Compton Chamberlain

OPC Vacancy

Compton Chamberlain Photo Gallery

Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)

Barford – Baverstock – Broad Chalke – Burcombe – Dinton – Fovant

Websites of Interest

The Parish Church of St. Michael

The church of St. Michael is located at the northern end of Compton Chamberlayne, standing on a bank overlooking Compton House. The church is a stone building consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and a small tower consisting of 6 bells – two dating from the 17th century and four dating from the 19th century.  The church was built at the end of the 13th century, at the same time as Salisbury Cathedral, located some 10 miles away, was being built.  The church of St. Michael at Compton Chamberlayne is a Grade II* listed building.

St. Michael’s Gallery          St. Michael’s Interior Gallery          St. Michael’s Churchyard Gallery

Church Memorials

Burial Grounds

St. Michael’s Church contains burials within the churchyard.  Once the churchyard became full, an area on High Street, next to the Old Post Office & Orchard Cottage, was designated as the new consecrated Burial Ground. The Cemetery on High Street, is divided into two sections by a hedge.  The front section (or lower level) contains the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s burials of 34 soldiers from WWI as well as the burials of local residents.  The back section (or upper level) contains the burial of local residents.  The earliest burials date from 1876.           Compton Chamberlain Cemetery Gallery

Church Supported Charities and Funding

For Salisbury Infirmary 1858

Parish Registers held at WSHC

Baptisms 1538-1902
Marriages 1538-1990
Burials 1538-1956

Records available from Other Sources

Parish History

Compton Chamberlayne is a small village in the south of the Wiltshire county, just off the A30 Road, approximately 8 miles west of Salisbury. Surrounding villages include Broad Chalke to the south, Baverstock to the north, Barford St Martin to the north-east, Dinton to the north-west & Fovant to the west. Geographically, the River Nadder sits to the north of Compton Chamberlayne & to the south lies a chalk downland.

Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of England 1845           History of Compton Chamberlayne Article 2011

Civil Registration

1837 – April 1936 Wilton Registration District
April 1936 – Present Salisbury Registration District

Population

The population in 1801 was 283, rising to its peak in 1851 of 352 then slowly declined until 1931, when the population was 130, then rose again to 170 in 1951 before declining again to its lowest point in 1991 with 85 residents before rising again in 2011 to 112.

Population Figures 1801-2011

Village Achievements

Keeping Up Appearance 2007          Best Kept Village 2008

Buildings and Land

Domesday Book Extract           UK Land Tax Redemption 1798          Owners of Land 1873         Growth of Sugar Beet 1898          Huge Estate Sold 1974

Ancient Monuments

Chalk Map of Australia

Listed Buildings

Grade I – Buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest

Compton Park House

Compton House Galley

Compton Park News          Electric Light at Compton Park & Church 1884          Compton Park for Sale by Auction 1952

Grade II* – Buildings are particularly important and of more than special interest

Church of St. Michael

Grade II – Buildings and monuments are nationally important and of special interest

Horse Shoe Bridge

Horse Shoe Bridge – News 1858-1866

Maps

Map of Compton Chamberlayne 1899          Map of Compton Chamberlayne & Surrounding Areas 1952

Properties For Auction, Sale or Let

Public Houses

Compton Hut          Elm Inn

Weather Phenomena

Thunder Storm 1855

Crime and Legal Matters

Crime Reports

Crime Reports 1850-1899

Offenders Transported to Australia

Josiah Loveless – At the April Sessions in 1827 Josiah Loveless was convicted of offences against the Game Laws at the Easter Sessions held on 9th April 1833 he was charged with further Game Law offences and sentenced to 7 years transportation.  He was transported aboard the convict ship Stakesby which sailed on the 20th May 1833 arriving in Van Diemen’s Land on 4th September 1833

Thomas Watts – At the Wilts Sessions on 8th April 1845 he was convicted of Felony and sentenced to two months imprisonment.  At the Wilts County Sessions on 6th January 1846 he was convicted of Larceny after previously being convicted of Felony, he was sentenced to 7 years transportation.  He was aged 20.  At present no further details are to hand.

