downtonbuildings

The building containing 1 and 2 Pine Lodge was originally constructed in the 1930s as the offices for John Read (Wilts) Ltd (Forage Contractors). Their storage buildings were on the site of what is now Weeke Close.

2 Pine Lodge

See 1 Pine Lodge.

WEST SIDE (from junction with Wick Lane)

Wick Meadow Farmhouse

Formerly known as Middle Wick Farm.

Former occupiers: Mr Barnaby (1935- 1950); John M Dickson (1964).

Mesh House

Brookside

5 Mesh Pond

4 Mesh Pond

3 Mesh Pond

2 Mesh Pond

The Coach House

Formerly an outbuilding to Wick House.

Mesh Pond Cottage

Formerly an outbuilding to Wick House.

Mesh Wick Hall

Formerly part of Wick House.

Mesh Wick House

Formerly part of Wick House.

Wick House

Constructed in 1890, this imposing Victorian country residence has been divided into three properties (Wick House, Mesh Wick Hall and Mesh Wick House). Two of its outbuildings have been converted into dwellings (The Coach House and Mesh Pond Cottage) and much of its grounds have been built upon (Barnaby Close, Catherine Crescent, Elizabeth Close, Joanna Close, Marie Avenue, Mesh Pond and Weeke Close).

In 1921 Emily Bonvalot of Wick House purchased the land for the Memorial Gardens for the village, in memory of her son Edward (see separate entry under Bonvalot Memorial Gardens, The Borough).

During World War Two troops were billeted in the billiard room of the house.

In April 1949 the house and estate was auctioned at the Red Lion Hotel in Salisbury. It was advertised in Country Life as having ‘3-4 reception rooms, 6 principal and 5 secondary bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 staff flats, model stabling, a lodge, a bungalow, charming grounds and park-like paddocks - in all about 34 acres’.

The house was used from 1949 until the late 1950s as Wick House Girls Preparatory School, comprising three classrooms and six dormitories catering for 35 pupils. The grounds included a playing field, hard tennis court, two netball pitches, an archery range and a riding field.

Former occupiers: Captain Archibald H Beech (1891-1900); Henry Curtis Gallup (Master of Wilton Hunt) (1900-1906); Dr George Penrose (1906-1912); Antoine St Laurent Bonvalot (1912-1916); Emily Bonvalot (1916-1933); John Read (1933- 1949); Captain Russell Grenfell RN (1949-1954); Mrs Grenfell (1954-1956); Mrs Girling (1956-1960s).

Frank Grenfell: I have many fond memories of the house as I lived there between the ages of 5 and 12. The school started in the September term 1949, having moved from Camden House in Burley near Ringwood, which had become too small. The previous year it (Camden House) had been sold to the local Council as an old peoples' home, which it was until recently, and may still be. The Council gave my parents a year to find new accommodation - a concession which I gather became increasingly anxious as nothing suitable turned up. After my father died in 1954, my mother continued living there until 1956 when the school (but not the house) was sold to Mrs Girling. The house continued in my mother's possession until (presumably) 1960 when it was sold, presumably to Mrs Girling, who then disposed of the school and sold the house for development. The lovely drive from the house to the main road was turned into Marie Avenue.