The Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire
1898 illustrates the following commercial traders and inhabitants
within
the
village. The description provided: Lyneham is a village and
parish, on the road from Wootton Bassett to Calne, 3¾ miles
south-west from Wootton Bassett station on the Swindon and
Bath section of the Great Western railway, and 6 miles north
from Calne in the Northern division of the county, Cricklade
and Wootton Bassett union and petty sessional division, Kingsbridge
hundred, Calne county court district, rural deanery of Avebury
(Avebury portion), archdeaconry of Wilts and diocese of Salisbury.
The Wilts and Berks canal passes within half a mile north
of the parish.
The church of St. Michael is an ancient stone
edifice, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of nave,
south aisle, south porch and a low embattled western tower
containing 5 bells, and contains a monument to the Walker
Heneage family: it was restored in 1863, at a cost of nearly £3,000,
and has 250 sittings. The register dates from the year 1653.
The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £123, with
residence, in the gift of Major Clement Walker-Heneage V.C.
and held since 1888 by the Rev. Maitland Edward Snepp Association
of King's College, London. Charities amounting to about £60
yearly, arising from land at Brinkworth and Coates, are distributed
to the poor in kind on the 21st December.
Major Clement Walker
Heneage VC of Compton House, Compton Bassett, is lord of
the manor and principal landowner. The Earl of Radnor and
Sir John Poynder Dickson-Poynder bart. M.P. of Hartham Park,
are also landowners. The soil is corn brash with subsoil
consisting of sand. The chief crops are grass and wheat.
The area is 3,444 acres of land, of which about one third
is arable and the other pasture, and 12 of water; rateable
value, £4,789 the population in 1891 was 1,012, including
part of Bradenstoke-cum-Clack. The population of the ecclesiastical
parish in 1891 was 626.
Parish Clerk, Thomas Lovelock.
Post Office - Ernest George Hiskins, sub-postmaster. Letters
through Chippenham, delivered at 8.15am & 3.20
pm; dispatched at 6 p.m. by foot messenger to Sutton Benger.
Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. There is no
delivery or dispatch on Sundays. The nearest money order & telegraph
office is at Bradenstoke, 2 miles distant. Wall Letter Box,
near the Church, cleared at 5.50 p.m. week days only
Schools: A school, endowed by Ralph Broome, in 1716 with
25 acres of land, producing about £40 yearly, is now
merged in the National school. National (mixed), with residence,
built in 1862 & enlarged
in 1892, for 150 children; average attendance, 110 Thomas
Willoughby, master; Mrs Rebecca Willoughby, mistress
Carrier to Swindon - Franklin, Thursday & Saturday
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