Civil Parish of Lyneham

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Lyneham

This page is one of 261 pages covering every community in Wiltshire, and is provided by Wiltshire Council Libraries and Heritage. A project to provide a fuller picture of each community is in progress, working on the larger communities first. When these 261, which are modern civil parishes, are completed we will begin work on a further 180 villages and hamlets to provide comprehensive coverage of Wiltshire communities large and small.

From Andrews' and Dury's Map of Wiltshire, 1773:
	Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
Map of the Civil Parish of Lyneham:
	1890s Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
From the Ordnance Survey 1890s revision of the one inch to one mile map. The modern civil parish has been superimposed.
From Andrews' and Dury's Map of Wiltshire, 1810:
	Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
This is a corrected and updated edition of the 1773 map that includes the recently built canals.

Thumbnail History: The present day parish of Lyneham lies in the north of the county of Wiltshire and is made up of the villages of Bradenstoke and Lyneham and the outlying hamlet of Preston. Originally the hamlet of West Tockenham was part of the parish but in the 1960s it was proposed that it became part of the parish of Tockenham. Bradenstoke, which lies in the north west of the parish, was originally the main area of settlement. It was then known as 'Stoche', (meaning settlement), and the area was well wooded, having lain within the boundaries of Braydon Forest. It was from the 12th century that the settlement was called Bradenstoke, and this was applied to the area surrounding Bradenstoke Priory, which was founded during that time. The name 'Clack', (which means hill), first appears in this parish in 1310 and refers to a mound lying to the north-east of Bradenstoke Farm. Until the later 19th century this name was applied to the hamlet which followed the road to the priory. The area was also known by the name 'Lousy Clack', (taken from the teutonic 'lloew', meaning hill), and resulted in its inclusion in the local rhyme about places in the neighbourhood with steep escarpments or cliffs. The rhyme runs: White Cleeve, Pepper Cleeve, Cleeve and Cleavancy, Lyneham and Lousy Clack, Cris Mavord and Dauntsey. The name Bradenstoke was revived in the 20th century and by 1968 the whole village was known by this name. Lyneham, which is nearly a mile east of Bradenstoke, was mentioned for the first time in 1224 and was probably included in the Domesday holding of 'Stoche'. In 1198, West Tockenham was known simply as Tockenham but by 1293 was known as West Tockenham in order to distinguish it from East Tockenham in the adjoining parish. Preston, which consisted of two farms, a Methodist chapel and a few cottages in 1968, lies a mile and a quarter south-east of Lyneham itself. The western and southern parts of the parish are located on the Corallian ridge, which runs from Wheatley to Calne. The northern part of the ridge determines the northern, western and part of the southern boundaries of Lyneham. The two villages and Preston all lie on a part of the ridge formed of Coral Rag. To the west and south of the parish the Corallian ridge can rise to heights of 400 feet and west of Bradenstoke up to over 475 feet. The dip slope of this ridge gradually falls away to the south-east. It is due to its elevated status that the parish has an open outlook with little tree growth, except in the north where Lilly Brook has eroded the sand beneath Coral Rag at a place called Blind Mill. This has resulted in the formation of a steep gully that is thickly wooded. North and east of Preston is a network of streams which are tributaries of Cowage Brook and they converge above Littlecott (Hilmarton). Land was mostly used as pasture although some arable farming was carried out on the lighter, sandier soils around Shaw Farm. The Name "Barrow End", which is to the north-west of the village of Lyneham implies that there may have been historic activity there. Two sets of coins have been found in the parish. Roman coins were found near Bradenstoke Priory and Constantinian coins have been found at an undisclosed area of the parish. A skeleton, of unknown date, was found near West Preston farm. Lyneham Camp, a motte and bailey earthwork which is thought to be of Norman origin, lies in the north of this parish near Hillocks Wood. Another Norman earthwork, Clack Mount, rises at the highest point of the Corallian ridge behind Bradenstoke Farm. At the time of the Domesday Survey the population is likely to have been between 165 and 195 people according to modern Domesday interpretations. The population of Lyneham began to rise after 1801 until 1841 when there were 1,317 people. This included 179 labourers who were laying the GWR line in the adjacent parish. After this time the population declined until the arrival of the RAF base in 1940. This led to a sudden increase in population figures for the parish. Little has changed with regard to the roads of the parish since the 18th century. Lyneham Green was the junction of all roads as it is today. The Calne - Lyneham road followed its present course from 1736, being known as Even Lane at that time, and ran through the village. From 1773 the Swindon - Chippenham road