Themes - StoriesStories about historical events in Pilton
Bringing together the strands of People, Buildings and Objects is the fourth of our five Themes - Stories about historical events in Pilton. The Pilton Story will bring together historians and writers to gather ideas for new 'Pilton Tales' from past and recent history to supplement the story of the Green Man and the Prior enacted annually at Pilton Festival.
These will be dramatised before local schools and other members of the community are approached to develop dramatic performances to explain other aspects of Pilton to Festival goers.

Through a mixture of drama, poetry, music and costume these tales will bring to life events, both real and mythical, from the 1000 year history of the village.
The Story of RGB in Pilton

The business became Rawle, Gammon & Baker when Samuel Rawle's son-in-law F A Baker became a partner. It prospered under the leadership of Baker and of Gammon's three sons with the impetus of the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century and up to the start of the First World War. The business premises expanded on Rolle Quay and cottages were built for workers on Rolle Street. The late 1940s saw acquisition of Pilton Yard, the home of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway which had closed in 1935. This was shared with the Sanders Sheepskin Factory. By the end of the 1940s the business was no longer just a saw mill but had effectively become the builders' merchants it is today.
It moved to the current site on the Pottington Industrial Estate in 2005 and the Rolle Quay site was subsequently developed by Redrow and McCarthy & Stone. The names of the development - Port Mill, Town Mill, Saw Mill and Orleigh Mill Courts - reflect something of the long history of the site as the home of RGB for 155 years. A fuller version of this story can be found on The Pilton Story Archive.
The Bells of St Mary's

In 1854, they were brought back to Pilton via Bristol on the sailing smack ‘John & Ann’ (seen far left in a lithograph of 1852 reproduced by kind permission of The North Devon Athenaeum). This was still the most common form of transport to North Devon in 1854. The new bells, weighing over 2 tons (2000kg) altogether, were hauled up Pilton Street on sledges and lifted into place in the belfry. The cost of the hanging, presumably raised by the Parish, was £158, equivalent to about £40,000 at today’s prices. It is reported that this scene was re-enacted at one of the Pilton Festivals. If you know any more, please let us know. Read more about the bells in THE BELLS OF ST MARY'S.
Go to the Submit Form to get in touch with us about Pilton tales of interest and getting involved with this part of the project.