The OPC is Val Everson
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Alderbury – Bramshaw – Charford (HAM) – Fordingbridge (HAM) – New Forest (HAM) – Nunton & Bodenham – Landford – Odstock – Whiteparish – Whitsbury
Websites of Interest
Downton Village – Includes a variety of useful information past and present.
Downton Parish Council – Activities and work of the Parish Council.
Downton Families Research Website – Various items of interest.
The Parish Church of St. Laurence
St. Laurence Gallery St. Laurence Interior Gallery St. Laurence Churchyard Gallery
In the south-east of the county near the Hampshire border is the massive town church of the ancient borough of Downton. Its nave is 12th century which has been enlarged eastwards on several occasions, firstly by extending the nave itself and during 13th century by setting up a new east end with a sturdy central tower raised on a pleasantly designed crossing and a stately chancel later lightened by tall 14th century windows. This fine church has benefited greatly from the patronage of the Bishops of Winchester, one of whom laid out the town in about 1205 as a model borough.
Incumbents
Ordination of Deacons & Priests 1876
Church Supported Charities and Funding
For Salisbury Infirmary 1858 (Charlton All Saints)
Miscellaneous
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
1599-1624 1625-1649 1650-1674 1675-1699 1700-1724 1725-1749 1750-1774 1775-1799 1800-1824 1825-1849
Banns
1654-1699 (with gaps) 1750-1774 (with gaps)
Marriages
Burials
1602-1624 1625-1649 1650-1674 1675-1699 1700-1724 1725-1749 1750-1774 1775-1799 1800-1824
Parish Registers Held at WSHC
Baptisms 1602-1980
Marriages 1601-1970
Burials 1602-1943
Parish History
This parish also includes the areas known as Morgan’s Vale with the church of St. Birinius and the hamlet of Redlynch. Also includes Charlton All Saints.
Downton is the first of two towns in the area planned by Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester. Building at Downton commenced in about 1205 with the Borough, the main street wide enough to accommodate a market. Its history in inevitably linked to the Hampshire Avon which provided the power for its mills and which was crossed by bridges providing an important east-west route across this part of the country. On the edge of the town is the Saxon Moot. originally a fortification but later becoming the meeting place of the town. Luckily this has been preserved by its later use as an open-air theatre and is now open to the public. At the heart of the town are he imposing buildings of the tannery, now sadly closed and faced as of the year 2000 an uncertain future. Downton has been famous for its lace and for many years was an important centre of paper making. The town is now a quiet one as famous for its fishing as it was its industry.
Church Brief for Downton 1724/25, Loss by Fire, 1724/25.
Briefs were a way for people to raise money for the rebuilding or repair of their church, or for damage after a natural disaster.
In February 1832 cholera hit the village; a temporary hospital was set up in the Borough and various provisions were made:- Help with food, bedding, fuel and clothes The cottages surrounding the hospital were white washed to help reduce further infections. Inhabitants were to ‘remove from their dwellings filth of every description, particularly dung and ashes; to cleanse their drains and to burn all decayed items such as rags, papers and old clothes.’ If it was not done a team of men would do it anyway.
1890 – Street lighting (oil lamps) was provided in the village, paid for by subscription payments.
1916 – Downton started a trend – it claims to be the birthplace of the first Wiltshire Women’s Institute.
2010-2025 – When Fact and Fiction are Confused
We are often asked for information about Downton Abbey by people planning a visit there. We explain that Downton Abbey is in fact a TV and Film Franchise with no connection to Downton in Wiltshire. The Downton Abbey in the TV production is in fact filmed at Highclere Castle in Berkshire not that far from the Wiltshire Boundary. The village of Downton in the production is mainly filmed in the village of Bampton, Oxfordshire. Highclere Castle, the home of Lord and Lady Carnarvon is open to the public where Downton Abbey Tours are available.
Civil Registration
1837 – 1896 Alderbury Registration District
1896 – Present Salisbury Registration District
Buildings and Land
Agriculture
County Agriculture Report 1847 Cattle Plague Regulations 1867
Buildings
Landowners
Public Houses
Bull Hotel, A338
Is a 14th century coaching inn which retains the old stabling yards.
Kings Arms, High Street
Some parts of the building date to the 13th century.
Sale 1826 Closure 2013
White Horse, The Borough
13th century former coaching inn. Modernised around the year 2000.
Wooden Spoon, High Street
Built in 1740 then known as the New Inn. Rumoured to be haunted.
