to chalk grassland. The nature reserve abuts Porton Down, where there is further protected grassland and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Notable people Thomas West, 1st Baron West inherited the manor from his father in 1386. Nathaniel Fiennes, MP, officer in the Parliamentarian army and Cromwell's Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, was lord of the manor in later life and died at Newton Tony in 1669. His daughter Celia (1662–1741), brought up there, became well known for a series of books recording her travels around Britain. Sir William Benson bought the house and manor sometime after 1691, and his son, also William, built Wilbury House around 1710. Later owners included Fulke Greville (1717–1806), Sheriff of Wiltshire for 1744, and later MP for Monmouth and a minor diplomat. Between 1803 and 1925, Wilbury was the home of the Malet baronets, beginning with Sir Charles (1752–1815) who had been created a baronet in 1791 for his diplomatic services in India, while an official of the East India Company; his son and grandson were also diplomats. The house, park and two farms were bought in 1939 by Edward Grenfell, 1st Baron St Just, a partner in the merchant bank Morgan, Grenfell & Co., MP for the City of London and a director of the Bank of England. His son Peter (1922–1984) inherited in 1941, and his second wife Maria Britneva continued to live there until 1994. Wilbury was owned and restored from 1996 by Miranda Guinness, widow of Benjamin Guinness of the Dublin brewing family, and inherited by her son Rory in 2010. George Whitaker had been the first provost at Trinity College, Toronto and Archdeacon of York, Toronto. After he retired from his posts in Canada in 1881 he was appointed as rector of Newton Tony, but died the next year. References External links Newton Toney Parish Council Civil parishes in Wiltshire Villages in Wiltshire