Thursday 3rd July 2014
The Wiltshire Times has published this photo of golfer Ben Stow, from East Knoyle, holding the English Amateur Championship (Brabazon Trophy) which he won at Hartlepool on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/aZ4l528fOy
Saturday 2nd April 2011
A letter written and signed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren has sold for £19,200 at an auction held by Bonhams in London.
The letter had been expected to raise between £7,000 and £9,000 but a mystery bidder paid £10,000 more for it.
Sir Christopher Wren wrote the letter circa 1685 or 1686, to William Fermor, a Northamptonshire landowner, advising on the design and building materials for Fermor’s proposed home.
Autographed letters by Sir Christopher Wren are very rare, said Bonhams.
Wren was born at East Knoyle, south of Warminster, on 20 October 1632. He was the son of the East Knoyle rector, also called Christopher Wren, and his wife Mary, who was the daughter of Richard Cox of Fonthill.
Sunday 20th February 2011
Rachel Hanlon, who lives at East Knoyle, is to sell the George Medal that was awarded to her late father Sergeant Patrick Hanlon. His heroic deed was depicted in a comic strip. Report and pictures in the Daily Mail, click here.
From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:
It may be of interest to note that among “The Families of East Knoyle” was the Wren family. Dr. Christopher Wren, father of the great English architect, was Rector of Knoyle and Dean of Windsor. His son, the future Sir Christopher Wren left Wiltshire to become a student of Wadham College in 1646.
There is a probable connection between the Wren family and Chicklade as one, Elizabeth Wren, aged 87, was buried at Chicklade in 1837.
From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955
THE STILLS OF CLOWDES
The family rose to eminence in the Church of England before it was established in Wiltshire.
John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells (1593-1608) was the son of William Still of Grantham, Lincs., where he was born about 1543.
A great grandson, Nathaniel Still, established his family at East Knoyle. Colt Hoare (c.1820) mentions the family of Still residing at Clowdes.
The Rev. John Still, LL.B., Wadham College, was a great grandson of Nathaniel Still. He became Rector of Fonthill Gifford and Vicar of Chicklade. He was born at Clowdes House 13 January, 1761. He succeeded Benjamin Blatch (d.1786) being inducted on February 23, 1786. The Chicklade Records mention that he lived at Fonthill Gifford (1814-15 and 1827) owing to the unsuitability of Chicklade Parsonage. Other authorities state he lived at Berwick House. He married Ann Tippets of Darley, Glos., in 1800 and died in 1839.
Excerpt from the Diocesan Register 1839:-
“Chicklade. On 25th day of May in the year aforesaid at Sarum, the Right Rev. Father did admit and canonically institute John Cooke Faber, Clerk B.A., in and to the Rectory and Parish Church of Chicklade void by the death of John Still, Clerk, the last incumbent thereof.”
John Still II., son of the Rector of Chicklade and Fonthill Gifford was born 10th April, 1801. He was inducted to the parish of Inglesham on 11th September, 1825. He died umarried on 13th May, 1833. Signatures of John Still, Junior Clerk in 1829 and 1832 in Chicklade Registers appear to be those of John Still II., Vicar of Inglesham.
The ancient Church at Inglesham (N. Wilts) is of Norman and Early English Architecture and contains a very valuable Chalice and Patten (1542). In East Knoyle Church there is a memorial tablet inscribed with names of the Still family (1701-1832).
Much information regarding the history of the Still family is contained in an interesting article “Families of East Knoyle” in the Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine No. CLXXXV. By Lt. Colonel Benett-Stanford.
Obscure points in careers of the two John Stills have been elucidated for us by Mr. Charles Still, of Ansty, who also kindly provided a genealogical tree.
From The Modern Encyclopedia, published in the early 1930s:
Sir Christopher Wren. English architect. Born at East Knoyle, Wilts., Oct. 20, 1632. In 1657 he became professor of astronomy at Gresham College, and in 1660 Savilian professor of astronomy at Oxford. The chapel of Pembroke Collage, Cambridge, was his first building, 1663. His first design for St. Paul’s, 1673, was rejected, but in 1675 an amended version was approved. He was knighted in 1672, and in 1685 he became M.P. for Plympton. He died Feb. 25, 1723, and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Wren designed the Ashmolean and the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford; the west towers of Westminster Abbey; and parts of the palace at Greenwich. He restored Salisbury and Chichester cathedrals. His greatest work was to rebuild the churches and other London buildings destroyed in the Great Fire. Apart from St. Paul’s, he designed 50 churches, including St. Bride’s and St. Clement Danes, the halls of 36 City companies, and the Monument.
From the Salisbury & Winchester Journal, Monday 18th November 1816:
County of Wilts – Game Duty – List 1.
Persons who have obtained General Certificates, at the rate of Three Pounds, Thirteen Shillings and Sixpence each, for the year 1816.
Name: Rev. J.S. Ogle.
Residence: East Knoyle.
Name: John Ogle.
Residence: East Knoyle.
Published by Order of his Majesty’s Commissioners for the Affairs of Taxes.
Matthew Winter, Secretary.
Examined – James Lacy, junior.
Salisbury, Nov. 14, 1816.
