Yatesbury

All Saints' parish church

Yatesbury is a village in Wiltshire, England. It is next to Cherhill, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the A4 road between Calne and Marlborough.

Yatesbury was an ancient parish and in the 19th century became a civil parish, which was absorbed by Cherhill parish in 1934.^[1]

Church

The Church of England parish church of All Saints has 12th-century origins, and 13th-century work can be seen inside; the nave roof and tower are 15th-century. There is a canonical sundial on the south wall. The chancel was rebuilt in 1854 by C.H. Gabriel, and the church was designated as Grade I listed in 1960.^[2]

Since 1973^[1] the parish has been part of the Oldbury Benefice, which comprises the five parishes of Calstone Wellington, Cherhill, Compton Bassett, Heddington and Yatesbury.^[3]

RAF Yatesbury

Opened as a Royal Flying Corps training site in 1916, the station closed in 1920 and returned to farmland. Pilot training resumed in 1936, then from 1939 the site was used to train many airborne wireless operators and, from 1942, radar operators. Training of radar operators, mechanics and fitters continued until 1965; in 1969 the wooden huts were demolished and the land returned again to farming, leaving several brick-built buildings and hangars.

Present

Yatesbury today has a population of about 150. Whilst having no shops or amenities, the village is on National Cycle Route 403^[4] and is often passed through by cyclists and walkers.

The nearest primary school is at Cherhill. Yatesbury had its own small school from 1856 to 1963; after the school closed the building became the village hall.^[5]

The Granary at Manor Farm, Yatesbury, was restored by the Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust in 2006–2007.^[6]

Notable residents include singer, songwriter and author Julian Cope, who has lived in the village for many years.^[7] He referenced the village in the song My Wall in which he collaborated with the American drone metal band Sunn 0))), as well as in his 2013 publication, Copendium.

References

1. Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 17 pp172-181 - Yatesbury". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
2. Historic England. "Church of All Saints, Yatesbury (1363771)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
3. "The Oldbury Benefice". Retrieved 25 March 2016.
4. "Route 403". Sustrans. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
5. "Yatesbury Church of England School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
6. Johns, Colin (2007). Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust 1967–2007 (PDF). p. 30.
7. Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage

External links

• yatesbury.org – Information about the history of RAF Yatesbury

Media related to Yatesbury at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 51°26′38″N 1°54′21″W / 51.44389°N 1.90583°W