-Geography:...
existed before the Conquest; the Augustinian Bradenstoke Priory was founded by Walter d'Evreux in 1142; that at
LacockLacock is a village in Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from the town of Chippenham. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance.-History:...
by Ela, countess of Salisbury, in 1232; that at
LongleatLongleat is an English country house, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park. The house is set...
by Sir John Vernon before 1272. The Cluniac
prioryA priory is a house of men or women under religious vows headed by a prior or prioress. Priories are Catholic institutions.Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the...
of
Monkton FarleighMonkton Farleigh is a small village in west Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from Bradford-on-Avon, and 5 miles from the city of Bath...
was founded by
Humphrey de BohunHumphrey de Bohun may refer to:* Humphrey de Bohun , husband of Margaret, daughter of Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford...
in 1125; the Cistercian house at
Kingswood, GloucestershireKingswood is a village and civil parish within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. It is southwest of Wotton-under-Edge and has a population of 1,290....
by William de Berkeley in 1139; and that of
StanleyStanley Abbey was a medieval abbey near Chippenham, Wiltshire in England which flourished between 1151 and 1536.- Foundation :The abbey was given by Empress Matilda in 1151 to monks from Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight. Originally at Loxwell, to the east of Chippenham, it moved to nearby Stanley...
by the
Empress MatildaEmpress Matilda, also known as Matilda of England or Maude was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry...
in 1154.
Wiltshire's hundreds
Of the forty Wiltshire
hundredsA hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
mentioned in the Domesday Survey, Selkley,
RamsburyRamsbury is a village and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire. In the Census 2001, the parish had a population of 3,257. Locals are known as the Ramsbury Bulldogs which is similar to the neighbouring village of Aldbourne where the locals are known as Dabchicks.-Location:Ramsbury lies in...
, Bradford,
MelkshamMelksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated 19 km southeast of the city of Bath, 11 km south of Chippenham, 8 miles west of Devizes and 14 miles north of Warminster on the A350 national route...
,
CalneCalne is a town in Wiltshire, England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
, Whorwellsdown,
WestburyWestbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
,
WarminsterWarminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The town's name is believed to be derived from the name 'Were-minster'. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the...
, Heytesbury, Kinwardstone, Ambresbury, Underditch, Furstfield, Alderbury and Downton remain to the present day practically unaltered in name and extent; Thorngrave, Dunelawe and Cepeham hundreds form the modern hundred of Chippenham; Malmesbury hundred represents the Domesday hundreds of Cicemethorn and Sterchelee, which were held at farm by the Abbot of Malmesbury; Highworth represents the Domesday hundreds of Crechelade, Scipe, Wurde and Staple; Kingbridge the hundreds of Chingbridge, Blachegrave and Thornhylle; Swanborough the hundreds of Rugeberge, Stodfnd and Swaneberg; Branch the hundreds of Branchesberge and Dolesfeld; Cawden the hundreds of Cawdon and Cadworth.
A noticeable feature in the 14th century is the aggregation of
churchChristian Church and church Christian Church and church Christian Church and church (Greek kyriakon, "thing belonging to the Lord"; also ekklesia (Latinized as ecclesia, "assembly") are used to denote both a Christian association of people and a place of worship. In the phenomenological sense there...
manorsManorialism or Seigneurialism or Feudal Society was the organizing principle of rural economy and society widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe...
into distinct hundreds, at the court of which their ecclesiastical owners required their tenants to do suit and service. Thus the
bishop of WinchesterThe Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
had a separate hundred called Kurwel Bishop, afterwards absorbed in Downton hundred; the abbot of Damerham had that of
DamerhamDamerham is a village in Hampshire, England, located near to Fordingbridge.The village gave its name to a Ham class minesweeper, HMS Damerham.-Neolithic tombs:...
; and the
PriorPrior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of St. Swithins that of Elstub, under each of which were included manors situated in different parts of the county.
Ancient moot places and meeting points
The meeting-place (or
mootA moot hall is meeting or assembly building, traditionally to decide local issues.In Anglo-Saxon England, a low ring-shaped earthwork served as a Moot hill or moot mound, where the elders of the hundred would meet to decide on issues. Some of these acquired permanent buildings, known as moot halls...
) of Swanborough
HundredA hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
was at Swanborough Tump, a hillock in the
parishA parish is a territorial unit that was usually historically served by a local church. This administrative unit is typically found in Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of Sweden, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches...
of Manningford Abbots identified as the moot-place mentioned in the will of
King AlfredAlfred the Great , was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English king to be given the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to...
