Fovant Rights of Way path booklet Ph 2.pdf · 2017-08-26 · Fovant Rights of Way. 1 iv ......

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A new guide to paths in the parish

by

Mike Harden

Fovant Rights of Way

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Fovant Rights of Way

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Introduction.......................................................................................................1The Approaches................................................................................................5

Tisbury Road and beyond..........................................................................7Church Lane............................................................................................12Dinton Road and beyond.........................................................................16High Street...............................................................................................21A 30 to the East.......................................................................................25A 30 to the West .....................................................................................29

Path 1 (Fir Hill – Compton)............................................................................32Path 2 (Church Lane – Teffont)......................................................................36Path 3 (Church Lane – A 30)..........................................................................41Path 4 (Barter’s Lane – Dinton Rd)................................................................45Path 5 (Dinton Road – Path 3)........................................................................46Path 6 (High Street – Green Drove)................................................................49Path 7 (Tisbury Road – A 30).........................................................................52Path 8 (Tisbury Road – A 30).........................................................................55Path 9 (Hole Lane – Sutton Road)..................................................................58Path 11 (A 30 – Fovant Hut)...........................................................................61Path 13 (Brook Street – Path 14)....................................................................65Path 14 (Fifield road – Herepath)...................................................................68Path 14A (Herepath – Broad Chalke).............................................................71Path 15 (Moor Hill – Sutton)..........................................................................73Path 16 (Green Drove – Herepath).................................................................76Path 17 (Dinton Rd – Brook St)......................................................................80Path 18 (The Herepath)...................................................................................84Path 19 (Herepath – Fifield)...........................................................................87Open Access...................................................................................................89Rights of Way.................................................................................................90Scenery and Geology......................................................................................91Maps................................................................................................................94History............................................................................................................96The Countryside Code..................................................................................100Appendix A – Useful Web sites...................................................................101Appendix B – Changes.................................................................................102

Contents

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There is, on the next page, a map showing how the paths look toa bird flying over the nearby Fovant Down. You, however, canfind more details of the landscape and the paths by consulting theOrdnance Survey maps tabulated on Page 3.

A view of Fovant and the Downs, looking South

Introduction

FOVANT is a medium-sized village, lying between Salisburyin Wiltshire and Shaftesbury in Dorset. It is ten miles from

each and is approached from the A 30 road. There are severalRights of Way in the parish and this booklet aims to help resi-dents and visitors enjoy the surrounding countryside by guidingthem along the paths.

INTRODUCTION

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This map shows the Rights of Way in Fovant.

INTRODUCTION

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Type Scale SheetNumber

Title

Landranger 1:50 000 184 Salisbury & The Plain

Explorer 1:25 000

118 Shaftesbury & Cran-borne Chase

130 Salisbury & Stone-henge

143 Warminster & Trow-bridge

Ordnance Survey maps covering Fovant.

But you may prefer an alternative presentation.

Imagine a net spread over Fovant. Each strand of the net repre-sents a path. The thickest strands are roads or byways. Slightlythinner ones represent bridleways where you can ride a horse ora bike. The thinnest are the footpaths.

This booklet describes those strands, but also shows the‘knots’ where the strands are joined; and therein lies the possibil-ities of the net.

You can branch from one path to another, making your ownway across the countryside. I hope the route maps included willhelp you to do just that.

The “net” diagram is on the next page.

INTRODUCTION

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The advantage of considering Fovant paths as a net is that thereare many ways of travelling within that net. But it is also consid-ered useful in a booklet like this to be able to lay out the pathdescriptions in their numerical order.

Each path description in this booklet will be preceded by the‘Definitive Statement’ which describe the routes, dimensions andclassifications of each path, together with any conditions, such asthe right for them to be partially or wholly ploughed.

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The Approaches

The Village Hall and War Memorial, which are roughly in thecentre of the village, make a good starting point for each

walk. Most of the directions in this chapter will start from thereand, before getting to the beginning of the designated paths, willinevitably pass along village roads, where many of the points ofinterest can be found.

Before setting off from the War Memorial it is worthwhile, Ibelieve, to pause and think of what effect the last century had onthis and surrounding villages.

Inscribed on the memorial are the names of 22 men who leftthe village for military service and who never returned. All but fivewere lost in the First World War and the remains of some of themare buried as far away as Norway, Turkey, Iraq and Burma. Eightwere lost at sea, with only their names carved on memorials fromPortsmouth (three from the Battle of Jutland) to Singapore.

Offensives in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and the Western Frontclaimed eleven men from the village, six from the county regiment.

A further thought, perhaps. There will be similar memorialsin mainland Europe and in Turkey, Iraq and Japan.

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THE APPROACHES

Path No → 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 8 9 11 13 14 14A 15 16 17 18 19Tisbury Rd B BMoor Hill BHole Lane BSutton Rd E

Church Lane B BDinton Rd B X X E B B

Mary Barters Lane BHigh St B

A 30 E E E B XBrook St B E

Road to F Bavant BGreen Drove X E E B

Herepath E E E B E BParish border E E E E B/E E

The above table has been prepared to show which roads you need to travel along to getto one end of a particular path, assuming that you will be starting at the Village Hall.

Feel free to ignore the table if you would prefer to follow your own route. After all, thereis plenty of choice!

Beginning of path BEnd of path ECrosses road X

Key

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Tisbury Road and beyond

1. Now take the Tisbury Road and walk in a north-westerlydirection. You will shortly cross a stream which, from theturn of the 19/20th century fed an extensive watercress bed.Four or five men used to work constantly in the cold water togrow the cress for local restaurants. Later it became a fishfarm, but, sadly, that has no longer survived.

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The old watercress beds

TISBURY ROAD AND BEYOND

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4. The row of houses set back from theroad is an example of post World WarII social housing. It was given thename of Weeping Ash after the treethat stood on the other side of the roadwhich was felled in 1968.

3. Further along, near a bungalowcalled The Croft, you will see anexample of how water used to bedistributed through the village.One of a series of standpipes is stillvisible.

2. A few steps further onand, on the left, you willpass a bungalow calledNutwood. Here, in thefront garden of which,from the 1920s stood anex-army hut, known to allas the British Legion Hut,which for many yearshosted dances, whistdrives and other entertain-ment. It was removed in1964.

A standpipe

The British Legion Hut

The Weeping Ash


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The original Elm (tree)

The Elms (houses)

An early picture of FovantSchool

At the crossroads, turn right into Church Lane, left into SuttonRoad or straight on to Moor Hill.

7. There was indeed a largeelm tree at the crossroads,now replaced by a youngerversion. A local tale has itthat the seat beneath it wasoccupied by a German air-man (and parachute) in1941, whilst waiting togive himself up. Theapproach to Dinton Roadwill tell more of this tale.

6. Lying back on the left,before you come to thecrossroads, is anotherpost-World War II estateof social housing, thistime known as The Elms.

5. Mill Lane, turning off to theright, is named after the site ofa water mill, now a privatedwelling, but you should carryon along Tisbury Road, to passthe site of Fovant Schoolwhich operated from 1851 to1997. A lease of life, and achristening of ‘The RainbowCentre’ enabled it to carry onuntil 2012.


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11. Now you can turn throughthe gate if you wish, to takePath 9 and on the way toHole Lane.

Previous poplars

10. The pub that was known as‘The Poplars’ has beenreplaced with Home Close.As can be seen, the poplartree itself was not allowedto stand in its way.

9. A children’s playgroundand small football pitch isnow next to Clay’s Orchard.Part of the Poplars estate isshown in the background.

8. A prominent building at thecrossroads is a block of shel-tered housing named Clay’sOrchard after a previouschairman of Fovant ParishCouncil, the late Dr RCCClay.

The Poplars’ football pitch

Path 9

Clay’s Orchard


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Hole Lane

12. Alternatively, you could go back to the crossroads and thenturn left, up Moor Hill, to find another entrance to Hole Lane.But not with a motor vehicle!

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Church Lane

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CHURCH LANE

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Dr Clay

Hedley Jarvis

The Manor House

3. Amongst the graves in thechurchyard are those of soldiers,many from Australia, who diedwhilst patients in the MilitaryHospital. The photograph showsHedley Jarvis, a well-knownFovant resident of the past, tend-ing the graves before they weremarked with the CommonwealthWar Graves Commission grave-stones.

2. Here, for many years lived and practiced Doctor Clay,the third generation of Doctors Clay to practice in thevillage, who was also a noted local historian. Severalof his publications are stored in the Salisbury LocalStudies Library, including his ghost stories.

