The Hamlet of West Grafton
The hamlet of East Grafton
The hamlet of Wilton
The hamlet of Wexcombe
The hamlet of Marten
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Marten hamlet
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The hamlet of Marten occupies an exceedingly pleasant and picturesque position in a corner of the Pewsey Vale formed by the curve of the downs which are the Vale’s eastern boundary.
It lies in a semicircle between the two heights known once as “the old Windmill Hill and Bottle Hill”. This of course refers to Wexcombe Down and Botley Down.
The name Botley is thought to have derived from the word battle, many of which were fought in the area in the 9th century. Botley Down shelters Marten on the north east and from it’s summit can between views of the Vale stretching far into the distance.
A Roman road passes through fields and continues along the road to Andover. In the 11th century Marten was in the Parish of Great Bedwyn in the Kinwardstone Hundred.
In 1844 Marten was joined to East Grafton parish at the time of the building of the Church there. It is known that a medieval village existed here. In 1377 the Poll Tax at 4d per head was levied on 37 people in the hamlet. In the 1841 census 153 people lived in the village, now about 35.
In the 1930’s there were at least 20 houses but with the present trend often two cottages were made into one so that at present there are 14 houses. These being 4 council houses built in 1955, 3 thatched cottages, 2 bungalows, 4 houses and the Manor. Of the 4 houses 3 replace previous old houses and the remaining one has been extended. One bungalow was built for a local farmer.
Electricity came in the 1950’s and water supplied by Thames Water in the 1970’s. Sewage is still by septic tank at each residence.
There is a restaurant called the Windmill. In 1724 there was a public house built on that site beside what was a main road. This was burnt down in the early 20th century and rebuilt as a brick house. From 1724 it was called the Nags Head and the name was changed in 2001.
A very narrow, winding, secondary road with high banks runs through the hamlet joining the A338 at the restaurant. With no footpaths and modern through traffic walking is hazardous.
The land is farmed, mostly in the valley for arable farming, the downs for grazing and a small holding for grazing. Redundant farm buildings in the centre are used in part for small local industry employing people from outside the hamlet and is of no use to local employment. The residents who work do so outside the parish and other inhabitants are retired. |
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The views above Marten
 | | You can see for miles and miles over the Pewsey valley |
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