OPC Vacancy
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Edington – Erlestoke – Imber – Keevil
Websites of Interest
Coulston – Parish Events and Church Services
The Parish Church of St. Thomas A Becket
The earliest mention of the Church is in 1214, but the building probably dates from the late 12th century. The dedication of the church was originally to St. Andrew, but since 1786 has been known as the church of St Thomas a Becket (St. Thomas of Canterbury). The Becketts were considerable landowners in the area for may years after the reformation (16th Century), and this may account for the change of name. Houses in Edington and West Lavington still retain their name. [source: St. Thomas Church Booklet]
St. Thomas a Becket Gallery St. Thomas a Becket Interior Gallery
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1714-1974
Marriages 1714-1994
Burials 1714-1992
Parish History
Couslton (Covelestone in the Domesday book, 1086) has a population of about 160.
Coulston lies to the South West of Devizes. In 1316 the village was known as Coulston Chamberlayne after the brothers who owned lands here during the 14th Century. Until 1934 the village was known as East Coulston when it merged with the adjacent hamlet of West Coulston situated in the parish of Edington. The combined village and hamlet then became known as Coulston.
Civil Registration
1837 – April 1936 Westbury Registration District
April 1936 – present Warminster Registration District
Buildings and Land
Game Licenses 1846 Owners of Land 1873 Sale of Dairy Stock of Coulston Farm 1890
Land Surveys
Maps
Ordnance Surveyor’s Drawings 1808-1811
Public House
Bell Inn (West Coulston)
Crime and Legal Matters
| Dispute over Rabbits & Game 1846 | Killing of Rabbits Charges 1846 | Child Abuse 1858 |
| Brute of Mother-in-law 1858 |
Directories
Post Office 1855 Gillmans 1900
Education
Closure of East Coulston School 1895
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Gamekeepers Certificates 1807 General Medical Council Registrations 1859-1959 Shepherds Prizes 1886
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 Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871 (East)
Census Returns Transcripts
The 1901 census was the first year that East and West Coulston were recorded as a single parish
| East Coulston | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | |||
| West Coulston | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | |||
| Coulston | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 |
Coroners Bills
County coroners were introduced in England in around 1194 once established other boroughs and liberties sought the right to have their own coroner. Often in Medieval times the coroner also assumed the role of the sheriff and his duties weren’t limited to holding inquests on dead bodies although almost a full time post they were unpaid for the duties apart from those that were deemed murder of manslaughter when they would receive 13s. 4d. From the 24th June 1752 a law was passed allowing the coroner to claim £1 for every inquest they attended not held in a gaol and also to claim 9d per mile travel allowance from the place of residence. Inquests held in any gaol were performed at a rate totalling no more than £1. These costs were to be paid from the county rates. In cases of homicide the coroner also received the former fee of 13s. 4d. The coroners submitted their bills at the quarter session sittings for approval. Coroners Bills 1752-1796 (East Coulston)
Elections and Polls
Poll Book 1818 (East) Voters List 1832 (East) Voters Lists Revisions 1843 (East) MP Nominations 2015
Inquest Reports
William Earley 1890 George Wallis 1867
Parish Notables
Mary Delaney, Artist Letter Writer and Member of the Bluestocking Society was born in Coulston on the 14th May 1700, her maiden name was Granville. She married firstly Alexander Pendarves, MP for Launceston, Cornwall 43 years her senior, the marriage not being a happy one. Her second marriage was to Dr. Patrick Delaney, a clergyman. Mary died on the 15th April 1788 in Windsor, Berkshire.
Mary Delaney 1700- 1788 – Artist and Writer
Personal Research Items
Drewett/Druit Family
Descendants of John Druit 1750
Tuck Research
Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts – This item was 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 refer to Quaker burials found across the county
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and the Workhouse
Workhouse Provisions & Clothing Tenders 1846 Poor Law Union Audit 1849
Probate
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
John Danvers 1626 Charles Danvers 1627 James, Earl of Marlborough 1633 Henry, Earl of Marlborough 1638
