Trust News Issue 154 - November 2018

I am delighted that we are at long last able to share with you some good news about Assize Court. The future of this historic building has been a thorn in the Trust's side for many years and the announcement made today is like having an early Christmas present! There is still an enormous amount of work to be done to raise the funds needed over the next 10 years but, from now on, the project is in safe hands. The Devizes Assize Court Trust will be working with the community as it develops its plans and we look forward to the Trust playing a major part in that process. Current plans for the conservation and conversion of the Assize Court as a new home for the include a larger event space for meetings and lectures, café, Following years of decay in the hands of said: dedicated education space for various owners, a bright future now schools, adequate space for staff, beckons for the Assize Court. Thanks to volunteers and researchers and on- support from the Historic site collections storage. The new Buildings Trust and a generous local building will also be available for benefactor, ownership has now been secured by the recently formed Devizes community use. Assize Court Trust. The next steps are to undertake A major fund-raising campaign will be urgent works to prevent further launched with the aim of restoring the deterioration of the building. The building and fitting it out as the new Devizes Assize Court Trust, home of the Wiltshire Museum, with working with the museum, will be purpose-built galleries, a café, a lecture selecting architects to begin theatre and other community spaces. developing detailed plans for how The longer-term ambition is to link the the building can be used. Assize Court to the Wharf, the re- The Trust hopes to be involved at development of which forms an every stage of the process. We will important part of ’s be holding a meeting on January Core Strategy. The Wiltshire Museum has developed a business plan that shows that it can 24th at the Town Hall. 7pm for a A professional survey of the building has manage and run the building, based on 7:30pm start at which we will been recently commissioned which existing revenues and supported by advises that the Assize Court is capable discuss the implications for the increased visitor numbers and visitor of being saved, despite the past neglect. Trust of this important project. spending. It intends the building to be A programme of urgent works has been Please put the date in your diary. available for a range of community uses, proposed to prevent further serious and will seek to ensure that these deterioration. The Devizes Assize Court complement, rather than compete with Trust have secured funding for these other facilities in the town. There will be immediate works, and will then lead the a range of consultation events to help major fund-raising effort to deliver the develop plans for the building with whole project. plenty of opportunities to discuss ideas Lord Lansdowne, Chairman of the Trust and concerns. Seen Around Town poetry competition

It was a fine summer's morning had to stop And a group of four young friends And were forced to walk on out. Never saw the warning That would mean their happiness 'Ruth you didn't pay!' would come to ends. She lied of course, being a stubborn kid It was a practical joke And she just had to say That three of them jumped out as one 'I swear on my Instagram followers, I Meaning she dropped her phone and it did!' broke Which wasn't much fun. Ruth's own phone beeped And to her almighty horror They all pitched in to offer their money Karma had leaped To afford for a repair And the teen had left no single But young Ruth Pierce was acting a follower. We expect you have seen these little funny ‘ appear all over the She had no desire or will to share. Out of sheer humiliation Town? Do you know where they Ruth gave up her change are? Ten altogether – answers So when they went to the shop And there was never an explanation below! And counted the amount For the Instagram mystery – how There was not enough money so they strange. A defibrillator can restart the heart if it stops or becomes very irregular in a heart attack. What to do is simple – start mouth to mouth if breathing has stopped, and get someone to ring 999. The trained A curious tale from WWI operator will then tell you what to do and will direct a helper to the nearest machine – giving a code I was recently at a loose end in the number to gain access. Library in Devizes Museum and The machine itself is very spent some time looking at the straightforward and you simply attached article which appeared in follow the voice instructions it in the Wiltshire Telegraph on gives you. Saturday August 31st 1918. I was Meantime, the paramedics are on fascinated by this particular story the way to help and will take over as it seemed such a very decent from you. and kind thing to do. I wondered whether the graves had been If by any chance you went directly marked in anyway as it would have to the machine you would still need been good to follow up this story. a mobile phone to get the code and I contacted the Town Clerk, Simon hence the machine. Fisher, to see if there was any Hopefully you will never need it, information in the records held at but better to be prepared! the Town Hall. (Thanks to the for After some investigation, Simon looking after the machines and was able to tell me that the all the ensuring they are ready to use) German soldiers buried in the Cemetery were exhumed and Answers - Hillworth Park; repatriated after the war. That was Ambulance Station; Old Post Office surely the best outcome but I – opposite Sainbury’s; Public toilet remain impressed with the at the Crammer; Public toilet kindness with which these (superloo) at the West Central car individual soldiers were treated park; Old Swan Yard; Carpet Rite in after their death. New Park Street; the WI HQ at the Wharf and not forgetting the Bear Hotel. Henry Tull

