The content that follows in this section is an extract from the excellent Village Archive curated by Mr Russell Carver comprising several booklets on the history of the Duntisbournes together with a series of intesting period photographs of the locality.
Booklets
Firstly, we include two excellent booklets relating to local Duntisbournes history which are provided in pdf format. Both booklets were written some years ago by local residents and are re-produced here by kind permission of the Carver and Birchall families. To view in the correct orientation: right click - select rotate clockwise - then magnify as required.
The first booklet, The History of Duntisbourne Abbots, was written in the early 1950s by Mrs Haines (a one time School Headmistress of the Duntisbourne Abbots Church of England School) together with Lady Birchall. The second booklet, The Story of Duntisbourne Rous, was written by Anne Carver in 1968.
A third booklet, the Duntisbourne Abbots War Book 1940, is also provided from the Village Archive which provides a fascinating insight into life in the Duntisbournes in 1940 and the preparations made localy in anticipation of a possible invasion of Britain from the Continent.
Photographs
The following photographs are drawn from the Village Archive but their provenance is unknown; moreover, it is not known if any copyright applies to any of the images provided. If you own the copyright to any image and are not happy for it to be included on this website then please contact the website administrator and it will of course be removed – see Feedback and Contact Us.
Duntisbourne Abbots - Village School (now Village Hall) - circa 1953 - the year the School closed with just 5 pupils remaining
Duntisbourne Abbots - St Peter's Church thought to be circa pre-1860 (prior to Church renovation and extension) showing: old graveyard, the then new Moot Room, a much smaller Davenport House and Mrs Radway's thatched barn (part of the Old Post Office now The Laurells)
Long Ford - circa 1920s - showing period car driving through the ford whilst being watched from the side by a country Gentleman sat on a dry stone wall
Duntisbourne Abbots - 'Partridges' circa 1905 with Mr and Mrs Jude Partridge stood to the front
Duntisbourne Leer - circa 1960s - view looking down towards the Dunt stream with country Gentleman riding a horse up the hill
Duntisbourne Leer - Leer Farm Yard with two girls playing next to a period motor vehicle loaded with milk churns with a further horse and cart being attended by a farmer
Duntisbourne Abbots - Sundial Cottage circa 1920s
Duntisbourne Rous - early period photograph showing a row of traditional Cotswold cottages with horse and cart in the foreground and with St Michael's Church in the background
Duntisbourne Leer - workhorses 'Jolly' and 'Ploughboy' pulling a mower together with farmer Bob Watkins (right) and farm worker Hubert Daffen (left)
Duntisbourne Leer - view looking down towards the Dunt Stream and Holland's bakehouse and shop with two women working to the front of the shop
Long Ford - Mr Watson with two work horses in the Long Ford circa mid 1940s (prior to stream widening)
Duntisbourne Leer - view looking towards Leer Farm with 'Alices' in the foreground together with children playing to the front
Duntisbourn Abbots - St Peter's Church circa 1960s
Duntisbourne Leer - sheep being tendeded by their shepard drinking in the Dunt stream to the front of Holland's bakehouse and shop. The sheep are joined in the Dunt stream by a horse pulling a cart attended by a farmer
Duntisbourne Leer - view looking down towards Holland's bakehouse and shop
Duntisbourne Leer - work horses 'Jolly' and 'Ploughboy' drinking from the Dunt stream outside the Holland's bakehouse and shop
Duntisboure Leer - Leer Farm with Bob Watkins and collie dog 'Buttercup'
Duntisbourne Leer - view looking down towards Holland's bakehouse and shop