Fovant
Fovant | |
---|---|
Three of the Fovant Badges | |
Location within Wiltshire | |
Population | 669 (2011)[1] |
OS grid reference | SU004289 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SALISBURY |
Postcode district | SP3 |
Dialling code | 01722 |
Police | Wiltshire |
Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
Website | www |
Fovant is a village and
History
The name is derived from the Old English Fobbefunta, meaning "spring of a man called Fobbe".[2]
The
An elementary school was built in 1847 with places for 100 children, and gained a second classroom in 1875. Children of all ages attended until 1944, when those aged twelve and over transferred to the senior school at Tisbury. By 1958, when the buildings were modernised, there were 58 pupils. In the 1980s children aged 10 and 11 went to a middle school at Tisbury, and falling numbers led to closure of the Fovant school in 1997 when it had 27 pupils.[4]
During World War I a training camp was set up at Fovant which, according to one soldier stationed there, was 'as good a camp as Chiseldon was a bad one'. Owing to the leadership of 'a giant colonel now fairly old', the recruits were well cared for and fed.[5]
Religious sites
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of St George dates from the 13th century and has a south doorway taken from a 12th-century building. Much of the church was rebuilt in the 15th century; the tower was built c. 1492[6] and is surmounted with stone friezes and battlements.[7] In the 16th century the last abbess of Wilton Abbey, Cecily Bodenham, retired to Fovant and is said to have paid for the building or rebuilding of the south aisle.[8]
Restoration in 1863 by T.H. Wyatt included the rebuilding of the chancel and major changes to the interior, including the removal of a musicians' gallery.[6] One of the six bells in the tower is from the 15th century.[9]
The building was designated as Grade II* listed in 1960.[7] Today the parish is part of the Nadder Valley Team Ministry.[10]
Chapel
A
and continues in use as Fovant Free Church.Military connections
During the First World War, temporary camps were built in the Fovant area to handle training and medical treatment of soldiers, and later their demobilisation.
The area is known for several regimental badges cut in chalk into a nearby hill (also being the site of Chiselbury Iron Age hillfort), created by soldiers garrisoned near Fovant.[15]
Governance
The civil parish elects a
The parish is part of the Fovant and Chalke Valley
Amenities
Fovant has a village shop (with post office), a village hall,[17] playing field and playground. At one time with three public houses, Fovant also has a pub called The Greater Good formerly known as the Pembroke Arms.
References
- ^ "Wiltshire Community History – Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Fovant". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ Fovant in the Domesday Book
- ^ "Fovant Church of England First School". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-7524-4793-3.
- ^ a b "Church of St. George, Fovant". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St George (1146126)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "St. George's - The Parish Church". Fovant History Interest Group. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Fovant". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "St George, Fovant". A Church Near You. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Congregational Chapel, Fovant". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Congregational chapel (1146131)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Camps around Fovant during World War I". Fovant History Interest Group. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "C00628 - Soldiers and huts at Hurdcott Camp". Australian War Memorial. c. 1916. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "06/11/2011, Countryfile - BBC One". BBC.
- ^ "Fovant and Chalk Valley ward 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2015".
- ^ "Fovant Village Hall". Retrieved 14 November 2016.