24 November 2018 2:30pm-4:00pm £7 (£4.50 WANHS members)

8 December 2018 2:30pm - 4:00pm Lecture Hall, Wiltshire Museum £7 (£4.50 WANHS members)

During this eight-week course you will be Drawing on the Ancient Past for inspiration, and experiment with Henry was a very active member of the local youths and attempts at burglary. new and exciting materials including Baptist Congregation which had its In 1943 a Church meeting notes 6 men graphite, charcoal, grinding raw chapel in Maryport Street, Devizes. He and 21 women as being present. It earth pigments and painting in gold. was Secretary for the congregation for seems to be the case that there are many years and was so interested in the always many more women than men on With access to some of the artefacts Baptist way of life that he wrote a the list of members. in the Wiltshire Museum collection, of the local branch, which was published this is a unique opportunity to in the Wiltshire Gazette for 31st August, The congregation was always under the connect with history in a closely 1922. ( This can be seen at the Wiltshire scrutiny of the Trustees. Members who profound and imaginative way. Record Office, where there is an archive did not worship regularly were sent a letter asking them to attend all meetings Tuesdays 15th January – 12th March of local newspapers covering many 2019. 10:30am - 1:00pm (Term time years.) or they would be asked to leave the congregation. Newcomers wanting to only, no session on Tuesday 19 Henry’s account names some of the men join the church were visited at home by February 2018) Cost £140. connected with the congregation from a couple of approved members and the its beginnings as a separate community home and life as it was lived there was in 1645. Thomas Webb, a cloth discussed with the Minister to decide merchant born in 1672, made notes whether the incomers would be suitable about the local Baptists. members of the congregation. One The year 1689, the local minister, James married woman whose husband was a Webb, attended the First General soldier and therefore away from home a 20th October 2018-23rd February 2019 Assembly, one of its aims being “the lot took a lodger and this was frowned Wiltshire Museum raising up of an able and honourable upon. She was eventually asked to leave This moving exhibition. curated by ministry for the time to come” A central the congregation. Richard Broadhead and supported by fund was suggested to support the Henry became Treasurer for the the Heritage Lottery Fund, features a ministry in small places and Devizes congregation in 1913 when Jabez Wall of Remembrance dedicated to paid into this fund for many years. Chivers retired after 14 years in the the 10,000 Wiltshire fallen. In 1699 the first church document was post. Henry was to serve for 40 years written which formalised the rules and until in 1953 a letter was sent on his regulations regarding the management behalf to say that he needed to resign of the community. because of failing eyesight. The 2nd March 2019 - 28th April 2019 Wiltshire Museum, Oexmann Gallery In the first Church record book, dated Trustees accepted this with great 1704, there were 23 Brethren and 36 reluctance and the secretary was Come along to the new exhibition Sisters on the roll. The greatest number instructed to write to Henry expressing opening from March next year to of names on the roll at any one time was their appreciation of his help and co- learn more about the fascinating life 100 and many of the names relate to operation during the many years of his of snakes from all around the world. families who are still living in the area Trusteeship. This exciting exhibition from uses today. When Henry died, the Minute Book of displays of taxidermy, skeletons and In 1773 Valentine Leach, owner of the Almshouse Charities recorded that award-winning photography. Devizes , granted a lease the late Mr. Tull had always taken great regarding 22 The Brittox to the Baptist interest in the charities particularly the community for a meeting place. This is Almshouses Trust. A few moments where Henry and Hannah lived in the silence was observed as a token of the mid 1900s! respect and esteem held by the Trustees. From the records nearer to the present It can be seen that Henry Tull was a very day, in 1941 a letter was sent to the upstanding member of the wider Minister for War saying that the Chapel community that comprised Devizes could not give its iron railings to the war during the earlier part of the 1900s, not effort as the property needed to be just a shoe-shop proprietor in the protected at all times from vandalism by Brittox, and his legacy exists in five of the Almshouses in Sedgefield Gardens. www.wiltshireheritagecollections.org.uk A special public meeting to discuss the latest news about the Assize Court building and its future. 