Widecroft was one of the seven common fields in Bisley - these were divided into strips and held, copyhold. Widecroft was situated in the centre of the parish, on the east side of and adjacent to Port Lane and was divided into 38 strips. In the Tithe Award the whole was measured at 37 acres 2 roods and 38 perches.

Aka Whitecroft, Wilcot, Wincot

In 1792, Thomas Loveland showed a surveyor around Widecroft Common Field, indicating the ownership of the various strips of land.

In 1854, the common fields were enclosed and divided into parcels as shown below, which were then allotted to various of the copyholders.

In about 1905, a house named Wilcot was built on plot XV of the figure above.

Extract from 1912 OS plan

From about 1905 until 1946, the house was owned and occupied by William Birkbeck Wakefield O.B.E, F.R.G.S. and his wife.  William Wakefield was an engineer by trade. When the Scouting movement was formed, General Baden-Powell appointed Wakefield as one of the first two Chief Inspectors.  From an early age, he took an interest in the work of the YMCA and for many years was honourary secretary of boys works.  During his time at Bisley he took a great interest in the welfare of the boys at the Shaftesbury and Farm Schools. William Wakefield died in 1941 and in 1947/1948 his widow, Elizabeth, sold the house. Wilcot was bought by Rodney Eyre Clarke (who renamed it Wilcot House).  Rodney Clarke was the founder of Continental Automobiles (later Connaught, the motor racing firm of the 1950s [Stirling Moss drove for them]). Rodney Ayre Clarke