The parish is bounded to the east by the Salisbury Avon and contains the small settlements of Wilsford, Normanton and Lake.

[3] By the early 13th century, the two adjacent church parishes of Wilsford and Woodford supported a prebendary at Salisbury.

The house was built in 17th-century style by Detmar Blow in 1904–1906 for Sir Edward Tennant, a Scottish politician who was Member of Parliament for Salisbury from 1906 to 1910.

The house was inherited by Sir Edward's son, Stephen Tennant, a leading member of the "bright young things" social set.

[8] Normanton Manor was the retirement home of Sir Oliver Lodge (1851–1940), the physicist and writer who was involved in the development of radio.