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Overshadowed by the White Horse, the little village of Woolstone lies at the
foot of the downs, its history going back into the Bronze Age.
Largely an agricultural area, the use of a steam plough led to the discovery of
a Roman villa. Excavated in 1884, two mosaic floors were revealed.
It is known from Saxon charters that the Great Spring of Woolstone has been
flowing for 1,000 years. Though it no longer supplies the whole population, it
is still a great deal more pleasant to drink than the piped supply from the main
source.
In 1195, the priory of St Swithun, Winchester built the church of All Saints.
The walls, chalk and sarsen, have weathered well, and it possesses a Norman
doorway and an unusual lead font. The Stations of the Cross, cast in fibreglass,
makes a beautiful addition to the side chapel. The sculptor, Ulrica Seton Lloyd,
lived for many years at Woolstone Lodge.
The village has a number of cottages dating from the 17th century and some very
attractive thatch. It became a conservation area in the early 1970's.
The population has dwindled from around 300 in the 19th century to the present
day when it is in the neighbourhood of 130. It is recorded that Mr and Mrs
Breakspear had 21 children in a small cottage at lower town end, and all but one
survived. Some of the cottages housed more than one family, so there must have
been considerable overcrowding. Life cannot have been easy for the inhabitants.
Water was supplied from wells, or the Woolstone Brook, and the first to pipe
water were the Craven estate who owned the spring in 1862. It was brought to
Manor and Woolstone Farms first, and to the Lodge in around 1910.
Before the Second World War, there was a shop in the village, a laundry, and
even a cobbler. Now there is only the 16th century inn, which does a brisk
trade.
The village school, given by Lord Craven in 1874, closed at the end of the 19th
century. It became the parish meeting place and was at one time a lending
library. Now it has passed into private ownership.
The arrival of George Butler in 1822 was a notable event in the village history.
He saw action under Sir Robert Calder as a boy, and is listed on his memorial in
Uffington church as Captain RN. It was he who converted the original corn mill
to what is now known as Woolstone Lodge. His son William Butler became the
tenant in 1871 until his death in 1917. The Lodge became the focal point of
village life, and his four daughters, none of whom married, virtually ran the
village. They played the organ in the church, gave Bible classes, were
responsible for the Girl Guides, and were in charge of the lending library. The
Butler memorials are in Woolstone churchyard.
It seems appropriate to mention here William Noakes, one time tenant of the inn
and churchwarden. Having a disagreement with the Butler family, he built the
somewhat unusual tower to overlook their property. There he inscribed his
initials and those of his brother and the date 1817. The tower is built in red
brick, with coloured inlay, very much in the style of Keble College, and it
forms a strange contrast with the thatched building next to it.
The sharp bend on the road to Uffington is always known as Miss Newmans Corner,
after the old lady, once a court dressmaker, who lived there. A regular church
attender, Miss Newman was a familiar and much loved figure with her dog. Miss
Newmans spaniels were always black, and they were always called Tessa!
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