; that of Malmesbury was at Colepark; that of Bradford-upon-Avon at Bradford Leigh; that of Warminster at Iley Oak, about three kilometres (2 mi) south of Warminster, near Southleigh Wood. The
shire courtShire Court or Shire Moot was an Anglo-Saxon institution dating back to the earliest days of English society. The Shire Court referred to the magnates, both lay and spiritual, who were entitled to sit in council for the shire and was a very early form of representative democracy. The practise began...
for
WiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...
was held at Wilton, and until 1446 the shrievalty was enjoyed
ex officio by the
castellanA castellan was the governor or caretaker of a castle or keep. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle".-Duties:...
s of Old Sarum. Edward of Salisbury was sheriff at the time of the Domesday Survey, and the office remained hereditary in his family, descending to William Longespee by his marriage with Ela, great-granddaughter of Edward. In the 13th century the
assizesAssize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
were held at Wilton, Malmesbury and
New Sarum (Salisbury)Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. It has also been called New Sarum to distinguish it from the original site of settlement to the north of the city at Old Sarum, but this alternative name is not in common use. Similarly, a native of Salisbury may be known as a "Sarumite", but...
.
Religious administrative areas
On the division of the West Saxon
seeAn episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
in 703, Wiltshire was included in the
dioceseIn some forms of Christianity, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a bishop. It is also referred to as a bishopric or Episcopal Area or episcopal see, though strictly the term episcopal see refers to the domain of ecclesiastical authority officially held by the bishop,...
of
SherborneThe Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin at Sherborne in the English county of Dorset, is usually called Sherborne Abbey. It has been an Saxon cathedral , a Benedictine abbey and is now a parish church.- Cathedral :...
, but in 905 a separate diocese of Wilton was founded, the see being fixed alternately at Ramsbury, Wilton and
SonningSonning is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham in the English county of Berkshire, a few miles east of Reading. The village is situated on the River Thames and was described by Jerome K...
in
BerkshireBerkshire is a county in the South East of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters...
. Shortly before the Conquest, Wilton was reunited to the Sherborne diocese, and by the
synodA synod is a council of a church, usually a Christian church, convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application...
of 751 the
seeAn episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
was transferred to Salisbury. The
archdeaconA position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
ries of Wiltshire and Salisbury are mentioned in 1180; in 1291 the former included the
deaneriesA dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of
AveburyAvebury is the site of a large henge and several stone circles surrounding the village of Avebury in the English county of Wiltshire. It is one of the finest and largest Neolithic monuments in Europe, about 5,000 years old. Although older than the megalithic stages of Stonehenge to the south, the...
, Malmesbury,
MarlboroughMarlborough is a market town in the English county of Wiltshire on the Old Bath Road, the old main road from London to Bath. It is well known for having the widest high-street in Britain.-History:...
and
CrickladeCricklade is a small town in north Wiltshire in England, on the River Thames, situated midway between Swindon and Cirencester.Cricklade is twinned with Sucé-sur-Erdre in France.In the 2001 census the population of the town was 4,132....
within this county, and the latter the deaneries of Amesbury,
PotternePotterne is a village in the English county of Wiltshire. The civil parish of Potterne includes the hamlet of Potterne Wick. In the census of 2001, the village had a population of 1,570. It is located slightly to the south of Devizes, and lies on the A360, which passes from Devizes to Salisbury...
, Wilton, Chalke and Wylye. In 1535 the archdeaconry of Salisbury included the additional deanery of Salisbury, while Potterne
deaneryDeanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Catholic Church and the Church of England. They see over the church and its contents.- Catholic usage :...
had been transferred to the archdeaconry of Wiltshire. The deaneries of the archdeaconry of Salisbury have remained unaltered; Wiltshire archdeaconry now includes the deaneries of Avebury, Marlborough and Potterne; and the deaneries of
ChippenhamChippenham could be either of these places in the UK:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham, CambridgeshireSee also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, Cricklade and Malmesbury form part of the archdeaconry and diocese of
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff.With an estimated population of 416,400 for the unitary authority in mid-2007, and a surrounding urban area with an estimated 561,500 residents, it is England's sixth, and...
.
Early political history
The inhabitants of Wiltshire have always been addicted to industrious rather than warlike pursuits, and the political history of the county is not remarkable, being affected only by events of national importance that affected most regions.
In 1086, after the completion of the Domesday Survey, Salisbury was the scene of a great council, in which all the landholders took
oaths of allegianceAn oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges his/her duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to his/her monarch or country. In many modern oaths of allegiance, allegiance is sworn to the Constitution. In particular, in the United States presidents, judges, and military...
to the king. and a council for the same purpose assembled at Salisbury in 1116. At
Clarendon-Places:In Australia:*Clarendon, New South Wales, a suburb of nothern west Sydney*Clarendon, Queensland*Clarendon, South Australia*Clarendon, Tasmania, a National Trust property near Evandale, Tasmania*Clarendon County, New South WalesIn Canada:...
in 1166 was drawn up the assize which remodelled the provincial administration of justice.
ParliamentsThe Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. The English Parliament traces its origins to the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. In 1066, William of Normandy brought a feudal system, by which he sought advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
were held at Marlborough in 1267 and at Salisbury in 1328 and 1384.