entered from Dauntsey to the east of Bradenstoke Priory and then became the main street of Bradenstoke. During the Middle Ages this road was probably very important as it served the priory and Clack Spring and Fall fairs. After Bradenstoke the road ran north eastwards towards Tockenham. In 1887 a bypass was built to the north of Bradenstoke and after that the road at the heart of Bradenstoke declined in importance. By 1968 the Swindon - Chippenham road was the only main road in this parish. The arrival of the airbase led to the disappearance of two roads in the parish. One led to Lyneham Court Farm and on to Stockham Marsh in Bremhill, whilst the other travelled from Lyneham Court towards Freegrove. The eastern boundary of this parish ran down the west side of a road called Trow Lane in 1968. A small lane turns off this road westwards to Church End, where an early 19th century toll house once stood and survived until around 1960. Tockenham reservoir was constructed around 1810 to feed the Wilts and Berks Canal, which had been built north of the parish by 1801, and partly fell within the parish north-east of Blind Mill. This reservoir was later abandoned when the Swindon section of the canal was closed in 1914. By 1968 the section in Lyneham had been revived for boating and fishing purposes. Bradenstoke, flanked to the south by the airfield, remained relatively unchanged, certainly up to the 1970s, and still resembles the medieval village dominated by Bradenstoke Priory in the south-west. However, most of the priory buildings were removed around 1930. The village itself consists of a single narrow street, which is built up on both sides. The middle of the street widens and on its south side stands the base and part of the shaft of a cross that was first mentioned in 1546-47. South of this stands the church of St Mary which was built in 1866. Across the street from the church is Providence Chapel dating from 1777. A few houses have exposed timber framing while others still show traces of timber construction. Some may be of medieval origin, this includes a house at the corner of the road to Dauntsey, which has heavy curved braces to its framing. A house west of Providence Chapel, which is now three dwellings, has a jettied upper storey with a continuous bressummer and probably dates from the early 16th century. Two brick houses carry date-stones of 1762 and 1788. Several houses with thatched roofs and others with stone slates give a picturesque look to the street. At Preston, two farm houses are largely early 18th century. Preston East Farm however, includes a 17th century building. South of Preston West Farm is an older house, the main range of which was originally timber framed and of medieval cruck construction. Two of its cruck trusses have survived. There is a group of cottages near the ford at the eastern end of Preston, these are also timber framed. Shaw Farm, east of Trow Lane, is an 18th century building. The RAF station's arrival in 1940 and its housing developments have obscured parts of the village of Lyneham, straddling the Hilmarton - Lyneham road. The nucleus of the village lay to the north where houses are still grouped around the green. Also at that time the green was crossed by the Hilmarton and Chippenham - Swindon roads. Since the Second World War Lynehams's development was limited to an area west of Church End. This was where the new schools were located, surrounded by housing for the RAF base. There was also an extension to this housing in the apex of the Preston and Hilmarton roads. The airfield of the RAF base lies to the west of the Calne - Lyneham road. It stretches the width of the Corallian ridge from Bradenstoke to the edge of Catcomb Wood. RAF Lyneham was opened in 1940 and assumed full station status in 1942. By 1968 it covered over 1,200 acres and was the main employer in the parish. Land which had belonged to Lyneham Court Farm, Church Farm, Cranley Farm and Bradenstoke Abbey Farm was now used to create the airfield. Since the arrival of the airforce base the village has grown dramatically and can now boast of having many shops and services, as is often the case of towns near a military base. In 1968 the C130 Hercules, built by Lockheed, arrived and the station became home to the RAF's fleet of Hercules. De Havilland Comets were also stationed here at the same time as 216 Squadron. These aircraft were used for transporting the Royal Family and other VIPs. One of them, "Sagittarius", is now the RAF base's gate guardian. In the 1970s Lyneham became the main tactical transport base for the RAF in the United Kingdom. The Hercules have assisted in moving both troops and supplies in times of conflict, famines or other emergencies, and are now a common sight in the skies over Lyneham and the surrounding countryside. They are a much loved aircraft by pilots and locals alike being affectionately known as "Fat Albert". Sadly, however, in July 2003 the MOD announced plans to close the base by 2012 and to transfer the 50 strong Hercules Fleet to the airbase at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. This will lead to 580 jobs being lost on the base and the remaining 1920 jobs being re-deployed to other sites. This will have an effect on the economic welfare of Lyneham and on its social climate too but we will have to wait and see exactly what these effects are likely to be.

