LOCAL
HISTORY - HEYTESBURY
The
village of Heytesbury is a very ancient one. It is mentioned in the
Domesday Book as Hestrebe, but Sir Richard Colt Hoare of Stourhead, wrote in 1824 in his “History of Modern
Wiltshire and the Hundred of Heytesbury” employed in the
compiling of the Domesday Book softened the rough Saxon
Hestredesbirig into Haseberie.
The late Lord Heytesbury wrote “John Britton”
writing in 1814, gives Haresbury as a variation in use.
In the last century Heytesbury was often pronounced
‘Hettsbury’.
Houses
of historical interest are Heytesbury House which stands on
the medieval mansion of east court. This was the house
that Walter, Lord Hungerford was repairing and enlarging
when arrested on a charge of treason, he was beheaded by
King Henry VIII. The house was seized by the King, and
the commissioners reported that the mansion surrounded by a
moat would have been suitable for the King to occupy if the
alterations had been completed. The house continued in
semi-derelict condition until the 17th century when the Ashe
family purchased it. [see http://holmesacourt.org/hachistory/hac_history.html]
The Ashe à Court family
partly transformed the house in 1820 by the addition
of a south facing facade. The house remained in the
Ashe à Court family until 1926. It was then purchased
by Siegfried
Sassoon just after 1926, [see www.heytesbury.org.uk]
Siegfried occupied Heytesbury House until 1967,
Siegfried's son the late George
Sassoon lived in it until 1994 when it was sold and divided into
several apartments.
The
Prebend House, known as Parsonage Farm at one time
constituted a manor belonging to the Dean of Sarum in his
capacity as Dean of Heytesbury.
The
almshouses better known as the
Hospital of St. John were founded by
Sir Walter Hungerford but he died before their
completion, and this was accomplished by the widow of Sir
Walter’s second son Robert, who married Margaret, the
daughter and heiress of William, Lord Botreaux. This building was Margaret’s greatest memorial.
In
the middle of the High Street there stands one of the
curious little “blind houses”, an octagonal building
with stone-tiled roof containing a dome, in which many years
ago, offenders were locked up by the village constable.
This was restored in 2007. Sarah Buttenshaw
recorded the project in words and photographs, click on the
link - click here to open
Wiltshire Family History
Society www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk
have produced a booklet [check out the website for prices] Heytesbury
Parishioners 1771-1785; 1879-1883
fascinating. Parish Registers up to 1837 available
before the end of 2009
William
Cunnington (1754-1810) buried in Heytesbury Churchyard - read about
this "pioneer archaeologist" article reproduced with the
kind permission of British
Archaeology [September October 2009 - pages 41-43]
[Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Paul Everill]