During the wars of
Stephen'sStephen often known as Stephen of Blois was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was the last Norman King of England, from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne jure uxoris. His reign was marked by civil war with his rival the Empress Matilda and general chaos, known as The Anarchy...
reign, Salisbury,
DevizesDevizes is a small market town and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire, in the southern United Kingdom.-History:Devizes Castle was built by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury in 1080 but the town is not mentioned in the Domesday Book...
and Malmesbury were
garrisonGarrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, of more than 50 men, but now often simply using it as a home base. The station is usually a city, town, fort, castle or similar...
ed by
Roger, Bishop of SalisburyRoger was a Norman medieval bishop of Salisbury and the seventh Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England.-Life:...
, for the Empress, but in 1138 Stephen seized the bishop and captured Devizes Castle. In 1216 Marlborough Castle was surrendered to Louis by Hugh de Neville. Hubert de Burgh escaped in 1233 from Devizes Castle, where he had been imprisoned in the previous year.
The Civil War
In the
Civil WarThe English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The first and second civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war saw fighting between supporters of...
of the 17th century Wiltshire actively supported the
parliamentaryThe Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. The English Parliament traces its origins to the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. In 1066, William of Normandy brought a feudal system, by which he sought advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
cause, displaying a spirit of violent
anti-CatholicismAnti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at the Catholic Church and/or its clergy or its members, often rooted in hatred or misunderstanding of their religion or culture...
, and the efforts of the Marquess of Hertford and of Lord Seymour to raise a party for the king met with vigorous resistance from the inhabitants. The
RoyalistsCavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War . Prince Rupert, commander of much of Charles I's cavalry, is often considered an archetypical Cavalier.-Early usage:...
, however, made some progress in the early stage of the struggle, Marlborough being captured for the king in 1642, while in 1643 the forces of the Earl of Essex were routed by
Charles ICharles I, , the second son of James VI of Scotland and I of England, was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Charles famously engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England...
and
Prince RupertRupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, , soldier, inventor and amateur artist in mezzotint, was a younger son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, and the nephew of King Charles I of England, who created him Duke of...
at
AldbourneAldbourne is a village and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire in the United Kingdom.People from Aldbourne are nicknamed "Dabchicks" after the Little Grebe. Initially it is believed this was intended as an insult begun by the residents of nearby Ramsbury but has been adapted to a badge...
. In the same year Sir
William WallerSir William Waller , was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
, after failing to capture Devizes, was defeated in the
Battle of Roundway DownThe Battle of Roundway Down was fought on 13 July, 1643, during the First English Civil War. A Royalist cavalry force under Lord Wilmot won a crushing victory over the Parliamentarians under Sir William Waller who were besieging Devizes in central Wiltshire, which was defended by Lord...
nearby.
In 1645, the
ClubmenClubmen were bands of vigilantes during the English Civil War who tried to protect their localities against the worst excesses of the respective armies of both sides in the war...
of
DorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town has been Dorchester since at least 1305, situated in the south of the county at . Between its extreme points Dorset measures from east to west and north to south, and has an area of...
and Wiltshire, whose sole object was peace, systematically punished any member of either party discovered in acts of plunder. Devizes, the last stronghold of the Royalists, was captured by
Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in...
in 1645. In 1655 a rising organized on behalf of the king at Salisbury was dispersed in the same year.
The Glorious Revolution
At the time of the
Glorious RevolutionThe Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, was the overthrow of King James II of England in 1688 by a union of Parliamentarians with an invading army led by the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau who, as a result, ascended the English throne as William III of England...
,
King James IIJames II & VII was King of England and Ireland as James II, and Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
gathered his main forces, altogether about 19,000 men, at Salisbury, James himself arriving there on 19 November 1688. His troops were not keen to fight William and Mary, and the loyalty of many was in doubt. The first blood was shed at
WincantonWincanton is a small town in south Somerset, southwest England. The town lies on the A303 road, the main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry...
, in
SomersetSomerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...
. In Salisbury, James heard that some of his officers, such as
EdwardHydeEdward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon , styled Viscount Cornbury between 1674 and 1709, was Governor of New York and New Jersey between 1701 and 1708, and is perhaps best known for the claims of him cross-dressing while in office.- Career :Born The Hon...
, had deserted, and he broke out in a nose-bleed which he took as a bad omen. His commander in chief, the
Earl of FevershamLouis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham, KG, , was a French nobleman who became Earl of Feversham in Stuart England.Born in France, he was marquis de Blanquefort and sixth son of Guy Aldonce , marquis de Duras and comte de Rozan, from the noble Durfort family...
, advised retreat on 23 November, and the next day
John ChurchillJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was a prominent English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
deserted to William. On 26 November, James's daughter
Princess AnneAnne became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702, succeeding her brother-in-law, William III of England and II of Scotland...
did the same, and James returned to London the same day, never again to be at the head of a serious military force in England.
