1820, claims to be the oldest in Wiltshire; their first team play in Division 1 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League. A bowls club has also existed in the village since 1970. Notable people People connected with Purton include: Samuel Glasse (1735–1812), cleric and supporter of the Sunday school movement, born at Purton, son of Richard Glass, vicar of the parish James Kibblewhite, national running champion of the 1880s and 1890s, born in Purton in 1866 The Reverend John Papworth (1921–2020), clergyman, writer and activist, lived at Purton in later life Dr Desmond Morris (born 1928), zoologist, lived at Purton as an infant Dave Gregory, long-time guitarist and keyboard player in the English rock band XTC, spent his childhood in the village Billie Piper (born 1982), singer and actress, attended Bradon Forest School Local families Maskelyne In the Tudor period the Maskelyne family were significant landlords and landowners in Purton, having inherited rights granted by the last abbot of Malmesbury Abbey to the Pulley or Pulleyne family, from whom they descended on the distaff side. By 1679, the Maskelyne family had the right to be buried in the south transept of the church, and there are several memorials there. The Reverend Dr Nevil Maskelyne (1732–1811) was appointed Astronomer Royal in 1765, a position he held until death; his tomb is in the churchyard. Hyde and Ashley-Cooper The Royalist statesman and author Edward Hyde, who was returned as MP for the nearby Wootton Bassett constituency in the 1630s, lived at College Farm in the centre of Purton. It is likely that his daughter Anne Hyde, first wife of James II, also lived here for a time. After serving Charles II during his years of exile under the Commonwealth and Republic, Hyde later became Lord Chancellor of England, was ennobled as Earl of Clarendon, and appointed Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Hyde's Whig arch-rival, Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, also had property in Purton parish. The Ashley-Cooper family held the advowson of St. Mary's parish church until 1960. Sadler By the late 19th century and into the early part of the 20th century, other local families had risen to the gentry level after becoming significant landowners in the parish. Among these was James Henry Sadler, Esq., D.L., J.P., (1843–1929) who, though a Purton native, lived in nearby Lydiard House until his death. A strict but generous benefactor, Sadler gave