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St Michael, Aldbourne, Wiltshire

Location
(51°28′49″N, 1°37′16″W)
Aldbourne
SU 264 758
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Wiltshire
now Wiltshire
medieval Salisbury
now Salisbury
  • Allan Brodie
10 December 1993

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Description

The nave of the church was rebuilt in the first half of the 13thc., reusing one scallop capital in the north arcade, and voussoirs in three of the arches of the south arcade. The south door of the nave, though very heavily rebuilt and restored in the 1863-7 restoration by Butterfield, dates from the twelfth century.

The chancel dates from the 13thc. and the south chapel from c.1300. The other alterations to the church, including the provision of a clerestory in the nave, date from the 14th or 15thc..

History

Aldbourne was held by Gytha, Earl Harold's mother, in 1066 and by King William in 1086. It was assessed at 40 hides and was home to a total of 150 named peasants of various classes, suggesting a total population of 600 or more. This large settlement had 4 mills and a church with 2 hides of its own, held by the priest.

It was later granted to a Count of Perche and was held by Count Rotrou of Perche in 1135, passing successively to his son Rotrou (d.1191) and his grandson Geoffrey (d.1202).

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Interior Features

Arcades

Nave
Comments/Opinions

As the south nave arcade contains the reused voussoirs, and the south door dates from the 12thc., it is likely that the 12thc. nave probably consisted of three bays and had a single southern aisle. In the 13thc. this was rebuilt and extended westwards, and the north side of the nave provided with an aisle for the first time.

Bibliography

N. Pevsner and B. Cherry, Wiltshire, Buildings of England, Harmondsworth, 1971.

A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 12, Victoria County History, 1983, 67-86.