24th January 2019 at 7pm for 7:30 There were 22 people in attendance At the Assembly Rooms, Devizes Town Hall at the open meeting on 27th September, which was on the subject of the review of the Devizes Neighbourhood Plan. Simon Fisher, Town Clerk, gave a presentation setting out the process for the review. He explained that the original plan was produced in Has the time come for electric cars to enter but, surprise, surprise, they are located in 2014/15 in preparation for the the mainstream, and put a stop to the the short-stay part of the car park which has Referendum which took place in 2015 deadly pollution we currently suffer? I spoke a maximum stay of 3 hours! In contrast, and was overwhelmingly supported to Trust Member Chris Callow who owns a there is a bank of four chargers in the car by the community. Planning changes Nissan Leaf and is well acquainted with the park at the rear of County Hall in and the need to add more elements issues affecting electric car owners. What (picture below). All seem to be to the original plan meant that the follows is based on Chris' experience with working! review was now needed. the Leaf. It is still early days for the battery car as we The planning period covered is from Unlike hybrid cars, which have an electric know it now, although electric vehicles first 2004 – 2026 and it seemed likely that motor and battery as well as an internal appeared in the mid-19th century and an there will be demands from central combustion engine, electric cars are totally electric vehicle held the land speed record government for additional housing dependent on the battery for power. The until around 1900. The Nissan Leaf was during that period and beyond. The average, stated mileage covered by the introduced in 2010 and 350,000 have now review therefore needs to look more Leaf is 168 miles per charge. This is fine for been sold world wide. The range of miles widely than the current town short distance journeys but more covered has gradually increased from 100 boundary. He invited comments on problematic for longer journeys and drivers to the current 168 miles as battery how this should be addressed. need to plan for stops en route to charge the technology has improved. battery. A lively discussion followed. Issues We can expect further improvements in raised included: Those of you who can remember the VHS battery technology but there will still be a versus Betamax battle in the 1970s will demand for adequate charging units in • the impact which a railway station know what's coming next. Various public places. Devizes, and indeed might have on housing companies such as Ecotricity, Polar, Wiltshire as a whole, simply does not have development Charge-your-car, Shell recharge, Tesla and enough chargers in the right place for this to • the current southern boundary Instavolt provide charging points but these become a viable option for most people. should be retained are only available to their subscribers. More needs to be done and the Trust will be • improved public transport was There are three different types of charger. raising this issue with our Wiltshire Council essential to avoid gridlock Type 1 uses the household mains and representatives. typically takes 7.5 hours. Type 2 is a “fast” • more homes would inevitably charger and takes 3-5 hours for a full increase traffic and this should be charge. No 3 is a 'rapid' charger and a full factored in to any proposed charge takes 20 - 40 minutes. As you can developments see, before any journey, detailed research • there was a need to set aside land and planning are needed. It's not like driving for existing businesses to grow into a petrol station and filling up. More like and new businesses to come into a military operation! the town As if that wasn't enough, there is only one • jobs in Devizes need to be battery charging point in Devizes. Well, created and working from home there are two actually, both in the Station offered in order to reduce Road car park but Chris tells me that one outward commuting isn't working. These are Type 2 chargers so will take at least 3 hours for a full charge Simon thanked attendees for their feedback. The meeting closed at 9pm.

Trust News is published by: The officers of the Trust are : The Trust for Devizes, c/o Wiltshire Museum, Chairman 41 Long St, Acting Hon. Secretary Philippa Morgan [email protected] Devizes, SN10 1NS Hon. Treasurer James Flood [email protected]

www.trustfordevizes.info Editor - Philippa Morgan The Trust is a Registered Charity No 259653 [email protected]