From Heritage Trail to History Book: The Story of Langley Burrell

In this blogpost, Dr Louise Ryland-Epton describes the gestation of her Victoria County History (VCH), Partnership Publication, which illuminates how VCH research engages with local communities and, in partnership, can expand our mutual understanding of past places. For an example of similar work in Leicestershire, you might also like to read Pamela Fisher’s earlier blog on the tourist history of the crossroads at Nanpantan, Leicestershire.

Community history projects can lead you to unexpected places—like standing in a walled garden, sipping Pimms while discussing 17th-century orgies. Such was the launch of Langley Burrell and Kellaways: A History on 6 September, the culmination of two interconnected VCH-supported projects in Wiltshire that brought me incredible highs, stretched me, perplexed me, and introduced me to new friends and a deep connection to a place I have never lived.

But let me start by taking you back to the beginning of my involvement with the parish. In 2022, I researched the parish for the Wiltshire VCH for their volume on Chippenham and the surrounding area. Soon after starting, my name was given to the then chairman of the Langley Burrell Without Parish Council, Robert Whitrow. I met Robert at his home. He had quite an impact on me, explaining immediately upon meeting me that he was dying. He was immensely philosophical, positive even, despite the prognosis and planning a village heritage trail, hence our conversation. I agreed to write the text for a trail that would focus on the listed buildings plus a few other sites lightly mentioned or not at all in my VCH draft. Robert knew his community well, and I was excited to shape the trail around the community. We had an animated conversation about the history of the parish, briefly discussed a possible book, and I left impressed and enthused. Robert introduced me to several people, including Rosemary Waterkyn who provided the photographs, worked out the routes, and created a separate trail based on the Victorian diary of Francis Kilvert. Sadly, Robert did not see the culmination or success of our efforts on the heritage trail, but his influence continued. And it is to him that the book is dedicated.

Some time passed, and I returned to the village to visit friends. My work on the parish changed, but never stopped. The VCH work and heritage trail sparked my academic interest. With VCH colleague John Chandler, I began to delve into the story of a medieval woman, the local legend that is Maud Heath, a woman associated with both Langley Burrell and Kellaways.

In 2024, I got involved with a Wilts VCH-supported heritage project to celebrate the 550th anniversary of a gift left by Maud. Local tradition painted her variously as an egg seller, farmer’s wife, pedlar, or prostitute—no one was quite sure—who had ‘created’ a causeway that runs through the parish to this day. But our research revealed something different. She was probably not from Wiltshire at all, but rather a wealthy merchant’s widow from Bristol, then the regional capital, whose aspirations were much bigger than facilitating the movement of eggs down the road to Chippenham. A BBC news article, a museum exhibition, an On History blog, talks, and an academic article in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine followed. Lots of local people participated in the celebration, which included walks through the parish along the route and creative responses to Maud’s story.

The same year, I published a VCH Partnership Publication on the neighbouring parishes of Kington St Michael and Kington Langley. Perhaps it was no surprise that Langley Burrell Without Parish Council, whom I never lost contact with, returned to the idea of a book.

We had, again with VCH consent, my research and the heritage trail, which had uncovered some incredible stories. I proposed a thematic history, broadly based on the VCH red book model, but broken up with case studies. Each chapter would examine a different aspect of the parish’s heritage, including its economic activities, social structures, governance systems, religious life, and, above all, the lived experiences of its people. Lots of personal stories, lots of women, and lots of real-life grit. The parish council supported it, and I again collaborated most closely with Rosemary, who did much of the photography for the book, contributed artwork, provided feedback on the text and design, and answered my questions or put me in contact with people who might have the knowledge I needed. I also worked with heritage partners, including the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and Chippenham Museum. Communication is always key, and there was much toing and froing with the parish council.

The launch, organised by the wonderful Katerina Johnstone, was in the glorious walled garden of the former manor house, Langley House, thanks to its generous owner. We drank Pimms, ate nibbles, and I signed books and enjoyed talking about some of the most salacious aspects of village life through the centuries. Half the village came, some buying several books. People were so kind. I was interviewed on BBC local radio about the book where I got a bit overexcited.

I feel a strong connection to the place—after several years it is hard not to. The book is now available for sale at the Langley Tap, Chippenham Museum, the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, and on the website of its publisher, Hobnob Press. I hope Robert would have approved.

Langley Burrell and Kellaways, A History, is available from Hobnob Press. The VCH ‘Red Book’ on Chippenham and its neighbourhood, will be published by Boydell & Brewer in 2026. To learn more about and to support the work of VCH Wiltshire, please visit wiltshirehistory.org

Louise Ryland-Epton is a freelance historian and editor. A contributing editor to VCH Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, she is a fellow of the IHR and visiting fellow of the Open University.

Website: https://www.louiserylandepton.co.uk/

Bluesky: @lrylandepton.bsky.social

The post From Heritage Trail to History Book: The Story of Langley Burrell appeared first on On History.