Coulston

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Disused watercress bed and parish church

Local map, from 1922

Coulston (very formally called East Coulston) is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, five miles North East of the town of Westbury at Grid ST952542, just north of the B3098 road.

The village has an elected parish council called Coulston Parish Council and forms part of the Ethandune ward of the district of West Wiltshire.

Coulston has a mix of old and new houses, about sixty-five in all. The number of buildings listed as of architectural or historic importance is thirteen (all listed Grade II). There is no shop or surviving public house.

1 Church
2 School
3 Population
4 Pronunciation
5 Notable people
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Church

The parish church has 12th century Norman origins. In the Middle Ages, its dedication was to Saint Andrew, but since the early 19th century it has been to Saint Thomas of Canterbury. Communion services are held every other Sunday. The patrons are the Bishop of Salisbury and the Vicar of Westbury jointly. The current Rector is the Reverend Dr Graham Southgate, who lives at Bratton.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office holds the parish registers of East Coulston for the following periods -

Christenings: from 1714 to 1974
Marriages: from 1714 to 1994
Burials from 1714 to 1992

[edit] School

There is no village school, and Coulston falls within the designated area for the Great Cheverell Church of England Aided Primary School.

[edit] Population

The population was 103 in 1831, 155 in 1951.

[edit] Pronunciation

The name of the village has been pronounced Cohlst'n at least since the late 19th century, and this is used by all long term residents. The pronunciation Coolst'n is sometimes used by outsiders but locally is deemed to be incorrect.