Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Bishops Cannings - Rowde - Potterne - Poulshot - Southbroom
Websites of Interest
GenUKI - For information on Devizes.
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre - The Wiltshire County Archives for all historical documents and the place to obtain original copies.
Wiltshire Community History - Historical information for parishes within the Wiltshire County jurisdiction.
Devizes Heritage - A vast amount of local historical information and images.
Devizes Town Website - Dedicated to the history of the town.
Church Matters
Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers Meeting 1915
Parish History
John Aubrey's North Wilts 1659
Civil Registration
1837 - Present Devizes Registration District
Manor History
It has been suggested that the name Devizes is a corruption of the Latin Ad DIVIAS - at the Division, the divisions being those of the three adjoining manors, Rowde, Cannings and Potterne, which met precisely at the point where the Castle was founded. It is set right in the heart of Prehistoric England and as early as the 14th Century the town had become one of the principle trading centres of the West. It is one of the oldest Boroughs in the county and, in all probability, owes its origin to the Castle built by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury , about 1080. This castle, built of wood, was destroyed by fire in 1113 and was rebuilt in 1120 by Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, who was Chancellor and Treasurer to Henry I., and whose other castles were those of Old Sarum, Sherbourn and Malmesbury. Henry of Huntingdon, writing of it twenty years later, describes it as "a noble castle .. of good strength and beauty .. the most splendid castle in Europe". St. John's and St, Mary's churches were built by Bishop Roger, the former for the castle and garrison, the latter for the towns-people. Though contemporary, the plan of the two churches is distinct. While St. Mary's from the beginning was "a ruder and simpler structure, furnished with the side aisles and adapted for a larger congregation, St. John's was evidently the object of more elabrate workmanship and of greater completeness in design". This observation applies to the two buildings only as they were left by the original architects, for both have undergone much transformation, and today the larger population is around St. John's with its new housing areas at Hillworth and Broadleas. (source: Church booklet by The Revd. W. D. C. Williams, 1960's)
Town History
Includes the tithing of Polsham
Facts and Figures About Wiltshire 1874
Books
Chronicles of The Devizes 1839 This item has been published here with kind permission of Keith Scales
Entertainment
New Theatre, Assembly Rooms 1846
Twin Towns
Devizes Technically has no twin town - it has sextuplets. As a commercial centre spreading its arms into the countryside around it fulfilled its tag of market town. It has since then seen many a foreign visitor especially during the two World Wars since it was so near to many training camps and airfields for the allied and commonwealth soldiers and airmen that fought the cause so gallantly. Therefore it is of no surprise that Devizes now extends its arms further afield to encompass friendship, trade and tourism through its twinning links with six towns throughout Europe and one in New Zealand. The six are:- Mayenne probably the oldest of the twinned towns since Mayenne Place was built circa late 1950's early 1960's and was named after it. Waiblingen is in Germany, Jesi is in Italy, Lesko is in Poland, Tornio is in Finland and finally Oamaru is on the North Island of New Zealand. The latest town to be twinned with Devizes is Baja in Hungary. To find out more about the twinning of these towns please visit the Devizes District Twinning Association Twin Town Gallery
Buildings and Land
Agriculture
Rare Birds Shot 1855 Cattle Plague Regulations 1867 Crop Circle Information Centre 2014
Buildings Services
Canal
General Items
Building & Land News 1800-1849
Indentures
Indenture for Stonyford Mill, Stanton St. Bernard 1764
Landowners
Inquisition of Lands Held 1433 Owners of Land 1873
Land Tax
Appointment of Select Commissioners for Land and Assessed Taxes 1842
Maps
Ordnance Surveyor's Drawings 1808-1811
Market Place
Market Place Cross Photo Gallery
Municipal Cemetery
Memorials Gallery Devizes Cemetery Survey