Directories

Education

Jottings of Gladys Hoddinott c1905

Emigration and Migration

Parish Strays          Wiltshire Removal Orders 1670-1890

To the United States of America

Alfred James Lock 1890-1931

Employment and Business

Agriculture and Land

Steam Cultivation Apparatus 1861          Sale at Compton Farm, Enford 1870          Penruddocke Foreman Dismissed 1903          Supply of Milk 1943

Gamekeepers

Gamekeepers Certificates 1807          Gamekeepers Certificates 1824-1846         Gamekeepers Certificates 1834

Apprentices

UK Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices 1710-1811

William Chamberlain 1724          James Coole 1741

Labourers

Description of Wiltshire Labourers 1871

Markets & Shows

Sheep Sales 1852          Cattle and Poultry Show 1852            Ram Sale Purchases 1869-1872

Miscellaneous Items

Articles of Clerkship – Charles Penruddocke 1791           Reward for Bogus Chimney Sweeps 1804          Engineering Records – James Walrond Burrough 1929           Trade Directory Jesse Avery 1934

Miscellaneous Documents

Escaped Pony 1867

Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship

People and Parish Notables

People Gallery

Accidents

Ann Trimmer 1873          Road Accident 1932

Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies

Friendly Societies

Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871

Horticultural Societies

Dinton, Baverstock and Hurdcott Horticultural Society Show 1939

East Knoyle Agricultural Society 1867          Archaeological and Natural History Society 1870          Foresters & Oddfellows Fete 1871

Fishing News 1900-1999

Bankruptcy

Grace Harriet Jennings 1950

Census Returns Transcripts

1841          1851          1861          1871          1881          1891           1901         1911

Elections and Polls

Poll of Freeholders 1772           Poll Book 1818           Voters List 1832          Poll Book 1865          MP Nominations 2015

Entertainment

Primrose League Entertainments 1887           Mr. Ralph – Judge at Dinton, Baverstock

Family Notices

1800-1849         1850-1899           1900 – Present

Inquest Reports

Parish Notables

John Martin – Clergyman

John Martin 1619-1693 was presented to the living of Compton Chamberlayne in 1645. He was arrested for participation in the royalist uprising with Colonel John Penruddocke but released due to insufficient evidence. When Penruddocke was executed, John Martin buried him at night at Compton Chamberlayne.

People of the Parish

Penruddocke Family

Colonel John Penruddocke (1619-1655), of Compton Chamberlayne, was a prominent member of the Sealed Knot – a monarchist secret society.  The Sealed Knot worked clandestinely during the rule of Cromwell to bring about a restoration of the British monarchy. As leader of the Penruddocke Uprising of 1655, Colonel John Penruddocke was executed, by beheading, at Exeter in May, 1655.

Penruddocke Court Case

Cruelty To Children – London, November 23, 1902.  Mrs. Annie E. Penruddocke, of Compton Park, Compton Chamberlayne, Wiltshire, was fined £50 yesterday at the Old Bailey for having ill-treated and caused unnecessary suffering to her daughter, Letitia Constance, aged 6 years.  The jury severely censured Mr. Penruddocke, the husband, who is a magistrate.    Articles on the Court Case 1902

Two members of the Penruddocke family gave their lives for their country during WWI for more details see the War, Conflict and Military Section below.

Taxes

Tax List 1332           Falstone Day Book 1645-1653          UK Death Duty Registers 1796-1811          Uncategorised People Items          High Sheriffs for Wiltshire 1758-1856                  Personal Column & To The Editor – George Cross 1940 & 1943

Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse

Compton Chamberlayne came under the jurisdiction of Wilton Poor Law Union, with the workhouse being located at Wilton. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, usually one representing a constituent parish. Overseers of the Poor was the previous term used but their roles were similar in that they administered poor relief such as money, food and clothing as part of the Poor Law system. Usually Churchwardens or Landowners were selected for these roles.

