The OPC is Linda Robson
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Bemerton – Bishopstone – Burcombe – Fugglestone St. Peter – Netherhampton – South Newton – Stratford Tony
Websites of Interest
The Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas
Sts. Mary & Nicholas Gallery Sts. Mary & Nicholas Interior Gallery Sts. Mary & Nicholas Churchyard Gallery
The parish church is of an Italianate design which looks a little out of place in the county.
Church Services
Conservation
Incumbents
Incumbents List Obituary of Rev. Charles A Harris 1874 Ordination of Deacons & Priests 1876
Miscellaneous
Protestation Return 1641-1642 Harvest Home 1867
Parish Register Transcriptions
Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1626-1960
Marriages 1615-2002
Burials 1663-1969
Parish History
Wilton was once the ancient capital of Wessex and was the most important town of the area until the founding of New Sarum (Salisbury) and the transfer of market trade to the city. The county name of Wiltshire is derived from name of the town. There is evidence of a royal palace at Wilton as early as 838. The town was deemed to be of considerably importance by the invading Danes who attacked the town in 871. King Alfred defended the town and won the battle on the high ground of Wilton Park. The priory is said to have been re-founded at around the same time by Alfred this led to the foundation of an Abbey that is always linked to St. Edith who was the illegitimate daughter of Wulfrith and King Edgar. The abbey thrived until it lost its eminence to the new City of Salisbury. At the time of the Reformation the abbey and its lands were handed to William Herbert and Wilton house was completed in 1550 and in 1551 William was made Lord Herbert of Cardiff and Earl of Pembroke, beginning the family line that survives today.
Exhibition of Youthful Industry & Wild Flowers 1858 Rates Charges 1951
Civil Registrations
1837 – April 1936 Wilton Registration District
April 1936 – Present Salisbury Registration District
Buildings and Land
Agriculture and Land
Giant Fungus 1787 County Agriculture Report 1847 Cattle Plague Regulations 1867 Foot and Mouth Disease 1924-1925
Archaeology and Excavation
Hanging Bowl Market Place Coins Find 1787
Cemetery
Floods
Landowners
Public Houses
Bear Inn, West Street
Is a 16th century building situated very near to the market square.
Bell Inn, Shaftesbury Road
This is a 17th century establishment. It was first mentioned as a pub in 1610 when it was stated that travellers stayed overnight. Wilton’s old town wall is close by.
Greyhound, Market Place
This is an 18th century pub conveniently situated on the market place. It was one the meeting point for the local hunt.
Pembroke Arms, Minster Street
This a large ivy clad hotel situated opposite the entrance to Wilton House. It was built in 1810 as a coaching station and was originally owned by the Earl of Pembroke.
Six Bells, North Street
Is a former coaching inn.
Wheatsheaf, King Street
Is an 18th century listed building owned by Matthews Brewery of Gillingham, Dorset in the year 2000. The establishment sits on the banks of the River Wylye. The establishment was awarded the Which? Good Hospitality Plaque in 1997.
Railway
Railway Branch Line to Open 1856 Southern Railways Excursion Advert to Weymouth c1963
Roads and Turnpikes
Wilton House
Wilton is the seat of the Earl and Countess of Pembrokeshire and their home Wilton House is, like so many stately homes, open to the public – for more information visit their website. Wilton House archives have been deposited with the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.
Crime and Legal Matters
Attempted Murder
Attempt to Murder a Child 1862
Bastardy
Crime Reports
Prisons and Prisoners
Inmates of Gloucester Gaol 1815-1879 Convicts sent to Prison Hulks 1823-1842
Protest
Passive Resistance by Rev. Jonah Greeves Ferriday 1905
Swing Riots
Brasher’s Mill Attacked 1830-1831
Theft
Sentenced for Theft 1845 Charged with Stealing Two Cannons 1858 Theft from Clothes Line 1862
Directories
Universal British 1793-1798 Pigots 1842 (Incomplete) Kellys 1915 Pigots 1830
Education
Annual Schools Festival 1868 School Fete in the Park 1868
Emigration and Migration
To Australia
New South Wales
Jane Goodfellow (Nee Clarke) 1838 James Lawrence & Family 1838 Jayne Payne 1841 George & Maria Wort 1838
Employment and Business
Agriculture and Land
| Gamekeepers Certificates 1807 | Gamekeepers Licences 1834 | Ploughing Match & Shepherding Prizes 1868 |
| Rams Sales 1868 | Smithfield Cattle Show Success 1872 |
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.
