Village geography

Fovant is a parish of some 890 hectares (2,200 acres), lying between Salisbury in Wiltshire and Shaftesbury in Dorset. It is ten miles from each, by the A30 road. Apart from a short period during World War I, it has been a rural community whose inhabitants largely derived their livelihood from agriculture.

During its history it has been, and in some cases still is, in the Salisbury division of the county, the hundred of Cawden and Cadworth, within the Salisbury and Amesbury petty sessional division, the county court district of Salisbury, the union of Wilton, the rural deanery of Chalk and the archdeaconry and diocese of Salisbury.

The oldest form of the village name that has been met with (in the Saxon Charters) is Fobbefunte (the fountain of, or belonging to, Fobbe), although in Domesday Book it was Febbefonte, and in Nomina Villarum was Fovente.

It has been referred to by many other names during the ages, the following set being from The Place Names of Wilts. By Einar Ekblom. 1917:

In addition, we have the following spellings: Fofunt, Foffunt, Foffent, ffouant, Foffant, ffovant and ffovente. Fobhunte. Fovehunt. Netherfofhunte. Upfovent. Feffen. Fovington. Foffant Magna.

The physical geography of the area has determined the position and scale of the village, together with its communications and appearance. The scenery is affected by what is beneath it and how this has changed over millions of years. Since the village was first settled, landowners have found it necessary to establish their boundaries and, controversially, their rights. As the means became available, maps were made, not only to show communication between communities, but also to describe their shape and surroundings. Communication within villages developed. Paths appeared, became tracks and roads and then often reverted to paths again. Their upkeep provided employment for some villagers.

In subsequent pages you will be able to examine many of these aspects that have fashioned the look of our village.

M.C.L.H.
2005

Content last updated
29 Nov 2005

© 2002 Design - dingo web design. Text - Fovant History Interest Group

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