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.
The hamlet lies in Bremhill parish,[1] 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,[2] a tributary of the River Marden; the Cowage Brook is joined here by Fisher's Brook. Until Bremhill parish was enlarged in 2025, the land to the south of the Cowage Brook was in Calne Without parish.[3]
The first houses were probably built here in the late 17th century or early 18th.[2] The single-arch stone bridge over the brook is probably from the late 18th century.[4] Some cottages were built in the 19th century by the Bowood estate.[5]
The name Rattle was used in the past, appearing on the 1925 Ordnance Survey map,[6] but by 1938 the name Ratford was in use.[7]
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.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Election Maps: Great Britain". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Community Governance Review 2021/22: Final Recommendations of the Electoral Review Committee" (PDF). Wiltshire Council. October 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ 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.