Ecclesiastical and Denominational accommodation—Literary and other
advantages—Educational facilities—Scenery.
THIS place is included within the diocese of Salisbury, and has a church
of considerable antiquity, dating somewhere between 1360 and 1380, most
probably the time of Edward III. It was built by the Roman Catholics,
and dedicated to St. Michael, and is in the gift of Christchurch college,
Oxford. Its style of architecture is a mixture; there are some parts
appearing older than the main building, which would lead to the
supposition of a prior edifice; the striking features denote the time of
transition from the plain English to that of the decorated, but some
parts are of very recent construction. It consists of a chancel of about
42 ft. by 18½ ft.; a nave, 54 ft. by 51 ft.; and a square tower, 17 ft.
by 18 ft.; and will accommodate about 600 people. The chancel, which has
been recently renovated, is inlaid with encaustic tiles; and here are
several marble monumental tablets to the relics of the Sainburys; one
especially with a full-length female figure to Thomas Twice, sheriff, and
once Lord Mayor of London; and another to Mr. Merewether, father of the
town clerk of the same place. The tower is an embattled one, having a
ring of six bells. Beneath it are two or three records of munificence;
one a bequest by — Tanner, formerly vicar of this parish, afterwards
Bishop of St. Asaph, to the following effect:—To the minister for a
sermon annually, £1; for the purchase of four bibles for the use of the
poor, £1; for the education of three children, £1; a dinner for the
respectable inhabitants, £1; the ringers for two short peals, 6s.; the
sexton and clerk, 5s. A gilt tablet to this worthy man is placed in the
nave, near the chancel. The other bequest is by two brothers, of £100
each in the consols; the interest to be distributed in bread to the poor.
Beneath the tower is a stone font with a carved oak lid, the work of a
self-taught artist, a native of Bath; presented to the church by Mr.
Stubbart. This edifice is situated at the west end of the place on
rising ground, and forms a conspicuous object in all directions. With
this is connected a handsome building for the use of the day school,
which is conducted upon the plan of the national system, numbering 90
boys and 75 girls; and a Sabbath school, numbering 180 boys, 170 girls,
and 17 teachers.
There is also a respectable Dissenting cause, dating from the year 1801,
when a church was formed upon the platform of the Independent or
Congregational order. Their place of worship is at the east end of the
town; its dimensions are 33 ft. by 42 ft., and it is capable of holding
between four and five hundred of this cause: a fuller account will be
given in the subsequent pages. They have connected with them a good
Sabbath school, numbering 60 boys, 70 girls, and 13 teachers. A British
and Foreign day school was established, but various circumstances having
militated against its progress and success, it has declined, and is at
the present time carried on as a private undertaking. With the
Independents is associated a Dorcas Society, consisting of twelve
subscribers, a number of whom meet once a month to make garments, which
are given away to the poor of the place. There is also a society
organised in connection with the Wiltshire Association of the British and
Foreign Bible Society for the supply of the Holy Scriptures at cost-price
to the poor, and to render aid to the Parent Society. This is confined
to no denomination, but embraces all who desire their circulation without
note or comment.
Two small Baptist interests of high Calvinistic principles and
maintaining close communion, are situated in the lower parts of the town;
one in a lane near the weighing engine, and chiefly supplied by
lay-agents from the neighbourhood; the congregation exceeds in number one
hundred, and there are twenty members; the building measures about 30 ft.
by 28 ft.: the other, which is an offshoot, has recently been erected; it
is but small, measuring 30 ft. by 20 ft., and is situated in Church
Street; the congregation does not exceed one hundred, and has but few
members; it has a resident minister.
The Primitive Methodists have for some time laboured here; they formerly
had a flourishing society of thirty members, but have declined, owing to
the difficulty of obtaining a suitable place; their present number is
probably about ten. They form part of the Newbury circuit.
A Temperance Society, established in the year 1838, has been the means of
considerable good, reclaiming several persons who were reduced to a state
of poverty and ruin, restoring and elevating them to comfort and
respectability. The pledge-book gives the numbers at the present time as
450; they circulate tracts and advance their views by occasionally
holding meetings.
Reading-rooms are open for the accommodation of subscribers, where the
daily and weekly papers with other works are supplied; and where, during
the winter months, lectures are occasionally delivered upon literary and
scientific subjects: they are situated in the middle of the town, just
below the Market-place.
An Horticultural Society has lately sprung up for encouraging the
cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Prizes are awarded to the
successful competitors at the annual exhibition, which is held in the
grounds of the president, Charles Hitchcock, Esq., at Fiddington. Watson
Taylor, Esq., of Urchfont, patron: Mr. H. Gauntlett, secretary. It has
156 members.
The facilities for intercommunication are good. A coach from Salisbury
to Chippenham passes through West Lavington, distant one mile, every
alternate day, returning the following; and one recently started leaves
here for the Hungerford extension line each alternate day in time for the
up train, and leaves on its return on the following, upon the arrival of
the down train. There is also a daily carrier to Devizes, and two to
Salisbury weekly.
A small stream rises at the farther end of Easterton, and supplies the
sheet of water in the grounds at Fiddington (where there is a pleasant
and comfortable asylum for lunatics),—winds to Northbrook—passes on
through the meads at Ladywood to Russell mill, where it joins another
stream (which rises at Newlam, a mile from West Lavington; this formerly
covered a space of seven acres, but is now reduced to very narrow
limits)—united in one it pursues its way towards Bath and Bristol, where
it falls into the Avon and Severn. A branch which turns off towards
Devizes empties itself into the Avon and Kennet canal; in its progress it
forms the moving power to several mills, and imparts fertility to the
various meads in its course.
The scenery around is of the most delightful character, the sands or
common have been successfully brought into cultivation, and where
formerly but few buildings appeared numerous houses have been erected,
which bespeak the efforts of the humble classes to attain respectability
and comfort; while the tillage constantly going on gives great animation
to the scene. The country around is everywhere well wooded to the north,
and may with propriety be termed a panorama, reaching to the vicinity of
Bath. From hence and on the downs report states that when the atmosphere
is clear, and with the aid of good glasses, the Welsh mountains may be
descried. A good eye will be able to discover Lansdown and the Beckford
monument, Stourton Tower, and the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. The most
favourable points of observation are the downs on the top of Lavington
hill, Wroughton’s Folly, and Ledgehill, on the road to Bath and Devizes,
there are a few spots possessing a romantic feature, exhibiting as they
do high walls of strata surmounted with tall waving foliage. Here the
lover and copyist of nature might revel in perfect delight, and gather
many a sketch for his portfolio. About some 25 years ago the approaches
were everywhere impeded by toll-gates, the heavy expenses thereby
entailed upon the farmer and gentry led to vigorous efforts for their
removal by liberal contributions to a fund for this purpose, they were
bought up, and in one day no less than twelve of these impediments were
destroyed. The event is annually commemorated by a public dinner at the
chief inn and a bonfire in the evening.
There are two or three clubs for the assistance of members in a time of
sickness, to afford means of burial, and also to furnish clothing.