Berwick St James
| Berwick St James | |
 |
|
  Berwick St James |
|
| Population | 142 (in 2011)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU072393 |
| Civil parish | Berwick St James |
| Unitary authority | Wiltshire |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Salisbury |
| Postcode district | SP3 |
| Dialling code | 01722 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Salisbury |
| Website | Village |
Coordinates: 51°09′11″N 1°53′56″W / 51.153°N 1.899°W
Berwick St James is a village and civil parish on the River Till in Wiltshire, England, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Salisbury, on the southern edge of Salisbury Plain. The parish includes the hamlet of Asserton. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 185, reducing to 142 at the 2011 census.[1]
History
Yarnbury Castle, an iron age hillfort, is partly within the parish. In the Domesday Book of 1086, estates at Berwick and Asserton were part of Winterbourne Stoke; by the 12th century the village had its present name.[2] Stapleford Castle, a medieval ringwork castle, was just south of the parish at Stapleford.[3] Manor Farmhouse, on the village High Street, is late 16th century;[4] Berwick House, to the west of the High Street, is early 19th century.[5]
In medieval times Asserton was a village or hamlet, with its own church or chapel, and in the 14th and 15th centuries it was a separate tithing.[2] In 1557 Asserton manor was granted to James Basset, a courtier to Queen Mary. Asserton House was built in the late 18th century and rebuilt early in the 19th.[6]
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of St James is Grade I listed.[7] Originating in the 12th century and with a 17th-century tower, the building was restored in 1871.
Local government
The civil parish does not elect a parish council. Instead the first tier of local government is a parish meeting, which all electors are entitled to attend.[8] The parish is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.
Amenities
The village has a pub, the Boot Inn, which is a 17th-century building.[9][10]
A National School was built northwest of the church in 1856 and was in use until 1936 when a new school was built in Stapleford parish to serve both parishes; this school closed in 1992.[2]
See also
- Wasp Motorcycles - a small manufacturer near Berwick St James
References
- 1 2 "Wiltshire Community History - Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 15 pp168-177: Berwick St James". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Stapleford Castle (1005686)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Manor Farmhouse, Berwick St James (1146246)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Berwick House and outbuildings, Berwick St James (1182524)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Asserton House (1146241)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Church of St James, Berwick St James (1146243)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ "Berwick St James Parish Meeting". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "The Boot Inn, Berwick St James (1319709)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ "The Boot Inn". berwickstjames.org.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
External links
Media related to Berwick St James at Wikimedia Commons
- "Berwick St James community website". Retrieved 19 September 2015.