Turning right at the end of the gravel path you reach the Headlands, an area built up in the 18th century. Looking to your left past the last cottages on the opposite side of the road is an area where the infamous ‘Bully Hag‘, a witch, is said to have lived.
On the corner of The Borough and The Headlands is the ancient grade II listed hote, The Bull. Recorded as an inn by 1726, there may in fact have been a building here as early as 1650.
The Bull was a fine coaching inn, perhaps the first on the main Salisbury road. When there was first a railway link from London to Salisbury a coach departed from here each afternoon to connect with the train at Salisbury.
Interestingly a male trout is also called a bull, and for many decades the pub sign comprised a (bovine) bull stood in a stream, with a leaping trout added as a clever visual pun. This sign may be seen on the front of the pub facing the main road.
The Bull Hotel has undergone many changes of ownership recently, but under ‘Skipper’ Parker and Peter Scott-Newman was for many years renowned for its fishing associations. Within a mile of coarse fishing waters on the River Avon, and with its own fishing rights on part of the river, the hotel attracted anglers from all over the World.
After passing the shops and cottages beyond The Bull, the trail turns right into Long Close West, where you will see the beginning of the Industrial Estate on the left.
Although no longer the same building, the corner site was once occupied by Downton Engineering. This small rural garage slowly gained a reputation for the tuning kits it produced, until by the 1960s it had become world famous for its conversions of racing Minis.
Long Close, known as Duck Lane in the early l9th century, was once mainly a farm complex. By the Second World War it became known locally as ‘tin town', as an army camp was built on what had been school vegetable gardens.
The Grade II listed Long Close House dates from the mid 17th Century, and has had many additions, most notably the large glass conservatory on the eastern end of the house. Some cottages on the lane remain but others have been demolished and replaced by newer houses.
