Danny Howell writes:
Barley Close is the name of a private housing estate between Boreham Road and St. John’s Road, Warminster. It is a cul-de-sac. It is so named because it was built on the site of the Guinness Barley Research Station (formerly Dr. E.S. Beaven’s barley nursery (1895-1941). Dr. Beaven produced his very own Plumage Archer barley on this site which yielded up to 20% more grain to the acre than any other barley at the time. Guinness took over the site when Dr. Beaven died in 1971 and carried on with research growing test plots of barley until the 1970s when they moved to Codford. Houses were built on the site as an extension of the Prestbury Drive and St. John’s Road housing developments. Vehicular access to Barley Close is from St. John’s Road. There is a footpath from Barley Close to Boreham Road.