Steeple Ashton houses [41]

Image: © Michael Dibb Taken: 14 Feb 2023

Black Barn Cottage, number 46 High Street, is an open hall house, built in the 15th century, altered and improved in the 16th century and refronted in the early 19th century. The cottage was restored in the 20th century. Timber framed with square panels and brick noggin on a stone plinth under a stone slate roof. The front is rendered. Inside, the hall has a 16th century inserted ceiling. Many original internal features and fittings remain. Listed, grade II*, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1262168 The village of Steeple Ashton is a former market town, having been granted a weekly market in 1266. It lies some 3¼ miles east of Trowbridge and some 7 miles southwest of Devizes. The town became wealthy from its cloth industry, but there was a great fire in the early 16th century, and when it came to rebuilding the industry moved to the nearby town of Trowbridge, where the River Biss provided power for fulling mills. The first part of the village name comes from the former church spire, which collapsed in 1670.

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