Welcome to the community history pages

A place is its community, and how communities have been shaped and changed over time matters to us all; it’s where we find our sense of self, our identity, our social connectedness and sense of belonging. The understanding of place is at the heart of the Community History website, helping you to connect with the Wiltshire places and people that matter to you.

You will discover historical information for the 261 communities covering the Wiltshire Council administered area compiled by staff, volunteers and students working from the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre since the site was first devised in 2002.

There is a general history of each parish with further information on schools and churches. Maps, details about local authors, literary and creative associations in the county are often also listed, alongside a large number of photographs, to help you discover just what makes each community unique.

To help, each community also contains administrative information such as the most useful newspapers for research, population statistics and a list of sources in the Local Studies Library at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.

The Community history website is for everyone who has an interest in Wiltshire to enjoy, and we value your thoughts or questions. Please use the comment and Q&A facilities available.

The 261 communities represent today’s modern civil parishes with the exception of Imber, which has been included because of national interest. The Wiltshire Community History website is a work in progress, with additional material continuing to be added. We welcome you to get in touch if you have any historical information you would like to share.

Please contact us if you have any questions and we hope you enjoy your journey into the past.

The Archives & Local Studies Team

Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham

www.wshc.org.uk