The latest The Pilton Story story is the execution of one of Pilton’s Curates in 1549 for his part in The Prayer Book Rebellion or Western Rising which took place in Devon and Cornwall.  This rebellion was against the religious changes implemented by the government of the 11-year-old King Edward VI.  The rebels questioned the religious reforms being pushed through by the king’s advisors and continued to use the Catholic ‘rites and ornaments’.  ‘One Sir Richard ——- then curate of the parishe of Pilton‘ was arrested and ‘by the martiall lawes was hanged at Pylton aforesaid for his traytoris & Rebellious factes yn cheynes, to the example of all others.’  He was apparently hanged for his part in the Rebellion and his body was hung in chains and left to rot as an example to others.  The full story of his misdemeanours and his resulting terrible end has now been published on The Pilton Story archive by the researcher who followed it up, Wendy Clarke.

A memorial plaque is planned for a plinth in Rotary Gardens, Pilton, next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

Memorial Plinth in Rotary Gardens

North Devon Council is appealing for people to come forward with stories, pictures or letters back home of any men or women from the Pilton area who served, fought and survived or of one of the 39 men who lost their lives in the war.

Martin Haddrill of The Pilton Story said “Pilton, the original settlement of Barnstaple, has a great sense of history as shown by the success of the heritage archive ‘The Pilton Story’.  Before it is too late, we hope to collect stories of some of the men and women from Pilton who fought in World War I and, in some cases, did not return.   Their stories will be told on the fourth plinth in the centre of Rotary Gardens.  We already have three stories but would love some more”.  If anyone has any information they would like to share, please contact the parks department on 01271 388326 or email parks@northdevon.gov.uk or The Pilton Story on 01271 371121.