Key facts
OS grid ref: SU008377
Postcode: BA12
Post town: Salisbury
What3words: ///mountain.develops.servicing
Unitary Authority: Wiltshire
Parliamentary Constituency: Salisbury
Wylye
Wylye village is a small, pretty and friendly village with the clear, crystal chalk stream, waters of the River Wylye flowing nearby. It includes the hamlet of Deptford and the small village of Fisherton de la Mere.
Wylye sits halfway between Warminster and Salisbury, in spectacular Wiltshire countryside, rolling hills, patchwork meadows and ancient woodlands – a quintessential Wiltshire village. That said it’s just a few hundred metres from the A303, with both Warminster and Salisbury, with all their facilities and travel links, both around 12 miles, and 20 to 25 minutes’ drive away.
It’s got a village green, a traditional pub, a village shop selling groceries, fresh bread and newspapers and also acts as a Post Office.
There’s a strong sense of community. There are annual events such as the Wylye Summer Fête, weekly coffee mornings and The Wylye Web, the village website keeping locals up to date with what’s happening.
A mobile library visits regularly and the village hall hosts baby and toddler groups, karate, Pilates, bridge and morris dancing. There’s even a local lottery, The 100 Club, the proceeds of which are divided equally between the hall and church.
The Bell Inn is a 14th Century coaching Inn, one of the oldest in Wiltshire. Its highlights include local game, fish and cheeses and their vegan dishes revolve around local produce including mushrooms from the New Forest. They have Wiltshire brunches, a Sunday roast and Thursday is pie night! They also have a nano brewery crafting ales on a weekly basis using grains milled at Warminster Maltings, the oldest working maltings in England. Each ale is named after local folk stories, the likes of Gallybagger.
History
The history of Wylye is long and rich. The Wylye Hoard, a collection of Bronze Age jewellery found near the village by metal detectorists in 2012 is now held by the Salisbury Museum. Bilbury Rings, on the southern slope of the valley, is an Iron Age hillfort.
The Domesday Book recorded a settlement at Wilet, and a mill on land held by Wilton Abbey. Depeford (Deptford) also had a mill but only six households, on land held by Edward of Salisbury.
The Church of St Mary features limestone and flint and is Grade II listed with a 13th Century window and a 15th Century tower.
A Roman road from Winchester to the Mendips passes through the southern edge of the parish.
Walking and cycling
The area around Wylye is fabulous for walking and cycling and the village is located along National Cycle Route 24.
If you’d like to explore on foot, here’s a two mile walk from The Churches Conservation Trust that takes you along the crystal clear waters of the River Wylye – one of the best chalk streams in England and a fly fisherman’s dream. The valley is stunning, and rich in wildlife, look out for kingfishers and otters!
