Wootton-Baud, population 2123, about 15 miles N. by E. from Devizes, is called in Domesday, 1Vodetono ; it passed to the Bassets of Wycombe, from whom It obtained its distinguishing epithet. The market-house and the towu-hall, as well as the church, which is ancient, are in the centre of the town. The Independents and Primitive Methodists have chapels, and there are National, British, and Infant schools, and an Endowed Free school The market is on Tuesday, and there are four yearly fairs, with a large market for cattle on the second Tuesday in each month.
East or Market Larington, population 1189, about 6 miles S. by E. from Devizes, is iu the valley between the greensand and chalk hills on the north-west aide of Salisbury Plain. The church, which occu pies an elevated site a abort distance west from the town, is in the perpendicular style. The Independents and Baptists have places of worship, and there are National and British schools. The market is on Wednesday, and there is one yearly fair. An iron-foundry and agricultural implement manufactory gives some employment. Malting, gardening, and basket-makiog are carried on.
The followiug are some of the more important villages, with the parish populations in 1851, and a few other particulars :— Aldbourne, or population 1622, about 9 miles S.E. from Swindon, is beautifully situated in a fertile valley, and was once a place of importance, possessing a market and fairs, which have how ever been long disused. The church is of Norman date. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists and Independents have places of worship, and there are National schools. population 1365, about 4 miles W. by N. from Cricklade, is on the left bank of the river Thames, near the Gloucestershire border. The church, which is ancient, has some traces of Norman architecture. The Independents and Primitive Methodists have places of worship. There is a Free school. Steeple-Ashton, population of the tithing 802, about 4 miles E. from Trowbridge, was formerly a market-town and the seat of a considerable clothing manufacture. The parish church is a lofty and elegant structure, with nave, chancel, aide aisles, north and south porches, and a large square tower at the west end. The church was erected about the end of the 15th century. The tower was originally surmounted with a stone spire, which gave the village its specific designation of Steeple-Ashton. The spire was destroyed in two thunder-storms in July and October, 1760. There are here a chapel for Baptists, and a National school. A tesselated pavement, somewhat different in style and material from the usual Roman pave ments, was dug up at bt.ceple-Ashton. Box, population 1987, about 4 miles W. by S. from Corsham, is situated in a beautiful valley watered by a small feeder of the Avon, sometimes called the Box Brook. The parish church is an ancient edifice with a spire. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are National schools. Thero are considerable quarries near Box of the freestone usually called Bath atone, and there are two mineral springs. A station of the Great Western railway is at Box, and the longest tunnel on the line is near this place. Maiden Bradley, population 704, is on the Somersetahiro border, 7 miles S.W. from Warminster. The parish church is a stone edifice with a western tower. It was originally built in the reign of Richard 11., but has undergone repairs and alterations at various periods. In the village are a chapel for Inde pendents and National schools. North Bradley, population of the tithing 937, is about 2 miles S. from Trowbridge. Tho parish church is a commodious structure with a fine Norman tower. There are here an Endowed National school and an asylum for six poor parishioners. Broadcloth and kerseymere are made here. Bratton, population of the chapelry 721, is about 2 miles N.E. from Westbury. Tha parish church la of Norman architecture, and has a tower at one corner sur mounted with a Spire. Bretton camp is an ancient intrenclunent of irregular form, nearly a mile in circuit, and inclosing an area of 23 acres. Brontham, or Bremham, population 1619, is 4 miles N.W. from Devizes. The village is near the site of the Roman station Vorlucio, and some Roman antiquities, consisting of a bath and portions of a teseelated pavement, were found hero about 90 years since. The church, which is large and ancient, has been restored and repewed. It has a chapel richly carved, which contains some ancient banners and armour, and several monuments of the Bayutou family ; the tower, with the spire which surmounts it, is 180 feet high. The Wesleyan Methedists and Baptists have places of worship, and there are National schools. In the vicinity is Sloperton Cottage, long the residence of the poet Thomas Moore, and the house in which he died. Bishop'a-Cannings, population 3925, is about 3 miles N.E. from Devizes. Bishop's-Caonings has a tine cruciform church, with pave and side aisles, transept, south porch, a chantrey on the east side of the south transept, another chantrey chapel, and a lady chapel, now used as the chauceL The church was repewed in 1829. There are National schools. Castle Combe, population 557, about 6 miles N.W. from Chippenham, has an ancient gothic church with a tower, chapels for Independents and Baptists, and National schools. Paper-making and malting are carried on, and in the neighbourhood there are corn mills. Conley, population 1473, is about 5 miles W. by N. from
