Netheravon lies on the River Avon, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, and combines this landscape setting with a rich local history. For a culturally focused stay, the Church of All Saints, Netheravon Dovecote and Netheravon House offer three distinct historical points of interest. Another historical layer is found at the site of a Roman villa; the history of the airfield also merits a closer look. The Netheravon Airfield Circular Walk is another option, offering a longer activity with a clearly stated distance. You can focus your stay on architectural and village history, or add a circular walk, rather than treating both as a single sightseeing programme.

Netheravon’s Church and Village History

The Church of All Saints contains fabric dating from the 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th centuries. A tall arch probably dates from the early 11th century. Netheravon was probably the site of a religious house from before the Norman Conquest. The medieval village seems to have initially been centred around the church and was partly relocated because of flooding. The High Street largely retains its 18th-century character. The possible relocation due to flooding represents a change in the village’s location, while the High Street retains much of its 18th-century character.

Dovecote and Netheravon House

Netheravon Dovecote is an example of an early 18th-century dovecote and retains most of its original 700 limestone nesting boxes. The Dovecote can be seen from the southern edge of Millennium Park, about 20 metres away; walk to the edge of the park from the church car park. Check access information before you travel.

Netheravon House was built after 1734 for Henry Somerset, the Duke of Beaufort, and stands on the site of a Roman villa. The building is Grade II* listed. The construction date of the house and the Roman villa site represent two separate historical periods: one dates the building, while the other relates to the history of the site.

Airfield and Circular Walk

Netheravon Airfield was in continuous use from 1913 to 2012. Alongside the medieval phases of the church and the site of the Roman villa, this extends the local history into a much more recent, clearly defined period.

The Netheravon Airfield Circular Walk is 7.5 miles (12 kilometres) long. It follows paved paths, tracks, uneven terrain and grassland, and is unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. As the surfaces range from paved paths to uneven terrain, do not assume that the route is paved throughout. Distance, terrain and accessibility are separate factors to consider when choosing the walk. Check the published route information before setting off, as conditions can change.

Discover more destinations: Redlynch, Lyneham, Trowbridge, Ogbourne St George, Chilmark, Colerne, Potterne, Temple

For the broader travel overview: Wiltshire.