Employment, manufacturing and industry
At the time of the Domesday Survey the industrial pursuits of Wiltshire were almost exclusively agricultural; 390
millsA grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal, wind or water...
are mentioned, and vineyards at
Tollard RoyalTollard Royal is a small village on Cranborne Chase, seven miles south-east Shaftesbury, in southernmost Wiltshire, UK. The 'Royal' of the name refers to the royal hunting lodge that was used for hunting on the Chase. Nearby is the Saint Peter ad Vincula church dating from the medieval period...
and
LacockLacock is a village in Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from the town of Chippenham. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance.-History:...
. In the succeeding centuries sheep farming was vigorously pursued, and the Cistercian
monasteryMonastery , a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer Monastery (plural: monasteries), a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios...
of both Kingswood and Stanley exported
woolWool is a fibrous protein derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles. The wool is taken from animals in the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals including: goats, llamas, and rabbits may also be called wool...
to the Florentine and
FlemishFlanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands...
markets in the 13th century and 14th century. Wiltshire at this time was already reckoned among the chief of the clothing counties, the principal centres of the industry being Bradford-upon-Avon, Malmesbury,
TrowbridgeTrowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset...
, Devizes and Chippenham.
In the 16th century Devizes was noted for its blankets, Warminster had a famous corn-market, and cheese was extensively made in north Wiltshire. Amesbury was famous for its
tobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it most commonly appears in the forms of smoking, chewing, snuffing, or...
pipe manufacture in the 16th century. The clothing trade went through a period of great depression in the 17th century, partly owing to the constant outbreaks of
plagueSee also: 2009 flu pandemic A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a...
.
LinenLinen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
,
cottonCotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa. The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft,...
, gloves and
cutleryCutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
were also manufactured in the county,
silkSilk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
at Malmesbury and of course carpets at Wilton.
Parliamentary representation
In 1295 Wiltshire was represented by no fewer than twenty-eight
members in parliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
, the
shireA shire is a traditional division found in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in Australia.In Britain, "shire" is the original term for what is usually known as a county; the word county having been introduced at the Norman Conquest. The two are synonymous...
returning two knights, and the boroughs of Bedwin, Bradford, Calne, Chippenham, Cricklade, Devizes, Downton, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Old Sarum, Salisbury and Wilton, two burgesses each, but the boroughs for the most part made very irregular returns. Hindon, Heytesbury and Wootton Bassett were enfranchised in the 15th century, and at the time of the
Reform ActThe Representation of the People Act 1832, commonly known as the Reform Act 1832, was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of the United Kingdom...
of 1832 the county with sixteen boroughs returned a total of thirty-four members. Under the latter
actAn act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament....
Great Bedwin, Downton, Heytesbury, Hindon, Ludgershall, Old Sarum and Wootton Bassett were disfranchised, and Calne, Malmesbury, Westbury and Wilton lost one member each. Under the act of 1868 the county returned two members in two divisions, and Chippenham, Devizes and Marlborough lost one member each. Under the act of 1885 the county returned five members in five divisions; Cricklade, Caine, Chippenham, Devizes, Maimesbury, Marlborough, Westbury and Wilton were disfranchised; and Salisbury lost one member.
Prehistoric remains and monuments
Wiltshire is extraordinarily rich in prehistoric
antiquitiesArchaeology or archeology is the science that studies human cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of material culture and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, and landscapes...
. The
stone ageThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which humans widely used stone for toolmaking.Stone tools were made from a variety of different sorts of stone. For example, flint and chert were shaped for use as cutting tools and weapons, while basalt and sandstone were used for ground...
is represented by a number of
flintFlint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in color, and...
and stone implements, preserved in the unsurpassed collection at
Salisbury and South Wiltshire MuseumSalisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, commonly known as Salisbury Museum is a museum in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. It houses one of the best collections relating to Stonehenge and local archaeology....
.
StonehengeStonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at the centre of the...
, with its circles of giant stones, and Avebury, with its avenues of monoliths leading to what was once a
stone circleA stone circle is an ancient monument of standing stones. It is not always precisely circular, often forming an ellipse, or more rarely a setting of four stones laid on an arc of a circle. The size and number of stones in a 'circle' varies from example to example...
, surrounded by an earthwork, and enclosing two lesser circles, are the largest and most famous
megalithA megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the...
ic works in England and indeed Europe.
A valley near Avebury is filled with immense
sarsenSarsen stones are stone blocks found in quantity on Salisbury Plain, the Marlborough Downs, in Kent, and in smaller quantities in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Hampshire. They are the remains of a cap of tertiary sandstone which once covered much of southern England...
blocks, resembling a 'river of stone', and perhaps laid there by prehistoric architects. There are also menhirs, dolmens and
cromlechsA dolmen is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone . Most date from the early Neolithic period...
