Warminster History Society ~ A Walk Around Horningsham
On Monday 3rd May 1976, members and guests of Warminster History Society enjoyed a walk around Horningsham, led by the Curator of Warminster Dewey Museum, Mr. Percy Trollope. It was a most interesting evening, with many facts about the history of the village gradually revealing a picture of the development of the village in years past.
The walk began at Horningsham Church. Attention was drawn to a number of interesting facts: The tower is part of the original structure of 1154; a map-maker and a poet are among those buried in the church yard; the tomb of the only member of the Weymouth family not buried in the family vault (at Longbridge Deverill Church), is in Horningsham Churchyard; and the hammer-beam roof is worthy of note.
Apart from Horningsham’s obvious association with the Longleat Estate, a number of other important families left their mark in the village. Many of the larger buildings were erected by the important and wealthy members of the community, as a result of successful business ventures.
At one time, Horningsham could boast of its self-sufficiency, having enough industry to employ available local labour.
A woollen mill once stood close to a house, which still stands, that was built by the owner of the mill, one William Everett. In the field opposite there stood a part of the mill-factory, and seven cottages, all housed under one roof. Because the cottages were subject to flooding, they were demolished after the diphtheria outbreak of 1875. Several processes at the mill needed water, which was obtained from a pond near the site. This pond is shown on a map dated 1812 but is now no longer in existence. The stream running through this area of land, runs into the lakes of the Longleat Estate.
Horningsham’s Malt House, now demolished, was in Pottle Street. A barn-like building can be seen on its site.
At one time, Horningsham had five public houses and numerous beer-sellers. The difference between the two, was that refreshment purchased from the beer-sellers had to be consumed away from the premises.
The Thorne family built up a factory in Horningsham, responsible for such things as the manufacture of chairs and brushes and the restoration of antiques. This finally closed earlier this century and was demolished in 1936. On that site now there are a number of council houses.
Further along Chapel Street, attention was drawn to the Meeting House built by Scottish masons in 1566. The Manse was erected next to the chapel, and during times of ‘inter regnum’ the manse was let so that the congregation could use the money to offer expenses to visiting ministers. The orginal entrance to the chapel has been blocked-up. 1816 saw the building enlarged. A number of interesting features can be seen inside. As one looks up to the gallery, the right hand side has a row of hat pegs for gentlemen, while the other side has not; obviously the congregation was segregated. The organ was installed in 1859. The chapel clock used to be slightly further forward; it was moved after one of the weights caused an accident when it fell on one of the deacons of the chapel. Following that incident, the clock was removed and installed in the chair factory just up the road. A modern clock was put in its place. On demolition of the factory the original clock was restored to the chapel with just slight alteration to its position to make it safe.
Opposite the Meeting House is a building known as the “pill box.” The name stems from the days when little wooden pill boxes were made there.
Horningsham had its own tailor, blacksmith and butcher, a number of small shops, and a post office (which orginally stood opposite the Village Hall).
The Town Well, which can be seen on the main road through the village, was used for baptisms during the time that Horningsham Church was being rebuilt, around 1783. Other wells in the area were said to have particular properties to aid good health; the well which served the community around Cock Road was said to have medicinal value good for the eyes.
In 1831 the population of Horningsham was 1,323; now it is between four and five hundred.
The walk ended back at the church where it had begun, and a most interesting evening it had been.