Ratford
51°26′35″N 2°01′26″W / 51.443°N 2.024°W
Ratford is a hamlet near Calne in the county of Wiltshire, England, with a population of approximately 50.
It lies around 0.7 miles (1 km) north of the A4 national route, 1.25 miles (2 km) northwest of Calne on a minor road towards Bremhill, 0.6 miles (1 km) away. Other nearby settlements include the villages of Derry Hill and Studley.
The hamlet surrounds a crossing of the Cowage Brook,[1] a tributary of the River Marden; the Cowage Brook is joined here by Fisher's Brook. Land to the south of Cowage Brook is in the civil parish of Calne Without while land to the north is in Bremhill parish.
The first houses were probably built here in the late 17th century or early 18th.[1] The single-arch stone bridge over the brook is probably from the late 18th century.[2] Some cottages were built in the 19th century by the Bowood estate.[3]
The name Rattle was used in the past, appearing on the 1925 Ordnance Survey map,[4] but by 1938 the name Ratford was in use.[5]
The local pub is the Dumb Post Inn, on the north side of Ratford on the lane to Bremhill. Between 1900 and c. 1970 there was a Baptist mission room near the brook.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Crowley, D. A., ed. (2002). "Calne outside the town". A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 17. Victoria County History. University of London. pp. 51–64. Retrieved 2 March 2022 – via British History Online.
- ^ Historic England. "Ratford Bridge (1239936)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ Historic England. "2 and 3, Ratford Hill (1022436)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Six-inch, Wiltshire XXVII.NW". National Library of Scotland. 1925. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey 25-inch, Wiltshire XXVII.1". National Library of Scotland. 1938. Retrieved 2 March 2022.