The photo shows the High Street in about 1920. It was taken from roughly opposite The Old Police House, looking east. Barringtons' shop, which used to be between No 21 High Street (‘Stradone’) and Starlings, can be seen on the right.
Sutton Benger church was built in the 12th century, nearly 1000 years ago.
Sutton Benger church was dedicated to St Leonard, but renamed All Saints in 1763. In the time of the Civil War (1642-1651) the Roundheads stabled their horses in the church, damaging statues and windows. Legend has it that the church bells were hidden in the Bell House for safety and one was stolen. During World War II, the church tower was used as a look out by the Home Guard.
The 1808 image of All Saints’ Church was originally a watercolour by John Buckler (1770 – 1851), who was an artist and occasional architect. The Wiltshire Museum at Devizes has a small collection of his work.
For about 100 years, throughout the 1900s, the house on the corner of High Street and Seagry Road was a shop that became known as The Corner Shop, with an entrance on the High Street. At one time, in the 1940s, it also served as the Post Office. There were two entrances, one for the shop and one for the Post Office.
Mrs Gertrude Annie Ball was the shopkeeper and postmistress from the early 1930s into the 1940s.
In the 1700s and 1800s, the High Street through Sutton Benger was a main road, with horse-drawn coaches travelling from Bristol and Bath to Oxford. There were at least three blacksmiths in the village; one was possibly in the Corner Shop, or next door at 54 High Street.
Walk along the path through the churchyard, between the church and Seagry Road. Stop at the end, where you can see the Old School House and La Flambé.
Please keep to the path, respect the graves and those visiting them. Please also keep noise to a minimum.
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