Heytesbury. Independent Sunday School. On Whit-Sunday the anniversary in connection with this school was held. [...] On Whit-Monday the children assembled at the schoolrooms in the morning, and from thence paraded the principal streets headed by the Heytesbury Amateur Fife and Drum Band. Divine service was held, after which they marched through the town again and then dispersed till the afternoon when they came to the schools and had plum cake and tea. Then they went on Cotley Hill, where hearty games was indulged in till dusk, when they sang a few hymns and separated, being highly pleased with the day’s outing.
Wiltshire Times, 22nd May 1880.
Congregational Sunday Schools. On Wednesday the scholars of these Sunday Schools had an outing to Cotley Hill, where various amusements were indulged in and refreshments provided. The Heytesbury Brass Band, under Mr. T. Cross’s leadership, was in attendance, and played a capital selection of music. The outing, it will be remembered, was postponed from Whit Monday, on account of the inclemency of the weather.
Warminster and Westbury Journal, 20th June 1885.
In addition to being a good spot for musical outings, twenty years earlier everyone ended up after the celebrations for the marriage of the Prince of Wales. There was a distribution of money from Lord Heytesbury, a parade with a fife and drum band, and the children were ‘bountifully regaled with tea, cake and oranges in the National School-room’.
There was also a bonfire on Cotley Hill (famed by antiquarians), near the large barrow which the Romans are supposed to have used as an exploring post. From this elevated spot, which commands a most extensive view, as many as twenty-four bonfires were seen lighting up the distant hills on the night of this joyous day.
Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 14th March 1863.