Kington St Michael
Encyclopedia
Kington St Michael is a village and civil parish about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Chippenham
in Wiltshire
.
and Chippenham
and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the A350.
The village is largely a linear village
based on its main street, which runs from southeast to northwest, where Honey Knob Hill leads into open countryside heading towards Grittleton
.
The nearby Easton Piercy is a hamlet
and part of the parish.
and Bronze Age
s. The first named settlement dates to about AD 934, when it was known as "Kington". Later known as "Kington Minchin" during the early existence of Kington St. Michael Priory
, it became "Kington St Michael" in 1279 when the church was rededicated to St Michael.
A market cross
was adjacent to the Priory and according to Aubrey
, sold staple foods. A Michaelmas
Fair was also noted for its "ale and geese".
The main activity in the village was agriculture
for many years, although there is some evidence of a small textile industry. In about 1760 the Chippenham
to Malmesbury
road (now the A350) was made a turnpike, and Kington benefited from the increase in traffic, by the end of the 18th century supporting "tailors, two blacksmiths and a carpenter ... [and] a slaughterhouse, malthouse and public house". By 1851 the range of occupations reported in the village had expanded further.
Following the closure of the local Post Office
on 2nd April 2008, there is now a community owned shop, staffed by volunteers, operating from part of the village hall and providing local produce and an off-licence. It is staffed mainly by local residents and also offers PostPoint postal facilities.
School
The village has one primary school, Kington St Michael Church of England
school, a voluntary controlled school
with a catchment area including the village itself and parts of north Chippenham. It has around 110 pupils and is described by Ofsted
as "a good school with significant outstanding features. The level of care and support the school provides is outstanding."
Pub
The village has one public house
, The Jolly Huntsman. It dates back to the 18th century, when beer was brewed on the premises and it was named The White Horse Brewery, it is now a free house. It has been included in the CAMRA "Good Beer Guide" since 2006 and was named "Regional Pub of the Year" in 2010.
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
in Wiltshire
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...
.
Location
Kington St Michael is about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of junction 17 of the M4 motorwayM4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the A350.
The village is largely a linear village
Linear village
In geography, a linear village, or linear settlement, is a small to medium-sized settlement that is formed around a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal. Wraysbury, a village in Berkshire, is one of the longest villages in England....
based on its main street, which runs from southeast to northwest, where Honey Knob Hill leads into open countryside heading towards Grittleton
Grittleton
Grittleton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, 7 miles NW of Chippenham, Wiltshire at .The Grittleton House estate is the home of Grittleton House School, which was founded in 1951....
.
The nearby Easton Piercy is a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
and part of the parish.
History
There is evidence of habitation of the area in the New Stone AgeNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
s. The first named settlement dates to about AD 934, when it was known as "Kington". Later known as "Kington Minchin" during the early existence of Kington St. Michael Priory
Kington St. Michael Priory
Kington St. Michael Priory was a Benedictine Priory of nuns at Kington St Michael in Wiltshire, England.The last Prioress of Kington was Dame Marie Denys, a daughter of Sir William Denys of Dyrham, Gloucestershire and Lady Ann Berkeley, da. of Maurice, de jure 3rd Baron Berkeley...
, it became "Kington St Michael" in 1279 when the church was rededicated to St Michael.
A market cross
Market cross
A market cross is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, originally from the distinctive tradition in Early Medieval Insular art of free-standing stone standing or high crosses, often elaborately carved, which goes back to the 7th century. Market crosses can be found in most...
was adjacent to the Priory and according to Aubrey
John Aubrey
John Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
, sold staple foods. A Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
Fair was also noted for its "ale and geese".
The main activity in the village was agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
for many years, although there is some evidence of a small textile industry. In about 1760 the Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
to Malmesbury
Malmesbury
Malmesbury is a market town and civil parish located in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England. Historically Malmesbury was a centre for learning and home to Malmesbury Abbey...
road (now the A350) was made a turnpike, and Kington benefited from the increase in traffic, by the end of the 18th century supporting "tailors, two blacksmiths and a carpenter ... [and] a slaughterhouse, malthouse and public house". By 1851 the range of occupations reported in the village had expanded further.
Architecture
The village has several Grade II listed buildings. Grade II* listed buildings include St Michael's parish church and a group of monuments in the churchyard.Amenities
ShopFollowing the closure of the local Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
on 2nd April 2008, there is now a community owned shop, staffed by volunteers, operating from part of the village hall and providing local produce and an off-licence. It is staffed mainly by local residents and also offers PostPoint postal facilities.
School
The village has one primary school, Kington St Michael Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
school, a voluntary controlled school
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
with a catchment area including the village itself and parts of north Chippenham. It has around 110 pupils and is described by Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
as "a good school with significant outstanding features. The level of care and support the school provides is outstanding."
Pub
The village has one public house
Public 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...
, The Jolly Huntsman. It dates back to the 18th century, when beer was brewed on the premises and it was named The White Horse Brewery, it is now a free house. It has been included in the CAMRA "Good Beer Guide" since 2006 and was named "Regional Pub of the Year" in 2010.
Notable people
- John AubreyJohn AubreyJohn Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
, antiquarian and archaeologist - John BrittonJohn Britton (antiquary)-Early life:Britton was born on 7 July 1771 at Kington St. Michael, near Chippenham. His parents were in humble circumstances, and he was left an orphan at an early age. At sixteen he went to London and was apprenticed to a wine merchant. Prevented by ill-health from serving his full term, he found...
, antiquarian - Isaac Lyte, AldermanAldermanAn alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of London, local benefactor, erected almshouseAlmshouseAlmshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s.