Warminster, on the Somersetshire border. The church is a neat early English edifice, recently rebuilt, with a square tower. The Baptists and Independents have places of worship, and there is a National school. Crudwell, population 781, is about 4 miles N. by E. from Malmesbury, near the Gloucestershire border. Tho church is a very ancient edifice, but has been altered and repaired at different periods ; it is chiefly in the early English style. The Baptists have a chapel, and there is a National school. Longbridge .Dcrerhill or Deverill, population 1378, about 3 miles S. from Warminster, is so called to distinguish it from four other villages to which the name of Dever hill is common. The church is ancient, and contains the burial-place of the Bath family. Thero are a chapel for Primitivo Methodists, National schools, and some almshouses. Longleat House, the splendid mansion of the Marquis of Bath, standing in a well-wooded park about 12 miles in circumference, is on the border of the county, about 5 miles \V. from Longbridge Deverhill. The clothing manufacture gives em ployment to some persons in the parish. Fonthill Gifford, population 442, is about 2 miles S.E. from Hindon. Tho church, built by Alder man Beckford, is constructed after the mode] of a Grecian temple, with a pediment and a tower surmounted with a dome. There are National schools. The extensive park in which is the site of Fonthill Abbey, lies between Hindon and the village of Fonthill Gifford. The magnificent structure raised here by the celebrated William Beckford, author of Vathek,' was entirely removed after the fall of the lofty central tower in 1825. Froxfueld, population 571, is chiefly noticeable on account of the Duchess of Somerset's Hospital, or almshouses, for 30 widows of laymen and 20 widows of clergymen. The buildings form an oblong quadrangle of considerable extent, and the institution is under the charge of a steward, a chaplain, and other officers. The parish church, which is seated on high ground a short distance from the village, is a brick building with a low tiled roof. Ililperton, popu lation 996, about a mile N.B. from Trowbridge, shares in the cloth and kerseymere manufacture of that town. There are here a small parish church, chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and Baptists, and National schools. East Knoyle, population 1110, is about 2 miles S. from Hindon. The church, a cruciform stone building with a western embattled and turreted tower, stands on elevated ground. There are National schools, a lending library, and a branch of the Wiltshire Friendly Society. East Knoyle was the birthplace of Sir Christopher Wren, whose father was rector of the parish. Lacock or Laycock, population 1653, about 3 miles S. from Chippeuham, near the right bank of the Avon, was formerly a market-town. The church is an ancient gothic edifice with a spire. The Independents have a chapel, and there are National schools. Lacoek Abbey, now the seat of the lord of the manor, was formerly a nunnery, founded about 1232. Potterne, population 1778, about 2 miles S. from Devizes, is pleasantly situated in a sheltered and picturesque valley. The church, a Norman edifice, has been repaired and internally restored. A large square tower, embattled, with turrets and pinnacles, rises from the intersection of the pave and trausepts. There are here a chapel for Wesleyan Methodists, National schools, and some parochial charities. Parton, populatiou 2087, about 4 miles S. from Cricklade, is pleasantly situated on elevated ground. The church is a commodious and handsome era ciforra gothic structure with two towers ; the one which rises from the intersection of the nave and chancel is surmounted with a lofty spire. The Primitive Methodists and Independents have places of worship, and there are National schools. Raneabury, population 2096, on the left bank of the Kennet, about 12 miles S.E. from Swindon. Ramsbury was made tho seat, of the bishopric erected in the 9th or 10th century by tho dismemberment of Wiltshire from the diocese of Sherbourne; the see was removed after an interval to Wilton, and was afterwards reunited to Sherbourne, the cathedral being fixed at Old Sarum, from which it was removed to Salisbury. The church is spacious, and consists of a nave and two aisles, a chance], and a massive western tower. The 1Vealeyan and Primitive Methodists and Inde pendents have places of worship, and there are National schools. Itamsbury formerly had a market. Ronde, population 1128, is about 2 miles W.N.1V. from Devizes. The church, partly rebuilt in 1S33, is a gothic edifice with a square embattled tower at the west end. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, and there are Natiopal schools. Sheraton Magna, or Great Sherston, population 1589, is situated near the head of tha river Avon, about 6 miles W. by S. from Malmesbury. Sheraton is supposed to bo the Sceorstane of tho Saxon Chronicle, the scene of an indecisive battle in 1016 between Edmund H. (Ironside) and Canute, who engaged during the battle in personal conflict. The village is partly within the site of an ancient encampment, part of which is obliterated. The church at Sheraton is a very large cruci form building, comprising a nave, two aisles, transept, and large south porch. It is partly Norman, partly of later date. The Independents and Baptists have chapels, and there are National and British schools.