Box Parish Council Offices Alan Payne, August 2026
The opening of the council offices 1958 performed by Major CE Awdry (second right) with Bill Chaffey and Mr & Mrs Stan Harper (courtesy The Wiltshire News, 31 October 1958)
Every so often the location of offices for Box Parish Council becomes an issue. The underlying problem is that the offices need to be used for totally different numbers of people. Often the only occupant of the office is the parish clerk but regularly bigger premises are required for council meetings and occasionally a hall-size room for meetings open to parishioners. These issues were never considered when the council was formed.
Appointment of a Council, 1894-95
Elections for the appointment of the first Box Parish Council took place in October 1894, a keenly fought election.[1] The voting for members of the Parish and the District Council took place in December in Box School.[2] It was recognised as an important event in the development of the village. Results were announced at a large crowd waiting in the rain outside the school after several hours of counting:
Most of those elected were members of the Box middle-classes and there was little representation by the old village authorities (the church or the lords of the manor). Out of familiarity or deference, seven of those elected were stone employers or landlords; four were shopkeepers. Comparatively little representation was deemed necessary for individual hamlets, and no candidates were railway employees.
Early Meetings
The first annual general meeting of the parish council was held in the Box School in March 1895 under the chairmanship of JH Fry, then farming at Hazelbury.[3] From the outset, the importance of parishioners’ concerns were recognised with matters discussed mainly comprised lighting the central village areas (to be paid for out of the general rates), the Box charity organisations, and securing better water supplies.
Thereafter many meetings were concerned with improving the highways, resolving disputed rights of way, and the problem of water cascading down steep village roads and paths. The maintenance of Big Pool Lane from Ashley to Kingsdown was referred by the Parish Council at the request of parishioners to the District Council.[4] Meanwhile the Parish Council took over responsibility for supervising the maintenance of the Box Fire Brigade.[5] The location of these meetings was at the Box Schools. Work increased significantly with responsibility for the Box Burial Board, the proposed sale of Glebe land by the vicar, and conflicting interest in various Common land in the parish.[6] Leadership of the council was soon disputed and by a vote in 1896 JH Fry was replaced by HRN Pictor.
Elections for the appointment of the first Box Parish Council took place in October 1894, a keenly fought election.[1] The voting for members of the Parish and the District Council took place in December in Box School.[2] It was recognised as an important event in the development of the village. Results were announced at a large crowd waiting in the rain outside the school after several hours of counting:
- District Council: Elected RJ Vezey, HRN Pictor, JH Fry, Mrs Fuller; 3 candidates not elected.
- Parish Council: Elected SR Noble, T Merrett jnr, J Hardy, W Bradfield, T Bull, A Chaffey, T Lambert, GJ Shell, H Chandler, Dr Martin, WR Shewring, W Browning, J Milsom, WB Stower, T Stower; 20 candidates not elected. Augustus Perren was the Presiding Officer.
Most of those elected were members of the Box middle-classes and there was little representation by the old village authorities (the church or the lords of the manor). Out of familiarity or deference, seven of those elected were stone employers or landlords; four were shopkeepers. Comparatively little representation was deemed necessary for individual hamlets, and no candidates were railway employees.
Early Meetings
The first annual general meeting of the parish council was held in the Box School in March 1895 under the chairmanship of JH Fry, then farming at Hazelbury.[3] From the outset, the importance of parishioners’ concerns were recognised with matters discussed mainly comprised lighting the central village areas (to be paid for out of the general rates), the Box charity organisations, and securing better water supplies.
Thereafter many meetings were concerned with improving the highways, resolving disputed rights of way, and the problem of water cascading down steep village roads and paths. The maintenance of Big Pool Lane from Ashley to Kingsdown was referred by the Parish Council at the request of parishioners to the District Council.[4] Meanwhile the Parish Council took over responsibility for supervising the maintenance of the Box Fire Brigade.[5] The location of these meetings was at the Box Schools. Work increased significantly with responsibility for the Box Burial Board, the proposed sale of Glebe land by the vicar, and conflicting interest in various Common land in the parish.[6] Leadership of the council was soon disputed and by a vote in 1896 JH Fry was replaced by HRN Pictor.
