Marshfield

The Town

Marshfield lies on the Somerset-Wiltshire border, and will appeal to a property buyer hoping to carry out a property search in the south of the Cotswolds. As our Recoco buying agent can show you, it’s around 28 miles south of Gloucester, 15 miles east of Bristol, and 8 miles north of Bath. The High Street is the town’s only main thoroughfare, and just about every building here is over 100 years old, as your Recoco property finder can show you. Several buildings use local stone and other materials, which our boutique buying agents can tell you is part of what gives the village its character.

Transport

The nearest motorway junction to Marshfield is M4 J18, just over 20 minutes away, and Chippenham is the nearest railway station.

History

As our boutique buying agents can tell you, the remains of an ancient longhouse were found in the farmyard of Castle Farm. Your real estate buyers agent can also tell Bronze Age and Stone Age occupation evidence has been found nearby, as well as a skeleton. Our Recoco property finder can show you the longhouse still has a dividing screen between the animal and human dwelling areas, or ask about the original fireplace.  

Our buyers agents can confirm the “Marsh” part of the town’s name derives from Old English “March”, meaning a border.

Historically, the town made much of its money from brewing, gaining market status in 1234.  Your property search company can tell you the layout is typical of a market town. Our Recoco buying agent can show you that several of the houses have long narrow plot gardens that extend back from the frontages, served by a couple of rear access lanes.

During the English Civil War, as our independent buying agents can outline,  troops were garrisoned here, while the town’s history is clear for any property search company to see in the architecture and buildings. Following the 1643 Battle of Lansdown almost every house had wounded troops billeted there until both sides withdrew. It’s thought the church suffered particularly badly. Our property search company can help you trace the centuries from the medieval barn to Georgian times. Ask your real estate buyers agent to point out  gables, mullioned windows, bow fronts, and even shell-patterned door arches typical of the time of Queen Anne.

Leisure and Events

Ask your buyers agents about the Boxing Day custom of the Marshfield Mummers, or ‘Paper Boys’, who perform a play along the High Street, starting at the Market Place and continuing to the almshouses. As your independent buying agents can outline, the event is led by the Town Crier with his merry handbell - your Recoco property finder can also describe the traditional conclusion, where a local public house offers the ‘Boys’ a tot of whisky. Your property buying agent can tell you the name comes from the fact the costumes are made of paper. Ask your boutique buying agents about the various independent stores, such as Vintage & Brown, perfect for picking up unique gifts.

Education

A property buyer who likes to consider educational opportunities as part of their property search might like to ask their Recoco buying agent about local schools. The village has a Church of England pre-school and Primary School, or our property buying agent can describe local independent schools including Calder House and Sheldon School in Chippenham and King Edward’s School in Bath. The nearest universities are in Bath and Bristol - ask your real estate buyers agent for more information.

Foodies’ Corner

Need to quench your thirst or enjoy a hearty meal? Our buyers agents may suggest traditional hostelry the Lord Nelson, while the puddings at the Catherine Wheel would delight any property buyer with a sweet tooth.

 The Marshfield name will be familiar to anyone who knows the delicious organic ice cream - the local farm has its own ice cream parlour. Your independent buying agents can confirm Marshfield ice cream has been served in venues including the Royal Festival Hall and Buckingham Palace.

Celebrity Connections

Ashley Jensen, who starred in the Agatha Raisin TV series and appeared in Extras and Ugly Betty, owned a home nearby: your property buying agent will be able to show you where the village was used for some of the Agatha Raisin filming. Other local famous names include Dylan Thomas and his wife Caitlin, writer Antonia White.

Fun Fact 

The vicarage only had electricity in the 1950s; as late as the 1980s only two floors in the building were wired up.