Fonthill Gifford

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Detail from Andrews’ and Dury’s Map of Wiltshire, 1773:
Detail from Andrews’ and Dury’s Map of Wiltshire, 1773:

Fonthill Gifford is a small village in Wiltshire, England. Its population has dwindled from 493 in 1801, to 120 in 2001.

It is best known as the birthplace of William Thomas Beckford who later built there an enormous mansion in the style of a medieval abbey, called Fonthill Abbey. This replaced a Palladian mansion (Fonthill Splendens) built by his father (William Beckford), the only remaining portion of which - known as the Pavilion - was leased by James Morrison, the millionaire draper and railway investor. It remained in his family for some years.

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