The Blind House proposed as a parish office (illustration courtesy Box Parish Council)
The council was struggling to decide where its officials could be located. The role of the parish clerk was primarily to record meetings, rather than to be a point of contact for residents, so a permanent site was not needed for this person. But there were other officials to be considered, most notably the Overseer of the Poor and his assistant who were responsible for collecting and authorising distribution of local rates. In 1906 a suggestion was made to kill two birds with one stone by siting the Assistant Overseer in a renovated Blind House.[7]
The school in Box was the location for most of the formal meetings of the council throughout the Edwardian period. But smaller committee meetings could occasionally be held in individual houses. Election as a parish councillor became a badge of honour and it became customary for successful candidates to put an advertisement in the local newspapers thanking voters.[8] Using the school as the council’s address was unsatisfactory for letters (of which there were very many) and WJ Bradfield, parish clerk, often used his home address for correspondence. In the years approaching the Great War almost all meetings took place in Box School.
No Fixed Abode
The regularity of council meetings was severely curtailed during the First World War and the use of the school was increasingly difficult when a regular point of contact was needed. The issue came to the fore with the spread of telephone communication. In 1920 manning the telephone switchboard was limited to the Post Office’s hours of duty and the council applied for an extension. This was refused in favour of the erection of a public telephone kiosk on the pavement outside the building.[9] The need for the parish council became more important as a local point of contact for the government in times of national emergency, particularly military issues.
In the 1920s the council was itinerant within the central location of the village. Several meetings were held in the Methodist Schoolroom, a new building with a large room, conveniently sited at the corner of Chapel Lane.[10] At other times meetings moved next door to the Bingham Hall Library, where an emergency meeting was held in 1926 when the telephone issue returned over the closure of the telephone system on Wednesday afternoons.[11] In 1929 the council had to take the difficult decision to discontinue having a village ambulance due to the high cost of maintenance and small amount of use.[12] Instead, a joint facility was arranged with Corsham.[13]
By the 1930s the location for many quarterly meetings had moved back to the Box Schools along with the annual meeting.[14] But the issue of a return address for parishioners became more difficult in 1933 with the death of Walter John Bradfield of Fairfield (now Highfield) who had served as parish clerk for decades and was the obvious recipient for council correspondence.[15] HJ Rothery, publican of The Queen’s Head, was appointed his successor, defeating RJ Dyer of Townsend and youngster Philip Lambert.[16] It was a short-term appointment because Mr Rothery died in 1936 and in a new election RJ Dyer was appointed ahead of Messrs Ossie Butt, Philip Lambert and Mr Hutchings of Millsplatt. By this time, the work was so demanding that a salary of £30 pa was offered.[17]
The number of council committees and the regularity of meetings proliferated in the 1920s and 30s fuelled partly by the need to ameliorate the effect of economic recession and unemployment. By 1938 there were 21 different meetings in a single year.[18] But by the late 1930s the concept of local democracy was significantly reduced by greater centralisation of the national economy for military needs before the outbreak of the Second World War.[19]
The use of public premises for the war effort meant that any council meetings had to fit in where possible. The Bingham Hall was a regular meeting place. In 1940 it was the location of the retirement of Arthur Chaffey, aged 79, the last remaining member of the original 1895 council committee, an amazing length of service.[20]
Post War Problems
The end of the Second World War exposed how little had been achieved to improve the infrastructure of the village since the high Victorian period. There had been many urgent issues: the decline in the quarry industry, the economic recession of the 1920s and 30s, and the lack of social provision in Box. These problems had taken priority over improving the village. By 1945 the paucity of council houses, the lack of a village hall, the improvement of the Recreation Ground, residents’ rights on common land, and poor local health and education were just some of the issues that the council had to consider.
