Post Office Directory, 1867

DOWNTON

Downton is a parish giving name to a hundred in which it is located, a polling place for the Southern division of the county, in the Alderbury Union, Salisbury county court district, diocese and archdeanery of Salisbury, and rural deanery of Wilton, 90 miles south-west from London, 7 south-east-by-south from Salisbury, situated in a vale, watered by the Upper Avon in three channels. The church of St. Lawrence was restored in 1860: it is a large cruciform structure of mixed architecture; rising from the intersection is a square, massive, embattled tower, with four pinnacles, and containing a clock and 6 bells; the tower has been reduced to its original height which greatly improves the appearance of the whole fabric: it contains monuments to the Duncombe family; the principal are those of Anthony, Lord Feversham, of Downton, who died in 1763, and of Sir Charles Duncombe who died in 1711. The living is a vicarage, with the chapelry of Nunton annexed, returned of the yearly value of £571 and in the patronage of Winchester College and held by the Rev. Richard Payne, B.C.L. of New College Oxford. There are National and British Schools and several Dissenting places of worship.

The town is of considerable antiquity, and formerly returned tow members to Parliament, but was disfranchised in 1832. The market has long been discontinued, but two annual fairs are still held on 23rd April and 2nd October, principally for horses and sheep.

A castle of considerable dimensions existed here at an early period, which, from its position commanded the river Avon and the valley in which it flows; the only remains - a large conical mound and some other lofty earthworks - have been formed into terraces, amidst the plantations of a garden.

On a high hill, overlooking Downton from one side of the Lymington Road is an entrenched area, called Clerbury Camp.

Here are paper and corn mills, and a tanyard. Malting is also carried on to a considerable extent, and there is brick making and limeburning.

The Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway, a new line, passes through the parish, and has a station at the upper end of the town.

The Bishop of Winchester is Lord of the Manor. The principal landowners are the Earl of Radnor, Earl Nelson, and R.E.D. Shafto Esq. M.P.

The soil is alluvial, chalk and gravel; subsoil chalk. The chief crops are wheat, barley and turnips. The area is 13,221 acres, and the population in 1861 was 3,566.

CHARLTON is a thriving and ecclesiastical parish, formed out of the Parishes of Downton and Standlynch in 1851. The Church of All Saints has chancel, nave, south porch, and belfry with 2 bells; a floriated cross, surmounts the chancel end. The register dates from 1851. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the Vicar of Downton, and held by the Rev. William Esdaile Burkitt, B.A. The Wesleyans have a small chapel here; there is also a National School for children of both sexes.

REDLYNCH is an ecclesiastical district of this parish. The Church of St. Mary is a neat edifice and consists of chancel and nave, and 1 bell without a belfry. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Vicar of Downton, and held by the Rev. Fortescue Richard Purvis, M.A.

The other borough tithings are Church, East Downton, Hamptworth, Wick and Walton, and Witherington. Langley Wood, formerly extra-parochial, has a population in 1861 of 15.

Parish Clerk, Francis Plasket.
Parish Clerk of St. Mary's, Redlynch, George Bungey
Parish Clerk of All Saints', Charlton, Samuel Asher

Post & Money Order Office & Post Office Savings Bank:
James Nicholas, Sub-Postmaster
Letters arrive from Salisbury at 6.20 a.m.; delivered at 7 a.m.; despatched at 7.45 p.m. The box closes at 7.30 p.m. & pillar box at 6.30 p.m.

Post Office, Redlynch:
Mrs. Harris, Receiver.
Letters arrive from Downton at 7.15 a.m.; dispatched at 6.45 p.m.

Post Office, Charlton:
George Goodridge, Receiver.
Letters arrive from Salisbury 6 a.m.; dispatched at 8.30 p.m.