Council	Wiltshire Council
Web Site	www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Email	customercare@wiltshire.gov.uk
Parish Council	Lyneham & Bradenstoke Parish Council
Parish Web Site
Parish Email	oakhatch@btinternet.com

Churches: Information on both current and disused churches and chapels. Schools: Information on both current and closed schools. Population 1801 - 2011 Photographs: If images have been added for this community they are available here.: We hold a collection of over 50,000 photographs of places in Wiltshire in the County Local Studies Library. These may be viewed at this library and copies of out of copyright material may be purchased. We can search for a picture of a building or event if you e-mail us with details. Historical Sources: A select list of books and articles is listed in 'Printed material'. You may go directly to the actual text from some of these. Printed Material: This is a select book-list for the community but in the case of a town there may be hundreds more books, pamphlets and journal articles. The full text of some items is available to view on this site. The Victoria History of Wiltshire (opens in new window) is a partnership between local authorities and the Institute of Historical Research at London University. The History of Wiltshire is now the largest county history in the country and is still growing. The volumes are divided between general and topographical with Volumes One to Five covering subjects such as prehistory, ecclesiastical, economic and political history. The Volumes from Six onwards are topographical and will ultimately provide a comprehensive and systematic history of every single town and parish in the county. (opens in new window) Explore Wiltshire's Past web site Newspapers from 1738: These newspapers covered this community at different times. Newspaper titles in bold text are either the ones you should check first for information about this community.   Maps: listed are maps on which you can find this community. All maps are Ordnance Survey maps.   Archaeological Sites: A Sites and Monuments Record (opens new window) is maintained by the County Archaeology Service and covers some 20,000 sites. The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society was formed in 1853 and have been publishing an annual journal since 1854. The journal contains both substantial articles and shorter notes on archaeological excavations, finds, museum objects, local history, genealogy and natural history. Folk Arts: Folk Songs from Lyneham Folk Biographies from Lyneham Folk Plays from Lyneham History of Buildings: The collections of the Wiltshire Buildings Record are housed in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham. Listed Buildings: The number of buildings, or groups of buildings, listed as being of architectual or historic importance is 38. English Heritage and National Monuments Record Local Authors: There could be an author who was born or has lived in this community. Literary Associations: Some communities have featured in novels or may have been the main setting for a book. Registration Districts: If you want to obtain a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate you can contact the local registrar.   Frequently Asked Questions Search the Wiltshire Studies Catalogue This will take you to our library catalogue where you will need to limit to 'Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre' for branch and re-enter your search term to find books on the subject. Please enter more than one word, e.g. 'Salisbury + market' unless you are looking for a small community. Search Community Information Database Wiltshire & Swindon Archives Wiltshire Wills Search by name, occupation, or subject for details of a will from this parish held in the Wiltshire & Swindon Record Office. Genuki Family History - Wiltshire If you have a local history enquiry, contact the County Local Studies Library

 

Lyneham in Wiltshire

 Lyneham road closed by subsidence could cost millions to repair

Published

23 February

Image caption,

People have described the state of the road as looking like the aftermath of an earthquake

A ripped up road likened to being hit by an earthquake could take up to a year to fix and cost millions of pounds, a council has said.