Some of these issues were so great that the council decided to call meetings of the whole parish. One such matter in 1945 was the decision by the Calne & Chippenham District Council to build a new housing estate at Fete Field (now called Bargates).[21] Other sites suggested were at the bottom of Box Hill opposite The Bassetts. The parishioners opposed the proposal and suggested 12 alternative locations – not all located in Box.
Greater involvement by residents encouraged more correspondence, displays of maps and other proposals for the future. These could be reviewed at the private home of the clerk, Robert Dyer, in Townsend House.[22]This arrangement was put into confusion with the retirement of RJ Dyer in 1953 and the appointment of Stan Harper who lived at Brock-o-Dale, Alcombe, much more distant for most residents.[23] As a consequence, the council rented a room for 10 shillings a week from Tom Merrett, who ran an undertaker’s business at Bourton House, Box High Street.[24] The office was only manned two evenings a week and general meetings were still held in the Bingham Hall or the Methodist Hall.[25]
The school in Box was the location for most of the formal meetings of the council throughout the Edwardian period. But smaller committee meetings could occasionally be held in individual houses. Election as a parish councillor became a badge of honour and it became customary for successful candidates to put an advertisement in the local newspapers thanking voters.[8] Using the school as the council’s address was unsatisfactory for letters (of which there were very many) and WJ Bradfield, parish clerk, often used his home address for correspondence. In the years approaching the Great War almost all meetings took place in Box School.
No Fixed Abode
The regularity of council meetings was severely curtailed during the First World War and the use of the school was increasingly difficult when a regular point of contact was needed. The issue came to the fore with the spread of telephone communication. In 1920 manning the telephone switchboard was limited to the Post Office’s hours of duty and the council applied for an extension. This was refused in favour of the erection of a public telephone kiosk on the pavement outside the building.[9] The need for the parish council became more important as a local point of contact for the government in times of national emergency, particularly military issues.
In the 1920s the council was itinerant within the central location of the village. Several meetings were held in the Methodist Schoolroom, a new building with a large room, conveniently sited at the corner of Chapel Lane.[10] At other times meetings moved next door to the Bingham Hall Library, where an emergency meeting was held in 1926 when the telephone issue returned over the closure of the telephone system on Wednesday afternoons.[11] In 1929 the council had to take the difficult decision to discontinue having a village ambulance due to the high cost of maintenance and small amount of use.[12] Instead, a joint facility was arranged with Corsham.[13]
By the 1930s the location for many quarterly meetings had moved back to the Box Schools along with the annual meeting.[14] But the issue of a return address for parishioners became more difficult in 1933 with the death of Walter John Bradfield of Fairfield (now Highfield) who had served as parish clerk for decades and was the obvious recipient for council correspondence.[15] HJ Rothery, publican of The Queen’s Head, was appointed his successor, defeating RJ Dyer of Townsend and youngster Philip Lambert.[16] It was a short-term appointment because Mr Rothery died in 1936 and in a new election RJ Dyer was appointed ahead of Messrs Ossie Butt, Philip Lambert and Mr Hutchings of Millsplatt. By this time, the work was so demanding that a salary of £30 pa was offered.[17]
The number of council committees and the regularity of meetings proliferated in the 1920s and 30s fuelled partly by the need to ameliorate the effect of economic recession and unemployment. By 1938 there were 21 different meetings in a single year.[18] But by the late 1930s the concept of local democracy was significantly reduced by greater centralisation of the national economy for military needs before the outbreak of the Second World War.[19]
The use of public premises for the war effort meant that any council meetings had to fit in where possible. The Bingham Hall was a regular meeting place. In 1940 it was the location of the retirement of Arthur Chaffey, aged 79, the last remaining member of the original 1895 council committee, an amazing length of service.[20]
Post War Problems
The end of the Second World War exposed how little had been achieved to improve the infrastructure of the village since the high Victorian period. There had been many urgent issues: the decline in the quarry industry, the economic recession of the 1920s and 30s, and the lack of social provision in Box. These problems had taken priority over improving the village. By 1945 the paucity of council houses, the lack of a village hall, the improvement of the Recreation Ground, residents’ rights on common land, and poor local health and education were just some of the issues that the council had to consider.
