WOODBOROUGH
The parish of Woodborough lies mainly in the
Vale of Pewsey some 7 miles from Devizes and
3½ miles from Pewsey. (fn. 1) It is roughly rectangular
but with a north-western projection taking in the
hamlet of Honey Street. Its 1,023 a. are bounded in
the south by the road to Pewsey and by the path
which was perhaps an older, more direct, road to
Pewsey, and also by a small stream flowing westwards towards Beechingstoke and eventually into the
Christchurch Avon. The western boundary is also
marked by a stream, flowing southwards from the
Kennet & Avon Canal to the Avon. From Honey
Street the northern boundary turns south and for a
short distance follows the Avebury-Amesbury road.
Part of this road is on the Ridge Way, called Honey
Street where it crossed the muddy part of the
Pewsey Vale, from which the hamlet took its name. (fn. 2)
The boundary then loops northwards and eastwards
to enclose Woodborough Hill, and passes southwards
to join the old path to Pewsey in the south-east.
Lower Chalk outcrops in the north of the parish,
above about 425 ft., but there are Upper Greensand
outcrops in the rest of the parish, covered by
alluvium around the confluence of the two boundary
streams in the extreme south-west. The land slopes
generally north-east to south-west. In the northeast Woodborough Hill rises to 671 ft., but there is
lower land, below 375 ft., in the centre and southeast where the stream flowing out of the Altons has
cut a valley through the parish. Except for the lowlying and wetter places near to this stream most of
the parish is open to cultivation. The chalk outcrops
of the north have favoured arable cultivation except
near the summit of the hill where the gradient is
steep, and in the well drained parts of the south the
greensand has favoured both meadow and arable
cultivation.
Romano-British discoveries have been made near
Honey Street (fn. 3) but, apart from that, there is no
evidence of ancient settlement in the parish.
Woodborough was assessed for taxation in 1334 at
28s. and there were 47 poll-tax payers in 1377. (fn. 4)
Both those totals were comparatively low and the
parish was evidently no more prosperous by the 16th
century. Only the rector was assessed for taxation in
1545, and the assessment for the subsidy of 1576
was also low. (fn. 5) In the 19th century, however, it is
possible that developments in farming and commerce
(see below) resulted in greater relative prosperity
in the parish. In 1801 the population was 326 and it
rose to a peak of over 400 in the decade 1851–61.
It then declined to 363 in 1871, partly because men
temporarily resident in 1861 to build the railway had
left the parish, but rose again to 424 in 1891. It has
slowly declined since then and was 270 in 1971. (fn. 6)
Two roads provide access to the parish. The
Avebury-Amesbury road crosses the west of the
parish from north to south. That road was turnpiked under an Act of 1840 (fn. 7) and improved in 1842
by Samuel Robbins, (fn. 8) possibly in order to distribute
more easily coal arriving at his Honey Street wharf.
Leading eastwards from that road is the road to
Pewsey, and a green road also leads from it to
Stanton St. Bernard and All Cannings.
Woodborough was crossed by the Kennet & Avon
Canal in 1807. (fn. 9) The whole canal was complete in
1810 providing inland water communication between Bristol and London. (fn. 10) In 1811 work was
started on building a wharf at Honey Street which
became a local distribution centre for cargoes
carried on the canal, especially coal. (fn. 11) Passenger
barges also used the canal and people may have
been conveyed by this means to the market at
Devizes. From 1862, however, Devizes could be
reached by rail from Woodborough, for in that year
the Berks. & Hants Extension Railway was opened. (fn. 12)
That did not cross the parish but the village was
served by a station called Woodborough station in
Beechingstoke parish. The line, extended southwest to Westbury in 1900, gave rapid access to
London and was used to carry the dairy produce of
the parish to the markets there. (fn. 13) Woodborough
station was closed in 1966. (fn. 14)
There are four main areas of settlement in
Woodborough. The oldest and largest is south-west
of the church. It lies on the Upper Greensand, most
of it between the 375 ft. and 400 ft. contours.
The church and several large farm-houses are
situated there. The streets and paths make the form
of an M based on the Pewsey road. On the west of
the base are Manor House and the post office. At the
end of Church Lane, which forms the eastern arm of
the M, is the church. South-west of it are the Old
Rectory and the Methodist chapel. East of it is
Church Farm. A large 19th-century house is at the
south end of Church Lane and the new Rectory is
also in the lane. Beside the Rectory is a 17thcentury thatched cottage having a front gable with
exposed timbering, and possibly comprising parts
of an older cottage. There are several other 17thcentury cottages in the village; a group of 18thcentury cottages stands at the south end of Church
Lane; and there are some 20th-century council
houses opposite the Rectory. Another area of old
settlement, known locally as Little Woodborough, is
about ½ mile west of the village at the junction of
the old Avebury-Amesbury and Pewsey roads. The
village smithy and the Rose and Crown stood there. (fn. 15)
In the later 18th century it was the custom to adjourn
the biennial meeting of Swanborough hundred
court at Swanborough Tump to the Rose and
Crown. (fn. 16) After the railway was built, however, a new
section of the Avebury-Amesbury road was made
east of Little Woodborough and the settlement
there declined. The Rose and Crown had become
a temperance hotel by 1915 and was demolished
soon afterwards. (fn. 17) Settlement grew up at the junction
of the Pewsey road and the new Avebury-Amesbury
road and the Station Hotel was built there between
1903 and 1907. (fn. 18) By the late 18th century at the
latest there was a settlement at Honey Street. (fn. 19)
It was enlarged after the wharf was built in 1811 and
other economic activity developed around it. In 1854
buildings at the wharf were burnt. They were
rebuilt and the wharf enlarged in 1855 and the
chimney, which has become a local landmark, was
built in 1859. (fn. 20) Although the building of which it
formed part has been replaced, the chimney was
still standing in 1969. In 1871 a workmen's hall was
erected and church services were regularly held
there, (fn. 21) but the hall was derelict by the mid 20th
century. Honey Street is served by the Barge
public house which, although part of the hamlet, is
situated in the parish of Stanton St. Bernard.
Between Honey Street and Little Woodborough is
a small group of cottages and early-20th-century
council houses beside the Avebury-Amesbury road.
