Village with a Thousand years of History
From an article in The Herald and Advertiser Friday 13th January 1950
Nestling under the shadow of the Wiltshire downs, near where more than 11 centuries ago, raged a battle which marked a turning point in English history, lies the straggling but picturesque village of Compton Bassett.
Today this “farm in the valley”, for that is the meaning of its name, is striving to adapt itself to a mode of life which, for the first time in a thousand years, is not guided by the Lord of the Manor; early this century the Squire’s house fell empty and the estate, which comprised practically the whole of the village was broken up.
Probably few of the 300-odd inhabitants have ever heard of the vast army from Wessex which led by Egburt, marched eastward along the downland ridge stretching along from the village to Wanborough, to meet and defeat the invading Beornwulf and his Mercian army at Ellendue, a few miles further along the hills. That victory, in 823 A.D. led to a permanent alteration of the balance of power in favour of the West Saxons.
Maybe this pretty village with its roomy old cottages, their walls gaily colour-washed in pink, yellow and white, was already in process of formation when Egburt and his men marched up from Cornwall. There was certainly a settlement in this fertile valley two and a half centuries later for it appeared in The Domesday Book as Contone. By 1228, 12 years before Fulke Bassett became Lord of the Manor, this had changed to Compton Bassett.
Of French Descent
Down through the ages the village estate passed into the hands of successive squires. At one time, under the Norman Kings, it was held by the Delamere’s, a family which originated in the Caen area of France, and in the early 18th century the first of the Heneage family became Lord of the Manor. Two centuries of Heaneage “reign” are still reflected in the life of the village although there are now few villagers left who worked on or remember the old estate, even though it was still in existence until the early part of this century. One story which can still be heard in the village concerns a particularly severe member of the Heaneage family who, not so many years ago, would not let husband and wife sit together in church and refused to allow the women to wear flowers in their bonnets when attending services. “It is a good job those days have gone,” commented one old lady.
A Wealth of Flowers
But one thing which was encouraged by the most recent of the Squires was gardening. In summer time the large cottage gardens make the village one of the prettiest places in Wiltshire. The times are still remembered when the cottager with an untidy garden received a stern reprimand from “The House” as Compton Bassett house was always know, and one of the estate gardeners would go round the village pruning the fruit trees and arranging for replacements where necessary.
No member of the Heneage family has lived in Compton Bassett since 1900 and in 1919 the estate was sold to the Co-operative Society. Later, when it was bought again by a private owner, the fine old stone-built 17 century mansion was demolished. Some say it would have cost too much to put it in order again after having been vacant for some years, while other blame dry rot. Even so, the village still has its “House” for, when the old house was pulled down, the extensive stables were converted into living accommodation.
Sibilating Ophidian
The other day Wessex Water were checking the Compton Bassett sewer pipes for any blockages with their CCTV Camera when they were “very shocked” to see on their monitors that a snake had taken up residence and is happily living in the pipe work. Wessex Water think the snake was stalking a toad when it went into the drain. Was it possible that Sidney was hungry and fancied toad in the hole for dinner? Or should all you fortunate people with main drains check your loos before you go!
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