| Stratton St Margaret | |
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Stratton St Margaret
Stratton St Margaret shown within Wiltshire |
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| Population | 21,366 (2001 census)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | SU164876 |
| Parish | Stratton St Margaret |
| Unitary authority | Swindon |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode district | SN25 |
| Dialling code | 01793 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | North Swindon |
| Website | Stratton St Margaret Parish Council |
| List of places: UK • England • Wiltshire | |
Stratton St Margaret is a civil parish in the Borough of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The parish covers north-eastern suburbs of Swindon including Stratton St Margaret itself along with Upper Stratton, Lower Stratton, Nythe and Kingsdown.
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Stratton St Margaret, once a village, has now become the north east part of Swindon and is rapidly becoming suburbanised. The area of the parish was originally much larger than it is now. Most of Gorse Hill was part of the parish until it was transferred to Swindon in 1890 and a large part of the housing estate of Penhill was once fields in Stratton St. Margaret.
Stratton derives its name from the Latin strata ("paved way" or "street") after the former Roman road whose course traverses the parish east – west. The Domesday Book of 1086 records the toponym Stratone, when the parish was held by Nigel, physician to William the Conqueror. The village consisted of three hamlets: The Street; the area around Green Road and Dores Road and including the few houses at Kingsdown; and Stratton Green, mainly around Tilleys Lane. Footpaths and coffin-ways joined the hamlets.
The Church of England parish church of Saint Margaret dates from the 13th century, with numerous later additions including partial rebuilding in the middle of the 20th century. Amongst the notable churchyard tombs is one to Sir William Hedges who was President of an East India Company in the 17th century. His home was where the Crematorium is now. The parish registers date from 1608. Near the church once stood an Elizabethan tithe barn, built mainly of wood, and the village pound and the small parish school. The main tithe barn stood near Parsonage Farm in Swindon Road (both now demolished).
In 2010 and 2011 the parish managed to reduce its precept (Tax raised by Parishes to fund local community projects and services) while still maintaining all its local community services, allotments, cemeteries, leisure centre, community centre, eight recreation grounds and four open spaces.
In 2011 Delamere Drive Recreation Ground was updated after consultation with local residents and children; and Street Billiards{new style ball game} was added to Greenbridge MUGGA.{MUGGA = Small fenced off ball play area}
A programme of bulb/tree planting has continued through 2011 involving local schools.
The Stratton Centre run by the council raised about £1,500 for 'Children in Need'.