Trust News Issue 154 - November 2018 I am delighted that we are at long last able to share with you some good news about Devizes 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 museum 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 Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire Council’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 Devizes School 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 history 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.