Profile of the Parish
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The core of the village lies on the A338, but a dispersed settlement pattern lends a scattered feel to the community. The civil parish comprises 79 properties with 160 on the electoral roll (civil). Overall the population amounts to about 200, though only a small proportion is children. The retired and middle-aged dominate the population, many with connections with the Armed Forces. The numbers of inhabitants born and brought up in the village are dwindling and many of the newer residents are commuters, attracted by the frequent train service to Waterloo from neighbouring Grateley and easy access to the A303. Children in the village attend schools in Newton Toney, Amesbury or Salisbury.
The parish of Cholderton covers an area of 686 ha (1695 acres) and is situated in the upper reaches of the Bourne Valley cutting through chalk downland, typical of this part of the Wiltshire-Hampshire border. The Bourne here is seasonal, flowing only during the winter, usually January to April if at all.
A new bridge has been built from the Crown Inn roundabout leading to Grately which some hope will reduce the possibility of the winter Bourne flooding in the future.
The parish of Cholderton covers an area of 686 ha (1695 acres) and is situated in the upper reaches of the Bourne Valley cutting through chalk downland, typical of this part of the Wiltshire-Hampshire border. The Bourne here is seasonal, flowing only during the winter, usually January to April if at all.
A new bridge has been built from the Crown Inn roundabout leading to Grately which some hope will reduce the possibility of the winter Bourne flooding in the future.
The village lies ten miles north of Salisbury and a similar distance west of Andover. The smaller towns of Amesbury, 5 miles to the west and Tidworth an equal distance to the north provide most essential services, including banks, post offices, doctors and shops. Public libraries are available in Amesbury, Andover and Salisbury.
There is good access via the A303, which cuts across the north edge of the parish, to London and the West Country. For those who prefer public transport a regular train service runs to London and Exeter from Grateley Station, 2.5 miles away. A regular hourly bus service (No. 64) to Salisburyand Tidworth is available Monday-Saturday (approximately between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm).
For Wilts and Dorset bus timetables click here. Train information and timetables can be found at South West Trains.
The two main roads crossing the parish reflect older routes. In the 17th century the Oxford -Salisbury road via Hungerford crossed the west of the parish now surviving only as farm tracks. The London - Bridgwater road via Andover and Amesbury crossed the northern part of the parish. This was turned into a turnpike road in 1761 and de-turnpiked in 1871. From 1958 it was part of the London-Exeter trunk road and in 1988 the new dual carriage way was constructed a little north of its old course.
The road linking Cholderton to Salisbury through the Bourne valley was blocked by the imparking around Wilbury House in Newton Toney parish in the 18th century. In 1835 a turnpike road from Swindon and Marlborough to Salisbury was completed and took in alternative routes around Wilbury Park becoming the main route through the Bourne valley to Salisbury. This was de-turnpiked in 1876 and remains the main road today as the A338.
The parish lies entirely on Upper Chalk, but where the Bourne passes through the east side on a north-south alignment it has deposited river gravels and alluvial clay across the flood plain to a depth of about 1 m. Beacon Hill in the north-west corner of the parish rises to c.183 m and the land falls away south-eastwards to the Bourne to below 91 m rising again to c. 100 m to the east of the river.
Edwin barrow notes in 1889 of the geology "The chalk is not rich in fossils. Three Boulder, or 'Sarsen,' stones may still be traced. One is in the garden of the Rectory-house, another lies at the gate of the Lower Farm, and the third was broken up for the foundation of the bridge on the road from Amesbury to Grateley built in 1858." (This bridge was rebuilt in 2007).
Traditionally there had been downland pasture on the higher land in the north and south of the parish with arable on the lower land and meadow beside the Bourne. Today there is still the mixture of arable and pasture but areas are not so exclusively maintained.
There is good access via the A303, which cuts across the north edge of the parish, to London and the West Country. For those who prefer public transport a regular train service runs to London and Exeter from Grateley Station, 2.5 miles away. A regular hourly bus service (No. 64) to Salisburyand Tidworth is available Monday-Saturday (approximately between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm).
For Wilts and Dorset bus timetables click here. Train information and timetables can be found at South West Trains.
The two main roads crossing the parish reflect older routes. In the 17th century the Oxford -Salisbury road via Hungerford crossed the west of the parish now surviving only as farm tracks. The London - Bridgwater road via Andover and Amesbury crossed the northern part of the parish. This was turned into a turnpike road in 1761 and de-turnpiked in 1871. From 1958 it was part of the London-Exeter trunk road and in 1988 the new dual carriage way was constructed a little north of its old course.
