Box Footpaths: Finding Our Historic Rights of Way Varian Tye March 2020
Box Footpath (courtesy Varian Tye)
It’s good to get out and have a walk in the countryside when spring offers us warm and dry weather. One of the great attractions of Box is that most of us can walk from our homes through open countryside and away from the roads, traffic and air pollution. The official definitive map of footpaths was drawn up by local councils in the 1950s; however, some of the paths were missed out and not registered. We need to do something to add them to official maps in our area before time runs out. There is an urgency because of a government 2026 deadline for recording rights of way on an official record, after which no further paths will be added.[1]
We have 110 public rights of way, footpaths and bridleways recorded in the parish of Box, covering the whole of the village and outlying hamlets. A large number compared to other neighbouring rural parishes: Colerne 49, Biddestone 32, Yatton Keynell 30, Castle Combe 21, Grittleton 32, Nettleton 47 and North Wraxall 19. We are fortunate in having the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens to help keep our existing footpaths open and clear with working parties. There are walks from the Rec carpark led by Sid Gould on the third Tuesday of each month and other monthly, volunteer-led walks on the last Saturday. Wiltshire Council also has a Countryside Access Officer who helps in the maintenance of the rights of way in the parish of Box and also has worked with the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens on working parties in the area. North West Wiltshire Ramblers have a small but enthusiastic workforce who will tackle small projects supported by Wiltshire Council. They recently repaired a stile on footpath BOX56.
Ramblers Association Map
Now the job is to ensure that all our footpaths are recorded on the Definitive Map. To help do this, the Ramblers Association has started an initiative called Don’t Lose your Way to find historic paths that have become lost, sometimes because they have not been walked for many years. They have divided England into 150,000 squares of 1km each and invite us to mark lost paths. The best introduction to their project is through a fascinating video by TV presenter Mary Ann Ochota at: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/dont-lose-your-way-2026/mary-ann-ochota.aspx
You can take part in saving these footpaths through the Rambler’s project launched in February 2020 at:
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/news/latest-news/2020/february/find-map-save.aspx
A claim for finding a historic path needs to demonstrate that a path existed before a certain date (may be 1949 or something like that) and that it has never been legally diverted nor extinguished.
How to Use the Ramblers Map
As you can see from the maps in this article, you get a huge amount of information on the Ramblers' website. First you need to sign up with email and password, then choose an area – start with Box (Wiltshire). You can then choose a precise square that interests you. You can use the < and > buttons to show more or less of the 1900 historic Ordnance Survey map – I chose central Box for the map below and 50:50 of the modern and historic map. You can draw any missing footpath on the modern map, the information will be assembled and Ramblers will try to reinstate certain ones. If the square is already allocated, you will not be able to add comments but your choice doesn’t have to be local. Detailed guidance on navigating the map and using the tools available are given on the site.
We have 110 public rights of way, footpaths and bridleways recorded in the parish of Box, covering the whole of the village and outlying hamlets. A large number compared to other neighbouring rural parishes: Colerne 49, Biddestone 32, Yatton Keynell 30, Castle Combe 21, Grittleton 32, Nettleton 47 and North Wraxall 19. We are fortunate in having the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens to help keep our existing footpaths open and clear with working parties. There are walks from the Rec carpark led by Sid Gould on the third Tuesday of each month and other monthly, volunteer-led walks on the last Saturday. Wiltshire Council also has a Countryside Access Officer who helps in the maintenance of the rights of way in the parish of Box and also has worked with the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens on working parties in the area. North West Wiltshire Ramblers have a small but enthusiastic workforce who will tackle small projects supported by Wiltshire Council. They recently repaired a stile on footpath BOX56.
Ramblers Association Map
Now the job is to ensure that all our footpaths are recorded on the Definitive Map. To help do this, the Ramblers Association has started an initiative called Don’t Lose your Way to find historic paths that have become lost, sometimes because they have not been walked for many years. They have divided England into 150,000 squares of 1km each and invite us to mark lost paths. The best introduction to their project is through a fascinating video by TV presenter Mary Ann Ochota at: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/dont-lose-your-way-2026/mary-ann-ochota.aspx
You can take part in saving these footpaths through the Rambler’s project launched in February 2020 at:
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/news/latest-news/2020/february/find-map-save.aspx
A claim for finding a historic path needs to demonstrate that a path existed before a certain date (may be 1949 or something like that) and that it has never been legally diverted nor extinguished.
How to Use the Ramblers Map
As you can see from the maps in this article, you get a huge amount of information on the Ramblers' website. First you need to sign up with email and password, then choose an area – start with Box (Wiltshire). You can then choose a precise square that interests you. You can use the < and > buttons to show more or less of the 1900 historic Ordnance Survey map – I chose central Box for the map below and 50:50 of the modern and historic map. You can draw any missing footpath on the modern map, the information will be assembled and Ramblers will try to reinstate certain ones. If the square is already allocated, you will not be able to add comments but your choice doesn’t have to be local. Detailed guidance on navigating the map and using the tools available are given on the site.
