From Rambles In and Around Warminster, first published in 1883:
There are no less than thirty six villages in England owning to the name of Norton, besides an even larger number of hamlets. Of these thirty six, nine are simply plain Norton, whilst the remainder are distinguished by some prefix or affix. In Somerset for instance there are Norton Fitzwarren, Norton Malereward, Norton Midsummer, Norton St. Philip and Norton under Hambdon. In the Eastern Counties there are two Nortons which seem to have some mysterious affinity in their names. They are called Norton Pudding and Cold Norton. But as they have no connection with the subject of the present article we may leave some other writer, more immediately interested in that locality, to draw ingenious inferences and conclusions as to this remarkable and important coincidence.
In Wiltshire there are four Nortons, two of which are parishes, and two hamlets. The hamlets have no distinguishing adjuncts, and are situated respectively in the hundreds of Heytesbury and Downton. The parishes are Norton Coleparle, which is about five miles South West of Malmesbury, and Norton Bavant, which is about three miles South East of Warminster.
The word Norton appears to mean North Town, and is therefore quite appropriate to Norton Coleparle, which is at the northern extremity of the county. It is not a very profitable or thankful task to attempt to discover all the eccentric influences that prompted our ingenious ancestors in naming localities. Probably, however, Norton Bavant was so called because it stands on the north side of the river Wylye, in contra-distinction to Sutton (Veny), or “South Town,” which is situated about a mile due south of Norton and the river.
The word Norton is so evidently English, whilst Bavant is so obviously French, that a more striking example of the way in which our Norman conquerors usurped even our Saxon names could hardly be desired. But the first Norman possessors of Norton seem to have been the De Skidmore or Escudamor family, from whom Upton Scudamore derives its name. The parish was known, soon after the conquest, as Norton Skydmore, and continued to be called so for a considerable period. Peter Scudamore, however, died without heirs male, and his daughter Alice having married Adam de Bavent, he inherited the property in her right. Although the village is now persistently spelt Bavant, it does not appear that the family from which the word is derived ever spelt their name otherwise than Bavent. In the “Nomina Villarum,” “Rogerus Bavent” is named as “Dominus de Nortone.” Two Nortons are mentioned in Domesday but it is not considered that either refers to this village.
From a very early period the Benett family were settled in Norton Bavant. We are not able to state at what exact period they first became possessed of the Manor, but it must have been very soon after it had passed from the Bavent family. The Benetts of Norton were a branch of the same family as the Benetts of Pythouse. They built and resided at the Manor House near the church, now occupied by Mrs. Torrance, and owned by the present Lord of the Manor, Mr. Vere Fane Benett-Stanford.
If any artist is in search of a pattern example of a picturesque yet modest looking village church, with appropriate surroundings, he could scarcely find anything much more suited to his purpose than the very pretty old church which stands near Norton Manor House. It is true that the body and chancel of the church have been restored, and the fabric generally rebuilt, but the renovation has been carried out in excellent taste; and whilst the newer part of the building blends in style with the fine old tower at the west end, it also forms an agreeable set-off to the age of that portion of the structure. To this harmonious contrast – if such an expression may be allowed – the church owes no small portion of its beauty. Other facts in its favour are its raised position, its open situation, the handsome trees with which it is partially surrounded, the height of the square, ivy grown tower, its well proportioned buttresses and the fine turret with which it is surmounted.
The interior of the church has been very judiciously restored. The building consists of a nave and chancel with a rather large and lofty chapel on the south side, separated from the nave by a fine arch. Chapel, nave, and chancel have all open timbered roofs. Separating the tower from the nave, at the west end, is a well pointed arch, and a similar arch separates the chancel and nave. The wall of this last arch is pierced on the south side with a tre-foil opening, placed at a considerable height. Its original intention is not very obvious. There is a piscina on the north side of the sacrarium and sedilia on the south. At the west end of the church there has been a large West Door, now blocked up.
The Benett Chapel, which is devoid of seats, and is not now used for worship, has been well restored. The walls and pavement are rich in monuments to members of the Benett family.
Of these the oldest and most important is a slab almost in the centre of the chapel, formerly adorned with brasses, including two large effigies, two groups of children’s effigies, an inscription of considerable length, and four shields. Of these only a part of the inscription, two of the shields and one group of children are now left.
That part of the inscription which remains is by a very extraordinary coincidence the part which contains the name of the deceased and the date of his death. It is difficult to decipher it, but it appears to be as follows:-
jacet Johes Benett quodm Pannay isto in xiii die mense Octobris Ao dmCCCC lixi
It is quite possible that Pannay may not be the correct reading but quodm (for quondam) is not at all doubtful. Possibly the John Benett referred to changed his name from Pannay to Benett. The date appears to be meant for 1461.
The two shields which are left are perfectly preserved. Upon one is a merchant’s mark – a cross forked at the base, as if intended for a rough representation of a cross standing upon a pointed hill. Below the cross in the angle thus formed, is the letter i, whilst the stem of the cross helps to form a B, these two letters being probably intended for John Benett’s initials. Just above the B are two rough flourishes like two interlaced V’s perhaps meant to represent the letter W, or possibly intended for a pair of shears.
