IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
St. Johns Churchyard, DEVIZES, SN10 1BY

Numbers 43 and 44 Long Street have an 18th century front on an older building. Recently much restored with a 19th century shop front being removed from the left and replaced with a matching door. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1263318 The market town of Devizes developed around its 11th century castle. It gained a charter in 1141 and holds a weekly market in the large and picturesque Market Place. In the 16th century the town became known for its textiles and in the early 18th century held the largest corn market in the West Country. Devizes has about 500 listed buildings - a very large number for a small town.

This symmetrical pair of red brick houses, numbers 45 and 46 Long Street, are early 19th century although the tile hung gable is a late 19th century addition. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1250357 The market town of Devizes developed around its 11th century castle. It gained a charter in 1141 and holds a weekly market in the large and picturesque Market Place. In the 16th century the town became known for its textiles and in the early 18th century held the largest corn market in the West Country. Devizes has about 500 listed buildings - a very large number for a small town.

Cottages alongside the church yard of St John the Baptist. Devizes Castle can just be seen in the distance.

These fine early 19th century cast iron gates and railings are at the entrance to the churchyard of St John from Long Street. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1250356 The market town of Devizes developed around its 11th century castle. It gained a charter in 1141 and holds a weekly market in the large and picturesque Market Place. In the 16th century the town became known for its textiles and in the early 18th century held the largest corn market in the West Country. Devizes has about 500 listed buildings - a very large number for a small town.

Devizes was fairly heavily involved in the English Civil War of the 1640s. In July 1643 the town, held by Royalists, was under siege by Parliamentary forces. The church was being used as a gunpowder store in July 1643. It came under attack from the Roundheads who fired grapeshot at it. Grapeshot is about 1.5 inches in diameter ball shot contained in a cloth or leather bag and fired from a cannon. When it hit the east-facing church wall it made the holes seen here and up close here Image Information from the invaluable Devizes Heritage website http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/battle_of_roundway.html

See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2386590 for more information on these 17th century bullet holes.

The church has seen some hard times since its 12th century inception. In the English Civil War cannon fire left holes in the east wall Image and more recently it was damaged by a fire on 26 September 2006 http://www.sjbnet.org.uk/architecture_04.html since restored. Then in September 2010 homophobic graffiti was scrawled on it http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/8367165.Graffiti_attack_on_Devizes_church/ The clock, by the way, is accurate.

At the left is part of a chapel, a later addition to the main church. Just visible on the buttress to the right of the chapel is evidence of English Civil War damage described in more detail here Image

This picturesque red brick house at number 47 Long Street is 18th century and listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1250358 The market town of Devizes developed around its 11th century castle. It gained a charter in 1141 and holds a weekly market in the large and picturesque Market Place. In the 16th century the town became known for its textiles and in the early 18th century held the largest corn market in the West Country. Devizes has about 500 listed buildings - a very large number for a small town.