Bowerchalke, Wiltshire

Flower Delivery to Bowerchalke with Clare Florist

Also called Bower Chalke, the village and civil parish in Wiltshire is located about 9 miles south west of Salisbury. Bowerchalke is located in the south of Wiltshire and is about 1 mile from the county boundary with Dorset and 2 miles from Hampshire.

Bowerchalke is located in the Cranborne Chase and West Wilshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation. The River Chalke, which is a classic chalk stream, rises in the village before joining the River Ebble at Broad Chalke. The River Chalke also flows into the Hampshire Avon south of Salisbury.

The Bowerchalke Downs, which is also known as Woodminton Down, Marleycombe Down and Knowle Down were defined as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

History

There is no known date as to when Bowerchalke was first inhabited. However, fragmentary records from the Saxon times show that the whole Chalke Valley area was thriving.

The earliest signs of inhabitation is the bowl barrow on Marleycombe Down which was most likely built in the Neolithic or Bronze Age. Metal dectectorists near discovered two hoards of gold, silver coins and rings from the 4th century used by the Durotriges – a Celtic tribe – near Bowerchalke.

In the 10th century, the Anglo-Saxon King Eadwig granted an estate called Chalke – which included land in Broad Chalke and Bowerchalke – to the nuns of Wilton Abbey.

The Chalke Valley was divided into eight manors in The Domesday Book in 1086. The area was known as the Stowford Hundred during the 12th century. In the 16th century, Henry VIII granted Chalke to William Herbert during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Chalke was a large, disconnected estate separated into two ecclesiastical parishes called Broad Chalk and Bowerchalke in 1880.

Bowerchalke Downs

Marleycombe Down, Knowle Down and Woodminton Down are jointly known as the Bowerchalke Downs, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's an extensive area that is mostly rich chalk grassland. Orchids make one of the many flowers in Bowerchalke in the area. One area is particularly rich in orchids and features Bowerchalke flowers such as Pyramidal Orchid, Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and Fragrant Orchid.

There are several varieties of butterflies in the area as well. These include Dingy Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary and Common Blue.

Sites of Interest

·    Holy Trinity Church – dates back to the 13th century. Nobel Prize winning novelist William Golding is buried in the churchyard. He lived the middle part of his life in a cottage located on the banks of the River Chalke.

Whether you'd like to see the church or visit the grave of William Golding, you might want to stay for the night. There are accommodation options nearby that you can choose from. If you're bringing your partner, you can send flowers to Bowerchalke to surprise them or as a way to say thanks for coming with you for the trip.

Nearby Attractions

There are a couple of attractions located nearby that you might want to explore, and these include:

·    Little Clarendon
·    Philipps House and Dinton Park
·    Old Wardour Castle
·    Wilton House
·    Salisbury Cathedral

If anyone you know from the area is celebrating a special occasion in their life, send flowers to Bowerchalke to surprise them and put a smile on their face. You can order flowers for delivery to Bowerchalke from us and choose from our wide range of bouquets. When you place an order with us, we guarantee to deliver it the very next day.

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