Snap, Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
Snap is an abandoned village
near Aldbourne
in Wiltshire
, England. It is unusual in that it was not abandoned until the 20th century.
The village was recorded in 1268 under the name of Snape. It was always a small place: in the 14th century there were 19 poll-tax payers, in 1773 there were between 5 and 10 cottages and in the 1851 Census
the population was 41. In 1905, Henry Wilson, a butcher from Ramsbury
, bought the two farms in the village and converted them from arable
to sheep farming, which deprived the villagers of their work. By 1909 there were only 2 residents, and by 1914 the village was deserted.
Most of the buildings were destroyed when the site was used for military training in the First World War, and were later plundered for building materials. Only earthworks
are now visible. The name is remembered in Snap Farm.
The site lies near the Ridgeway National Trail.
Abandoned village
An abandoned village is a village that has, for some reason, been deserted. In many countries, and throughout history, thousands of villages were deserted for a variety of causes...
near Aldbourne
Aldbourne
Aldbourne is a village and civil parish about northeast of Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. It is in a valley in the south slope of the Lambourn Downs, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West 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...
, England. It is unusual in that it was not abandoned until the 20th century.
The village was recorded in 1268 under the name of Snape. It was always a small place: in the 14th century there were 19 poll-tax payers, in 1773 there were between 5 and 10 cottages and in the 1851 Census
United Kingdom Census 1851
The United Kingdom Census of 1851 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of 30 March 1851, and was the second of the UK censuses to include details of household members...
the population was 41. In 1905, Henry Wilson, a butcher from Ramsbury
Ramsbury
Ramsbury is a village in Ramsbury and Axford civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire. The village is in the Kennet Valley near the Berkshire boundary. The nearest towns are Hungerford about east and Marlborough about west. The much larger town of Swindon is about to the north.The civil...
, bought the two farms in the village and converted them from arable
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
to sheep farming, which deprived the villagers of their work. By 1909 there were only 2 residents, and by 1914 the village was deserted.
Most of the buildings were destroyed when the site was used for military training in the First World War, and were later plundered for building materials. Only earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
are now visible. The name is remembered in Snap Farm.
The site lies near the Ridgeway National Trail.