. Surrounded as they were by forests and marshy hollows, it is clear that the downs were densely peopled at a very early period. Circles, formed by a ditch within a bank, are common, as are grave-mounds or barrows. These have been classified according to their shape as
bell barrowA bell barrow, sometimes referred to as a Wessex type barrow, campanulate form barrow, or a bermed barrow is a type of tumulus identified as such by both John Aubrey and William Stukeley....
s,
bowl barrowA bowl barrow, sometimes referred to as a cairn circle, cairn ring, howe, kerb cairn, tump or rotunda grave is a type of tumulus first identified by John Thurnam....
s and
long barrowA long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
s. Bones, ash, tools, weapons and ornaments have been dug up from such mounds, many of which contain
kistvaenA kistvaen or cistvaen is a tomb or burial chamber formed from flat stone slabs in a box-like shape. If set completely underground, it may be covered by a tumulus. The word is derived from the Welsh cist and maen...
s or chambers of stone. The
lynchetA lynchet is a bank of earth that builds up on the downslope of a field ploughed for a long period of time. The disturbed soil slips down the hillside to create a positive lynchet while the area reduced in level becomes a negative lynchet. They are also referred to as strip lynchets.They are a...
s or terraces which score some of the hillsides are said to be the work of primitive early farmers and agriculturists.
Ancient strongholds are scattered over the county. Among the most remarkable are
Vespasian'sTitus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian , was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 69 AD until his death in 79 AD...
Camp, near Amesbury;
Silbury HillSilbury Hill is a man-made chalk mound near Avebury in the English county of Wiltshire. It is part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site, and lies at ....
, the largest artificial mound in Europe, near Avebury; the mounds of Marlborough and Old Sarum; the camps of Battlesbury and Scratchbury, near Warminster; Yarnbury, to the north of Wylye, in very perfect preservation; Casterley, on a ridgeway about east-southeast of Devizes; Whitesheet and Winkelbury, overlooking the vale of Chalk; Chisbury, near
SavernakeSavernake may refer to:* Savernake, New South Wales, Australia* Savernake Forest, a privately owned forest in the county of Wiltshire, England* Savernake railway station, a closed station on the Great Western Railway between Bedwyn and Pewsey...
; Sidbury, near
LudgershallLudgershall is the name of more than one place. The name is Anglo Saxon in origin, meaning 'nook with a trapping spear'.In the United Kingdom:*Ludgershall, Buckinghamshire*Ludgershall, Wiltshire...
; and
Figsbury RingFigsbury Ring is a 11.2 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, notified in 1975. It is owned and managed by the National Trust....
, five kilometres (3 mi) northeast of Salisbury. Ogbury, ten kilometres (6 mi) north of Salisbury, is an undoubted British enclosure.
Durrington WallsDurrington Walls is the site of a Neolithic village and later henge enclosure located in the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. It is 2 miles north east of Stonehenge in the parish of Durrington, just north of Amesbury...
, north of Amesbury, are probably the remains of a British village, and there are vestiges of others on
Salisbury PlainSalisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
and the Marlborough Downs.
Roman remains
There are many signs of the
RomanRoman Britain was those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia...
rule.
WansdykeWansdyke may refer to:*Wansdyke *Wansdyke *Wansdyke...
or
WodenWōden is a god in Anglo-Saxon paganism, together with Norse Odin representing a development of a Proto-Germanic god, *Wōdanaz. Other West Germanic forms of the name include Old High German Wuotan, Low German and Dutch Wodan....
s Dyke, one of the largest extant entrenchments, runs west for about from a point east of Savernake, nearly as far as the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, and is almost unaltered for several kilometres along the Marlborough Downs. Its date is uncertain; but the work has been proved, wherever excavated, to be Roman or
Romano-BritishRomano-British culture describes the culture that arose in Britain under the Roman Empire following the Roman conquest of AD 43 and the creation of the province of Britannia. It arose as a fusion of the imported Roman culture with that of the indigenous Britons, a people Celtic in language and custom...
. It consists of a bank, with a trench on the north side, and was clearly meant for defence, not as a boundary. Forts strengthened it at intervals.
Bokerley DykeBokerley Dyke is a Romano-British defensive ditch in north east Dorset, England, near the village Pentridge. The ditch ran for several miles, cutting across the Roman Road between Old Sarum and Badbury Rings on the Cranborne Chase ridgeway. Dated to 367 CE, it was constructed to keep the Saxon...
, which forms a part of the boundary between Wiltshire and Dorset, is the largest among several similar entrenchments, and has also a
ditchA ditch is a narrow channel dug in the earth. In military engineering and fortification, a ditch is an obstacle, designed to slow down or break up an attacking force, while a trench is intended to provide cover to the defenders.- Uses :...
north of the
rampartA defensive wall is a fortification used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
.
Monastic ruins
Chief among the few monastic buildings of which any vestiges remain are the ruined
abbeyAn abbey , is a Christian monastery or convent, under the government of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community....
s of
MalmesburyMalmesbury Abbey, at Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England, was founded as a Benedictine monastery around 676 by the scholar-poet Aldhelm, a nephew of King Ine of Wessex.-History:...
and of
LacockLacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order.- History :...
near
MelkshamMelksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated 19 km southeast of the city of Bath, 11 km south of Chippenham, 8 miles west of Devizes and 14 miles north of Warminster on the A350 national route...
