Hullavington

History

Hullavington is first attested as Hunlavintone in the Domesday Book of 1086. The place-name means 'the town of Hunlaf's people'. The spelling Hunlavyngton is recorded in 1418

It appears that the Marcher Lord "Ralph de Mertemer" (Ranulph de Mortimer) owned a house in Hullavington.

The population at the beginning of the nineteenth century was 395 (1801 census), rising to 823 in 1901 and was 1,223 in 2011.

Governance

The village falls in the 'By Brook' electoral ward. The ward starts in the north east at Hullavington then stretches south west through Grittleton and Nettleton to Biddestone in the south. The total ward population taken from the 2011 census was 4,523

Amenities

It has a garage, a shop, a pub and two churches, one of which meets in the village hall. The hall was recently opened by James Gray, the MP for North Wiltshire, after the previous one burnt down because of an electrical fault.

There is also a Church of England village school which has about 150 pupils. Children from the army camp make up a fair proportion of the school and the army provides entertainment and fireworks on 5 November, attended by people from many surrounding villages.

There are many community events such as the Village Fete which is always well attended and many other meetings and concerts; there are fitness classes, line dancing, concerts, art classes etc., which take place in the village hall.

There are currently three Girlguiding units in Hullavington: Brownies, Rainbows and a Guide unit which opened in September 2007. The Brownies now meet in the village hall and the Rainbow and Guide units meet on the army camp (Buckley Barracks) but are also open to girls from non-military families.

There is a Sunday morning football team who play in the Chippenham and District Sunday Football League Division 2. The current Hullavington Football Club has been running since 1989 and up until recently played in the village. Since 2007/2008 the team has played at Buckley Barracks which is around 2 miles away on the way towards the M4 junction.

Military connections

Hullavington Airfield, formerly RAF Hullavington, is next to the village. Most of the airfield is in the neighbouring parish of Stanton St Quintin, along with the associated barracks which were renamed Buckley Barracks in 2003.

Representatives

The village is represented in parliament by James Gray and in Wiltshire Council by Jane Scott, both Conservatives.

Notable residents

Jazz pianist Jamie Cullum was brought up in Hullavington. The former MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine moved to Hullavington in October 2004.

It is thought likely that Hannah Twynnoy, believed to be the first person in Britain to have been killed by a tiger, came from Hullavington.

Notable buildings

The Anglican Church of St Mary is Grade I listed.

Bradfield Manor Farmhouse (15th century) is also Grade I listed.

Waterways

The Gauze Brook, a tributary of the Bristol Avon, flows through the parish.