Railway Station
Weather
Summer Hailstorm of 1785 & Damage Caused 1853
Crime and Legal Matters
Animal Related Crime
Bastardy Examinations
The definition of a bastard for the period when examinations were carried out by parish overseers and local justices is as follows:- any child born out of wedlock including those where the mother and father later marry, children of a second marriage whilst the first wife is still living; the issue of divorced couples; children born where the husband is known to have been abroad for some year; A child born after the father has died. The definition has evolved since the Act of 1732/33 where a “single mother” was by law obliged to declare her pregnancy and state the name of the reputed father. Some parish registers may record the words base-born against a baptism record and some may even name the reputed father. Below are some of the surviving bastardy examination reports transcribed from various sources such as court books and overseers accounts. It is interesting to note that only the mother’s and witnesses’ oaths seem to be recorded even though the defendant would have been summoned to the hearing. Perhaps their evidence was pre-delivered for the examiners to peruse before the mother was required to prove her case. It is also interesting to read the language used to describe the situation the mother found herself in and the circumstances in which the child was conceived. It would appear that the examination itself would not have been a pleasant experience for plaintiff or defendant no matter what the outcome. Bastardy Examinations
Court Cases
Crime Reports
Firearms Crime
Manslaughter
Miscellaneous Crime
Crimes at Downton Fair 1786 & 1791
Prisons & Prisoners
Convicts sent to Prison Hulks 1823-1842
Proceedings in Chancery Elizabeth I Era (1558-1603)
Faunteroy v Drables Elliott v Lyne
Theft
Reward for Catching Geese Thieves 1828 Sentenced for Theft 1845 Theft of Publican’s Fowl 1853
Directories
Post Office 1855 Post Office 1875 Kellys 1889 Kellys 1915 Post Office Telephone 1940
Education
Emigration and Migration
7th April 1836 – 10% of the population left Downton due to hard times; they hoped that their lives would improve once they stepped onto Canadian shores from the King William. More information at The Downton Story.
Published in tables from the Poor Law Commissioners Annual Reports for 1835, 1836 and 1847-1848 the following may be of use for tracing missing ancestors. 220 paupers emigrated to Quebec, Canada under an assisted emigration programme between July 1835 – July 1836. (See the also the Downton Story above). Strays Index
Books
From Wiltshire to Wales by Ray Palmer
Employment and Business
Agriculture
Gamekeepers Certificates 1807 Gamekeepers Certificates 1834
Apprentices
Apprentice records published here may not necessarily mean that the apprentice was from the parish but was apprenticed to a master within the parish
John Adams 1750 Ambrose Bampton 1716 Stephen Beves 1719 George Bungay 1743 Samuel Bungey 1720
Banking
Brewing
Wiltshire Brewed Beers at the Hyde Tavern Festival, Winchester 2016
Hop Back Brewery
Communications
British Postal Services Appointments 1737-1969
Community Services
Police
General Items
Lace Making
In 1698 there were 336 villagers making lace, this carried on for a number of years, but sadly by the end of 19th century this once very popular trade had died out.
Medicine
George Whitmarsh Granted Apothecaries Certificate 1835 General Medical Council Registrations 1859-1959
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations, Societies & Sporting Events
Cricket Match Downton v Salisbury 1858
Bankruptcy
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections and Polls
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832 Poll Book Analysis for Polling District July 1865 MP Nominations 2015 MP Nominations 2017
Entertainment
Exhibition of Youthful Industry & Wild Flowers 1858
Family Notices
Funeral Reports
Inquest Reports
Inquest Reports 1700-1799 Inquest Reports 1800-1849 George Batchelor 1891 George Winter 1906
Parish Notables
Harold John Fleming – England International Footballer
Personal Research
Chalk Family
Burials Extract 1813-1847 Marriages Extracts 1841-1953
Tuck Family
Marriage Extracts – These items were donated by Ken Tuck and contains entries that may or may not relate to the Tuck family however they have been published as such. Many references to Quaker entries may be found from across the county.
Taxes
Tax List 1332 (Borough) Tax List 1332 (Hundred) Falstone Day Book 1645 – 1653
Poor Law, Charity and the Workhouse
Alderbury Union Elected Guardians 1835 Workhouse Audit 1858
Overseers
Appointments
1860 1868 1870 1872
Probate
Extract of the Will of King Eldred 995 Probate Index 1674-1874 (WSHC) National Probate Index 1858-1966
Parishioners Wills
John Budden Proved 1805 Mary Chalk Proved 1708 Sarah Knight proved 1783 William Plaskett Proved 1790-1816
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Military News 1800-1849 Autumn Manoeuvres 1872 Letter from Zululand 1879 Servicemen & Families with the 1st Wilts. Regt. in South Africa 1911
Boer War
Reservists Leave for the Front 1899
WWI
Casualties
Mercantile Marine/Merchant Navy
Medal Records
William Charles Pope 1919-1920
War Memorials and Books of Remembrance
WWI Memorial Tablet WWI Roll of Honour Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book WWI
WWII
During WWII land mines were dropped in the Water Meadows and an aircraft crashed in Barford Lane.
