Norton, Wiltshire

Norton
Foxley House
Norton  Norton shown within Wiltshire
Population	118 (in 2011)[1]
OS grid reference	ST886844
Civil parish	Norton
Unitary authority	Wiltshire
Shire county	Wiltshire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Malmesbury
Postcode district	SN16
Dialling code	01666
Police	Wiltshire
Fire	Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	North Wiltshire
List of places UK England Wiltshire

Coordinates: 51°33′29″N 2°09′58″W / 51.558°N 2.166°W

Norton is a small village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Malmesbury. The parish includes the hamlets of Foxley and Bremilham (also known as Cowage).

The Sherston branch of the Bristol Avon forms the north boundary of the parish.

History

Bronze age ring ditches and signs of early medieval or Saxon settlement are in the east of the parish, near Cowage Farm.^[2]

The Fosse Way Roman road forms the west boundary of the parish, where it is a bridleway.

The east-west road between Malmesbury and Sherston passes through Foxley and Bremilham. From the late 17th century until 1756 this was the main route between Oxford and Bristol.^[3]

Foxley and Bremilham were separate ecclesiastical parishes^[3] until 1893 when Bremilham was united with Foxley. In 1934 Foxley (with Bremilham) was transferred to the civil parish of Norton.^[4]

Churches

The Anglican Church of All Saints at Norton is Grade II listed.^[5] It probably dates from the 13th century and was restored in the 19th century.^[6]

The undedicated church at Foxley may also originate in the 13th century and is Grade I listed.^[7][8]

The small church at Cowage Farm, Bremilham is the remainder of a 15th-century church.

Manor houses

Norton Manor is from the early 17th century and is Grade II* listed.^[9]

Foxley Manor is from a similar date and is Grade II listed.^[10] (Not to be confused with Foxley House, next to the church and also Grade II listed).^[11]

Local government

There is no elected parish council, instead an annual Parish meeting is held.^[12] The parish is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.

Amenities

Norton has a pub and restaurant, the Vine Tree.^[13]

References

1. "Wiltshire Community History - Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
2. Historic England. "Scheduled monument, Norton (1018389)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
3. "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 14 pp9-13 - Parishes: Bremilham". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
4. "Norton". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
5. Historic England. "Church of All Saints, Norton (1023214)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
6. "Church of All Saints, Norton". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
7. Historic England. "Parish church, Norton (1023219)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
8. "Foxley Church, Norton". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
9. Historic England. "Norton Manor (1023215)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
10. Historic England. "Foxley Manor (1023221)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
11. Historic England. "Foxley House (1199062)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
12. "Norton and Foxley Parish Meeting". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
13. "The Vine Tree". Retrieved 20 March 2015.

External links

• "Victoria County History - Wiltshire - Vol 14 pp168-176 - Parishes: Norton". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

Media related to Norton, Wiltshire at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Foxley, Wiltshire at Wikimedia Commons