. There are some traces of the hospital for
leprousLeprosy , or Hansen's disease , is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external symptom...
women afterwards converted into an Austin Priory at Maiden Bradley.
Monkton FarleighMonkton Farleigh is a small village in west Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from Bradford-on-Avon, and 5 miles from the city of Bath...
, farther north along the Somerset border, had its Cluniac
prioryA priory is a house of men or women under religious vows headed by a prior or prioress. Priories are Catholic institutions.Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the...
, founded as a cell of
LewesLewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it lies. The settlement has a long history as a bridging point and as a market town, and is today an important communications hub, and tourist-orientated town.-History:The site that is...
in the 13th century, and represented by some outbuildings of the
manor houseA manor house or fortified manor-house is a country house, which has historically formed the administrative centre of a manor , the lowest unit of territorial organization in the feudal system...
. A college for a
deanA dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
and 12 prebendaries, afterwards a
monasteryMonastery , a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer Monastery (plural: monasteries), a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios...
of Bonhommes, was founded in 1347 at
EdingtonEdington is a small village in Wiltshire, England, about five miles east of Westbury.- History :The village is believed to hold a vital place in English history, for it was probably here that King Alfred The Great won a decisive battle against the Danes at the Battle of Ethandun, thus saving the...
. The church, Decorated and Perpendicular, resembles a
cathedralA cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in size and stately beauty. The 14th century buildings of Bradenstoke Priory or Clack Abbey, founded near Chippenham for Augustinian
canonA canon is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s, were incorporated in a farmhouse.
The Priory at Bradenstoke remained occupied until 1929 when the estate was bought by
William Randolph HearstWilliam Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper magnate and leading newspaper publisher.Hearst was born in San Francisco, California, to millionaire mining engineer George Hearst and Phoebe Apperson. Following preparation at St...
, who had most of the buildings demolished. It is thought that some of the material was incorporated in
St Donat's CastleSt Donat's Castle is a medieval castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, overlooking the Bristol Channel in the village of St Donat's near Llantwit Major, and about 25km west of Cardiff...
(his property in
GlamorganGlamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...
,
South WalesSouth Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
); the priory's
tithe barnA tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
was also demolished and shipped to
Hearst CastleHearst Castle is a palatial estate on the central California coast and a National Historic Landmark. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst from 1919 until 1947. In 1957 the Hearst Corporation donated the property to the state of California...
in
San Simeon, CaliforniaSan Simeon is an unincorporated settlement on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California. Its position along State Route 1 is approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 mi away...
to be rebuilt, but Hearst lost interest in the project and sold the materials, which have recently been rediscovered, still in crates. A campaign is under way to have the barn returned and re-erected in Bradenstoke.
http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/index.html#/History/Bradenstoke%20Priory_files/Bradenstoke%20Priory.htm
Notable churches
The finest churches of Wiltshire, generally
PerpendicularIn geometry, two lines or planes , are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective. Thus, referring to Figure 1, the line AB is the perpendicular to CD through the point B...
in style, were built in the districts where good stone could be obtained, while the architecture is simpler in the
ChalkChalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. It forms under relatively deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores. It is common to find flint and chert...
region, where flint was used. Small wooden
steeplesA steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure. They may be stand-alone structures, or incorporated into the entrance or center of the...
and pyramidal bell-turrets are not uncommon; and the churches of
PurtonPurton is a large village in north Wiltshire with a current population of about 4,000. The civil parish of Purton also contains the village of Purton Stoke, and the hamlets of Bentham, Hayes Knoll, Restrop and Widham....
, five kilometres (3 1/8 mi) northwest of
SwindonSwindon is a large town and unitary borough authority in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in south west England. It is midway between Bristol, west, and Reading, east. London is east....
, and
WanboroughWanborough is a village in the borough of Swindon, Wiltshire, UK and south east of Swindon town centre.-History:In Roman times the settlement was known as Durocornovium and was a little north west of the current position, at a road junction mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary...
, five kilometres (3 mi) southeast, have each two steeples, one in the centre, one at the west end.
St. Lawrence's church at
Bradford on AvonBradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
is one of the most perfect
SaxonAnglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066....
ecclesiastical buildings in England; and elsewhere there are fragments of
SaxonAnglo-Saxons is the term usually used to describe the invading Germanic tribes in the south and east of Great Britain from the early 5th century AD, and their creation of the English nation, to the Norman conquest of 1066...
work imbedded in later
masonryMasonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone such as marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, and...
. Such are three arches in the
naveIn Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of
BritfordBritford is a village and civil parish situated 1 mile southeast of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England, just off the A338 and on the bank of the River Avon. The much larger village of Alderbury is further to the southeast....
church, within a mile of Salisbury; the east end of the
chancelIn architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse....
at
BurcombeBurcombe is a village and a civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 149. The village is about 5 miles west of Salisbury city centre. The Ship Inn at Burcombe is a 17th century village pub with whitewashed walls, low ceilings with oak beams...
