The Hamlet of West Grafton
The hamlet of East Grafton
The hamlet of Wilton
The hamlet of Wexcombe
The hamlet of Marten
A parish overview
St Nicholas Church NEWS and EVENTS
Parish Council MINUTES
Wilton Cricket Club
Grafton Church of England PRIMARY SCHOOL
Events held within the Parish
Contact Information for Villages of East & West Grafton, Wex
Links for Villages of East & West Grafton, Wexcombe, Wilton
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East Grafton
 | Current topics on www.graftonparish.com
A pleasant triangular green constitutes the nucleus of the village, and around it buildings are scattered in an informal manner. The Parish Church of St. Nicholas stands to the south of the green, adjacent to the village school, built in 1844 to the design of Benjamin Ferrey and is constructed in the style of Norman Revival, with a Romanesque campanile. The village green, primary school, village hall and Parish church form the central focal points both of this hamlet and of the parish.
In the village the older buildings are generally two-storied, mainly brick, some are colourwashed, some half timbered, under roofs of thatch. More recent buildings are of stone or brick, some with render, under roofs of slate. The open green is an important factor in the character of the village, as is the wide spacing in between individual buildings.
East Grafton is classified in the Local Plan as a small village which, by reason of its character and/or lack of facilities, will be limited to infilling of small sites within the existing settlement framework. As East Grafton falls within the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, particular consideration is given to any proposal for development to ensure that it does not conflict with the traditional character of the village. A high standard is required in the design of new buildings and extensions to existing buildings, so that the colour and texture of new materials harmonize with local traditional materials.
The village comprises large farm houses and their cottages which housed agricultural workers, cottages which originally formed part of the Savernake estate and a number of smaller individual developments provided originally as council dwellings following the second world war. Small groups of bungalows, cottage style houses and social housing have been constructed in the last thirty years. Within the last ten years a number of large homes have been constructed with office space, these form inward facing closes, in contrast with the outward facing original housing stock, and integration into the village community is more difficult. |
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St. Nicholas Church - Grafton Parish
 | This is a norman church situated at the southerly end of East Grafton village green. Congregation members from any of the hamlets are dependent upon private transport if they wish to attend services.
The team structure for Grafton Parish church starts with the Vicar who resides in Great Bedwyn and shares his time with a number of other parishes. The Vicar is a member of the Savernake Team and reports to the Team Rector. This team, in turn reports to the Pewsey Deanery and thereafter to the Salisbury Diocese.
There is a lively Perochial Church Council which ensures that the Church is well maintained, there is a quinquennial inspection by a qualified architect to ensure that the fabric remains solid. Gift Aid schemes and fund-raising events provide the majority of income and contribute to the community involvement with the church.
There is a large and well cared-for church yard. Parking is a problem for well attended services, where the congregation averages 100, and for weddings and funerals. The lanes are narrow and the verges around are steep and dangerous in bad weather.
Burials may be undertaken in St. Nicholas churchyard subject to space and status.
Cremations take place in Swindon and Salisbury crematoriums (25miles each)
Funeral directors operate from Pewsey, Marlborough and Hungerford.
Stone masons operate from Pewsey and Great Bedwyn. |
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Grafton Primary, pre school and toddler group
 | Grafton Primary school was founded in 1845 as a Church of England Foundation School. It is an outstanding small school which enjoys a great deal of support from parents and the community.
It is situated on the edge of East Grafton village green next to St. Nicholas church. The buildings are small, but well maintained, and there are extensive playing fields. A small carpark was recently constructed to avoid congestion along the narrow village road. A small extension to the school is being constructed to accommodate pre-school children in an effort to attracted more pupils for the future.
The school has been under review for closure three times in the last 13 years, the last in 1999. This has had an unsettling effect of staff, governors and parents but, as with all small rural school the numbers fluctuate with the changes within our community.
A significant number of families walk to school with their children, others use private transport, there is no suitable public transport within the parish to serve the school.
Links between school and church are strong, the school encourages community involvement with fundraising and social events.
Educational standards at the school are high and the school has had two very successfull OFSTED inspections in 1997 and 2002. “The school provides a very good education for all pupils and has a positive caring ethos”. Provision for children with special needs benefits from the small classes and the individual attention.
The school has two well equipped classrooms, KS1 and KS2. There are two permanent, and one part-time, teachers together with support and administrative staff. The 10 governors represent various organisations within the community.
The school is funded, primarily, by the LEA. Total on roll at the end of 2002 was 18 children most of whom reside within the Parish boundary.
Children attending Grafton primary school normally move on to Pewsey Comprehensive secondary school or Marlborough St. John’s community college at the age of 11years. School transport is available for both secondary schools from all hamlets within the parish. |
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Coronation Hall
 | The Coronation Hall is situated beside the village green to the South of the A338. The Hall serves the community as a functional meeting place for societies, village organizations and community events. The Hall is available for hire to residents and non-residents.
Disabled access is provided and the hall has a functioning kitchen and both ladies and gents toilets. Tables, chairs, cutlery and crockery are available for rental by organizations within the Parish.
A Committee of Trustees manage the Hall and it is maintained by a Caretaker who is responsible for bookings. The Hall is a registered Charity number 305519. Capacity maximums are 100 standing and 80 seated.
The Hall is non profit making and its’ use, in conjunction with Church weddings, Christenings and funerals, is offered free to residents of the Parish.
The land and building were handed to the village by local benefactors in 1935 for the use of the Parish. The hall has been maintained in good order since that date.
Regular meetings/events are held in the hall and the facilities provide an excellent anchor for outside events which are held from time to time on the village green.
The hall has a well equiped kitchen and sufficient tables, chairs, cutlery and crockery for a large party. The floor is polished wood and very safe for childrens parties etc. |
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