South Newton, Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
South Newton is a village and civil parish about 4 miles (6.4 km) north-west of Salisbury
in Wiltshire
, England
. The village straddles the A36 road
. Topologically it lies between chalk downs to the north-east and downland with Grovely Wood to the south-west. In the valley is the River Wylye
with water meadows. The Wessex Main Line
railway passes the village on the opposite bank of the River Wylye.
There has been a settlement in the village since Saxon times
and South Newton is largely a 10th century estate which stretched from the River Wylye to the ridge of the hills to the north-east. The village originated at about the same time as its three neighbours Stoford, Chilhampton and Little Wishford, each village having a strip of land down to the river and up onto the downland of the drainage area.
The size of South Newton has changed over the centuries. In the mid-nineteenth century the parish included part of North Ugford and part of the present day Wilton
. Various other portions have been ceded to other parishes during the last 150 years. About 300 yards (274.3 m) south of the church is an ancient watermill
on the banks of the River Wylye
The railway between Salisbury and Westbury past the village was completed in 1856, when Wishford railway station was opened at Great Wishford
about 1 miles (1.6 km) north-west of South Newton. British Rail
ways closed Wishford station in 1955 but the railway remains open as part of the Wessex Main Line.
of Saint Andrew
is at the east end of the village. The church was dedicated to Saint Andrew in 1763, but there are features which show a much earlier history. The church was constructed largely of rubblestone
with ashlar
dressing. There are some areas of flint and stonework chequering. In 1861-2 the church underwent radical reconstruction to designs by T.H. Wyatt
.
The tower was rebuilt in the 14th century. In 1553 it had four bells, two of which are survive as the current tenor and second bell. They were cast by the Salisbury foundry, one in about 1400 and the other in about 1499. The present tenor bell was cast by John Wallis of Salisbury in 1610. The remaining bells that complete the current ring
of six were cast by John Warner of Cripplegate
in London: one in 1862 and the treble and second bell in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
.
, The Bell Inn. South Newton has a cricket club and a junior football club.
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
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
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 village straddles the A36 road
A36 road
The A36 is a trunk road and primary route in England that links the port city of Southampton to the city of Bath. At Bath, the A36 connects with the A4 road to Bristol, thus enabling a road link between the major ports of Southampton and Bristol. Originally, the A36 continued onto Avonmouth, but...
. Topologically it lies between chalk downs to the north-east and downland with Grovely Wood to the south-west. In the valley is the River Wylye
River Wylye
The 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 :...
with water meadows. The Wessex Main Line
Wessex Main Line
The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. Diverging from this route is the Heart of Wessex Line from Westbury to Weymouth.- Places served :The places served are listed below.*Bristol*Keynsham*Oldfield Park*Bath...
railway passes the village on the opposite bank of the River Wylye.
History
There is scant evidence of significant prehistoric habitation in South Newton.There has been a settlement in the village since Saxon times
History of Anglo-Saxon England
Anglo-Saxon England refers to the period of the history of that part of Britain, that became known as England, lasting from the end of Roman occupation and establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror...
and South Newton is largely a 10th century estate which stretched from the River Wylye to the ridge of the hills to the north-east. The village originated at about the same time as its three neighbours Stoford, Chilhampton and Little Wishford, each village having a strip of land down to the river and up onto the downland of the drainage area.
The size of South Newton has changed over the centuries. In the mid-nineteenth century the parish included part of North Ugford and part of the present day Wilton
Wilton
- England :*Wilton, Cumbria, a place in the county of Cumbria*Wilton, Herefordshire, a village in south Herefordshire*Wilton, North Yorkshire, a place in the county of North Yorkshire*Wilton, Redcar and Cleveland, a place in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland...
. Various other portions have been ceded to other parishes during the last 150 years. About 300 yards (274.3 m) south of the church is an ancient watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
on the banks of the River Wylye
The railway between Salisbury and Westbury past the village was completed in 1856, when Wishford railway station was opened at Great Wishford
Great Wishford
Great Wishford is a village in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, 3 miles north of Wilton, Wiltshire and approximately 5 miles northwest of Salisbury. It is situated at a curve in the Wylye river, and has a triangular street layout comprising South Street, West Street and Station Road.-History:The...
about 1 miles (1.6 km) north-west of South Newton. British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways closed Wishford station in 1955 but the railway remains open as part of the Wessex Main Line.
Parish church
The Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew , called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" , like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him...
is at the east end of the village. The church was dedicated to Saint Andrew in 1763, but there are features which show a much earlier history. The church was constructed largely of rubblestone
Rubble masonry
Rubble masonry is rough, unhewn building stone set in mortar, but not laid in regular courses. It may appear as the outer surface of a wall or may fill the core of a wall which is faced with unit masonry such as brick or cut stone....
with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressing. There are some areas of flint and stonework chequering. In 1861-2 the church underwent radical reconstruction to designs by T.H. Wyatt
Thomas Henry Wyatt
Thomas Henry Wyatt was an Irish British architect. He had a prolific and distinguished career, being elected President of the Royal Institute of British Architects 1870-73 and awarded their Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1873...
.
The tower was rebuilt in the 14th century. In 1553 it had four bells, two of which are survive as the current tenor and second bell. They were cast by the Salisbury foundry, one in about 1400 and the other in about 1499. The present tenor bell was cast by John Wallis of Salisbury in 1610. The remaining bells that complete the current ring
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
of six were cast by John Warner of Cripplegate
Cripplegate
Cripplegate was a city gate in the London Wall and a name for the region of the City of London outside the gate. The area was almost entirely destroyed by bombing in World War II and today is the site of the Barbican Estate and Barbican Centre...
in London: one in 1862 and the treble and second bell in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was celebrated on June 20, 1887. Victoria marked the fiftieth anniversary of her accession on June 20, 1887 with a banquet to which 50 European kings and princes were invited.-History:...
.
Local Economy
The village has a small light industrial estate containing about 10 businesses. Nearby is a large building and maintenance company. The village also has a large neuro-physiological rehabilitation nursing home. These companies provide significant local employment.Social Amenities
The village has a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, The Bell Inn. South Newton has a cricket club and a junior football club.