Shared description
St Laurence church, Bradford-on-Avon
Grade I listed.
The church may date back to circa 700 AD. It was reported as standing in the 1120s. It was probably built for nuns early in the 11th century.
It is a characteristic Anglo Saxon building, tall and narrow with small windows. Later on, the church no longer being required, it was lost to other uses including a schoolmaster's house, and only came to notice again in the 19th century.
It is built in high quality ashlar, consisting of a nave with a gabled chamber on each side, the southern one has disappeared, and a square ended chancel.
The dimensions inside are very small, with the chancel arch being about one metre wide. The west wall was rebuilt in the 18th century in imitation of the remainder of the church. The south porticus is missing, as can be seen by the remaining roof line, and excavation shows it probably had a crypt. Buttresses were later added to support the south wall.
Blind arcading runs around the building with a string course below, supported by pilasters.
The church is now entered through the south door. There are few windows making the interior very dark. The north porticus survives, and it could have served as a chapel with an altar against the east wall. To the east of the nave there is a small chancel. Carved stones found nearby have been made into an altar. Over the chancel arch are carved two angels carrying cloths.
The church may date back to circa 700 AD. It was reported as standing in the 1120s. It was probably built for nuns early in the 11th century.
It is a characteristic Anglo Saxon building, tall and narrow with small windows. Later on, the church no longer being required, it was lost to other uses including a schoolmaster's house, and only came to notice again in the 19th century.
It is built in high quality ashlar, consisting of a nave with a gabled chamber on each side, the southern one has disappeared, and a square ended chancel.
The dimensions inside are very small, with the chancel arch being about one metre wide. The west wall was rebuilt in the 18th century in imitation of the remainder of the church. The south porticus is missing, as can be seen by the remaining roof line, and excavation shows it probably had a crypt. Buttresses were later added to support the south wall.
Blind arcading runs around the building with a string course below, supported by pilasters.
The church is now entered through the south door. There are few windows making the interior very dark. The north porticus survives, and it could have served as a chapel with an altar against the east wall. To the east of the nave there is a small chancel. Carved stones found nearby have been made into an altar. Over the chancel arch are carved two angels carrying cloths.
Created: Tue, 26 Mar 2024, Updated: Tue, 26 Mar 2024
3 images use this description: (all images taken in 2024)
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2024 Julian P Guffogg.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
Log in to view extended navigation and 'Explore' links.Other shared descriptions
Descriptions nearby
Related descriptions
- Holy Trinity church Bradford-on-Avon
By Julian P Guffogg. Used on 56 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
