St Mary's, Laverton
For a history of the church see the website for the Hardington Vale Benefice,
From The Frome Times of Wed 11 Aug 1859 p4:
Laverton.
On Saturday last, August 27th, the Parish Church of this village was re-opened, after having been closed some time for the purpose of making considerable alterations and improvements. The old gallery has been taken down, the lofty pews removed and replaced by open stalls, a new pulpit and reading desk in carved oak, and a lettern (sic) have also been added, and the whole of the interior considerably beautified. The entire portion of the new fittings have been executed from the designs of Messrs. Brown and Sons, and appeared to give great satisfaction to the Reverend the Rector and his friends. The Church was decorated with exquisite taste and effect by the ladies of the Rector’s family, the font being encircled with wreaths of flowers. . . . After the service was over the Rev. Russell entertained a party of 50 to dinner at the Rectory. We hear that the Bishop of Bath and Wells had been invited, but was unable to attend.
From The Frome Times of Wed 11 Aug 1859 p4:
Some apples have been grown from a graft in the Rectory garden of Laverton, measuring from a foot to thirteen inches and a half in circumference, and weigh more than 1lb.
From The Frome Times of Wed 27 May 1868 p2:
On Easter-day, a handsome east window (by Messrs. Horwood, of Frome), was placed in the Church at Laverton, to the memory of Rev. G. Rous, and some members of the family of the present Rector.
From The Frome Times of Wed 10 Aug 1881 p3:
This outbreak of scarlet fever in the Road sub-district points to something radically wrong in the sanitary conditions of the place affected, and should obtain the careful attention of the Sanitary Authority. Of the seven deaths from scarlet fever, five occurred in the parish of Laverton and two in Beckington.
(The burial register has the burial of six children between the ages of 3 and 7 in May-Aug 1881. A charge of negligence was brought by the rector against a medical officer of the Frome Union, this relating to a case of scarlet fever.)
References to Laverton in the local press in the 19th century are mainly to do with the sale of property, the occasional fire, assault, burglary, fine for trespassing in search of game, in 1839 a petition for the commutation of tithes.
