Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Bishops Cannings - Bromham - Devizes St. John - Devizes St. Mary - Melksham - Potterne - Poulshot - Seend
Websites of Interest
GenUKI - For information relating to Wiltshire and Rowde.
Rowde village - Parish Website.
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre - The Wiltshire County Archives for all historical documents and the place to obtain original copies.
Wiltshire Community History - Historical information for parishes within the Wiltshire County jurisdiction.
Gazetteer of British Place names - Entry for Rowde.
The Parish Church of St. Matthew
The church has a perpendicular tower , but the nave was rebuilt in 1833 and the chancel restored in 1892. It contains a squint and there is a font designed by Sir Digby Wyatt, who was a native of the village. [source: The Little Guide, published 1949]
St. Matthew's Gallery St. Matthew's Interior Gallery St. Matthew's Churchyard Gallery St. Matthew's Churchyard Memorial Survey (50% complete)
Church Monuments
Robert Jefferies 1735 Benjamin Stephens 1784 Eleazor Webbe 1647 Edgar Webb 1674 Samuel Webb 1739
General Church Items
Contents of the Parish Chest 1708
Parish Officials
A list of early Rowde Rectors Parish Officials 1616-1756 Vicars List
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1606-1960
Marriages 1606-1990
Burials 1606-1955
Parish History
Rowde (Old English , rhoed = reedy place) lies on the road from Devizes to Chippenham at the foot of Roundway Down. On the road to Chippenham, north of the village, is the Bell, which is a fine old house dated 1698. [source: The Little Guide, published 1949]
John Aubrey's North Wilts 1659
Civil Registrations
1837 - Present Devizes Registration District
Weather Conditions
This note was found in the parish register of 1703:- 1703 'november ye 27th there happened the most dreadful tempest which was ever know in the memory of man'
Rowde Postcards
If you hold any pre 1930's postcards which you are willing to contribute to this section please contact me. Thank you
Buildings and Land
Indentures
| Indenture - John & George Gee to Moore/Bernard 1729 | Indenture - John & George Gee to Browne 1733 | Indenture - Release of Land, Axford to Adlam 1772 |
Property for Sale by Auction
Freehold Property for Auction 1839
Maps
Ordnance Surveyor's Drawings 1808-1811
Property Sales by Auction
| Property Auctions 1700-1799 | Property Sale by Auction 1768 | Property Sale by Auction 1794 |
| Property Sale by Auction 1797 | Property Sale by Auction 1844 | Rowde Estate Sale 1874 |
Railway
Crime and Legal Matters
Directories
Trade directories review the town or village at a given point in time. They usually include population information and lists of Gentry, Residents and Tradesmen
Education
Emigration and Migration
Strays Index Helps Family Emigration to South Australia 1854
Employment and Business
Medical License for John Wick 1673 British Postal Services Appointments 1737-1969 New Business Venture in Swindon 1846
Apprentices
Apprentice records published here may not necessarily mean that the apprentice was from the parish but was apprenticed to a master within the parish
Stephen Andrews 1753 John Bayley 1755 John Boswell 1725
Wiltshire Society Apprentices
Ann Margaret Little 1841 John Thomas Mulcock 1870
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
A Methodist Society existed in the village in 1829 as part of the Devizes Circuit, but it was not until 1838 that a chapel was built in Marsh Lane. It was in brick with a three bay gabled front and round arched windows. By 1852 there were 20 members but the number had dropped to 17 in 1886 and declined in the 20th century so that there were only seven members in 1950. It is now a private dwelling house. [source: Wiltshire Community History] Wesleyan Chapel Gallery
Quakers
In 1677 there was a meeting known as the Bromham and Rowde Meeting, but soon afterwards the name was changed to the Bromham Meeting. It is likely that some Rowde people continued to attend it. [source: Wiltshire Community History] The few details I could find can be found here!
People and Parish Notables
Do you have early photographs or engravings of family members born in Rowde? These are not only of great interest to researchers in the UK and Worldwide who cannot get to the parish in person, but they really do help the Rowde pages 'come alive'. If you would like to share photographs of your ancestors (copyright credited and retained by contributor) of your email me via the Contact an OPC link. Thank you People Photo Gallery
Accidents and Suicides
Lucky Escape for Alfred Manley 1886
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Census Returns Transcripts
The Census for 1841 links to my website North Wiltshire Online Census Project
Bishop Compton's census 1676
Aged over 16 years - 287 conformists, 20 non-conformists.
Elections and Polls
The County Council Election Notice transcribed in the published document is an exact replica of that posted within the parish of Rowde by Edward C. Russell, Police Constable No. 135 on the 7th day of February 1925. The original poster is held by the Administrator which is endorsed on the reverse with the information about the posting of the notice and a signature of PC Russell.
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832 Voters Lists Revisions 1843 MP Nominations 2015
Entertainment
Family Notices
Funeral Reports
General Items
Inquests
Inquest Reports 1850-1899 Rebecca and Sarah Dally 1839 John Snozzle 1871
Personal Research Items
Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts - This item was donated by Ken Tuck and contains entries that may or may not relate to the Tuck family however they have been published as such. Many refer to Quaker burials found across the county
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Poor Commission Election 1837 Poor Law Union Bread & Flour Contract 1838
Recipients of the Poor Rate
| 1707 | 1734 | 1737 | 1741 | 1749 | 1753 | 1756 |
Probate
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Michael Drewe 1633 William Norden 1638 Richard Norden 1640
Parishioners Wills
WSHC hold about 350 historical wills for Rowde. Go to Wiltshire Wills; enter Rowde in the "where" box in the left hand menu for the complete list.
Robert Stevens proved 1659 Thomas Pope proved 1725
Probate Notices
Daniel Stump 1768 Eliz. Grant 1781
War, Conflict and Military Matters
War Memorials & Military Gallery