Property to be Let
New Park Street Property to Let 1838 St. John Street Property To Let 1838 Sale of Property in New Park Street 1846 Property to Be Let or Wanted 1850-1899 Castle to Be Sold 1886
Property Sales and Auctions
Public Houses
| Creditors Notice for Christian Young, Black Horse Inn 1813 | Sale of the Antelope PH 1846 | Sale of Contents of the Royal Oak Inn 1846 |
| Bear Hotel Company (Limited) 1874 |
Quakers Walk
Railways
Wilts., Somerset & Weymouth Railway Shareholders Meeting 1846 Great Western Railway Timetable Changes 1874
Roads and Highways
Sheppards Shord and Sand Lane Turnpike 1789 Paving and Street Lighting 1825
Crime and Legal Matters
Agricultural
Chandler Brothers Trespass & Game Charges 1846 Dispute as to a Rick of Hay 1890 Damages Against Farmer's Son 1925
Animal Crime
Assaults
Captain Crowe Chastises Fellows 1869 Assaulting A Wife 1874
Bastardy
Bastardy Examinations 1845-1879
Business Crime
Horse Dealers Resist Bailiff 1878 Hawking Without A License 1889
Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment in Wilshire 1800-1827
Courts
| Petty Sessions 10 June 1847 | Small Debt Court - Sainsbury & Saunders v Wheeler 1847 | Action For Slander 1866 |
| Borough Petty Sessions 8th July 1874 |
Drunk and Disorderly
Disorderly & Refusing to Quit a Public House 1874 Squabble at the Old Crown Inn 1874 Street Fighting 1890
Fines
Forgery
Charge of Uttering a Forged Cheque 1879 Fake Notes in Circulation 2014
Fraud
Case Against Devizes Postmaster 1757
General Items
| Crime Reports 1700-1799 | Crime Reports 1800-1849 | Magistrates Define - What is a Trap 1847 |
| Crime Reports 1850-1899 | Breach of Promise to Marry 1878 | Crime Reports 1900-1949 |
| Crime Reports 1950-1999 |
Highway Robbery
Robbed of Watch on Highway 1791
Motoring Offences
Road Rage 1928 Motorcar Collided with Lorry 1934
Murder
Prisons and Prisoners
Quarter Sessions
Wilts Quarter Sessions Business Meeting 1884
Court Appearances
Victims of Crime
Mary Ann Amada 1873 James Fry 1869 John & William Long 1870
Theft
Transportation
Transportation of Prisoners 1827 Crime & Clemency of James Brodie 1828-1841
Directories
Pigots 1822 Post Office 1875 Gilmans 1882
Education
St. Peter's CofE Primary School, Bath Road - Please see St. Peter's tab below.
Emigration and Migration
Strays Index Emigration Home Contact Requested 1800 - Present Assisted Passage to South Australia 1874
Employment and Business
Commercial & Industrial Gallery
Advertising
Newspaper Advertisements 1850-1899
Agriculture
Aspects of the Life of the Wiltshire Agricultural Labourer c1850 Agriculture Report 1847
Apprentices
Apprentice records published here may not necessarily mean that the apprentice was from the parish but was apprenticed to a master within the parish.
Wiltshire Society Apprentices
Aviation
Aviation Certificate - William A'Court 1931 Aviation Certificate - John Armour 1935
Banking
Devizes Savings Bank Letter to Editor 1847
Books and Stationers
N. B. Randle Bookseller Sale List 1838 W. B. Jones - Tarling's Metallic Ink Suppliers 1846
Communications
British Postal Service Appointments 1737-1969
Community Services
Police
P.C. Frank Wilmot Gray 1906-1929
Metropolitan Police Pensions Records
William Amber 1867-1892 Joseph Ashley 1852-1869
Engineering
County Surveyor Application of Henry Weaver 1858
Fashion and Materials
Cox & North Dissolve Partnership 1812 Change of Proprietor 1846 Fashion Shop Advertisements 1846 W & G Smith 1847
Food and Drink
W & G Smith 1847 William Read Business Advert 1847 Price of Meat 1874
Brewing
Wadworths Gallery Beerex Festival 1976 Wadworths Cut Horsemen's Jobs 2014
General Items
Business News 1800-1849 Free Trade Debate 1846 Employment News 1850-1899
Law
Articles of Clerkship Richard Crowch 1734
Markets and Fairs
St. Anne's Hill Fair 1823 Markets 1846 Markets 1847 Livestock Sales at Market 1850-1899 Markets 1850-1899 Christmas Fare 1870
Medical
Dentistry
Doctors, General Practitioners and Surgeons
Medical License - Marmaduke Byrd 1628 Medical License - Joseph Needham 1701 General Medical Council Registration 1859-1959
Medical Supplies and Services
J. T. Heard, Agent for Salmon, Ody & Co. Trusses 1846 Magnetic Electricity Therapy 1890
Trades Unions
C. F. Abraham 1914 C. F. Abraham 1921 W. Adams 1914
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
The Act of Toleration 1689 permitted freedom of worship to Dissenters on condition they registered their meeting places.
