Horningsham
Encyclopedia
Horningsham is a small Wiltshire village forming part of the Longleat Estate and lying on the Wiltshire
/Somerset
border between Warminster
and Frome
.
It has a peculiar form lying somwehere between a classic dispersed settlement
and a nucleated village
.
It lies within the Cranborne Chase
and West Wiltshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
The village has the "P's identified by Country Life (magazine)
as essential to a successful village: a pub, a post office, a place of worship, a primary school and public transport (although limited) It also has a village hall.
, is the site of an early Iron Age
settlement. An entry in the Domesday Book
describes the village as very small, being occupied by one cottager and four small holders.
The name ‘Horninges-ham’ means ‘Horning’s homestead’ in Old English. The personal name probably comes from the uncomplimentary noun
‘hornung’ meaning ‘bastard’. For more information, see List of generic forms in British place names.
Close to the parish boundary on the road to Frome are the remains of Woodhouse Castle. In the 17th century it was owned by the Cavalier
Arundel family and consequently attacked during the English Civil War
. The damage was so severe that it was impossible to return to the castle when peace was restored. The family moved into Horningsham and built themselves a fine manor house
below the church.
The parish
changed hands several times before the Thynnes purchased it for the second time in 1716. The Vernon
family, who held it during the 12th century, were the founders of the village church. The Stantors then held it for the next 200 years, selling to Sir John Thynne
c. 1550. After the Civil War the manor was in the possession of the Arundels. Sir John Thynne (Longleat’s builder) had already increased the size of the parish by buying more land. His descendant Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
was very interested in forestry, and engaged Capability Brown
to plant large plantations of beech
and pine
. Gradually forestry and farming were established as the two main sources of employment. The situation did not change until the late 20th century, when tourism took over.
was founded in the 12th century but has been virtually rebuilt twice in 1783 and 1843.
Secondly, a Congregational Church
Chapel, known as the Old Meeting House. The Chapel was built in 1556. It was used by the Scotsmen employed by Sir John Thynne to help build Longleat House. The claim that this is the oldest Free Church in England is unsubstantiated, but it is believed to be the oldest still in use for worship
.
in 1732 when it was called The New Inn. It later changed to the Lord Weymouth Arms and then the Marquess of Bath’s Arms. In 1850 this was one of four pubs in the village, as well as an off-licence.
, which has its offices in nearby Trowbridge
. The village is represented in Parliament
by the MP
for Westbury, Andrew Murrison
and in Wiltshire Council
by Fleur de Rhé-Philipe
.
Horningsham has a flourishing cricket
team with a junior and senior team. Adult volunteers maintain a successful Teenage Club.
In 2007 Horningsham became the Best Kept Village in West Wiltshire
.
Every year and usually on the second Sunday in June, Lord Bath opens a well-attended village fete
.
and Warminster greensand
.
The stream
Redford Water rises in the village. It eventually runs into the River Frome
. The centre of the village is at 162 metres above sea level
.
(a retired British Army Brigadier). Hervey’s father, the Venerable Thomas Hervey MA (Oxon), is portrayed as a Church of England cleric within the village who later receives a higher benefice, (Archdeacon
of Sarum), within the Diocese of Salisbury. The countryside surrounding Horningsham is often referenced as Matthew Hervey thinks of home whilst on active service and periodically enjoys a measure of home-leave.
Longleat House
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
/Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
border between Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
and Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
.
It has a peculiar form lying somwehere between a classic dispersed settlement
Dispersed settlement
A dispersed settlement is one of the main types of settlement patterns used by landscape historians to classify rural settlements found in England and other parts of the world....
and a nucleated village
Nucleated village
A nucleated village is one of the main types of settlement pattern found in England and other parts of the world. It is one of the terms used by landscape historians to classify settlements. An idealised village, in which the houses cluster around a central church which is often close to the...
.
It lies within the Cranborne Chase
Cranborne Chase
Cranborne Chase is a Chalk plateau in central southern England, straddling the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. The plateau is part of the English Chalk Formation and is adjacent to Salisbury Plain and the West Wiltshire Downs in the north, the Dorset Downs to the south west and the...
and West Wiltshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
The village has the "P's identified by Country Life (magazine)
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
as essential to a successful village: a pub, a post office, a place of worship, a primary school and public transport (although limited) It also has a village hall.
History
At Baycliffe Farm, near the boundary with Maiden BradleyMaiden Bradley
Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield is a small Wiltshire civil parish near the Somerset border and the home of the Duke of Somerset. The B3092 road that joins Frome to Mere runs through the middle of the village of Maiden Bradley....
, is the site of an early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlement. An entry in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
describes the village as very small, being occupied by one cottager and four small holders.
The name ‘Horninges-ham’ means ‘Horning’s homestead’ in Old English. The personal name probably comes from the uncomplimentary noun
Noun
In linguistics, a noun is a member of a large, open lexical category whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition .Lexical categories are defined in terms of how their members combine with other kinds of...
‘hornung’ meaning ‘bastard’. For more information, see List of generic forms in British place names.
Close to the parish boundary on the road to Frome are the remains of Woodhouse Castle. In the 17th century it was owned by the Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
Arundel family and consequently attacked during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. The damage was so severe that it was impossible to return to the castle when peace was restored. The family moved into Horningsham and built themselves a fine manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
below the church.