Manors.
Saulf held Woodborough T.R.E. (fn. 22)
Robert son of Gerald held it in 1086 and was
succeeded by his nephew William de Roumare,
created earl of Lincoln c. 1141, who, after a period
of defiance to the king, entered his inheritance in
1128. (fn. 23) William was succeeded before 1161 by his
grandson William (d.s.p. c. 1198) who was then a
minor. He was of age by 1166 when his lands
probably included the manor of WOODBOROUGH
since land in Wiltshire was held of him by John
Rivers whose forebear Jocelin held Woodborough
of Robert son of Gerald in 1086. (fn. 24) In the time of
Richard I the manor was held by Geoffrey son of
Peter, earl of Essex, but it is unclear how he acquired
it. (fn. 25) He may have acquired it in 1185 with the
inheritance of his brother Robert, for the inheritance
included the manor of Cherhill of which the manor
of Woodborough was later held, and it is therefore
possible that Woodborough passed from William de
Roumare to Robert son of Peter in the period
1166–85. (fn. 26) It is also possible, however, that
Geoffrey son of Peter acquired the manor in some
other way. Geoffrey was succeeded in 1213 by his
sons Geoffrey de Mandeville (d. 1216) and William
de Mandeville (d. 1227), both earls of Essex. (fn. 27)
Part of William's inheritance passed to John son
of Geoffrey, his half-brother, who held the manor
in 1235–6, (fn. 28) and John (d. 1258) was succeeded
by his son John. (fn. 29) Except between 1265 and 1268,
when he was deprived of his lands for opposition to
Henry III, (fn. 30) John son of John seems to have held it
until his death in 1275, (fn. 31) and was succeeded by his
son Richard who died seised in 1297. (fn. 32)
The lands of Richard son of John were partitioned
after his death and the manor was allotted to his
eldest sister Maud, wife of William de Beauchamp,
earl of Warwick. (fn. 33) She died in 1301 when it presumably passed to her son Guy, earl of Warwick
(d. 1315), who was succeeded by his infant son
Thomas. (fn. 34) In 1329 Thomas, earl of Warwick,
entered his lands and in 1361 settled the manor on
himself and his wife, and on his heirs. (fn. 35) His first
son, Guy, died without issue and he was succeeded
in 1369 by Thomas, his second son, (fn. 36) who held it
until his disinheritance in 1397. (fn. 37) There is no
evidence that the manor was subsequently granted
by Richard II, but, if it was, it may either have
been to Roger Mortimer, earl of March (d. 1399),
who was apparently granted the advowson of
Woodborough church, or to John, marquess of
Dorset, who had the manor of Cherhill. (fn. 38) In 1400,
however, Woodborough was restored with his other
lands to Thomas, earl of Warwick, who died seised
in the following year and was succeeded by his son
Richard (d. 1439). (fn. 39) Richard's heir was his son
Henry, created duke of Warwick 1445, who died
seised in 1446. (fn. 40) The manor may then have been
allotted as dower to Cecily, Henry's widow. (fn. 41) In
1477 it was held by George, duke of Clarence, (fn. 42) so
that it presumably reverted, after the death of
Cecily in 1450, to the heirs of Henry, duke of
Warwick. Since his daughter Anne had died
without issue, the manor probably passed to Anne,
countess of Warwick, sister of Henry and wife of
Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. It may then have
been allotted to George, duke of Clarence, who, with
Richard, duke of Gloucester, was granted Richard
Neville's lands after his death in 1471 at the battle
of Barnet in the rights of their wives, Richard's
daughters, as if Anne, countess of Warwick, was
already dead. (fn. 43) The manor thus seems to have been
held by George, duke of Clarence, from 1471 until
it passed to the Crown on his attainder in 1478. (fn. 44)
After the victory of Henry VII in 1485 the exclusion
of Anne, countess of Warwick, was reversed, and
her lands restored, but only to enable her to convey
them to the king in 1487. (fn. 45)
Robert son of Gerald's feoffee at Woodborough in
1086 was Jocelin, almost certainly Jocelin Rivers
who held Zeals in Mere. (fn. 46) The manor descended in
the Rivers family. It was held in the 12th century by
Walter Rivers whose son John succeeded him. (fn. 47)
John Rivers was succeeded by his son Walter who
died during the overlordship of Geoffrey son of
Peter (d. 1213), and whose daughter and heir
Cecily was a minor in Geoffrey's wardship. When
Cecily died without issue, probably before 1208,
the manor reverted to the five daughters of the elder
Walter Rivers. (fn. 48)
One portion was apparently held by Reynold
Rivers in 1208 perhaps as heir to one of Walter
Rivers's daughters. (fn. 49) Reynold died before 1241
leaving a daughter as heir, (fn. 50) but the land was held
until at least 1249 by his widow Gillian. (fn. 51) It
somehow passed by 1258 to Richard Rivers,
presumably another relative of the elder Walter
Rivers. Richard was apparently succeeded by Adam
Rivers who held that portion at least from 1278 to
1310. (fn. 52) His heir was his son Richard who was seised
in 1315. (fn. 53) In 1331 Iseult, widow of Adam Rivers,
still held some of the land as dower, but the rest of
this portion of the manor was conveyed by Richard
Rivers to John Berner. Remainder after the death of
John and his wife was to Peter Rivers who had
married Margaret, daughter of John Berner, (fn. 54) but
after 1331 the Rivers family was not mentioned as