The road linking Cholderton to Salisbury through the Bourne valley was blocked by the imparking around Wilbury House in Newton Toney parish in the 18th century. In 1835 a turnpike road from Swindon and Marlborough to Salisbury was completed and took in alternative routes around Wilbury Park becoming the main route through the Bourne valley to Salisbury. This was de-turnpiked in 1876 and remains the main road today as the A338.
The parish lies entirely on Upper Chalk, but where the Bourne passes through the east side on a north-south alignment it has deposited river gravels and alluvial clay across the flood plain to a depth of about 1 m. Beacon Hill in the north-west corner of the parish rises to c.183 m and the land falls away south-eastwards to the Bourne to below 91 m rising again to c. 100 m to the east of the river.
Edwin barrow notes in 1889 of the geology "The chalk is not rich in fossils. Three Boulder, or 'Sarsen,' stones may still be traced. One is in the garden of the Rectory-house, another lies at the gate of the Lower Farm, and the third was broken up for the foundation of the bridge on the road from Amesbury to Grateley built in 1858." (This bridge was rebuilt in 2007).
Traditionally there had been downland pasture on the higher land in the north and south of the parish with arable on the lower land and meadow beside the Bourne. Today there is still the mixture of arable and pasture but areas are not so exclusively maintained.
Employment
The majority of the inhabitants now work outside the parish, whilst most working in the parish are employed in agriculture and rural activities. Local businesses include a few farms, Cholderton estate (straddling the county boundary), stables at Cholderton House, the Rare Breeds farm and at Parkhouse Doric Kennels, The Crown public house, two hotels and Country Leisure, makers of swimming pool equipment.
The
The
The Church and Church life
The fine Victorian church built c. 1850 is a major feature of the village heritage and over the last ten years the PCC has brought the church to a good state of repair and the fabric is in good condition.
The old wooden bell côte which had dangerously rotted away has now been replaced with new bell turret with the original bell now stationary and struck by a hammer.
There are 32 on the electoral roll, a small PCC of 6, about 12 who regularly attend services and also a core of people who support the church in other ways. There are 3 services a month and congregations swell for major festivals. Cholderton is a friendly church and refreshments after the services provide an opportunity for fellowship. The Christmas Carol Service and Harvest Festival, in recent years followed by a Harvest lunch, have been very popular. The Remembrance Sunday Service is also an important service for this community with so many links to the Military.
The old wooden bell côte which had dangerously rotted away has now been replaced with new bell turret with the original bell now stationary and struck by a hammer.
There are 32 on the electoral roll, a small PCC of 6, about 12 who regularly attend services and also a core of people who support the church in other ways. There are 3 services a month and congregations swell for major festivals. Cholderton is a friendly church and refreshments after the services provide an opportunity for fellowship. The Christmas Carol Service and Harvest Festival, in recent years followed by a Harvest lunch, have been very popular. The Remembrance Sunday Service is also an important service for this community with so many links to the Military.
Amenities
The village has no shop or school, but it does have a Village Hall, run by an enthusiastic committee and provides the venue for many village activities. The Crown public house has suffered recently from two years of flooding in 2001 and 2003, which forced its closure for some weeks, leading to management changes.
The Village Pub – The Crown Inn
The Rare Breeds Farm is popular with families and a youth hostel has recently been incorporated.
A farm shop has been opened on the Cholderton Estate in 2005 and sells organic vegetables and free range meat from the Estate.
A more unusual amenity is the Woodland burial ground at Michael’s Wood.
An hourly bus service between Tidworth and Salisbury runs through the village during the day.
The Village Pub – The Crown Inn
The Rare Breeds Farm is popular with families and a youth hostel has recently been incorporated.
A farm shop has been opened on the Cholderton Estate in 2005 and sells organic vegetables and free range meat from the Estate.
A more unusual amenity is the Woodland burial ground at Michael’s Wood.
An hourly bus service between Tidworth and Salisbury runs through the village during the day.
Activities
Important events in the village calendar are the Village Fête in July to raise funds for the Church & Village Hall, the Christmas Bazaar organized by the PCC for the Church and the Christmas Party organized by Village Hall Committee. Regular events are a Book Club meeting monthly and weekly Coffee morning held in the Village Hall on Mondays. The Village Hall has hosted musical and theatrical events under the aegis of Rural Arts Wiltshire. Volunteers from the village participate in the Bourne Valley Link Scheme.
Bourne Valley Magazine
This is a monthly magazine which publicises the activities of all the villages in the Bourne valley and includes details of the local contractors that are available in and around the valley. Copies may be obtained from Crawford Stoddard phone 01980-629442. The cost is £5-00 per year.
