Burcombe is a village and (by the name of Burcombe Without) a civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 149. The village lies each side of an unclassified road. The village is about 5 miles west of Salisbury city centre. Burcombe is an unspoiled village with many of the houses' gardens leading down to the River Nadder.
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At one time in antiquity called South Burcombe it had a twin, North Burcombe, which stood on the north side of what is now the A30 road. Nothing remains of North Burcombe but the Church.[1] To the south of the village there are a number of Neolithic earthworks which indicate the area has been a settlement since early times. The name is thought to derive from the Saxon name of Brydancumb or Bryda's Valley.[1]
The Church of St John is built on higher ground on the A30 road, to the north of the village centre, it is assumed to protect it from the possibility of flooding from the river in the lower part of the valley. It was permitted by the Abbesses of Wilton and has features in the corner work of the masonry which indicate strongly that it was originally of Saxon construction although it has undergone many changes and restorations.[1] The church is unusual in that it has a tower, which was rebuilt in 1667,[2] lower than the nave roof.
When John Speed prepared a map of Wiltshire he copied a version by Christopher Saxton which contained the annotation Quare (possibly query) over the site of South Burcombe. It is thought that he intended to check the name later, but never did. Later map printers copied Speed's error and the Quare maps of Wiltshire appeared for 145 years until the mistake was rectified.[1]
The Ship Inn at Burcombe is a 17th century village pub with whitewashed walls, low ceilings with oak beams and a large open fire. In addition the village has a butcher's shop and a small suite of rented offices.
Nearby, to the south, accessible by footpath is a large semicircular, bowl shaped area of downland, called Burcombe Punch Bowl.[3]