Ecclesiastical and Denominational accommodation—Literary and other advantages—Educational facilities—Scenery.

This place is included within the diocese of Salisbury, and has a church of considerable antiquity, dating somewhere between 1360 and 1380, most probably the time of Edward III. It was built by the Roman Catholics, and dedicated to St. Michael, and is in the gift of Christchurch college, Oxford. Its style of architecture is a mixture; there are some parts appearing older than the main building, which would lead to the supposition of a prior edifice; the striking features denote the time of transition from the plain English to that of the decorated, but some parts are of very recent construction. It consists of a chancel of about 42 ft. by 18½ ft.; a nave, 54 ft. by 51 ft.; and a square tower, 17 ft. by 18 ft.; and will accommodate about 600 people. The chancel, which has been recently renovated, is inlaid with encaustic tiles; and here are several marble monumental tablets to the relics of the Sainburys; one especially with a full-length female figure to Thomas Twice, sheriff, and once Lord Mayor of London; and another to Mr. Merewether, father of the town clerk of the same place. The tower is an embattled one, having a ring of six bells. Beneath it are two or three records of munificence; one a bequest by — Tanner, formerly vicar of this parish, afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph, to the following effect:—To the minister for a sermon annually, £1; for the purchase of four bibles for the use of the poor, £1; for the education of three children, £1; a dinner for the respectable inhabitants, £1; the ringers for two short peals, 6s.; the sexton and clerk, 5s. A gilt tablet to this worthy man is placed in the nave, near the chancel. The other bequest is by two brothers, of £100 each in the consols; the interest to be distributed in bread to the poor. Beneath the tower is a stone font with a carved oak lid, the work of a self-taught artist, a native of Bath; presented to the church by Mr. Stubbart. This edifice is situated at the west end of the place on rising ground, and forms a conspicuous object in all directions. With this is connected a handsome building for the use of the day school, which is conducted upon the plan of the national system, numbering 90 boys and 75 girls; and a Sabbath school, numbering 180 boys, 170 girls, and 17 teachers.

There is also a respectable Dissenting cause, dating from the year 1801, when a church was formed upon the platform of the Independent or Congregational order. Their place of worship is at the east end of the town; its dimensions are 33 ft. by 42 ft., and it is capable of holding between four and five hundred of this cause: a fuller account will be given in the subsequent pages. They have connected with them a good Sabbath school, numbering 60 boys, 70 girls, and 13 teachers. A British and Foreign day school was established, but various circumstances having militated against its progress and success, it has declined, and is at the present time carried on as a private undertaking. With the Independents is associated a Dorcas Society, consisting of twelve subscribers, a number of whom meet once a month to make garments, which are given away to the poor of the place. There is also a society organised in connection with the Wiltshire Association of the British and Foreign Bible Society for the supply of the Holy Scriptures at cost-price to the poor, and to render aid to the Parent Society. This is confined to no denomination, but embraces all who desire their circulation without note or comment.Two small Baptist interests of high Calvinistic principles and maintaining close communion, are situated in the lower parts of the town; one in a lane near the weighing engine, and chiefly supplied by lay-agents from the neighbourhood; the congregation exceeds in number one hundred, and there are twenty members; the building measures about 30 ft. by 28 ft.: the other, which is an offshoot, has recently been erected; it is but small, measuring 30 ft. by 20 ft., and is situated in Church Street; the congregation does not exceed one hundred, and has but few members; it has a resident minister.

The Primitive Methodists have for some time laboured here; they formerly had a flourishing society of thirty members, but have declined, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a suitable place; their present number is probably about ten. They form part of the Newbury circuit.

A Temperance Society, established in the year 1838, has been the means of considerable good, reclaiming several persons who were reduced to a state of poverty and ruin, restoring and elevating them to comfort and respectability. The pledge-book gives the numbers at the present time as 450; they circulate tracts and advance their views by occasionally holding meetings.

Reading-rooms are open for the accommodation of subscribers, where the daily and weekly papers with other works are supplied; and where, during the winter months, lectures are occasionally delivered upon literary and scientific subjects: they are situated in the middle of the town, just below the Market-place.

An Horticultural Society has lately sprung up for encouraging the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Prizes are awarded to the successful competitors at the annual exhibition, which is held in the grounds of the president, Charles Hitchcock, Esq., at Fiddington. Watson Taylor, Esq., of Urchfont, patron: Mr. H. Gauntlett, secretary. It has 156 members.

The facilities for intercommunication are good. A coach from Salisbury to Chippenham passes through West Lavington, distant one mile, every alternate day, returning the following; and one recently started leaves here for the Hungerford extension line each alternate day in time for the up train, and leaves on its return on the following, upon the arrival of the down train. There is also a daily carrier to Devizes, and two to Salisbury weekly.

A small stream rises at the farther end of Easterton, and supplies the sheet of water in the grounds at Fiddington (where there is a pleasant and comfortable asylum for lunatics),—winds to Northbrook—passes on through the meads at Ladywood to Russell mill, where it joins another stream (which rises at Newlam, a mile from West Lavington; this formerly covered a space of seven acres, but is now reduced to very narrow limits)—united in one it pursues its way towards Bath and Bristol, where it falls into the Avon and Severn. A branch which turns off towards Devizes empties itself into the Avon and Kennet canal; in its progress it forms the moving power to several mills, and imparts fertility to the various meads in its course.

The scenery around is of the most delightful character, the sands or common have been successfully brought into cultivation, and where formerly but few buildings appeared numerous houses have been erected, which bespeak the efforts of the humble classes to attain respectability and comfort; while the tillage constantly going on gives great animation to the scene. The country around is everywhere well wooded to the north, and may with propriety be termed a panorama, reaching to the vicinity of Bath. From hence and on the downs report states that when the atmosphere is clear, and with the aid of good glasses, the Welsh mountains may be descried. A good eye will be able to discover Lansdown and the Beckford monument, Stourton Tower, and the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. The most favourable points of observation are the downs on the top of Lavington hill, Wroughton’s Folly, and Ledgehill, on the road to Bath and Devizes, there are a few spots possessing a romantic feature, exhibiting as they do high walls of strata surmounted with tall waving foliage. Here the lover and copyist of nature might revel in perfect delight, and gather many a sketch for his portfolio. About some 25 years ago the approaches were everywhere impeded by toll-gates, the heavy expenses thereby entailed upon the farmer and gentry led to vigorous efforts for their removal by liberal contributions to a fund for this purpose, they were bought up, and in one day no less than twelve of these impediments were destroyed. The event is annually commemorated by a public dinner at the chief inn and a bonfire in the evening.

There are two or three clubs for the assistance of members in a time of sickness, to afford means of burial, and also to furnish clothing.