Broughton Gifford Timeline

Two flint implements have been found at Red House Farm.

Pottery fragments found on two sites, north of the railway line and west of Monkton House.

Fragments of pottery found west of Monkton House.

Evidence of building with pottery, coins, etc found north of the railway line; foundations of a building and a burial found west of Monkton House.

First mention of Broughton Gifford - the estate grant's description in the 'Vill of Bradeford' by King Ethelred.

Manor held in chief by Humphrey de Lisle, estate of 5 hides held by Rainburges, estate of 3 hides held by Saward, records show two mills in the principal manor of Broughton Gifford.

Rainburgus' estate granted, by new owner Ilbert le Chaz, to the priory of Monkton Farleigh. There is a chapel at Broughton - base of cross in churchyard believed to be 12th century.

Monkton Manor belongs to the Priory of Monkton Farleigh.

Broughton Gifford in possession of Walter de Dunstanville.

Custody of Broughton Gifford to Ingram Des Preaux.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin built.

Gilbert Bassett holds Broughton Gifford.

Thomas Bassett holds Broughton Gifford.

Walter, son of Phllip de Somerford, holds the 3 hide estate.

Walter de Dunstanville II attains Broughton Gifford, but then forfeits it as he joins the rebels against King John.

King John grants Broughton Gifford to Geoffrey and Olive de Buteville.

Walter de Dunstanville's lands are restored to him.

Litigation between Walter, son of Philip de Somerford, and the Prior of Farleigh, ended with Walter's surrender of the 3 hide estate.

Settlement between Walter de Dunstanville and Ingram Des Preaux over Broughton Gifford is settled on Dunstanville, the other manors go to Ingram Des Preaux. Agreement that the Abbess, and not the Prior, would have patronage of the chapel as part of Broughton Gifford.

Walter de Dunstanville II dies and is succeeded by his son Walter de Dunstanville III

Prior of Monkton Farleigh holds a Knight's fee in Little Broughton of the Earl of Salisbury, as of the honour of Trowbridge.

Lawsuit between the Abbess and Walter de Dunstanville III for the advowson of the Church, the Abbess was successful.

Walter de Dunstanville III grants Broughton Gifford to John Giffard, first Baron Gifford of Brimpsfield.

Walter de Dunstanville III dies without a male heir, leaving his daughter Parnel as the heir.

Free warren of the manor granted to John Giffard.

Church valued at £10

Parnel, daughter of Walter de Dunstanville III, dies leaving her son William de Montfort as the heir.

Survey of Monkton Manor values it at £11. 9s. 3d. a year - oats, wheat, barley and beans are the crops and 17 oxen are kept for ploughing.

John Giffard dies, leaving the manor to his heir John Giffard II, the son of his third wife Margaret de Neville.Some of Giffard's land and other mansions are assigned to his wife as a dower.The manor contained 16 free tenants, 7 customers, 11 holders of ½ virgat, and 16 cottars; 50 houses + priest's house and manor house

Chapel added to the Church, new chancel arch.

First rector of Broughton recorded

John Giffard II is exeuted for treason, his lands are escheated to the Crown. Soon after the forfeit was reversed and inquisitions were made to discover an heir.

John de Kellway is recognised as John Giffard's heir.

John Giffard's lands are granted then to John Mautravers.

John de Kellway challenges Mautraver's claim to Giffard's land, but then concedes.

Tax lists state Broughton Gifford contributes 70 shillings to the total of Bradford-on-Avon's £583. 8d. tax.

Margeret de Neville dies and the The King presents the advowson to John De Mautravers, Lord of the Manor, but later revoked; tenancy is divided between James, Lord Audley and John, Lord Strange

Broughton Gifford is owned by multiple tennants, such as Lord Mautravers, Queen Joan and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester.

It is stated that there is no chapel as part of Broughton Gifford, only the parish church. It is suspected the chapel fell to misuse.

Plague hits Broughton Gifford, many holdings fall vacant as a result.

The King orders that the Manor should be granted to John Mautavers, however there is no evidence that he succeeded in gaining tenancy.

Lords of the manor, James Lord Audley and Sir Reynold de Cobham, sue the Abbess for the next advowson.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin has new windows and a roof replacement.

Last year in which the lords of the manor claimed the advowson; mill assigned to Beatrice, relict of Gilbert Lord Talbot.

Will of Henry Long of Wraxhall leaved 13s. 4d. to the Church for vestments.

Church House built, wool markets are introduced in Broughton Gifford.

Clothiers and weavers arrive in Broughton Gifford, such as Jerome Gerish (1588) and Henry Harding (1652).

Monkton Manor now incldes a meadow called Chaldmeade, now known as Challymead the tenements (houses) in the manor are worth £2.4.0d..

