Beechingstoke

Until the 19^th century the parish was known simply as Stoke, and is situated halfway between Devizes and Pewsey. From east to west the parish is 1 ½ miles wide and north to south it stretches 1 ¼ miles and is bounded on three sides by the Salisbury Avon and it’s tributaries The main settlement to the north west with the smaller settlement known as Piccadilly a quarter of a mile to the east, and the settlement known as Bottle to the north west. Bottle was known as Botwell in the mid 19^th century, named after the north eastern boundary stream which was called Botan Waelle in the 9^th century.

Most of the settlements are on Upper Greensand, the heavier soils near the streams were previously water meadows, and in the late 20^th century are  largely pasture. An outcrop of Lower Chalk rises to over 400’ and has been used as arable fields from the 18^th to 20^th century.

In the south west of the parish is a late Neolithic henge, Marden earthwork, the largest known of this kind. It stands on the north bank of the Avon and is of an irregular oval shape covering approximately 50 acres, enclosed by a ditch and outside bank. It contained the Hatfield bowl barrow, destroyed before 1818, and a smaller saucer barrow.

In 1377 62 pole tax payers were counted and in 1801 the parish had 174 inhabitants, rising to 196 by 1841.

By 1837 the population had declined to 137,  rising to 235 in 1961, though the 1971 census listed only 205 people.

The Berks and Hants Extension Railway, opened in 1862, crossed the parish, Woodborough station was situated in Beechingstoke to the north of Manor Farm, on the site of the old turnpike road. The station closed in 1966.

The road to Beechingstoke from Patney was said to be tree lined in 1726 and was still in 1970.  Beechingstoke Manor, 18^th century, is on the south of the road and the late 18^th century Stoke Farm house is opposite The main village, with thatched cottages, lies along a narrow road running west from Stoke Farm. At the west end it widens around the church and rectory. A few cottages remain from late 18^th early 19^th century in Piccadilly and the Broad Street settlement is indicated on 1773 maps. The recent development of council housing dates from 1950 when Corpus Christi College, Oxford, sold land west of the church, formerly part of Puckshipton Farm, for the construction of a small council estate, this was completed in 1958.

In 941 King Edmund granted his vasel, Adric, 2 mansae a Stoke. In 1316, Shaftesbury Abbey was in control, but the date of this acquisition is unkown. In 1086 Turstin held the manor of the abbey. In 1242 Hawise Cusin was tenant in socage, succeeded by her son Andrew Wake.

Her grandson held the manor of Beechingstoke in1297 and continued under this family. It was conveyed to Richard, Bishop of Winchester in 1513 by Sir Adrian Fortescue and his wife Anne. In 1865, 390 acres were sold to Welbore Ellis Agar, 2^nd earl of Northampton, and at this time the manor consisted of 2 farms, Bottle House (in 1970 known as Manor Farm) and Stoke House, ( 1970, Beechenstoke Manor). The manor of Puckshipton was under control of Shaftesbury Abbey in 1396, but by 1494 the prior of St. Swithin, Winchester was named as overlord. During 1515/16 it was conveyed to Richard Foxe, bishop of Winchester and later given to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, by Bishop Foxe, who founded the college.

In 1086 when the estate at Beechenstoke was held by Shaftesbury Abbey it was valued at £5 and had land for 5 ploughs. In the 13^th century the parish was divided between Beechingstoke and Puckshipton manors.  Puckshipton was held as a single farm whilst Beechingstoke had copyhold estates. In 1513, five of these were held by John Adams, (sometimes Chalk) including land named Knight’s, Gabriel’s, Swafter’s. Swain’s and Allebor’s.

In 1970 there were 4 farms in the parish, the original Manor, Bottle and Puckshipton, the 4^th, first mentioned in 1839, Stoke Farm.  In the late 20^th century the first three mentioned are devoted to dairy and arable whilst Stoke is a dairy farm.

In 1829, the Rev. Charles Mayo left £100 stock, the income to be used to buy clothing for the old and bible and prayer books for children who attended church regularly. In 1834 it was used for clothing. In the early 19^th century 7 cottages were set aside for the use of the Paupers. In 1835, Beechingstoke became part of Devizes Poor Law Union. In 1853 the Devizes Guardians sold these cottages. In 1896/7 annual income of £3 from the legacy was distributed as per the will but afterwards was used for clothing, blankets, bibles, prayer books and books for conformation candidates. The Parish Constable, first appointed in early 19^th century was entitled to a small withy bed on the northern parish boundary as the tithing plot. In 1877 this was sold to Lord Normaton and the £42 was invested as a charitable fund. In 1901 the income  amounted to £1.4s.4d. which was paid into the parish coal fund. In 1969 the combined charities produce an income of £3.12s. which was distributed amongst 7 people, each receiving 10 shillings at Christmas.