From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:
Chicklade – The Parsonage And Some Of The Rectors
The Parsonage is first mentioned in 1704 in the Terrier of that date. No description of the house is given and we must imagine it was a modest structure in style and size. A much fuller description is given in the Terrier of 1783. The two rooms (north and south) were probably the present dining room and drawing room. The wall between the present kitchen and dining room is very thick and was probably an outside wall. The three chambers with floors of elm wood were probably the present bedrooms, named Avebury, Barbury and Clench (above present dining and drawing rooms).
The Rev. Benjamin Blatch writing in 1783 informed the Bishop that he did not live in the Parsonage as it was “too small.” The Patron, Harry Edgell, Esq., gave Mr. Blatch another house about 100 yards from the Church.
The Rev. John Still had permission from the Bishop to live at Fonthill Gifford 1814-15 because of “the unfitness of the Parsonage House’ and again in 1827. He did the work of both parishes. John Still resigned in 1836.
The Parsonage must have been enlarged and improved before the Rev. J.C. Faber came as Rector in 1839. Mr. Faber and family (they had twelve children) lived in the Rectory. We have seen an engraving of the house and surroundings done by the Rev. – Bagshawe for Mr. Faber in 1846 and in it the house appears as it is now. It is a most attractive picture of the south aspect of house and garden.
A window tax was paid for the Rectory in 1790 and other years.
We have noted above that when the Parsonage was vacated by the Incumbent the Vestry let it in parts to various tenants; the most noted character was Mary Yates who acted as a Parish nurse. She lived to be “near 100” and died in 1797 having had her rent paid for her for about twenty years. Another occupant of the Rectory about the same time was Hannah Hayward.
The Parsonage, 1783 (an imaginary sketch after the description in the Terrier 1783).