Church is valued at £20. 85s.

Due to the dissolution, the advowson of Broughton Gifford remains with the Crown.

Henry Long of Whaddon acquired Monkton Manor.

Ruled that Parsonage or Church Bridge belonged to whole village and they had to pay for repairs.

Staircase added to Monkton manor house.

Rectory built.

Broughton Gifford is well known for its geese, locals are often referred to as 'Broughton Ganders'.

Broughton Gifford Manor House is built by Sir John Horton.

Parsonage Bridge described as 'newly built' and 'is not thoroughly finished'.

by this year Sir John Horton has inherited or bought all of Broughton Gifford manor, reuniting all the parts after 328 years.

By now a causeway called 'The Street' has been built, linking the village to the common. A house, built by the feoffees in the graveyard lands, is presented at the manor court to belong to the parishoners. Sir John Horton moved into the Manor House.

Monkton Manor accommodates soldiers fighting for Cromwell's parliamentarian army during the Civil War.

Broughton Gifford is one the of parishes in the Bradford-Melksham-Trowbridge area

John Long repairs and alters Monkton Manor to create Monkton House.

Monkton House is sequestered and Jong Long branded a delinquent.

Stone gate piers are added to Broughton Manor House, no resident lord of the manor at Broughton Gifford.

Broughton Gifford is compelled to contribute to the parliamentary garrison of Great Chalfield.

Parish registers at Broughton Gifford begin, bell is hung in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Monkton House is sold to Sir James Thynne of Longleat.

Broughton House built.

Broughton House extended at both ends.

Gifford Hall is built, incorporating the wall of a 16th century building.

Sheep enclosures made due to the increased profits that can be obtained by sheep breeding for the expanding woollen industry.

House of Joan Gore, of Broughton Gifford, is licensed as a dissenters meeting house.

Gallery added to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

From this date the rector, William Hickes, refused to bury Dissenters and several were buried in their own gardens and orchards.

Open roofs of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin are covered in with plaster ceilings.

Pack horse bridge built near Monkton House where the River Avon crosses, replacing the old wooden bridge.

Only one mill is listed as being attatched to Broughton Gifford Manor, John Horton gives a paten to the Church.

Bell of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin is cracked.

Act passes that results in the construction of the road from Melksham, through Broughton Gifford, to Bradford; now the B3107.

Benjamin Hobhouse, the last of the Lords of the Manor, buys The Bell.

Charity school is founded; Francis Paradice, and wife Betty, gives Broughton Gifford £500 to be invested.

By this date all parish lands are inclosed, other than the four commons.

Sir Benjamin Hobhouse of Cottles House buys Broughton manor (including Church Farm and a farm on the common, tenements, and woodland for £11,500.

Hollybrook House built, The Fox and Hounds (now The Fox) dates from this time.

Further extensions to Broughton House, protests against decline of the hand loom weaving industry erupt.

Broughton Gifford Manor House is converted in to two houses; records show that wheat, oats and peas were the main crops in the parish.

Population of Broughton Gifford at 613. Only crop acreages returned from Broughton Gifford are wheat, 59; oats, 4 and peas, 3.

Particular Baptist Church built.

Labouring poor employed to break uo much of causeway by misguided parish surveyor.

Will of Sarah Purbeck leaves £100 to Broughton Gifford, of which the annual dividend of £5 must be applied to the poor immediately before Christmas.

Samuel Cooper is the landlord of The Bell.

Methodist Society forms.

Nathaniel Stinchcombe is the landlord of The Bell.

Methodist Chapel built, charity school built.

43 members listed in the Methodist Society.

Sunday School starts in connection to the Baptist Church.

Third school in Broughton Gifford is established - now three schools in parish.

Parish contains 254 acres of arable land, 1207 acres of pasture, 70 acres of housing, 20 acres of railway, 1 acre of plantation and 83 acres of river, road and waste. Population at 741.

A Michaelmas revel took places, bushes hung from unlicensed ale houses.

Unsuccessful attempt to inclose the common.

Old rectory pulled down and a new one built to Wyatt's design.

Extensive restoration of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, present bells of the church are cast

Scarlet fever epidemic, resulting in 17 deaths, all dwellers on the undrained Common. Baron Boughton (A Hobhouse) created.

Charity school site and buildings are conveyed in trust by the rector, Reverend J. Wilkinson, to the rector and churchwardens. Rev. Wilkinson provides allotments to villagers.

The state gives grants of £90 for a new school, and £463. 145s. 11d. is raised by local subscription as a contribution.

Dispute over who has responsibility of the upkeep of Pack Horse Bridge, the county then took on the repairs; new school is built using the grants.

5 members listed in the Methodist Society. There were 165 houses of which 16 were vacant - none had been built recently.

