In the mid-eighteenth century, the landlord of the Catherine Wheel Inn at nearby Avebury decided to build a second inn of the same name at Beckhampton crossroads (now a busy roundabout).
In 1834, Billy Treen, doubling up as a publican and trainer, was its first incumbent.
Since then, some forty classic winners have strode out across its 800 acres, the first being Deception, which won the Oaks of 1839.
It’s equally impressive list of trainers include Sam & Fred Darling, Noel Murless and Jeremy Tree. Roger Charlton currently holds the baton.
So what became of Billy Treen?
Riding Deception in the 1839 Epsom Derby, he came a two-length second to Bloomsbury, an animal which was almost certainly a four-year-old (if not older). The deception had been well-kept: the winner, which had never been on a racecourse before, started at 30-1 and cleared a fortune for its canny connections.
Billy stated after the race that if he had been allowed to steer the filly as he desired, he would have won.
The race was initially best remembered for being run in a blinding snowstorm: then Mr Fulwar Craven, owner of the runner-up, objected to the winner on the grounds that the Racing Calendar and the Stud Book differed as to its pedigree (the Calendar's description being by Mulatto whilst the Stud Book gave it as being by Tramp or Mulatto.
The Epsom Stewards overruled the objection.
Unsatisfied, Mr Craven took his case to law but, when it was eventually heard, the verdict was in agreement with the Epsom Stewards.
(It was strongly rumoured that the following year's Derby was also won by a four-year-old, Little Wonder.)
Poor Billy Treen was partially scape-goated: when Deception ran successfully in the Oaks later that week winning in a common canter, it was the fortunate John Day in the saddle, not he. Many expressed their surprise at this change of jockey.
The owner said at the time that the switch had been made purely out of deference to the wish of the public, who had backed Deception heavily, and was anxious that she should be ridden by the best jockey available. Mr Craven added that he had not the slightest reason to find fault with Billy's riding in the Derby and that he should continue to use him whenever the weights permitted.
After quitting the saddle, Billy Treen successfully turned to training.
He won the inaugural running of the Great Metropolitan in 1846 with Chamois, which also won good handicaps at Newmarket.
He also trained Windischgratz to win the Liverpool July Cup and the Goodwood Stakes, and, in 1862, sent out Hartington to land the Cesarewitch.
Billy trained for over forty years, at various times living and working at Beckhampton, East Ilsley, Lambourne, Ireland and, at one period, in India.
Aged about 70, Billy Treen died on 7 January 1879, at Sherborne, Dorset, after a short illness.
His death was announced on 11 January in Bell's Life.
The Racing Calendars of the time have Billy variously as Treen, Tren and Trenn. The earlier of his winners listed were as an apprentice to John Day; the later ones were horses he trained himself in the west country. I have gone with Treen.