1. Opposite to the Footpath sign that isthe entrance to Paths 2 and 3, turn andlook at The Manor House.

From the crossroads take the road signposted Church Lane.

CHURCH LANE

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4. St George’s Church was originally built in the12th/13th Century but largely restored in the 15thwhen the tower was rebuilt.

St George’s Church

CHURCH LANE

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7. Also within the church is abrass plate in memory of anincumbent, George Rede,which dates back to 1495. Suchbrasses are normally set intothe floor, but this one is unu-sual in that it is set into a wall.

5. A list of rectors is shown ona board at the entrance to thechurch. and also outside thechurch can be seen eight‘Mass dials’ a type of sundialindicating to the priest theproper time to say Mass.

8. Close to the church is ManorFarm House, which in 1539became the house of DameCecily Bodenham, the Abbessof a dissolved Wilton Abbey,and twelve of her nuns.

6. The church boasts a peal of bellsthat are still rung by local andnearby bell-ringers, once for thelate Queen Mother’s 100thbirthday.

Manor Farmhouse

Church bells

The Rede brass

Mass dials

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Dinton Road and beyond

DINTON ROAD AND BEYOND

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3. A short footpath on the left, starts between the houses namedas ‘Fir Hill’ and ‘Foresters’. This cuts off a corner and leadsinto Mary Barters Lane.

2. Towards the top of Dinton Road there are two footpaths. Thefirst, to the right marked with a Public Footpath sign, isknown as Clap Gates Path.

1. Shortly you will pass on yourright a house called Westwood.(The photograph was takenlooking downhill). In the latterpart of the 19th century this wasthe Police House and remainedas such until the 1930s when apurpose-built house was built on the A 30. When that becamea private house the new owners named it ‘Koppergon’,although that name is no longer used.

From the War Memorial take the right-handfork and start climbing along Dinton Road.

Entrance to Path 4Entrance to Path 5

Westwood


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6. Passing by the footpath sign thatshows where Path 3 crosses theDinton Road, note that in the 18thcentury there were several pathsthat are no longer Rights of Way.One was named Nun’s Walk. It isnow the road leading to a sewagetreatment plant.

The group of houses now known as Leatler Close was originallybuilt as married quarters for officers stationed at RAF Chilmark.

5. An aerial photograph shows the trackof the camp railway and also showshow it cut across a plot of allotmentsused for many years by people of thevillage.

4. A military railwaywas built fromDinton station toserve the Fovantcamps in WorldWar I. Long sincedismantled, thepoint where itcrossed DintonRoad has beenremembered in the name of the house ‘Crossing Gate’.

There was a sawpit at the top of Mary Barters Lane. Sawing a treetrunk into planks was a two-man operation. The tree trunk wouldbe rolled over the top of the pit, one man would be down in thepit, the other at the top and between them they operated the largecross cut saw.

Entrance to Path 3

Locomotive “Westminster”


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Several large pieces of thewreckage were excavated, one of which is now displayed inDinton Village Hall. The ammunition dump was closed in1995 and is now a secure fireworks storage area.

9. It was not until 46 years later thata group of aviation enthusiastsexcavated the crash which waswithin the Dinton site of the RAFChilmark Ammunition Dump.

8. World War II makes itsappearance towards the end ofthis part of the walk as on thenight of 16th March 1941 aGerman Junkers 88 aircraftreturning from a raid on Bris-tol lost all power and crashedinto the hill, known as Cathe-rine Ford Lane. The crew allbaled out and one manremained free for several days.

7. At the sharp bend in the road,known as Main’s Corner, it ispossible to step a few yardsthrough a wood to get to Path2 which leads to Teffont Mill.

Display inDinton Village Hall

Digging!

Junkers 88

Main’s Corner


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So why is the road that you are now on known as Catherine FordLane?

Two villagers known as Waywardens were appointed under aStatute of 1555 and entries concerning Catherine Ford bridgeoften appear in their accounts. Before the bridge was built, theford there was known as St Catherine's Ford.

10. Before descending the hill towards Dinton a path to the rightis the start of Green Drove.

Entrance to Path 17

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High Street

HIGH STREET

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3. As membership numbers proliferated,they obtained a site opposite to TheCottage and began building a new placeof worship.

The other cottage (simply known as“The Cottage”), was where in 1815, agroup of local people whose religiousbeliefs differed from those of the Estab-lished Church practised their religion.

2. Next to The Gables aretwo small cottages with aninteresting history. Whenthe village Post Officereopened after WW I, Mr.and Mrs. Charles Austinran the business from oneof the cottages. Charleswas also our first namedvillage postman.

Walking along the street you will first come to a group of houses.The first of these is “The Gables” which in the 18th century wasone of the first beerhouses in the village.

1. Despite being the main axis of thevillage, only one path starts from theHigh Street. This is Footpath 6 thatclimbs up a steep slope, aided by steps.

The Chapel

The old Post Office

Footpath 6

HIGH STREET

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6. In 1989, Dr. Gordon Morse opened Becher’sBrook Surgery. In 2008 he handed over thepractice to Dr. Andrew Hall. and with themerger of the Fovant surgery and others atWilton and Codford, the name of the surgerywas changed to “The Orchard Surgery.”

5. In the 1920s a villagetaxi/bus, owned and runby John Jarvis, a ‘safereturner’ from WW I,made regular journeys tothe local market and wasalso used at weekends formore leisurely pursuits.Each new bus was housedin a large shed, now theprivate garage of “River-side”.

4. Vine Cottage, further alongthe High Street, was the firstvillage shop. Solomon andRhoda Cowdry, came toFovant from London in the1870s and set up a groceryand bakery there. On Solo-mon’s retirement his son anddaughter moved the shop towhere it is today.

Enter!

The Fovant Bus

Vine Cottage

HIGH STREET

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8. Today’s shop (and staff!)

7. During World War I the High Street abounded with facilitiescatering for the troops. The picture shows The London Cityand Midland Bank and Lloyds Bank past the corner of theForge building in the left foreground. In the middle distancewere shops, and the Tipperary Tea Room in the old Rectorygarden.

Blacksmith, Banks and Shops

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A 30 to the East

A 30 TO THE EAST

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This photograph was taken from the top of Fovant Down, probably in1916, and shows the road to the East and its surroundings as they were then.

A.30Green Drove East FarmA.30

A 30 TO THE EAST

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From the High Street you can start at the junction, known onsome postcards as Fovant Cross, and follow the A 30 eithertowards the East or to the West. We start by describing some ofthe points of interest to the East.

1. Outside the house known as “TheForge” is a replica of the stocksthat once stood here (the pillarsare original). On the opposite sideof the A 30 was the Pound inwhich stray animals were keptuntil necessary fines for trespasswere collected.

2. The picture shows both TheCross Keys and the Pem-broke Arms as they wereduring the First World War.The soldiers standing out-side, some at least Austral-ian, appear to be wearingHospital Blues, a relaxationfor patients perhaps?

3. The entrance to Path 3 is up somesteps erected by The Ramblers. Inspring the bank here has a profu-sion of daffodils, but for severalyears the flowers have been hid-den by long grass. Thanks to agroup ‘Seeds 4 Success’ they arenow visible throughout the Spring.

Stocks by The Forge

WW I soldiers outsideThe Cross Keys

Entrance to Footpath 3

A 30 TO THE EAST

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6. Just to show that the railway didexist, here is a photograph ofFovant Camp Station taken atsome time during WW I.

Between the layby and the odd-shaped wood to the North, whichwas the site of Fovant Military Hospital during WW I, if you lookcarefully on each side you will see a gap in the road’s hedgerows.They are staggered and are where Fovant Military Railwaycrossed the road.

5. Further along the A 30 is alayby where information onthe Fovant Badges is dis-played. This is an ideal spot toget a good overall view of theBadges.

4. Green Drove an ancienttrack, now Bridleway 17,crosses the A 30 at this point.To the Northwest it leads toFootpaths 6 & 1, whilst to theSoutheast you can find thebeginning of Footpath 16near to East Farm.

Fovant Camp Station

The Fovant Badges

Green Drove crosses the A 30

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A 30 to the West

A 30 TO THE WEST

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3. Footpath 7 starts to the westof The Rectory, although theentrance is somewhat over-grown. Take the straight andnarrow path (!) keeping thelaurel hedge on your right.

2. The location of our earliestofficial Post Office isuncertain, but the currentgarage house, where theoutline of the blocked uppost box can still be seen,was an early venue. It isalmost certainly therewhere, according to theKelly’s Directory of 1855,our Sub-postmaster at thePost Office was John Lever.

