Click on the map to see a larger map of Wiltshire (29,700 bytes)
or here to see an enlarged map of the Swindon area as it was in 1890 (273,987 bytes)
However, for completeness sake, if the place meets the first criterion but fails on one or more of the others, then it will at least appear here as a heading, so the reader will have some idea which places may "get the treatment" at some time in the future.
When there is a mention of a surnames interests section for a town or village (South Marston, Swindon, Wanborough and West Harnham), this includes an invitation for any reader to have his/her interests included.
Bishopstone is shown to the east of Swindon on the linked map of Wiltshire.
  | George Fisher, father of the John Fisher of South Marston mentioned below, was living in Broad Blunsdon at the time of his marriage to Betty Bridges (which took place in South Marston) and he married Mary COOK, his second wife, at St. Leonard's parish church (click on thumbnails left for pictures, 72,533 bytes and 27,869 bytes) here 29th November 1819. However, he was not born or buried here and Mary Cook is not my ancestor, so my interest in the village is somewhat limited. |
Broad Blunsdon is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen in the centre of the upper part of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
My great great great grandfather John Jefferies was baptised at St. Peter ad Vincula Church (left photo 39,669 bytes) in January 1766. The old cottages and well (with snowdrops flowering in the grass around it) in the second photo (52,277 bytes) are near the church.
Broad Hinton is shown south of Swindon on the linked map of Wiltshire.
My paternal grandparents were married here in 1906. They were living in Coate at the time, which was then within Chiseldon parish. This photo (click on the thumbnail for a larger image, 30,966 bytes) shows the parish church.
The other major feature of Coate is the reservoir, originally established to supply water to the Wilts & Berks Canal, it soon became a popular place of relaxation for the people of nearby Swindon, with swimming in and boating on the main lake, while a paddling pool was provided for small children. Today it is a country park, and the lake, originally about three quarters of a mile in length, was extended in the 1960s to provide a substantial nature reserve in the newly flooded area. Also in the 1960s, swimming in the main lake was permanently ended as a result of major algal pollution, the paddling pool was converted to a sandpit, and a new swimming and paddling facility was built within the grounds. The first photo below (20,571 bytes) shows the old diving board in the north-west corner of the lake which was reserved for swimmers (the five-level board could be reached only by swimming to it), and the second (33,717 bytes) looks diagonally across the lake from beside the old paddling pool - the diving board can just be seen a little to the left of centre, while almost the whole length of the dam across that end can be seen, mostly to the right of it. This lake is the scene of much of the book Bevis, the Story of a Boy, by Richard Jefferies.
Coate is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen near the bottom right of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
Liddington is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen towards the right on the bottom edge of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
Here are two photos of the All Saints parish church (41,395 and 32,180 bytes), and one, taken from the churchyard at a range of about 1 mile, of Liddington Castle (10,371 bytes), an iron age fort on the hilltop overlooking the village and visible for many miles. Some parachutists can be seen part way up the hill, below the castle ramparts (the red rectangle above the foreground hedge, and the dark spots further right and a little lower). Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.
From the castle the view northwards stretches for 40 or 50 miles across the Thames valley to the Cotswold Hills. Alfred Williams in his book A Wiltshire Village (published in 1912) says, "It is claimed that there are seven counties visible from these heights. These are Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Buckinghamshire. As all these, except Hampshire, come within a radius of forty miles of the hill on the open side, the claim may very well be admitted; it is a noble and extensive panorama that is spread out before you." I have done some calculations, making due allowance for the earth's curvature and intervening hills, and can confirm all those except Hampshire, and would add Somerset to the west (at Lansdown, near Bath), the hilltop above Broadway which is just in Worcestershire, and the Monmouthshire hill of Wentwood beyond the Wye Valley. In the case of Berkshire, this is partly that section of the ancient county which was transferred to Oxfordshire in 1974, and includes White Horse Hill near Uffington. Unlike all the others mentioned, Hampshire lies to the south-east across the downland which is not so much lower in altitude than the castle; I cannot find any part of that county which is not shielded from Liddington Castle by one or more hills higher than those of Hampshire and in some cases a little higher than Liddington Hill.
This little village was once a part of the parish of Wanborough. It is one of a series of villages which grew up along the spring line where the porous chalk meets the lower, impervious clay, and like the others is on the ancient Icknield Way drovers road from Wales to Norfolk. It lies between two other spring-line villages, Bishopstone and Wanborough, about one mile from each.
The two names for the village mean the same, one in English and the other in Latin. Both appear on the roadside sign on entry to the village, and confusingly, some signposts directing travellers there use one name and others the other. There are two origins for the common place name Hinton. In this case it means "farmstead belonging to a religious community", from the Old English hiwan + tun. In 1205 it was referred to as "Hinneton".
Shown below are some pictures of St. Swithun's Church. In each case click on the thumbnail to see a larger image:
 St. Swithun's Church |  St. Swithun's Church |  St. Swithun's Church Looking towards the altar |  St. Swithun's Church Looking away from the altar |  St. Swithun's Church Window behind the altar |  St. Swithun's Church Saxon font |
Little Hinton is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen near the bottom right of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
My great great great great great grandfather Benjamin Morgan was almost certainly the man who married local girl Elizabeth Say at the North Bradley parish church (St. Nicholas) in 1753. She seems not to have been baptised here, although her possible parents married here in 1731. Certainly there were Says (a rare name) living in the village, so a link is almost certain.
North Bradley is shown on the map of Wiltshire, just south of Trowbridge.
My great great great great great great grandfather George Fisher was baptised in this church (All Saints) in 1698.
Oaksey can be seen on the linked map of Wiltshire, right in the north and a little west of centre.
My great great great great great great grandparents William Bridges and Hannah King married here in 1733, but then returned to her home village of South Marston to produce and raise their family. These two photos (35,734 and 23,602 bytes respectively) show different views of the unusual parish church, which shares with nearby Wanborough and that at Ormskirk in Lancashire the distinction of having both a tower and a spire.
Purton is shown to the west of Swindon on the linked map of Wiltshire.
My great great great great great great great grandmother Mary BERIMAN was baptised at this large parish church (photo 65,332 bytes) in 1681.
Ramsbury is shown on the River Kennet on the linked map of Wiltshire.
Shaw is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen three quarters of the way down towards the left of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
There is a brief description of the village, a few photos and a surnames interest section on my main South Marston page.
South Marston is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen just right of centre of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
 | Most of my father's ancestors that I know about lived in Wanborough. The history and geography of the village is briefly described on my Wanborough page, which also features a number of photos, including one of its very unusual church, and a surnames interests section. |
Wanborough is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because, like several other villages in this list, it is too close to Swindon to show clearly, but it can be seen near the bottom right of the enlarged map of the Swindon area (273,987 bytes).
The old parish church of St. Denys is a very impressive building at the western edge of the town centre.
West Harnham is not shown on the linked map of Wiltshire, because it is too close to Salisbury to show clearly. It is located just south of the city, across the river from the cathedral. This small map (10,382 bytes) shows the village in some detail, and its relationship to Salisbury.
Main links within this site:
Genealogy and Family History | Gardening with Strange Ideas
Humour? | Politics and Philosophy | Science
Jim Fisher Summary Biography | Diary of Thoughts on Various Issues | Miscellaneous Small Items
Contact me | Map of This Site | Web Site Design and Browser Compatibility Policy
