Luckington

Luckington is a village in North Wiltshire, England, on the road linking Old Sodbury and Malmesbury.Walkers and cyclists often frequent the fine local hostelry, the Old Royal Ship Inn. The Beaufort Hunt also meet there occasionally.

The well known actor John Thaw owned a house in Luckington and died there in February 2002. Sheila Hancock and her family continue to live there.

The village has a population of about 300 people and, as well as the pub, it supports a superb village shop/post office (which was described by Sheila Hancock in "Room 101" as an example of a good Post Office) and a primary school with 42 children taught by 3 full-time teachers and a Teaching Assistant. There are good playing fields, and a village hall, both run by committee. Many people in the village run businesses from home. Of the farms, most seem to support horses and shooting more than anything else. The Beaufort Hunt, Polo Club and the proximity of Badminton dictate much of the village culture.

The local Luckington Court Gardens used to be open to the public. The Queen Anne style house at the centre was used as the location for Longbourn,the home of the Bennet family in the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice".

Luckington also inspired the English composer Basil Harwood when writing the hymn tune of that name, often used for "Thy hand, O God, hath guided thy flock from age to age".

The principal source of the Bristol Avon is close to the village.