1. Lever’s Garage wasestablished in 1926,but before then therewas a forge roughly inthe area of the presentgarage, hence thename of the housearound the corner.


The early Post Office

Aerial view of the garage

A 30 TO THE WEST

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5. Footpath 11 also starts onthe A 30, where there is ametal Public Footpath fingerpost pointing the way. It isopposite to Dean Lane.

4. Bridleway 8 begins at theA 30 where there is afinger post giving thedirection to the TisburyRoad at 3/4 mile. It isopposite to the turning toBroad Chalke and FifieldBavant.


Entrance to Bridleway 8

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Path 1 (Fir Hill – Compton)Footpath

From path No. 3 at the south-east corner of Fir Hill Plantation,leading north east along the field edge, across Green Drove, pathNo. 17, and continuing east inside the southern border of FovantWood to Compton Chamberlayne parish boundary. Approximatelength: 1614 metres. Width: 0.91 metres.

PATH 1: FIR HILL – COMPTON

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West to East

The path begins as a junction from Path 3 by a metalkissing gate at the south-east corner of Fir Hill Plantation

(002293).

Turn left, with a pri-vate wood and wire fenceon the left and an un-fenced cultivated field onthe right. You can followthe path by walkinground some bends andalongside the side of afield until it meets GreenDrove at a stile (006297).

In the field on the right you will see a ‘trig’ pillar; this is one ofover 6,000 used by Ordnance Survey to start resurveying thecountry in 1935. The methodof triangulation required care-ful measurement of angles,and therefore distances, be-tween pillars. Now, satellitetechnology has made the pil-lars redundant, but they remaina familiar part of the landscape.

Once on Green Drove, takea few steps left and look for apath into the wood immediately by the chain-link fence of thereservoir. It is marked with a Public Footpath disc on a postpointing east towards Compton Chamberlayne.

The path through the wood is then obvious, although onlyabout a metre wide. Keep the wire fence of the field boundary tothe right and the extensive wood (unfenced) to the left. Whilst onthe path, look right to see the famed Fovant Badges carved on the

West end of Path 1

West end of Path 1

Look right for the Trig pillar


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hillside These originated in WorldWar I and the field to your rightcontained one of the many campsbuilt in the area then. When youpass the second hedgerow acrossthe right-hand field the obviouspath through the wood ends.

This is the Parish boundary(014297), but the path into Compton bears right out of the woodinto an open cultivated field,and then continues by turningleft along a track. It is interest-ing to note that the Saxon LandCharters of the Tenth Centurydescribed their boundaries insuch a way that it does notappear that the present bounda-ry has changed since then.

East to West

Coming from Compton, pass a sign saying “Please keep dogson leads” and then look for a gap into the wood on the right

immediately before the cornerof the field (004297).

Bear left once in the woodand follow the well-definedpath, keeping the wire fenceon the left and the unfencedwood on the right.

Once past the chain-linkfence of the reservoir, you willemerge into Green Drove.

Turn left for a few steps and then look for a stile on the right, up

East end of Path 1

Cross Green Drove

Through the wood


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the bank (006297). Now follow the edge of the cultivated field,keeping the wire fence on your right. After some bends, with aprivate wood to your right, you arrive at the south-east corner ofFir Hill Plantation where the path ends with a metal kissing gate(002293) and joins Path 3.

Help from Wiltshire Council

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Path 2 (Church Lane – Teffont)Footpath

From Church Lane, opposite the Manor House, leading north-east and then north to the Teffont Parish boundary, south ofTeffont Mill. Approximate length: 1371 metres. Width: 0.91metres. Part subject to ploughing.

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PATH 2 (CHURCH LANE – TEFFONT)

South to North

The path starts off in Church Lane opposite the Manor House,where there is a metal finger post indicating a Public Foot-

path to Teffont at 1¾ mile distance (997294). A visit to StGeorge’s church-yard and its WW Iburied soldiers isjust a step away.

A wide path inthe direction of thefinger post crossesa stream on a foot-bridge immediate-ly after whichthere is a fenceand a gap on theleft. A yellow ar-row points into a

wood where the path is on a raised causeway (built by WiltshireCouncil) over a waterlogged area. Towards the end of the wood,bear right up a slope to an old stile (998294) which may bebypassed. Waymarks pointing left (north-east) along the fenceshow the way to go.

Keeping to the wire fence along the side of an open field, beprepared to see signs of the railway track that served the militarycamps during World War I. It came across the field to your rightand shortly you will come to a wide gap in the hedgerow to yourleft which was where the track ran. Now used as a farm track, youwill be able to see when crossing the next field, that the railwaytrack was on an embankment.

South end of Path 2

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PATH 2 (CHURCH LANE – TEFFONT)However, for now, go along the side of the field and then

enter a small wood across a stile(001297). There are Public Foot-path discs indicating the routefixed to a tree by the stile. A veryshort well-trodden path goesthrough the wood to another stileon the step of which is a PublicFootpath disc showing the routeforward straight across a field toa stile with three crossbars. The

field is very often cultivated. If the crops are short, the stile iseasily visible and if the crops are long, there should be a clearedpath.

Cross the stile, a wooded boundary and a track (which wasonce known as Nun’s Walk) before passing through an iron gate(001300) into an open field. Bear slightly left, and look foranother iron gate beyond the old railway cutting. Turn right afterthe gate and bear slightly left of the fence on your right across anopen field to bring yet an-other iron gate into view.This gate (001302) is in awire fence along a thinline of trees.

Passing through thegate, the route of the oldCamp railway and a wirefence can be seen on theright. On the higherground to your right, a German aircraft crashed in 1941, less thecrew, one of whom evaded capture for several days. Head to-wards a slight bend in the fence, aiming slightly to the right of ared-roofed house in the distance.

Track of old Camp railway

Aim for the stile

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Shortly, the farm buildings of Teffont Mill will become visi-ble and the path will converge on to the old railway embankment,which you should keep on the right until the end of this section(001304) where there should be a cleared path to the left. Thenyou should aim to the right of the distant farm buildings until astile appears to the left of scrub.

The stile is waymarked and the path leads down to a goodfootbridge across a stream. Beyond the footbridge there are twoother stiles and open ground with the River Nadder to the right.Signs of the old water meadows can be seen on the left. The pathis quite clear to the Parish boundary, where there is another stile(000306) with yellow Footpath signs on the step. This is the startof a Teffont path around Mill Farm.

North to South

Coming from Teffont Mill (000306) you will cross three stileswith the River Nadder on your left, until you come to a small

footbridge. Climb the bankstraight ahead from thisbridge and cross anotherstile.

You should then cross acultivated field, bearingslightly right to the old rail-way embankment (001304)and having reached it, turnright keeping the old railway

embankment on your left.

As you get near the field boundary, look for an iron gate(001302) and once through it, bear slightly left to cross a fieldtowards another iron gate (001300).

The Teffont boundary

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Here, you will once again see the route of the old Camprailway, this time in a cutting which you must cross beforeturning right towards yet anotheriron gate. Cross the track andclimb a stile. You must nowhead very slightly left towardsthe wood on the horizon. Thefield that you are now in is veryoften cultivated. If the crops areshort, look for a stile at the en-trance to the wood. If the cropsare long, there should be acleared path.

Cross the stiles into and outof the small wood (001297) andfollow the side of the cultivatedfield, keeping the fence to yourright. Near the corner of the field(998294) is another stile, which may be bypassed to cross downinto a spinney. The path through the spinney should be obviousacross the causeway built by Wiltshire Council to prevent thepath being waterlogged when the river level is high.

A gap in the fence leads out of the spinney where you mayturn right to cross the footbridge over the river and on to the endof the path, on Church Lane (997294). Alternatively, you canturn left, whereupon you are on Path 3.

Was the path cleared ?

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Path 3 (Church Lane – A 30)Footpath

From the southern end of path No. 2 leading east for about 137 m,then north and north-east for about 24.6 m and east for about 39.3m to the Dinton road, and continuing south-east through theallotments to its junction with path No. 1 at the south-east cornerof Fir Hill Plantation, then south-east skirting the field edge,across path No. 6 to the Salisbury - Shaftesbury road, A 30, at thePembroke Arms Hotel. Approximate length: 1370 metres. Width:0.91 metres. Part subject to ploughing.

PATH 3 (CHURCH LANE – A 30)

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Northwest to Southeast

S tart where the footbridge over the stream near Church Laneleaves Path 2 and go east to near a double step stile (998294)

beside a locked gate.

