Author Archives: Martin Haddrill

The 12th Century Prior’s Ring

Posted on by

In 1867 a ring was found in a ball of clay buried close to Pilton Churchyard.  Inspection by the British Museum revealed it to be ecclesiastical and dating from the early 12th Century.  The suggestion is that it was given to the Pilton Prior by the Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, when Pilton Priory was founded in around 1185, and was subsequently hidden in the ball of clay under a sapling when the Priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in around 1535.  It is a mediaeval gold ring, set with a cabochon sapphire surrounded with a bezel engraved with a Hebrew inscription translated as ‘May Jesu Emmanuel Jehova be with us’, and on the reverse, in Latin ‘Lord Jesus be with us’.

The Prior's Ring, Pilton

The ring was presented to the North Devon Athenaeum in 1976.  Follow this link to The Prior’s Ring to read the whole story.  The ring can be seen in the Dodderidge Room in Barnstaple Guildhall which has recently been opened to the public on the second Sunday of each month.

Lord Basil’s Invitational XI

Posted on by

Since 2001, a Lord Basil’s Invitational XI (seen below in 2014), based in The Reform Inn in Pilton, has played cricket against south-west opposition for the Lord Basil Trophy – a beautiful carved wooden pint glass on a small plinth.  Over the years the trophy has been won by Lord Basil’s XI themselves, and also by The Corner House, The Lord’s Leftovers, The Royal Portland Arms, The Oddfellows Arms, The Royal Standard and, last year’s winners, The Windsor Arms in Bradiford.

Lord Basil's Invitational XI in 2014

This year’s match is away on Saturday August 29th against The Old Ship Inn in Upwey, Dorset.  Good luck everyone and have a great weekend as well as playing some enjoyable and winning cricket.