Alton Barnes, Alton Priors, The Pewsey Vale - A History

Hidden Wiltshire podcasters Glyn Coy and Paul Timlett get behind the camera this time to interview local historian David Carson MBE about the villages of Alton Barnes and Alton Priors and the landscape that surrounds them.
We learn about the origins of Alton Barnes and Alton Priors, from their Saxon origins right through to the Swing Riots in the 1800's. We also head up on the hills of the Pewsey Vale to discuss the Neolithic Adam's Grave and Golden Ball Hill before venturing on to the medieval Wansdyke. A recent archaeological dig may finally provide us with a date for this mysterious earthwork. David's family have farmed the land around Milk Hill, Walker's Hill and Golden Ball Hill for generations. His rich knowledge really brings the history to life as we walk through the very places we talk about.
The Pewsey Vale is a stunning backdrop to this video, surely one of the most beautiful locations in Wiltshire, as well as the highest points in the county.
Credits:
Historian: David Carson MBE
Presenters: Glyn Coy and Paul Timlett
Director: Paul Timlett
Producer and Editor: Glyn Coy
Video Camera: Adam Timlett
Production Assistant: Rohan Coy
Music: Hills Hiding Hangars by Steve Dixon (www.stevedixon...)
A Hidden Wiltshire Production 2022
www.hiddenwilts...

[@mikepowell2776]

Thank you for a superb presentation. It has quite rejuvenated my dormant interest in local history - as a culmination of which all history is formed and which, in turn, reflects the ‘bigger picture.’ Everywhere has its stories. It’s a pity not all are investigated and published so well. Again, many thanks.

[@artlein]

Many thanks to local historian David Carson MBE. Very enjoyable presentation and learned a lot about your beautiful countryside.💜💐

[@JonnyHamster]

Showed this film to my wife who was brought up in Stanton St Bernard (we married at the church) and attended Alton Barnes school and church. It's a beautiful part of the UK, so full of history. All too often one doesn't appreciate the places you grew up until much later in life.

[@natalieawdry993]

This is excellent. Really interested and incredibly well produced.

[@TimAndrews28]

Brilliant film, thanks for sharing it.

[@michaelreardon846]

Fantastic video, great combination of the video / drone shots with explanation from an expert who can put the landscape and people who would have lived in this area into context. Wondered whether it would add to the podcasts, a resounding yes!! Will depend on the subject as to how impactful videos will be.

[@ruthjudd272]

Thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the home of my ancestors.

[@AndyJarman]

Tolkein's Shire.

[@spudspuddy]

Pewsey is a lovely area, I spent my school hols in the 50s & 60s in Eastern Royal with my great Aunt, fond memories of her old thatched cottage near the ford, loved every minute of it.

[@gordonspringford7198]

Absolutely wonderful film - I really enjoyed it and learned a lot - thank-you

[@AndyJarman]

You can tell he's a farmer, casually sits down with his back to some bullocks!

[@PaulTimlett]

He’s not! His brother is the farmer 😁

[@MilitaryAircraftVideos]

Very nice Glyn. Having just walked a section of the Wansdyke (poss 'Woden's Dyke') starting & finishing in Bishops Canning, the aerial shots were great to see as puts it in context with the landscape. A Land rover is cheating though!

[@AndyJarman]

I now live in Western Australia, videos like this make me SO homesick!

[@colinmcnally5931]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video of what is Sacred Lands in Pewsey Vale. Wiltshire is my favourite place in the world. Its just got so much history and in such glorious countryside.

[@SLDM1962]

What do they align with, both geographically and astronomically. Where are the waters sources ?

[@AndyJarman]

I have never drawn a connection between a turnstyle at say a football stadium, and the style on a footpath before! Fascinating.

[@jonathanspanswick9854]

I was born and brought up in Beckhampton and this was my playground. So good to hear about it and see it again after many years, thanks.

[@LandscapesDronescapes]

Hi. Did the UCL archeology project determine any dates for The Wansdyke at all? I cannot seem to locate much online. Great video and thanks in advance!

[@hiddenwiltshire]

The work has been completed but not officially published yet - which is frustrating ! We all want to know.

[@PaulSpringford]

This is a beautiful piece of work and highly informative. My ancestors were agricultural labourers in the Vale in the 18th and 19th centuries, and some of them were involved in and punished for machine breaking. Congratulations and thanks for sharing this.

[@jonathanstedman4149]

My grandmother who was a 3 field farmer's daughter from Norfolk who moved to Marlborough when a her husband became headmaster of the grammar school in 1930's and she talked about the shocking poverty of the farm labourer's kids she had to feed before they went to school. Nothing like she had seen in Norfolk. Modern fertilizer makes Wiltshire different to what it was. Your ancestors had it very tough. Beautiful film and in my mind , still home.

[@AndyJarman]

David Carson is quite a resource, a local, well read, and alive to his sense of place.

[@Chiller11]

He is obviously extremely knowledgeable. His explanations of the local/regional sites from memory are quite impressive.

[@johnmoore1290]

The England of my imagination. Hope you can preserve it!

[@celestenova777]

Great video and aerial film. Amazing to see the earthworks - all that digging! Lovely majestic yew trees at the church, we have quite a few here in Dorset in churchyards. Thanks, and great history talk.

[@janecantellow7413]

Much enjoyed this - and many happy memories from the not quite so distant past :) Thank you!

[@hedleythorne]

I really enjoyed that, thank you.

[@joelnolan7642]

loved the stone in the floor of the church. great video and I enjoyed watching the whole thing.

[@ewanpakula2810]

stunning shots!

[@MrNas42]

Tremendous!

[@tweedyoutdoors]

Thanks, this was such a goldmine of information on subjects I find fascinating in this area, and really well presented!

[@hiddenwiltshire]

Many thanks Tweedy, much appreciated. I've also discovered your channel, so will be taking a look !

[@alexguest9937]

My view is that Wansdyke is actually contemporaneous with Avebury. Nothing to do with the Anglo-Saxons or even the Celtic pre-Roman tribes. And was self evidently a semi-defensive boundary marker, just like Offa's dyke. There are people who believe that it's a canal. Even though the topography of it goes up and down. So without the benefit of locks to bring the level of the water along the 'canal' up and down (something the Victorian engineers went to great pains to deal with at Foxton Locks), how did the water in it go uphill and downdale???? Utter rubbish! That whole area is truly stunning. I'd love to live there somewhere.