Bits & Pieces, Volume 2TopographyThe highest point is 126m above sea level in the West of parish near where East Dunley cottages once stood before they were destroyed by fire and then replaced by that new South Fork style mini-mansion. The lowest point is 76m high and is where Gauze Brook crosses the parish boundary in the NE of the parish. midway between Corston and Bradfield Wood. The geology of the parish is varied. It 's clay in the high western corner, cornbrash through the centre (corn brash is a mixture of clay with limestone rubble. You know the stuff, when you dig a hole to plant a tree you get enough stone to build a garage). The lower NE part is Kellaways clay. There is a narrow alluvial band that crosses the parish in the valley cut by the Gauze Brook. Just outside the village there is an outcrop of Kellaway sand. FarmsHullavington is a street village i.e. a linear development. In 1828 there were 7 farms fronting onto the Street with animal enclosures (Closes) behind; these were: Court, May’s, Gardener’s, Newman’s, Beannfield, Greens and Blicks farms. Turnpikes & RoadsIn 1756 the Malmesbury to Chippenham road was turnpiked and, as with all turnpiked roads, if you travelled it you had to pay a toll. In 1820 the road between Grittleton and Hullavington (including the Street) was also turnpiked and it extended to what is now cemetery corner and then right all the way to the Malmesbury road where Kingway nursery is today. This was all part of a turnpike to link the Malmesbury road with Grittleton and Draycot Cerne. People in Hullavington avoided the toll by using backways such as Oaksey lane, Watery lane, Hill Hayes Lane, Down Lane, Vloe lane, Oarhedge lane etc. Up until the Malmesbury to Chippenham turnpike was opened, there was a road leading from Hullavington to Castle Combe. It ran from almost opposite the 1st large hanger as you drive out of the village to J17, behind what is now Wellington place, behind Stock wood to Leigh Delamare and then on to castle Combe. Medieval CourtDuring the medieval period a manor court was held in Hullavington to deal with wrongdoers, nuisances, appointment of officers and to generally manage village affairs. The record shows that wrongdoing included the usual affrays, but also gossiping, allowing animals to stray, playing illegal games, diverting water courses, flooding the road and, my favourite, the breaking of the 15th century statute that required people to wear a woollen hat on Sundays and other church holy days. At this time the wool trade was in trouble because the export market for wool had collapsed due mainly to the 100 years war with France. To keep the sheep farmers happy and to protect the economy, a law was enacted to mop up the lost exports by making people use more wool. In 1558 the Hullavington Court ordered all males between the ages of 6 and 60 to practice archery on Sundays. Remember Crecy and Agincourt. Parish BoundaryOnce upon a time present day Hullavington was three separate villages/hamlets: Surrendell, Bradfield & Hullavington. Following 1066, William I made Roger Mortimer overlord of all three settlements. Like all feudal lords he sub let to others. From the conquest to 1461 Surrendell and Bradfield had the same overlord. Hullavington followed a different path in that it was given to a French abbey, the abbey of St Victor. Because of the war with France (Oh what great days) the estate was confiscated as an alien priory during the 100 years war and later given to Eton College. Below is how the parish of Hullavington boundary stood in 1840 and it has not changed too much since then. The old Saxon boundaries for Surrendell, Bradfield and Hullavington were probably as follows:
This article was written by Paul Hadley <<<<< More Bits & Pieces
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