S D G R

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers

Devizes Branch - Hilperton, St Michael and All Angels



Picture Gallery
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The Hilperton Ringers. L-R Stan Thompson, Katie Jones, Dennis Drewitt, Lin Drewitt, Ernie Clarke, Eileen Lucas, Gillian Lucas (Trowbridge), Theresa Russell, Harry Potts, Alun Morris.
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Photograph by Phil Lucas.
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By Harry Potts

Hilperton can trace its origins back at least to AD964 and was listed in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book of AD1086, compiled at the King's order for reasons of taxation. The village was levied at £6 and the population must have been small. The record of Rectors in the Parish dates from 1299 and is continuous to the present day except for a break during the Civil War and Commonwealth (1642-1660) when the the Church of England was temporarily abolished and the parish was in the charge of the 'Parish Clerk and a Tailor intruded by the Parliament'.

The bells and clock are located in the ancient tower. There are six bells hung in two tiers of three. The tenor, weighing 7cwt, was recast by Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel in 1863. The fourth and fifth cast by Nathaniel Bolter of Salisbury date from 1663. The third was cast by William Purdue of Bristol and all three were recast in 1909 by John Warner of Spitalfields who, at the same time, added the treble and two. The ringing chamber is at ground level and, measuring only about 7½ feet by 6½ feet is smaller than usual.

The clock, silent for many years, was restored in 1981 by George Moore and his son Michael, ringers at Steeple Ashton church, and has been maintained since chiming the hours and half hours.

Because of vandalism the church is kept locked when not in use but may be opened by arrangement.


Practice night: Tue. 19:45
Sunday ringing: 1st 10:30. Others 08:45.
Peals: Felstead Peal Records
Access: Ground floor.
Grid ref. ST870592
OS map 173
Dove Dove tower page
Links:
Contact:Email contact

Tower information last updated on 11th November 2009.