The OPC is Duncan McBurney
Alton Barnes
St. Mary the Virgin
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
East Kennett – Overton – Stanton St. Bernard – Wilcot – Woodborough
Websites of Interest
Alton Parish Council – Covering the villages of Alton Barnes, Alton Priors and Honeystreet.
The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Across the brook from its twin All Saints in Alton Priors, is the ancient church of St. Mary’s Alton Barnes, a tiny building with impressive “long-and-short” quoins; the height and narrowness of which place it pre-Conquest; the chancel arch is contemporary. There is a pleasant 16th century roof, a three deck pulpit and a Georgian font.
St. Mary’s Gallery St. Mary’s Interior Gallery St. Mary’s Churchyard Gallery
Church Supported Charities and Funding
Church History
A Short History of the Church and Village
Churchyard
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1592-1986
Marriages 1597-1986
Burials 1601-1987
Records available from Other Sources (Alton Barnes & Alton Priors)
Look up for Marriages between 1815 and 1837 can be requested from the OPC via the Contact Us tab at the top of the page.
Parish History
Location
The ancient Parish of Alton Barnes is located approximately 6 miles east of Devizes in the Vale of Pewsey, rising to the Marlborough downs in the north of the Parish, and comprises the village of Alton Barnes itself and surrounding lands, as well as detached land at Shaw approximately 2 miles to the north east. The land at Shaw formed part of the medieval village of Shaw that was deserted probably in the early 15th century. This land was transferred to the Parish of Overton in 1885.
In 1928 the southern boundary of the Parish was extended when the settlement of Honey Street (including Honey Street Wharf) was detached from the ecclesiastical Parish of Woodborough and added to that of Alton Barnes.
In 1934 the Parishes of Alton Barnes and Alton Priors were merged to form the Parish of Alton, which is consistent with the Civil Parish.
Civil Registration
1837 – Present Devizes Registration District
Buildings and Land
The Alton Barnes White Horse
The Alton Barnes white horse is carved into the south facing slope of Milk Hill on a ridge that extends to Walker’s Hill, less than a mile north of the village. The White Horse carving was commissioned by Robert Pile, the then tenant of Manor Farm, in 1811 and finished the following year. Robert Pile paid £20 to a journeyman painter, John Thorne, to design the horse and carry out the work. The excavation work was sub-contracted to John Harvey of Stanton St. Bernard. However, before the work was completed John Thorne absconded with the money, leaving Robert Pile to pay for the excavation work again. John Thorne was later tried and executed for another, unrelated, crime. The carving remains a notable landmark visible for many miles and is regularly maintained, the last occasion being in 2010 when 150 tons of fresh chalk were delivered to the site by helicopter.
White Horses of Wiltshire 1930
The Wansdyke
The northern edge of the Parish is traversed by the Wansdyke, running along the north ridge of the Vale of Pewsey. The Wansdyke is an ancient ditch and earth bank, which is believed to have been built in the 5th, or 6th, century. The eastern section of the Wansdyke is 12 miles long running from the Savernake Forest to Morgan’s Hill near Calne. The Saxons named the dyke after their god Woden, hence it became Woden’s Dyke, and eventually Wansdyke.
Adam’s Grave
Adam’s Grave is a destroyed Neolithic long barrow, approximately 60 metres long and 6 metres high, which is located at the summit of Walker’s Hill north of the village of Alton Barnes. The burial chamber was excavated by John Thurnam in 1860, finding three or four incomplete skeletons and a leaf-shaped arrowhead. The large size of the barrow gives an unusual shape to the summit of Walker’s Hill and has given rise to the local nickname of Nipple Hill.
The Manor House and Farm
The Manor House is a Grade II listed farmhouse made of brick, with a slate roof, constructed in the 18th century. Manor Farm, which was attached to the Manor House, has been owned by New College, Oxford since its founding in 1385 and comprises 600 acres. In 1830 the tenant of the Manor House and Farm was Robert Pile, son of the Robert Pile that commissioned the White Horse. This was the scene of one of the more violent incidents during the Swing Riots in November of that year (see Crime and Punishment below).
Crop Circles
Since 1990 Alton Barnes has been the site of numerous crop circles, which now appear each year, often in the fields below the White Horse on Milk Hill. The Barge Inn, which was originally part of the Honey Street Wharf complex, but actually within the Parish of Stanton St.Bernard is a well known meeting point for those involved in the making of crop circles.