Meeting House Certificates 1689-1852 Temperance Lecture 1874
St. Mary's Independent Chapel (Northgate Street)
The original iron gates still exist and include the words "St Mary United Reform Church". The first Pastor was Robert Sloper who was involved in the formation of the Chapel in 1776/77; his life and the history of the Chapel can be found by visiting Devizes Heritage. The chapel is now a private dwelling.
The Independent Chapel, Northgate Street, (sometimes called St. Mary's Chapel) affords accommodation for 750 persons. Minister Rev. William Kingsland. Deacons Messrs. T. Baker, H. Cunningham, C. Gillman and Joseph Sloper, Jnr.. The Sunday School contains 250 children, under the instruction of 35 teachers; Superintendent Mr J. Sloper, Jnr. Services are held on Sunday morning and evening and on Tuesday and Friday evenings. The Chapel has recently undergone at a considerable cost an extensive series of repairs and improvements with the view of affording additional comfort and accommodation to worshippers. [Gillman's Devizes Public Register, Business Directory & Almanac 1861.]
St. Mary's Independent Chapel images
Baptisms 1780-1808 Burials 1780-1814
The Baptist Chapel (Maryport Street)
History and Founding Members Family Notices 1800-1899
New Baptist Chapel
James Biggs, a Calvinistic Baptist, who had been a member of the Back Street Baptist Chapel in Trowbridge before studying at Bristol Academy became minister of the Presbyterian chapel in Devizes. Shortly after this, seceders from the Old Baptist chapel joined the Presbyterians for worship in their Sheep Street chapel and the establishment of the New Baptist Church can be dated from the pastorate of Biggs. In 1807 the two groups agreed to take communion together and in 1820 they became the 'United Society' although their home was still called the Presbyterian chapel. The Baptists were growing in numbers and in 1848 the two groups formally united. In 1851 it was resolved to build a new chapel as a Baptist Church and invite the Presbyterians to occupy it. The chapel was opened in 1852, in Sheep Street next to the Presbyterian chapel, with seating for 700 and a schoolroom. This was during the pastorate of Charles Stanford who drew large congregations, including wealthy townspeople. He evangelized the area, introduced cottage preaching and later became a national Baptist leader. In 1851 the average congregation was 260 but on census Sunday there were 344 in the morning and 404 in the evening. By 1852 the congregation had doubled in size. The old meeting house was demolished and the site added to the burial ground of the chapel. In 1874 the schoolrooms were enlarged and there were restorations of the chapel in 1901, when gas lighting was introduced, and in1927, when electricity was provided. The roof was re-slated in the 1960s and there were many improvements in the 1970s. In 1978 and 1988 the Baptist Housing Association built the adjacent flats, partly on church land. In 1989 a major improvement scheme was carried out. [Wiltshire Community History website.]
