The above photograph of the Railway
Arch was taken by Roy 'Nobby' Nash on
the morning of its demolition in
1968.
Lode Hill is referred to as Load Hill
on some old
maps.
NORTH SIDE (from junction with
Barford Lane)
1 Lode Hill
Formerly a grade III listed building.
Former listing description: C18.
Former occupiers: Henry Scott; Sidney
E Stevens (1950s-1970s).
3 Lode Hill
Formerly a grade III listed building.
Former listing description: C18.
Former occupiers: George Sargeant
(1930s-1950s).
5 Lode Hill
Formerly a grade III listed building.
Former listing description: C18.
7 Lode Hill
Formerly a grade III listed building.
Former listing description: C18.
Formerly Noyce's shop in the 1920s-
1930s.
Former occupiers: William Corbin
(1950s-1960s).
Former Rehoboth Chapel
The garage of 9 Lode Hill (Vine
Cottage) was formerly a Rehoboth
Strict Baptist Chapel. In the early
1840s a group of Strict Baptists were
formed by an orator called Mr Tiptaft,
locally known as 'The Thunderer' and
the chapel was founded in 1845. There
was a permanent pastor, Mr Jones, but
he died in 1858 and was not replaced,
causing the congregation to gradually
dwindle. The chapel was closed by the
1950s and by 1975 had been converted
to its current use.
9 Lode Hill (Vine Cottage)
A grade II listed building, upgraded
from Grade III.
Listing description: Cottage at end of
row. Late C18. Flemish bond brick,
tiled roof with half hip to left,
gable-end brick stacks. 2-storey, 2-
window. Central C20 door with
segmental head, 16-pane bow sash
either side. First floor has two 9-
pane sashes. Dentilled eaves. Left
return has C19 external brick stack,
C20 casement. Interior not
inspected.
This is the site of the former
dwelling of the chantry priest and was
known as Burnhill’s Chantry. The
original chantry priest may have been
William Burnell, priest of Downton in
1290.
Former occupiers: Ernest William Rose
(1935-1953); Reginald Paddock
(1950s-1960s).
11 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: Jesse Moody (1930s-
1950s).
13 Lode Hill
15 Lode Hill
Formerly known as Little Cottage.
Former occupiers: Joe Eastman
(1950s).
17 Lode Hill
Formerly known as Down View.
Former occupiers: Andrew Woodford
(Tailor) (1930s-1950s).
19 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: Samuel Morris
(Painter and Decorator) (1930s-
1950s).
21 Lode Hill
23 Lode Hill (Hill Side)
A grade II listed building, upgraded
from Grade III.
Listing description: Detached cottage.
C17. Timber-framed, half-hipped
thatched roof, axial brick stack.
Gable end to road, 2 bays. Single-
storey and attic, 1-window. Door on
gable end with C20 porch, one 2-light
casement to right and to first floor.
Left return has C20 glazed porch, one
2-light casement, eyebrow dormer with
one 2-light casement. Right return has
no window. Interior has chamfered beam
with bar and ogee stops, open
fireplace with chamfered lintel,
exposed chamfered joists with step and
runout stops.
Former occupiers: William Smith
(1930s-1950s); Mrs L F Scott-Taggart
(1964).
25 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: Frank Bundy (1950s-
1960s).
27 Lode Hill (1 Avon View)
Constructed in 1887.
Former Occupiers: Roy Coppock (1950s);
Albert E Ridgeley
(1960s).
29 Lode Hill (2 Avon View)
Constructed in 1887.
Former Occupiers: George Wass (1950s);
Leslie A Ridgeley
(1960s).
- Here is the junction with The
Sidings -
(For former Downton Railway Station
see entry under The Sidings)
Demolished Bus Shelter
The bus shelter stood adjacent to the
west side of the old railway bridge
before it was demolished circa 1970.
Demolished Railway Bridge
Known as The Railway Arch. Although
now overgrown, steep banks at either
side of Lode Hill still indicate where
the bridge stood before it was
demolished in 1968.
31 Lode Hill (Station House)
The former stationmaster's house. All
access to the property is now via The
Sidings, the old pedestrian gate onto
Lode Hill having been fenced off.
BBC Wiltshire’s Sound Story Winner for
1990 was a short story by Tim Jones
called ‘The Potato Man’. Although
entirely fictional it was inspired by
memories of the railway at Downton,
the main character being an old
railway worker named Morgan, who lived
in the old station master’s house
at ‘Dunton’.
Former Occupiers: William
Charles 'Churby' Bundy (1950s); David
Galpin (1960s-1970s).
33 Lode Hill
A cottage formerly stood in the
section of garden of this property
closest to the old railway bridge. The
cottage was destroyed by a fire, said
to have been caused by a spark from a
passing train. The plot was later used
as an allotment by Jack Refell (see
entry under 20 and 20A Lode Hill).
Former occupiers: Ernest Cove; Gerry
Swanton.
35 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: Raymond Henderson.
37 Lode Hill (Well Cottage)
A grade II listed building.
Listing description: Detached house.
Early C18. Timber-framed, thatched
roof, brick stack. L-plan. Entrance at
right angles to road. 2-storey, 2-
window. Two C20 glazed doors, one 2-
light casement to left and C20
casement to right. Two eyebrow dormers
with 2-light casements. Right return
is gable end to road, two 2-light
casements to ground floor and one 2-
light casement to first floor.
Interior not inspected.
Former occupiers: Mr Cook; Eric Crowe;
Eric P Elston
(1960s).
39 Lode Hill
41 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: Dick Henderson.
43 Lode Hill
45 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: George Sheraton
(1950s).
47 Lode Hill
Former occupiers: George Fanstone
(1950s).
49 Lode Hill (Nutshell Cottage)
Sawmills
Formerly owned by Chas. Mitchell and
Sons Ltd (Brick Manufacturers,
Building Materials and Timber
Merchants – their brickworks were in
Moot Lane). In 1964 the company’s
telephone number was Downton 426.
Lode Hill Camp Site
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