Broughton Gifford
| Broughton Gifford | |
 Church of St. Mary |
|
  Broughton Gifford Broughton Gifford shown within Wiltshire | |
| Population | 822 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | ST879635 |
| Unitary authority | Wiltshire |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Melksham |
| Postcode district | SN12 |
| Dialling code | 01225 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
Broughton Gifford is a village and civil parish about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Melksham in Wiltshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a parish population of 822.[1]
The village has two parts:
- The lower part, the main part of the village where the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary and the school are, as well as the village hall and the Fox public house. There are also two housing estates and some detached houses in this part.
- The higher part, The Common, is a large area of open land with houses around it. As at 2008 there were three ponds on the common, inhabited by a paddling of ducks in their breeding season. At one end of the common there is The Bell public house, and the football pitch and bowling green.
History
Formerly much of Broughton Gifford and the surrounding area was covered with woodlands. Much of these were felled during the First and Second World Wars. Villagers long used the common to graze their livestock and grow their crops. Although the Common was not included when the rest of the parish's lands were inclosed in 1783,[2] eventually its agricultural uses died out. There were numerous ponds on the common, but the council decided to fill many of them in. There is currently a movement to re-establish the ponds.
Local government
Gifford civil parish is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.
Unusually the parish shares some land in common with the parish of Melksham Without.
A number of Roman coins have been found in the parish.[citation needed]
Listed buildings
There are more than 70 listed buildings and structures of special architectural, historical or cultural significance in Broughton Gifford, including Talboys built late in the 14th century[citation needed] and Monkton House built in 1647.[3]
Amenities
Broughton has two public houses. The Bell on the Common is on the common. The Fox, formerly The Fox and Hounds, is at the other end of the village. There are also a village hall, a butcher's shop, a small park and an industrial estate.
See also
References
- ↑ "Area selected: Salisbury (Non-Metropolitan District)". Neighbourhood Statistics: Full Dataset View. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ↑ Pugh & Crittall, 1956, pages 51-59
- ↑ Pevsner & Cherry, 1973, page150
Sources
- Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1975) [1963]. The Buildings of England: Wiltshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 150–151. ISBN 0-14-0710-26-4.
- Pugh, R.B.; Crittall, Elizabeth (eds.); Chettle, H.F.; Powell, W.R.; Spalding, P.A.; Tillott, P.M. (1956). Victoria County History: A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 7. pp. 51–59.
External links
Media related to Broughton Gifford at Wikimedia Commons