The B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has buckled in places, leaving huge cracks in the road, due to subsidence.

An emergency road closure was put in place on 17 February but police said some drivers were ignoring it, putting themselves and workers in danger.

Wiltshire Council said it was awaiting a report from geotechnical specialists.

Local residents claim the subsidence has been getting worse over the last year and that a landslip was inevitable. An investigation is under way into the cause.

Image caption,

Police said some drivers have been ignoring the closure signs

Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "It could costs hundreds of thousands or up into the millions [to fix].

"There is significant damage to the road. It could be up to 12 months in total. It's not something that can be resolved in a matter of days or weeks."

Dr McClelland said people's description of it looking like an earthquake or the San Andreas Fault were "accurate", with the road "buckled three to four feet in places".

Image caption,

Dr Mark McClelland said they had never seen anything like it before

He said the council would wait until it had the report before deciding the next steps and asked drivers to obey the signs in place.

"The underlying ground has slipped and we need to understand why that has happened," he said.

"This road has been subject to remedial works in the past and it has been a difficult road to deal with, but we've never seen anything like this before.

"The police have been very clear that it's very dangerous for motorists to ignore signage."

'Businesses suffering'

Brendan Watkins, who runs the nearby Peterborough Arms pub, said the closure is already having an impact on trade.

"It's been quite bad. We lost about 50% of our restaurant bookings this weekend," he said.

"It's a big job but it needs to be done as quickly as possible because local businesses are suffering."

Image caption,

Local businesses said the closure is having an impact on trade

Jay Collings, director of 3Sixty Bodyworx, a car body workshop on the B4069, said the road has been an issue for many years.

"I'm surprised it's not been shut earlier. All they've been doing is patching it up and not addressing the problem.

"I think they should put a weight limit in or put money into it and do it correctly. They need to invest in the safety of the road," he said.

The road will remain closed while further investigations take place and motorists have been urged to follow the diversion.

probably from the greenstone of Balstone Down, near Callington,

 

Devon & Dartmoor HER

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HER Number:	MDV170
Name:	Stone Axe from Clovelly Dykes

Summary

A stone axe of sheared tremolite probably from the greenstone of Balstone Down, near Callington, Cornwall, was found on the surface in Clovelly Dykes hillfort.

Location

Grid Reference:	SS 311 234
Map Sheet:	SS32SW
Admin Area	Devon
Civil Parish	Clovelly
District	Torridge
Ecclesiastical Parish	CLOVELLY

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018522: Clovelly Dykes hillfort
• SHINE: Cropmarks associated with Clovelly Dykes. Iron Age hillfort

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS32SW/5/1
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2201 BC (Between))

Full description

Fox, A., 1951, Eighteenth Report on the Archaeology and Early History of Devon, 37 (Article in Serial). SDV15558.

A stone axe was found on the surface in Clovelly Dykes hill-fort. The Stone Axe Co report that it is a sheared tremolite, with chlorite and ilmenite, originally probably from the greenstone of Balstone Down, near Callington, Cornwall. 12 other axes of this rock, forming group 4 of the committee's classification, are known from sites in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset.

Stone, J. F. S. + Wallis, F. S., 1951, Untitled Source, 113 (Article in Serial). SDV15561.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1979 - 1981, SS32SW1 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV15560.