holding land in Woodborough and this portion of
the manor seems to have descended in the Berner
family. Another John Berner held land in
Woodborough in 1361. (fn. 55) He probably died c. 1385
leaving as heirs his widow Joan and two daughters,
Joan, and Alice, wife of Thomas Faringdon. The
widow Joan and Joan her daughter conveyed their
land in 1387 to trustees of John Clevedon, and in
1388 Thomas and Alice did the same with their
land. (fn. 56)
A second portion of the manor was held in 1242 by
Galiena of Turville, by 1249 the wife of William
of Grimstead. (fn. 57) They were apparently succeeded
by John Grimstead, a claimant to the advowson
of Woodborough church in 1310. (fn. 58) In 1306 John
granted his land in Woodborough to his eldest son
William, who died without issue. The land passed
to John Grimstead's second son John who had sons
named John and Thomas. John died without issue
and the land passed to Thomas Grimstead. Thomas
also died without issue, and his portion of the manor
passed to Peter Grimstead, the third son of the
elder John Grimstead. (fn. 59) The land, however, was
apparently held of Peter for life by Gillian, widow
of the eldest John, (fn. 60) who held it in 1326. (fn. 61) In 1350
Peter granted reversion in these lands to Thomas
of Zeals, possibly the son of Gillian and John of
Zeals, and in 1354, possibly after the death of
Gillian, Peter quitclaimed his land in Woodborough
to Thomas. (fn. 62) Subsequently this portion of the
manor may have been acquired by Matthew
Clevedon whose family, like the Riverses and
Thomas of Zeals, also had interests in Zeals. (fn. 63)
In 1386 Matthew declared that John Berner had not
released to him the land of Thomas of Zeals, and it
is likely that the then unconsummated conveyance
later took place. (fn. 64) Matthew was dead by 1391 when
his lands were settled on his son, John Clevedon. (fn. 65)
The two portions of the elder Walter Rivers's
land held by John Clevedon were known together
as the manor of Woodborough. (fn. 66) John still held the
land in 1412. (fn. 67) but was dead by 1443 when it was
held by his widow Alice. (fn. 68) She died c. 1457 when
the land was settled on John Clevedon of Corton
with reversion at his death to the coheirs of John
and Alice Clevedon. They were their daughters
Jane, Elizabeth, and Isabel, the wives of William
Hyndeston (possibly Hillersdon), John More, and
Robert Whiting. (fn. 69)
After the death of John Clevedon of Corton in
1477 two-thirds of the manor seem to have reverted
to the heirs of John Clevedon (d. by 1443), later
named as John More, Robert Whiting, and Robert
Hillersdon, possibly the heir of William Hyndeston,
or the second husband of his widow. (fn. 70) In 1483 they
leased the land, (fn. 71) later called Hillersdons farm, (fn. 72)
and they still held it in 1496. (fn. 73) Afterwards, however,
it was allotted to Joan, widow of Robert Hillersdon
(d. 1499), who leased it in 1513. (fn. 74) Her heir was her
son, Andrew Hillersdon (probably d. 1539), who
was succeeded by his son John (d. 1568 or 1569). (fn. 75)
John apparently settled the land on his son Andrew
who conveyed it to John Bartlett of All Cannings in
1564. (fn. 76) That conveyance was apparently confirmed in
1580 by a quitclaim of Christopher, son of Andrew
Hillersdon, to John Bartlett (d. 1585). (fn. 77) Meanwhile
Bartlett had already conveyed his interests in the
land to his brother Edmund (d. 1583) who had
possibly been the lessee since 1546. (fn. 78) Edmund
Bartlett died while his son Edward was a minor, and
Edward did not enter the lands until 1603, when he
immediately sold his part of the manor to Edward
Hooper and his son Thomas. (fn. 79) Edward Hooper
occupied the land in 1604, (fn. 80) but by 1618 it had been
sold to William Button. (fn. 81)
The other third of John Clevedon of Corton's
manor passed at his death in 1477 to his son, also
called John Clevedon, (fn. 82) who seems to have been
succeeded by George Clevedon. George's daughter
and heir Mary, wife of William Smith, sold the land,
then and later called the manor of Woodborough, (fn. 83)
but hereinafter referred to as Woodborough farm,
to William Button in 1546. (fn. 84) Button was succeeded
in 1547 by his son William. (fn. 85) That William was
succeeded in 1591 by his second son William who
entered and died seised in 1599 leaving another
William Button (d. 1654–5) as his heir. (fn. 86) It was this
last William Button who bought Hillersdons farm.
William Button's composite manor of Woodborough descended in the same way as the manor
of Lyneham to the Walker-Heneage family. (fn. 87) In 1862
George Walker-Heneage sold it to Welbore Agar,
earl of Normanton, and it passed with the Normanton title until Sidney, earl of Normanton, sold it
in 1917. (fn. 88)
Two houses were attached to this composite
manor. The house attached to Woodborough
farm, and occupied by its lessees, was called the
manor-house of Woodborough. It is an enlarged
brick farm-house of two storeys with a thatched roof
situated about 200 yds. south-west of the church.
The central part of it dates from the late 18th
century, the rest from the 19th. The farm-house
attached to the land of Hillersdons farm, the
demesne land of which was later called Church
farm, is also a two-storeyed building of the 18th
century. It has vitreous brick walls with red-brick
panels and a tiled roof. It is situated by the east end
of the church.
