Poulshot
| Poulshot | |
|---|---|
 The Raven, Poulshot | |
| Population | 370 (in 2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST970599 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DEVIZES |
| Postcode district | SN10 |
| Dialling code | 01380 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Parish Council |
Poulshot is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. Its nearest town is Devizes, about 4 miles (6.4 km) away to the northeast.[2] The parish includes the hamlet of Townsend.
The Church of England parish church is called St Peter's and dates from the 13th century.[3] At one period in the 19th century the rector was the Rev Henry Arnold Olivier, grandfather of the actor Laurence Olivier.[4]
The historian Herbert William Fisher was born at Poulshot.[5]
In 1775 Thomas Boulter, the village miller, was sentenced to 14 years transportation for theft. His son (also named Thomas), tried to run the mill but gave it up and became an infamous highwayman committing many robberies in an area stretching from the south coast as far north as Cheshire and as far west as Bristol before being hanged at Winchester on 19th August 1778. It is said that for many years afterwards, fierce guard dogs in the area were generally called "Boulter" after him.[6]
References
- ^ "Wiltshire Community History - Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Poulshot at genuki.org.uk
- ^ Poulshot Village Church at poulshot.org.uk
- ^ Wikipedia entries for Laurence Olivier and Sydney, 1st Baron Olivier
- ^ Notes at nikoko.co.uk
- ^ "The Highwaymen of Wiltshire" by James Waylen, Devizes 1845 republished by E & W Books, London 1970.
External links
- poulshot.org.uk - Parish website
Media related to Poulshot at Wikimedia Commons