The OPC is John Dear
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Amesbury – Bemerton – Fugglestone St Peter – Idmiston – Laverstock & Ford – South Newton – Stratford Sub Castle – Wilsford – Winterbourne Dauntsey – Winterbourne Earls – Winterbourne Gunner – Woodford
Websites of Interest
The Parish Church of St. Andrew
St. Andrew’s Gallery St. Andrew’s Interior Gallery St. Andrew’s Churchyard Gallery
In 1883 the open seats and pulpit were renovated at the expense of Thomas Staples of Alderbury. In 1903 at a cost of about £1200 further repairs were made and in 1904 5 bells were re-hung in the tower. The incumbent at the time was the Reverend Leicester Selby.
Durneford Protestation Return 1641-1642 Little Durneford Protestation Return 1641-1642
Church Supported Charities and Funding
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
1508-1624 1625-1679 1680-1749 1750-1799
Marriages
1508-1699 1700-1799 1800-1849 1850-1899 1900-1949 (Incomplete)
Burials
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1574-1983
Marriages 1874-1992
Burials 1574-1992
Parish History
Durnford parish lies between Salisbury and Amesbury on the eastern side of the Avon valley. The name is derived from the Old English meaning of secret or hidden ford. The site of the ford is not known as there is no bridging of the Avon at Durnford. The parish comprises the villages or hamlets of Great and Little Durnford, Netton, Salterton and Newton; Normanton , on the west bank of the Avon, was a detached part. In 1885 Normanton comprising c.656 acres was transferred to Wilsford Parish. The population rose from 399 to 554 between 1801 and 1851. Of 533 inhabitants in 1841 , Great Durnford had 218, Little Durnford 67, Netton 107, Salterton 91, Newtown 28 and Normanton 22. In the 20th century the population fluctuated between 427 in 1951, 376 in 1931 and 405 in 1991.
Civil Registration
July 1837- April 1936 Amesbury Registration District
April 1936 – Present Salisbury Registration District
Buildings and Land
Appointment of Select Commissioners for Land and Assessed Taxes 1842 Owners of Land 1873
Durnford House and Manor House
Durnford House belonged to the prebendary of Durnford and stood to the north of the church. The main house was lived in from around 1743 by the author James Harris who died in 1780. By 1814 it was occupied by his spinster sister. It was demolished in the 1860’s. The manor house was built in c.1792 by James Harris’s son, the 1st Earl of Malmesbury, who bought the land from the Hungerford family. The estate was sold in 1870 to Lord Tryon.
The Bays, Little Durnford
Between late 1930s to late 1940s this was the home of Walter & Lucy Uphill.
Durnford Watermill
During the 1850s the millers here were Christopher and Stephen Smith. By 1883 it was registered to William Thorne. It is now known as Kingfisher Mill the home of the Hon. Aylmer Tryon.
Little Durnford House
The estate came into the Younge family when John Younge married one of the Tropenhall sisters when the estate was broken up. The Younges owned the manor house between 1548 and 1795. The family died out in 1795 and the estate was sold to Edward Hinxman and later to the Devenishes. Edward Hinxman, J.P. was still in residence in 1895. In 191 Little Durnford House was home to Matthew Henry Witty Devenish, J.P. Dorothy Devernish’s book ‘A Wiltshire Home’ is a good reference source. Today the estate belongs to the Earl of Chichester.
Maps
Public Houses
Black Horse Inn, off A345
17th century building. Frequented by many test pilots from the nearby airfield.
Mortgage Indenture, Folliott 1900
Crime and Legal Matters
Bastardy
Crime Reports
Prisons and Prisoners
Committed to the County Gaol 26 May 1874
Directories
| Post Office 1855 | Post Office 1859 | Kellys 1867 | Post Office 1875 | Kellys 1889 | Kellys 1895 |
| Kellys 1898 | Kellys 1903 | Kellys 1907 | Kellys 1911 | Kellys 1915 |
Education
Durnford’s first known school was opened in the old schoolroom near the Church as a National School in 1837, but later moved to Netton after the Education Act. It became a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School and remained until its closure in 1975.
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Agriculture and Land
Apprentices
Richard Golfinch Brownjohn 1754
Bakeries
Thornton Netton Bakery
The bakery was opened by Robert Thornton in 1833 and was still a working bakery into the late 1920s. Part of the old bakery is now Flint Cottage and another part is a private residence called the Old Bakery. A modern house built on the bakery stables land is now the home of the original bakery founders great great granddaughter.
Road Building
Employment of the Poor in Road Building 1817
Miscellaneous Documents
No items available for this category at present
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
Netton Wesleyan Chapel
The chapel first opened its doors in 1895 but since about 1989 has been converted into a private dwelling.
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Friendly Societies
Durnford, Wilsford & Woodford Friendly Benefit Society
Wiltshire Friendly Society
Celebrations and Entertainment
Celebrations at the Defeat of Napoleon 1814
Census Returns Transcripts
1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921
Elections and Polls
Polls
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818
Voters Lists
Parish Notables
James Harris – Grammarian George Clement Tyron, Bt. 1871-1940
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Guardians
Amesbury Union Guardians Appointed 1835
Overseers
Probate
Probate Index 1851-1853 (WSHC)
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Isabella Walraund 1309 John Walraund 1309 Thomas Mackerell 1628
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Militia
Service Men & Women
Boer War
Reservists Leave for the Front 1899
WWI
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918
High Post
Buildings and Land
Public Houses
High Post Inn, A345
Large inn with nightclub. Formerly part of a private airfield which was taken over by the RAF during WWII. The main road was diverted to accommodate the take off and landing of aircraft.
Netton
Church Matters
Netton Protestation Return 1641-1642
Buildings and Land
Emigration and Migration
Assisted Emigration
People and Parish Notables
Landowners
Taxes
Probate
National Probate Index 1858-1966
Newtown
Church Matters
Newtowne Protestation Return 1641-1642
Normanton
Church Matters
Normington Protestation Return 1641-1642
Salterton
Church Matters
Psalterton Protestation Return 1641-1642
Employment and Business
Gamekeepers Certificates 1807
