Marten
- Not to be confused with Martin, Wiltshire
| Marten | |
| Wiltshire | |
|---|---|
 A lane in Lane in Marten | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU281601 |
| Location: | 51°20’23"N, 1°35’48"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Marlborough |
| Postcode: | SN8 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Wiltshire |
Marten is a little hamlet in eastern Wiltshire, standing just below the curved escarpment of Rivar Down, which marks where the narrow, south-westernmost arm of Berkshire jabs down through Wiltshire's body to encompass Oxenwood. There are no towns close by; the nearest vilages are all small; Wilton to the north-west, Wexcombe to the south-west and Oxenwood up the scarp in Berkshire to the south-east.
The A338 runs just north of the village.
History
The route of the Roman road between Corinum (Cirencester) and Uenta Belgarum (Winchester) passes Marten.
Marten is one of several suggested sites for the Battle of Meredun 871, in which Æthelred of Wessex suffered a defeat in battle with a Viking army.[1][2]
The village was in former days part of the ancient parish of Great Bedwyn, formed from a large estate called Bedwyn which was recorded in 968.[1] The Domesday Book of 1086 records six households in Marten.[3]
Earthworks at Marten, including evidence of a moat, are listed as a deserted mediæval village.[4]
Outside links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A History of the County of Wiltshire - Volume 16 pp 8-49: Great Bedwyn (Victoria County History): British History Online
- ↑ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Peterborough / Worcester Chronicle (871): 7 þæs ymb twegen monþas gefeaht æþered cyning 7 ælfred his broþor wið þone here æt Meredune, 7 hi wæron on twam gefylcum, 7 hi butu geflymdon 7 lange on dæg sige ahton, 7 þær wearð mycel wælslyht on gehwæðre hond, 7 þa Dæniscan ahton wealstowe geweald.'
- ↑ Marten in the Domesday Book
- ↑ National Heritage List 1013104: Marten: deserted mediæval village and moated site
- Marten in A History of the County of Wiltshire - Volume 16 : Kinwardstone Hundred: Great Bedwyn (Victoria County History)