Charlton All Saints
All Saints Church
All Saints Gallery All Saints Interior Gallery All Saints Churchyard Gallery
New Church For Charlton 1849 Church News 1850-1899 Churchyard Memorial Survey
Buildings and Land
Fires
Land Taxes
Appointment of Select Commissioners for Land and Assessed Taxes 1842
Owners of Land
Public Houses
New Licensee for the Lamb Inn Salisbury 1807
Stag Inn on the A388
18th Century building that was originally part of the Longford Estate. It is reputedly haunted by a cooking ghost. Closed, To Let 2020
Crime and Legal Matters
| Crime Reports 1800-1899 | Attempt to Rob a Butcher 1805 | Horses Stolen 1824 |
| Strange Conduct of Clergyman 1867 | Damage to a Gate 1868 | Tearing a Horse’s Tongue 1892 |
| Crime Reports 1900-1999 |
Bastardy Examinations
The definition of a bastard for the period when examinations were carried out by parish overseers and local justices is as follows:- any child born out of wedlock including those where the mother and father later marry, children of a second marriage whilst the first wife is still living; the issue of divorced couples; children born where the husband is known to have been abroad for some year; A child born after the father has died. The definition has evolved since the Act of 1732/33 where a “single mother” was by law obliged to declare her pregnancy and state the name of the reputed father. Some parish registers may record the words base-born against a baptism record and some may even name the reputed father. Below are some of the surviving bastardy examination reports transcribed from various sources such as court books and overseers accounts. It is interesting to note that only the mother’s and witnesses’ oaths seem to be recorded even though the defendant would have been summoned to the hearing. Perhaps their evidence was pre-delivered for the examiners to peruse before the mother was required to prove her case. It is also interesting to read the language used to describe the situation the mother found herself in and the circumstances in which the child was conceived. It would appear that the examination itself would not have been a pleasant experience for plaintiff or defendant no matter what the outcome. Bastardy Examinations
Directories
See also Main Section for Downton and for Standlynch
Emigration and Migration
Published in tables from the Poor Law Commissioners Annual Reports for 1835, 1836 and 1847-1848 the following may be of use for tracing missing ancestors. 14 paupers emigrated to Canada under an assisted emigration programme between July 1838 – 1843 (This figure could relate to Charlton, Malmesbury or Charlton, Pewsey) Strays Index
Apprentices
People and Parish Notables
Accidents
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1837-1871
Celebrations and Entertainment
Celebrations at Defeat of Napoleon 1814
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections, Polls and Voting Lists
Family Notices
Inquest Reports
Miscellaneous Items
Taxes
Wedding Reports
Marriage of H.M.S. Courageous Survivor 1939
Probate
Probate Index 1725 (WSHC)
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Napoleon Defeat Celebrations 1814 Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918
East Downton
Buildings and Land
People and Parish Notables
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections, Poll and Voters Lists
Standlynch
St. Michael & All Angels
Although there is a small church in the village there seems to be no trace of any parish records.
Standleech Protestation Return 1641-1642
Buildings and Land
Trafalgar House & Park
The village is the home of Trafalgar House which was gifted to the descendants of Lord Horatio Nelson and was named after his famous victory. It was reported in Parliament that during the English Civil War of the 17th century, a Royalist soldier barracked at Trafalgar House was foolish enough to toast ‘old nick’. Immediately the Devil himself appeared and carried off the wretched man.
Crime and Legal Matters
Directories
Please also refer to the Downton entries
Post Office 1855 Kellys 1889 Kellys 1915
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
People and Parish Notables
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1865
Family Notices
Taxes
Tax List 1332 Falstone Dy Book 1645-1653
Poor Law, Charity and the Workhouse
Overseers
Probate
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Parishioners Wills
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918
Wick
Probate
Parishioners Wills
Witherington
Emigration and Migration
People and Parish Notables
Census Returns Transcripts
Crime and Legal Matters
Proceedings in Chancery Elizabeth I Era (1558-1603)
