Dauntsey was named after Alderman William Dauntsey. The village is made up of several earlier settlements, Swallet Gate, Sodom, Smithcot, and Idover. Present buildings are Victorian, but Henry Danvers (first Earl of Danby) established them initially, his tomb dominates the family chapel in St James' Church, (adjacent to Dauntsey House). The interior of the church is a museum of the families that have owned Dauntsey estate (Dauntsey, Stradling, Danvers, Mordaunt, Miles and Meux). A place of pilgrimage for descendants of those families. View the visitor's book if you get an opportunity to visit Dauntsey.
Towns in Wiltshire
Henry Danvers
Earl of Danby
"Here lieth the body of Henry Danvers, second son to Sir John Danvers, knight, and Dame Elizabeth, daughter and coheir to Neville Lord Latimer. He was born at Dauntsey in the county of Wilts., Jan., Anno Domini 1573, being bred up partly in the Low Country wars under Maurice Earl of Nassau, afterward Prince of Orange; and in many other military actions of those times, both at sea and by land. He was made a captain in the wars of France, and there knighted for his good service under Henry the Fourth, the then French King. He was employed as lieutenant of the horse, and serjeant-major of the whole army in Ireland under Robert Earl of Essex, and Charles baron of Mountjoy, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. By King James the First he was made baron of Dauntsey, and peer of this realm, as also lord president of Munster, and governor of Guernsey. By King Charles the First he was created Earl of Danby, made of his privy council, and knight of the most noble order of the Garter. In his latter time, by reason of imperfect health, considerably declining more active employments, full of honours, wounds, and days, he died Anno Domini 1644. Laus Deo."
