Eastrop

Settlement in Wiltshire

England

Eastrop

St. Michael's church, Highworth Credit: Gareth James

Eastrop is a small village located in the county of Wiltshire, England. Situated about 3 miles northeast of the market town of Highworth, it is nestled in the picturesque countryside of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The village itself is characterized by its charming and quaint atmosphere. It is primarily residential, with a tight-knit community of around 300 residents. Eastrop is known for its traditional architecture, featuring a mix of stone cottages and larger country houses that date back several centuries.

The surrounding landscape is largely agricultural, with rolling hills and fields stretching as far as the eye can see. This makes Eastrop an attractive destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat from the bustling city life. The village is also dotted with patches of woodland, providing opportunities for scenic walks and outdoor activities.

Despite its small size, Eastrop has a few amenities to offer its residents. There is a local pub that serves as a social hub for the community, providing a place for locals to gather and enjoy a pint. The village also has a small primary school, ensuring that families have access to education within their immediate vicinity.

While Eastrop may lack the amenities and services found in larger towns, its idyllic setting and close-knit community make it a desirable place to live for those seeking a slower pace of life and a strong sense of community spirit.

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Eastrop Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.630528/-1.7014672 or Grid Reference SU2092. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St. Michael's church, Highworth

Gareth James

Looking from Sheep Street towards St Michael, Highworth

Basher Eyre

St Michael, Highworth: churchyard

Basher Eyre

Inside St Michael, Highworth (a)

Basher Eyre

Inside St Michael, Highworth (b)

Basher Eyre

Inside St Michael, Highworth (c)

Basher Eyre

Inside St Michael, Highworth (d)

Basher Eyre

Tennis courts at Highworth Rec

Gareth James

Cemetery chapel, Highworth: early September 2023

The Church of England was not keen on anyone else muscling in on the burial business. The times, however, were a-changing. In 1819 The Rosary Cemetery in Norwich opened as the first interdenominational cemetery in England allowing all to follow their own burial customs. The death knell, quite literally, for traditional overcrowded churchyards was Cholera: they had become a menace to public health. At first cemeteries tended to be in urban centres with fast-rising populations and were funded by private capital. However in 1837 St Bartholomew’s Cemetery in Exeter, opened as the first funded by public money. On 31 August 1848, the first Public Health Act received the Royal Assent and from 1852 to 1857 a series of Burial Acts were passed. In came the modern funeral director, but still people wanted change. In 1874 The Cremation Society was founded: the first legal cremation was at Woking. The first municipal crematorium was opened at Hull in 1901 and by 2017 77% of burials were cremations.

Basher Eyre

Highworth Cemetery on a glorious late summer afternoon (A)

Basher Eyre

Highworth Cemetery on a glorious late summer afternoon (B)

The two Commonwealth War Graves you can see are *Bombardier F.G. Ackling Link

*Private W.T.E Alexander Link

Basher Eyre

Highworth station, 1950

View eastward to the buffer-stops of the terminus of the ex-GWR branch from Swindon (Highworth Junction), closed to passengers 2/3/53, to goods 6/8/62. (See also my SU1992 : Rail Tour at Highworth with a GW Dock Tank).

Walter Dendy, deceased

Highworth: Wrde Hill sign

This might pass as a pronounceable word in Welsh, but it does look rather out of place in a Wiltshire suburb. The explanation is that Highworth was 'Wrde' in the Domesday Book - presumably morphing into the 'worth' bit of the present-day name.

Chris Downer

Highworth Telephone Exchange, Wilts

Situated in Station Road, this TE is of a standard design dating from the early 1970s. It has the code SSHGH and serves 3,708 residential and 164 non-residential premises in Highworth, plus Coleshill, Hannington and Sevenhampton nearby. BT Openreach vehicles can be seen parked in front of this TE. The numbering range of this TE is (01793) 76xxxx, the (01793) referring to the fifteen TEs in the Swindon group, and its postcode is SN6 7DJ.

David Hillas

Highworth railway station (site), Wiltshire

Opened in 1883 by the Great Western Railway as the terminus of a branch line from Swindon, this station closed to passengers in 1953 and completely in 1962. View south west towards Hannington and Swindon, from a similar viewpoint to SU1992 : Highworth station, 1950. The road known as Windrush appears to follow the track of the former railway at this point. No trace of the former station appears to remain here but the station sign does - see SU2093 : The station sign from the former Highworth railway station.

Nigel Thompson

Old Milestone by the B4019, Cricklade Road, Highworth

Carved stone post by the B4019, in parish of HIGHWORTH (SWINDON District), Cricklade Road, West of cemetery. Opposite "The Spinney", on well cut lawn in front of domestic hedge, on South side of road. Highworth Old London Road stone, erected by the Faringdon to Acton Turville (2nd District) turnpike trust in the 18th century. Inscription once read:- (TO) (CRICKLADE) (7) Carved benchmark and rivet on top back. Milestone Society National ID: WI_LBF77.

A Rosevear