A Potted History of Sutton Veny

We are grateful to Jill Russell for her memories and information relating to the village.

Alexander Memorial Field

Butchers Field – as it was known in the early 1900’s, was farmed by Mr Jeans. He did however, allow football to be played there. Other outdoor social events took place in the Rectory Park, now known as The Manor.

Elderly people have said that there were Swings and a See-Saw there for children’s play. The bowls club, built their Green and Cricket matches were regularly played.

When Mr Jeans passed away, Col Alexander bought the field and gave it to the village in 1928. Col Alexander lived in what had been Church Farmhouse. Naming it Polebridge having also bought that surrounding farm.

It was not strictly his memorial field as he ‘gave it to the village’ but it has become his memorial-known as the Alexander Memorial Field.

Pound Piece

Pound Piece is a small area at the corner of the High Street and Hill Road that in olden days was used for impounding straying livestock until their owners claimed them.

Later is was rented out by the post office in 1899 at 6d per annum. A hut and brazier – for cold weather, was provided there for the postman’s rest between walking out from Warminster delivering mail and returning, having collected letters from boxes in the village and beyond. There are still (2023) Victorian letter boxes at Sutton Parva and Bishopstrow.