S D G R

Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers

Devizes Branch - Southbroom, St James the Great



Picture Gallery
Highslide JS
Photograph by Colin Smith.
Highslide JS
Postcard courtesy of Phil Lucas.

The Church is first mentioned in a document of 1461, and is thought to have been built on or near the site of a Chapel dedicated to St. James and St. Denis this forming part of a Leper Hospital, and built outside the "Walls" of the town.

The initial purpose of the building was that of "Chapel of Ease" for the Parish of Bishops Cannings, and this continued as such until 1837 when it became the Church for the new Parish of Southbroom and was incorporated into the Devizes Town Boundary.

The body of the Church was rebuilt in 1832, but the Tower remains much the same as it would have been in the 15th Century.

The tower contains a peal of six Bells, with a Tenor of 7cwt.

The inventory of Church Goods of 1553, and taken during the reign of Edward VI states "THE VYSE GRENE IIIJ BELLS". The new metal frame was fitted by Taylors in 1909, two new Trebles were cast, and the Third recast at the same time. The Fourth of 1742 and by Abel Rudall of Gloucester and the Fifth and Sixth of 1612 and by John Wallis of Salisbury all fitted in the new frame. Fifteen Peals are recorded for the Tower.

The Tower also bears the scars of the Civil War, two cannon shots fired from artillery sited on Jump Hill pierced the Eastern wall near the Bell Chamber.

Ringing takes place on Monday evenings 7.30pm to 9.00pm and Sunday mornings from 09.45am to 10.30am. All visitors are welcome.


Practice night: Mon. 19:30
Sunday ringing: 1st 10:00. Others 09:00.
Peals: Felstead Peal Records
Access: Upstairs. Entrance inside the church.
Grid ref. SU010615
OS map 173
Dove Dove tower page
Links: St James' Church, Devizes
Contact:Email contact

Tower information last updated on 11th November 2009.