Tudor Priest Put to Death in Pilton

Hanging in chains

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.

Barnstaple Museum Exhibition : The Life & Times of Manning’s Pit

EPSON MFP imageThe recent application to build houses on the much-loved Manning’s Pit has prompted a great deal of activity in Pilton.

The closing date of 16th March for comments on the application ‘to build up to 43 dwellings’ on the fields behind Lynbro Road resulted in over 250 objections, a clear demonstration of the passion of Pilton people for Manning’s Pit.  The Friends of Manning’s Pit are putting on an exhibition in Barnstaple Museum from 1st April to 20th May entitled ‘The Life and Times of Manning’s Pit’.  In addition to The Pilton Story’s small collection of stories it has gathered together contemporary material from the 19th century, when the Manning family lived in Pilton and are thought to have kept cattle on the land we now know as Manning’s Pit.

Don’t miss the chance to see it.  It’s free and the museum is open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday.