The Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire, 1920 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 southeast of Dauntsey Junction station on the Swindon and Bath section of the Great Western railway, and 6 miles north from Calne, in the Chippenham 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: 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 £190 with residence, in the gift of Lt-Col. Godfrey C. Walker-Heneage M.V.O. and held since 1915 by the Rev Edward Richard Zouche Walker B.A. of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge.

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. Lieut-Col. Godfrey Walker-Heneage, M.V.O. who is lord of the manor, the trustees of Mr. Edward Henly and Mrs. Tanner are the chief landowners. The soil is corn brash; subsoil, sand. The chief crops are grass, wheat and roots. The area is 3,431 acres of land, of which about one-fourth is arable and the other pasture, and 9 of water; rateable value, £5,723; the Population in1911 was 894, including part of Bradenstoke-cum-Clack. The population of the ecclesiastical parish in 1911 was 557.

Littlecott, 1 mile south-east; Barrowend, 1 east; Preston, 1 south-east and West Tockenham, 2 west, are tithings.

Parish Clerk was Thomas Lovelock. County Police, Stanley Ford constable. Post & Telephone Office - Mrs, Martha Lovelock, subpostmistress. Telegrams dispatched only. Letters through Chippenham. There is no delivery or dispatch on Sundays. Bradenstoke, 1½ miles distant, is the nearest money order and telegraph office. A wall letter box is located near the church.

Schools. A school, endowed by Ralph Broome, in 1716 with 25 acres of land, producing about £40 yearly, is now merged in the Elementary school; Elementary (mixed), with residence, built in 1862 & enlarged in 1892 & again in 1913, for 150 children; George, E. Willoughby, master. Carrier to Swindon. - Frederick Taylor, from New Zealand, passes through here Thursdays & Saturday. Back to index click here