, near Wilton; and parts of the churches at
BremhillBremhill is a village located between Calne and Chippenham, Wiltshire. It is notable in particular as one of the termini of Maud Heath's Causeway. Chippenham is the other, the causeway passes through Langley Burrell en route. It was also the home of the notable poet, clergyman and critic, William...
, and at Manningford Bruce or Braose in the vale of
PewseyPewsey is a large village in Wiltshire with a population of 3,237 people located approximately 80 miles west of London. It is well connected for London, the West Country and Wales being close to the M4 motorway and the A303. Also, the village is served by Pewsey railway station on the Great...
.
St. JohnJohn the Baptist was a mission preacher and a major religious figure who led a movement of Baptism at the Jordan River in expectation of a divine apocalypse that would restore occupied Israel...
's at Devizes retains its original
NormanThe term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries. In particular the term is traditionally used for English Romanesque architecture...
tower and has Norman masonry in its chancel; while the chancel of St. Mary's, in the same
townA town is a type of settlement ranging from a few hundred to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition...
, is also Norman, and the porch has characteristic Norman stone mouldings. The churches of
PreshutePreshute is a small village in Wiltshire along the A4 Bath Road on the outskirts of Marlborough beyond Marlborough College.There has been a lot of recent building in the north side of the village which is perceived as an extension of Marlborough...
, near Marlborough, Ditteridge or Ditcheridge, near
BoxBox is a village located in Wiltshire, England, about 8 km east of Bath and 11 km west of Chippenham. It is quite a large parish with several settlements, apart from the village of Box, within its boundaries....
, and Nether Avon, near Amesbury, preserve sundry Norman features.
Early English architecture is illustrated by
Salisbury CathedralSalisbury Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture.The main body was completed in only 38 years....
, its purest and most beautiful example; and, on a smaller scale, at Amesbury,
Bishops CanningsBishops Cannings is a village and civil parish in the Vale of Pewsey in the English county of Wiltshire. The parish is the third largest in Wiltshire, and includes the settlements of Coate, Horton, Bourton and Easton in addition to Bishops Cannings itself...
,
BoytonBoyton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 179, including the village of Corton, which forms part of the parish of Boyton.-Location:...
in the vale of the
River WylyeThe River Wylye is a classic southern England chalk stream; champagne clear water flowing over gravel. Consequently, it is popular with anglers keen on fly fishing.- Course :...
,
Collingbourne KingstonCollingbourne Kingston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire in England. It is one of several villages on the River Bourne, which is a seasonal river usually dry in summer....
, east of Salisbury Plain, Downton and Potterne, near Devizes.
BishopstoneBishopstone is the name of more than one place in the United Kingdom. The place name means 'Bishop's estate'.*Bishopstone, Buckinghamshire*Bishopstone, East Sussex*Bishopstone, Herefordshire*Bishopstone, Salisbury, Wiltshire...
, in the vale of Chalk, has the finest
DecoratedDecorated can have several meanings:*In architecture, the Decorated Period refers to a period and style of mediaeval Gothic architecture....
church in the county, with a curious external
cloisterthumb|250px|right|Cloister of Saint Trophimus, in [[Arles]], [[France]]thumb|250px|right|Cloister of [[Abbaye de Fontenay]], in [[Marmagne]], [[France]]...
, and unique south chancel doorway, recessed beneath a stone canopy.
mereMere is a small town in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset....
, close to the borders of Dorset and Somerset, is interesting not only for its Perpendicular church, but for a mediæval
chantryChantry is the English term for the establishment of an institutional chapel on private land or within a greater church, where a priest would celebrate Mass. The same term is also used for the endowment itself. The word derives from the Latin cantaria, meaning 'licence to sing mass'...
, used as a schoolhouse by Barnes, the Dorset poet, and for its 14th century dwelling-houses.
Castles
The
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
s of Wiltshire have been almost entirely swept away. At Old Sarum, Marlboroughand Devizes only a few vestiges are left in remnant walls and vaults.
Castle CombeCastle Combe is a small village in Wiltshire, England, with a population of about 350. It is renowned for its attractiveness and tranquillity, and for fine buildings including the medieval church. The fourteenth century Market Cross, erected when the privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle...
and
TrowbridgeTrowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset...
castle have long been demolished, and of
LudgershallLudgershall is the name of more than one place. The name is Anglo Saxon in origin, meaning 'nook with a trapping spear'.In the United Kingdom:*Ludgershall, Buckinghamshire*Ludgershall, Wiltshire...
castle only a small fragment survives. The ruins of
WardourWardour may refer to:* Wardour Castle, a castle in Wiltshire* Wardour Street, a street in Westminster* Wardour, a neighborhood in Annapolis, Maryland...
castle, standing in a richly wooded park near
TisburyThe small town of Tisbury lies approximately west of Salisbury in the county of Wiltshire.With a population at the 2001 census of 2,056it is an important local centre for communities around the upper River Nadder and Vale of Wardour...