Notes on the Village History
Prehistory and Archaeology
Very early prehistoric activity is recorded by Mozley: " At some remote period attempts had been made to secure the last of the receding water by digging large pits in the watercourse. There was one sunk at the lower end of my own village (Cholderton). After my time this was cleared out, I suppose, for the same purpose that it was originally planned for; and there were found the horns and bones of deer, and even of extinct animals, that had come here to drink." It would be interesting to know if any Palaeolithic flints were associated.
The parish boundary with Hampshire on the north-east follows a prehistoric ditch called the Devil's ditch running up to a summit of Beacon Hill. Another similar prehistoric ditch marks the east-west section of the parish boundary with Bulford. These and a third ditch that ran through the parish formed part of series of late Bronze Age ditch systems focussing on Sidbury Hill north of Tidworth and Quarley Hill about two miles east of Cholderton. Both areas have been subject to recent academic research and parts of the ditch system running through the Hampshire area of the Cholderton Estate were excavated by Barry Cunliffe in 1995. These extensive ditch systems are thought to relate to major re-organisation of the landscape c. 1000-800 BC, possibly associated with cattle ranching. Those near Quarley certainly cut across earlier arable field systems. Two areas of prehistoric field systems one of c. 50 acres south-west of the Devil's Ditch and another of 100 acres in the south-west of the parish may be associated with the ditches.
Three Bronze Age round barrows occur close to the boundary with Bulford and one contained a secondary Roman burial. An impressive barrow cemetery also occurs within the Hampshire area of the Cholderton Estate in the fields and woodland on either side of 'The Avenue'.
The parish boundary with Hampshire on the north-east follows a prehistoric ditch called the Devil's ditch running up to a summit of Beacon Hill. Another similar prehistoric ditch marks the east-west section of the parish boundary with Bulford. These and a third ditch that ran through the parish formed part of series of late Bronze Age ditch systems focussing on Sidbury Hill north of Tidworth and Quarley Hill about two miles east of Cholderton. Both areas have been subject to recent academic research and parts of the ditch system running through the Hampshire area of the Cholderton Estate were excavated by Barry Cunliffe in 1995. These extensive ditch systems are thought to relate to major re-organisation of the landscape c. 1000-800 BC, possibly associated with cattle ranching. Those near Quarley certainly cut across earlier arable field systems. Two areas of prehistoric field systems one of c. 50 acres south-west of the Devil's Ditch and another of 100 acres in the south-west of the parish may be associated with the ditches.
Three Bronze Age round barrows occur close to the boundary with Bulford and one contained a secondary Roman burial. An impressive barrow cemetery also occurs within the Hampshire area of the Cholderton Estate in the fields and woodland on either side of 'The Avenue'.
Recent investigations on the Cholderton Estate have located a small Late Bronze Age settlement probably enclosed by hedge. Fieldwalking identified a dense scatter of pottery dating to c. 800 BC, burnt flints and struck flint artefacts.
Evidence for Iron Age - Roman settlement has recently been investigated on the Rare Breeds Farm as part of the Cholderton Archaeological Project.
Evidence for Iron Age - Roman settlement has recently been investigated on the Rare Breeds Farm as part of the Cholderton Archaeological Project.
Early History
The village is recorded in Domesday Book and the name has been recorded in various forms including Cheldreton, Cheldrington and Choldrington. The estate of Cholderton manor was held in 1086 by William of Eu. Other estates in Cholderton originated in small estates held in 1066 by Alwin, Ulvric, Sewi and Ulward and in 1086 Ernulf of Hesdin owned all of them. Some of the estates owned by Ernulf and his successors apparently merged to form Lower Farm. Eventually in 1893 it was sold to Henry Stephens and incorporated into the Cholderton Estate.
Other estates held by Ernulf of Hesdin were possibly the origin of the Cholderton House estate. The land was held by Mottisfont Abbey at the time of the Dissolution.
In 1086 the four estates at Cholderton had land for 5.5 plough teams and there were 36 square furlongs of pasture, but neither meadow nor woodland.
Cholderton's assessment for taxation in 1332-4 showed it as relatively prosperous and in 1377 there were 46 poll tax payers. Tax assessments of the 16th and earlier 17th centuries indicate moderate prosperity.
The early village may originally have focused on the church and earthworks in the field to the north of the church have the appearance of house platforms of a medieval village.
Other estates held by Ernulf of Hesdin were possibly the origin of the Cholderton House estate. The land was held by Mottisfont Abbey at the time of the Dissolution.
In 1086 the four estates at Cholderton had land for 5.5 plough teams and there were 36 square furlongs of pasture, but neither meadow nor woodland.
