My father, John Francis Barnett (see photo above) and my mother, Jane Barnett, came to Calstone in the early 1920s from Compton Bassett to work for Mr Roland Maundrell. They lived at Number 11 Calstone, at the top of Barrow Hill. I don’t know where my father was born but my mother’s maiden name was Reeves and she was born in Bromham. They had nine children and I was the youngest, born in 1925 at Number 11. Frank was the eldest, then Bill, Winnie, Arthur, Betty, Peggy, Eva and Christine. Christine was also born in Calstone. Our mother died in 1930 when I was five and my older sister Betty looked after the family after that.
Our neighbours in Numbers 10, 12 and 13 Calstone were also farm workers. There was no electricity and our water was carried from the spring halfway down Barrow Hill. You had to carry the buckets up the steep slope and, on bath night, there was quite a procession. In the early 1930s, a tap was installed in the drive of Number 11 and everyone took their water from there after that.
My father was Head Carter for Maundrells, responsible for a stable of 10 to 12 Shire horses. As these horses were the only source of pulling power, it was essential that they were well looked after and kept in the peak of fitness at all times. The farm workers who used these great animals treated them well and with respect.
Family life in the village centred mainly around fathers and sons working on the farms. I well remember Mr George Maundrell asking the Headmistress if Robert Comley and I (we were both around 9 years old) could be released from school in the afternoons to help with the harvesting. When permission was granted, we were given the task of driving the loaded wagons into the rickyards, where the ricks were being built, and delivering the empty wagons back to the men working in the fields. This was far better than sitting in a hot classroom. Unfortunately, this all came to an abrupt end when the vicar, the Reverend Edwin Matthews found out. The school was governed by the Church of England and he had the final say.
The method of collecting hay progressed from loading wagons with pitchforks to using a horse drawn sweep – an implement consisting of a series of long wooden fingers protected by steel tips. A horse was hitched to both sides of this implement and the hay was ‘swept’ into a position adjacent to the rick. It was then loaded onto an elevator which carried it onto the rick and the rick builders. This rather slow method was transformed when an old Model ‘T’ Ford, with a pick-up type of rear end, appeared on Maundrell’s farm. The horse drawn haysweep was quickly adapted to fit onto the front of the Model ‘T’ and, hey presto, mechanisation had been born! The driver of this revolution was none other than Mr Michael Maundrell himself. The vehicle was affectionately known as the ‘Taxi’.
On one occasion, Mr George Maundrell decided to slaughter an animal in the roadside cart shed which had been cleared of wagons for the purpose. Tarpaulins were hung and spread on the floor. The operations were watched by inquisitive children including myself. Mr Maundrell tripped over a bucket of water and we all laughed and were all chased back to school with a dressing down.
One amusing incident was repeated time and again by Graham McQuie who concealed a brick or other heavy object in William White’s empty food basket, at the end of the day. It was carried home and then discovered. Next day there would be a string of threats and accusations to try to catch the culprit. He was never found although William White had his suspicions.
After school, we liked to play hide and seek in Maundrell’s cart shed. On one particular day, Mr Roland Maundrell had some 2½cwt sacks of corn stacked in the shed and, after successfully hiding myself amongst them, I showed myself and intended sliding down the sacks to the ground. One of the sacks decided to come with me and I ended up with it across my legs, breaking my left one. Jim Green was my saviour that day and removed the corn sack off my legs but I finished up in Bristol General Hospital that night.
One day in summer, the Headmistress’s son, Kenneth Edney, with Ivan Nicholas (who lived in a cottage adjacent to where I now live at Theobalds Green) and me decided to investigate a wild duck’s nest in a willow on the bank of the river near Calstone Mill. The Mill was then a dairy farm and tenanted to George Summers and his son, Joe. Ivan and myself reached the tree first whilst Ken, straggling behind and always fooling around, did some acrobatics on the bank and fell in. He was a non-swimmer but eventually struggled to the bank and, at the second attempt, we managed to pull him out. We took him back to the School House where his mother was in the garden. She remarked she didn’t realise he had changed his bath night!
In about 1932, the Choir at Calstone Church comprised Walter Sterry, Raymond Green, George Amor, Arthur Barnett and Raymond James who did the Rev. Matthews’s garden. Edwin Sterry was the organist until Raymond Green took over and, later still, Freda McQuie. I was a choirboy with Kenneth Edney, Peter Dew, and Douglas Cleverly. There were others from time to time as farm workers moved from farm to farm. The ladies comprised Freda McQuie (also a Sunday School teacher), Florence Roberts, Margery Roberts, Betty, Peggy, Eva and Christine Barnett and Margaret Edney. Younger girl members were Peggy Dew and possibly Jean Weston and Joyce Dew.
At any one time, there were about 20 in the Choir and the younger members of the choir practiced every week under Mrs Matthews, the vicar’s wife’s tuition. I recall when I was about eight, during an evensong service, I needed the toilet urgently. I was afraid to interrupt the service by walking out and the inevitable happened. I was eventually led out by an older choirboy and shame descended on the Barnett family.