Some of these issues were so great that the council decided to call meetings of the whole parish. One such matter in 1945 was the decision by the Calne & Chippenham District Council to build a new housing estate at Fete Field (now called Bargates).[21] Other sites suggested were at the bottom of Box Hill opposite The Bassetts. The parishioners opposed the proposal and suggested 12 alternative locations – not all located in Box.
Greater involvement by residents encouraged more correspondence, displays of maps and other proposals for the future. These could be reviewed at the private home of the clerk, Robert Dyer, in Townsend House.[22]This arrangement was put into confusion with the retirement of RJ Dyer in 1953 and the appointment of Stan Harper who lived at Brock-o-Dale, Alcombe, much more distant for most residents.[23] As a consequence, the council rented a room for 10 shillings a week from Tom Merrett, who ran an undertaker’s business at Bourton House, Box High Street.[24] The office was only manned two evenings a week and general meetings were still held in the Bingham Hall or the Methodist Hall.[25]
Above The sign for the Fish and Chip shop is just visible (courtesy Rose Ledbury)
Below the redeveloped premises (courtesy Carol Payne)
Below the redeveloped premises (courtesy Carol Payne)
Finding a Home
These arrangements were clearly unsatisfactory and the council started looking for premises to buy and convert into offices. In 1955 a sub-committee proposed buying Bourton House on Box High Street but this was not accepted by the full committee.[26] Looking for a visible premises in the centre of Box, the council resolved to acquire a site in The Parade on 1956 and undertake substantial redevelopment. They bought two run-down lock-up shops and renovated one of them (a former fish and chip shop) into a clerk’s office, council chamber and toilets.[27]
The total cost was £1,772, paid for out of council reserves, comprising land and premises £650, stage one development £620, and final stage £502. In addition, new furniture cost £200. The offices were opened by Major CE Awdry, chairman of the Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council in September 1958.[28] The architect for the building was Edwards & Webster and local builders included Victor Milsom of Box. Local resident Cecil Lambert was retained in 1962 to design an extension to the building.[29]
The dedicated use of the building avoided council meetings being interrupted by other events such as cinema shows in the Bingham Hall. [30] It was an enterprising development for a parish council at that time when very few own such accommodation.[31] This resolved some council needs but not all, such as open public meetings which were still held in the Bingham Hall (including a dispute over extending the area of street lighting in 1961).[32] And, of course, the premises had to pay their way. There were proposals to open a branch of the Midland Bank from 11am to 2pm Mondays to Thursdays in December 1958.[33] Land at the rear of the site was not needed and the council planned to sell this off to be developed into a doctors’ surgery in 1959 at the request of Doctors Davey and Taylor.[34] That never happened and the site was later redeveloped as a house called The Dean.
For many residents the most enduring image of the council premises was seeing Margaret Carey sitting at the window of the office. She served as parish clerk for a remarkable 48 years until her retirement in September 2025. The job is one of the most difficult roles, acting for honorary representatives with the inevitable churn of councillors, chairmen and committees, Margaret's sage wisdom and selfless dedication helped stabilise the village as it emerged into its present iteration.
Emergency Meetings
It will always be important that the council is relevant for all areas of the parish. In recent times the council has made greater efforts to hold meetings outside of the central village. This is particularly true when significant issues arise in the outlying hamlets but often there is no public space available for large meetings. In this event, the council has shown itself to be even more flexible.
