Timeline

Timeline

Picture of Prehistoric

Prehistoric

We put the villages in their setting on Salisbury plain amongst the evidence of occupation from Neolithic times. It is close to the World Heritage site of Stonehenge, to Durrington Walls, and many other henge monuments, barrows and ancient field systems along the Avon Valley and on the downs.

Picture of Roman

Roman

There is evidence of several Roman villas in the area including the site of the Army camp on the A345. Its closeness to Netheravon church indicates early Christian activity.

Picture of Saxon

Saxon

The village pattern of settlement probably dates to Saxon times. Netheravon Church tower still has Anglo Saxon features. A Saxon graveyard has recently been excavated in Ablington.

Picture of Norman

Norman

The church tower doorway has intriguing Norman decoration. The village was prosperous in Norman times.
Some medieval thatch and cob cottages have survived in all the villages.

Picture of Medieval to 1700

Medieval to 1700

Established farms and local trades prospered until the Black Death in 1348, some medieval thatch and cob cottages have survived.

Picture of C18th

C18th

The area was seen as good hunting territory by the gentry classes. This led to the building of Netheravon House by the Duke of Beaufort, later taken over by the Hicks Beach family who also lived at Fittleton Manor. Fittleton school dates to this time.

Picture of C19th

C19th

“An acre of hares” was seen by William Cobbett described in “Rural Rides” 1822. The area is still called the Harefield. By the end of the century the Hicks Beach family were prominent in politics and sold much of their land to the government in 1898. With the coming of photography a wonderful record of the village survives in pictures.

Picture of C20th

C20th

With two world wars dominating the first half of the century, the area was heavily militarized and the local economy depended very much on the camps. Electricity came in the 1930s, street lighting in the 50s, a mains sewerage system in the 1960s. It was not until the 1980s that village houses were put up for sale and the social fabric of the community began to change.

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