After... Because a vicar spotted a possible church hidden in a private, domestic building from the church on the other side of the road. No abuse, no church. This post is for Molly.
Molly and I were talking about how - sometimes - historic buildings can be saved from destruction simply by being ignored or abused. This church in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire (not far from Bath) was built about a thousand years ago and eventually was turned into a series of slum hovels by being built onto and floors were put onto the inside etc, including fireplaces and chimneys, until it was virtually unrecognisable. A church was built over the road from it, and one of the vicars thought he spotted a church hiding in amongst the rest of the masonry, because of the Norman style arches higher up. He bought the place and stripped away the later buildings to reveal this lovely little Saxon church that is still used and visited today.
Thanks for putting this post up Tom. Interesting. I've had a look on Britannia which gives a bit of info about it too. Discovered in 1856 by a Canon Jones and its called St Laurence's chapel. On Britannia they tend to think that it went back to the 8th century. It's a lovely building - total sacrilege if it had been destroyed - wouldn't it just! Mind boggling when you think of all the people who'd lived there and all the history behind it and it would have never even occurred to them. Because it was so tall, the building was divided into three storeys, one storey being a school and the top 'bunk', living accommodation. Liked that, thank you.
Before...
After... Because a vicar spotted a possible church hidden in a private, domestic building from the church on the other side of the road. No abuse, no church. This post is for Molly.
There are some better 'before' shots than this. I think there were several families living in it at one time.
ReplyDeleteTom...I'm confused. Please explain futher.
ReplyDeleteClassic cruciform Saxon. Shame she's missing one arm, but I suppose that's why the buttresses are there.
ReplyDeleteMolly and I were talking about how - sometimes - historic buildings can be saved from destruction simply by being ignored or abused. This church in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire (not far from Bath) was built about a thousand years ago and eventually was turned into a series of slum hovels by being built onto and floors were put onto the inside etc, including fireplaces and chimneys, until it was virtually unrecognisable. A church was built over the road from it, and one of the vicars thought he spotted a church hiding in amongst the rest of the masonry, because of the Norman style arches higher up. He bought the place and stripped away the later buildings to reveal this lovely little Saxon church that is still used and visited today.
ReplyDeleteThanks, now I get it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this post up Tom. Interesting. I've had a look on Britannia which gives a bit of info about it too. Discovered in 1856 by a Canon Jones and its called St Laurence's chapel. On Britannia they tend to think that it went back to the 8th century. It's a lovely building - total sacrilege if it had been destroyed - wouldn't it just! Mind boggling when you think of all the people who'd lived there and all the history behind it and it would have never even occurred to them. Because it was so tall, the building was divided into three storeys, one storey being a school and the top 'bunk', living accommodation. Liked that, thank you.
ReplyDelete