Geograph - photograph every grid square

Written by Brian Robert Marshall
The church, which is listed Grade I Link has had a long and, at times, traumatic history. The origins of the church as it stands today go back to the 12th century when a Norman church was built on the site of an earlier one. There are only a few traces of the original Norman structure to be found but the west doorway is a fine example of its kind. The church was dedicated to St Mary the Virgin in 1223. In the 15th and early 16th centuries the aisles were rebuilt and enlarged. The west tower was built at about the same time. In 1642 during the English Civil War Marlborough was besieged by Royalist forces and the Parliamentarian commander took refuge in the church. The north elevation of the tower is said to bear the marks of Royalist shot. A few years later, in 1653, there was a severe fire in Marlborough which caused a lot of damage to the church and the loss of some Norman features. The church was subsequently rebuilt along Puritan lines. In 1873 fairly major new works were carried out including the addition of a south porch. After the Great War the south chapel was restored as a memorial to Marlborough men who died in that conflict. Further major restoration works were completed in the mid 1950s. The above information was extracted from Link

Grade I listed buildings and structures are of exceptional, even international importance. There are over 6,000 in the country. Only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I listed.
In Scotland the classification is Category A
Index: Link