History

Dates compiled from Our Millennium Book, with thanks to the contributors.

Click on the following links for:
English Heritage's list of Priston's historic sites, Priston's Yew Tree, Historic Parish Map, Village School History, Our Knight on horseback.

Date:	Detail
43-199	Roman farmstead in Priston, site of coffin found in 1917. You can view: the 1917 report of the original coffin find, (893kb) the final report of the survey by Bath & Camerton Archeological Society of Great Croft Field conducted in 2007. recent and original photos of the bronze armlets that were taken from the coffin in 1917.
c. 930	King Athelstan gives Manor of Priston to Monastery of Bath.
931	Wooden church already in existence.
1086	Domesday book entry for Priston.
12th century	Nave of church built.
15th century	Oldest existing bell installed in Priston Church.
c. 1530	Dissolution of the monasteries leads to loss of Priston by Monastery of Bath to the Longs of Whaddon in Wiltshire.
1633-1666	Church farmhouse built.
1667-1732	Granary built, next to Church Farmhouse.
early 1700s	Estate sold to Lord Chedworth and Simon, Earl of Harcourt.
1754	Priston church tower rebuilt.
1756	Priston Manor sold to William Jenkins for £15,475.
1764/65	Coal mining first started in Priston by William Jenkins.
1803	Priston Poor House established.
1813	William Vaughan presents cockerel weathervane and clock to Priston Church.
1830-40	Priston Manor House enlarged to its present size.
1838	Priston Poor House converted for use as school.
1860s	Priston church restored - pulpit installed.
1866	School rebuilt in present form.
1869	Stained class window installed.
1892	William Vaughan-Jenkins becomes Lord of the Manor on the death of Frederick Vaughan-Jenkins
1894	Priston Parish Council created by Local Government Act 1894.
1897	William Vaughan-Jenkins is succeeded as Lord of the Manor by his son (also called William).
1910	School building extended to create cloakrooms - later to be used as a kitchen.
1915	First coal extracted from Priston coal pit.
1917	Roman coffin found on Hill Farm - later placed in entrance to Priston Church. Read the 1917 report of the original coffin find, (893kb)
1919	Auction of Priston Manor Estate.
1930	Priston pit closed - coal was still worked from Camerton colliery until c. 1940.
1934	Priston School becomes a junior school only.
1936	Priston Manor sold to Ingle family.
1939	School provided with running water and playground is ashphalted.
1948	Priston WI started.
1959	Henry Purcell, Priston's Peppermint Horse, falls at Becher's Brook at the Grand National, breaks its back and has to be shot.
1970	Priston School closes
1972	First Village Social held.
1975	Priston Shop and Post Office closes.
1977	First edition of The Link.
1977	Priston Jubilee Morris formed.
1984	Priston Cricket Club formed.
1985	Priston Toddler Group formed.
1995	Priston Glee Club formed.
1997	Most recent regilding of cockerel weathervane from Priston Church tower.
1998	Priston Garage goes mobile.
1999	Bus service giving four buses a day starts.
2000	Priston celebrates Millennium by: lighting a beacon on Pensford Hill as part of a nation-wide scheme a village photograph presenting every child with a specially-designed mug beating the Parish Bounds; a day-trip to Weymouth for every child in Priston a Summer Ball at Priston Mill restoring the village water-trough and well
2001	Our Millennium Book is published.
2002	The Priston Web launched.
2004	Bench in memory of Jim Nokes and Charlie Fry erected on the village green.
2004	Reunion of pupils of Priston School (1937-1945).
2005	Trafalgar 200 celebrations.