The Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire, 1915 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 and 2 miles south-east of Dauntsey Junction 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., Lyneham was in the Calne County Court district, the rural deanery of Avebury (Avebury portion) and archdeaconry of Wiltshire and Diocese of Salisbury.

The Wiltshire and Berkshire 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 a nave, north aisle, south porch and a low embattled western tower containing 5 bells; there is a monument to the Walker Heneage family The church 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 of £126, with residence, in the gift of Major Godfrey C Walker-Heneage M.V.O. and held since 1888 by the Reverend Maitland Edward Snepp Association of King's College London. Charities amounting to about £54 yearly, arising from land at Lyneham, Bushton, and Coates, are distributed to the poor in money and coal on the 21st December.

Major Godfrey C Walker-Heneage M.V.O. who is lord of the manor, the Earl of Radnor. Lord Islington P.C., K.C.M.G. the trustees of Mr Edward Henly and Mrs Tanner are the chief land owners. The chief crops are grass, wheat and roots. There is 3,431 acre of land, of which about one-fourth is arable and the other pasture, and 9 water; with a rateable value of £4,918. The population in 1911 was 894, including part of Bradenstoke-Cum-Clack. The population of the ecclesiastical parish in 1911 was 557.

The sub-postmistress was Mrs Martha Lovelock, who had letters delivered through Chippenham at 7.10am and 5.30pm; dispatched at 10.35am and 6.40pm by a cycle messenger to Sutton Benger. There was no delivery or dispatch on Sundays. Bradenstoke Post Office was the nearest Post Office to provide money orders and telegraph facilities. There was a wall letter box near the church, which was cleared at 8.15am and 6.40pm week days only.

A school endowed by Ralph Broome in 1716 with 25 acres of land which produced about £40 annual crops is now merged within the Elementary School. The Elementary school which was mixed, with residence was built in 1862 and subsequently enlarged in 1892 and again in 1913 for 150 children. George E Willoughby was the school head master. Back to index click here