2025 - Archived
March '25
Berwick St James
CHURCH NEWS
In March we have our two usual services, with a 9.30am Holy Communion service on Sunday 2nd and a Matins at 11.00a.m on Sunday 16th.
There is also a special Ash Wednesday service for the whole Benefice at 7.00pm on Wednesday 5th March. As the roadworks between Stapleford and Berwick St James are currently scheduled from 4-6th March, leading to closure of the road until 7.00pm (perhaps later if overrunning) each day, we encourage those from other villages to approach Berwick via the A303.
A date for your diaries – we are planning a Lent lunch on Monday 14th April in the Reading Room. More details in next month’s magazine.
Church Electoral Roll. Every 6th year I am required to produce a new Church electoral Roll, and 2025 is the year! The purpose of the Roll is to be the first building block of the church’s governance structure and those on the Roll are entitled to vote at our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, which is taking place in the church on Friday 4th April. For those who are already on the Berwick Roll I will drop a new form in to you. Please fill it in and return it to me (I am very happy to collect as well). For those who wish to be on the Roll, and aren’t at present please let me know and I will drop a form in to you. You do not have to be a church goer to be on this Roll. Many thanks Ailsa Bush 01722 790445.
FURTHER ROAD CLOSURE ALERT
Temporary road closure on the B3083 from the bend before Berwick’s 2nd bridge to the A36 at Stapleford from Tuesday 4th March until Thursday 6th March from 07.00 – 19.00. Wiltshire Council work involves asphalt patch repairs, adjustments of ironwork, reinstating road markings and associated maintenance work. There will be pedestrian access for residents for the duration of the works.
BRIDGE CLOSURE
Full Berwick B3083 Road Closure at River Till Bridge – mid May to early July
Wiltshire Council is planning to carry out works on Berwick’s 2nd bridge. The bridge’s condition has deteriorated and is in poor condition and is now a priority to get work done. The work would involve taking down the existing bridge railings, removing the surfacing and taking down the concrete deck. There will also be a number of large construction machinery on site. On completion the bridge will look similar but the deck would be upgraded to modern standards. This work has to happen and we cannot stop it. Currently the work is scheduled to start on or around 12 May 2025 and it will entail a full road closure at the point of the bridge for 8 weeks. There will be a pedestrian walkway but otherwise no access. We will be liaising with Wiltshire Council to over the many factors that will affect residents and businesses. Some of these are listed in the Village Meeting Minutes. If you have any specific concerns, please contact Julian Glyn-Owen at: [email protected]
TEA and CAKE and CHAT in the READING ROOM
The March Chats are on Tuesdays 4th and 18thMarch from 2.30 – 4pm, come at any time, lovely to see everyone. There is no charge, cakes are welcome too! We very much welcome anyone from our other villages, and visitors too.
OLD FORGE FARM SHOP
Sunday 30th March. Mothers Day Afternoon Tea 2.30pm (Pre Bookings only) £22.95 per person, £10.95 children.
Wednesday 2nd April, Felt Hare workshop. 10am – 2pm £50.
For more information please contact the Farm Shop.
PLANT PRODUCE and FLOWER TABLE supporting C.R.UK
Hello villagers and neighbouring villages.
Hopefully by the time you read this we will be getting brighter days to cheer us. I always aim to get the table up and running for Easter and since Easter is quite late this year I have a chance, fingers crossed. I have got Sweet Pea on the go, pots of highly scented cool blues… I have been busy hardening them off and nipping out the growing shoots for stronger bushier plants they are pretty tough so will withstand any late frost. Chilli plants are tucked up in the propagators. I left the sowing of tomatoes a little later this year, got a nice one called Sungold very sweet with thin skins and big crops. I meant to say in the last mag that 6,708 pounds has been raised since I started the table that’s an awful lot of runner beans lol. I hope to have Cowslips harvested from my own seeds wish me luck. There will be houseplants for sale at the farm shop. Yours Aye Christine.
BERWICK VILLAGE FAYRE – Saturday 7th June 2025 from 1-5pm
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a Village Fayre on Saturday 7th June at The Clock House in Berwick St James. Please invite as many of your family and friends to join us. There will be plenty of fun activities for kids and adults alike plus a number of stalls including a plant sale. Special grill and drink tents provided by roam@TheBoot plus our delicious teas and cakes. Entry is “free” but it is cash only for activities. More details will follow in the coming months. KEEP THE DATE AND JOIN THE FUN! – For further information, contact Carolyn MacDougall 07778565771
Request for plant contribution: The gardening calendar starts to get busier as spring approaches. As you ready you garden for the season ahead, we would be very grateful if you could bear our stall in mind. We would love any spare seedlings if you have sown too many, any herbaceous plants that you are dividing and may be able to pot up, or any excess cuttings. Thank you. Anika Lange and Olivia Marchant.