Although the official path crosses an open field on a faintfootpath towards a3-bar stile at therear of a group ofhouses, there isnow an unofficial,but extremely con-venient, diversionalongside thehedgerow to thenorth, so followround the narrow path until it emerges on the Dinton road. (TAKECARE HERE).

The original path was diverted around the houses when theywere built as married quarters for RAF Chilmark.

On the opposite side of the road a metal finger post (000294)indicates a Public Footpath to Compton Chamberlayne showing adistance of 1½ miles. Go through the kissing gate leading to anopen field where the path goes diagonally to the southern cornerof Fir Hill Plantation and turns left along the boundary of thePlantation until another kissing gate is reached (002293). Thegates were erected by the South Wilts Ramblers.

As can be seen from the aerial photograph on the next page,the field used to contain some allotment gardens and the track ofthe old military railway.

Now you should turn right in a south-easterly direction keep-ing a wire fence on your right-hand side and a cultivated field onyour left.

Northwest end of Path 3


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At the junction with Path 5 there is a kissing gate (004291)where the way ahead is confirmed by one of a set of PublicFootpath discs pointing through a slightly open farm gate.

Now carry on with an openfield on the left and a wire fence,with vegetation, on the right. Agood view of the Fovant Badgescan be obtained from this field.The fence on the right is inter-rupted occasionally with privatestiles and gates, but a gap(005290) indicates a steep Path 6leading down to High Street.

Our path passes a large paddock through kissing gates, withfarm buildings on the left and then to a gate near the A 30(007286). A flight of steps (improved by South Wilts Ramblers)leads to the road where there is a metal finger post indicating aPublic Footpath to Compton Chamberlayne at a distance of 1¾miles.

As you emerge on tothe A 30, to the right is thePembroke Arms. In thepast this has been calledthe Lord’s Inn, the CartWheel or the CatherineWheel and now TheGreater Good. The innwas built in the early1790s, possibly on the site of a previous hostelry. James Millard,the first landlord, informed the public through the local press thathe:

‘has laid in an assortment of good Old wines and other liquors.Good beds. Well aired … neat Post-Chaise with able Horses andcareful Drivers.’

The Greater Good

Aerial photographof Military Railway


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Southeast to Northwest

F rom the start of the path, near the Pembroke Arms (007286),climb the steps and through the gate and then follow a rather

indistinct path up through the nettles, keeping the farm buildingson your right.

Go through kissinggates across a paddockand follow the fence onthe left that is interrupt-ed occasionally with pri-vate stiles and gates.

A gap (005290) in-dicates a steep Path 6leading down to HighStreet.

At the junction with Path 5 there is a slightly open farm gate(004291) where the way ahead is confirmed by one of the PublicFootpath discs pointing beyond the gate. Now carry on with anopen field on the right and a wire fence, with vegetation, on theleft.

When you come to Fir Hill Plantation, turn left through agate (002293) and keep the boundary of the Plantation on yourright.

At the corner of the Plantation cross the field diagonally tothe right, aiming for the kissing gate (and the speed limit andfootpath signs) on the Dinton road (000294).

Cross the road bearing slightly right (TAKE CARE HERE)and then follow the unofficial path which has been divertedaround the houses. At the end of this diversion (998294) you joinPath 2 on the footbridge across the stream.

Southeast end of Path 3

451

Path 4 (Barter’s Lane – Dinton Rd)Footpath

From near the top of Mary Barter’s Lane, opposite Mill OrchardCottages, leading north-east to the Dinton road. Approximatelength: 45.7 metres. Width: 0.91 metres.

This path is a short-cut between Mary Barter’s Lane andDinton Road. It passes between the boundaries of two

private houses (Fir Hill & Forresters).

Be careful when stepping into Mary Barter’s Lane.

Dinton RoadMary Barter’s Lane

462

Path 5 (Dinton Road – Path 3)Footpath

From the Dinton road, near the eastern end of Mary Barter’sLane, leading north-east and east along the southern side of ClapGate Wood to its junction with path No. 3. Approximate length:137 metres. Width: 3 metres. The path is known as Clap Gates path.

PATH 5 (DINTON ROAD – PATH 3)

47

West to East

The start of the path, onDinton Road, is

marked by a metal fingerpost indicating a PublicFootpath (002291). TheDefinitive Statement isslightly misleading in thatthe path starts near the east-ern end of Mill Lane, ratherthan Mary Barter’s Lane. Itquite clearly passes be-tween two private houses,their gardens and outbuild-ings, before bearing rightwith open woodland on theleft. The track of the oldCamp railway is obvious where the path crosses it.

As the path climbs, it narrows before coming to a zigzagstile (003291). A Public Footpath disc on the other side of thestile marks the way back down to Dinton Road and discs pointleft across a stile and right through a farm gate as the path joinsPath 3.

West end of Path 5

Junction of Path 5 and Path 3

PATH 5 (DINTON ROAD – PATH 3)

48

East to West

When leaving Path 3, go down through a zigzag stile(003291) marked with a Public Footpath disc. As the path

widens it crosses the track of the old Camp railway (see thephotograph below), before going between two private houses,their gardens and outbuildings.

The end of the path, on Dinton Road, is marked by a metalfinger post indicating a Public Footpath (002291). The DefinitiveStatement is slightly misleading in that the path ends near theeastern end of Mill Lane, rather than Mary Barter’s Lane.

Track of WW I railway

491

Path 6 (High Street – Green Drove)Footpath

HANGING FOOTPATH – From High Street, about 45 m south-east of the War Memorial, leading north-east across path No. 3 topath No. 17 at Green Drove Cottages. Approximate length: 548.5metres. Width: 1 metre. Part subject to ploughing.

PATH 6 (HIGH STREET – GREEN DROVE)

50

Southwest to Northeast

The path leaves High Street betweenthe Village Hall and the Chapel at a

metal finger post (004289) showing thePublic Footpath to be up steps past ametal safety rail. Climb steeply betweengardens on each side and up severalflights of steps, amongst which you crossthe route of the old Camp railway. Thepath then reaches a gap in the fence(005290) where you join Path 3.

From this point, the route of the pathas shown on the OS maps, and which is waymarked on a powerpole is not clear. An alternative route along a parallel hedgerowto the north has come to be used by permission of the landowner.

Turn left to find this route which starts at the junction of Path3 and Path 5 (003291) and runs along the north side of thehedgerow. It leads to a wide gap in the hedgerow (009292) alongGreen Drove (Path 17).

West end of Path 6

Along Path 3 to Path 6A

PATH 6 (HIGH STREET – GREEN DROVE)

51

Northeast to Southwest

The path officially starts in GreenDrove (Path 17) opposite Green

Drove Cottages, but as the route of thepath is unclear and not waymarked atthis end, an alternative route has cometo be used. This starts farther to thenorth along Green Drove where thereis a wide gap in the hedgerow to thewest. (009292).

Then follow the edge of the cultivated field, keeping to thenorth side of the hedgerow. There is a good view of some of theFovant Badges from this point and the hedgerow will lead you tothe junction of Paths 3 and 5 (003291) where you should gothrough the kissing gate and bear left along Path 3 until you see agap in the fence on your right.

Go through this gap (005290) and go down several flights ofsteps, amongst which you cross the route of the old Camp railway(see the photograph below). Continue descending steeply untilyou come to a guard rail and finger post on High Street (004289).

The old Post Office and a Telephone Exchange were near thefoot of these steps.

East end of Path 6A

Track of old Camp railway

521

Path 7 (Tisbury Road – A 30)Footpath & Bridleway

From Tisbury Road, at the top of Schoolhouse Lane, leadingsouth and south-east through Touching Head Copse to path No.8, where it becomes a Bridleway for about 59 m and continuingsouth-east to the Salisbury - Shaftesbury road, A 30, about 137m north of the renamed Gunvilles. Approximate length: 1207metres. Width: 1 metre.

53

PATH 7 (TISBURY ROAD – A 30)


The path leaves Tisbury Road by a metal finger post (998291)indicating a Public Bridleway to the A 30 at a distance of ¾

mile. Passing the building thatused to hold Fovant School onthe left, the paved path entersTouching Head Copse near anold quarry to become rathermuddy before turning left alongan obvious sunken path, whichcontinues to be muddy in patch-es. After about 300 metres theremains of a stile can be seen onthe left (999289) which is thejunction with Path 8.

