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]