Aylton Parish Church

The parish church at Aylton dates to the 12th century with later alterations and a restoration in 1928. It is constructed of sandstone rubble in large squared blocks, with sandstone dressings. The west gable is rendered, and there are two brick buttresses to the west end. The roof is covered with plain tiles.

The church consists of a small, continuous three-bay nave and a two-bay chancel, the south wall of which is slightly set back at the east end. A south porch is also present. A square bell-turret, likely from the 17th century, rises over the west end of the nave and is rendered with a pyramidal roof. The west window of the nave is a centrally placed 20th-century lancet, above which is tiled weathering. Minute round-headed windows from the 12th century are found in the east side of the north wall, with a two-light, square-headed window opposite in the south wall. An 18th-century plaster sun-dial is located on the west side of the south wall. The chancel features a 14th-century two-light east window with deep chamfers and ogee heads, and a small, square-headed, chamfered window in the south wall. The late 19th to 20th century brick porch has open side walls and front piers. An oak plaque on the porch’s curved struts displays the date "165-", possibly referring to 1654. The porch has 17th-century balusters, some restored, with four to each side. These balusters have run-out chamfer-stops to their tops and bottoms, which are narrower than the turned centres. An 18th-century south doorway is present with a two-centred head.

Inside, the chancel and nave have plastered barrel ceilings and are divided by a screen, possibly 15th century, incorporating fragments of a rood loft. The screen has three bays, with the entrance bay located to the left of centre. It features moulded posts; the outer spandrels are traceried with daggers and cusped rosettes, and the inner spandrels are brattished. A range of trefoil-headed panels sits above a moulded lead rail. A tie-beam with run-out chamfer-stops, possibly from the 17th century, is located to the east of the screen. A small, early 17th-century communion table with turned legs and communion rails from around 1700, with moulded rails and balusters, are also present. A late 19th-century harmonium inscribed “Bridgeport/Organ Co. Bridgeport/ Conn USA” stands within the church. A corbelled projection is visible to the left of the altar. A drainless piscina is set into the south wall. In the nave, a cambered tie-beam with keel molding and run-out chamfer spans from above the south door. A font, perhaps 17th century, has a plain, hemispherical bowl, a projecting rim on a columnar shaft, and an octagonal base. Restored timber supports are present for the bell turret.