The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
changed hands several times before the Thynnes purchased it for the second time in 1716. The Vernon
Vernon
-USA:*Vernon, Alabama*Vernon, California*Lake Vernon, California*Vernon, Colorado*Vernon, Connecticut*Vernon, Florida*Vernon, Illinois*Vernon, Indiana*Vernon Parish, Louisiana*Vernon, Michigan...
family, who held it during the 12th century, were the founders of the village church. The Stantors then held it for the next 200 years, selling to Sir John Thynne
John Thynne
Sir John Thynne was the steward to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and a member of parliament. He was the builder of Longleat House and his descendants became Marquesses of Bath.-Early life:...
c. 1550. After the Civil War the manor was in the possession of the Arundels. Sir John Thynne (Longleat’s builder) had already increased the size of the parish by buying more land. His descendant Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath
Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath KG was a British politician who held office under George III serving as Southern Secretary, Northern Secretary and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Between 1751 and 1780 he was known as Lord Weymouth...
was very interested in forestry, and engaged Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
to plant large plantations of beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
. Gradually forestry and farming were established as the two main sources of employment. The situation did not change until the late 20th century, when tourism took over.
Church & Chapel
It has two places of worship, both of ancient origin. First, the parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
was founded in the 12th century but has been virtually rebuilt twice in 1783 and 1843.
Secondly, a Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
Chapel, known as the Old Meeting House. The Chapel was built in 1556. It was used by the Scotsmen employed by Sir John Thynne to help build Longleat House. The claim that this is the oldest Free Church in England is unsubstantiated, but it is believed to be the oldest still in use for worship
.
Primary School
The small but popular primary school has a complement of 60-70 pupils. Although small, the school has enjoyed sporting success in the Wiltshire Youth Games.Horningsham Cricket Club
The Horningsham Cricket Club is one of the best village cricket clubs in the wiltshire region.The Bath Arms
The village pub, The Bath Arms, is on The Common. Built in the 17th century it became a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in 1732 when it was called The New Inn. It later changed to the Lord Weymouth Arms and then the Marquess of Bath’s Arms. In 1850 this was one of four pubs in the village, as well as an off-licence.
Local government and MP
Horningsham elects a parish council. Most local government services are provided by Wiltshire CouncilWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, which has its offices in nearby Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
. The village is represented in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
by the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Westbury, Andrew Murrison
Andrew Murrison
Dr Andrew William Murrison is a doctor and Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. After serving as the Member of Parliament for Westbury from 2001 to 2010, at the 2010 general election he was elected for the new seat of South West Wiltshire.-Early life:The son of William Gordon...
and in Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council is the unitary authority for most of the county of Wiltshire, in the West of England, the successor authority to Wiltshire County Council and to four districts—Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire—all of which had been created in 1973 and were...
by Fleur de Rhé-Philipe
Fleur de Rhé-Philipe
Fleur de Rhé-Philipe is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. Before 2009, she was a member of Wiltshire County Council representing first the Upper Wylye division and later Westbury Laverton and was the Cabinet member for Environment, Transport & Economic Development...
.
Community activities
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team with a junior and senior team. Adult volunteers maintain a successful Teenage Club.
In 2007 Horningsham became the Best Kept Village in West Wiltshire
West Wiltshire
West Wiltshire was a local government district in Wiltshire, England, formed on 1 April 1974, further to the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the former urban districts of Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury, along with Bradford and Melksham Rural District and...
.
Every year and usually on the second Sunday in June, Lord Bath opens a well-attended village fete
Fête
Fête is a French word meaning festival, celebration or party, which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.-Description:It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête,...
.
Geology and Geography
The village lies on middle chalkChalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
and Warminster greensand
Greensand
Greensand or Green sand is either a sand or sandstone, which has a greenish color. This term is specifically applied to shallow marine sediment, that contains noticeable quantities of rounded greenish grains. These grains are called glauconies and consist of a mixture of mixed-layer clay...
.
The stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
Redford Water rises in the village. It eventually runs into the River Frome
River Frome, Somerset
The River Frome is a river in Somerset. It rises near Witham Friary, flows north through the town of Frome and joins the River Avon at Freshford, south of Bath....
. The centre of the village is at 162 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Horningsham in the news
- 85mph tractor blunder
- Ex-tutor fights Lord Bath rent rise
- Man who cried wolf is breeder of the pack
- Art trail winds through valley
Horningsham in fiction
Horningsham was the reputed birth place of Matthew Paulinus Hervey, (b. 1791 – d. not yet written), an officer of the fictional 6th Light Dragoons (formerly known as the 'Princess Caroline’s Own') which appear in the on-going 'Hervey' series of novels written by Allan MallinsonAllan Mallinson
Brigadier Allan Lawrence Mallinson is an English author and was an officer in the British Army.Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent...
(a retired British Army Brigadier). Hervey’s father, the Venerable Thomas Hervey MA (Oxon), is portrayed as a Church of England cleric within the village who later receives a higher benefice, (Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Sarum), within the Diocese of Salisbury. The countryside surrounding Horningsham is often referenced as Matthew Hervey thinks of home whilst on active service and periodically enjoys a measure of home-leave.
See also
Longleat House
External links
- Longleat
- Center Parcs, Longleat Forest
- Congregational Chapel* Cottages in 1955
- Television programme "Animal Park" (filmed at Longleat and in Horningsham)
