The Church Bells in the Civil War

In her book 'Sutton Benger; From Saxon Times to the Dawn of the 21st Century' (ELSP, 2000), Kay Taylor devotes three pages to the 'Effects of the Civil War on Sutton Benger' (pages 18-20). She notes that there was almost certainly considerable damage to the church, not necessarily all caused by Parliamentary soldiers.

She recalls the traditional story that, to save the church bells from being stolen and melted down to be used as ammunition, they were removed and hidden in the house opposite the church for safe keeping. And as she says, it 'retains the name The Bell House to this day.'

It is certainly true that church bells were stolen and melted down, possibly by armies on both sides; in fact, the King's armies were generally worse off than the Roundheads, and were in more need of sources of arms and ammunition. Certainly, there are documented accounts of it happening to other churches in Wiltshire. Whether or not it is true for Sutton Benger is not known; there are very few mentions of the village in the sources, and nothing about the church. It is certainly not totally unlikely, and is a reasonable guess at 'How the Bell House got its name'.

But then ... why is 24 High Street known as the Bell Hatch?