Watercress has been grown in Calstone Wellington since mediaeval times, with beds at Toghill. The Marquess of Lansdowne issued year to year leases to villagers. In 1907 a lease was granted containing 1 acre, 1 rood and 18 perches at an annual rent of £2 2 shillings to Thomas Davies. The watercress was sold door to door in the villages and at Calne market on Fridays.
The growing of watercress gave title to the surname of ‘Caswell’ which means ‘someone who lives near a watercress bed’ and it was believed that there was a family of Caswells living in the village in mediaeval times.