Land Surveys
Crime and Legal Matters
Bastardy
Bastardy Examinations 1864-1876
Crime Reports
Swing Riots
The Swing Riots 1830 Swing Riots Destroying a House Trial 1831
Trade Crime
Malting Regulations Breaches 1802-1813
Directories
| Post Office 1855 | Post Office 1859 | Kellys 1867 | Gillmans 1899 | Gillmans 1900 | Kellys 1903 | Kellys 1907 | Kellys 1911 |
| Gillmans 1914 | Kellys 1915 | Kellys 1931 | Post Office Telephone 1940 |
Education
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Agriculture and Land
Gamekeepers Certificates 1807 Aspects of the Life of the Wiltshire Agricultural Labourer c1850 Sale at Compton Farm, Enford 1870
Apprentices
Wiltshire Society Apprentices
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Friendly Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society
Membership 1827-1871 Promotion 1912
Census Returns Transcripts
Please note that the 1841 census for Alton Barnes does not appear to have survived
Elections and Polls
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832 Voters Lists Revisions 1843 MP Nominations 2015
Family Notices
People of the Village
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Alton is divided in jurisdiction for the Poor Law Union. Alton Barnes coming under the Devizes Poor Law Union and Alton Priors under the Pewsey Poor Law Union
The Robert Pile Educational Charity was set up to support the education of any resident of Alton Barnes, Alton Priors and Honeystreet who is in need of financial assistance to access a course. The origins of the Charity are as yet unknown but it is still functioning today.
Poor Law Union Bread & Flour Contract 1838
Probate
Probate Index 1601-1853 (WSHC) National Probate Index 1858-1966
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Alton Barnes War Memorials & Military Gallery
Naval Attestation – Joshua Lovegrove 1854 Roll of Honour Plaque WWI & WWII
WWI
Dioceses of Salisbury Remembrance Book 1914-1918 Casualty Biographies of WWI
WWI Volunteers of Alton Barnes Parish
WWII
Alton Priors
All Saints Scratch Sundial
Websites
Churches Conservation Trust – Overview
The Parish Church of All Saints
In the heart of the Vale of Pewsey are the twin churches of Alton Priors and Alton Barnes. All Saints is a dignified building with a wide nave, a 12th Century chancel arch and a pleasant west tower. Inside the church is a brass plate to William Button showing the gates of heaven; in the churchyard, stands a yew tree said to be 1700 years old. Sadly, the church is no longer in use.
There is no road access to All Saints church.
A long walk from Alton Barnes St. Mary following the “Historic Church” footpath sign, or park near the bottom of Village Street, where there is a farm gate and rotary stile. Access the church grounds from the latter direction is via a stile to the right of the small churchyard extension.
The church is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust.
All Saints Gallery All Saints Interior Gallery All Saints Churchyard Gallery
A Short History of the Church and Village Churches Conservation Trust All Saints Churchyard Survey
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900-1949
Marriages
Burials
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1664-1976
Marriages 1702-1961
Burials 1664-1984
Look Ups for Baptisms and Burials up to 1837 can be requested from the OPC (Duncan McBurney) via the Contact Us Tab at the top of the Home Page
Parish History
Alton Priors was a former chapelry of Overton and includes the tything of West Stowel.
Buildings and Land
Crime and Legal Matters
Directories
| Post Office 1855 | Post Office 1859 | Kellys 1867 | Post Office 1875 | Gillmans 1899 | Gillmans 1900 | Kellys 1903 | Kellys 1907 |
| Gillmans 1914 | Kellys 1911 | Kellys 1915 | Kellys 1931 |
Education
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Metropolitan Police Pensions Record – John Bailey 1855-1870
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections and Polls
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832
Family Notices
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Pewsey Union Supplies Tender Notice 1846
Probate
Nation Probate Index 1858-1966
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
William, Earl of Pembroke 1630
War, Conflict and Military Matters
WWI
WWI Volunteers of Alton Priors Parish
Casualties
Albert Victor Chivers 1915 Frederick William Doggett 1917
Memorials & Books of Remembrance
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918 Alton Barnes & Alton Priors Roll of Honour Plaque