One of the other portions of the manor held in the
12th century by Walter Rivers became a reputed
manor. In 1258 Henry Aubrey was heir of one of
Walter's five daughters. (fn. 89) He died c. 1278 leaving
his sister Clarice and grand-nephew Maurice as
heirs, (fn. 90) but his portion of the manor may somehow
have passed to Laurence Charpville who died in
1297 seised in his wife's right of what was apparently
part of the manor of which Richard son of John was
overlord. (fn. 91) William Charpville, Laurence's son, was
heir, and claimed to present to Woodborough
church in 1310 as one of the heirs of the five
daughters. (fn. 92) After his death c. 1329 a third of this
land passed to his widow, and two-thirds to his son,
also called William. (fn. 93) That William died seised in
1330 leaving as heir his daughter Joan. (fn. 94) She later
enfeoffed Thomas Ossington of Essex in the land,
which then seems to have included the former dower
lands of the elder William Charpville's widow. (fn. 95)
In 1390 Thomas conveyed that estate to John
Forster, the lessee of John Clevedon's manor. (fn. 96)
Forster was dead by 1411 and his lands were held in
trust for his widow and children. (fn. 97) Their subsequent
descent is not clear, but they seem likely to have
been the basis of the estate in Woodborough held
by John Benger in 1512, and settled on Richard
Benger, his grandson. (fn. 98) Richard died seised in 1529
leaving as heir his sister Anne, wife of Thomas
Smith, and she and her husband were seised of
the land, then reputed a manor. (fn. 99) Anne married
secondly Thomas Derby and she was still alive in
1573. The land was then settled on Thomas, son of
Ralph Henslowe, (fn. 100) and in 1594 he conveyed it to
John Miles who was already the lessee. (fn. 101) Miles
presumably held it until his death c. 1639. He left
a son Henry, (fn. 102) but the estate seems to have left his
family. It was probably held by Mary Lawrence
(d. 1663), (fn. 103) whose heir was her daughter Mary. That
Mary was a minor in 1664, but had entered the land
by 1671. (fn. 104) In 1690 it was apparently settled on her
daughter Anne, wife of John Cullum who leased it
in 1691. (fn. 105) John died in 1711 and the land was held by
his son Thomas, who died seised in 1717 leaving his
daughters as heirs. (fn. 106) In 1732 the land was purchased
by John Walker and subsequently became part of the
Walker-Heneages' manor of Woodborough. (fn. 107)
Another part of Walter Rivers's manor was held
by Henry de Helvington in 1258. (fn. 108) It passed to Denise
de Helvington alias Essex who died seised in 1300
leaving her son William as heir. (fn. 109) By 1310, however,
the land had apparently been conveyed to William
Sorel who then claimed to present to Woodborough
church as heir of one of Walter Rivers's daughters. (fn. 110)
The estate of some 50 a. of which he died seised in
1344 was later said to be part of the earl of Warwick's
land in Woodborough. (fn. 111) William Sorel's heir was
his son Richard, who was licensed by the king to
convey the land to John Claverley and his wife
Joan. (fn. 112) After Joan's death in 1362 the land escheated to the Crown because of John's bastardy
and was granted in 1363 to John Colingbourne. (fn. 113)
Between 1363 and 1418 the land was held in custody
by several royal servants, (fn. 114) but the occupancy of the
Colingbourne family was apparently unaffected, for
in 1428 it was still held by Joan, the daughter of
John Colingbourne. (fn. 115) In 1455 it was granted to
Nicholas Gilbert whose heir was his son John, (fn. 116) and
it was presumably that John Gilbert who held the
land in 1514. (fn. 117) Claverleys, as the land was still
called, was granted in 1547 to Sir William Herbert,
created earl of Pembroke 1551, and was then
occupied by John Hide. (fn. 118) Lord Pembroke presumably surrendered the estate, however, for in 1573
it was granted by Elizabeth I to Robert Hide. (fn. 119) In
1602 a lawsuit was in progress between Ambrose
Button, the eldest son of William Button (d. 1591),
and William Button (d. 1654–5), then a minor, over
the lease of the land from the Hide family, (fn. 120) and it
was about this time that Ambrose Button seems to
have bought it. After the death of Ambrose it was
sold in 1615 by his brothers Henry and Edward
to their nephew William. (fn. 121) Claverleys thereafter
became part of the composite manor of the Button
and Walker-Heneage family.
The other portion of Walter Rivers's manor
which, like Claverleys, was never reputed a manor,
was held in 1208 by Thomas de Erle. (fn. 122) It descended
to Giles de Erle by 1242, (fn. 123) and in 1258 was held by
Geoffrey de Erle. (fn. 124) James de Erle held it in 1310, (fn. 125)
and the land remained in the Erle family until at
least 1326 when it was held by John de Erle, (fn. 126)
but thereafter its descent is unknown.
Not all the land in Woodborough was held of the
earls of Essex and later of the earls of Warwick.
In 1307 Sir Adam de la Forde held land there. (fn. 127)
By 1326 Sir Adam was dead and his land, apparently
a small manor, was held for life by William
Randolf. (fn. 128) By 1338 it had reverted to Sir Adam's son
Sir Adam who then settled it on himself and his wife
Elizabeth. (fn. 129) The subsequent descent of the land is
not clear, but it seems to have been that held by
Aucher Frank in 1412, (fn. 130) and may have been the
manor held by Philip Franklin in 1604. (fn. 131) Franklin's
manor was held in the mid 17th century by Richard
Franklin, (fn. 132) and in 1678 by John Franklin. (fn. 133) John's
heir was his son John who succeeded him between
1702 and 1706. (fn. 134) In 1731, however, the land was
bought by Thomas Chandler, the husband of the
sister of the younger John Franklin, and possibly
already lessee. (fn. 135) Thomas Chandler (d. 1781)
devised the land to his nephew, Robert Baden, who
was succeeded in 1806 by Andrew Baden, son of
Edward Smith Baden. (fn. 136) Andrew (d. 1819) devised
it to his son Andrew who held it until 1862 when it
was purchased by Henry Ettwell. (fn. 137) In 1866 Ettwell
sold it to Welbore, earl of Normanton, and the land
passed with the Normanton title until the sale in
1917. (fn. 138)
Three farms included most of the land of
Woodborough after 1917. Church farm, owned
until 1936 by C. Langdon, subsequently belonged
to members of the Waight family, and in 1969 to
Mr. E. Waight. Part of its land, however, was
bought by a Mr. Lawrence in 1936 and acquired in
1965 by New College, Oxford. (fn. 139) Honey Street farm
was owned from 1917 until the early 1950s by the
firm of Robbins, Lane, and Pinniger, and afterwards
by Mr. H. F. Trowbridge. In 1969 Hursts farm
belonged to Mr. J. W. Nosworthy. (fn. 140)
Economic History.
There was land for 5
ploughs on the 10-hide estate at Woodborough
which was worth £7 T.R.E. and £10 in 1086. Of
these, 4 were on the 7 demesne hides with 5 serfs,
and 1 was on the 3 tenant hides held by 5 villeins,
11 coscez, and 1 bordar. There were 50 a. of meadow,
50 a. of pasture, and 10 a. of brushwood. (fn. 141)
Information about the medieval economy of
Woodborough can be derived only from occasional
surveys of small parts of the parish. A large proportion of each estate there seems to have been
demesne land. When the manor was partitioned
in the early 13th century the commonable waste
belonging to it was divided among the parceners.
