December walk around Keevil

In this village you will find some of the oldest houses in Wiltshire

Keevil lies approximately 5 miles to the east of Wiltshire’s county town, Trowbridge. It is a small village that has many ancient and beautiful cottages and is worthy of a visit.

The first recorded mention of Keevil is found in an Anglo Saxon document of 964. This document referred to the village as “Kefle”, presumably Keevil. Keevil is mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086 and in the years following there are a variety of spellings of the name. In 1086 it was known as Chivele and in the next few years was also recorded as being Kivele, Cyvel and Kyvelee. The name is believed to derive from the Cornish language; “chi” from the Cornish word “chy” meaning a field. “Vele” derives from the Cornish “wele” which means house or villa, so “Chivele” would mean a freeholders farm.

The church of St Leonard consists of nave, chancel, north and south transepts, south aisle, west tower and north, west and south porches. It dates back to the 13th century with changes during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

Please join me on my video tour as we talk around the village and admire the beautiful buildings. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more videos!