Writing in 1931, Victor Strode Manley, as part of his Regional Survey Of Warminster And District, made the following notes about Norton Bavant:
Norton Bavant is 2½ miles from Warminster.
A lane by the school passes across fields in the direction of Cotley Hill, Heytesbury (Hegtred’s bury), and watery lanes lead to the barrows on Sutton Common and the other Roman villa at the Buries (Barrow House), Bishopstrow. Thus the site was well connected with other settlements until, it appears, the Saxons discovered it and burnt it down.
There is no inn and only one shop (in a cottage), selling tobacco, etc.
There are three farms: North Farm, South Farm, and Middleton Farm.