After another 60 metres the sunken path turns sharp right bya large tree on which there are two waymarks, but you shouldcarry straight on through a gap in a holly hedge (000289) and turnleft along the side of an open field, with a wire fence and vegeta-tion to its left.

Follow an uncultivated stripalong the length of the largefield that once housed two WWI camps, and from whence thenew “Poppy” badge on the hillmay be viewed, until at the endof the field, by a wooden gardenfence and in the vegetation, is adisplaced V-shaped stile

(006284). Turn left here down a few steps to a narrow path,between a garden fence and hedge on the left and a wire fence andscrub on the right. The end of the path on the A 30 (006284) isnot marked and there is just a gap on to the road.

North end of Path 7

Walking Southeast

54



The path starts on the A30 to the west of The

Rectory (006284). Take thestraight and narrow path (!)keeping the laurel hedge onyour right. At the top of theslope you will go up somesteps where you shouldturn right into a cultivatedfield. The path follows anunploughed strip along thelength of the large field. Keep the hedgerow on your right andwalk the length of the field until, at a corner, you will see a smallgap, by a holly tree. Go through this gap and, after a few steps,you will emerge into a wider sunken road.

Path 8 branches left at this point, but you should go straighton, along the sunkenroad. After about 60 me-tres the remains of a stilecan be seen on the right(999289) which is anoth-er junction with Path 8.

You are now passingthrough Touching HeadCopse where the path be-comes rather muddy andturns right to pass thebuildings of the former

Fovant School on your right. You will emerge into Tisbury Roadby a metal finger post (998291) which indicates a direction to theA 30 at a distance of ¾ mile.

Junction between Footpath 7and Bridleway 8

Obscure entrance to Path 7

551

Path 8 (Tisbury Road – A 30)Bridleway

From Tisbury Road, at the Millhouse, leading south-west acrosspath No. 7 and then south-east to the Salisbury - Shaftesbury road,A 30, opposite Scotland Buildings. Approximate length: 1005metres. Width: 1 metre. Subject to ploughing.

56


At the top of the field is a dismantled stile (999289) and oncepassing through this, turn left along the sunken path until a sharpright turn by a tree on which is a Footpath disc pointing alongPath 7 and a Bridleway disc pointing along our path, whichclimbs slightly before becoming narrower due to the encroach-ment of vegetation and small trees.

The path then broadens into an obvious green track fromwhich there is a good view of some of the Fovant Badges. Indeedon the left of the path is a large field, now cultivated, which usedto contain two of the many WW I camps that were in this area,probably housing some of the men who carved the badges.

The wide path leads down to the A 30 where there is a fingerpost (002282), indicating the direction back towards the TisburyRoad at ¾ mile.

North to South

The path leaves Tisbury Road by a metal finger post (000290)indicating a Public Bridleway and goes between two houses

and fenced paddocks on either side.

North end of Path 8

57


South to North

The path begins at the A 30 opposite the turning to BroadChalke, where there is a finger post (002282), indicating the

direction to Tisbury Road at ¾ mile.

Go along a short way along theobvious green track and once againyou will find evidence of past wars,this time in the remnants of a WW IIpillbox which though demolished,(probably with some difficulty) stilllies in the hedgerow to your right.

Carry on along the path until itnarrows, due to the encroachment of vegetation and small trees.

Soon you will come to a bend in the path where you turn leftto continue (or you can, if you wish, turn right to follow Path 7).

After about 60 metres, there isa dismantled stile on your right(999289). Go through it and, keep-ing between the two wooden fenc-es, head downhill for the exit of thefield. This will bring you, betweentwo houses, to Tisbury Road wherethe path ends, at a Public Bridle-way sign (000290).

South end of Path 8

WW II pillbox remnants

Old stile on Path 8

581

Path 9 (Hole Lane – Sutton Road)Footpath

From Hole Lane, path No. 15, leading south-east to Sutton Road,near Home Close. Approximate length: 183 metres. Width: 1 metre.

59

PATH 9 (HOLE LANE – SUTTON ROAD)


The path begins in Hole Lane (Path 15) on its southern sidenear Orchard House where there is a stile with two steps

(994292). It is waymarked with an arrow pointing along HoleLane and another towards our route. You should cross the stileinto the open field, keeping the garden hedges on the left. Al-though the Definitive Map shows the path as straight, there is noobvious indication of where it used to cross the hedgerow intoSutton Road. In practice the path now bends slightly left to passthrough a farm gate where there is a metal finger post indicatinga Public Footpath (995291).

There was a proposal a few years ago, launched by the lateTony Pinder, to build a new Village Hall on the adjacent field.But, unfortunately, despite a massive amount of work on his part,the project never materialised.

Entrance to Path 9 from Hole Lane

60

PATH 9 (HOLE LANE – SUTTON ROAD)


S tarting in SuttonRoad, where there is

a finger post next toHome Close (995291),go through the gate andalong the field keepingthe garden hedges onyour right.

Head for the stilewith two steps and, oncrossing it, you will findyourself in Hole Laneand the end of the path(994292).

An 18th Century notebook records a Quaker burial ground onthe site of Home Close, but an archeological survey before thebuilding of the new houses there, failed to find any evidence ofburials.

There used to be a pub called The Poplars where Home Closenow is. When the site was cleared the poplar trees went as well.

Entrance to Path 9 from Sutton Road

612

Path 11 (A 30 – Fovant Hut)Footpath

From the Salisbury - Shaftesbury road, A 30, at New Barn Cottag-es, leading south-east past New Barn, and continuing south-eastand south to the Herepath, path No. 18, at Fovant Hut. Approxi-mate length: 1609 metres. Part subject to ploughing.

PATH 11 (A 30 – FOVANT HUT)

62


The path starts on theA 30, opposite Dean

Lane, where there is ametal Public Footpathfinger post (996281).Take the wide farm trackpassing a pair of cottagesbefore coming to farmbuildings. A waymark hasbeen fixed to sleepersthere.

Go through the farmyard and then take the track leadingtowards the Downs between two cultivated fields. On reaching asmall tree on the right, head towards a stile at the western end ofa hedgerow at the foot of the Downs. The direct route is oftenaffected by cultivation, but the line of the path is usually reinstat-ed by the farmer.

The stile (001271) is in a wire fence running south at the footof the Downs and ismarked with footpatharrows on each side (al-though they may be bro-ken). This is one of theentries to the designatedOpen Access country-side (see that chapter),but if you wish to stickto the path you shouldfollow the sunken roadthat traverses the hill

and which leads to the north-west boundary of Fovant Hut. Themore trodden path is on the west shoulder of the sunken road.

Leading towards Fovant Hut

Entrance to Path 11 from the A 30


63

There are now no waymarking arrows on the fence of FovantHut, but the way to go is to follow around the old boundaryhedges. This is where outbuildings used to be in the Turnpikedays. You will have to cross a small patch of rough ground beforeclimbing over a stile on the Herepath (Path 18) near a telephonepole (002266) to leave the path and the Open Access area.

Fovant Hut was one of a series of posting houses along theturnpike road, which ran along the ridge of the downs above thevillage. The Salisbury and Winchester Journal referred to it as‘new built’ in 1757. William Kennell, the first landlord, adver-tised that he had:

‘a stock of neat Wines, rich Cordials, and all sorts of SpirituousLiquors to be sold Wholesale and Retail.’

The inn did a thriving trade until 1787 when the Lower Road(now the A 30) was turnpiked. It is not known when the innceased to trade, but it has long since been a private house.

Near Fovant Hut


64


The path starts at a tele-phone pole to the east of

Fovant Hut where there is awaymarked stile (002266).This is one of the entries to thedesignated Open Access coun-tryside (see that chapter).

Cross this stile and somerough ground, making for theold hawthorn hedges around the area where outbuildings ofFovant Hut used to be in Turnpike days. If you wish to keep to thepath, follow the hedge around the corner until the sunken roaddown the hill comes into view. You will find that the moretrodden path is on the west shoulder of the sunken road.

At the foot of theDowns, where you willleave the Open Access area,cross the stile (001271) andhead for a small tree in thedistance, bearing slightlyleft. This route is often af-fected by cultivation, butthe line of the path is usual-ly reinstated by the farmer.

From the small tree youcan take the track which heads towards the farm buildings. Gothrough the farmyard on to a wide farm track passing a gate anda pair of cottages. You will then be on the A 30, opposite DeanLane, where the path ends (996281).

