Great great grandfather, Thomas Burton

In my efforts to find my great, great grandfather, Thomas Burton, who was living in the village of Rowde, Wiltshire when he died in 1902, I emailed the clerk of the closest cemetery in Devizes. I received the following respose:

Dear Mr Davis

I have checked the burial registers for the 1902 and cannot find any record of Thomas Burton in Devizes Cemetery. Because he lived in Sandy Lane and then Rowde, I suspect that he is more likely interred in the churchyard of one of the parish churches - I have included information on the two most likely. You will see that the registers of the Rowde Church are held in the record office which you can access online.

I wish you luck with your search and please do not hesitate to contact me

Kind regards
Sarah Todhunter (Mrs)

Church of Saint Nicholas, Sandy Lane, Calne

Without Modern settlement at Sandy Lane began in the 18th century and it is very much an estate village. Ecclesiastically it had come under Derry Hill, but in 1864 it was transferred to the new parish of Chittoe. The church of St. Nicholas was built in 1892 as a mission church, to the design of J.H. Hopkins. It is small and of an unusual timber construction with a steep thatched roof. The timbering is in an A form with 6 pairs of trusses resting on brick sleeper walls. The walls of the church consist of 2 timber sections with sawdust rammed between. All fittings are made of wood, except the 19th century brass oil lamps. In 1980 Chittoe church was declared redundant and Bromham and Chittoe parishes were united as a new parish of Bromham, Chittoe and Sandy Lane. Sandy Lane church became a chapel of ease in the new parish. In 1981 the church was rededicated with the present joint dedication.


Church of St. Matthew, Rowde

It would seem that there was a Saxon church in Rowde as a priest is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. What sort of church, wooden or stone, was here is unknown but by medieval times there was a stone church, from which the chancel, although altered, remains. A tower was built in the 15th century and still remains as the west tower of the church. Five bells were in the tower in 1553 and that number remained until 1870, although the bells were renewed before that date. In 1436 the vicar complained that the income from the living was insufficient. It was £4 a year and had been £8 in 1291. From the 17th century the oak altar rails and two stools remain, while a chest is dated 'M 1694'. Much of the church we see today dates from the 19th century. In 1833 the nave was rebuilt to the design of H.E. Goodridge, although 17th century plaques to the Webb family were reset in the walls. It is in cut stone with slate roofs and embattled parapets, and arcades and aisles were added in 1860.

The font, in the style of the 15th century, was given by Rowde born architect Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt in 1850. Six new church bells were cast from the old ring of five (two dated from 1639 and the others from 1654, 1709 and 1754) in 1870. The north porch was built in 1871 and an organ installed in the north chapel. It is probable that the chancel window was replaced in the same year. The pulpit of wood on a stone base was installed in 1872 in memory of the late Rev. A.B. Starkey, whose family were associated with various gifts to the village, while an oak screen was erected in 1887. In 1901 the chancel walls were raised and a new roof provided. It is possible that not a great deal of work or renovation was carried out for several centuries as the lord of the manor was often an absentee and the manor was leased to tenants. The registers from 1660, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.