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Church of St James the Great, Bratton
St James the Great (Church of England) lies in a combe to the south of the main part of the village in a now-abandoned area formerly known as Stoke or Littlestoke.
It is possible that there was a Saxon church on this site as some of the surviving carvings are Saxon or early Norman and it has been shown that a central Norman tower could have been inserted into a Saxon church on the site. From 14th century records it is evident that there was at least one chantry chapel in the church, and parts of the present walls of the transepts could date from the medieval period and have been home to this chapel. However in 1400 almost the entire church was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style, but on the plan of the earlier church.
Some of the trees that surround the church were planted in 1829, but it was not until 1832 that a road was built to the church on one of the many tracks that led to the site.
The Rev. Charles Palairet made many improvements in the mid 19th century, one of which was the building of 208 steps, rising from near the stream of Salcombe Water to the church. He was responsible for the rebuilding of the chancel in the Early English style. The architect was George Gilbert Scott and the new chancel was the same size as the old and very similar to it apart from the roof being higher.
On the south side of the tower is a painted sundial, dated 1801. The exterior of the church is ornamented by a wonderful array of grotesque carvings in the shape of strange beasts and birds.
More information here Link
(from which much of this info was taken).
It is possible that there was a Saxon church on this site as some of the surviving carvings are Saxon or early Norman and it has been shown that a central Norman tower could have been inserted into a Saxon church on the site. From 14th century records it is evident that there was at least one chantry chapel in the church, and parts of the present walls of the transepts could date from the medieval period and have been home to this chapel. However in 1400 almost the entire church was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style, but on the plan of the earlier church.
Some of the trees that surround the church were planted in 1829, but it was not until 1832 that a road was built to the church on one of the many tracks that led to the site.
The Rev. Charles Palairet made many improvements in the mid 19th century, one of which was the building of 208 steps, rising from near the stream of Salcombe Water to the church. He was responsible for the rebuilding of the chancel in the Early English style. The architect was George Gilbert Scott and the new chancel was the same size as the old and very similar to it apart from the roof being higher.
On the south side of the tower is a painted sundial, dated 1801. The exterior of the church is ornamented by a wonderful array of grotesque carvings in the shape of strange beasts and birds.
More information here Link
(from which much of this info was taken).by Penny Mayes
Created: Fri, 30 Oct 2015, Updated: Fri, 30 Oct 2015
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