Reinstated path across cultivation

Entrance to Path 11from the Herepath

651

Path 13 (Brook Street – Path 14)Bridleway

From path No. 17, approximately 170 metres south-east of thesouthern end of Brook Street, leading south-east to the foot ofFovant Down, then south-west to its junction with Eastern Hollo-way, (Fovant 14). Approximate length: 900 metres. Width: 1.8metres.

PATH 13 (BROOK STREET – PATH 14)

66

North to South

The path starts in therough track exten-

sion of Brook Street(Path 17) at an unmarkedfarm gate (008282). Gothrough a paddock to an-other gate before headingfor the foot of FovantDown. A waymark hasbeen fixed to a post in thepaddock indicating that you should take the route to the west ofthe hedgerow until the foot of the Down, where you should turn

left through the gap in thehedge before going throughthe hunter’s gate (011277).

This is one of the entriesto the designated Open Ac-cess countryside (see thatchapter), but if you wish tostick to the path, bear rightinto a sunken green trackclimbing obliquely across

the face of the Down.

The bridleway, afterclimbing about halfwayup the Down, meets Path14 (009275) to continuetowards the top to meetthe Herepath (Path 18).

Climbing Fovant Down

Hunter’s gate at footof Fovant Down

North end of Bridleway 13

PATH 13 (BROOK STREET – PATH 14)

67

South to North

The path starts some waydown Path 14 which you

join on the Herepath (Path 18).At this junction (009275)branch right, down a sunkenpath dropping obliquely acrossthe face of the Down.

At the foot of the Down go

through the hunter’s gate(011277) leaving the OpenAccess area and then take afew steps to the left throughthe gap in the hedge so thatyou are on its west side.

Now follow the verge ofthe cultivated field until youcome to a gate leading into a

paddock. Another gate leads out of the paddock at the end of thisbridleway on to Path 17 (008282) and Brook Street.

Along the hedge to Brook Street

Downwards on the bridleway

The junction of Paths 13 & 14

681

Path 14 (Fifield road – Herepath)Byway open to all traffic (with a Traffic

Regulation Order)EASTERN HOLLOWAY – From the Fifield Bavant road, atLimbway at the foot of Fovant Hollow, leading east and south-east across Fovant Down to the Herepath (Fovant 18). Approxi-mate length: 650 metres. Width: 4 metres.

PATH 14 (FIFIELD ROAD – HEREPATH)

69

West to East

The path leaves the Fifield Bavant road by a sharp corner ata metal Byway sign

(005274).

Go through the unlockedgate there, on which is a signbanning all 4-wheeled vehiclesexcept those used for agricul-ture.

This is one entry to thedesignated Open Access coun-tryside (see that chapter), but if you wish to stick to the path,follow the sunken grass track rising across the Down.

At the junction with Path13 (009275), which goesdown to your left, carry on tothe top of the Down and gobetween thick scrub on eachside, passing an old dewpond on your left.

At the Herepath, the pathends at another gate(011274) where you leave

the Open Access area.

The sign post there pointsthe way back to a Public Foot-path along Path 14 (errone-ously) and a Public Bridleway(correctly) along Path 14A.

The entrance to the Bridlewayfrom the Herepath

The junction with Bridleway 13

The entrance to the Bywayfrom the Fifield Bavant road

PATH 14 (FIFIELD ROAD – HEREPATH)

70

East to West

S tart from the Herepath (Path 18) at a gate (011274) on whichis a sign banning all 4-wheeled vehicles except those used for

agriculture. The signpost there, erroneous-ly, indicates a PublicFootpath, but it doesgive the right direc-tion and the gate isone entry to the des-ignated Open Accesscountryside (see thatchapter).

If you want to fol-low the path go be-tween thick scrub on each side at the end of which is an old dewpond, on your right. The path broadens out on to the open Downand you should take the left fork where it branches out from Path13 (009275).

Now follow thesunken grass trackgoing left obliquelyacross the Downuntil you come to thegate at the bottom,on the Fifield Bavantroad (005274), leav-ing the Open Accessarea.

The junction with Bridleway 13 andthe way forward on the Byway

The entrance to the Bridlewayfrom the Herepath

711

Path 14A (Herepath – Broad Chalke)Bridleway

From the Herepath, path No. 18, leading east-south-east toBroad Chalke path No. 21 towards Broad Chalke. Approximatelength: 27 metres. Width: 2.43 metres.

PATH 14A (HEREPATH – BROAD CHALKE)

72

The path is effectively a continuation of Path 14 taking itthe very short distance from the Herepath to the Parish

boundary. It is clearly signposted as a Public Bridleway at theend of Path 14 (011274) and crosses the Herepath to a widetrack between scrub, then to a gate that has been locked, butwhich can be walked (and ridden?) round (012274). Thecontinuation of this track forms a good route to and fromBroad Chalke.

Leaving Path 14A

The way to Broad Chalke

731

Path 15 (Moor Hill – Sutton)Byway Open to All Traffic (With a Traffic

Regulation Order)HOLE LANE – From the Chilmark road, at Moor Hill House,leading south-west to the Sutton Mandeville Parish boundary,south of Great Ground Hill. Approximate length: 229 metres.Width: 2.43 metres.

PATH 15 (MOOR HILL – SUTTON)

74

Northeast to Southwest

The path leaves the road to Tisbury near Moor Hill Cottage bythe Byway and Traffic Regulation signs (994292).

It coincides at first with graveldrives to two private residences andyou should then leave a holly hedge toyour right and the stile at the beginningof Path 9 to your left to follow the pathof between 2 and 3 metres width untilyou reach the stone marking the Parishboundary (991291).

The continuation of this path willtake you to Sutton Mandeville.

Following a public inquiryin 2003 the path was confirmedas a Byway open to all Traffic.However a Traffic RegulationOrder was immediately im-posed on the byway by Wilt-shire Council prohibiting allforms of motorised traffic.

Onwards to Sutton

Path 9 to your left

The entranceto Hole Lane

PATH 15 (MOOR HILL – SUTTON)

75

Southwest to Northeast

Coming from Sutton Mandeville, you will find aboundary stone marking the start of this path

(991291).

Carry on along the path, between hedgerows oneither side, and you will emerge into a wide graveledpath, serving two private houses on your left. Path 9, toSutton Road, is over a stile to your right.

The path ends on the road to Tisbury at Moor Hill(994292).

Approaching the Boundary Stone

761

Path 16 (Green Drove – Herepath)Footpath

From Green Drove, path No. 17, at East Farm House, leadingsouth-east to the Chalk Pit then east up the escarpment to Chisel-bury Rings and round the Camp to its junction with the Herepath,path No. 18. Approximate length: 1005 metres. Width: 0.91 me-tres.

PATH 16 (GREEN DROVE – HEREPATH)

77

Northwest to South

The path leaves Path 17 by contin-uing towards the Down in the

same direction as the approach roadfrom the A 30 to East Farm, throughan unlocked farm gate (012285).

The path follows a wide strip be-tween two fences and heads towardsthe chalk pit and LRB badge straightahead. At the end of the strip and to the right of an unlocked gate

(014283) note that there is noRight of Way along the path atthe foot of the Down, but thatthe way ahead is one of theentries to the designated OpenAccess countryside.

If you wish to stick to thepath, leave the chalk pit onyour right and take a narrow,steep chalk path diagonally

left across the Down, passing directly beneath the chalk figure ofMercury the badge of the Royal Signals.

The path has been wellmarked by the Fovant BadgesSociety. and Wiltshire Counciland is the closest approach to theFovant Badges from the pathsdescribed in this booklet.

Please note that the Badgeshave been fenced in for theirprotection and those areasshould not be entered.

Path 16 at East Farm

The start of the slope

The waymarked path


78

After passing above the badge of the Australian ImperialForce (a ‘sunburst’), you should aim for the left-hand side ofChiselbury. At this point you leave the Open Access area.

The path as marked on the Definitive Map now skirts theeastern side of Chiselbury near a slight ditch and then follows anopen track towards the Herepath (Path 18) where there is anunlocked gate and a stile (019280).

Although Chiselbury was named in the Anglo-Saxon Chartersas a Camp, an excavation in the 20th Century did not reveal anysigns of habitation. It was probably a large enclosure for sheep.

The view westwards from near Chiselbury


79

South to Northwest

The path starts on the Herepath(Path 18) near Chiselbury

(and the Compton Chamberlayneparish boundary).

Go through the gate or over thestile (019280) on to an open trackwhich skirts the eastern side ofChiselbury near a slight ditch, according to the Definitive Map.

