Village History
Index
Page 2 of 8
Working to Live
Ashton Keynes has always been a peaceful community living off the fertile land, and had many tradesmen serving the surrounding villages and the travellers on the road from Cirencester to Wootton Bassett, which became a Turnpike in 1810. Most men were labourers on the farms, and Mr Day at the Dairy Farm in Gosditch Street employed 2 men, a boy, a dairymaid and a housemaid in 1851.
Life was hard for the 'labouring classes' and the Workhouse on Park Place in the village was feared by all who scraped a living. In January 1805 the church paid out for "coals, brandy, and beer for John Boulton and the people who laid him out" as well as footing the bill for his coffin. Robert Boulton kept the Horse and Jockey from 1823.