Key facts
OS grid ref: SU056314
What3words: ///coil.echo.tiredness
Postcode: SP3
Post town: Salisbury
Unitary Authority: Wiltshire
Parliamentary Constituency: South West Wiltshire
Barford St Martin
Barford St Martin is a small, peaceful and picturesque village in South Wiltshire, just two miles from Wilton, 13 miles from Shaftesbury, and around a 20-minute drive from Salisbury with everything the city has to offer.
The River Nadder flows through the parish, which is in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Landscape) and the stunning Grovely Wood is to the north, a large woodland designated as a County Wildlife Site.
The village has a vibrant community, complete with a Parish website and Facebook page with local news and community information and events.
There’s a popular local, traditional old pub, The Barford Inn, serving food and drink. There’s a nursery for children aged three months to five years and we love that the local service station is called Tinkerbell!
History
There are prehistoric remains at Ebsbury in the Parish and the Domesday Book reported nine households at Bereford. The St Martin suffix was added by 1304 to distinguish it from Barford Manor in Downton.
The Grade I listed, Church of St Martin, sits on a man-made earth bank above the Nadder Water Meadows with parts dating back to the 13th Century. It’s mostly built in greensand, an unusual sandstone with a green hue that is still quarried locally.
An early medieval preaching cross in the centre of the village is Grade I listed, although only the base and parts of the shaft remain.
Walking and cycling
Situated in the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, Barford St Martin has lots of opportunities for walking, cycling and horseriding.
The River Nadder flows through the parish and the stunning Grovely Wood, a large woodland designated as a County Wildlife Site, famous for the Purple Emperor Butterfly, is a perfect spot to enjoy the Great Outdoors.
This walk from Komoot takes you from Barford St Martin to Heath Hill, Hadden Hill & Grovely Wood and has great views.
