Wootton Rivers
| Wootton Rivers | |
 St Andrew's church |
|
  Wootton Rivers |
|
| Population | 228 (in 2011)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU197631 |
| Civil parish | Wootton Rivers |
| Unitary authority | Wiltshire |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Marlborough |
| Postcode district | SN8 |
| Dialling code | 01672 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Devizes |
Coordinates: 51°22′01″N 1°43′05″W / 51.367°N 1.718°W
Wootton Rivers is a small village and civil parish in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire, England. The village is about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Pewsey and 4 miles (6 km) south of Marlborough.
The parish includes the hamlet of Cuckoo's Knob.
History
The name Wootton Rivers was in use in the 14th century.[2] 'Wootton' meant 'farm by the wood' and 'Rivers' was the surname of the lords of the manor.[3]
The population of the parish peaked at 470 in 1841, and has remained below 300 since 1921.[1]
The tithing of Brimslade was transferred from Savernake parish in 1987.[2]
Notable buildings
The Church of England parish church of St Andrew is Grade II* listed.[4][5] The building dates from the 14th century and was restored in 1861 by G.E. Street.
The church has a wooden steeple with an unusual clock made by a local craftsman in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V.[3] One of its three faces has the letters GLORY.BE.TO.GOD instead of numerals. Its chiming mechanism is like that of a musical box and plays six distinct tunes.[6]
The Manor House (15th century)[7] and Brimslade Farmhouse (16th century)[8] are also Grade II* listed.
Canal and railway
The Kennet and Avon Canal was built close to the southern end of Wootton Rivers village around 1807 and was opened fully in 1810. Wootton Rivers Lock had a keeper's house and an associated wharf. The canal was restored in the 1970s and the lock was reopened in 1973.
The Reading to Taunton railway was built to the south of the canal in 1862; the nearest station is Pewsey. In 1928 a small station, Wootton Rivers Halt, was built near the road bridge at the southern end of the village. The station was closed in 1966 when local services on the line were withdrawn.
Amenities
There is a village hall[9] and a pub, the Royal Oak, housed in a 16th-century building.[10]
The parish has no school. A Church of England school opened in 1845 and closed in 1979 owing to falling numbers of pupils.[11]
Film location
In 1988 Wootton Rivers was the location for a BBC television comedy series, The River.
References
- 1 2 "Wiltshire Community History - Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 16 pp229-236 - Wootton Rivers". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Wootton Rivers". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Andrew, Wootton Rivers (1193633)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ↑ "Church of St. Andrew, Wootton Rivers". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ Lovelock, Yann, "Clock Watching with the Family", Lovelock Lines #7, October 2008, pp.9-11
- ↑ Historic England. "Manor Farmhouse (1035779)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ↑ Historic England. "Brimslade Farmhouse (1035724)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ↑ Leighton, Barry (6 December 2012). "Devizes MP Claire Perry joins celebrations with Sixties theme". This is Wiltshire. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ "The Royal Oak at Wootton Rivers". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ "Wootton Rivers C. of E. School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
External links
Media related to Wootton Rivers at Wikimedia Commons