Bishops Cannings Photo Gallery
Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
All Cannings - Avebury - Blackland - Bromham - Calstone Wellington - Cherhill - Devizes St. John - Devizes St. Mary - Heddington - Rowde - Southbroom
Websites of Interest
GenUKI - For information Bishops Cannings
Roll-of-Honour - Dedicated to the men and women of the parish who fell fighting for their country
United Benefice - Churches of Bishops Cannings, Etchilhampton & All Cannings
Wikipedia - For Bishops Cannings
University of Leicester's - Website for historical Wiltshire directories
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre - The Wiltshire County Archives for all historical documents and the place to obtain original copies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.
The Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin
At the western end of the Vale of Pewsey stands one of Wiltshire's most distinguished churches, St. Mary the Virgin at Bishops Cannings,built by the Bishops of Old Sarum towards the end of that city's life. A large cruciform building surmounted by a spire, most of the building is of twelfth/thirteenth century date with a broad nave, a sturdy crossing, wide transepts and a vaulted chancel. The transepts were designed to lead to eastern chapels. An unusual item of furniture is the penitential seat ornamented with curious painting. Church Gallery Inside St. Mary's
Bells and Bellringers
A Peal of Bells 1890 Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers Meeting 1915
Church Charities and Legacies
Recipients of George Ruddle's Legacy 1740
Fixtures and Fittings
Incumbents and Church Officials
Incumbents List 1290 - Present Churchwardens 1592-1669 Officiating Clergymen 1746-1812
Parish Register Transcripts
Interesting Entries in the Parish Registers
Baptisms
1591-1620 1621-1640 1641-1660 1661-1680 1681-1700 1701-1720 1721-1740 1741-1760 1761-1780 1781-1800 1801-1812
Banns
Marriages
1591-1650 1651-1700 1701-1730 1731-1780 1781-1812
Burials
1591-1630 1631-1660 1661-1690 1691-1720 1721-1750 1751-1780 1781-1811
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1591-1928
Marriages 1591-1973
Burials 1591-1882
Parish History
Bishops Cannings which is also known as Cannings Episcopi includes the tythings of Bourton, Coate, Easton and Horton. It formerly covered the chapelries of Chittoe and Southbroom St. James which are now stand alone parishes. It also contains the hamlets of Bedborough and Nursteed. It also covers the area of Devizes known as Roundway.
Civil Registration
1837 - Present Devizes Registration District
Buildings and Land
Inclosure Awards
Inclosure Award Extract 1812-1813
Land Owners
Property Sales
Crime and Legal Matters
Animal Crime
Assaults
Bastardy
Bastardy Examinations 1853-1878
Crime Reports
Transportation
Transportation of Prisoners 1827
Directories
Post Office 1855 Post Office 1875 Gllmans 1899 Gillmans 1914 Kellys 1915 Kellys 1911
Education
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Agriculture and Land
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
Thomas Allen 1756 William Baley 1743 Samuel Thurgood Bartlett 1747
Wiltshire Society Apprentices
William Hutchins 1838 Charles Henry Smith 1912
Communications
British Postal Service Appointments 1737-1969
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
Quaker Burials at Gallows Ditch 1678-1681
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations & Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871 Wilts Friendly Society Annual Festival 1847
Bankruptcy Reports
George Hitchcock Blake 1932-1935
Census Returns Transcripts
Coroners Bills
County coroners were introduced in England in around 1194 once established other boroughs and liberties sought the right to have their own coroner. Often in Medieval times the coroner also assumed the role of the sheriff and his duties weren't limited to holding inquests on dead bodies although almost a full time post they were unpaid for the duties apart from those that were deemed murder of manslaughter when they would receive 13s. 4d. From the 24th June 1752 a law was passed allowing the coroner to claim £1 for every inquest they attended not held in a gaol and also to claim 9d per mile travel allowance from the place of residence. Inquests held in any gaol were performed at a rate totalling no more than £1. These costs were to be paid from the county rates. In cases of homicide the coroner also received the former fee of 13s. 4d. The coroners submitted their bills at the quarter session sittings for approval. Coroners Bills 1752-1796
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
| Bishops Cannings | Poll of Freeholders 1772 | Poll Book 1818 | Voters List 1832 | Voters Lists Revisions 1843 |
| Bedborough | Poll of Freeholders 1772 | Poll Book 1818 | ||
| Bourton | Poll Book 1818 | Voters List 1832 | ||
| Nursteed | Poll of Freeholders 1772 | Poll Book 1818 | ||
| Wick | Poll Book 1818 |
Council Elections