New Baptist Chapel images. There are no images for this gallery at present - if anyone has a photograph of the chapel as it once was or has a photograph of the building today that they would be willing to share with us please submit this to either the OPC or to the Administrator both may be contacted via the contact us tab at the top of the page. Thank you.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception R.C. Church
There were no known Roman Catholics in Devizes before 1767 when there were three. By 1861 there were about 20 worshipping at Chippenham. The first Mass centre in Devizes was a disused warehouse in Monday Market Street under Father Larive, a Salesian missionary. This was served from Chippenham until 1864 and in 1865 the present church was opened. At first it was an aisleless rectangular building of five bays which was restored in 1887. In 1909 a chancel, sacristy and bell cote were added. From 1865 the Sisters of the teaching order of St. Joseph of Annecy had a school in the church and, by 1868, in a separate schoolroom. Their convent is close to the church. For further information visit Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Website Our Lady Gallery
Marriage Report of Alfred Weston & Grace Harris 1924
Salem Baptist Chapel 1838-1895 (New Park Street)
Salem (Baptist) Chapel has sittings for 350 persons. Minister Mr T. Dangerfield. Deacons Messrs. H. Ellen, D. Wiltshire and S. Phipp. The Sunday school contains about 50 scholars with 7 teachers. Superintendent Mr J. Stevens. [Gillman's Devizes Public Register, Business Directory & Almanac 1861] Salem Baptist Chapel Gallery
Sheep Street Baptist Church
Church Web Site Sheep Street Baptist Church Gallery
Society of Friends/Quakers (Sussex Wharf)
There were Quakers in the Devizes area in the 1650s and in 1658 Samuel Noyes, their leader, was prosecuted for 'brawling in church'. A burial ground was acquired in 1665, probably in Hillworth Park, where one existed in 1759. In 1669 there was a meeting in the house of John May with attendances of 80-100 people. By 1682 John Clark's house was licensed and others followed later. In 1702 a newly erected house at 23 High Street was certified for meetings and this became the sole meeting place. Anglicans and other nonconformist denominations helped in the building of this house. During the 18th century many leading families in the town were Quakers and the meetings were also attended by non Quakers. In the 1790s there were about 30 Friends and the meeting house remained in use until 1826. The meeting then lapsed and the house was sold in 1840. The meeting revived in 1853 and the old meeting house was re-purchased in 1858, remaining in use until the 1870s. The meeting was discontinued in 1879 and the house was again sold in 1884. It was re-occupied between 1903 and 1907 by a small number of Friends. [Source: Wiltshire Community History website]
St. Andrew's Methodist Church (Long Street)
The evangelistic revival movement within the Anglican Church traces its roots to Reverend John Wesley. Devizes Heritage - For the history of the Methodist church. St. Andrew's Gallery
People and Parish Notables
The gallery contains images of people from the Devizes area. If anyone has images that they would be willing to share or if anyone can identify the images that have missing information in their tags please get in touch with the Administrator via the contact us tab at the top of the page. Devizes People Gallery
Accidents
Coach Accident 1854 Accidental Shooting 1859
Associations, Clubs, Organisations, and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1827-1871 Labourer's Friend Society Meeting 1833 Bear Club Meeting 1835 Juvenile Provident Society Meeting 1838 Brownies Celebrate 100 Years 2014
Ancient Order of Foresters
Ancient Order of Foresters 1800-1899 Invitation Dinner by the Odd Fellows 1867
Bankruptcy
Coroners Bills
Elections, Polls and Voters Lists
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters Lists Revisions 1843 County Council Election Notice 1925 MP Nominations 2015
Entertainment, Fairs and Fetes