The issue of the development of Box Hill Common in 1978 showed what can be done. The problem was explored by local discussion but local people failed to prove that the land was included in the provisions for public common land. Legal cases seemed to be going in favour of the developers and a decision had to be made urgently whether the council should appeal to the House of Lords. A failure at this level would bankrupt the parish council, so they sought the views of every parish resident by letter and a public meeting in the Selwyn Hall. In the end agreement was reached with the developer for the council to buy the land, funded by a two-year precept on the rates affecting every resident.
Another issue arose in 2015 when Corsham Town Council proposed to take over parts of Box parish around Rudloe and Chapel Plaister. Box Parish Council sought local opinion and fronted a campaign to express its support for those areas which had historically been part of the parish. Their work included promoting Box’s views through stickers, badges saying I Live in Box and bags showing residents support of their locality. An evening meeting was called in the Springfield Centre, Corsham, in October which was packed out in support of Box’s views.
These arrangements were clearly unsatisfactory and the council started looking for premises to buy and convert into offices. In 1955 a sub-committee proposed buying Bourton House on Box High Street but this was not accepted by the full committee.[26] Looking for a visible premises in the centre of Box, the council resolved to acquire a site in The Parade on 1956 and undertake substantial redevelopment. They bought two run-down lock-up shops and renovated one of them (a former fish and chip shop) into a clerk’s office, council chamber and toilets.[27]
The total cost was £1,772, paid for out of council reserves, comprising land and premises £650, stage one development £620, and final stage £502. In addition, new furniture cost £200. The offices were opened by Major CE Awdry, chairman of the Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council in September 1958.[28] The architect for the building was Edwards & Webster and local builders included Victor Milsom of Box. Local resident Cecil Lambert was retained in 1962 to design an extension to the building.[29]
The dedicated use of the building avoided council meetings being interrupted by other events such as cinema shows in the Bingham Hall. [30] It was an enterprising development for a parish council at that time when very few own such accommodation.[31] This resolved some council needs but not all, such as open public meetings which were still held in the Bingham Hall (including a dispute over extending the area of street lighting in 1961).[32] And, of course, the premises had to pay their way. There were proposals to open a branch of the Midland Bank from 11am to 2pm Mondays to Thursdays in December 1958.[33] Land at the rear of the site was not needed and the council planned to sell this off to be developed into a doctors’ surgery in 1959 at the request of Doctors Davey and Taylor.[34] That never happened and the site was later redeveloped as a house called The Dean.
For many residents the most enduring image of the council premises was seeing Margaret Carey sitting at the window of the office. She served as parish clerk for a remarkable 48 years until her retirement in September 2025. The job is one of the most difficult roles, acting for honorary representatives with the inevitable churn of councillors, chairmen and committees, Margaret's sage wisdom and selfless dedication helped stabilise the village as it emerged into its present iteration.
Emergency Meetings
It will always be important that the council is relevant for all areas of the parish. In recent times the council has made greater efforts to hold meetings outside of the central village. This is particularly true when significant issues arise in the outlying hamlets but often there is no public space available for large meetings. In this event, the council has shown itself to be even more flexible.
The issue of the development of Box Hill Common in 1978 showed what can be done. The problem was explored by local discussion but local people failed to prove that the land was included in the provisions for public common land. Legal cases seemed to be going in favour of the developers and a decision had to be made urgently whether the council should appeal to the House of Lords. A failure at this level would bankrupt the parish council, so they sought the views of every parish resident by letter and a public meeting in the Selwyn Hall. In the end agreement was reached with the developer for the council to buy the land, funded by a two-year precept on the rates affecting every resident.
Another issue arose in 2015 when Corsham Town Council proposed to take over parts of Box parish around Rudloe and Chapel Plaister. Box Parish Council sought local opinion and fronted a campaign to express its support for those areas which had historically been part of the parish. Their work included promoting Box’s views through stickers, badges saying I Live in Box and bags showing residents support of their locality. An evening meeting was called in the Springfield Centre, Corsham, in October which was packed out in support of Box’s views.
