Posted: Saturday 25^th March ’23

Parish Council Election Notice 2023

Notice of Election District 2023

Posted: Monday 31^st May ’21

Updated: Monday 7^th June ’21

We would like to thank our DCC Cllr A Saywell and TDC Cllr P Pennington for their generous donation of £150.00 each towards a new recycled plastic litterbin that has just been sited in the Playing Field.  This is a great addition and helps to keep the Playing area free of litter whilst you enjoy the area.

THANK YOU!

Posted: Saturday 4^th July ’20

Updated: Monday 7^th June ’21

Healthy Start is programme to help families with young children get free food vouchers to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins for under 4’s (vit A, C and D) and vitamins if you are pregnant (folic
acid and vit C & D). Because we’re indoors a lot of the time at the moment, we might not be getting enough vitamin D from sunshine so a vitamin D supplement will help.

If you have children under 4 or are pregnant, and you or your family receive qualifying benefits you may be eligible – you can quickly find out here.

Applying is easy, you can print off an application form from the Healthy Start website and post it to the Healthy Start office.
Once you are registered, food vouchers are posted to you every 4 weeks and vitamin coupons every 8 weeks.

To make things easier at the moment, vitamins are currently being posted to families – please ask your midwife or Children’s Centre for more information, or text your health visitor on 07520 631721

Get free food and vitamin vouchers from the Healthy Start Programme

Healthy-Start-flyer-2020

Posted: Sunday 9^th May ’21

VILLAGE HALL HISTORY

The current Village Hall is the converted former Village School, which was built in 1873 at a cost of £419 7s 6d and opened on 7 January 1874. It was only a two-room school-house but by the end of the first year had 88 pupils.

By 1955, however, the school roll had fallen to just 19 and on 19th October of that year notification was received that the school was to close. The last term was the summer term of 1957.

Although construction had been funded by public subscription the building reverted to Lord Clinton, the owner of the land, when it ceased to be used as a school. He offered the land and the property to the Parish Council for £250 with the intention that it be used as a Village Hall.

On February 12th 1958 a Special Parish meeting was held at the Old School to consider the offer and it was unanimously agreed that it should be purchased. Funds were raised locally and grants obtained to acquire the premises and undertake the conversion work which was estimated to cost £2,675.

The Hall was opened by the local MP, Percy Browne, on 13th May 1961. Since then there have been continuous improvements to the Hall and it’s facilities, including a major refurbishment and creation of a permanent bar in 2009/10 which cost over £40,000.

The full story with pictures of notable events can be found in Frithelstock Past and Present written by the late Michael Hearn.

Posted: Monday 24^th January ’22

Posted: Monday 13^th February ’23

Posted: Tuesday 8^th June ’10

Updated: Wednesday 9^th June ’21

THE REVIVAL

THE EVENTS THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR ‘PLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES…!

In recent years, numerous conversations about restoring the bells have taken place in the Clinton Arms between Terry Warrington, Andy and Janice Gist. This is not surprising as the Clinton Arms has been the regular haunt for a local team of campanologists after the strenuous efforts of practice. Sadly the pub has now closed.

Arising from these discussions, the idea that the bells might be restored to working order was reached. Enthusiasm grew and in the 2006 Christmas holiday, Mark Goldman, Les Billig and Greg Ball joined the group of enthusiasts.

The group had two major problems to overcome. Were the bells in working order? And who could form a resident team? Of course they would need some training – and there are no schools or courses in the locality.

Terry telephoned Andy Gist of St Giles, to ask for help and advice. He suggested Hilary and Dave Kent, who teach the Langtree Ringers, and who ring from two churches: one at Langtree, the other at Peters Marland.  Hilary kindly agreed to help teach us.

Sid Adams, who is the Church Warden and Tower Captain, was then approached to explore the next step. The word spread and we were soon joined by Roger Hunkin, Gareth Chanter, and Chris Ham.

The first, and a major step, had to be the clearance of rubbish deposited over many years by rooks and other birds in the tower. This was not an an easy task as there space is at a premium.  But enthusiasm prevailed and over 100 bags containing mainly rook’s excrement and nesting materials. Once cleared, it was necessary to prevent the rooks re-entering the tower otherwise this work would have to be repeated.  Wire mesh was welded to the inside of the windows which successfully prevented any further incursions. Appropriate timbers have been treated and all moving parts oiled [see photo] and finally new ropes, kindly donated by Week St Mary, Tetcott, were fitted.

But before any ringing could take place a survey had to be made which was done by James Clarke. Upon a verbal `Yes, all’s well’, the enthusiasts immediately held their first practice session on the 14 August. Tuition and training now takes place on alternate Tuesdays.

