Around Wootton Rivers

For the visitor to Wootton Rivers, there is a timeless feel about this sleepy, picturesque village. However, for its residents the church clock is a constant reminder of man’s greatest enemy – time. Church clocks are a common sight and sound throughout the country but the one at Wootton Rivers has a rather unusual history. Slightly hidden from view, the parish church of St Andrew is to be found down a long path off the main street. Peer a little closer and you will see there is something distinctly different about its clock - it has three faces. Two are conventional but the third displays the words ‘Glory be to God’ around the edge of the dial instead of numerals. Conveniently, the number of characters adds up to 12.

Time for a celebration

The design of the clock dates back over one hundred years, to 1911, and is the work of the amusingly-named Jack Spratt, an eccentric countryman who established himself locally as an amateur clockmaker. To commemorate the coronation of George V, the people of Wootton Rivers decided to provide the church with a clock, though the idea was greeted with indifference, the sense of apathy in the village compounded by a distinct lack of funds. Jack Spratt came to the rescue and offered to make the clock for nothing, providing villagers donated several hundredweight of scrap iron, steel, brass and lead. The offer was greeted with a barely concealed note of incredulity, though Spratt duly received a variety of brass weights, lead pipes, gun metal and other materials. A London firm was consulted over the question of making wheels and pinions but nothing further was heard when it was sent a description of the clock.

A blacksmith and a broomstick

With the help of a local blacksmith, Spratt set about constructing his clock. He used a broomstick for the pendulum and came up with an unusual and distinctive set of chimes. The hours between 12 and six have different sets of quarter chimes, which are repeated between six and 12. Spratt lived locally and owned countless clocks, including a grandfather clock capable of playing more than one hundred tunes. He also made a clock and placed it on the front of his house – only the numerals ‘3’ and ‘9’ were displayed on the dial. The words ‘Clock House’ – the name of his thatched cottage – were arranged above and below the numerals. Spratt died in 1935

From the car park in the centre of Wootton Rivers turn left and walk through the village, passing an assortment of thatched cottages and period houses. Walk beside the Royal Oak and continue between buildings, passing Southbank on the left and Clare Cottage on the right. As the road bears right, on the outskirts of Wootton Rivers, go straight ahead on a track between a thatched cottage and a house called Martinsell.

This is the route of the Mid Wilts Way. The track cuts between fields, fences and hedges and then lines of trees. Pass a track running off to the left and follow the track as it climbs quite steeply to a junction. Turn right, skirt the field edge and away to the right are striking views of Wiltshire downland. Wootton Rivers is seen sheltering in the foreground. Turn left in the field corner and after 50yds (46m) pass through a gap in the right boundary.

Turn immediately left and ascend to a major intersection. Turn right, following a broad woodland path (Mud Lane). There are memorable views between the trees. On reaching the road by the remnants of two disused railways on the left of the path, turn right. Walk down the road and when it bends right, keep left at a footpath sign and a sign ‘Brimslade-private drive’. Pass a footpath on the left and head down the drive towards the Kennet & Avon Canal. Avoid a path on the right and when the drive bears right by a wooden sign, continue ahead beside Cadley Lock Cottage.

Cross the canal at the bridge and turn immediately right to join the footpath, heading west. Pass Brimslade Lock and the buildings of Brimslade Farm are now visible over on the opposite bank. Continue to Heathy Close Lock and bridge number 107. Pewsey Pumping Station is seen beside the towpath. Pass Wootton Rivers Lock and leave the towpath at the road bridge. Turn right, following the Mid Wilts Way, pass the entrance to Manor Farm House on the left and walk along the village street to the car park where the walk began, passing a disused George VI post box in the left wall followed by St Andrew’s Church with its long path leading to the entrance.