 Sir Henry Danvers left land for a school and almshouse, together with further land to provide an income to maintain the school, in his will of 1645.The school was built c. 1667 and continued in use until the mid 19th century when it was replaced by a National School, built 1864–66.The family which took its name from the manor of Dauntsey is said by Macnamara to have originally been called "Oldstock", which he deduced from its Latinised name "Vetus Ceppus" in early charters.