Dauntsey Vale
Encyclopedia
The Dauntsey Vale is a geographical feature in the north of the English
county
of Wiltshire
.
It is characterised by a wide flat clay flood plain of the upper reaches of the Bristol Avon river, which divides the Cotswolds to the west with the chalk downland of east and south Wiltshire to the east.
It is unusually triangular in shape with the north edge running from the town of Wootton Bassett
in the east to Malmesbury in the west. This prominent north ridge is the setting for the village of Brinkworth
, which at five miles long, claims to be the longest village in England
.
The western edge of the Vale
is the edge of the Cotswolds
running from Malmesbury to Chippenham
in the south. The edge of the Cotswolds
here is by no means as pronounced as the classic escarpment
which forms the western edge of the Cotswolds. It is characterised by a gradual drop in level, but more in the different building materials of the villages. For instance, Stanton St Quintin
above the Vale has a distinct Cotswolds
feel with the typical honey-coloured building stone and roof slates, while villages just a few miles away to the east like Christian Malford
and Sutton Benger
have typically thatched homes.
The eastern edge of the Vale is more pronounced, with a steep and high hill forming a ridge running from Wootton Bassett
in the north to close to Calne
in the south. This ridge top provides the location for RAF Lyneham
, the home until recently of the RAF's Hercules
transport planes.
It takes its name from the village of Dauntsey
in the centre of the vale.
pasture land. It was once a major milk and cheese producing area. Today, much dairy still survives but is increasingly being replaced by arable
farming, some sheep grazing and especially equestrian
use.
been used as a major route to cross southern England
, providing a manageable descent from the chalk highlands of eastern Wiltshire
to Bristol
and Bath below.
The first to do so was the Wilts and Berks Canal
, whose course hugged the foot of the eastern ridge.
Brunel then used the Vale for the first Great Western Railway
line from London
to Bath and Bristol
, which was followed by the line to South Wales
in 1901, which splits from the original line at Wootton Bassett
.
Finally, the M4 motorway
descends across the Vale from north east to south west, and cuts through the lesser eastern Cotswolds
scarp at Stanton St Quintin
.
, near Chippenham
. She walked to market every week in Chippenham and amassed a small fortune. With no descendants she ordered that her money be spent building an elaborate and lengthy causeway from her village to Chippenham to provide a safe and dry route. Much of Maud Heath's Causeway
still survives, particularly where it crosses the Avon. A statue of her was erected on the eastern scarp overlooking the vale above East Tytherton in Victorian times.
Captain Mark Phillips
. The first husband of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal
, and father to Peter Phillips
and Zara Phillips
, had his ancestral home at Great Somerford
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of 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...
.
It is characterised by a wide flat clay flood plain of the upper reaches of the Bristol Avon river, which divides the Cotswolds to the west with the chalk downland of east and south Wiltshire to the east.
It is unusually triangular in shape with the north edge running from the town of Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
in the east to Malmesbury in the west. This prominent north ridge is the setting for the village of Brinkworth
Brinkworth
Brinkworth could be*Brinkworth, South Australia*Brinkworth, Wiltshire, UK...
, which at five miles long, claims to be the longest village in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The western edge of the Vale
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
is the edge of the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
running from Malmesbury to Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
in the south. The edge of the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
here is by no means as pronounced as the classic escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
which forms the western edge of the Cotswolds. It is characterised by a gradual drop in level, but more in the different building materials of the villages. For instance, Stanton St Quintin
Stanton St Quintin
- External links :...
above the Vale has a distinct Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
feel with the typical honey-coloured building stone and roof slates, while villages just a few miles away to the east like Christian Malford
Christian Malford
Christian Malford is a small village in the county of Wiltshire in England. The unusual name is evidently a corruption of Christ mal Ford, Old English moel, mal being a mark: "Christ’s mal" is Christ’s mark or sign, the cross. The name signified "Cross Ford". Deeds from Glastonbury Abbey cartulary...
and Sutton Benger
Sutton Benger
Sutton Benger is a small village in the county of Wiltshire in England located North East of Chippenham. In the Survey of English Dialects, the recording from the village was one of the furthest away from Standard English that was recorded. The village was the home of shopkeeper Joseph Fry,...
have typically thatched homes.
The eastern edge of the Vale is more pronounced, with a steep and high hill forming a ridge running from Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
in the north to close to Calne
Calne
Calne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
in the south. This ridge top provides the location for RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...
, the home until recently of the RAF's Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transport planes.
It takes its name from the village of Dauntsey
Dauntsey
Dauntsey is a small village in the county of Wiltshire in England. It gives its name to the Dauntsey Vale in which it lies and takes its name from Saxon for Dantes- eig, or Dante's island...
in the centre of the vale.
Agriculture and land use
The Dauntsey Vale, with its wet and lush green fields, is traditionally dairyDairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
pasture land. It was once a major milk and cheese producing area. Today, much dairy still survives but is increasingly being replaced by 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,...
farming, some sheep grazing and especially equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
use.
Transport
With its flat and steady descent, the Dauntsey Vale has since the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
been used as a major route to cross southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, providing a manageable descent from the chalk highlands of eastern 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...
to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and Bath below.
The first to do so was the Wilts and Berks Canal
Wilts and Berks Canal
The Wilts & Berks Canal is a canal in the historic counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire, England, linking the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington, near Melksham, to the River Thames at Abingdon. The North Wilts Canal merged with it to become a branch to the Thames and Severn Canal at Latton near...
, whose course hugged the foot of the eastern ridge.
Brunel then used the Vale for the first Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
line from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Bath and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, which was followed by the line to South Wales
South Wales
South 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...
in 1901, which splits from the original line at Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
.
Finally, the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
descends across the Vale from north east to south west, and cuts through the lesser eastern Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
scarp at Stanton St Quintin
Stanton St Quintin
- External links :...
.
Dauntsey Vale people
Maud Heath, a 15th century widow who lived at East TythertonEast Tytherton
East Tytherton is a village and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. Its nearest town is Chippenham, which lies approximately south-west from the hamlet. The civil parish contains the settlements of Kellaways and Tytherton Lucas....
, near Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
. She walked to market every week in Chippenham and amassed a small fortune. With no descendants she ordered that her money be spent building an elaborate and lengthy causeway from her village to Chippenham to provide a safe and dry route. Much of Maud Heath's Causeway
Maud Heath's Causeway
Maud Heath's Causeway is a pathway in rural Wiltshire which rises above the Avon floodplain on sixty-four brick arches, as it carries an undistinguished country road between Bremhill and Langley Burrell....
still survives, particularly where it crosses the Avon. A statue of her was erected on the eastern scarp overlooking the vale above East Tytherton in Victorian times.
Captain Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips
-Ancestry:-Issue:-Sources:...
. The first husband of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, and father to Peter Phillips
Peter Mark Andrew Phillips
Peter Mark Andrew Phillips is the only son of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. He is the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh....
and Zara Phillips
Zara Phillips
Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, MBE is the second child and only daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips and is 13th in the line of succession to the throne...
, had his ancestral home at Great Somerford
Great Somerford
Great Somerford is a village within Dauntsey Vale, Wiltshire, England, situated next to the river Avon. It lies approximately west of London and west of Swindon.-Amenities:* Church of St. Peter & St...
.