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The Parish of Heytesbury, Knook, Tytherington and Imber

Heytesbury
Wiltshire

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Also see: http://www.suttonveny.co.uk/

Heytesbury.org.uk has had visits from around the world looking for information about the village and its history.  Recently, Julia contacted from New Zealand where she had long since emigrated to with some memories of her childhood and some images from the early 1950/1960s. Her mother was housekeeper to Siegfried in the 1950s.

Julia with Flicker and Siegfried. Click image for larger version.

Julia and her aunt with the Humphry children in front of the main gates.

Please email me if you have something to contribute. Robert Pulvertaft

An enquiry has been received from Giles Browne (what.ho.vicar.t21 [what.ho.vicar.t21@btinternet.com]) looking for information about the Slater family c. 17th C.  Any ideas?

Knook Camp

From: Captain(retd) J.Eastwood BEM CQSW.

As the editor for the Lancashire Fusiliers web site at www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk I am researching the period 1948-50 when the Battalion were stationed at Knook Camp.
They were at that time the demonstration Battalion for the British army. 
I would particularly covet any pics(from any period) of the Camp and environs,married quarters,etc,and any memories local people may have of the Northern Soldiers with the yellow feathers in their berets.
Hoping you may help.
Yours Sincerely.
Joe.

OMNIA AUDAX XXTH.

Donations to"The LF Web Site Fund" which is at www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk to the address below,Thanks.


Captain(retd) J.Eastwood BEM CQSW.

This is a bit of a shot in the dark, but I have been researching the history of my family (as I guess is about half of England at the moment!) I come from a family of Wykeham s, Wykeham-Barnes s or Wickham s or even Wickham Barnes s. The spelling and double name are variable

The last confirmed piece of information on the family is that we were Chemists/surgeons with a business in Southgate street, Bath in about 1795, and, for the time being the trail ends there, however there seems to be evidence that the family originally came from Heytesbury. I have to admit to never having heard of Heytesbury before being informed of the family origins by the archivist at Bath Library last week. On looking up the name on my return home, I realised that I had driven through the village on my way to Bath that very day.

Another strange link with Heytesbury is that about ten years ago I received a letter from an old lady who informed me that we were distant cousins, and all related via an illegitimate link to Sir Leonard Holmes a Court. At that stage the only Holmes a Court I had ever heard of were the Australian ones, but on looking at your web site, I see that they too come from Heytesbury.

This may be all totally boring to you, but if it is of interest, or if you know of any one in Heytesbury who is interested in this sort of stuff, I would be most grateful if you could put me in touch.

With best wishes,

My husband & I are researching his maternal forebears, by the name of BEAVEN. His great grandfather Arthur Ward Beaven migrated to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1878 and went into a very successful partnership with a William ANDREWS (who we think is also from Wiltshire). Arthur’s parents farmed 600-odd acres, from their farm house in Heystesbury, where Arthur and his brothers Edwin Sloper, and Thomas Christie, and his sister Lucy Jane Ripley, were also born. Their parent’s names were Thomas & Mary Christie (WARD). The family moved to a larger farm in Boreham in 1865, Thomas dying there in 1872. This farm was sold in 1878, and Arthur set sail a few months later.

In his later years Arthur described the farms, farming practices, and the village of Heytesbury. He claimed that their house was “probably the monastical residence of the monks attached to the very fine old collegiate church of the village: the latter dated back to Henry IV’s time. It was of three storeys, with very spacious rooms, wide staircases, and large open fireplaces.”
Can anyone verify the monastical connections. I gather the farm house has been supplanted by a roundabout.

I would also love to hear from anyone who knows anything about the BEAVEN’s, or the WARD’s, or CHRISTIE’s. There are certainly many Beaven families in Wiltshire – or at least there were in the 1800’s.


Barbara Mulligan

Wellington

NEW ZEALAND

beemull@paradise.net.nz

Thanks to Tim Reynolds we have tracked down the farm. The Old Schoolhouse.

Hi Robert, I attempted to email you earlier this year as my family have direct connections with Heytesbury. In fact I have a letter of reference given to my grandfather by lord Heytesbury
when he left the estate employ in 1894. I believe he was a water Balif and worked the water medows.

Like many people I have been researching my family history and have a tree with direct links in Heytesbury dating back to the mid 1700's where a James Hurdle married a Martha Moody.

My grandfather was a Charles James Hurdle, he had 3 brothers Edward Hurdle, Henry Hurdle and Herbert Hurdle. They were the sons of a Charles Hurdle. As each met parteners
and married they moved away with the exception of Edward who appears in the 1901 census residing in Heytesbury.

My grandmother originated from Annesley in Nottinghamshire and she found employment at a large estate ( house) in Heytesbury where she met my grandfather. They moved up to
Nottinghamshire where they were married. He was employed on the GCR at Annesley, later relocating to Lutterworth in Leicestershire in about 1899 as his job required.
They have both now passed away and are burried in Lutterworth church yard.

Not that this is very interesting to most people, however I'm looking to trace my ancesters and would like I ask through your links/history page if anyone remains in Heytesbury with
connections to my family group could they please email me at johnhurdle@googlemail.com