The other shield is engraved with two pairs of shears or scissors lying bend-wise, dexter and sinister. They are interesting not only as being evidently realistic representations of old-fashioned shears, but also as indicating, in conjunction with the merchant’s mark, the fact that John Benett was like the Swaynes, Halles, and many other wealthy Wiltshire gentlemen of the 15th and 16th century, a cloth and wool merchant.
There is nothing specially noticeable about the group of five girls on the sinister side of the stone. The group of boys is absent from the opposite side, but it appears to have been equally numerous.
On the west wall of the chapel is a black tablet with the following inscription in gold:-
IN MEMORY OF MR. THOMAS BENNET OF THIS PLACE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 18 OF AUG. 1653. IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH THE WIFE OF THMAS BENNAT, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 4 DAYE OF NOVEMBER, 1681.
Below is a coat of arms, Benett of Norton Bavant, (Gules, three demi lions rampant Or, a bezant or in chief), impaling. Argent three grey hounds passant Sable; with the Benett crest, out of a mural crown Or, a lion’s head issuant Gules.
On the same wall is a tablet to the memory of “Frances Bennet, 7th daughter of Thos. Bennet Esq., and of Eth. his wife,” – died 1750, aged 11 years.
Also one in memory of Anna Maria, 3rd daughter of Thomas Bennet, of Norton and Pythouse, and of Catherine Darell his wife, born 1776, died 1857. “She resided upwards of 55 years in this parish, where she was much loved and lamented.”
Above this is commemorated Fanny, youngest daughter of John Benett, of Norton and Pythouse, and of Louisa Lambert his wife, – born 1821, died at Westbury, 1858.
There is one more tablet on this wall, namely in memory of Etheldred, 2nd daughter of Thomas Benett, of Pythouse. She died in 1845, aged 69, having been for 43 years resident at Norton Manor House.
Above is a hatchment, quarterly of four, in which the arms of Benett of Pythouse occupy the first place. They are, Gules three demi-lions rampant argent, with a mullet or for difference.
On the opposite wall is a brass with a coat of arms quarterly of six, and the arms of Lambert of Boyton upon an escutcheon of pretence. The inscription is:-
“In memory of JOHN BENETT, Esq., of Pythouse. He was the eldest surviving son and heir of Thomas Benett, Esq., of Norton Bavant, by Catherine his wife, daughter of John Darell, Esq. He married Louisa, daughter of Edmund Lambert, Esq., of Boyton, and died 1st October, 1853, aged 79 years. He was member of Parliament for the County of Wilts 32 years; also a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for the same county.”
Adjoining is a tablet to the memory of Mr. John Benett’s brother, William Benett, who died in 1859, aged 80.
There are numerous engraved stones forming the pavement of the chapel, some of them being sculptured with coats of arms. They commemorate, amongst others, “Mr. Thomas Benet, of this place,” d.1653; 4th daughter of Thos. and Etheldred Bennet, of this place, d. March 17, 1724; Mrs. Etheldred Bennet, and “one of the daughters and coheiresses of Archbishop Wake.” She died 1766. There is also a stone in memory of Thomas Bennet, of Norton Bavant, her husband, principal registrar of the Prerogative court of Canterbury, d.1754.
Surmounted by the Benett arms is the following:-
“This lyeth in memory of WILLIAM BENETT, of this place, Barister at law, recorder of Shaftsbury and Bridport in ye countie of Dorset, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Benett, and brother of John Benett, who departed this life ye 29th day of November, 1707.”
It will be seen by these inscriptions that the name of the family has been spelt Benett, Benet, Bennet, and Bennat. Benett was the style adopted by the later members of the family, and by its present representative Mr. Benett-Stanford, of Pyt House, grandson to Mr. John Benett, M.P., and son to the Rev. Arthur Fane, Vicar of Warminster.
The East Window of the church was inserted by her children, in memory of Lucy Harriet Fane, daughter of John Benett, Esq., and heiress of Boyton, Norton, and Pyt House.
On the South Wall of the church are four tablets in memory of members of the Eliot family, who for many years have been connected with the parish. One of these inscriptions commemorates the Rev. Edward Eliot, formerly a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, first Archdeacon of Barbadoes, prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, and vicar of Norton Bavant. He died in 1861, aged 73.
Another tablet is to the memory of Elizabeth Kyd Eliot, wife to Archdeacon Eliot, and daughter to the Hon. J.B. Skete. She died in 1855, aged 54.
The two remaining tablets commemorate Lieut. John Eliot, R.N., of H.M.S. Icarus, who died at sea, aged 31, in 1871; and the Rev. Richard Eliot, his brother, who also died aged 31, in the year 1862.