Insurance Agents:
T. Read (Royal)
John Fleming (Sun Fire)

Public Officers:
William Henry Scott, Inland Revenue Officer
John Fleming, Registrar of Births & Deaths
Thomas Read, Registrar of Marriages
James Chalk, Relieving Office of Downton District (Alderbury Union)

Places of Worship:
St. Lawrence Church, Downton
Vicar - Rev. Richard Payne B.C.L.
Curate - Rev. William Carmichael Porter M.A.

All Saints' Church, Charlton
Incumbent - Rev. William Esdaile Burkitt, B.A.

St. Mary's Church, Redlynch
Incumbent - Rev. Fortescue Richard Purvis, M.A.

Baptish New Church, South Lane, Downton
Minister - Rev. John Thomas Collier

Baptish (General)
Minister - Rev. Francis Smith

Rehoboth Chapel, Lode Hill, Downton
Ministers various

Wesleyan (Conference) Chapel
Ministers various

Wesleyan (Reformers) Chapel
Ministers various

Schools:
British (boys) - Thomas Read, Master
British (girls) - Miss Elizabeth Fruen, Mistress
Free (boys) - John Fleming, Master
National (girls) - Miss Rebecca Roberts, Mistress
National, Charlton - Miss Emma Ball, Mistress

Carriers to Salisbury:
Bundy, Poore & Snelgrove: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

Carriers to Southampton:
Brenton & Hickman: every Friday

Private Residents:
Bailey Mrs
Burkitt Rev. William Esdaile, B.A. (perpetual curate) Charlton
Caesar Richard Thompson, esq.
Caiger Mrs
Cheyney Mr James
Collier Rev. John Thomas (Baptist)
Eastman Mr William
Ferryman Robert Augustus, esq., J.P. Redlynch House
Gay Mr William, Redlynch
Mannings George, esq., Hamilton House
Matcham George, esq., J.P. New House
Maton Mrs
Payne Rev. Richard, B.C.L., Vicar
Purvis Rev. Fortescue Richard, M.A. (perpetual curate) Redlynch
Reeves Mrs.
Rouse Mr John
Shafto Robert Eden Duncombe, esq., M.P., J.P., Hampworth Lodge
Smith Rev. Francis (Baptist)
Ward Fredrick, esq.
Welch-Kemp Edward A., esq., M.D.
Whitchurch Mrs.
Woodlands, John
Wornall Mr. William