Once to the north of Chiselbury you can enter the designatedOpen Access countryside (see that section) and also to startmaking your way down the slope. The path has been well markedby the Fovant Badges Society and Wiltshire Council, but you can

also use East Farmhouse as an aim-ing point, so that the path can bepicked up at the corner of the fencesurrounding the ‘sunburst’ badge.

Please note that the FovantBadges have been fenced in fortheir protection and those areasshould not be entered.

The path will become progressively steeper, particularly afterpassing directly beneath the chalk figure of Mercury, the badge ofthe Royal Signals.

At the foot of the Down, nearthe chalk pit, turn right, througha gate (014283) out of the OpenAccess area and into a wide grassstrip leading to an unlocked gate(012285).

The path then ends and joinsPath 17 near East Farm.

The gate at the Herepath

Down the slope

And on to East Farm

801

Path 17 (Dinton Rd – Brook St)Bridleway

GREEN DROVE – From the Dinton road, leading south-eastacross path No. 1, past path No. 6 at Green Drove Cottages,across the Salisbury - Shaftesbury road, A 30, to East Farm thensouth-west, south and north-west to the southern end of BrookStreet. Approximate length: 2230 metres. Width: 6.09 metres.

PATH 17 (DINTON RD – BROOK ST)

81

North to South

The path leaves the Dintonroad at a metal finger post

(005299) indicating a PublicBridleway to the A 30 at a dis-tance of 1 mile. About 80 me-tres after leaving the road, youshould ignore the track to theright, as the route turns left up arise through a wood with a rock

face on the right.

At the top of the rise youwill emerge into a long,

straight, 5 metre wide trackthat leads between hedgerowsto the A 30. It crosses Path 1and passes Path 6A to the

right (although the latter is notmarked).

The track becomes progressive-ly more made up as it nears the road,passing residences on the left. Aftercrossing the A 30 (TAKE CAREHERE), where there is a metal fin-ger post (011288) fitted with two

signs, both indicating a Public Bridleway, go straight aheaddown the Bridleway which coincides with the approach roadto East Farm.

Entrance to the Bridlewayfrom the road to Dinton

Crossing the A 30

Path 1 to your right

And Path 6A also to your right


82

The Bridleway ends officially at the south end of the paved partof Brook Street near the bridge over the stream. (007283).

(Path 13is off tothe left).

Turn right there behindthe farmhouse, (Path 16goes straight ahead atthis point), and then gopast the cricket groundand barns, before bear-ing left and then sharpright into Brook Streetby the telephoneexchange (008282).

And Bridleway 13 towardsFovant Down

Footpath 16 towardsFovant Down


83

South to North

G o along BrookStreet as far as the

telephone exchange(008282) and then bearleft (Path 13 is straightahead of you at thispoint, through the gate).Follow the wide trackpast the barns to yourright and the cricket pitchto your left, until youcome to East Farm where you should turn left up the made-upapproach road.

Cross the A 30 (TAKECARE HERE), by the two Bri-dleway signs (011288), andcarry on straight ahead up thelong wide track. You will passPath 6 on your left (although itis not waymarked) and willcross Path 1 before droppingdown through a wood to theroad to Dinton and the end of

the Bridleway (005299).

Entrance to the Bridlewayfrom Brook Street

Crossing the A 30from South to North

Joining the road to Dinton

841

Path 18 (The Herepath)Byway Open to All Traffic

THE HEREPATH – From the Sutton Mandeville Parish boundaryleading north-east, parallel with the Ebbesborne Wake and BroadChalke Parish boundaries, past path No. 11 at Fovant Hut andacross the Fifield Bavant road, to the Compton ChamberlayneParish boundary, east of Chiselbury Camp. Approximate length:3220 metres. Width: 7.31 metres.

PATH 18 (THE HEREPATH)

85

This byway runs on the crest of the Downs following an oldTurnpike road and long before that, recorded on the Anglo-

Saxon charters. It is an obvious track throughout, clearly muchused by all forms of traffic.

At the parish boundaries at either end (994262) and (021279),there are no waymarks, nor are they necessary. Where the FifieldBavant road crosses the track (TAKE CARE HERE) you will seea metal finger post (004268) labelling the track as a Byway witharrows pointing along the track both ways.

Several paths join this Byway. From west to east they are Path19, Path 11 (just past Fovant Hut), Paths 14 & 14A and Path 16near Chiselbury.

Paths 11, 14 and 16 will enable you to get to the designatedOpen Access countryside (see that section).

Exit to Path 19Cross the Fovant to Fifield

Bavant road

Exit to Footpath 11

PATH 18 (THE HEREPATH)

86

Exit to Byway 14

Exit to Bridleway 14A

Exit to Footpath 16

871

Path 19 (Herepath – Fifield)Bridleway

From the Herepath, path No. 18, about 460 m south-west ofFovant Hut leading south-west to the Ebbesborne Wake path No.6 towards Fifield Bavant. Approximate length: 82 metres.

PATH 19 (HEREPATH – FIFIELD)

88

This is a very short path which provides a branch from theHerepath (Path 18) to paths leading to Fifield Bavant and

Ebbesborne Wake. It clearly branches (998264) towards thesouth-west from the Herepath about 460 metres from Fovant Hut,as the Statement shows and soon reaches some gateposts(997263), on the westernmost of which is a Public Bridlewaydisc. The easternmost gatepost is broken.

This is the Fovant parish boundary.

Towards Fifield and Ebbesborne

Exit from The Herepath

891

These points have been included in the path descriptions.

Path Access pointsFootpath 11 SU001 271 SU002 266Bridleway 13 SU011 277 Joins Byway 14Byway 14 SU005 274 SU011 274Footpath 16 SU014 283 SU018 283

This symbol may, in due course, be displayed at the entry andexit points to help guide you. The Explorer Maps themselvesshow all types of access land with a light yellow tint surroundedby a light orange border.

In the Fovant area, the downland to the south of the villagehas been so designated and access may be gained from thefollowing paths:

Open Access

S ince October 2005 many areas of ‘mountain, moor, heath,down and common’ have been mapped in order to provide

open access to walkers.

All types of ‘access land’ are shown on the new OrdnanceSurvey Explorer Maps which carry an access symbol.

903

Rights of Way

R IGHTS OF WAY are classified as Footpaths, Bridleways or‘Byways open to all traffic’, but it has been convenient to

refer to them just as ‘paths’

Ordnance Survey maps show the classification of the paths ina distinctive style and colour. As is obvious from their titles,footpaths should only be traversed on foot (although pushchairs,prams and wheelchairs are allowed), bridleways on foot or byhorse (leading or riding), and also since 1968 by cyclists, as longas they give way to others.

The route of each path is officially defined by a map knownas the Definitive Map. Each map is based on the Ordnance Surveymap published at a scale of 1:10 000 in which 1 cm represents 100metres. They are held in the Wiltshire County offices, and copiesmay be inspected at the Salisbury Reference Library. The ParishCouncil holds a set of four which covers all of Fovant and part ofthe surrounding villages.

The Definitive Maps are accompanied by Definitive State-ments, which describe the routes, dimensions and classificationsof each path, together with any conditions, such as the right forthem to be partially or wholly ploughed. These have been includ-ed at the head of the path descriptions. A six-figure map referencefrom the National Grid has also been included at landmarks alongthe path.

I have described eighteen useful paths in all, three byways,five bridleways and the remainder footpaths. Each one has anumber, as marked on the map in the Introduction. Paths whichare not used have been omitted from this guide.

913

Scenery and Geology

A n appreciation of the varied scenery surrounding the village,from rolling downland to flat terraces and wooded slopes,

can be gained by walking some of the paths, from the top of thedowns to the southeast of the village, where there was once aturnpike road, down the steep chalk slope and across the gently-rising terrace, where agriculture is prominent, before again walk-ing down over the steep north-facing wooded slope towards theRiver Nadder and its alluvial soils, water meadows and mills.

This scenery reflects the underlying geology, which is inter-esting, as the village straddles the boundary between rocks typicalof the Vale of Wardour, such as Chilmark limestone, and those ofthe chalk countryside.

Rivers& Streams

Major road

Minor roads

SCENERY AND GEOLOGY

92

F ovant owes the shape of its landscape to happenings of up to20 million years ago, when movements in the earth’s crust,

as the continents collided, resulted in the uplift of the Alps. InEngland the ripples produced arch-like structures, or anticlines,connected by shallow troughs. The arches are characterised bysteep northern limbs, the southern limbs having only a gentleinclination.