WILDLIFE WATCH
From Berwick: Since October a flock of about 100 sparrow-sized birds have been seen at the north end of Berwick off the Cricket pitch track. They fly over the field above the houses, then go down on the ground to feed. They sometimes rest of the electric wires. They are probably finches – has anyone else seen them, and can identify them? Also a flock of long tailed tits in a village garden, 10 to 12 of them. The collared doves have been busy raising their families this year. 14 junior collared doves were seen in a small tree in a village garden in January. There are a lot more collared doves these days and they outnumber the wood pigeons in a local front garden.
A barn owl flying over the Guides in the early evening in February, and a Muntjac deer and fawn on Asserton Lane also in early February.
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February '25
Berwick St James
CONGRATULATIONS to David and Ellie O’Neill-Street on the birth of Angus George on 14th January, a brother for Aoife, and also congratulations to very proud grandparents Charles and Nicky, and to all the family.
CONGRATULATIONS also to Gabrielle Smith on the birth of her grandson Bertie, and to Tom and Emily too.
WELCOME to Ignas Laurinavicius who has come to join us in Berwick, we hope you enjoy living here.
GOODBYE and good luck to Amanda and Dave – they haven’t moved far, so we hope to see them in Berwick at the Boot and at the Tea and Chat, and lots of other times.
CHURCH NEWS – FEBRUARY
As previewed last month, we have a busy day on Sunday 2nd February with a Holy Communion service plus the baptism of Thilo Hardy at 10.30am, followed by the wedding, at 3.00pm of Abi Hinchliffe to Jack Mynott, It will be a day of celebrations.
Two weeks later, on Sunday 16th February there is a Matins service at 11.00am.
Many thanks to those who participated in the village Carol singing in December. We had a fun evening and our sincere thanks to Amy at the Boot for the refreshments, to Martin for leading the singing. Cancer Research benefitted by £115.
VILLAGE MEETING
The next Village Meeting is on Wednesday 29th January at 7pm in the Reading Room. All residents are welcome.
TEA and CAKE and CHAT in the READING ROOM
The February Chats are on Tuesdays 4th and 18th February from 2.30 – 4pm, come at any time, lovely to see everyone. There is no charge, cakes are welcome too!
It was great to have so many at the Chat on 7th January (lovely carrot cake). The Tea and Chats will continue twice a month – for as long as you want them!
PLANT PRODUCE and FLOWER TABLE supporting CRUK
Hello villagers and neighbouring villages.
It’s good to be back and planning what to grow, as I said before I didn’t have the best of growing seasons last year but here is to a bumper one this year … but having said that I am so pleased to tell you that 1170 pounds was raised CRUK. Our very best yet thanks to you, our wonderful Farm Shop and Café, and James Carpenter for setting up the QR code.
So here is a breakdown of funds raised… Tombola 249 pounds. Pre loved books 266 pounds, Plants and Produce 655 pounds.
I would very much like the person who donated the amazing Jade Plants to get in touch I need to know what you know 07927371721.
Get those seeds boxes out and lets start planting.. wishing you much peace and happiness in your garden.
I look forward to your continued support in 2025.
Yours Aye Christine X
THE OLD FORGE FARM SHOP
Events in February.
Valentines Day.
Friday 14th February. 3 course evening meal.
School Holidays.
Kids eat for £1 with paying adult, 19th, 20th & 21st February.
Mothers Day
Afternoon tea available by pre booking on 29th & 30th March.
For more details see advert elsewhere in this magazine.
WILDLIFE WATCH
It was great to see the White Tailed Sea Eagle over the farmland to the west of Berwick village, and also over the village itself on 7th January.
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January '25
BERWICK ST JAMES
Happy New Year to you all.
Get Well Soon to everyone who is under the weather.
CHURCH NEWS
I write this in advance of the Carol Service so I am hopeful that all the hard work in making the preparations makes it a memorable service. Enormous thanks to Stephen Bush for taking on the organisation for the service, to Bishop Andrew for coming and taking the service, to Martin Gairdner and choir for the singing, to the flower arrangers for the decorations, to Ailsa Bush for the refreshments. Many other people are involved behind the scenes so sincere thanks to them all.
In January we have our two usual services, a Holy Communion Service at 9.30am on Sunday 5th January. On Sunday 19th, we are planning a Plough Service at 11.00a to celebrate and bless the traditional start of the farming year.
On Friday 24th, starting at 9.30am we are organising a Deep Clean of the church. If you fancy keeping warm by some dusting and polishing, we would be delighted to see you for however long and short a time you can spare. I shall put the church heating on.
Advance notice that he first Sunday in February, the 2nd, promises to be a particularly busy one, with a baptism for Thilo Hardy (son of James and Johanna) in the Holy Communion service starting at a revised time of 10.30a.m. At 3.00pm we have the wedding of Jack Mynott and Abi Hinchliffe, so that Sunday promises a double celebration and we very much look forward to it.