In July 2010, a short video clip was made – taken without any extra lighting and while work was being carried out. Click on this link to hear our bells! YouTube

ABOUT THE TOWER

The west tower is 72 feet high to the parapet, diagonal buttressed at the base only. The rectangular stair-turret is to the east end of the north face, its sloping top is level with the top of the parapet, and the belfry openings are square-headed with two lights, the opening on the east is set in the centre of the outer face, not in the centre of the inner. There are small obelisk pinnacles. Ground floor ringing room. The foundations of the transeptal tower of the Priory church can be traced on the south side of the west end of the ruins, and in 1792, when the ruins were painted by the Rev John Swete, dated 1792, much of the tower arch was still standing.

A ring of six bells, hung for ringing in an oak frame by Harry Stokes, 1911, with a hoisted pit for the treble added by him later above the present second pit. Elm headstocks, plain bearings.

NEW WEATHER VANE

After many years without one, the Church Tower had a new weather vane installed (August 2011).  Donated by a parishioner, it replaces the one used (it is said) for target practice many, many years ago.

Posted: Monday 17^th May ’21

Updated: Wednesday 1^st September ’21

HALL HIRE RATES

To book the Hall – call Mrs Jean Short 01805 623359
E-Mail: michael.short3943@gmail.com 
or call Maureen Poole on 01805 622834

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

General Information
The main hall has a hearing loop system. When booking, please advise if you wish to use this loop system. There is also a Skittle Alley, a well equipped kitchen with a Range Cooker and commercial dishwasher.

Where a function is organised principally to raise money for charity and a ‘pay for’ bar is requested, the hiring fee will be waived.

Capacity
Fire Regulations restrict the number of persons permitted to be on the premises at any time to: 200 for dancing, and 120 for close-seated audience.

Smoking is not permitted.

Refusals / Cancellations
The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse a booking or to cancel a hiring agreement at any time, upon giving 7 day’s notice in writing to the Hirer. Upon such notice, the Hirer is entitled to reimbursement of the sum paid.

If the Hirer wishes to cancel a booking before the date of the event and the Committee is unable to take a replacement booking, the question of any charge will be at the discretion of the Committee.

Emergency Facilities
Fire Alarm – Fire alarms are fitted at strategic points in the Hall.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS are available and a FIRE BLANKET and a FIRST AID BOX are located in the Kitchen.
The ELECTRICITY FUSE BOX is in the main Entrance Hall.

The Hirer’s Responsibilities are to…
Read the Torridge District Council’s Premises Licence TDPR0018 (Licensing Act 2003) rules attached. HERE
Obtain any necessary license.
Indemnify the Committee for the cost of repair of any damage to the property.
Ensure that any activities for children under 8 years of age comply with the provisions of The Children Act 1989 and that only fit and proper persons have access to the children.
Ensure that no dogs – except Guide Dogs – are brought onto the premises,
Ensure that the minimum of noise is made on arrival and departure.

At the end of the function
Ensure that the Hall is in a clean and tidy condition;
Remove all rubbish from the premises;
Ensure that all the power is switched off;
Lock the Hall securely and return the key promptly to Mrs Short with a
list of any breakages or damage done to the Hall

HALL BOOKING FORM

DOWNLOAD the Village hall booking form.

Posted: Tuesday 8^th June ’10

Updated: Tuesday 8^th June ’21

We discovered the planks on the first floor were rotten and needed to be replaced. But first, one of the largest bird nests had to be removed (see the three small photos on left and below).
This was made more complicated as the floor above (and the one below) was too weak to take the weight of the volunteer clearance team. A light weight skip was constructed, and by pulling this up through a hatchway level to the lower floor, it was possible to rake the huge amount of sticks and detritus into it: a very slow and dusty task!

The new planks are 2 inches thick and 12 inches wide, and as these are predicted to last well over 75 years, it was suggested that sponsors could have their initials carved on the floor. This idea has been received very well.
Spaces have been selling very quickly – we have already sold single lots and blocks of 5 bought by families who would like to be associated with the church tower. We have also accepted requests by families for initials of their loved ones to be included. But it has also been suggested that we take our time in obtaining sponsors as many people have fond memories of the tower and church.

We are proposing that for £5 you can have your initials marked on the plank – and that we create a ‘map’ of the floor which will be framed and displayed for everyone to see. This ‘map’ showing the location of initials and names will be sited in the tower is being prepared.
For more information please call: Terry Warrington on 01805 625235, or Greg Ball 01805 623613 or any of the bell ringers.
Work is in hand (November 2010) as the three photographs on left show.

You can still have your initials included
If you would like yours, or your relative’s, initials to be added, please get in touch with any bell ringer or write to editor@frithelstock.com with the details.
New lights have also been installed in the stairwell, and extra lighting and a power supply on the first floor and in the bell chamber.
This work now makes the tower a lot safer for the public to explore and events are planned to open the tower to the public.