Conclusion
The needs of the parish council are constantly changing and the idea of single site could never fulfil duties as an office for the parish clerk and open public meetings. Technology also shifts from the need of a post office telephone and postal address to working from home via email. And the shape of the village has also changed – once the Market Place and Parade were the centre of a central shopping rank; now the area has become a residential back lane and the growth of the hamlets encourages greater use of facilities outside the centre. It seems to me that flexibility is the name of the game for this most important topic.
The needs of the parish council are constantly changing and the idea of single site could never fulfil duties as an office for the parish clerk and open public meetings. Technology also shifts from the need of a post office telephone and postal address to working from home via email. And the shape of the village has also changed – once the Market Place and Parade were the centre of a central shopping rank; now the area has become a residential back lane and the growth of the hamlets encourages greater use of facilities outside the centre. It seems to me that flexibility is the name of the game for this most important topic.
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 6 October 1894
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 22 December 1894
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1895
[4] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 21 November 1895
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 23 November 1895
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 18 April and 15 October 1896
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 21 July 1961
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1907
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 17 July 1920
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 15 July 1922 and 19 January 1923
[11] The Wiltshire News, 22 October 1926
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 28 September 1929
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 5 July 1930
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 29 January 1927
[15] The Wiltshire Times, 16 December 1933
[16] The Wiltshire Times, 13 January 1934
[17] The Wiltshire Times, 23 May 1936
[18] The Wiltshire News, 25 March 1938
[19] The Wiltshire News, 21 January 1938
[20] The Wiltshire Times, 29 June 1940
[21] The Wiltshire Times, 20 October 1945
[22] The Wiltshire Times, 2 August and 18 October 1952 and 25 April 1953
[23] The Wiltshire Times, 23 May 1953
[24] The Wiltshire Times, 20 June 1953
[25] The Wiltshire News, 17 July 1953
[26] The Wiltshire News, 8 July 1955
[27] The Wiltshire News, 15 February 1957
[28] The Wiltshire Times, 1 August 1958
[29] The Wiltshire Times 20 July 1962
[30] The Wiltshire News, 12 September 1958
[31] The Wiltshire Times, 31 October 1958
[32] The Wiltshire Times, 12 December 1958 and 10 November 1961
[33] The Wiltshire Times, 26 December 1958
[34] The Wiltshire News, 30 January and 27 February 1959
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 6 October 1894
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 22 December 1894
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1895
[4] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 21 November 1895
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 23 November 1895
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 18 April and 15 October 1896
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 21 July 1961
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1907
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 17 July 1920
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 15 July 1922 and 19 January 1923
[11] The Wiltshire News, 22 October 1926
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 28 September 1929
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 5 July 1930
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 29 January 1927
[15] The Wiltshire Times, 16 December 1933
[16] The Wiltshire Times, 13 January 1934
[17] The Wiltshire Times, 23 May 1936
[18] The Wiltshire News, 25 March 1938
[19] The Wiltshire News, 21 January 1938
[20] The Wiltshire Times, 29 June 1940
[21] The Wiltshire Times, 20 October 1945
[22] The Wiltshire Times, 2 August and 18 October 1952 and 25 April 1953
[23] The Wiltshire Times, 23 May 1953
[24] The Wiltshire Times, 20 June 1953
[25] The Wiltshire News, 17 July 1953
[26] The Wiltshire News, 8 July 1955
[27] The Wiltshire News, 15 February 1957
[28] The Wiltshire Times, 1 August 1958
[29] The Wiltshire Times 20 July 1962
[30] The Wiltshire News, 12 September 1958
[31] The Wiltshire Times, 31 October 1958
[32] The Wiltshire Times, 12 December 1958 and 10 November 1961
[33] The Wiltshire Times, 26 December 1958
[34] The Wiltshire News, 30 January and 27 February 1959