Commercial:
Andrews Thomas, Farmer, Threshing Machine & Drill Owner, Redlynch
Arney Elizabeth (Mrs.), Shopkeeper
Arney James, Beer Retailer
Arney John, Butcher
Bailey George, Bull
Bailey Henry Smith, Plumber
Bailey James, Baker & Shopkeeper, Charlton
Bailey John, Hairdresser & Blacksmith
Bailey John, Wheelwright
Bailey John Snr., Vine, Charlton
Bates Edmund, Watch & Clock Maker
Blake James, King's Arms
Blake John, Tailor
Blachford Peter, Stag, Charlton
Brand Sarah (Mrs.), Shopkeeper & Baker
Brenton John, Carrier
Brown James, George & Dragon
Bryant George, Ironfounder, Redlynch
Bryant James, Beer Retailer, Redlynch
Bryant John, Shopkeeper, Redlynch
Bugg William Henry, Farmer, Moat Farm
Bundy George, Boot & Shoe Maker
Bundy George, Carrier
Burns John, Farmer, Pimlico, Redlynch
Caesar Richard Thompson, Surgeon
Chalk James, Relieving Officer for Downton District, Alderbury Union
Chalk John, Boot & Shoe Maker
Chamberlin William, Druggist & Stationer
Cheater Ann (Mrs.), Baker
Cheater Ellen (Miss), Dress Maker
Chezney Wilson, Farmer
Churchill George, Watch & Clock Maker
Cleave James Milton, Boot Maker
Downer Henry, Surgeon
Durdle Henry, Boot & Shoe Maker
Eastman Henry & George, Basket & Sieve Makers
Everly Jacob, Boot & Shoe Maker
Fanstone Eliza (Mrs.), Shopkeeper & Harness Maker
Fleming John, Registrar of Births & Deaths for Downton District
Futcher Charles, Tailor
Gay Alfred, Farmer, Lower Penworth
Goulding & Crook, Boot & Shoe Makers
Gray Thomas, Shopkeeper, Redlynch
Gregory Charles, Ironmonger, Grocer & Harness Maker
Gregory William, Butcher
Gwyer Charles, Farmer, Lodge Farm
Gwyer Elizabeth (Mrs.), Farmer, Woodfalls
Gwyer John, Farmer, Redlynch
Harris George, Beer Retailer, Redlynch
Hickman Francis, Shopkeeper, Redlynch
Hickman Henry, Shopkeeper & Carrier
Hopgood Thomas, Coach Builder & Farmer
Humby William Jnr., Blacksmith & Farrier
Humby William Snr., Blacksmith
Hunt John, Wheelwright
Kendall Samuel, Tailor
Latty Henry, Boot & Shoe Maker
Maidment George, Dairyman, Redlynch
Maidment John, Shoe Maker, Redlynch
Mannings George, Miller, Malster & Corn Merchant
Maton Letitia (Mrs.), Farmer, Charlton
Miles Sussannah (Mrs.), Cooper
Mitchel Samuel, Grocer & Baker
Morton John, Seedsman & Florist
Mursell William, Baker & Grocer
Mussell James, Shopkeeper
Mussell Sarah (Miss), Straw Bonnet Maker
Mussellwhite Samuel, harness Maker
Newman Alfred, Baker, Grocer & Earthenware Dealer, Charlton
Newman Henry, Boot Maker
Nicholas James, Draper & Post Office
Nicholas William, Carpenter & Furniture Broker
Nobbs William, Shopkeeper & Seedsman
Nobbs William, Stationer & Newsagent
Northover Thomas, New Inn
Noyce Samuel Snr., Shopkeeper, Baker & Pork Butcher
Olding Harriet (Mrs.), Blacksmith, Redlynch
Pain Jane (Mrs.), Farmer, Redlynch
Parsons John, White Horse
Parsons Peter, Draper & Grocer
Perren John, Boot Maker & Photographer
Pile James, Dairyman, Whitherington, Charlton
Pitt Samuel, Shirt Maker
Plaskett Francis, Tailor & Deputy Registrar of Births & Deaths
Plaskett George, Shopkeeper, Redlynch
Plaskett Maria (Mrs.), Shopkeeper, Redlynch
Plaskett William, Brick Maker & Farmer, Redlynch
Poore John, Tailor
Read Henry, Draper & Outfitter
Read John, Farmer, New Court
Read Josiah, Farmer, Charlton
Read Thomas, Registrar of Marriages
Read Walter, Farmer, Charlton
Scott William Henry, Inland Revenue Officer
Shelly Stephen, Blacksmith, Redlynch
Sims William, Blacksmith
Small William, Baker, Grocer & Draper
Snelgrove Charles, Carrier, Redlynch
Snelgrove William, Bricklayer
Spear Thomas, Painter
Stradling William, paper Maker
Street John, Builder, Lock's Cottage, Redlynch
Street William, Farmer, Langley Wood
Street William, Farmer, Wick Farm
Taunton Jonathan, Farmer, Packham
Taunton Christiana (Mrs.), Farmer & Maltster
Taunton William, Farmer
Titt William, Boot & Shoe Maker
Till George, Carpenter & Coach Builder
Ward Fredk., Solicitor & at Fordingbridge
Welch Henry Charles, Three Horse Shoes & Boot Maker
Wescomb Joseph, Beer Retailer
Wilkins Daniel, Beer Retailer, Redlynch
Woodford J., Baker & Grocer
Woodlands John, Tanner & Famer
Wort John, Blacksmith & Wheelwright
Wort William, Carpenter, Redlynch