Downton
Downton, six miles south of Salisbury, is an ancient settlement with links to the Romans, Saxons, Normans and the Middle Ages. The village is an attractive broad 14th century borough of thatched cottages and village greens on the River Avon, rising up to the ancient Church of St Laurence and the Saxon Moot.
Visitors enjoy The Cuckoo Fair held on the first Bank Holiday Saturday of May with its hundreds of stalls and street activities. This event has been a feature of village life since the 16th century.
The Moot is an ancient monument with a reputed Saxon meeting place and parliament which is now a Grade 1 18th century ornamental garden. Visitors can take a delightful walk down to the River Avon, around the medieval bailie mound and see the lake and glorious setting of amphitheatre.
The Downton Millennium Green offers a breathing space for enjoyment by the village and visitors for all time. Its most striking feature is the landscape, typical of a river valley running through chalk downlands with the Avon at this point meandering through a broad flood plain. A flat landscape broken only by hedgerows, clumps of trees and an occasional building.
Must see and do
- Breamore House and Museum, Breamore, Hampshire
- Rockbourne Roman Villa, Rockbourne, Hampshire
- Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury
- Downton Cuckoo Fair, Downton (May)
- Old Sarum Castle, Salisbury
- Salisbury International Arts Festival, Salisbury (May/June)
- Stonehenge, near Amesbury
- Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury
- Salisbury Food and Drink Festival, Salisbury (August)
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