Benger Trails

This is a short family-friendly route around the heart of Sutton Benger village, pointing out places of historical interest.

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Parish Sign Trail

This trail provides more information about places that are listed on the two 'Welcome' signs, one located on the Village Hall and one in Draycot Cerne.

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To Chissell Brook and Sutton Lane Meadows

This is a circular cross-country walk from the Village Hall, to Gate Farm and then to Chissell Brook, and back via Sutton Lane Meadows to the Village Hall.

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Short Walk to Draycot Cerne and back

This is a walk from the Village Hall, to the Draycot Park entrance, to Draycot Cerne, and return.

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Circular Walk to Christian Malford via Barrett Lane and return via Sutton Lane

This is a walk from the Village Hall, to Sutton Lane, back along the High Street and Seagry Road to La Flambé, then along the footpath (the old Barrett Lane) to the B4069 bridge over the River Avon, and then into Christian Malford. Return via the Christian Malford meadows to the Avon Weir, back across the Avon to Sutton Lane, and along Sutton Lane to return to the Village Hall.

This walk takes you past various locations associated with the Romano-Saxon history of Sutton Benger; but note that there is no visible evidence of this history. Also, close to the walk, are remains of pillboxes from World War II; but please remember to stay on Public Rights of Way at all times.

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To Upper Seagry and Back

This a long walk, uphill from Sutton Benger along Seagry Road, to cross the M4, left along the footpaths to Harding's Farm, into Upper Seagry along Scotland Road and Henn Lane, to Goss Croft Hall, then back through Upper Seagry along the roads to Seagry Hill, returning to Sutton Benger Village Hall.

As an alternative, you could start this walk from Goss Croft Hall, to Sutton Benger, returning to Upper Seagry via Harding's Farm.

View Trail

Benger Trails

Upper Draycot

The Parish of Draycot Cerne originally consisted of two hamlets, the smaller of which was Upper Draycot.

Lower Draycot included the church and rectory and several houses, and was in the parkland. It lay between Draycot House and the main road to Sutton Benger. The hamlet of Lower Draycot was demolished in the 1870s to allow Lord Cowley to landscape his park. Only the church of St James' remains standing.

Lord Cowley built some extra houses in Upper Draycot, similar to those on the HIgh Street in Sutton Benger, and the villagers were given new homes.

The 1920 Ordnance Survey map still showed the name of the village as Upper Draycot, but it became known as Draycot Cerne from around that time.

The Draycot Straight was a new road created in the 1760s to bypass Upper Draycot. Originally, the road from Chippenham to Sutton Benger followed a tortuous route from Kington Langley, through Upper Draycot (now Draycot Cerne) to the Draycot crossroads. The majority of that road still exists today as usable footpaths, although they can be quite boggy after rain. The ‘new’ road can be seen on the 1773 county map, complete with what appear to be Toll Gates at either end. The fact that the road has a dotted outline means that there are no hedges along it, suggesting that it is still new.

Sir James Long’s map of his Kington Langley estate, also 1773, marks the road as ‘New Turnpike Road to Draycot’ with the original road marked as ‘Old Road to Draycot'. The old road out of Kington Langley is still known today as Sutton Road.

Evidence that the road post-dates the fields alongside it can be seen by looking at the field patterns on the OS map, or by looking at an aerial view of the area using any mapping program.

Note also that the 1808 turnpike map still shows a 'road' to the west of Draycot, linking it with Kington St Michael.

The majority of the older houses in Draycot Cerne date from the later 1800s, when the village was relocated from Lower Draycot. Some of the construction dates can still be seen in the crests in the eaves.

The details from the 1920 Auction Catalogue describing a 'Block of three cottages' were of Lot 41, the houses on the corner of the lane.

The photo of the pair of houses, and details of the 'Picturesque Modern Cottages', are of Lot 43; this is the pair of houses on the B4122, just north of the brook. They were built in 1903-1905.

Benger Trails

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