Absconders

Reward for Samuel Jefferys – Runaway 1837

Census

Wilton Union Parishes Census Breakdown 1851

Charity

Donations for Salisbury Infirmary 1867

Guardians

Wilton Union Guardians Appointed 1835          Election of Number of Guardians for Each Parish in Warminster Union 1836          Guardians Dinner & Election of Guardians 1870

Overseers

Elected Overseers

Vagrants

Vagrant’s Pass – Mary Harris 1764           Vagrant’s Pass – Sarah Rawlins 1764

Probate

Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held

Richard Grobham 1630           Thomas Bushell 1634

Probate Records

Probate Extracts 1592-1617          National Probate Index 1858-1966

War, Conflict and Military Matters

Village Honour for War Dead

A cairn to honour the war dead who are buried in Compton Chamberlayne is to be erected with the aid of a Lottery grant.  The monument will overlook the graves and house a booklet containing detailed histories of all the soldiers interred there.  The £13,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will also enable the entrance to the burial ground to be marked by an engraved portal stone, and access to be improved.  Local firm, Nadder Valley Landscaping, will carry out the work and hopes to have it completed in time for ANZAC Day on April 25.  The burial ground contains the remains of 28 Australian and 6 British soldiers who died during World War One. Compton Chamberlayne Parish meeting initiated the project to enhance their graves, and was put in touch with Australian researcher, Chris Munro, who had a particular interest in war graves in the Nadder Valley. It found Mrs. Munro had already researched the history of the Compton Chamberlayne graves and was in the process of producing the booklet on them which will now be available to visitors.   (Salisbury Journal Saturday, 23rd February, 2008)

WWI

At the outbreak of World War 1 there became an urgent need to accommodate the increasing requirements for Military Training & Transit camps. Towards the end of 1914, John Combes, of East Farm at Fovant, was informed that part of his land was to be requisitioned for one such camp. Subsequently, land to the east and west of his farm was also commandeered and an area stretching from Compton Chamberlayne to Sutton Mandeville became one vast Military Camp.  A single track railway connected the camps to the main line.  The camp located at Compton Chamberlayne became known as Hurdcott Camp as it was on land that was part of two farms – Hurdcott and Naish’s.  In March 1916, this section of the camp was taken over by the Australian Imperial Forces and became their No. 3 Command Depot.                Hurdcott Camp & Chalk Badges Gallery

Casualties of WWI

Men Who Served in WWI

Servicemen Buried in the Cemetery

Compton Chamberlayne Cemetery is located on High Street.  The Cemetery contains the graves of thirty four WWI casualties, twenty eight being Australian Servicemen of the Australian Imperial Forces (A.I.F.), three are from the London Regiment of the Royal Fusiliers, one soldier from Royal Engineers, one from the Royal Irish Fusiliers and one from the Royal Irish Rifles.  The burials date from February, 1916 through to February, 1919.  Thirty three of the plots are commemorated with a Commonwealth War Graves Headstone. The burial plot is laid out in three rows, with a stone plinth or cairn located at the front of the burial ground.  The Cairn has an engraving which reads:- “The severe winter of 1916-17 caused hardship amongst the troops encamped around Salisbury Plain.  Between December, 1916 and April, 1917, eleven A.I.F. deaths were directly associated with respiratory disorders.  The majority of the casualties had only enlisted six months earlier and two of the months since enlistment had been spent on a sea voyage from the Australian summer to the British winter.”

Military Section Gallery

Summary Table of Servicemen Details

Australian Casualties Buried in the Cemetery

British & Irish Casualties Buried in the Cemetery

Chalk Badges on the Downs – Rising Sun & Map of Australia

In remembrance of their colleagues that had not returned from the War, many of the Regiments staying at the Military Camps carved replicas of their cap badges into the chalk hillsides near the village of Fovant. By the end of WW1 there were some 20 badges, the largest of which was the Australian Commonwealth Forces Badge – The Rising Sun. A large map of Australia was also carved into the Downs above where Hurdcott Camp was situated at Compton Chamberlayne. The chalk map of Australia is no longer financially supported and is being left to nature.     Australia Map at Hurdcott

WWII

WWII Memorial in St. Michael’s Church           Casualty – Michael Thomas Gibson Henry 1941          Casualty – H. J. Carbray Richardson 1941           Casualty – William Alan Southall 1942