(Burbage, Wiltshire)
Arriving at five minutes to eleven I was right on time to see the last of the people disappearing into the church for a service. The small lane was crowded with vehicles and nowhere to park so I decided Burbage could wait for another day.
EASTON ROYAL, Wiltshire
Down a small lane off the main road. The church was quiet, peaceful and devoid of people. It was also open. Easton Royal is one of the small group of churches built (or rebuilt) at the end of the 16th Century. In this case it was the Earl of Hertford, Edward Seymour, who built it in 1591 following the demolition of the friary church nearby. Interestingly he had the monuments of his ancestors transfered from the friary church to Great Bedwyn (which I have not been inside yet). I wonder why he didn't have them put in this church?
No division between chancel and nave. Quite plain inside. A south tower was added in 1853. Several minor monuments plus a font that Pevsner assigns to 1591 but really could be of any post-1591 date (eg: 18th or early 19th Century). Judging from the repairs to its stonework he is probably correct.
MILTON LILBOURNE, Wiltshire
Also down a small lane to the south of the main road. To the north the early 18th Century Manor House. To the south-east a strange Victorian house.
The church is perched above the road. It was open. Inside it is quite light, helped by a clerestory on the south side (where there is no arcade, yet no clerestory above the arcade on the north side). Above the chancel arch a signed late 18th Century Royal Arms. In the north aisle an altar frontal locker with four panels that originally came from a gallery. These have crude late 18th Century paintings on them, one showing a ship and another a view of the church. There were six panels but two have apparently been destroyed.
The north aisle also contains a Perp. tomb with panelled arch. On the floor are the remains of some mediaeval tiles.
WOOTTON RIVERS, Wiltshire
A long walk up a little path and into the churchyard. An old man was mowing the grass. The church is really a creation of G. E. Street who pretty much replaced the ancient little building in 1861. It was open. Inside a nice panelled font, probably of the 14th Century. The rest of the furnishings by Street.
As I was taking the deeply moulded south doorway then man mowed his way over to me and told me the church was open. I thanked him (although I'd already been inside).
Then I cut away far to the south.
CHOLDERTON, Wiltshire
The church across a little bridge and at the end of a short lane flanked by a cottage on one side and the former school on the other. In the churchyard a 19th Century mausoleum surrounded by iron railing.
The church very much of its date; 1840-50. It was locked but I guessed the key was in the locked metal box on the lychgate. Two keyholders (for the box!) were listed. No-one home in the old school but the cottage had a barking dog that alerted its owner. A Scottish gentleman soon appeared and let me inside the church using the nice big key (and what a fantastic lock - I locked the church myself on leaving; I just had to. The key fitted the lock perfectly with no looseness or rattling, and turning it was like adjusting a well-oiled piece of fine machinery. I don't get excited by locks and keys - but this was an exception!)
Stone screen at the west end. Stone pulpit. All of the 1840's. One monument of 18th Century date at the west end. The big surprise is the roof which is a mediaeval hammer-beam from a church in Ipswich, Suffolk (but which church?). It was bought and brought to the church by the rector.
NEWTON TONEY, Wiltshire
A rather dull church of 1844. It was open and a woman was doing flowers. She told me I was "lucky" as it is normally locked. I asked if it was alright to take photos and she replied that she thought so. Later another woman (presumably a churchwarden) came in and the first one blurted out "This man's taking photographs, is that alright?!". The older woman just smiled and nodded.
Norman cauldron font and several minor monuments round out this one. I noticed the well-known student of the Romanesque, R. J. Boak had been to the church and signed the visitor's book.
(Allington, Wiltshire)
Beside a main road and very locked. I rang the curate listed on the notice board. A man (the curate's father) answered and told me she was out but would be in a bit later. I noted the number and headed off.
(Boscombe, Wiltshire)
Oh dear. This one also locked and with nothing whatsoever on the notice board in the churchyard. Same benefice, so I chalked this one up for querying too.
(Idmiston, Wiltshire)
Locked, but this time a CCT church. I have to wonder why the CCT feel they need to lock this (and with two locks too - a set of wire doors and the main door. It's like Fort Knox). The area is hardly high crime and it seems like much of the rest of rural Wiltshire. The keyholder was unfortunately out.
WINTERBOURNE EARLS, Wiltshire
The same benefice as the others and beside a busy A-road, but this one open. Hooray! By T. H. Wyatt and of 1867. One enters via a south tower-cum-porch. Inside this is a brass matrix which has been robbed of its brasses long ago.
Inside are a few monuments, only one being above average. Of more interest the sculpture, now set in the north wall of the chancel, of a priest holding a heart. Also two mediaeval stained glass roundels (called by Pevsner "blackened", but obviously cleaned since he was here).
Once I'd finished inside I rang the curate's number. A man answered - presumably one of the other clergy - and we talked about how I could gain access to the two churches. I soon had the information and, after completing the exterior of the current church, made my way back. But not before stopping at:
WINTERBOURNE DAUNTSEY, Wiltshire
The Elms right on the main road. A large 18th Century house of red brick.
ALLINGTON, Wiltshire
I collected the key from the woman across the road. I told her I'd already phoned the curate and that's how I got her address and that they were happy for me to see inside the church. This didn't seem to be enough as I was asked the Dreaded Question. It's been a while since I was asked "who are you?", so I tried out the new answer I'd been working on to this rather awkward, illogical question. I gave her my name and added "if that's of any use to you seeing as you don't know who I am". She pondered this for a moment and then gave me the key.
Rather small inside. Remains of some Norman work both inside and outside in what is really a wholly Victorian rebuild. I didn't notice the famous RJB in the visitor's book this time, so perhaps he gave up here? Chancel with Victorian decoration on the walls which will probably be of note in 100 to 200 years time (if the church is still standing by then - is it? When you, dear reader of the future, read this, go and find out).
BOSCOMBE, Wiltshire
I parked up and went to the Old Rectory. The man there came with me to the church and opened it.
Small and simple with 17th Century two-decker pulpit and box pews. Large 17th Century north chapel with some Victorian Royal Arms and notice boards chock full of information on the church and people associated with it. So why is it locked? This church really should be open. Three small mediaeval roundels in the east window and several painted texts on the walls including a "Fear God, Honour the King" in black-letter text over the chancel arch.
IDMISTON, Wiltshire
I returned and this time found the keyholder at home. I was soon inside.
Arcades with bands of green and white stone. Aisles clasping the tower. The corbels in the nave and aisle roofs are high quality 15th Century work. Large Purbeck font. In the south aisle a monument with a kneeling figure to Giles Rowbach who died in 1633.
Then home.
0 comments:
Post a Comment