It is in the parish of Hilmarton and the closest major town is Swindon, some 12 miles (19 km) to the northeast.

The name occurs in 1348 as Gatacre and in 1408 as Gotagre, and is derived from the Old English word gat-aecre meaning, literally, goat-acre.

[2] The Poynders built or rebuilt several buildings, including the farmhouse[3] (in the centre of the village) and Corton House[4] (to the west).

Quakers were active from the 17th century, and had a burial ground to the east of the village from 1678.

[2] A small Primitive Methodist chapel was erected on the site of the burial ground in 1876, and replaced in 1909 by a larger red brick building by the main road, at the turning for New Zealand; this remained in use until 1994 and is now a private house.