Derry Hill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derry Hill is a village in the English county of Wiltshire.
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[edit] Geography
Derry Hill is located to the south of the A4 at , 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of Chippenham and 3 miles (4.8 km) to the west of Calne.
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Nearby towns and cities: Chippenham, Calne, Devizes
Nearby villages: Studley, Lacock, Pewsham, Sandy Lane,
[edit] History
The Village grew up around the Bowood estate, traditionally providing houses for the workers. In the early 19th century with the help of Bowood estate's Christ Church, Derry Hill was built. Later in the 19th century a school was built, again with help from the Bowood estate. Previously to the school being built, classes for the village children were held in various locations around the village. In addition to these facilities a village hall and reading room was built.
In the early-1970's a housing estate was built at the centre of the village and, as a result, the population grew sharply. Subsequently the school was enlarged with the building of three new classrooms and a school hall. Further stages of development took place around the village in the 1990's. More recently, the school was again extended with the building of two new classrooms known as the 'Davis Building'.
In order to meet the needs of the village a new village hall was built at the time of the millennium, and christened the Lansdowne Hall after the late Lord Lansdowne.
In the summer of 2005 Bowood estate received planning permission to extend their housing development on the grounds that the estate would otherwise be in severe financial trouble. This was deeply unpopular with certain residents. In late-2006 a new housing development of 25 new homes commenced on village land adjacent to the A4 national route, and a small number of large, individual new homes were also built during 2005-2006. Some of these new homes have been allowed to be built out of character from the housing around them (with some built in red brick), to the disappointment of several residents. Today, Derry Hill is considered as one of most prosperous villages in the northwest Wiltshire area, but also one of the most pretentious, judgemental and snobbish.
[edit] Village amenities
The Village has a village shop called the 'Village Stores', an 18th century Church of England church, a primary school, a Pub called the Landsdowne Arms and a new village hall.
[edit] Local government
Derry Hill lies within the Parish of Calne Without, which also includes the villages of Studley, Sandy Lane and Compton Bassett. At a district Level it is part of North Wiltshire District Council (based in Chippenham) and at county level part of Wiltshire. The village lies on the edge of the Devizes parliamentary constituency.
[edit] Church
Derry Hill Church is located on Church Road next to the School. It is in the Victorian style and is beautifully decorated inside. It was used regularly by the Lansdowne family for Weddings and Funerals when their private Chapel was too small. Originally built with three banks of pews the layout was altered to the current configuration in the 1960's to two banks of pews separated by a central isle. Occasionally the Church hosts events such as concerts in order to raise funds. There are regular services that take place at the church. The main Services are Mattins - 11am, Holy Communion 11am, and the family service which is also at 11am. The services prove to be very popular with the local residents, as the service and its wonderful music played on the organ drag people around from far and wide.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Village
Football Club
