At the turn of the second millennium the future was looking bleak for the abandoned Groundwell Farmhouse. Left to stand empty for several years, it looked as if time was up for the Grade II listed building, which had once served as both farmhouse and arts centre. Elements of the coursed rubble stone house date from 1660 and during a survey made by the Wiltshire Buildings Record in the 1980s a 17 th century fireplace was still in situ in the west bedroom. The building was then described as typical of a late 16 th or early 17 th century Wiltshire Manor House. But records for the Groundwell estate go back much further. This des res was already on the up and up in 1086, appreciating from 40s to 70s at the time of the Domesday survey where it was recorded that ‘Hugh and Girald hold Grendewell from Humphrey. Ordulf held it before 1066.’ However, even earlier than this, the Romans had appreciated the sheltered aspect of Go...