County Council Election Notice 1925
MP Nominations
Family Notices
1800-1849 1850-1899 (Bourton) Anthony Harte & Wm. Haywarde, Proceedings in Chancery 1558-1603
Parish Notables
Ira Gandy, Writer, 1885-1977 James Pound - Clergyman, Doctor of Medicine, Naturalist and Astronomer - 1666-1724
Personal Research Items
These items were 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
Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts (Bourton) Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts (Nursteed)
Sport
Hunting Notices 1800-1999 Cricket Match Bishops Cannings v Heddington 1890
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Poor Commission Election 1837 Poor Law Cottages for Sale by Auction 1837 Poor Law Union Bread & Flour Tenders 1838
Probate
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Griffin Nicholas 1635 Michael Drew 1633
Parishioners Wills
Alice Vivash 1587 Joseph Waterman (alias Watts) 1675 (Nuncupative) (Bedborough) Margaret Pope Proved 1587 (Bourton) Thomas Pope Proved 1611 (Bourton)
Probate Indexes
National Probate Index 1858-1966 (Bedborough)
War, Conflict and Military Matters
War Memorials & Military Gallery
Boer War
War Memorial in St. Mary's 1900-1902
General Items
Why the Poppy Servicemen & Families with the 1st Wilts. Regt. in South Africa 1911
WWI
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918 Bell Ringers Memorial Book WWI, St. Paul's Cathedral Library, London Calne & District Casualty Lists WWI War Memorial 1914-1918
WW1 Casualties
Bedborough
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Coroners Bills
BOURTON
Buildings and Land
Land Owners
Crime and Legal Matters
Bastardy
Civil Matters
Emigration & Migration
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Coroners Bills
Coate
Buildings and Land
Public Houses
Crime and Legal Matters
Bastardy
Bastardy Examinations 1847-1865
Employment Crime
Leaving Service (John Weston) 1874
Theft
Directories
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Medical License - Daniel Elson (Nelson) 1599
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
People and Parish Notables
Associations, Clubs, Organisations & Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Coroners Bills
County coroners were introduced in England in around 1194 once established other boroughs and liberties sought the right to have their own coroner. Often in Medieval times the coroner also assumed the role of the sheriff and his duties weren't limited to holding inquests on dead bodies although almost a full time post they were unpaid for the duties apart from those that were deemed murder of manslaughter when they would receive 13s. 4d. From the 24th June 1752 a law was passed allowing the coroner to claim £1 for every inquest they attended not held in a gaol and also to claim 9d per mile travel allowance from the place of residence. Inquests held in any gaol were performed at a rate totalling no more than £1. These costs were to be paid from the county rates. In cases of homicide the coroner also received the former fee of 13s. 4d. The coroners submitted their bills at the quarter session sittings for approval. Coroners Bills 1752-1796
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832
Family Research
Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Poor Law Cottages for Sale by Auction 1837
Horton
Buildings and Land
Owners of Land 1873 Horton Village Design Statement 2004
Crime and Legal Matters
Crime Reports 1800-1849 Bastardy Examinations 1863-1880
Directories
Emigration
Employment and Business
People and Parish Notables
Accidents
Associations, Clubs, Organisations & Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
Poll Of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1832
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
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Poor Law Cottages for Sale by Auction 1837 Poor Law Rate Assessment Challenged 1846
Probate
National Probate Index 1858-1966
Parishioners Wills
War, Conflict & Military Matters
Nursteed
Crime and Legal Matters
Assaults
Beerhouse Keeper Savagely Beaten 1841
Firearm Crime
Mr. Lyne Shot at Whilst in Bed 1830
Vehicle and Highway Crime
Employment and Business
Apprentices
Wiltshire Society
Markets and Fairs
Roundway
History
Buildings and Land
Wilts County Asylum/Roundway Hospital
Archaeological Finds
Crime and Legal Matters
Employment and Business
William Read Business Advertisement 1847
People and Parish Notables
| People News 1700-1799 | Devizes Green Fair 1765 | Poll of Freeholders 1772 |
| Family Notices 1800-1849 | Bankruptcy Notices of William Crook 1830 |
Associations, Clubs, Organisations & Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871
Inquest Reports
E. F. Colston 1847 Charles Curtis 1881
Probate
National Probate Index 1858-1966
Parishioners Wills
John Lewis proved 1712 William Lewis proved 1732
War, Conflict and Military Matters
Battle of Roundway 1643 (Overview) Entertainment at Roundway Park 1874
