Hazelbury Church, Box

A Saxon church or chapel is known to have existed at Hazelbury, possibly as a daughter church of Chippenham. There are three possible dedications of the church and they may all have been used at different times. They are St. David, All Saints and St. Anne. The church, which existed at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) has now been lost but is belived to have been about 0.75 miles north west of Hazelbury Manor House. It was said to have been a ruin before the dissolution (1540) and that its stone was used in the manor house. It is interesting to note though that in the mid 16th century John Bonham of Hazelbury left 3 shillings and fourpence (about 17p) and a cow to the church and so it would appear to have been still functioning around 1550. However Hazelbury was a parish in its own right and rectors continued to be appointed until 1783 although with no church it was purely an appointment for financial gain.