Cholderton's assessment for taxation in 1332-4 showed it as relatively prosperous and in 1377 there were 46 poll tax payers. Tax assessments of the 16th and earlier 17th centuries indicate moderate prosperity.
The early village may originally have focused on the church and earthworks in the field to the north of the church have the appearance of house platforms of a medieval village.
Cholderton Church
A summary of the church history and architecture can be found on the church page. Illustrations of this and the earlier church appear in the Church photo gallery |
St Nicholas Lane 1897 AD |
Later History
Most of the buildings still standing in the village date from 17th century or later. Several houses are constructed in the traditional flint and chalk cob and include both small cottages such as Dolly's Cottage in Church Lane and more grandiose buildings such as The Old Rectory and Holly Tree House. Others such as Cholderton House, built in 1690 were constructed in flint with red brick dressings, whilst others are entirely in brick. Most are roofed with tile, though a few buildings have thatch. Timber framed buildings are rare, being mostly barns or former barns.
Most of the buildings still standing in the village date from 17th century or later. Several houses are constructed in the traditional flint and chalk cob and include both small cottages such as Dolly's Cottage in Church Lane and more grandiose buildings such as The Old Rectory and Holly Tree House. Others such as Cholderton House, built in 1690 were constructed in flint with red brick dressings, whilst others are entirely in brick. Most are roofed with tile, though a few buildings have thatch. Timber framed buildings are rare, being mostly barns or former barns.
Cholderton Estate
The history of the Cholderton Estate can be found at the Estate's website.
Cholderton & District Water Company
In 1904 waterworks, fed from springs in Hampshire and including reservoirs and a water tower in Cholderton, were constructed to supply Henry Stephen's Cholderton estate in Wiltshire and Hampshire.
The Wiltshire-located company was set up in 1904 by Henry Stephens MP the ink company owner under an Act of Parliament. The Cholderton & District Water Company supplies less than 3000 people with drinking water. The company was the country's only private water company for many years until privatisation in the 1990s and it still remains the smallest of the water companies. The company's principal shareholder is a descendant of Stephens.
Click here for their web site.
The Wiltshire-located company was set up in 1904 by Henry Stephens MP the ink company owner under an Act of Parliament. The Cholderton & District Water Company supplies less than 3000 people with drinking water. The company was the country's only private water company for many years until privatisation in the 1990s and it still remains the smallest of the water companies. The company's principal shareholder is a descendant of Stephens.
Click here for their web site.
The Village School
In the Parish Notes published by the rector Edwin Barrow in 1889, records for 1851:
"Opening of new School. Number of children entered, 16. Salary of Mistress, £26, to rise to £30 per annum."
The land for the school was donated by Frances Elizabeth Dowager Countess Nelson. The materials of the old church were used to build the school. The total cost of building and furnishing the school was £680 7s. 10d. Numbers rose to 35 in 1853 including children from other parishes and in 1858 two teachers taught 40 children. Attendance at the school between 1871 and 1888 ranged between 23 and 34 each year.
The school was enlarged in the earlier 20th century. Average attendance was 53 in 1906-7, 34 in 1932, 46 in 1938 and only 18 when the school closed in 1978.
Earlier schools are also recorded. A school for poor children was held in the earlier 18th century by the curate and provision was made in the will of Anthony Cracherode for a teacher and books for 12 poor children. His school existed from 1753 and in 1818 a poorly qualified woman taught 6-8 children at it. Another school had c. 15 pupils in 1808 and is presumably the school with 16 pupils in 1818. In 1833 the charity school had had 28 pupils and was the only one in the parish.
"Opening of new School. Number of children entered, 16. Salary of Mistress, £26, to rise to £30 per annum."
The land for the school was donated by Frances Elizabeth Dowager Countess Nelson. The materials of the old church were used to build the school. The total cost of building and furnishing the school was £680 7s. 10d. Numbers rose to 35 in 1853 including children from other parishes and in 1858 two teachers taught 40 children. Attendance at the school between 1871 and 1888 ranged between 23 and 34 each year.
The school was enlarged in the earlier 20th century. Average attendance was 53 in 1906-7, 34 in 1932, 46 in 1938 and only 18 when the school closed in 1978.
Earlier schools are also recorded. A school for poor children was held in the earlier 18th century by the curate and provision was made in the will of Anthony Cracherode for a teacher and books for 12 poor children. His school existed from 1753 and in 1818 a poorly qualified woman taught 6-8 children at it. Another school had c. 15 pupils in 1808 and is presumably the school with 16 pupils in 1818. In 1833 the charity school had had 28 pupils and was the only one in the parish.
