English Heritage sites near Fonthill Gifford Parish
OLD WARDOUR CASTLE
3 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
Set in landscaped grounds beside a lake in peaceful Wiltshire countryside, these 14th century ruins provide a relaxed, romantic day out for couples, families and budding historians alike.
BRATTON CAMP AND WHITE HORSE
13 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
Below an Iron Age hillfort stands the Westbury White Horse. Cut into the hillside in 1778, it replaced an older horse, possibly commemorating King Alfred's nearby victory over the Vikings.
FIDDLEFORD MANOR
13 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
The principal parts of a small stone manor house, probably begun about 1370 for William Latimer, Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset. The hall and solar chamber display outstandingly fine timber roofs.
STONEHENGE
13 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
Walk in the footsteps of your Neolithic ancestors at Stonehenge – one of the wonders of the world and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe.
OLD SARUM
14 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
Site of the original Salisbury, this mighty Iron Age hill fort was where the first cathedral once stood and the Romans, Normans and Saxons have all left their mark during 5000 years of history.
NUNNEY CASTLE
14 miles from Fonthill Gifford Parish
Picturesque moated castle built in the 1370s. Held for the King during the Civil War, falling to Parliamentarian cannon in 1645: the gun-damaged wall finally collapsing on Christmas Day 1910.
Churches in Fonthill Gifford Parish
Fonthill Gifford: Holy Trinity
Fonthill Gifford
+44 (1747) 87195
Holy Trinity Church is on the road between Tisbury and Hindon, conveniently situated next to the Beckford Arms (SP3 6PX). Built in 1866 by the second Marquis of Westminster, it replaced an older church of Saint Nicholas on the same site built by William Beckford, Lord Mayor of London, purchaser in 1747 of the Fonthill estate and father of the builder of Fonthill Abbey.
This present church is described as "a remarkably complete example of an estate church of the High Victorian period, with all its furnishings and one of Wyatt's best churches". With such a patron as the Marquis of Westminster there was clearly no shortage of funds for its construction and decoration, and this was manifested in the interior design and the rich stone carving of the chancel arch. The pulpit and font were given by Alfred Morrison.
The church is currently in full use and part of the Nadder Valley Benefice under the care of the Team Rector resident in Fovant. There is a service every Sunday, alternating between an early Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and a service of Morning Prayer (Mattins) at 11.15. Details are on the church gate and in the local magazine "Focus". All our services are from the Book of Common Prayer.
In normal times the church is always open on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 1000 to 1600 in winter and to 1700 in summer. Hopefully this will be resumed after the current COVID19 pandemic. At other times the church can be opened on request to the Churchwarden whose telephone number is shown by the church door.
Pubs in Fonthill Gifford Parish
Beckford Arms
Hindon Lane, Fonthill Gifford, SP3 6PX
(01747) 870385
beckfordarms.com