1
Biddestone houses [8]
Bland and unattractive modern housing in Little Challows.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.04 miles
2
Postbox, Biddestone
A George VI reign postbox set into the hedge of a property opposite the lych gate to the cemetery.
Image: © Maigheach-gheal
Taken: 30 Jun 2010
0.04 miles
3
Biddestone ways [4]
At the western edge of the village is a five way road junction. This is Field Barn Lane which soon becomes a track providing access to Field Barn Farm. The track is also a public footpath which runs to Collett's Bottom Woods.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.05 miles
4
Biddestone features [1]
At the western edge of the village a cemetery is located between Weavern Lane and Field Barn Lane. There is a lych gate at the entrance.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.06 miles
5
East along Biddestone Cemetery
The local churchyard is apparently full so it is likely that this cemetery was opened either towards the end of the 19th century or later. Most of the graves are 20th century. There is still quite a lot of space.
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 30 Jun 2010
0.06 miles
6
Lych gate, Biddestone Cemetery
Many churches have a lych gate built over the main entrance to the enclosed area round the church. The name, also spelt lich or lytch, is from the Anglo Saxon 'lich' meaning corpse. The gate marks the division between consecrated and unconsecrated ground, where the bearers sheltered with the coffin, waiting for the clergyman to lead the procession before the burial. The original lych gates had seats, a lych cross and a lych stone - a slab on which the coffin rested.
Image: © Maigheach-gheal
Taken: 30 Jun 2010
0.06 miles
7
Biddestone ways [1]
From The Butts, this public footpath runs to Challow Lane.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.07 miles
8
Biddestone houses [5]
Westbury is now one house, but was originally three cottages. Under the thatched roof was a pair of 18th century cottages. The stone tiled cottage furthest from the camera is a later 18th century addition. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1283656
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.07 miles
9
Biddestone ways [3]
At the western edge of the village is a five way road junction. This is the no through road Weavern Lane which runs for a mile to Collett's Bottom Woods.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.07 miles
10
Biddestone buildings [1]
Biddestone Sawmill in Challows Lane. In the mid 20th century, sawmills employed some 30 men in the village.
Biddestone, some three miles west of Chippenham, has Saxon origins and is a quintessential English village with a green, a pub and a duck pond. There were originally two manors which became one in the early 17th century. An agricultural village that is now mostly a home to workers who commute to Chippenham, most of the buildings date from the late 1700s.
Image: © Michael Dibb
Taken: 26 Feb 2020
0.07 miles