Tisbury

Steeped in history, Tisbury is the largest village in the Nadder Valley and has been a settlement for over 2,000 years. Place Farm, home to one of the largest tithe barns in the country, is still in existence and is closely associated with Shaftesbury Abbey. Old Wardour Castle, in the care of English Heritage, is just a few minutes drive away and is a fine example of a 14th century castle, although now without a roof courtesy of the Civil War. The 12th century parish church of St John the Baptist sits on the northern bank of the River Nadder and is well worth a visit, not least because the churchyard boasts a 4,000-year-old yew tree, as estimated by David Bellamy using carbon dating! Most of the older houses in the village are built with locally quarried Chilmark stone, contrasting with the Victorian brick found on the High Street. The railway arrived here in 1859 and is handy for travelling to and from Salisbury, London and Exeter. The visitor is well catered for in Tisbury as the village boasts no less than five pubs offering food and drink and is an excellent centre for exploring the countryside. Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some wonderful walks in the beautiful surroundings, or travel a little further afield to visit Longleat, Stourhead, Wilton and Shaftesbury.