, date from the 14th century, and consist of a hexagonal outer wall of great height, enclosing an open court. Two towers overlook the entrance. The 18th century castle, one mile distant, across the park, is noteworthy for its collection of paintings, and, among other curiosities, for the Glastonbury Cup, said to be fashioned out of a branch of the celebrated thorn tree at
GlastonburyGlastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town has a population of 8,800...
.
Manor houses
The number of
mansionA mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. realtors define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
s, old country houses and stately homes is a marked feature in Wiltshire. Few parishes, especially in the north west of the county, are without their old manor house, usually converted into a farm, but preserving its
flaggedFlagstone, or flag, is a type of flat stone, usually used for paving slabs, but also for making fences or roofing. It may also be used for making memorials or headstones in a cemetery...
roof, stone-mullioned windows, gabled front, two-storeyed porch and oak-panelled interior. Place House, in
TisburyThe small town of Tisbury lies approximately west of Salisbury in the county of Wiltshire.With a population at the 2001 census of 2,056it is an important local centre for communities around the upper River Nadder and Vale of Wardour...
, and Barton Farm, at Bradford-upon-Avon, date from the 14th century. While 15th century work is best exemplified in the manor houses of
NorringtonNorrington may refer to:* James Norrington, a fictional character in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy* Norrington Table, an annual ranking that lists the colleges of the University of Oxford in order of the performance of their undergraduate students on that year's final...
, in the vale of Chalk; Teffont Evias, in the vale of the
River NadderThe River Nadder is one of the chalk stream rivers of southern England, much sought after by fly fishermen because of its clear waters and abundance of brown trout. It is one of the main tributaries of the River Avon, rising from a number of springs and small streams at Donhead St. Mary in south...
; Potterne; and Great Chaldfield, near
Monkton FarleighMonkton Farleigh is a small village in west Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from Bradford-on-Avon, and 5 miles from the city of Bath...
. At
South WraxallSouth Wraxall Manor is a Grade I listed country house which dates from the early 15th century, located in Wiltshire, near Bradford on Avon, England...
the hall of a very beautiful house of the same period is celebrated in local tradition as the spot where
tobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it most commonly appears in the forms of smoking, chewing, snuffing, or...
was first smoked in England by Sir
Walter RaleighSir Walter Raleigh, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall was a English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, and explorer.Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne...
and his host, Sir Walter Long.
Later styles are represented by
Longford CastleLongford Castle is located on the banks of the River Avon south of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.In 1573 Thomas Gorges, of Langford acquired the manor , which was originally owned by the Cervingtons. Prior to this the existing mansion house had been damaged by fire...
, near Salisbury, where the picture galleries are of great interest; by
HeytesburyHeytesbury is a village in Wiltshire, England, in the Wylye Valley, about three miles south of Warminster.-History:John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Heytesbury as follows:...
House; by
Wilton HouseWilton House is an English country house situated at Wilton near Salisbury in Wiltshire. It has been the country seat of the Earls of Pembroke for over 400 years....
at Wilton, Kingston House at Bradford-upon-Avon,
Bowood HouseBowood is a grade I listed Georgian country house with interiors by Robert Adam and a garden designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. It is adjacent to the village of Derry Hill, halfway between Calne and Chippenham in Wiltshire, England.- History :...
near
CalneCalne is a town in Wiltshire, England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
,
LongleatLongleat is an English country house, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park. The house is set...
near Warminster,
Corsham CourtCorsham Court is an English country house in a park designed by Capability Brown. It is in the town of Corsham, 3 miles west of Chippenham, Wiltshire and is notable for its fine art collection, based on the nucleus of paintings inherited in 1757 by Paul Methuen from his uncle, Sir Paul...
at
CorshamCorsham is a historic market town in northwest Wiltshire, England. It is at the southwestern extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
,
LittlecoteLittlecote may refer to:*Littlecote House in Wiltshire*Littlecote Roman Villa in Wiltshire*Littlecote in Buckinghamshire...
near Ramsbury, Chariton House near Malmesbury,
Compton ChamberlayneCompton Chamberlayne is a small village in south Wiltshire, straddling the A30 road some 8 miles from Salisbury. It is bounded by the villages of Dinton and Baverstock to the north, Barford St Martin to the east, Fovant to the west and Broad Chalke to the south. On its southern border there is high...
in the Nadder valley,
GrittletonGrittleton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, 7 miles NW of Chippenham, Wiltshire at .The Grittleton House estate is the home of Grittleton House School, which was founded in 1951....
House and the modern
Castle CombeCastle Combe is a small village in Wiltshire, England, with a population of about 350. It is renowned for its attractiveness and tranquillity, and for fine buildings including the medieval church. The fourteenth century Market Cross, erected when the privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle...
, both near Chippenham and
StourheadStourhead is a 2,650 acre estate at the source of the River Stour near Mere, Wiltshire, England. The estate includes a Palladian mansion, the village of Stourton, gardens, farmland, and woodland...
, on the borders of Dorset and Somerset. Each of these is noteworthy for its architecture, its art treasures, the care lavished upon them or the beauty of their surroundings.