Devizes Green Fair 1765 Hunt Ball 1929
Family Notices
Undefined Dates 1700-1799 1800-1849 1850-1899 1900-1949 1950-1999
Funeral Notices and Reports
Funeral Notice of James Bond 1936
Inquest Reports
Inquest Reports 1800-1849 Man Shot Himself 1904 Labourer Killed by Petrol Tanker 1924 Suicide on Railway Line 1928
| Bamber Infant Twins 1855 | William Bower 1846 | Infant Gunstone 1853 | Robert Nash 1827 | James Phillips 1846 |
| Male Child of Ada Wells 1892 |
Miscellaneous Items
Knights Compositions 1628 Secrets of Farming Book Subscribers 1863
Obituaries
Parish Notables
| Sally Clark, Solicitor, Wrongly Convicted of Murdering her two infant sons | Anne Dunham, British Para-Olympian Dressage Representative | David Inshaw, Artist |
| Sir Thomas Lawrence, Portrait Painter | Sybil Lethbridge, Author | Jillie Mack, Actress |
| Ernest Shackleton, Explorer |
People
Benjamin Webb, Miser Mid 1700s Strange But True, Ruth Pierce 1753 William Pitt The Younger - Devizes Visit 1798 People News Reports 1800-1849
Personal Research Items
Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts - This item was donated by Ken Tuck and contains entries that may or may not relate to the Tuck family however they have been published as such. Many refer to Quaker burials found across the county
Thomas White Genealogy Research - This item was submitted by John Pope from personal research
Sport
Taxes
Tax List 1332 Falstone Day Book 1645-1653
Wedding Reports
Richard Cordell Newbury & Joyce Mabyn Tomkinson 1951
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Although the Poor Law Union was named the Devizes Poor Law Union the building was in fact in the parish of Southbroom. Therefore any documents relating to the Union or the Workhouse will be found on the Southbroom Parish Page. Documents relating to people from the parishes of Devizes connected to the Poor Law Union will be published here. Prior to 1834 Inmates may well have been sent to the Workhouses at either Market Lavington or Rowde.
| Workhouse Crime 1835-1850 | Charity Trustees Meeting 1838 | Game keeper to Face Workhouse 1838 | Meat Contract for Workhouse 1838 |
| Poor Law Union Bread & Flour Contract 1838 | Charity Trustees Meeting 1847 |
Charity
Tow Path Walk for RUH Bath 2014
Probate
Probate Notice of Thomas Phillips 1766 Estate of Catherine Purrier 1870 National Probate Index 1858-1966
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Edward Pleydell 1633 Griffin Nicholas 1635 Michael Drewe 1633
Legacy Notices
Parishioners Wills
War, Conflict and Military Matters
War Memorials and Military Gallery
Why the Poppy Chelsea Pensioners 1808-1828 Concert in Aid of the Troops 1863 Prisoner of War Camps 2010
Barracks, Billets and Buildings
Militia Stores, Hospital and a New Commission 1854 Billeting of Soldiers 1872 Servicemen & Families with the 1st Wilts. Regt. in South Africa 1911
Boer War
Return of the Wiltshire Regiment 1902
Medal Recipients
Victoria Cross Recipient William Henry Thomas Sylvester 1855 Victoria Cross Recipient Maurice Albert Wyndham Rogers 1944
Military News
Military News Reports 1700-1799 Military News 1850-1899
Napoleonic War Reserve
John Abrams 1803 Thomas Alford 1803
Royal Navy
Deserters in Australian Newspapers 1839 Survivor John Heard, HMS Captain 1870
War Memorials and Plaques
Oddfellows Memorial WWI War Memorial is Listed 2013
Wiltshire Regiments and Yeomanry
Drummer Boy Volunteers for Service in Corfu 1855 Devizes (5th Wilts.) Rifle Volunteers Annual Meeting Report 1874
WWI
Horses for the Army 1914-1918 Saved by a Tobacco Tin 1914-1918 Service Exemption Tribunals 1914-1918 War Office Letter to Walter H. Long 1919
British Red Cross/VAD Service
British Red Cross Museum & Archives Website V.A.D. & Red Cross Hospitals 1914-1918
Volunteers
Casualties
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918 Bell Ringers Memorial Book in St. Paul's Cathedral Library WWI Calne & District Casualty Lists WWI
Biographies
John Lampard 1919 William A. Wheeler 1917
Recruitment
Appeal from the Trenches 1914-1918
WWII
Casualty Biographies of WWII Civilian Casualties 1939-1945