An inclosed area of 3 a. of their allotment was used
by William of Grimstead and his wife Galiena to
construct 'houses and buildings', probably a new
demesne farm. (fn. 142) In the late 13th and early 14th
centuries the lands of William Charpville (d. c. 1329),
Denise de Helvington, and Adam Rivers all had
a preponderance of demesne land. (fn. 143) Much of it was
almost certainly leased. In the late 14th century
John Clevedon's land was leased to John Forster,
and in the early 15th century to John Pinckney. (fn. 144)
It is also likely that other feoffees exploited their land
in that way. Since demesnes were large there was
no large block of customary land or tenants. Four
customers held of Denise de Helvington paying cash
rents totalling 12s. a year and owing autumn labour
services. William Charpville received a similar rent
from some of his tenants and another two customers
owed rents and services worth a total of 2s. 9½d. a
year. (fn. 145)
Medieval surveys indicate an apparently strong
concentration on arable farming. (fn. 146) By 1326
Woodborough may already have been divided into
four common arable fields, one in each quarter of the
parish, for a reference was then made to Little Clay
and East Sands, two common arable fields whose
names suggest the existence of two more. (fn. 147) Sheep
stints were also mentioned, but they were small
compared with those of neighbouring parishes since
Woodborough included no extensive area of upland
used solely for pasture. (fn. 148) Sheep and other animals
presumably fed on the common arable fields and on
the lowland pastures and waste lands.
In the 16th and 17th centuries there were four or
five large demesne farms in the parish. The farm
belonging to the Franklin family comprised some
200 a. of arable, meadow, and pasture in 1648. (fn. 149)
The farm leased to John Miles in 1593 and subsequently bought by him amounted to some 180 a. (fn. 150)
The farm acquired in 1546 by William Button, later
called Woodborough farm, was leased to Thomas
Stratton in 1608 and he and another Thomas
Stratton held it for most of the 17th century. (fn. 151) No
precise acreage can be given for Woodborough farm
at the time, but, to judge from later evidence, it was
as large as Franklin's and Miles's farms and usually
its tenant also held the 57 a. of Claverleys. (fn. 152) The
land held in the 16th century by the Hillersdon
family was leased in 1513 to John Button, father of
William Button (d. 1547), but the attempt by
John Hillersdon (d. c. 1568) to remove William from
the farm seems to have been successful. (fn. 153) From the
early 17th century it was leased in moieties. By 1609
one moiety had been leased to Thomas Dyke of
Stanton St. Bernard, and was held until at least
1815 by members of the Dyke family, including
another Thomas, Daniel, Jerome, Jonathan, and
William. (fn. 154) The other moiety was leased to Daniel
Dyke in 1674 and the farm was not subsequently
divided. (fn. 155) No precise acreage for the 16th and 17th
centuries can be given for the farm which formed the
basis of what was later called Church farm. To
judge by later evidence, however, it was larger than
the other farms in the parish, and each moiety may
possibly have been of comparable size to the others.
With those four or five large farms in the parish
there was no large area of land held by copy. The
rents from the estate acquired by William Button
from William Smith in 1546 were £3 15s. 6d. in 1618
and from Claverleys £1. (fn. 156) Of those rents five copyholders paid a total of £1, but only two of the copyhold farms were substantial. In 1618 William Button
(d. 1654–5) also received total rents of £9 from the
land acquired from Edward Hooper. Of that rent £5
was paid for the two demesne farms and £4 for the
seven copyholds of which only two or three were
of appreciable size. (fn. 157) In the 17th century Richard
Franklin had eight tenants. Most of them were
cottagers, however, and none held more than a few
acres. (fn. 158) A few cottagers similarly held of John Miles
whose estate was later said to have a rent value of
£3 16s. 8d. (fn. 159)
The predominance of several large farms in the
parish may have made possible a change in field
arrangements in the 17th century. Until c. 1665 the
parish was divided into four common arable fields.
In the north where the soil is heavy were East Clay
and West Clay fields, and on the greensand of the
south were East Sands and West Sands fields. (fn. 160)
Shortly afterwards the two southern fields were
inclosed. (fn. 161) Arable cultivation continued in common
in East Clay and West Clay fields, but meadow land,
previously cultivated in common, was inclosed, (fn. 162)
and specified interests were allotted in the common
pasture in the west of the parish. (fn. 163)
Arable cultivation in East Clay and West Clay
fields continued in common during the 18th century,
but the two fields were possibly inclosed soon after
1797 when a map of the parish was made. (fn. 164) Arable
farming remained predominant in the parish in the
18th century. When it was acquired by Thomas
Chandler in 1731, Franklin's farm included 110 a.
of arable, 32 a. of meadow, and 3½ a. of pasture, and
it is likely that other farmers had land in similar
proportions. (fn. 165)
By the late 18th century there were only three
large farms in the parish. The Dyke family still held
Church farm, and in 1779 Jerome Dyke acquired
Miles's farm. (fn. 166) The tenure of Woodborough farm,
which was still held with Claverleys, was converted
from leases for lives to short-term leases in 1704, (fn. 167)
and the farm leased at an improved rent of £93 in
1717. (fn. 168) The third large farm consisted of some 173 a.
held by Thomas Chandler, previously Franklin's
farm. Thomas's brother William also held some
five yardlands of the Walkers, (fn. 169) but in 1756 John
Walker induced him to surrender 2½ yardlands
which were added to Woodborough farm in 1774. (fn. 170)
Some 30 cottagers held from John Walker-Heneage
in 1794. (fn. 171)
By 1838 at the latest all the land in Woodborough
was cultivated in severalty. The common arable
fields of East Clay and West Clay had been inclosed
and the land divided between the farmers of the
parish. Even on Woodborough Hill the size of
the fields was therefore much reduced. The
concentration on arable farming was then less
pronounced. There were 584 a. of arable, 352 a. of
meadow and pasture, and 30 a. of wood. (fn. 172) The
conversion of arable to pasture continued until in
1917 there were 363 a. of arable and 524 a. of
meadow and pasture. (fn. 173) The proportions were
approximately the same in 1969. The expansion of
the acreage permanently under grass was part of
the growth of dairy farming in the 19th century
encouraged by the existence of much land suitable
for cattle pasture and by the easy access to markets
afforded by the railway.
