. 308 A Stroll through Bradford-on-Avon. 



well account for the ecclesiastical character of the whole place. 

 But we will stroll round the Town, and speak in turn of each of 

 the objects of interest. 



1 . We will start from the most interesting of all our treasures, 

 the Saxon Church of St. Laurence, which stands close by the north- 

 east end of the present parish Church. Both Churches no doubt origi- 

 nally stood in the same churchyard, the extent of which was at one 

 time much greater than at present. The story of the discovery and 

 gradual re-purchase and re-habilitation of this " little church " — 

 ecclesiola, it is called by William of Malmesbury — has often been 

 told, and therefore I need not here tell the tale again. Suffice it to 

 say that it consists of a Nave, a Chancel, and a Porch on the 

 north side ; that originally there was a similar annexe on the south 

 side, so that the building was cruciform ; that the Nave is about 

 twenty-five feet long by thirteen broad j the chancel thirteen feet long 

 by ten broad ; and the porch may roundly be described as about ten 

 feet square. The height of the building is very remarkable, in the 

 nave being rather slightly, and in the chancel considerably, greater 

 than the length, in either case. There are also two interesting stone 

 figures of angels above the chancel arch, which, if not quite coeval 

 with the building itself, can hardly in any case be later than the 

 tenth century, since in the Benedictional of St. iEthelwold which is 

 of the date 970 — 975, there are figures of angels which correspond 

 very closely with them. In any case there is now a general agree- 

 ment among all who are qualified to form an opinion, that we have 

 in this most interesting "little church,''' a building which was 

 founded by S. Aldhelm (who died in 709), and which is a solitary 

 perfect example of a Church of so early a date. 



2. We now come to the Parish Church. This is dedicated to 

 the Holy Trinity. It consists of a Chancel, Nave, North Aisle, Tower, 

 and a mortuary Chapel, erected by one of the Hall family, on the 

 south side — the last being now used as an organ chamber. The north 

 aisle was built at intervals of some fifty years apart, the western 

 portion, extending to the eastern side of the fourth window, being the 

 earlier work, and having been a chantry chapel dedicated to St. 

 Nicholas — the reredos in the centre of which stood over a crucifix 



