Real Highwayman of Chapel Plaister  Summer 2019   Issue 24 


Our Georgian Past

We continue our history of the Georgian village with a variety of stories from all over the parish.

The fascinating story of John Poulter, the real-life Box Highwayman, his life at Chapel Plaister, his capture, autobiography and the story of his execution are told in graphic detail.

1752 was A Very Odd Year because it was less than nine months long and deeply troubling to the Parish clerk.

The New Road built in 1761 from Corsham altered the future of the village.

Witches, Quakers & Chapels
Just how was Georgian Box religious? Original records of Box Quaker families.

Middlehill Spa Resort
A Tree of Life was depicted at Middlehill in 1626. Did it lead to the Spa developed there?

Left: Was this Box's execution place? (illustrated in GJ Kidston, History of Hazelbury)
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People Index

Edwina Brunt
Box's Shirley Temple (right) from Valens Terrace

Boulton Family
Life after World War 2 for well-known Box family

Memories of Gay Nineties
New Year's Eve Dances recalled in 1950s

​Amelia Oldroyd
Egyptian Explorer who lived at Spa House

Thomas Edward Cook
Searching for details of Box WW2 serviceman
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Places Index

William Smith Pictor
​William Smith Pictor left Box to secure his family's future elsewhere

Kingsmoor House
The Skrine Family headed by the Honourable Sholto Skrine

Albion Terrace, Box Hill
Story of unique terrace of cottages,
its name and its residents

​Rowes at Bailiff's Farm
Wadswick family history at Bailiff (now Manor) Farm

​Brewer Family of Rudloe
​The men who dug Box Tunnel and the family who emigrated
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Box NATS' 2019 History Walks: Heritage, Conservation and Long Gone
There are three new walks in the annual Box NATS History Trails, all free and open to members and non-members. Each one features a unique element of the village history:
  • The Box Conservation Areas 2 June covers the village centre, Ashley and Middlehill/Ditteridge.
  • Heritage Trail (right) 7 July includes Listed Buildings, the beauty of the Box Valley and the development of the hillsides for farming and stone quarrying.
  • The Lost Village at Boxfields 4 August explores the development of Rudloe.
More details of 2019 History Trails attached. To participate please email: boxpeopleandplaces@yahoo.co.uk indicating which walk(s) you are interested in.
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You Wrote to Us
We are a not-for-profit Community website for people who are interested in the history of Box village, in the county of Wiltshire, and its surrounding hamlets. You can record the story of you and your ancestors, correct and add to our articles via the Contact tab or by our email boxpeopleandplaces@yahoo.co.uk.
Shoe Sculpture
The curious incident from 25 years ago - seen right

​Ben Cross
Who was he?

Bullock Clocks
And the Say family

More Otter Hunting
​The story continues
McColl's Insignia
​Story of the building

One Single Ticket
Review of Brunel Novel
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Monica Southard
WW2 service Rudloe Manor

Box Firefighters, 1918
Reflections on fighting blazes in view of Notre Dame blaze
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