Upper Seagry was first recorded in 1317 as “Over Seagry”; traces of earlier settlement can also be found in the village. Its history therefore combines a dated medieval reference with evidence of an earlier past. The historic houses also give the village a distinctive focus: they date from the early 17th to the 19th century, while the landscape and its paths offer further perspectives.
Local History and Historic Houses
Grade II listed structures include the gate piers, listed under the name “Gatepiers at Seagry House, to South of Front Lawn,” and Manor Farmhouse. The latter is an early 17th-century farmhouse, built of rubble stone and roofed with stone slates. The name of the gate piers records their connection with Seagry House and the southern part of the front lawn.
Other buildings reflect different periods and materials. The Chestnuts dates from the mid-18th century and combines red brickwork with ashlar dressings and a stone-slate roof. Rookery House dates back to 1792 and was extended around 1840. The house is built of dressed rubble stone and has slate roofs. Taken together, these buildings show that Upper Seagry’s historic building stock is not limited to a single period or a uniform choice of materials.
Architectural details also draw attention at the entrance to the “Hole in the wall” footpath: the stone passageway, piers and arch are included as part of Upper Seagry’s local heritage. Together with the listed houses, they provide tangible reference points for the village’s history, clearly distinct in form from the open landscape views.
Landscape, Viewpoints and Paths
To the west of Upper Seagry, the ancient woods of Seagry Wood, Oak Hill and Ell Wood shape the landscape. Two locally named viewpoints offer different perspectives: behind the Old Village Hall, the view extends northwest across fields towards woods; from Scotland Hill, it faces east towards Dove Cottage. One view takes in fields and woodland, while the other focuses on a single named building.
The network of paths in the Parish of Seagry is varied: it includes public rights of way and informal, well-used paths, valued especially for the connection between Lower Seagry and Upper Seagry. The Athelstan Pilgrim Way cycle route is distinct from these and passes through Upper Seagry in sections. For planning your trip, these are two different local connections: paths link the two Seagry villages, while the cycle route runs directly through Upper Seagry.
Village Character for Trip Planning
The village character also includes the New Inn, a traditional pub in Upper Seagry. Alongside the historic architecture and landscape views, this provides another local point of interest. When considering Upper Seagry as a destination, you can focus on the features that define the village: local history, varied architectural styles, landscape and paths. The cycle route adds a clear point of interest for travellers who enjoy cycling.
Discover more destinations: Malmesbury, Holt, Trowbridge, Ogbourne St George, Chippenham, Broad Chalke, Durrington, Marlborough.
For the wider travel overview: Wiltshire.
