Ramsbury, Aldbourn and Neighbours
Ramsbury is a large village in the parish and hundred of its name, 70 miles from London, 7 from Marlborough, and 5 from Hungerford; pleasantly situated upon the river Kennet, upon which are some corn mills. In the time of the Saxons this was a place of some consequence, being the see of a bishop, united to Sherborne first, and then tralsated to Old Sarum. It was at one time noted for its beer, but no particular trade or manufactures are now conspicuous in thre place. The places of worship are, the parish church, a large structure with a tower; and two dissenting chapels. Sir Frances Burdett, Bart. Is proprietor of an estate and mansion here; he is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet annually. There are two annual fairs, one held on the 14th of May for cattle, and the other on the 11th of October for hiring agricultural servants. Wtihin the parish bounds are the tythings of Axford, Eastridge, and the Town tything, containing together, the the census of 1821, 2,335 inhabitants.
Aldbourn is a village and parish in the hundred of Selkey, 3 miles north of Ramsbury, and was once of much greater extent and consequence than at this period, haviung had a flourishing market; but a file, which happened in 1760, consumed 72 houses, and property to the amount of £20,000. was destroyed by the dreadful conflaguration. Seasonable relief was afforded to the sufferers by a national subscription, but the market afterwards was never good, and is now extinct. The manufacture of fustians at one time employed the capital of many respectable residents here, but that branch of trade is nearly lost, and the place is fast merging into an obscure village. The church, which is a fine structure, is the only building that is likely to engage the attention of the passenger through Aldbourn. The parish contained, in 1821, 1,385 souls.
Post office, Ramsbury, John Woodruff, postmaster. – Letters from all parts arrive (by horse post) from Hungerford every morning at half-past seven, and are despatched every afternoon at half-past 5.
Gentry and clergy.
Blackman Dr James, Ramsbury
Brown Miss Mary Ann, Aldbourn
Craven Major, Chilton
Greenwood Rev. Wm. Ramsbury
Hill Thomas, gent. Aldbourn
Merrick Dr. Edward, Ramsbury
Merrick Rev. Arthur, Ramsbury
Neate Stephen, gent. Aldbourn
Pearse John, esq. Chilton house
Popham Lieut.-Gen. Littlecot house
Seymour John Richard, esq. Crowwood
Smith Thomas, esq. Manor house, Ramsbury
Williams Rev. Morgan, Aldbourne
Professional Persons in Ramsbury
Kite Alfred, surgeon
Lesage Charles Francis (professor and teacher of French)
Rowland William, attorney
Academies & Schools
Cooper Charlotte (day) Ramsbury
Lesage Ann (boarding) Ramsbury
Merrick Rev. Arthur (gent.’s boarding) Ramsbury
Odam William (boarding, &agent for the Globe Insurance) Ramsbury
Inns and Public Houses
Bell, Anthony Buckland, Aldbourn
Bell, Stephen Tomlins, Rmsbry
Bleeding Horse, Silvester Butler, Ramsbury
Blue Boar, Sarah Pearce, Aldbourn
Burdett Arms, Jno. Fowler, Rmsbry
Castle, John Woodruff, Ramsbury
Crown, Thomas Tomlins, Aldbourn
Malt Shovel, G. Alexander. Rmsbury
Shopkeepers & Traders
In Ramsbury when not otherwise mentioned
Alexander Ambrose, wheelwright
Alexander John, Wheelwright and shopkeeper
Andrews James, blacksmith
Andrews John, blacksmith
Ashley John, tanner
Ball George, tailor
Ball Henry, linen draper, &c.
Bayman James, boot & shoe maker
Beezley James, boot & shoe maker
Biggs John, shopkeeper
Bridgman Js. bell founder, Aldbourne
Brown Sophia, straw hat maker
Bushell Geo. watch & clock maker
Copland Ann, straw hat maker
Copland Rosanna, straw hat maker
Copland William, blacksmith & shopkeeper
Cowley Joseph, shopkeeper
Cox John, bricklayer
Cue Jno. tallow chandler, Aldbourn
Day Harriet, saddler & harnes mkr
Dymock Sarah, shopkeeper
Edwards William, miller
Fosbury Robt. B. brewer & maltster
Frankland William, parish clerk
Goddard Elizabeth, shopkeeper
Goddard Thomas, tanner
Gould Charles, maltster, Aldbourn
Hadderal My, milliner & dress mkr
Hazell & Edwards, maltsters
Hazell William, baker & shopkeeper
Heiron Daniel, shopkeeper
Herring Ann, shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Hill George, grocer, druggist & undertaker, Aldbourn
Hill Mary, milliner & dressmaker
Hill Richard, grocer, spirit dealer and tallow chandler
Hinwood Thomas, currier
Irons Daniel, carpenter
Langfield James, carpenter
Landsdowne John, wheelwright
Large John, grocer and draper
Lawrence Jane, shopkeepr, Aldborn
Lawrence John, basket maker
Lawrence Silas, hair dresser
Lawrence Ts. glover & breeches maker
Liddiard Dnl. parish clerk, Aldbourn
Luke Jas. carpenter
Luker John, plumber, painter and glazier
Martin Henry, butcher
Martin Joseph, bricklayer
Martin William, butcher
Maslin John, furrier & shopkeeper
Maslin Jonathan, boot & shoe mkr
May Thomas, maltster, Aldbourn
Miller Chas. plumber, painter, &c.
Osmond John, miller
Osmond Steph. maltster, fellmonger & baker
Palmer Grace, baker & shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Palmer Martin, baker & shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Palmer WM. shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Pearse Catherine, baker
Pizzie Caled, butcher, and boot and shoe maker, Aldbourn
Pullen, Daniel, tailor
Reason Elizabeth, shopkeeper
Reason George, carpenter
Sheppard Jas. straw hat maker, Aldbourn
Sheppard John miller
Smith John, baker & shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Smith Jos. Miller, maltster & blacksmith, Aldbourn
Smith Joseph, baker
Spearing William, maltster
Stevens Joseph, carpenter
Tamage Jas. shopkeeper
Taylor Steph. tailor & shopkeeper, Aldbourn
Twycross James, tailor
Waight Richard, shopkeeper
White Mary, blacksmith
Wilkins Mary, agent for the Norwich Union Fire Office
Wilson Geo. butcher
Witts Broome, fustian manufactr. Aldbourn
Wyatt John, architect
Zillwood Philip, agent for the Salamander Fire Office
Coaches
To LONDON, a Post Coach (from Swindon) calls at the Bell every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at half-past seven; goes thro’ Hungerford, Newbury, Reading, Mainenhead &c.
To SWINDON a Post Coach (from London) calls at the Bell, every Tiesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at 5.
Carriers
To LONDON, William Blagrave, every Tuesday
To MARLBOROUGH, Samuel Fowler, every Wed. & Sat.