In the 19th century the farming units in
Woodborough took the shapes that they have kept
for much of the 20th century. By 1819 John Clift
(d. 1857) occupied Church farm (fn. 174) and by 1838 held
Andrew Baden's land. (fn. 175) In 1838 John Clift thus
held 580 a. but that farm was broken up by the
1850s. (fn. 176) In 1802 Woodborough farm, 230 a., was
leased to Harry Robbins, (fn. 177) succeeded as lessee by his
son William (d. 1840), whose brother Samuel held
a farm of 67 a. (fn. 178) and developed Honey Street wharf
(see below).
Until the mid 19th century the land of all the
farms was scattered throughout the parish, but,
probably between 1862 and 1868 but possibly
earlier, an exchange of lands took place between the
tenants of Woodborough and Church farms. All the
land of Church farm west of the Avebury-Amesbury
road was made over to Woodborough farm, and
almost all the land of Woodborough farm east of that
road was made over to Church farm. (fn. 179) That enabled
the firm of Robbins, Lane, and Pinniger, the tenant
of Woodborough farm, to become almost exclusively
concerned with cattle farming. Baden's land was
divided after 1868. The land in the east became part
of Church farm, and the land in the west part of
Woodborough farm. In 1917 Robbins, Lane, and
Pinniger held 274 a. in the west, most of which was
farmed in two units, Hursts farm and Honey Street
farm. (fn. 180) In 1917 Church farm comprised 580 a. in the
east of the parish. (fn. 181) The consolidation under single
management of all the land in the north-east of the
parish, including the whole of Woodborough Hill,
most of which was suitable for arable cultivation,
made possible the enlargement of the fields. By 1969
the arable land above the canal was nearly all
cultivated as a single field of over 200 a.
The parish seems to have been a local centre for
some of the leather trades. In the mid 18th century
there were three shoemakers in the village, (fn. 182) and at
other times there was a glover, (fn. 183) a collar-maker, (fn. 184)
a saddler and harness-maker, (fn. 185) and another shoemaker. (fn. 186) By the 20th century those trades were no
longer followed in the parish. In 1839 a field beside
the Avebury-Amesbury road just south of Honey
Street was called Brickkiln hurst, evidence of
brickmaking in the parish in an earlier period. (fn. 187)
Other employment was provided after 1811 at the
Honey Street wharf of Samuel Robbins. The firm of
Robbins, Lane, and Pinniger built barges at the
wharf, for use not only on the Kennet & Avon
Canal, but also on the rivers Wey and Avon and the
Basingstoke Canal. Some of their barges were
therefore large and were distinguished by the fact
that they were steered from a platform in front of the
stern cabin. (fn. 188) A steam-driven saw-mill was set up at
the wharf in the late 1850s, (fn. 189) and the firm dealt in
wood, coal, and slate which were distributed from
Honey Street. (fn. 190) The firm also carried acid because
Ebenezer Lane, Robbins's son-in-law, was a
pioneer in the manufacture of chemical fertilizers
which were produced on a site a little to the south
of the canal. (fn. 191) As the canal fell into disuse, however,
those economic activities declined and the wharf
was sold in the early 1950s. (fn. 192) A saw-mill, powered by
electricity, remained on the south side of the canal
and the buildings on the north side were occupied by
a rag processing company.
Mill. In 1086 the mill at Woodborough was
worth 12s. 6d. (fn. 193) In the Middle Ages it passed with
the Rivers portion of the manor to the Berner and
Clevedon families. (fn. 194) It passed to the heirs of John
Clevedon of Corton in 1477 and became part of
Hillersdons farm. (fn. 195) It does not seem to have been
conveyed with the rest of the farm to Edmund
Bartlett in 1565 because in 1572 John Bartlett sold
it to John Noyes. (fn. 196) In 1599 Noyes conveyed it to
Richard Noyes who held it in 1604. (fn. 197) The Noyes
and Miles families were related by marriage and the
mill was subsequently held by the owners of Miles's
farm. (fn. 198) In the late 17th and early 18th centuries it
was therefore owned by the Lawrence and Cullum
families, and in 1719 was acquired by Richard Amor,
the lessee of Miles's farm. (fn. 199) Amor devised the mill
and its small estate to Harry Amor who entered in
1742. (fn. 200) He apparently sold the mill immediately to
Edward Hazeland, then its occupier, and it remained in the Hazeland family until 1831 when it
was sold to John Clift. (fn. 201) The small mill estate
remained in the Amor family until 1811 when
it was sold by Harry Amor, the grand-nephew of
the elder Harry Amor, to John Neate who may then
have occupied the mill. (fn. 202) In 1818 Neate sold the land
to John Gale but in 1823 Geoffrey Dyke, Gale's
mortgagee, was able to enter the lands which were
sold by Dyke's heirs to John Clift in 1841. (fn. 203) Clift
thus owned both the mill and its water-meadows
and in 1855 he sold them to William Wyld, rector
of Woodborough. (fn. 204) In 1866 Wyld sold them to
Welbore, earl of Normanton. (fn. 205)
The mill was situated at the west end of Woodborough village and was powered by the water
of the stream flowing south from the Altons. By
c. 1868 the mill was no longer used, (fn. 206) and was
subsequently demolished. The mill-house is a brick
building largely of the 18th century with a thatched
roof.
Local Government.
Court records exist
for William Button's manor of Woodborough for
the years 1561–7. (fn. 207) The courts were held for
Woodborough 'cum membris' which included
Button's land in Bottle, Oare, Manningford Bohune,
and Marden. All of them were deemed part of his
manor of Woodborough for administrative purposes.
The courts were held twice yearly. The jury of
presentment consisted of Button's tenants and the
courts dealt with tenurial matters including
admissions and the disrepair of manorial buildings.