48 students attending Broughton Gifford school, 20 receiving free education.

Mr Seager and Mr Croker are landlords of The Bell

Large number of hand loom weavers still in parish; hand loom weaving industry dies out in Broughton Gifford due to the mechanisation of cloth production.

No members listed in the Methodist Society.

New school master's house is added to the school site.

Baptist Church is registered for marriage; government inspector says the 'discipline is good' and 'examination satisfactory' at the school.

Further grant of £105. 15s. 10d. authorised to the school, consequently a new school building is erected.

Cost for attending school in Broughton Gifford increases.

Physical geography and history are added to the school's curriculum.

Broughton Gifford boasts 1 farmer, 2 shoe makers, 3 grocers, 1 baker, one tailor, 2 carpenters, one miller and 2 publicans.

New rector installed, a Reverend A. Broderick.

Sum of £1,000 consols are transferred to the Official Trustees, Broughton Gifford receives £166. 13s. 4d. of it.

The nave of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin is re-roofed and the organ chamber formed, first certificate of proficiency is awarded to the school. A Mrs Hopkins gives a silver mounted flagon to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Elizabeth Sly bequeathed £100 to Broughton Gifford to the incumbment and church wardens, the annual income is to be given to the poor. Wilkinson summed up the social conditions of Broughton Gifford as 'we are rather dull'.

School closes for 5 weeks due to a scarlatina outbreak.

6 members listed in the Methodist Society; school closes for 1 month due to a measles outbreak, and closes again due to the death of the master's wife.

Ordnance survey map shows two ponds on the common.

School closes for 2 weeks due to a measles outbreak, Moses Thomas replaces Alfred Noyce as headmaster of the school.

Broughton Gifford has 1 tailor, 2 masons, 1 contractor, 1 thatcher, 1 coal merchant and 1 market gardener.

12 members listed in the Methodist Society.

Extension made to the Fox and Hounds, The Bell is owned by R. A. Hobhouse.

Ordnance Survey map shows a smithy, a workmen's club, a post office and allotments in Broughton Gifford; population at 649.

Scool closes due to scarlatina, whooping cough, tonsilitis and other 'weaknesses', there is a week long holiday celebrating the coronation of King Edward VII.

Wooden station halt opens at Broughton Gifford due to the completion of Wiltshire Railways.

Board of education gives £666 13s. 4d. to Broughton Gifford. The Mortimer Charity is founded by Robert Mortimer and gives money to the poor at Christmas, as well as maintenance for 2 children at Broughton Gifford schools.

Halt on therailway line near Mill Farm is opened.

New chapel built.

Broughton Gifford Manor House is converted back in to one house by Mr Schmidt.

Broughton Gifford welcomes a mattress maker, a florist, a sign writer, a haulier and a hardware merchant.

The last Court Leet decides, at The Bell, the fate of the common.

The Bell is leased to Ushers Brewery for £80.

Vestry formed in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, carved oak screen built across the tower arch to form a vestry in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Income of the Mortimer Charity is £20.

Electric lights are installed in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Flooding makes roads at Broughton Gifford impossible to travel on.

A garden is added to The Bell and the house is modernised.

Mrs Floyd gives a silver chalice, with paten cover, to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Records show that the average school attendance is 76.

Wooden railway halt closes.

The Bell is sold to the current owners: Wadworths Brewery.

Rod Nield Siddall is the headteacher at Broughton Gifford's St. Mary's School.

Broughton Gifford bowls club is established; parish population at 656.

Flooding again causes problems for travelling on Broughton Gifford's roads.

Conservation area designated for listed properties of 'special architectural interest'.

A clubhouse for the bowls club, built by club members, is added to The Bell.

Broughton Gifford Gardening Society is formed.

Tony and Dorothy Stanley begin to run The Bell.

Population at 991.

Church Farm Meats, founded by James Hooper in 1860, moves to Church Farm in Broughton Gifford.

Honeysuckle Cottage B&B is opened by Sue and Darius Mehta.

Census shows a population of 822.

Midge Ure, frontman for Ultravox, opens the new gardens and play equipment at Broughton Gifford's pre-school.

The Fox pub, owned by Geoff Bell and Kim Tuck, reaches the final of a national competition run by the brewery 'Greene King' to find the best pub they supply. Broughton Gifford scout hut is rejuvenated.

Records show 3 ponds on the common, flooding against makes the roads impossible to drive on. New Food Solutions Ltd. is founded in Broughton Gifford.

Broughton Gifford hosts a fun run, 5km race and a 5 mile road race.

Tony and Dorothy Stanley resign from running The Bell. Broughton Gifford receives a grant of £23,000 from the Big Lottery Fund which is used to renovate the community hall.