Other stones in the church commemorate the Rev, Abraham Clavey, vicar of Norton Bavant (d.1765); James Buckler Osborne Bayly (d.1866); and Rev. G. Smith, for more than 40 years vicar of Norton Bavant, (d.1837).
On the South Wall is a brass cross inscribed in memory of “Elizabeth Daborn, Diocesan Trained Nurse, who died Jan. 29th, 1877, from infection, whilst doing her duty.
In the tower are four bells, one of which is broken. The second dates from pre-Reformation times, two from the time of the Commonwealth – a period at which, strange to say, bell-founding in Wiltshire appears to have been remarkably flourishing – and the last from 1711. They are inscribed:-
(1) GEORGE KNIGHT, WALTER CHEAMBERS, 1656, W (a bell) P. N. (a bell) B.
(2) SANTE TOME ORA PRO NOBIS.
(3) THOMAS WOODWARD, GEORGE KNIGHT, 1711, E (a bell) L.
(4) GEORGE KNIGHT & WALTER CHAEMBERS, C.W. W (a bell) P. N (a bell) B. 1656.
The initials W.P. and N.B. on two of the bells, signify W. Purdue the Salisbury founder, and Norton Bavant. E.L. on the third bell probably indicates that it was cast by one of the Lotts of Warminster. Each of the letters on the old pre-Reformation bell is surmounted with a small coronet. The Bells are said to have been originally the property of Bishopstrow church, and to have been sold by that parish to Norton Bavant. If so the initials N.B. show that two of them at least must have been recast.
The stones in the churchyard are not very numerous or remarkable.
Upon one old stone there is the following:-
“Here lieth the Body of WILLIAM DREWET, who died Jan. 29. 1744-5, aged 26 years:- “The trivial length of Life is but a span, Yet envied is that slender space to man, But pallid Death, Impatient, will not wait, But sends disease to hasten hasty fate. Hard Case! ‘Tis not Goodness has ordered so, ‘Tis his own fault who gains not by ye Blow.”
Besides the fine old ivy-covered Manor House there are many old houses and cottages in Norton Bavant. Specially noticeable is a rather large building now forming two cottages, and standing not far from the church. This was formerly a farmhouse, and appears to be at least 300 years old. It is partially covered with ivy which has evidently been growing for very many years. Its massive stem, which is about half a foot thick, issues from the stone wall of the building some way above the ground. The roots are not visible, but they spread about amongst the fabric and foundations of the building, without, apparently, doing it any injury.
The population of Norton Bavant in 1881 was 264, in 1871 it was 284, and in 1831, 279. The parish is a scattered one, portions of it being situated between Warminster and Frome. There were formerly one if not two fulling mills upon the river Wylye, near Norton Bavant.
The Church is dedicated to All Saints, but the date of dedication is not known. It was rebuilt in 1840, with the exception of the tower, principally at the expense of Mr. John Benett, M.P. It was restored, reseated, &c., in 1870. The living is in the gift of the Lord Chancellor. The Vicarial tithes are commuted at £138, and there are about 40 acres of glebe land attached to the living.
The village lies at the foot of a remarkable old British encampment known as Scratchbury, one of the finest, largest, and best preserved of the many in this neighbourhood. Leading up to the encampment is what is known as “The Nuns’ Path,” and it is stated that a nunnery formerly existed near Scratchbury, at a place called Middleton, which forms part of Norton Bavant Parish.
The following is a list of Vicars of the Parish since 1662:-
John Berjew (alias Bergew), 1662 to 1675, the first Vicar after the Restoration.
Timothy Thorne, 1676 to 1715.
Francis Cave, 1715 to 1753.
– Wroughton, circa 1750.
Abraham Clavey, to 1765.
Thos. Fisher, 1765 to 1794.
Geo. Smith, 1794 to 1837.
Edward Eliot, B.D. (formerly Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and first Archdeacon of Barbados and the Leeward Islands), from 1837 to 1861.
Joseph Palmer Griffith, M.A. (formerly Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford), from 1861 to 1863.
Edward Eliot, B.C.I., (formerly Fellow of New College, Oxford), from 1863.
The earliest entry in the Parish Registers is dated 1616.
The Charities of Norton Bavant are, for so small a parish, not inconsiderable. The interest of £20 was left by the will of Mrs. Catherine Mompesson, of Corton, to be distributed annually in linen amongst the poor. The first distribution took place in 1755. Etheldred and Anna Maria Benett added £20, during the present century, to this charity and another £20 to a sum of £20 left in 1837 by the Rev. G. Smith, the interest to be distributed each Christmas in blankets. In 1841 Mr. John Knight, farmer, of Norton Bavant, left £50, the interest to be yearly distributed amongst orphans and widows of the parish.
The West Window of the Church is of handsome design, and represents the Infant Saviour in the Manger, with St. Joseph, the Virgin, and angels adoring. Beneath is the following inscription:-
“To the Glory of God, and in memory of Edward Eliot, for 24 years a kind and faithful vicar of this Parish. He died Nov. 1st, 1861, beloved by all his parishioners, who raised this mark of respect to his memory.”