BRADFORD-ON-AVON AND BATH MEETING. 11. 



Lawrence." Aldhelm was abbot of Malmesbury in 670. In a 

 deed of 705 his small monasteries of Frome and Bradford, which 

 he built, were mentioned when he became Bishop of Sherborne. 

 The monasteries were little missionary settlements of three or 

 four priests. It was, therefore, concluded that the date of the 

 Saxon church could not be placed later than 705. This was the 

 opinion formed, not only by the discoverer, Canon Jones, the 

 late vicar of the parish, but also by Mr. E. A. Freeman, who in 

 1874 wrote: "Without all doubt this building of Aldhelm's." 

 Originally the church was cruciform. The portion missing on 

 the south side was clearly indicated. The line of the roof could 

 be seen, and the foundation walls of the ancient building were 

 discovered where the present buttresses had been placed, the 

 height and width agreeing with the porch upon the north side. 

 As to the dimensions of the building, the nave is 25ft. 2in. by 

 i3ft. ain. ; the chancel, i3ft. zin. by icft. ; and the porch, 

 9ft. nin. by loft. 5in. The special points of interest are the 

 extreme height of the building nave, 25ft. sin. ; chancel, 

 1 8ft. 4in. ; and porch, isft. 6in. The step down into the chancel 

 was peculiar, and he called attention to the narrowness of the 

 entrance arch 3ft. 5in. The nave arch is 8|ft. high and 

 2ft. loin, wide, and wider at the base than at the top. The 

 elevation of the chancel and nave has three stages, first plain 

 with the exception of pilasters cut out of the stone, some of 

 them on the north side having stepped bases. Then a string 

 course all round, and upon it an arcade consisting of pilasters 

 supporting arches, all cut out of the stone. The capitals and 

 bases of the pilasters are all quite plain. When the true nature 

 of the building was discovered, before which time it was 

 used as a free school, there was a stable and a donkey shed 

 on one side, and when these were pulled down a great fuss was 

 made in archaeological circles, it being declared that the whole 

 building would fall down. But such anxiety was quite needless. 

 Soon after he came to Bradford he found that the old roof not 

 the original roof, which was, he supposed, of thatch was 

 beginning to spread the walls outward. They had to take the 



