St Laurence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon
Encyclopedia
St Laurence's Church, Bradford on Avon
, Wiltshire
, is one of relatively few surviving Saxon
churches in England
that does not show later medieval alteration or rebuilding.
The church is dedicated to St Laurence and may have been founded by Saint Aldhelm around 700, although the architectural style suggests a 10th or 11th century date. It could have been a temporary burial site for King Edward the Martyr
.
St. Laurence's stands on rising ground close to the larger Norman
parish church of the Holy Trinity
. The building was used as a school and cottage for many years. It was rediscovered in 1856 and restored in 1870–80.
The date of the building has been much debated, but careful investigation in the middle of the 20th century has led to the belief that the main fabric dates from Aldhelm's life-time, the original chapel being as later described by William of Malmesbury
, but some details belonging to a later restoration at the end of the 10th century. H. M. Taylor
states that he believes the main fabric of the walls to their full height belongs to Aldhelm's time, and Taylor's discussions with Dr Edward Gilbert led him to that conclusion.
The arcading on the exterior walls is produced, not by incision (as thought by Jackson and Fletcher) but by setting the massive stone pilaster
-strips forward from the wall-face. In this they are similar to Great Dunham
and the tower of Tasburgh
parish church in Norfolk, and also to the parish churches at Earls Barton
and Barton-upon-Humber
.
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, is one of relatively few surviving Saxon
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
churches in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that does not show later medieval alteration or rebuilding.
Edward the Martyr
Edward the Martyr was king of the English from 975 until he was murdered in 978. Edward was the eldest son of King Edgar, but not his father's acknowledged heir...
.
St. Laurence's stands on rising ground close to the larger Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
parish church of the Holy Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
. The building was used as a school and cottage for many years. It was rediscovered in 1856 and restored in 1870–80.
The date of the building has been much debated, but careful investigation in the middle of the 20th century has led to the belief that the main fabric dates from Aldhelm's life-time, the original chapel being as later described by William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury
William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,...
, but some details belonging to a later restoration at the end of the 10th century. H. M. Taylor
Harold McCarter Taylor
Harold McCarter Taylor CBE TD was a New Zealand-born British mathematician, theoretical physicist and academic administrator, but is best known as a historian of architecture and the author, with his first wife Joan Taylor, née Sills, of the three volumes of Anglo-Saxon Architecture, published...
states that he believes the main fabric of the walls to their full height belongs to Aldhelm's time, and Taylor's discussions with Dr Edward Gilbert led him to that conclusion.
The arcading on the exterior walls is produced, not by incision (as thought by Jackson and Fletcher) but by setting the massive stone pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
-strips forward from the wall-face. In this they are similar to Great Dunham
Great Dunham
Great Dunham is a village situated in the Breckland District of Norfolk and covers an area of 818 hectares with an estimated population of 325...
and the tower of Tasburgh
Tasburgh
Tasburgh is a civil parish and a village in the south of Norfolk, England. The River Tas flows nearby and Tasburgh Hall lies to the west of the village. The local church is dedicated to St...
parish church in Norfolk, and also to the parish churches at Earls Barton
All Saints' Church, Earls Barton
After the Danish raids on England, Medehampstede Abbey, a few miles away from Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, was rebuilt in about AD 970 to become Peterborough. It is generally accepted that All Saints' Church, Earls Barton was built around this period at the end of the tenth century...
and Barton-upon-Humber
St Peter's Church, Barton-upon-Humber
St Peter's Church is the former parish church of Barton-upon-Humber in North Lincolnshire, England. It is one of the best known Anglo-Saxon buildings, in part due to its role in Thomas Rickman's identification of the style. It has been subject to major excavations, which are the most...
.