Left and centre are Modern Ordnance Survey maps. Right is 1900 version. Have a go and see what you can discover.
Other Useful Maps to Consult
The Definitive Rights of Way map for Wiltshire can be found at: https://wiltscouncil.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=43d5a86a545046b2b59fd7dd49d89d22
If you home in, you should be able to get this map with rights of way in purple and bridleways in green, which also shows you the listing number of the footpaths. By right clicking on the Public Rights of Way you will be given a dropdown box giving details of the footpath's reference number and length.
The list of footpaths can be seen by clicking on the drop-down button below. These statements included are correct as of the date of writing this article and are updated when changes take place.[2]
The Definitive Rights of Way map for Wiltshire can be found at: https://wiltscouncil.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=43d5a86a545046b2b59fd7dd49d89d22
If you home in, you should be able to get this map with rights of way in purple and bridleways in green, which also shows you the listing number of the footpaths. By right clicking on the Public Rights of Way you will be given a dropdown box giving details of the footpath's reference number and length.
The list of footpaths can be seen by clicking on the drop-down button below. These statements included are correct as of the date of writing this article and are updated when changes take place.[2]
| box_rights_of_way.pdf |
Those available on the Know Your Place website include the 1844-1899 Ordnance Survey maps and can be found under the Know Your Place Map for Wiltshire at: http://www.kypwest.org.uk/
Other Paths: Claims by Use
Finding historic footpaths by map and claiming rights of way are different to a footpath claimed by use, which is when a significant number of people have walked a path for a twenty-year period as of right (that is, not a permissive path nor one by trespass etc) and yet it is not on the Definitive Map.[3] This also involves a lot of paperwork for an application for a DMMO (Definitive Map Modification Order) but it is more about finding people to fill in the declaration forms than about searching through historic documents. A Modification Order was recently made at Rudloe due to walkers claiming use of footpaths in the area. Footpaths 107A, 107B and 107C rights of way were added to the Definitive Map.
Why Save Historic Footpaths?
Of course, these ancient rights of way are part of our history and show the continuity of the village and its people but they are much more than that. They often show features such as windmills, ford crossings, and manufacturing sites now demolished and lost. Remember that every path was to connect someone to a place considered important in our past. All of this can be done across the country not just Box and from the safety of your home. The more involved and reporting that is undertaken, the better for the country and our future.
In the six weeks since the website was launched, the Ramblers Association report that thousands of people have joined the search for lost paths, and have mapped most of England and Wales. You can sign up to hear how many lost paths have been found at: https://dontloseyourway.ramblers.org.uk/
We would love to hear more at Box People and Places if you find something to add to the Definitive Map. Incidentally, nil returns are equally as useful as squares where lost paths may have been found.
Other Paths: Claims by Use
Finding historic footpaths by map and claiming rights of way are different to a footpath claimed by use, which is when a significant number of people have walked a path for a twenty-year period as of right (that is, not a permissive path nor one by trespass etc) and yet it is not on the Definitive Map.[3] This also involves a lot of paperwork for an application for a DMMO (Definitive Map Modification Order) but it is more about finding people to fill in the declaration forms than about searching through historic documents. A Modification Order was recently made at Rudloe due to walkers claiming use of footpaths in the area. Footpaths 107A, 107B and 107C rights of way were added to the Definitive Map.
Why Save Historic Footpaths?
Of course, these ancient rights of way are part of our history and show the continuity of the village and its people but they are much more than that. They often show features such as windmills, ford crossings, and manufacturing sites now demolished and lost. Remember that every path was to connect someone to a place considered important in our past. All of this can be done across the country not just Box and from the safety of your home. The more involved and reporting that is undertaken, the better for the country and our future.
In the six weeks since the website was launched, the Ramblers Association report that thousands of people have joined the search for lost paths, and have mapped most of England and Wales. You can sign up to hear how many lost paths have been found at: https://dontloseyourway.ramblers.org.uk/
We would love to hear more at Box People and Places if you find something to add to the Definitive Map. Incidentally, nil returns are equally as useful as squares where lost paths may have been found.
References
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/feb/11/walkers-urged-to-help-save-historic-footpaths-before-2026-deadline
[2] Ali Roberts (Miss), Definitive Map Officer, Rights of Way and Countryside, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge
[3] I am grateful to Keith Weller for this information and other contributions
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/feb/11/walkers-urged-to-help-save-historic-footpaths-before-2026-deadline
[2] Ali Roberts (Miss), Definitive Map Officer, Rights of Way and Countryside, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge
[3] I am grateful to Keith Weller for this information and other contributions