Church of St Laurence in Downton The Downton Neighbourhood Plan area encompasses the whole of Downton parish which People have lived in Downton for over 7,000 is in the Avon Valley including its floodplain, river years. Evidence of Iron Age, Roman and Saxon terraces and both valley sides, with Barford and settlements has been found. The earthworks of Witherington Downs to the East and New Court a Norman motte and bailey castle lie within the and Clearbury Downs to the West. The landscape 18th Century Moot landscape gardens is predominantly rural with the village of overlooking the river. Downton nestling on the valley floor towards the Southern end of the plan area To the North is the Its recent history included a range of industries village of Charlton All Saints, lying on the western including tanning, manufacturing bacon and side of the river, and to the east is the hamlet of converting Mini cars to make them faster. Standlynch. Evidence of past activities can be seen in the old buildings and the mills that used to power local Downton itself is a ancient Wiltshire village industry. Today the village continues to thrive, with a population of approximately 3,000 with its own schools, shops, pubs and businesses. situated 6 miles south of Salisbury. It straddles Every year the Cuckoo Fair attracts around the River Avon just outside the New Forest 20,000 visitors to over 250 craft and other stalls, National Park and is surrounded by water plus live music, dance and other entertainments. meadows and chalk downland. The village is also well for its fishing, its award winning local brewery and as a centre for exploring the River Avon and New Forest. Accessibility Downton has good road connections to the north (Salisbury) and to the south (Bournemouth and Southampton, via the M27) along the A338. This is regarded as the primary and local lorry route though the area in the Wiltshire Core Strategy. This route primarily affects the western end of the village. The rest of the village is affected by through-traffic to the New Forest and A36 along the B3080 and use of this route by HGV’s.
The Downton Neighbourhood Plan area encompasses the whole of Downton parish which is in the Avon Valley including its floodplain, river terraces and both valley sides, with Barford and Witherington Downs to the East and New Court and Clearbury Downs to the West. The landscape is predominantly rural with the village of Downton nestling on the valley floor towards the Southern end of the plan area To the North is the village of Charlton All Saints, lying on the western side of the river, and to the east is the hamlet of Standlynch. Downton itself is a ancient Wiltshire village with a population of approximately 3,000 situated 6 miles south of Salisbury. It straddles the River Avon just outside the New Forest National Park and is surrounded by water meadows and chalk downland. Church of St Laurence in Downton People have lived in Downton for over 7,000 years. Evidence of Iron Age, Roman and Saxon settlements has been found. The earthworks of a Norman motte and bailey castle lie within the 18th Century Moot landscape gardens overlooking the river. Its recent history included a range of industries including tanning, manufacturing bacon and converting Mini cars to make them faster. Evidence of past activities can be seen in the old buildings and the mills that used to power local industry. Today the village continues to thrive, with its own schools, shops, pubs and businesses. Every year the Cuckoo Fair attracts around 20,000 visitors to over 250 craft and other stalls, plus live music, dance and other entertainments. The village is also well for its fishing, its award winning local brewery and as a centre for exploring the River Avon and New Forest. Accessibility Downton has good road connections to the north (Salisbury) and to the south (Bournemouth and Southampton, via the M27) along the A338. This is regarded as the primary and local lorry route though the area in the Wiltshire Core Strategy. This route primarily affects the western end of the village. The rest of the village is affected by through-traffic to the New Forest and A36 along the B3080 and use of this route by HGV’s.
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