SWALLOWCLIFFE SOCIETY (HISTORY AND NATURAL HISTORY)

Swallowcliffe is a small south Wiltshire village, with a population ofless than 200. As an agricultural community, it has an ancient history, and the Saxon Swealawanclif Charter dates from 940 AD. From the 12th century, the church was a prebend of the Dean of Salisbury. For nearly two hundred years, it was part ofthe Pembroke Wilton Estate. Since then, over the last hundred years, Swallowcliffe has experienced great social change, leaving few employed on the land. Change is inevitable, but Swallowcliffe is still a special place for many people. There are over a hundred members of the Swallowcliffe Society, some in a supporting role. Membership is open to all with Swallowcliffe associations, past or present.

RESEARCH AND RECORD
Formed in 2001, the Society emerged from a successful Millennium project which included an embroidered village map (displayed in village hall) a flora and fauna survey and historical research. Volume 1 of Swallowcliffe papers was published. Members are encouraged to research and record a range of local interests and the Society aims to publish when possible. Research adds to an extensive archive of Swallowcliffe material, built up since 2000. (Photocopies are kept when originals are returned to the owner or passed to the County Record Office).

ONGOING PROJECTS
THE SWALLOW CLIFFE BUILDINGS RECORD
Started in 2000, participation in this project is spread throughout the Society, as members can research their own house history.
Organized with the Wiltshire Buildings Record, there have been two field days in Swallowcliffe. Each file covers a Swallowcliffe building and its social history, and may include maps, photographs, deeds, plans of the building and alterations, sales particulars, family histories, wills, "memories", and other relevant information. About forty properties are in an advanced stage of recording, including some "lost" buildings.

HAVE YOU ANY INFORMATION FOR THE SWALLOWCLIFFE BUILDING RECORD? WE MAYBE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Contact the Swallowcliffe Society Co ordinators
Margaret Staniforth 01747 870255 dms.hive@tesco.net or
Sara Cooke 01747873 005 ndsjcooke@tiscali.co.uk

LANDSCAPE HISTORY
This is another general theme which enables us to record Swallowcliffe, past and present. Swallowcliffe Enclosures, the Tithe Map and Field names are among the topics, also a Tree survey. We hope to make this our contribution to a "Village Histories" project sponsored by our local AONB. (Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs)

CONTACT WITH MEMBERS
There is an annual meeting plus regular newsletters for members. (a formula that works in a small village). Recent newsletters on web site ..

PUBLICATIONS
1, "Charters and Churches of Swallow cliffe". 2, "Aspects of the History and Natural history of Swallowcliffe". 3, "Swallowcliffe Before the Norman Conquest". 4, parts 1&2 "A Sculptor in Swallowcliffe" Forthcoming volumes, " Swallowcliffe Enclosures". "The London Elm, Place and People".

Castle Ditches hillfort with the details of the survey made by English Heritage, and a concept of the Iron Age huts once there.	A 7thC "handbag brooch" from Swallowcliffe Downs, and a view of the village from there.

 

AGM
Our Annual meeting takes place on a Friday evening in October in the Village Hall. Current research and the latest additions to the Archive, is displayed. Business is followed by a light supper for members. The occasional group visit (relevant to Swallowcliffe history or natural history) may take place in the spring or summer.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription is due at the time of the AGM, when accounts for the year are published. To encourage wide support, our membership subscription is kept low at £3 per couple or £2 for a single member. AFFILIATIONS The Swallowcliffe Society has group membership of the Wiltshire Buildings Record and the Wiltshire Local History Forum.

 

 

View the Swallowcliffe diary for the latest activities