Around the Village – Liddington

This is a short walk that every villager has done at some stage. However, I’m encouraging you to take longer this time, to stop and look around. The village has old buildings and a church, a graveyard and lanes, the places where history and stories are hidden for the most part behind closed doors. For myself, a walk like this is an opportunity to align with my own experiences, some of which I’m happy to share with another walker, and most of which are better left unsaid.

Where to start? The Green is the oldest area in the village. The village was originally focused around the triangular old “Green” to the east, now bordered by some of the earlier village cottages, and extended to the west to the Church of All Saints and Parsonage Farm. The Green was located at the junction of the ancient long distance east-west route known as the Icknield trackway and the north-south route from Swindon to Hungerford, named The Street.

Three beautifully thatched cottages invite you up the short road. In the past this was a common between the houses until someone put up a fence and then everyone followed.

The first house on the left was a shop in the old days. The first house on the right has a layout that shows where horses were stabled.

The next house #17 was built in the grounds of #16 by Joel Joffe (more about Joel later) for his sister but she never emigrated from South Africa.

At the top of the road, Cobblers’ Cottage #18, was actually two houses. Cobbling was undertaken here for a wide customer base including residents of Swindon.

Around the corner at the top are two modern houses.

Turn around and follow the lane to the Village Inn. This lane has the honour of being the shortest public way in the village.

The houses on the right are owned by Arkell’s Brewery, as is the pub.

The Village Inn was originally called The Bell and there is a hint to its former identity in the road in which it stands – Bell Lane. In fact, the first Bell stood on the other side of the road before the owner, John Whitling, put up the present building in 1875. The original building, which dated back to at least 1789, was demolished in 1894. After several changes of ownership the pub was eventually renamed in 1982 and Arkell’s bought it in May 1994.

If you look to your left, you’ll see another beautifully thatched house.

But first, admire the old signpost which has given up the ghost. Tired, jaded, without maintenance while the Parish Council and Swindon Borough Council argue about who is responsible. for its upkeep. Latest news is that the Parish Council has given in and will replace it.

On the far side of the hedge on your right is an old farmhouse. You can get a better view from the entrance. Mike Dixon was the last farmer here. When he retired the house was renamed Rhodes House, after the colonialist and racist, Cecil Rhodes, much to the chagrin of the villagers.

In the middle of the junction is the Toll House. The main road from Swindon to Aldbourne passed to the right of the house and tolls were taken through a window.

This road was turnpiked in 1813. The Toll house was built at its junction with the Icknield Way with toll gates across both roads.

Traffic was horse-drawn in those days, moving at a more leisurely pace.

There are recent homes on the left-hand side and a path to the right just before Ham Road.

It is signposted Joel Joffe Way and we’ll get to talk about Joel in a few minutes.

You’ll be walking by the River Lidd on the public path. It’s usually quiet along here, the stream and bird chattering are the only sounds.

On the left you’ll come across a stile with the remains of a sign on it. That used to be the entrance to the Coombe and a permissive path. There are conversations with the estate that owns the Coombe to see if we can get permissive access again. It’s a stunningly beautiful valley with full views of sunset and sunrise from the high points.

I use it weekly all to myself mostly.

Images of the Coombe

The Manor house at Liddington stands to the east of the village on the source of the “Liden” brook which gave its name to the Parish. In the grounds of this late 16th century house is a lake which formed the mill pond for the upper of two mills on the brook, both of which have now been demolished. The surviving chalk rubble and thatch cottages, around the “Green” and church, from the 17th and 18th centuries are supplemented by brick built Victorian cottages and houses, erected after the sale of the Duke of Marlborough’s holdings in 1877.

The Manor of Medbourne did not have a Manor house but consisted of a large farm house and a small number of cottages. The remote farms to the south remain part of the Parish whilst those to the north were lost to the expanding town of Swindon. 20th century development of private and social houses on open plots in the village, most within the conservation area of Liddington, retain the compact nature of the settlement and re ect the migration of the village economy from agriculture to residential for inhabitants who work in the nearby towns

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In 1939 the village, unfortunately, was split in two when the bypass for the Swindon-Hungerford road was built separating the settlement around the “Green” from that around the Church.

The other ancient route of note is the Ridgeway, which crosses the Parish from east to west along the top of the chalk escarpment which forms Liddington Hill. In the past this was a long distance routeway along the downs, then a drove way for animals heading for London and latterly a long distance footpath.

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The oldest building in the Parish is the Church of All Saints, and despite the restoration in the late 19th century much of the 13th century building is still visible in the chancel and north aisle.

The square, three stage west tower dates from the 15th century and the whole church building sits comfortably in the church yard surrounded by thatched cottages, the Rectory, Parsonage Farm and Village Hall.

This was rebuilt in the late 20th century from the materials of and in the style of, the original village school, built in 1851, which occupied the site.

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Liddington Village Hall is more than just a venue; it is a charming and versatile community space designed to accommodate a variety of events and activities.

Inside, you’ll find modern kitchen facilities equipped with everything needed for catering and food preparation, making it ideal for hosting parties, receptions, and community gatherings.

During the week, the hall is thriving with classes and groups meeting to dance, practice yoga, meditation, pilates, or gather for band rehearsals. It is often booked as a venue for team meetings and away-days, offering a quiet space away from the corporate world. From monthly coffee mornings, to the weekly art group, our village hall supports them all.

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This is the old Post Office and General Store, closed for many a year.

The owner, Will, is a craftsman he’s restored the timbers and the old sign as a work of art.

And finally, we are back where we started. And there’s nothing like a defibrillator to end a story!

Converting the old phone box was a mammoth task undertaken by villagers: Geoff Hale and David Lomax. It looks really good.