LAUNCH2LEARNING
Berwick residents may have noticed that Launch2Learning have started operations at the Guide Centre. They are there between 9.00am and 3pm Monday-Friday.
Their role is to provide education for children, aged between 5-16, who do not prosper in a traditional educational setting. The approach is based on 1-1 provision in a quiet and calm setting.
The staff made contact via Jonathan Plows and I met them in December. When I visited, they had six children, with a further two expected to start the following week.
The staff want to give the children a sense of doing something for others and so they are baking a number of mini-Christmas cakes and mince pies to make into parcels to be given to individuals in the village. This is very generous and much appreciated.
If you see a number of young children in the village, accompanied by adults, they may well come from the Guide Centre so please make them feel welcome…
TEA and CAKE and CHAT in the READING ROOM
The January Chats are on Tuesdays 7th and 21st January from 2.30 – 4pm, come at any time, lovely to see everyone. There is no charge, cakes are welcome too!
Do you want to move to one Chat each month? Or keep it as it is? And would you prefer the 1st Tuesday or the 3rd Tuesday? Would another afternoon be better? Or are you happy as it is? Please email Nicky on [email protected] with your comments – I really need as many responses as possible!
OLD FORGE FARM SHOP
Christmas Wishes. The lovely Christmas Wishes Afternoon was great fun and the Tree looks lovely. The Christmas Cancer Research Tombola made £238 - a wonderful effort from all for such a great cause. Many thanks to all at The Farm Shop.
Many thanks to Sam and all at the Old Forge Farm Shop for organizing the Needle Felt Gonk making Workshop. It was great fun, and the cakes and sausage rolls very tasty. Looking forward to the next Craft Workshop!
Christmas Closing. The shop will be closed from Tuesday 24th December. And re-open, ready for the New Year, on 2nd January at 9am.
READING ROOM CHRISTMAS FAIR.
A great time was had by all at the Christmas Fair in the Reading Room on 16th November – the room looked bright and cheerful, and full of gifts and raffle, and ready for Christmas. A wonderful amount of £435.50 (including a sale made later on ebay for £15) was raised. Many thanks to all the committee, and everyone who helped, brought donations, came and bought and enjoyed the chat and ginger cake and tea. (and especially to the ones who helped clear up afterwards).
PHOTOGRAPHS WANTED FOR VILLAGE CARDS
We would like to make new village cards and so we need new photographs of the village! The cards will be made in the summer, but we would very much welcome some winter photos. If you would like to, and there is some wonderful weather – snow, frost etc – then please send photos to me at the highest resolution you can, and the Reading Room committee will chose the photos to use later in the year. Many thanks indeed.
Nicky [email protected]
CHRISTMAS CRAFTERNOON
The Reading Room was full of lots of children of all ages on Saturday 23rd November for the Christmas Crafternoon, lots of glitter and glue and stamps, and cards and decorations were made. Great fun for everyone especially for the toddler table too! Many thanks to those who donated craft items – we had lots! Thanks especially to Jo, James, Elspeth and Rosalyn for the fantastic organization and cakes and refreshments, and also to David, Ellie and Aoife for helping to tidy up afterwards!
LOCAL HISTORY; B3083
In my last article I attempted to explain the road numbering system. But our road – the B3083 - doesn’t entirely fit.
This is because at the introduction of the Road Numbering in 1923, it was the A360 – the main road to Devizes.
Originally the A360 started at the junction with the A36 at Stapleford (this makes the numbering sensible!). It then followed the route of the current B3083 through Stapleford, Berwick St James, Winterbourne Stoke and over the hill to Shrewton, joining the A344, and then on to Devizes as the A360.
In 1935 there was a revision of the road numbers and the former B3086 between Salisbury and Airman’s Corner became the A360. The A344 and A360 ran on the same road to and through Shrewton, but the A360 number became dominant, and continued to Devizes. The A344 between Shrewton and Warminster was later renumbered B390.
Our road from Stapleford to Shrewton became the B3083. The number B3083 was actually originally a short road in Blandford. In the 1935 renumberings this road was renumbered to be part of the B3082, and so the number was available to be used elsewhere!
Why wasn’t the Devizes road an A road in the 1923 list? The current A360 was a turnpike (toll road) from 1761 to 1870. Our road was described in 1841 as the “only Public Carriage road between Salisbury and Devizes…for some years past used as the Mail Coach Road “. In 1923 it was probably thought that most traffic travelled from village to village, rather than cross country town to town. However, it only took a few years (1923 to 1935) for the authorities to realize that the main road was, in fact, the Devizes road, and it was renumbered the A360.
Written and researched by Nicky Street