Sunday School was held in the School itself. There were various teachers but the mainstay was Mr George Amor and Freda McQuie. The highlight of the year was the annual coach trip to the seaside and donkey rides. Calstone Church in those days played a prominent part in most of the village children’s lives. There were Sunday afternoon services especially for children as well as the morning Sunday School. The Church was heated by a coke stove beneath a grating in the aisle. There was a cellar with steps down to the stove. Years later in the 1960s the congregation became ill from the fumes one Sunday and Freda McQuie, the organist, collapsed. After that, I spent one of my holidays installing an oil fired hot air unit boiler.
The bells in the Church were rung as well as chimed and muffled bells were rung for funerals. I recall a very mournful and sombre atmosphere in the village when there was a funeral. When my mother was dying, Mr Roland Maundrell spread a thick carpet of straw on the road outside our house to reduce the noise from passing horse drawn traffic. Village illnesses and deaths seemed to be shared by the whole community in those days and instant help was always available.
The School was well governed by the Church of England and pupils varied in number between 20 and 30. There was a generous percentage of 11 plus passes to the Grammar School in Calne.
Sadly, over the years, farms became more mechanised and, as the manpower wasn’t required, families declined and drifted into the town. As many as 23 cottages became empty over the years and fell into disrepair and eventually disappeared altogether.
The village shop played an important part in pre-war Calstone and sold every conceivable item, mostly small, that villagers could want. Adjoining the shop was the Reading Room where concerts were held, the performers being mostly local people. I recall those with good voices, pianists, monologue enthusiasts and banjo players all contributing to brightening village life and these get togethers were very successful. Dances were also held there and I suspect more than one or two romances progressed from Calstone Reading Room.
We also had a Village Band with some 15 to 20 members. They didn’t have uniforms because they couldn’t afford them. Apart from performing at the Annual Village Fete, they always led the Armistice Day Parade. Quite a number of ex-servicemen attended these parades. Bill Goodship, cornet player, sounded the Last Post, standing in the bell tower to do so. To the younger people of the village it was a very spectacular Church service.
The village also had an undertaker, Walter Sterry, who ran his business from a cottage at Blackland Crossroads where his workshop was also sited. He had a very strong tenor voice and sang in the Church choir.
As boys of my age moved on and eventually left the town schools, the Second World War was declared on 3 September 1939. A Home Guard was formed in Calstone with Mr George Maundrell appointed to Commanding Officer. The Home Guard also formed a football team. Mr George and his brother Mr Michael Maundrell were keen members although it was obvious that Michael, being a keen rugby player, had difficulty in remembering not to gather the ball in his hands and run! Edgar Embling and myself were recruited into the Team to do most of the running and score goals, being only youngsters compared with the others. Matches were arranged in other villages, mostly where public house refreshment was available. Mr George Maundrell was always the generous host especially when we were on the winning side and that was quite often and mostly by foul means, if I remember correctly.
The War brought quite a few changes to villages. The downlands, which had remained as grassed areas for years, were cultivated for food production and much has remained cultivated to this day.
The family home at Number 11 Calstone was broken up in the late 1930s due to my father’s ill health. All my elder brothers and sisters were married by this time and my father and I went to live in Quemerford with my sister Winnie and her husband Gough McFaull. I started an engineering apprenticeship at C & T Harris in Calne.
By this time, I had left the Home Guard and had joined the Air Training Corps. Before long however, when I was 17½, I went to War. I joined the Royal Navy serving on destroyer escort groups based in Belfast for the protection of North Atlantic convoys and submarine detection patrols.
I took part in the Normandy landings on Sword Beach where our landing craft transported an armoured Hussar contingent equipped with heavy tanks fitted with flotation collars. This allowed them to be off loaded in deeper water and be able to make landfall under their own propulsion. After the War, I learned that Lt Col Luard, who farmed at East Farm, Calstone, commanded one of the Airbourne Divisions that were dropped inland from Sword Beach to successfully secure bridges over the River Orne. I then joined a new ship and went to the Far East and joined with the American Forces in the Philippine Islands securing outposts of Japanese forces reluctant to surrender, despite the armistice. Finally, my ship went south to Australia rescuing a crashed Australian Liberator bomber crew en route and I eventually sailed for home in the aircraft carrier Victorious in 1946.
I married my wife Peggy in 1946 and, after post war housing shortages, we eventually returned to Calstone in 1952 to live in a cottage in Moggs Lane with our two daughters, Sandra and Heather. With the War well and truly behind us, country life resumed again and was enjoyed by all of us.
Before the current building regulations were imposed on development in Calstone, I was instrumental in building two bungalows in the village – Sunnyfield in Moggs Lane and my current home, Amberley at Theobalds Green. I like to think that, in a small way, this has helped compensate for all those 20 or more homes originally lost.
I have lived in or very near Calstone for 74 years and, in spite of all the changes to the present day, will always remember my childhood in the village – a time of carefree happy days with seemingly endless sunshine.
We all know that childhood memories are probably not quite as life always was, but these are some of mine and that is how I like to remember them.
I have been asked if I could remember who lived in Calstone in the mid 1930s, when I was about 10 years old.