To the south, the underlying rock is most obviously Chalk,that landscape feature which is apparent from the Dorset Downs,across Salisbury Plain and to the Marlborough and BerkshireDowns and beyond. Chalk hill-figures, of which Fovant hasmore than its fair share, are common in this landscape.

The village itself is mainly in a north-south valley and a wideterrace of Greensand bounds it on both east and west. Thisterrace was ideal on which to site military camps during WorldWar I, signs of which may still be seen. The green-tinged stonewas obviously used to build many of the older cottages in thevillage and several overgrown quarries are still discernible.

The brook running through the village, which rises in springsat West Farm, has eroded the Upper Greensand, exposing clays,and sandy beds. It contains water that is pure enough for thecultivation of watercress and old records speak of water mills. Itcontributed to the presence of irrigated water meadows and isnow a popular fishing stream, accompanied by artificial shallowlakes.

The erosion continues in the valley of the River Nadder intowhich the stream flows, exposing other rock, and deposits northof the village represent the most easterly exposures of the rocksknown as the Purbeck beds. These limestones are common in thenearby Vale of Wardour, together with the older Chilmark stone.They were deposited some 170 million years ago.

SCENERY AND GEOLOGY

93

Evidence of Early man has been found in the Avon and Stourvalleys and, judging by the flints found locally, it is likely that theNadder valley and nearby areas were similarly visited.

Excerpts from Nick Cowen’s field notebook

943

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image repro-duced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey ofNorthern Ireland.

Maps

R OADS, tracks and paths have appeared on maps for centuries.One of the early maps was published in 1773 by John

Andrews, a geographer,surveyor, engraver andmap seller, and AndrewDury a publisher andbookseller.

A copy of this beauti-fully drawn map is held inthe County Record Officeat Chippenham and iswell worth looking at,showing as it does somany of the tracks that arestill evident today. Some, of course, have evolved into roads.

Later maps continue thestory, for example those ac-companying the Fovant En-closure Award in 1785.

With the coming of theOrdnance Survey, mapswere based on carefullymeasured baselines and ac-curate triangulation, but, as aglance at their successors to-day will prove, they are noless works of art than theirpredecessors.

MAPS

95

An example of the care taken in producing these maps isevident from a first edition (1817) of our area that shows theoriginal baseline from Beacon Hill, near Amesbury, to Old Sarumbeing measured, in feet, to an accuracy of four places of decimals.The end of the baseline at Old Sarum was marked until recentlyon O.S. maps as ‘Gun, End of Base’ a phrase which puzzled mefor years before I went and looked at it and found that there wasindeed the barrel of a gun buried vertically in the ground.

The spot is now marked by a commemorative stone at SU 142329.

Until the 1950s the phrase ‘The representation on this Map ofa Road, Track or Footpath, is no evidence of the existence of aright of way.’ was tucked away, in very small print, in one cornerof each Ordnance Survey map.

In 1947 a Special Committee on Footpaths and Access to theCountryside recommended that all public rights of way should besurveyed and recorded on maps.

Recommendation was one thing, achievement was quite an-other and government proposals for the completion of this task arestill under way, more than fifty years later.

However, it did enable Ordnance Survey to amend their provi-so and current maps now bear the legend, in bolder print, ‘Therepresentation on this map of any other road, track or path, is noevidence of the existence of a right of way.’

A warning to users is also printed to the effect that rights ofway are liable to change and may not be clearly defined on theground.

964

History

What about the history of these paths? As usual, I turn to thelate Dr. Clay on these matters 1. He considered that Green

Drove (BW 17) was very an-cient, writing ‘ … in this dis-trict the prehistoric roads allran north and south.’ GreenDrove is probably an exten-sion of Sigewine’s Dyke,which descends the downs tothe east of Chiselbury andcurves westwards at the footof the hill’. Certainly,Sigewine’s Dyke is mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter of A.D.901, the one by which King Edward the Elder gave Fovant to anobleman of King Alfred’s court.

That charter also men-tions BR 18 as it describesone of the boundaries ofFovant ‘Thaet swa uest onHere Pathe anlang Hrygges’or ‘Then so west on the High-way along the ridge’. TheHerepath is variously de-scribed as a military or armypath – a road along which

several mounted men could ride abreast.

Later this became a turnpike road, indeed according to onesource it was the first turnpike in England. In the early 1920s therewas a small grass covered rectangular excavation that was the site

1 ‘Some Notes on the History of Fovant’ – Dr. R.C.C. Clay. Copies are held inSalisbury Reference Library.

Green Drove

The Herepath

HISTORY

97

of the turnpike house opposite the south-western corner of Chis-elbury Camp, but I haven’t been able to find it today. Still evidentthough are banks and ditches which were erected to preventtravellers from nipping across the slope and evading payment ofthe tolls. A bit difficult with a coach and horses though, I wouldhave thought.

The Enclosure Awards in 1787 mentioned several of theexisting paths and, as many villagers will be aware, have beenused in the past to challenge the status of some of our paths. BW13, BR 14, and BR 15 were reclassified after Public Enquirieswere held in the village. Others mentioned in the EnclosureAwards were BW 8, part of FP 11, FP 12, part of BW 17 and BR18, and also the roads which are now the A 30 and Dean Lane.BW 8 was known as the Limbway and that continued up over thehill as the present road to Fifield Bavant. Most of the others notedare no longer visible. Dr. Clay mentioned other paths, some ofwhich still exist, such as FP 2 to Teffont Mill, part of which wascalled Leatler Lane and BR 15 (Hole Lane).

Others are no longer rights of way and some are not evenapparent on the ground. They include Nightingale Lane that nowforms part of the private road to the sewage plant, Middle HillDrove that went into Fovant Wood from halfway down CatherineFord Hill, and Wood Lane which ran in a westerly direction fromthe foot of that hill. There was also Tanner’s Lane that wenteastwards from Green Drove and Mansion Lane from Turnbridgeto the top of Mary Barter’s Lane. The latter was made at sometime between 1773 and 1787.

HISTORY

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Roads and Paths, past and present

HISTORY

99

In more recent history, an invasion of Fovant took placeabout a hundred years ago. This time it was of the Australian andBritish armies, resulting in a building of several camps, a hospi-tal and a military railway. The invasion also resulted in theappearance of several army badges carved into the hillside ofFovant Down.

A map showing the approximate size and location of thecamps with relation to some of the Rights of Way is shown below.

Where traces of the railway track can still be seen, and wherethe view of the Fovant Badges can best be appreciated hasalready been described in the individual path descriptions, but inaddition while driving along the A 30 look for gaps in thehedgerow on each side of the road. This is where the CampRailway crossed the road.

RFA = Royal Field ArtilleryRE = Royal Engineers

1002

To report problems on any of the paths please contact Wiltshire Highways at0300 456 0105. Or if you find errors or omissions in this booklet I can becontacted at [email protected]

A list of useful web sites can be found on the following page.

Respect other people· Consider the local community and other people enjoying

the outdoors· Leave gates and property as you find them and follow

paths unless wider access is available

Protect the natural environment· Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home· Keep dogs under effective control

Enjoy the outdoors· Plan ahead and be prepared· Follow advice and local signs

The Countryside Code

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Countryside Codewww.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code

Cycling UK www.cyclinguk.orgFovant BadgesSociety www.fovantbadges.com

Fovant HistoryInterest Group www.fovanthistory.org

Fovant ParishCouncil

www.southwilts.com/site/Fovant-Parish-Council/

Open Access land www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/overview

Ramblers www.ramblers.org.uk

Salisbury Librarywww.wiltshire.gov.uk/artsheritageandlibraries/librarieshome/librarylocations.htm

Wiltshire andSwindon HistoryCentre

www.wshc.eu

Wiltshire Archae-ological & Natu-ral HistorySociety

www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/society

Wiltshire Bridle-ways Association www.wiltshirebridlewaysassociation.co.uk

Wiltshire Council(Rights of Way)

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/rightsofway.htm

Appendix A – Useful Web sites

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Appendix B – Changes

Date Change

24 Aug 17 Initial version

2

M.D. & K Associates

www.fovanthistory.org

The author of this booklet, Mike Harden, has lived in Fovantsince 1964 and served some years as a Parish Councillor,

specialising in the preservation of Rights of Way of which thereare eighteen in the parish, divided between Byways, Bridlewaysand Footpaths.

Here he describes the route of the paths in each direction,drawing attention to areas that have figured in the history of thevillage. The descriptions are accompanied by photographs ofparts of the paths.

Fovant Rights of Way path booklet Ph 2.pdf · 2017-08-26 · Fovant Rights of Way. 1 iv ......

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