Barton Stacey - Geography

Geography

Barton Stacey itself lies in two parts. The original village comprises Kings Elms, Gravel Lane and The Street, situated around the church.

In 1943 the War Department (now MOD) purchased 2106.556 acres (852.5 hectares) to the North, East and South of the village for £24,000 for use as a military training area. Four army camps were developed at Drayton: 'A' 'B' & 'C' Camps to the north of the A303 and 'D' Camp to the south, east of the road from the village to Longparish. All of the original buildings are long gone, though many of the roadways and hard-standings remain visible and these areas are now vacant.

At either end of Roberts Road there are two pieces of woodland, both MOD property, but many villagers use the footpaths that have been made over the years to walk through these magnificent woodland areas. Much of the remainder of the MOD land is now rented to a local farmer.

Nearby to the north-east is a newer part, which lies along Roberts Road, East Road and West Road. This area was built in the 1960s by the MOD as married quarters for some of the troops that had been posted to the camps. From 1987 the MOD sold many of these houses privately, keeping some in West Road for military personnel. Since then only a few houses have been built in the area, all privately constructed. In 2006/2007 four flats were constructed on the edge of Roman Way, in Roberts Road. A plan exists to build some low-cost housing on land currently owned by the MOD.

The village has one primary school with around 96 students. It also has activity clubs that include a Judo Club, a Football Club, two Drama Clubs and a Tuesday Club.

Cocum lies to the south, a farm and buildings, and incorporates a military small-arms firing range, situated to the north of the A30 road.

South of the A303 at Drayton is Barton Stacey Services, a Trunk Road Service Area accessible by westbound traffic only. This area was formerly known as Drayton Filling Station, having been developed from a parcel of MOD land in 1959.

Bransbury is to the west of Drayton, accessible by either turning south off the A303 or by taking a narrow lane westwards from the church, then a right turn. Here we find a 'mill' building alongside the river. On that narrow lane westwards from the church, but straight on from the junction, we find the hamlet of Newton Stacey.