This is a short family-friendly route around the heart of Sutton Benger village, pointing out places of historical interest.
This trail provides more information about places that are listed on the two 'Welcome' signs, one located on the Village Hall and one in Draycot Cerne.
This is a circular cross-country walk from the Village Hall, to Gate Farm and then to Chissell Brook, and back via Sutton Lane Meadows to the Village Hall.
This is a walk from the Village Hall, to the Draycot Park entrance, to Draycot Cerne, and return.
This is a walk from the Village Hall, to Sutton Lane, back along the High Street and Seagry Road to La Flambé, then along the footpath (the old Barrett Lane) to the B4069 bridge over the River Avon, and then into Christian Malford. Return via the Christian Malford meadows to the Avon Weir, back across the Avon to Sutton Lane, and along Sutton Lane to return to the Village Hall.
This walk takes you past various locations associated with the Romano-Saxon history of Sutton Benger; but note that there is no visible evidence of this history. Also, close to the walk, are remains of pillboxes from World War II; but please remember to stay on Public Rights of Way at all times.
This a long walk, uphill from Sutton Benger along Seagry Road, to cross the M4, left along the footpaths to Harding's Farm, into Upper Seagry along Scotland Road and Henn Lane, to Goss Croft Hall, then back through Upper Seagry along the roads to Seagry Hill, returning to Sutton Benger Village Hall.
As an alternative, you could start this walk from Goss Croft Hall, to Sutton Benger, returning to Upper Seagry via Harding's Farm.
A wheelwright is a person who makes and mends wooden wheels. The houses known as 'Wheelwrights' were built where the village wheelwright / carpenter's workshop used to be.
In the 1700s and 1800s every village had all sorts of shops, and Sutton Benger was no different. It had wheelwrights, carpenters, tailors, drapers, painters, decorators, plumbers, butchers, bakers, gunsmiths, dairies, groceries, and several public houses and smaller beerhouses. The village even had its own watchmaker.
The photograph from the 1940s / 1950s shows (left) Oliver Heath, the Park Lane baker and Michael Goddard (right) in their delivery van. Michael later took over the bakery business from Oliver when he and his wife Agnes retired. The 1930s Church Magazine shows an advert for other well-known Sutton Benger shops.
There were several wheelwrights and carpenters in the village throughout the 1800s. Joseph Gregory arrived in the village around 1890, and by 1891 was in business in the High Street as a wheelwright with his son William. By 1911 it was William who was running the business as a wheelwright and carpenter, as well as a funeral director. He also designed and built the original Village Hall. The business grew throughout the 1900s; William's son Joe inherited the family business and served on the Parish Council for 35 years. Gregory Close is named after the Gregory family.
Before the new houses were built on the land on the High Street there were two private houses and a builder’s yard. The business closed and the new houses were built; their name 'The Wheelwrights' recognises the history of the site.
The photograph shows No 35/37 High Street, with the Wheelwrights buildings behind. No 35/37 is an Estate House, originally built in the late 1800s as three houses. It has a crest but no date.
Can you help? What date do you think this photo was taken? Can you date it from the clothes worn by the children? If so, please get in touch:
In the mid-late 1800s the house at the corner of Park Lane, known as Sutton House, is where the village draper’s shop was; and then in the 1900s it became the village butcher’s. The shop was in an extension to the main building on the left hand side, and it had an awning over it to keep the sun off and help keep the meat cool.
In the earlier 1800s the draper's shop had probably been in the house now known as Gate Cottages, by Gate Farm.
In 1861 the house opposite the entrance to Park Lane, now called Mansard Cottage, was occupied by George Jefferies, a ‘beerhouse keeper’ or 'beerseller'. A beerhouse was somewhere smaller than a public house or an inn, and where the villagers bought their beer, usually brewed on site. In the 1800s even children drank beer; it was very weak, and it was often healthier than the water.
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