Rules for ringers – 1876

The transcribed document below lists the rules for church bell ringers some 140 years ago. Some of these rules have been relaxed but it makes total sense not to be dosed up with alcohol when ringing

RULES and REGULATIONS FOR THE RINGERS OF MARKET LAVINGTON –1876

1. That the number of ringers shall not be less than eight, nor more than twelve.
2. That no person be appointed as a ringer who is not a member of the Church of England, or without the approval of the Vicar and Churchwardens.
3. That one of the ringers be appointed foreman, who shall be responsible for the conduct of the ringers, and have power to enforce the observance of all these rules and regulations.
4. That there shall be a Treasurer who shall take charge of all monies from any source and on any occasion during the year (except weddings or any other gifts over twenty shillings, the surplus to go to the general fund).That such money shall remain in his hands until the end of the year when it shall be divided among all the ringers, share and share alike provided, nevertheless, that any ringer leaving the company from any reasonable cause shall be entitled to his share of the money in hand at the time of his leaving when the money is annually divided, but any ringer expelled for misconduct shall forfeit all claim to such share.
5. That no ringer be admitted into the belfry, or be allowed to ring the bells, if he is in a state of intoxification, or in any degree under the influence of drink.
6. That no smoking, drinking, swearing or profane language of any kind be permitted in the Belfry on any pretence whatever, and that everyone shall reverently uncover his head on entering the Church.
7. That the bells be chimed on Sundays, and on the great festivals of the Church before each service. The ringers to take their part in chiming in regular turn.
8. That on Sundays the ringers come to Church properly dressed, and unless there is a reasonable cause, they shall join the congregation in the services to which they have summoned the people.
9. That on any occasion when doubt may arise as to the propriety of ringing the bells, the foreman shall first obtain consent of the Vicar, or in his absence of the Churchwardens, before the bells be rung.
10. That in case of any dispute arising from the ringers, it shall be referred to the Vicar and Churchwardens whose decision shall be final.
11. That the By-laws of the ringers shall not be liable to any alteration without the sanction of three fourths of the whole body of Ringers.
12. That Mr. Churchwarden Grist be appointed Treasurer.

We the undersigned, Ringers of Market Lavington, hereby express our approval of the foregoing rules and Regulations, and promise to observe them-

Foreman; Richard Heiron. Ringers; John Merritt, William King, H.A. Canning, James Hiscock, John Lanham, James Gye, William Potter, James Neate, Charles Richard Burns, W.S. Hussey

One word of advice;

Ringers, remember this; that nothing can keep you together but sobriety of character and harmony among yourselves. Without these you will be like a rope of sand, doomed to drop to pieces and leave your cheerful Tower in sullen silence.

E.C.Brace, Priest in charge 22nd. February 1876

Many surnames amonst that 1876 list of ringers can still be found in the village. These days, if ringing were a 100% male preserve there would never be an adequate team. Indeed, the captain of the Market Lavington team is a woman. In fact five of the nine home ringers are female. It is, of course, good to report that ringing still goes on in the village.

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Reverend Allsopp’s children

The Reverend Allsopp was the first Vicar of Easterton. He was appointed in 1876, arriving with wife and the first of what grew to be a large family. We have a photo of Richard Allsopp’s youngsters.

Children of Reverend Richard Allsopp, first Vicar of Easterton

This picture was taken outside the Vicarage which was on Vicarage Lane and is now called Easterton House. The children are (in age order and with years of birth), Frederick George (1874), Richard (1876), Marian was born in about 1877, Margaret in 1878 and Jerome in 1880. Next came Dorothy in 1881, Robert in 1883, Francis in 1885, Agnes in 1886 and Joan in 1887.

The picture dates from about 1889.

We think Jerome is the lad in light clothes in front of the cart. Jerome, sadly, was killed in World War One. In 1901 his dad had become Vicar at West Lavington so he is recorded there, rather than in Easterton where he spent his childhood.

The following comes from Richard Broadhead’s book, ‘The Great War – Devizes and District Soldiers’.

Regular soldier Jerome was the third son of the Rev. Richard Winstanley Allsopp the vicar of West Lavington and Harrietta Baker Boileau Allsopp. He was educated at Stubbington House School where he was a keen cricketer. He was training in engineering at the outbreak of the South African War when Jerome joined the Imperial Yeomanry where he was given a commission and was severely wounded at Philippolis and received two medals with five clasps.

In May 1902 he was posted to the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and served with them in India until November 1916. While in India he married Gertrude Hilderbrand at Bombay and served as Adjutant of the South Lancashires from 1912 to 1915. He was given command of a company in March 1914 and promoted to Major and was sent to the Western Front in January 1917. In April 1917 he was given command of the 8th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and led them at the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres in August 1917 where he was mentioned in dispatches three times.

He was wounded during the latter and returned to the Front in November 1917 and in February 1918 he was transferred as commanding officer to the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment with whom he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in April 1918.

Jerome was killed in action on Monday 27 May 1918 near Bouvancourt, northwest of Reims, France, during the Third German Offensive.

He is remembered on the Soissons Memorial and has no known grave.