From the Visitors’ Guide To Wiltshire, circa 1973:
In the woods of the Fonthill Abbey Estate stand the ruins of Fonthill Abbey (built by William Beckford). The massive tower thereof fell in 1825. The stone of the remaining tower is bonded with ferrous metal which is continually rusting and breaking up the masonry.
Part of the estate is now owned by Lord Margadale of Islay, but Mr. Neil Rimmington, a descendant of the Shaw-Stewart family, who resides at the Old Abbey, still retains a large portion of the original estate.
Some of the trees planted in Beckford’s time still survive but many have been felled to make way for younger plantations.
The grounds of the Old Abbey are not open to the public.
The roads hereabout are twisty and narrow but yield up unexpected and interesting sights to the traveller.