Wiltshire Society Apprentices
Job Austin 1819 William J. Palmer 184-1852 John Silver Smith 1861
Aviation
Aviation Certificate for Philip Lovell 1951
Building and Construction
Employment of the Poor in Road Building 1817 County Surveyor Application of Frederick Haynes 1858
Communications
British Postal Service Appointments 1737-1969
Community Services
Police
Financial Services
Inventors and Patents
Medicine
Election of New Coroner for South Wilts. 1767 General Medical Council Registrations 1859-1959
Newspapers
Salisbury & Winchester Journal
Royal Wilton Carpet Factory & Carpet Manufacture
Wilton carpet factory was established in about 1700 but did not come to the fore until the 8th Earl of Pembroke brought two weavers over from France sometime between 1720 and 1730. They started the tradition of Wilton Cut Pile Carpet that continues to be produced today.
Prince Albert’s Carpet Made in Wilton 1851
Transport
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
Primitive Methodists
Quakers (Society of Friends)
Quaker Births 1748-1771 Quaker Deaths 1753-1793
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Oddfellows Lodge Anniversary 1851
Friendly Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society
Membership 1827-1871 General Meeting 1846
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy Report of Samuel Hawes & John Adcock 1779
Celebrations
Weddings
Wedding Celebrations at Carpet Factory 1864
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections and Polls
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832 Poll Book 1865 MP Nominations 2015 MP Nominations 2017
Entertainment and Community Celebration
Exhibitions
Parishioners Attend the Great Exhibition 1851 Kelsall’s Wax Works Visit 1868
Flower Shows
Literary Readings
Music
Brass Band Available for Events 1874
Family Notices
General Notices
Great Wishford Parish Council Meeting 1895
Inquest Reports
| Sarah Bessie Cave 1907 | John Croft 1856 | Charles W. Harwood 1868 | Thomas Lane 1787 | William Stanley Hall Longstone 1890 |
| William Moore 1872 | Catharine Slow 1862 |
Obituaries
Parish Notables
| Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke – Politician, MP for Salisbury – born c1538 – died 8 July 1581 at Wilton House – Buried in Salisbury Cathedral | Philip Massinger, Dramatist 1583-1640 | Thomas Muffet, Naturalist & Physician 1553-1604 | |
| Edith Olivier, Novelist 1872-1948 | Robert Pope – Surgeon 1748-1827 | Edward Slow, Poet of the Wiltshire Dialect | |
Herbert Family of Wilton House
Petition to the Earl of Pembroke 1795 Sidney Herbert’s Return to Wilton House 1846
Personal Research Items
Tuck Family Research Burial 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.
Sport
Angling & Fishing
Archery
Hunting
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Charity
Wilton Union
Wilton Union Guardian Appointed 1835 Guardians Dinner & Election of Guardians 1870
Workhouse
Buildings
Celebrations
Christmas in the Workhouse 1909
Crime
Workhouse Crime 1835-1850 Malicious Wounding at Wilton Union Workhouse 1863 Workhouse Terror Sent to Prison 1903
Inmates
Paupers in the Workhouse for 5 Years Consecutive 1861 Death of Centenarian 1863
Overseers
Probate
Probate Index 1781-1832 (WSHC) Probate Notices 1800-1899
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Inquisition of Lands Held 1433 John Samford 1629 William, Earl of Pembroke 1630
Parishioners Wills
Mary Friend Proved 1729 Thomas Kingman proved 1595 Thomas Moffatt proved 1604
War, Conflict and Military Matters
War Memorials & Military Gallery
Boer War
Reservists Leave for the Front 1899 Return of Wilton Volunteers 1901
General Military Items
Army at Wilton & Erskine Barracks Military News 1800-1849 Autumn Manoeuvres 1872
Royal Navy
Casualty W. Reginald Herbert, HMS Captain 1870
Servicemen & Women
War Memorials & Books of Remembrance
War Memorial 1914-1988
Wiltshire Regiments
Encampment of the Wiltshires 1868 Servicemen & Families with the 1st Wilts. Regt. in South Africa 1911
Wilts Volunteer Rifle Corps
Wilts Rifle Volunteers on the March 1872 Wilton Park Bazaar in Aid of 1st Battalion 1880
WWI
British Red Cross/VAD Detachment
V.A.D. & Red Cross Hospitals 1914-1918 Service Record Emily Baxter 1914-1918 Service Record of George Buckeridge 1916-1918
Casualties
William Scott Samways 1915 Alban West 1918
War Memorials and Books of Remembrance
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918
WWII
Casualties
Wilfred Samuel Hillier 1941 Civilian Deaths 1939-1947
Bulbridge
Buildings and Land
Land Tax
Appointment of Select Commissioners for Land and Assessed Taxes 1842
Employment and Business
Agriculture
People and Parish Notables
Inquests
Ditchampton
Buildings and Land
Crime and Legal Matters
People and Parish Notables
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
Family Notices
Parish Noables
A. G. Street, Author
