Downton Heritage Trail

Standing at the heart to The Borough is the Market Cross. It was rebuilt after a WW2 landmine knocked it down. The cross stands in front of the historic pub, previously the White Horse, now renamed The Goat.

The path here was known as School Rails and the building on the north side was once the Girls' British School. Look carefully and you can see the vertical incisions in the brickwork where the girls sharpened their slate pencils before writing on their slates.

Newcourt Farm is a 400 year old farmhouse with the remains of a 15th century tithe barn in the farmyard.

Having passed the pinch point you'll now be able to see three former mills to your right. To the left, the old tannery has now been developed for residential use but you can still see the preserved waterwheel.

The building on your right was the National School for girls. It was later the Church Hall, before being converted into homes.

Take a moment to view the river and the waterside houses.

In front of you stands the Victorian Baptist Church and to your left, The Old Court House, the village's first school.

The Bull Hotel was a coaching inn on the Salisbury to Weymouth Road. Long Close is the route of the old drove road from London to Weymouth.

Here you can see the signs the remnants of old channels, showing that these were old meadows, managed to maximise early grass crops and enabling more livestock to be farmed. Look out for wildlife along the river - this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The building on the right as you face the church used to be the Kings Arms pub.

At this point, you will be able to admire Moot House and The Moot landscape garden, which is open to visit. This was once the garden to the house and contains a Norman motte and bailey.

You're now standing in the shadow of the Old Granary. The white building to your left was once the work house. At the end of Green Lane there is an area of open space to view the River Avon. Otters and kingfishers have been seen on the river.

The Hall was built as the British School, becoming a public hall in 1887.

As you reach the end of Long Close, you'll be able to see the Primary School to the right, with its distinctive bell tower. Retracing your steps along Gravel Close to the Old Baptist Chapel.....

The bridge you see today was built to replace a ford, just to the north.

The Norman church is the oldest building in the village. Look a little closer in the south transept wall and you'll see evidence in the flint wall that it was also once the village fire station.

You are now standing in the oldest part of the village.

Mould's Bridge marks the site of where a house used to be before the water way was dug. It's burgage number can still be seen in the wall on the river wall on the south eastern side of the bridge.