Fovant

Fovant is a medium-sized village and civil parish in southwest Wiltshire, England. It is located between Salisbury and Shaftesburyon the A30 road in the Nadder valley. Its name is derived from the Old English Fobbefunta, meaning "spring of a man called Fobbe". It has a population of 683.

Fovant Badges
It is principally known for several regimental badges cut in chalk into a nearby hill, also being the site of Chiselbury Iron age hillfort. The badges were created by soldiers garrisoned near Fovant during the First World War and are clearly visible from the A30 which runs through the village. The Fovant Badge Society holds an annual 'Drumhead' Service which is attended by the Australian High Commissioner, local mayors and members of parliament. These services fund the war memorial which is the Fovant Badges, helping to conserve a part of the area's wartime history. There are only 8 badges remaining. Many have been lost, including a 'YMCA' badge that became lost recently. Two almost-lost military badges at Sutton Mandeville and one now-lost at Compton Chamberlayne were also looked after by the Fovant Badge Society.

Community Facilities
The church of St George is at the north end of the village. Dating from the 13c., it is constructed largely of local Chilmark stone. The tower contains a peal of 6 bells. The oldest from the 15c., four from the 19c. and one from the 20c.

Originally with three public houses, an unusual occurrence in a small village, Fovant has one functioning pub, The Pembroke Arms, which has changed ownership a number of times in recent years.

Fovant has a post office, a village shop and a doctor's surgery all at the south end of the village. There is also a stream that runs through the village.

The post office used to be locally well known for having vehicles crash into its front wall, mostly at night as the road bends round in an unexpected manner at the bottom of the hill.