HAVE you ever wondered what lies behind the high walls of the Leighton Estate or want to find out the secrets behind one of Westbury’s historic houses? Westbury has now joined a National Heritage event that will unlock parts of the town you have never seen before.
Next month, Westbury is taking part in the National Heritage open days, which gives everyone the opportunity to visit places of historic interest that are not usually open to the public. This will be the first time the town has taken part, with the hope to continue in future years.
The event is a joint effort between the town’s heritage society and Westbury Town Council.
“We have only listed four visits on the national website as it is our first time, but we are hoping this will be just the beginning,” said Sally Hendry, town councillor and chair of Westbury Heritage Society. “Next year we will have more!
“It is a great opportunity to see more of Westbury’s heritage and we hope it will boost interest in the town history and in our blue plaque trail.”
The four sites for visitors will be Leighton Estate; Pinniger Finch medieval window and the Quaker burial ground; Westbury House; and St Mary’s Church in Old Dilton.
The event takes places from Thursday 6th September to Sunday 9th September. Full details of times and bookings are on the website www. heritageopendays.org.uk. Leaflets containing details of Westbury’s historic buildings and the town’s blue plaque trail are available from the Heritage Centre in the High Street or online at www.westburytown council.gov.uk.
Leighton Estate is Westbury’s most important historic private estate, currently owned by the Ministry of Defence, and is home to the Army Officer Selection Board. But the 40-acre estate has been a part of Westbury’s history since the 1500s and contains a Grade Two listed manor house, stables, fishing lake and acres of rare trees, walled gardens and orchard.
This will be open Saturday 8th September: tours at 11am, 2pm and 4pm and Sunday 9th September: tours at 11am, 2pm and 4pm. Pre-booking is essential. Book your place by emailing sjbh52@icloud.com or call 01373 229981.
Please note, as this is a working MoD site, photo ID will be required either as driving licence or passport. Tours will last about one to one and a half hours and involve lots of walking. No parking.
Pinniger Finch medieval window and the Quaker burial ground is a rare opportunity to see inside one of Westbury’s oldest rooms which has a late fourteenth century two-light window.
In the grounds of the building you can also see a Quaker burial ground. This was in use from around 1720 until 1814. Most of the burials were of members of the Matravers family. The burial ground is currently being restored as a community project.
Opening Times: 12 till 2pm on Thursday 6th September and Friday 7th September. No booking required.
Westbury House is one of Westbury’s most prominent Grade II buildings, once the home of millowners such as William Matravers, Abraham Laverton and Benjamin Overbury. The ground floor of this building has been the town library since 1970, but the Heritage Open Days event gives the opportunity to view the rest of the house, which is usually closed to the public.
The house still retains much of its historic features including decorative moulded ceilings, cornices, sash windows with decorative finger lifts, stained glass windows, fireplaces and a wide oak staircase with a heavily decorated dado panel. The stairwell is lit by a large glass dome or lantern.
The guided tours promise a wealth of information about this fascinating house whose occupants included some of Westbury’s most important residents including James Wilson, MP and founder of The Economist. There is also reputed to be a ghost!
Opening times: Thursday 6th September and Friday 7th September tours at 11am and 3pm. Saturday 8th September tour at 11am. Book your place by visiting the library or telephone 01373 822294.
St Mary’s Church in Old Dilton is a time capsule from the eighteenth century, not available to the public unless accessed with a keyholder.
There are some surviving medieval pews and a tiny schoolroom complete with fireplace. The royal arms of George III are on the chancel wall and the church has a fifteenth century octagonal font. St Mary’s lies down a pretty wooded lane near the river Biss. It was declared redundant in 1973 and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is still consecrated with two services each year, one of which is by candlelight as the church has no electricity.
Opening times 10am to 4pm Thursday 6th September to Sunday 9th September. At other times the church can be accessed through the key holder.
Exterior of medieval window at Pinniger Finch.
St Mary’s Church, Old Dilton
Blue plaque for Pinniger Finch.
Historic image of Westbury House interior.
Historic image of Westbury House exterior.