Starting at the top of the village –
Tog Hill Arthur Rivers was the Water Bailiff. He also farmed the watercress beds. He was also called the Trapper because he kept the rabbits down. Jim Mills took on that job later.
South Farm Mr Jack Allen, although he was not a farmer
2 houses at top 1 Mr & Mrs Smith, Kathleen, Joyce and Daphne
of village 2 Mr & Mrs Bill Dolman (Thatcher) & Ted Dolman who I believe was their son. A Jack Kepner lived with them and his brother, Bill. Bill’s name is on the War Memorial in Calstone Church.
Thatched cotts. 1 Mr & Mrs Roland Green, Austin, Oswald, Jim and Phyllis
up steps 2 Can’t remember who lived in this one
Behind these Known as the Allotments where there were two more thatched cottages – now gone. Mr & Mrs William White lived in one and their son, Rueben White and his wife, in the other
Bungalow Opposite Church Lane entrance. Sisters Florrie, Ellen and Emily Smith who ran a laundry. Ellen also cleaned the school and kept the fire going.
There was another thatched cottage at the Church Lane entrance (now gone) lived in by Mr and Mrs Harper, at a later date.
Barrow Hill 10 Mr & Mrs Monk (farm worker), Hilda, Dorothy and Bill
Later on, Jim Mills and his family lived here. He succeeded Arthur Rivers as the Trapper, controlling rabbit population and vermin.
11 My family – the Barnetts
12 Mr & Mrs George Comley (Cowman), Joyce, Phyllis, Jack, Ken, Doris, Bob, Mary and Lenny
13 Mr & Mrs Merritt (Shepherd), Fred, Nellie and Wilf
Coming back through the village past Manor Farm, the first cottage was lived in by Leslie Dew (Tractor Driver) and his wife Nellie and daughter Barbara.
Next-door was the School Teacher’s House.
Then you had the School and in the house next door (the last before Spray’s Hill) you had Mr & Mrs McQuie (Head Dairyman), Tim, Freda and Graham.
In the shop was Mrs Dew. Ted Robbins would cut your hair there.
Then at the bottom of Sprays Hill there was Sprays Mill although it was not a working Mill. Mr and Mrs McFaull occupied the living accommodation at the Mill. He was the Commissionaire in Harris’s Factory in Calne. Their children were Gough (who married my sister Winnie) and Trixie. A second house adjoined the Mill lived in by the Barnes family and then, later still, by Harry Davis and his wife and family.
Then up the hill to Sprays Farm lived in by Mr and Mrs George Brown, their son Cyril and daughter, Hilda. George Brown was a squat little man and it was common knowledge he never went to bed – always sleeping in a chair.
Now to Theobalds Green – the bungalow at the corner with Moggs Lane was lived in by Mr and Mrs Aaron Wootton. He worked for Bowood and ensured that Bowood properties remained intact, especially small woods, etc. He rode an old tricycle. He would smell you ten miles away especially at Christmas when you were looking for a Christmas tree. He would be especially alert at that time and appear out of nowhere. The road verges and banks were maintained by Mr Isaac Green from Blacklands. You didn’t dare step on one of his tidy verges to get your ball.
I recall a man named Billy Higgs made the footpath from Moggs Lane to Blackland Stud. The path was originally sited between Robins Piece and the Stud.
In the Moggs Lane cottages lived Mr and Mrs Goodship and their three sons, Harold, Arthur and Bert. Then a Mrs Record. Then Bill Robbins (Miller at Blackland Mill) and his son, Bert. The last one was lived in by Dan Bull and his sister.
On the other corner of Theobalds Green was a small bungalow where Aaron Wootton’s son lived. This was later occupied by Mr Ted Dolman and his wife.
Then to the thatched cottages in Theobalds Green. I don’t recall who lived in the first one but the one next to the Chapel was occupied by Mr and Mrs Grey and their daughter, Dorothy (later Dorothy Chivers).
The Chapel was well attended and had a Sunday School.
Where I currently live at Amberley, there used to be two cottages lived in by Reg and Renee Burgess and a Mr and Mrs Heath.
At the back of Theobalds Green was another two cottages lived in by Mr and Mrs Bill Grey. Their son was Maurice Grey. Bill Grey was the son of Mr and Mrs Grey mentioned above. In the other cottage were Mr and Mrs Nichols with sons, Ivan and Douglas. He operated a coal merchants from Theobalds Green and he was also Village Band leader. He also cut hair in the village.
Then down to the Mill – this was lived in by George Summers and his son, Joey.
Back to the village road between Theobalds Green and the main road, there were two cottages now demolished. The first one was where Robins Piece now is, lived in by Mr and Mrs Arthur Robbins.
Further along, just before Greens Lane was Guernsey Villa, lived in by Dan Bull before he went to live in Moggs Lane above.
I cannot recall everyone who lived in Greens Lane – just Charlie Weston and Tom Davis and their families.
Finally, the two cottages at the Hayle were lived in by the Offer family and Arthur Weston.
Ben Barnett, Amberley, Theobalds Green, Calstone, Saturday 9 October 1999