Nicholas Pearson Associates, 2001, Clovelly Park: Historic Landscape Survey and Restoration Plan. (Draft), 6 (Report - non-specific). SDV16249.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 544 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV15558	Article in Serial: Fox, A.. 1951. Eighteenth Report on the Archaeology and Early History of Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 83. A5 Hardback. 37.
SDV15560	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1979 - 1981. SS32SW1. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV15561	Article in Serial: Stone, J. F. S. + Wallis, F. S.. 1951. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 17. Unknown. 113.
SDV16249	Report - non-specific: Nicholas Pearson Associates. 2001. Clovelly Park: Historic Landscape Survey and Restoration Plan. (Draft). Nicholas Pearson Associates Report. Unknown. A4 Comb Bound + Digital. 6.
SDV339712	Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 544.

Associated Monuments

MDV169

Related to: Clovelly Dykes (Monument)

Associated Finds

• FDV2992 - AXE HEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2201 BC)

Associated Events: none recorded

Date Last Edited:	Mar 11 2021 6:25PM

langdon

Coastal Exploring - Rockpooling, Fossil Hunting and Beachcombing

Launceston medieval Priory ruins, Cornwall, UK

could have been a memorial stone to either 'Cnegumus son of Genaius' or 'Genaius son of Cnegumus'.

 Antiquities

Evidence of early medieval habitation at Mawgan is in the form of an inscribed pillar stone, located at the meeting of three roads at the center of the village; it bears an inscription that is no longer readable, but based on an old drawing and a photograph taken in 1936 it could have been a memorial stone to either 'Cnegumus son of Genaius' or 'Genaius son of Cnegumus'. The date of this inscription is not certain beyond having been carved before the twelfth century.

At Trelowarren is the estate of the Vyvyan family who have owned it since 1427. The Halliggye Fogou at Trelowarren is the largest in Cornwall. Trelowarren House has a complex building history: the original house is mid 15th century and there are later parts dated 1662, 1698 and ca. 1750 (further additions were made during the 19th century).

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postbridge to bellever

Vikings were active in Devon

Bloody Pool

Tim Sandles March 25, 2016 Tales Of Dartmoor 1 Comment 5,976 Views

On the south eastern edge of Dartmoor is a rather unspectacular pool known as ‘The Bloody Pool’. It is rumoured that this was once the site of a furious battle between a marauding band of Viking warriors and the local army. Many a brave soul lost his life that day in the shield wall and many were wounded. For hours the two mighty armies stood shield to shield, hacking and slashing at each other. Eventually the invaders were forced to flee back to their longships and return to the sea. The mighty dragon of the Norsemen had been sent home in disgrace but this was no consolation to the widows and fatherless children left weeping at their losses.

To this day it is said that the ghostly sounds of battle can be heard coming from the pool. At certain times, tradition has it that the marshy pool turns red, this is from the blood of the slain warriors who lie buried beneath its still waters. In 1854 a hoard of what were thought to be bronze spears were found near to the pool, it was first thought that these were spears used in the battle but then early archaeologists indicated that they were Bronze Age fishing spears.

If we first start with the belief that there was a battle between local warriors and marauding Norsemen – this cannot be confirmed. However it is a known fact that for many years the Vikings were active in Devon with attacks and raids all around the coasts and inland at Exeter, Tavistock, Lydford. Totnes lies about 6 miles to the south-east of Bloody Pool and was one of the four Devonshire Saxon burghs.  which lies about 10 miles south-east of Bloody Pool. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle, Swanton, 2003 p.65,  records that in the year 850:

“Here Ealdorman Ceorl with Devonshire fought against the heathen men at Wicga’s stronghold and made a great slaughter there and took the victory.”

