There
is no authorative history of the village at present. The following information
has been extracted from the outstanding Womens Institute "Records of the
Village" booklet which was compiled in 1953 by a number of Villagers.It is
hoped that in time this will be updated.
A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
The church of St. John the Baptist was originally Norman and was standing in 1227
when Ela, Countess of Salisbury, founded the Carthusian Priory in the Parish.
The Prior retained the right, as Rector, to appoint the Vicars of the Parish.
At that date the Font would have already been some years in the church; also lancet
windows in the south aisle, and the south porch.
In 1284 the monks were given a charter to hold a weekly market every Friday on
the green at Hinton, then an expanse of grass near the church, but the Prior complained
later that the church services were being so disturbed by -"noise, disturbance
and insolence" that the Fair was moved to Norton st. Philip where the Carthusians
possessed a "Wool Market established at what is now the George Inn, and held there
for many years until it lapsedo In the church Register the first Rector's name
entered is that of Walter Le Haut in 1319. He mus t have been a Norman and his
name when translated means "Walter the tall".
Between 1319 and 1539 when Hinton and Norton Parishes shared the same Rector,
{viz The Prior of Hinton) there were 17 vicars of Hinton.
The Priory was dissolved in 1539 by order of King Henry VIII, and 36 years later
in 1575 the first vicar ministering to both Parishes was called Robert Brytten
who held the living till 1588. Hinton's earliest Register (extant), 1546 onwards,
is locally unrivalled in antiquity! After this the Register was kept at Norton
till 1824 when Hinton resumed its ancient custom of a separate Parish, the first
vicar being Henry Blayds. This was largely due to the generosity of Queen Anne's
Bounty and the support of Captain Symonds of the Abbey (as the Priory was then
called) who was largely instrumental in obtaining recognition of the right of
Hinton Church and Parish to a separate incumbent, and by who's generosity the
North Aisle was added to the church in 1820.
No one is quite sure where the old vicarage stood but a path through the south
and east church yard which was incorporated in the church yard by Mr. Foxcroft
is still called Vicarage Lane, and certainly the cottages pulled down on adjacent
sites in 1830 and 1866 were very old ones, and might vvell have been the remains
of the old vicarage.
The modern vicarage was built by the Rev. Thomas Spencer who was vicar from 1826
to 1848 and was added to by the Rev. W. Girardot who succeeded him.
In 1947 it was sold by the Diocesan Authorities and it was hoped that one day
another vicarage might be built on land already promised for that purpose near
the church.
The Parish Vestry Minutes Book of 1760 -1819 contains many interesting items,
some of which follow:-
"Extracts from an old Parish or Vestry Minute and Account Book 1760 -1819"
The extracts given below were taken from the above mentioned book and the original
spelling has been retained. The great majority of' payments made were f'or the
destruction of' sparrows and certain other animals. For all these there appears
to have been a regular tarif'f' adhered to throughout the 59 years covered by
the entries in the booko
Sparrows: l/4d each~ The largest amount f'or which payment was made at
anyone time was 8 1/2 dozen.
Foxes: old 1/- young 1/6d.
Polecats: 4d. eacho Of'ten spelt Poule Cats.
Wezells or Wizzells: 4d.
Martin Cats : 6d.
1760 Nov.15th. The Ringers rejoycing f'or the victory over the Austrians.
1762. Jno. Barnes and Richard Garret f'or haing the Chansel £11/6d.
1763. Paid to a Captin of' a Vessell 5/-. Paid f'or mending the Sarplis
(surplice) 11d.
1764. Paid f'or putting up the Gallowry and putting up the gates £11. 3.
5d. (This gallery was put up at the west end of' the church and remained there
until it was taken down to permit of' the extension of the seating to the west
end of the Church in 1815.
1770. A day's work 8d.
Aug. 29th Beer f'or 15 men in getting up the great beams 3/10d. (This was when
the tower was being repaired.) The name Morgan and date 1770 are still to be seen
near the top of the tower on the south side.
1770 Repairin~ and paintihg sundial 6/- Sept. 8th (Where ? )
Oct. 14th To Mr. Richard Herbert for 22 cart loads of stones 11/-, To 2 days and
a half' work at the Quarry 2/6d. 1771 April 11th. Paid Clark for cleaning
rubbish out of ye tower and ye church road .The disburstments (sic) of James Poyner.
1773 Feb.17th. Performance of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Deliveryof
the Queen of a Prince 5d.
Feb. 24th. For putting up ye scrapers at the Church Porch 6d.
June 23rd. To Jo Barrett for cleaning The Church Causeway 2/-.
1774 March 25th. Paid for a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the safe
delivery of ye Queen of a Prince.
1777 March 25th. Paid for a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the delivery
of the Queen of a Princess.
1781 To a new lock for the Belfry Door 5/3d. 1 do. for the trap dore on
the Tower 8d. Half a load of tiles for the Church 6/-
July 7th. Paid John Barnes Bill for work don at the Tower in putting up
the Battlements and taking down the pintiles as was left standing and other work.
1782 For a brush to keep the Church clean 1/10d.
1795 July 4th. For cleaning the Church road 2/6d. To a broom for ditto
3d.
1804 April To cleaning the ten Commandments 1/-
1815 March 19th Captain Symonds appointed a Churchwarden. Under the same
date -it was decided that there should be a vveekly instead of a fortnightly ser
vice. £20 a year extra to be paid to the Incumbent at the discretion of the Churchwardens.
1815 September The old wooden Communion rails taken down as being so much
out of repair, and iron fancy rails substituted in. their place.
1815 September The path leading from the vicarage house the Churchwardens
is empowered to stop up provided it meets with the Clergyman's approbation, and
to be opened at a future time if required. That the gallery be painted of oak
colour, the Communion place to be covered with matting, and new hassocks to be
bought for the accomodation of Communicants. That the Church walls be brought
up to a level to be coped with stone.
1815 Oct. 12th. The new pattern produced by the Churchwardens of the new
railing for the Corrnnunion Table valued at £7 is approved Pavement of body of
Church be repaired. Extending of seats back into West window by removal of present
gallery. Here end the notes contained in this book. Interesting perhaps in the
light which they throw on prices some 200 years ago.
The Vestry Minute Book of 1830- 1897 contains the following:- Numbers of Children
Appointment of Constables 1830- 1852 Appointment of Tything Men 1830-1842
In 1830 we read resolutions that "the paupers of the Parish be taught to
Knit stockings, especially the women and old men". "That the pay of
Thomas Smith and Joseph Francis be stopped for not attending at the Church to
knit" At a select vestry (for the management of the poor man's concerns)
held on July 26th, 1830, it was resolved that any member not attending to knit
at church be fined 5/- From some time in the 18th Century until 1824 there was
a service fortnightly at Hinton.Thereafter, with an incumbent of their own, a
Service was held once every Sunday with a quarterly festival communion.