Through these courts Button also claimed to
exercise leet jurisdiction over the land of others in
the parish. There was thus an attempt in 1561 to
amerce John Miles and Edmund Bartlett for failing
to scour the stream flowing through Woodborough,
and to make and enforce on all the inhabitants of the
parish regulations governing the use of common
agricultural land. It was perhaps possible for
Button's heirs to do this more effectively in the 17th
and 18th centuries when they had acquired most
other land in the parish. Court records also exist
for the years 1819–41. (fn. 208) The courts were said to be
views or leets with courts baron. Business dealt
with under public and private jurisdictions was
recorded under different rubrics. Leet business
included the election of a tithingman and a hayward,
and the jury sometimes presented offences like
encroachments on the waste. Manorial business was
presented by the homage, usually only one or two
tenants, who presented, but did not fully recite, the
customs of the manor. They presented deaths of
tenants when they occurred, and after their presentments any necessary surrenders and admissions
were performed.
Two churchwardens were appointed from 1604
at the latest (fn. 209) and their accounts exist for the
period 1746–1924. (fn. 210) In 1835 Woodborough became
part of Pewsey poor-law union. (fn. 211)
Church.
Although not explicitly mentioned
until 1258, presentations were made to
Woodborough church at least in the reign of
Richard I. (fn. 212) The advowson was disputed in 1258
by the overlord of Woodborough and his feoffees,
Richard Rivers, William Grimstead, Henry de
Helvington, Henry Aubrey, and Geoffrey de Erle,
who claimed that in the 12th century Walter Rivers
had held the advowson of the church as well as the
manor of Woodborough, and had presented. Two
presentations in the reign of Richard I by the
overlord, Geoffrey son of Peter, were, they claimed,
made because of his wardship of Cecily Rivers, and,
after her death, because of his delay in enfeoffing
the heirs of Walter Rivers. A further presentation
was made by the bishop between 1217 and 1228
since neither the overlord nor the feoffees had
presented. (fn. 213) The death of the rector then appointed
led to the case of 1258, in which judgement favoured
John son of Geoffrey, the overlord, and Richard son
of John was therefore described later as patron of
the church. (fn. 214) After Richard's death in 1297 the
advowson became part of the dower of his widow
Emma (d. 1332), who married secondly Robert de
Mohaut, steward of Chester, (fn. 215) but the claim of
Robert and Emma to present was disputed in 1310.
Four rectors were then presented, one by those
claiming the right as heirs of Walter Rivers, one by
Sir Adam de la Forde, who then held land in
Woodborough, one by Guy de Beauchamp, earl of
Warwick, the son of Richard son of John's sister
Maud, and then overlord, and one by Robert de
Mohaut. (fn. 216) The attempts to deprive Robert and
Emma of the patronage were unsuccessful, however,
and their nominee was instituted.
By 1315 the reversion of the advowson after the
death of Emma, which had been assigned in 1298 to
Richard de Burgh, earl of Ulster, husband of one of
Richard son of John's sisters, (fn. 217) had been acquired by
Guy de Beauchamp, (fn. 218) and Thomas, earl of Warwick,
presumably became seised of it after Emma died in
1332. It descended thereafter with the overlordship
of the manor, but in 1342 there was possibly another
dispute for both Thomas, earl of Warwick, and Sir
Adam de la Forde presented. (fn. 219) No records of the
dispute survive, but the challenge to the earl's
right of patronage was clearly defeated for in 1343
he again presented his candidate. (fn. 220) Presentations
were thereafter made by the earls of Warwick
except that in 1397, after the disinheritance of the
earl, the king presented. (fn. 221) The advowson was then
granted to Roger Mortimer, who died seised of it in
1399, but he did not present to the church. (fn. 222) After
the death of the restored Warwick in 1401, and
during the minority of his heir, the Crown again
presented, but afterwards the patronage was
exercised by the earls of Warwick and their heirs. (fn. 223)
The advowson was acquired by the Crown with
the overlordship and four presentations were made
by the king between 1511 and 1541. (fn. 224) In 1547 it was
granted to Sir William Herbert but he made no
presentations and presumably surrendered it (fn. 225) for in
1559 Elizabeth I granted it to William Partridge. (fn. 226)
No rectors were presented by Partridge, and in
1563 he sold the advowson to William Button who
presented in 1582. (fn. 227) The advowson then descended
with the lordship of the manor although the lords
did not always present. In 1652 and 1656 rectors of
Woodborough were presented under the Great
Seal and by the Lord Protector. (fn. 228) Following a grant
to him in 1701 presentations were made in 1706 and
1709 by Humphrey Wall, steward of John Button. (fn. 229)
In 1718 Heneage Walker granted the advowson to
Charles Heneage, his uncle, while he was abroad, but
he seems to have returned before a vacancy had
arisen. (fn. 230) Charles Gibbes of Urchfont presented in
1764 (fn. 231) but no presentation was made by William
Pinckney of Great Bedwyn who in 1800 was granted
by John Walker-Heneage the advowsons of
Woodborough and Chilton (Berks.) for 50 years, the
grant determinable on presentation to either. (fn. 232)
Apart from these exceptions the patronage was
owned and exercised by the lords of the manor.
It was not, however, sold with the manor to
Welbore, earl of Normanton, and in 1864 the patron
was William Wyld, possibly the nephew of George
Walker-Heneage and already rector. (fn. 233) In 1873 he
was succeeded by his son, Edwin Wyld, (fn. 234) who was
patron until 1907 when he transferred the advowson
to the dean and chapter of Salisbury, patrons in
1969. (fn. 235)
In 1928 Honey Street was detached from the
ecclesiastical parish of Woodborough and added to
that of Alton Barnes. (fn. 236) In 1939 a mediety of the
chapelry of Manningford Bohune in Wilsford was
annexed to Woodborough. (fn. 237) The rectory was held in
plurality with the rectory of Beechingstoke from
1951 and united with it in 1961. (fn. 238) In 1972 that
united benefice was united with the benefice of
Wilcot, Huish, and Oare to form the benefice of
Swanborough. (fn. 239) The vicar in the team ministry
established for it lives in Woodborough.
