Church Of St Mary Of Malmesbury

A parish church largely rebuilt in 1878 by the architects Pope and Paul, though the original structure dates to the 14th century. The building is constructed of snecked rubble with limestone dressings, and features plain and fish-scale tiled roofs with raised coped verges and kneelers. Cross finials crown all gables except those of the aisle and vestry. The plan comprises a four-bay nave, south-west tower, south aisle and porch, chancel, and north vestry, all executed in the Decorated style.

The tower, which stands at the south-west, has a west front with a two-light ogee-headed cusped window set in an ashlar surround with a relieving arch above. A single-light pointed arched cusped window sits above this, and the upper stage has similar windows with bell louvres to the east and west faces, and a matching single-light window to the south. At ground level, the south face contains a two-light segmental-headed window in a chamfered surround with relieving arch. A plinth, quoins, weathered string course, and buttress detail the base, whilst the tower is topped by a saddleback roof.

The four-bay nave features a two-light cusped west window above the entrance. The north side contains a three-light window to the left and a two-light to the right, both with cusped trefoil heads, chamfered surrounds and hood moulds. A round-headed door between them has impost blocks, a chamfered surround, relieving arch and decorative strap hinges. A chimney is also present. The south side mirrors this arrangement with a similar three-light window to the right and a porch to the left. The porch contains a pointed arched door in plain moulded surround with hood mould bearing rosette stops and a relieving arch. Pointed arched trefoil-headed windows flank this door in chamfered surrounds, with an inner door similarly detailed in strap hinges.

The south aisle contains a two-light window with cusped trefoil heads, hood mould with rosette stops and relieving arch, above which is a pointed arched lancet at the east end. The chancel features a three-light window to the east in matching surround with lancet above. Its south side has a wider lancet, a door with pointed segmental head in plain chamfered surround, and a single-light trefoil-headed window with hood mould. The single-storey north vestry has a door matching that on the south chancel, a single-light window, and an external chimney stack.

The interior reveals a tower with pointed arches in plain chamfered surrounds. The four-bay south arcade to the nave preserves partly 14th-century work that has been restored, with compound piers featuring bell-shaped capitals and moulded bases. Roofing throughout employs arched-braced, collar and ridge purlin construction with a brattished wall-plate, consistent across the south aisle and chancel. All windows feature deep splayed reveals. The pointed chancel arch carries three piers to each side with bell capitals. The chancel also contains a north pointed segmental arch to the vestry in a chamfered surround, a higher pointed segmental arched door, and a small piscina set in the cill of the south window. A 15th-century piscina is retained in the south aisle.

Significant furnishings include a Norman font in the tower, its bowl ornamented with large chevrons arranged in a spiral pattern on an octagonal pillar with corner spurs. Heraldic tiles surrounding the font, brought from Thornbury Castle, display the arms and badges of the Duke of Buckingham and date to the early 16th century. Remains of former box pews have been reused as panelling at the east end of the chancel. Royal arms of Queen Victoria appear on the north nave wall. Monuments include a slate memorial on the south nave wall to Anne Stephens (died 1682) and family members; a ledger stone in the tower to Thomas Archard (died 1580) and family; and a painted stone and marble monument on the north wall commemorating John Allin (died 1768).