17 



% Cfjurc| of p Mntz, partiit, Wilts. 



By C. E. Posting, F.S.A. 



p^KpHIS Church is one of very great archaeological interest, and 

 * ne structure has been little interfered with by recent resto- 

 ration. The plan consists of chancel and nave with a north aisle 

 (or chapel) to both, a chapel and a porch on the south of the nave, 

 and a western tower with spire. 



The westernmost part of the nave was the entire nave of a small 

 Norman Church, the walls of which have been modified by subse- 

 quent alterations, but not demolished, and it forms the nucleus of 

 the present Church. The limits of this nave can be clearly traced 

 by a quoin on the north side near the aisle ; it was about 24ft. by 

 17ft. inside the walls, and the height is indicated by the drip course 

 on the tower. The nave had the usual arrangement of a doorway 

 both on the north and the south, in about the centre of its length, 

 and the evidence of these is strong corroboration of that afforded by 

 the quoin above referred to, the latter marking the length eastwards, 

 The remains of the now built-up doorway on the north side (in- 

 cluding a flat tympanum) indicate a period of about 1080 ; the 

 south door has given way to one of lofty proportions but uncertain 

 date (? fourteenth century) in the same position. The Norman 

 work has neither buttress nor plinth. 



Against the Norman nave a western tower was erected during 

 the first quarter of the thirteenth century ; this was two stages in 

 height, extending to the top of the present middle stage, and had three 

 buttresses on each of the three outside faces, of which the following 

 only remain intact, the remainder having been since altered : — 



On west. The middle one and the one near the north-west 

 angle, each with one set-off at mid-height. 



On north. The one near the north-west angle, with one 

 set-off. 



On south. The middle one only — this is flatter than the 

 rest, and has no set-off. 



VOL. XXVIII. NO. LXXXII. C 



