Purton Timeline

Flint tools and weapons found at Ringsbury Camp and in Purton provide evidence of early settlement

Ringsbury Camp, a hill fort, dates from this time

19th century discovery of a walled cemetery, kilns, pottery and tiles provide evidence of Roman occupation

A Saxon cemetery and grave goods excavated at The Fox in the 20th century date from this time

First recorded mention of Purton when the Saxon King Egfrith grants 35 hides (c. 3000 acres) of land to Malmesbury Abbey

Domesday survey records land for 24 ploughs, 60 acres of meadow, a wood and 1 mill

Church on its present site at Church End by this time

Purton Mill built

A weekly market on Thursdays and a one-day fair held from this time

A windmill erected

St. Mary's church undergoes major rebuilding works

West tower erected on St. Mary's church in addition to the existing spire making it only one of three churches in England to have both a spire and a tower

Restrop House built

The Manor House rebuilt by Lord Chandos

Oldest bell in St. Mary's church at the present time installed

Restrop House rebuilt

King Charles I allots 25 acres of Bradon Forest to the poor of Purton Stoke to compensate them for the loss of their forest rights following land enclosure

Play Close, consisting of 3 acres of pasture, and an adjoining house called Weekes given to the village by Henry Gleed, the close to be used as a place of recreation and the house to be used as an almshouse

Farm House, today known as Milk House, built by Thomas Gleed

The house of Margaret Shennione at Purton Stoke licensed to hold Quaker meetings

Chamberlaynes, later Purton House, built

The Angel Inn built

A Quaker meeting house is licensed for worship

Workhouse in existence in Purton Street where the Almshouse is today

Nevil Maskelyne, whose family were associated with Purton for over 400 years and who is buried in St. Mary's churchyard, appointed as the Astronomer Royal

Charity school endowed by Miriam Stephens opened to teach 20 poor children reading, writing and accounts

The charity school moves to a house in Purton Street and an adjoining schoolroom is built

Sunday School introduced by the vicar of St. Mary's church

Medieval wall paintings uncovered at St. Mary's church

The charity school takes fee paying boys from this time and provides room for boarders

Royal George Inn built

Robert Watkins publicly executed on a specially erected gallows at Purton Stoke for the murder of a coal merchant, Stephen Rodway, from Cricklade

Purton Cricket Club founded

A barn occupied by Job Lewis is licensed for worship by the Congregationalists

The houses of John Hunt in Green Hill and Uria Moall are licensed for use as a meeting house for the Primitive Methodists

Congregational Chapel built in the High Street

Purton House extensively rebuilt

Purton Stoke Methodist Chapel built

Cricklade and Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse built near the Upper Square

Cricklade and Wootton Bassett Union School in existence

Charity school closed

National School in existence

Primitive Methodists convert a cottage into a chapel

Licensee of the Bell inn at Purton Stoke prosecuted for keeping a disorderly house

Post Office in existence by this time

Bentham House in Purton Stoke rebuilt for the Sadler family

Organ installed at St. Mary's church replacing musicians

New Primitive Methodist chapel built at Upper Square

School built at Braydon

Pump room, known as Purton Spa, built above the Salts Hole at Purton Stoke

Mineral waters from the Salts Hole sold commercially

A new National School opened

Allotments provided by Lord Shaftesbury

A new Purton Stoke Methodist chapel built using the materials from the former chapel

Wesleyan Methodist chapel built at Play Close

St.Mary's church restored to the designs of architect William Butterfield at a cost of £2,500; skeleton of a woman found in a walled-up chapel in St. Mary's church

Infant school added to St. Mary's school

Cottage Hospital established in the Hyde

James Henry Sadler of Lydiard Millicent gifts the Workmen's Institute to the village, built on the site of the former Charity school in Station Road

Children at the Cricklade and Wotton Bassett Union School transferred to the National School

Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Play Close demolished and new chapel built on the site

National Infant's School opened

James Kibblewhite gains national reputation as a middle distance runner and for a short time world record holder of the mile

Primitive Methodist Chapel enlarged to accommodate more seating and a school

Ridgeway Mill, also known as Newman's Mill, closed

Brass eagle lectern given to St. Mary's church to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

Purton Stoke School built; Purton brick works built by Charles Plummer; Purton Football Club in existence

National School becomes St.Mary's School under Wiltshire County Council

Brick works purchased by Edward Hill

New heating system installed in the Primitive Methodist chapel

Children's Home built

War Memorial, the Wayside Cross, in High Street unveiled and dedicated; workhouse is renamed North View

Purton Mill, a corn mill, ceases working

Play Close becomes the responsibility of the Parish Council

Purton West End Football Club founded

Primitive Methodists rent the Congregational chapel

National Infant's school closed; St. Mary's school modernised; senior pupils at Purton Stoke school transferred to Purton

Mains water supply installed and water tower built

School at Braydon closed

North View becomes a hospital for mentally handicapped women

The Parish Council purchase the Red House as a war memorial and village centre

The Cedars in High Street becomes a County Council retirement home

Bentham House in Purton Stoke becomes a preparatory school for boys

St. Mary's school gains voluntary controlled status

Bradon Forest Secondary School opened

St. Mary's school becomes a junior school for children aged 5 to 11 years.Children aged 11+ tranferred to Bradon Forest Secondary school

Railway station closed

New buildings built for St. Mary's school on the Playing Fields

Village Hall opened; Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist churches unite to become Purton Methodist Church, using the Wesleyan chapel in Play Close; Congregational chapel demolished; the Bell Inn at Purton Stoke completely renovated

Library moves to the Workmen's Institute building

Play Close chapel re-opened following rebuilding and modernisation

Bradon Forest school becomes fully comprehensive

Hill's brickworks closed

Purton Stoke school closed and children transferred to St. Mary's school

Postal sorting office closed and work transferred to Swindon

North View Hospital closed and patients transferred to North View House, a new purpose-built home

Methodists and Anglicans form a local ecumenical partnership; former brickworks converted into a landfill site and refuse recycling centre by this time

26 parish boundary stones, recycled from historic buildings, erected on roadside verges and footpath junctions to celebrate the millenium

Jane Haslam is appointed Purton's first woman vicar at St. Mary's church