The origins of the name 'Snail Creep' are unclear. One possible explanation is that it is taken from on old country dance of the same name, which originated in Cornwall. The name appears in other parts of the west-country and Wales, and a path of this name is mentioned in Thomas Hardy’s ‘Under The Greenwood Tree’.
One of the wooden buildings that appear on your right is currently used as the Church Rooms (as an office and for meetings etc). Former uses of these buildings have included the village surgery and library.
The Heritage Trail plaque is on the wall of St Laurence’s Church Hall. This building was previously used as a school - its car park was the playground. A National Girl’s School was built here in 1830. A National Sunday and Day School was then built here in 1846 and enlarged in 1850.
The school was taken over by Wiltshire County Council and by 1920 was known as the Church of England School. Until 1938 it remained an elementary school for all ages, up to l4 years, but after that date was used for infants and juniors, with children aged over 11 years attending the school in Gravel Close (Heritage Trail Plaque 6). In 1964 all remaining pupils were transferred to Gravel Close, and in 1975 the Barford Lane building was converted into the Church Hall. It has now been sold and converted to housing.
The block of garages on the opposite side of the lane was formerly used as a blacksmith‘s workshop. Further north (beyond the Heritage Trail) is Hamilton House, another former surgery.
Properties beyond the trail on the west side of Barford Lane include Chalkhill House - a former Vicarage built in the 17th century, the current Vicarage - built in 1975. The Manor House (Heritage Trail Plaque 11), Parsonage Farm, Carver Cottages - built in 1925 for occupation by ‘financially deserving’ tenants, the Scout Field and the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd and Our Blessed Lady Queen of Angels.
On a bend further along is a track leading to Barford Park Farm and Trafalgar Fisheries.
To the left of the junction of Barford Lane with the High Street is Lode Hill, referred to as Load Hill on some old maps.