In 1291 the value of the church was said to be
£6 13s. 4d. (fn. 240) In 1539 its net value was £9 10s., (fn. 241) and
in 1560 it was said to be £10. (fn. 242) By the mid 16th
century, however, the rectory was leased for £18 a
year, and in 1554, perhaps under duress (see below),
it was leased by the rector for £16. (fn. 243) Its net annual
value from 1829 to 1831 was £340, making it one of
the richer livings of the hundred, but £100 of that
was paid to a curate. (fn. 244) In 1864 the value of the glebe
and commuted tithes was reckoned at £415. (fn. 245)
The rector received all tithes from the whole
parish. They were commuted in 1839 for an annual
rent-charge of £311 10s. and their value was £315
in 1864. (fn. 246)
In 1604 the glebe comprised 70½ a. (fn. 247) For unknown
reasons two later terriers describe only 62 a. and
63 a., (fn. 248) but in 1839 the glebe was again said to
comprise some 71 a. (fn. 249) About 60 a. was then leased
and at its sale in 1917 nearly all the glebe was leased
for £120 a year. (fn. 250) Since the mid 16th century, at the
latest, the rectors who resided in Woodborough
lived in the glebe-house south-west of the church. (fn. 251)
It was said to be unfit for residence in 1833 and a new
building was erected in 1855. (fn. 252) It was sold in 1962
and the rector moved to a house in Church Lane a
short distance south of the church. (fn. 253)
In 1538 Nicholas Staunton, the rector, was taken
into custody and denounced for complaining when
drunk of his poverty and his inability to offer good
pay to a prospective curate, and for speaking ill of
the king, his patron. (fn. 254) Other rectors may also have
found difficulty in serving their parishioners.
Thomas Spratt, Staunton's successor, was forcibly
removed from the Parsonage at the command of
Robert Hungerford, allegedly for immorality and
for keeping seditious books, but possibly to force
him to lease the parsonage to Thomas Hungerford
at a lower rent than he could have obtained elsewhere. (fn. 255) Thomas Dobbs, presented 1582, was in
the same year presented as rector of Sutton Veny,
30 miles away. (fn. 256) In the 17th century Francis Bayley,
presented 1638, was ejected for his beliefs during
the Interregnum. (fn. 257) He was succeeded by Nathaniel
Charlton, also rector of Bishop's Hull (Som.) and
presumably absent from Woodborough. (fn. 258) In 1656
Isaac Chauncey was presented and in 1660 petitioned the House of Lords to stop his tithes being
taken by the sequestered rector, presumably
Bayley. (fn. 259) Chauncey was ejected under the Act of
Uniformity in 1662 when the church lacked a
surplice, Jewell's Apology, and a book of homilies. (fn. 260)
Chauncey emigrated to America and Bayley was
restored, but he had ecclesiastical preferments
elsewhere and may not have been resident. (fn. 261)
In the 18th century rectors seem normally to have
lived in Woodborough. Services in 1783 were
performed every Sunday by the rector who was
also curate of the near-by parish of Patney. Holy
Communion was celebrated at the four great
festivals for some 30 communicants. (fn. 262) A non-resident
rector employed a curate between 1814 and 1833, (fn. 263)
but thereafter the rector lived in the Parsonage.
Average attendance at services in 1851 was 79 in the
morning and 106 in the afternoon. (fn. 264) In 1864, by
which time the rector was assisted by a curate, there
were 45 communicants of whom about 25–30
attended regularly. Two weekly services were still
held for congregations of some 75–95. (fn. 265)
In the 16th century the income from some land
in Woodborough was used for the provision of salt
for the holy water. (fn. 266) That may be the origin of
the charity called Church Lands which was first
mentioned in 1783. (fn. 267) The income from small pieces
of land was set aside for repairs to the church. The
land was said to comprise 1½ a. in 1834, but in 1868
and 1904 2¾ a. The income from it, then £6 a year,
was applied to church expenses. (fn. 268) The land was sold
in the 1950s. (fn. 269)
The church of ST. MARY MAGDALENE is
built of ashlar and has a chancel with north vestry
and nave with north aisle and south porch. The
12th-century church consisted of nave and chancel.
A new west window was inserted in the 13th century,
in the 14th century new north and south windows
were placed in the nave and the bell-house on the
nave roof perhaps added, and in the 15th century
most of the nave was reroofed. The porch was built
in the 18th century. (fn. 270) In 1850 the chancel was
rebuilt in 13th-century style. (fn. 271) A new nave and aisle
were built in 1861 in 13th- and 14th-century style
and the vestry, an organ chamber, a west gable
bellcot to replace the bell-house, and a new south
porch were added. (fn. 272)
There were two bells in 1553. They were replaced
by a bell cast in London in 1849, (fn. 273) still in the church.
In 1553 a chalice of 8 oz. was left in the parish and
2 oz. taken for the king. (fn. 274) The modern plate
consists of a chalice of 1849, a paten of 1850, a
flagon of 1851, and three alms-basins. (fn. 275)
The registers date from 1567 and, apart from
a gap of a few years after 1660, are complete. (fn. 276)
Nonconformity.
In 1676 there were nine
dissenters in Woodborough. (fn. 277) In 1783 the rector
reported that there was none, (fn. 278) but in 1818 and
1820 the houses of William and Thomas Shipman
were registered as dissenters' meeting-places. (fn. 279) A
chapel was built in 1820 for the Methodist congregation. It had room for 134 people, including
32 in the gallery, and in 1851 the average congregation numbered 90–100. (fn. 280) Honey Street was
later said to be the centre of dissent in the parish
and only four families there were not dissenters in
1864, while in the south of the parish there were then
only six dissenting families. (fn. 281) In 1969 services were
still sometimes held in the chapel, but it was closed
in 1970. (fn. 282)
Education.
In 1783 and 1818 there were
reported to be no day-schools in Woodborough. (fn. 283)
By 1833, however, there were two such schools, one
attended by 6 boys and 10 girls, and the other by
10 boys and 15 girls. In 1839 only one of them was
housed in a special building, apparently a pair of
cottages converted in 1827, (fn. 284) north-east of Manor
House. In 1864 boys left the school when they were
seven, girls when they were eight, but there were
opportunities to study in the winter evenings. (fn. 285) The
school remained open until 1872 when a new
school, called Woodborough school, was built in
Beechingstoke parish. (fn. 286) The schoolroom, conveyed
to the parish in 1906, (fn. 287) continued to be used for a
Sunday school and other church functions. By 1969
it had been replaced by a wooden building.
Charities for the Poor.
None known.