Wootton Rivers St Andrew’s Church
This is almost certainly due to its links to the ancient thatched manor house, now known as Manor Farm House, which is mentioned in documents dating back to Saxon times. Prior to the Norman invasion, the manor house had its own support network in the form of smaller dwellings and barns; its church, probably built of wood, stood close to the site of St Andrew's Church. In those days, the importance of the church being within the manor grounds was of far greater importance than any needs the community may have had.
It seems that there have been times that ancient Wootton has benefited from two churches as a result of links with Pewsey Manor, which came into the hands of the Religious Brethren of Hyde in 880. Dugdale's Monasticum records that Cirencester Abbey was then in control of the Pewsey lands until, during Henry Ill's reign, Pewsey Manor was returned to Hyde, circa 1216. The Abbot of Cirencester appears to have also had an interest ln the neighbouring lands; the Cirencester Abbey records show that Milton, Easton and Wootton were a part of that interest -
Traveling in those times seems to have presented fewer restrictions than was at one time supposed. Wootton was in horse country; where a horse could go, a man could ride. And many came.
The Domesday Record of 1068 tells us that Wootton, held by Queen Edith had two churches. It also states that Wootton paid tax for 30 hides of land, less 1 virgate; there was land in the village for 30 ploughs- in Lordship at the manor were held 13 hides plus 1 virgate (is this where the Queen’s missing virgate went?); the Lordship also held 2 ploughs and 12 slaves; there were but 40 villagers, 17 cottages and 14 ploughs. Mont St Michel held both churches, together with one hide of land. Under ancient English law, one hide could mean 120 acres or as much land as could support one family. Eight hides made a Norman Knights Fee. Some early documents refer to a hide as a measure, which could be ploughed by one plough. With such variances, we are unable to establish Mont St. Michel’s exact original holding in Wootton. One of the two churches probably stood just where St Andrew's Church stands today and the other by the boundary wall at the back of the Manor.
It was not until well after 1281 that Wootton come into the hands of the great de la Rivere family; by then, only one church was in village use The second church may have remained as part of the private chapel to the manor; however, it would have been a wooden structure and almost certainly returned to the earth. As you will see from later references to stones in the present building, there has been a church here for a very long time indeed.
The Domesday Record of 1068 tells us that Wootton, held by Queen Edith had two churches. It also states that Wootton paid tax for 30 hides of land, less 1 virgate; there was land in the village for 30 ploughs-
Church history
The name Wootton means 'farm by the wood' and Rivers comes from the family name, de la Rivere, who were 13th century lords of the manor. The village's church, St Andrew's, nestles discreetly at the top of a long pathway, almost out of sight of the road; many visitors wonder why it does not have a more prominent position.