The footnote on page 64 tentatively suggests that although the place has not been identified, Wicga’s Stronghold  or Wicganbeorg could be modern day Wigborough in south Somerset. Gore 2001 p.35-6 on the other hand states that Wicganbeorg is possibly now a small hamlet called Weekaborough which lies about 10 miles east of Bloody Pool. Glover, Mawer and Stenton in their definitive book,  Place Names of Devon, p. 506, are non-committal as to whether Weekaborough was Wicganbeorg because they note that in the transformed 1827 version of the place name, i.e. Wickaborough,  the vowel development needed to change the voiced cg to the unvoiced k would be difficult though not impossible. But it still could be possible that there was a battle or skirmish at Bloody Pool If Weekaborough was the Wicganbeorg mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

As to the story that in time of flood the water runs red from the spilt blood of the warriors, clearly that is a nonsense but as always there is a possible reason for the strange occurrence. This time it is necessary to look at place names and also local geology. As can be seen from the map below there are two places above bloody pool called Reddacleave and Reddacleave Brakes.

There are many place names on Dartmoor with the descriptive element red and when applied to streams or brooks it usually indicates that the stream bed literally is of a red hue. This is due to the presence of limonite and Hemery, 1983, p.58, describes it as being “a reddish substance of paste-like consistency that clings to stones in the peat-bog stream-beds in their upper reaches, during periods of drought when the water is low and the current sluggish. It results from the oxidation of ferrous carbonate, a derivative of the bog.” Could it possibly be that the reason the pool turns red is due to the limonite giving the water a red hue as it does elsewhere on the moor?

With regards to the hoard of Bronze Age fishing spears, this is a fact and they were discovered in 1854, a fact first noted in Crossing’s book ‘The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor, p.10. He also notes that they could be seen at the Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. Today the findspot is recorded as being SX 7029 6263 and they are classified as being “four bronze spearheads and ferrules, each broken in three places”. They have been dated to the Bronze Age and carry an ID Record of NMR SX 76 SW 14, described as consisting of “four bronze ferrules, 7″ long found with four barbed bronze spearheads which are 14″ long, all but one was broken. suggested as a Merchant’s or Founder’s hoard.”

Adapted from Pearce, 1981, p.127.

The map above clearly shows many Bronze Age features such as Enclosures, settlements, cairns and a standing stone so therefore it is no surprise to have discovered a Bronze Age hoard. What is interesting is that it should have been discovered by a pool, according to the NMR report they are considered to  have belonged to a founder’s or merchant’s hoard but was this in fact a votive offering of some kind? Pearce, 1978, p.76, remarks that:

“… spearheads like this form a well-recognised type and are often found as groups or hoards in contexts which suggest they were ritual offerings. The Bloody Pool spearheads may have been thrown into water, and everything we know about the late prehistoric religion suggests that this was a characteristic method of dedicating offerings to the gods.”

Hundreds of votive offerings have been found in Britain and many of them have been deliberately placed in water. Another similarity that most show is that they have been deliberately broken. Parker-Pearson notes that this act of deposition and destruction at Flag Fen was as if the site was being used as a “wishing well on a very grand scale, 2005, p.109. 

There may be no connection but as can be seen on the above map, there is a standing stone near the source of the river Harbourne which is just upstream from Bloody Pool. None of the other identified standing stones on Dartmoor are sited so close to a head spring as this standing stone, known as Harbourne Man. Could it possibly be that sometime during the Bronze Age the main cult of worship in this area was one concerned with water?

Glover, J.E.B, Mawer, A. & Stenton, F.M. 1998 The Place Names of Devon, English Place Name Society, Nottingham.

Gore, D. 2001 The Vikings and Devon, Mint Press, Exeter.

Hemery, E. 1983 High Dartmoor, Hale, London.

Parker Pearson, M. 2005 Bronze Age Britain, Batsford, London.

Pearce, S. M. 1981 The Archaeology of South West Britain, Collins, London.

Pearce, S. M. 1978 Devon in Prehistory, Exeter City Museums, Torquay.

Swanson, M. 2003 The Anglo Saxon Chronicles, Phoenix Press London.