Codford

The Wiltshire village of Codford lies in the lush Wylye Valley, between Salisbury Plain to the north and the chalk escarpments of the Wiltshire Downs to the south. Most travellers on the A36 between Warminster and Salisbury will take the bypass through the southern edge of the parish. But, for those who care to leave their cars and wander through the village, Codford's past is displayed in its landscape, its streets and its buildings. The village and its surroundings are not only outstandingly beautiful, they are also rich in history. Codford is a quintessential English parish and, like every parish, has a story to tell. First mentioned in 901, its later development was subject to the twin influences of road and river. Codford: Wool and War in Wiltshire explores why the landscape and architecture of an agrarian parish look the way they do, and examines how its people, their livelihoods and social connections have made it what it is. From early Anglo-Saxon settlement to important military garrison, through lords and landowners, agriculture and religion, community organisations and the impact of two World Wars, this fascinating look into Codford's rich past will evoke the history of many similar places. 'Praised by Trollope and W H Hudson for the beauty of the surrounding landscape, cursed by the mud-soaked trainees of two World Wars, the whole story is refreshingly re-told in this new approach to local history provided by the Victoria County History.' Rex Sawyer