Horningsham
| Horningsham | |
|---|---|
 Horningsham
|
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| Horningsham shown within Wiltshire | |
| Population | 327 (in 2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST811416 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Warminster |
| Postcode district | BA12 7xx |
| Dialling code | 01985 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | |
Horningsham is a small village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, on the county border with Somerset. The village lies about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of the town of Warminster and 4 1⁄2 miles (7 km) southeast of Frome, Somerset.
The parish forms part of the Longleat estate and includes the hamlets of Hitcombe Bottom and Newbury.
At Baycliffe Farm, in the south of the parish near the boundary with Maiden Bradley, are the site of an early Iron Age settlement and a Bronze Age bowl barrow. Entries in the Domesday Book describe Horningsham as very small, being occupied by one cottager and four small holders.
The name 'Horninges-ham' means 'Horning's homestead' in Old English. The personal name probably comes from the uncomplimentary noun 'hornung' meaning 'bastard'.
Close to the parish boundary on the road to Frome are the remains of Woodhouse Castle, where earthworks and fragmentary ruins, largely cellar walls, survive. In the 17th century it was owned by the Cavalier Arundel family and consequently attacked during the English Civil War. The damage was so severe that it was impossible to return to the castle when peace was restored. The family moved into Horningsham and built themselves a fine manor house below the church.
The manor changed hands several times before the Thynnes purchased it for the second time in 1716. The Vernon family, who held it during the 12th century, were the founders of the village church. The Stantors then held it for the next 200 years, selling to Sir John Thynne c. 1550. After the Civil War the manor was in the possession of the Arundels. Sir John Thynne (Longleat's builder) had already increased the size of the parish by buying more land. His descendant Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath was interested in forestry, and engaged Capability Brown to plant large plantations of beech and pine. Gradually forestry and farming were established as the two main sources of employment and this did not change until the late 20th century, when tourism took over.
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