BEVERSTONE CHURCH AND CASTLE, 

 AND MALMESBURY ABBEY, 



BY 



F. W. WALLER. 

 (Read at the Annual Meeting, May i6th, 1898.) 



BEVERSTONE CHURCH 



The Church, dedicated to St Mary, was no doubt 

 originally a Norman structure. It now consists of a 

 nave, 40 ft. 10 in. by 19 ft., a narrow south aisle only 6 ft. 

 wide, and the whole length of the nave, a chancel, 28 ft. 

 8 in. by 14 ft., a chapel on the north side known as the 

 Berkeley Chapel 10 ft. 6 in. by il ft. 6 in., and a western 

 tower. 



The arcade between the nave and south aisle is an 

 interesting example of transitional Norman work. This, 

 the doorway under the porch, and the figure which 

 has been inserted in the south wall of the tower are 

 probably about the same date. Lord Berkeley is said to 

 have rebuilt the Church (1331), not destroying, however, 

 the whole work of his predecessors : probably a great 

 part of the existing fabric belongs to that date, but the 

 building appears to have been very badly treated when last 

 restored, and it is difficult to understand some portions : 

 for instances, the stone coffin-covers built into the south wall 



