Wheelwrights and Carpenters

There were several wheelwrights and carpenters in the village throughout the 1800s. Joseph Gregory arrived in the village around 1890, and by 1891 was in business in the High Street as a wheelwright with his son William. By 1911 it was William who was running the business as a wheelwright and carpenter, as well as a funeral director. He also designed and built the original Village Hall. The business grew throughout the 1900s; William's son Joe inherited the family business and served on the Parish Council for 35 years. Gregory Close is named after the Gregory family.

Before the new houses were built on the land on the south side of the High Street there were two private houses and a builder’s yard. The business closed and the new houses were built; their name 'The Wheelwrights' recognises the history of the site.

The black and white photograph shows 35/37 High Street, with the Wheelwrights buildings behind. 35/37 is an Estate House, originally built in the late 1800s as three houses. It has a crest but no date.

12/14 High Street (the colour photograph) is the Estate House built in 1897 on the corner of High Street and French Gardens Lane; the original design drawings are archived in the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. This house replaced two houses and workshops which stood there throughout the 1800s, and probably earlier. The house / workshop on the corner was a blacksmith's, while the property next to it, closer to The Wellesley, was a carpenter's. From the 1700s to 1870 it was leased to several generations of the Bond family and was known as 'The Wheeler's Shop'.

From 1870 to 1897 it was leased to George Brinkworth, a shoemaker.