Church Of The Holy Cross

WILCOT CHURCH END SU 16 SW

5/136 Church of the Holy Cross 27.5.64

GV II*

Anglican parish church. Late C12, C15, 1718, 1825 and much restored after fire in 1876, by A.J. Style. Malmstone with limestone dressings. Tiled roof. Nave and north aisle, south porch, chancel and west tower. South porch and C18 reconstruction further repaired in later C19. Moulded 2-centred arch and perforated barge boards. Datestone 1718. Inner door late C12- early C13, slightly pointed and chamfered. Two-light nave windows, largely renewed in C19, in deep reveals. Square sundial dated 1840. Chancel rebuilt in 1825 by Col Wroughton; low set 3-light Perpendicular style windows and a porch to a south priest's door. Four C12 stones from former chancel reset, two being capitals with masks and drapery. The aisle has 3-light square-headed windows. West tower of 2 stages, tall lower stage with west door and window in very deep reveals. Bell openings have Somerset tracery. Crenellated parapet with crocketed pinnacles. Interior: mostly rendered in C19. Nave of 3 bays, arcade reconstructed after 1876. Chancel arch with triple columned responds and restored trumpet capitals carrying pointed arch of 2 orders. High above, a semi-circular arch blocked and wider than nave, perhaps from the church mentioned in 1086. Squint from aisle. Roof of 1876. Chancel is long, of 3 bays with late C19 roof. Fittings: all C19. Font, limestone, square, on 5 columns. Monuments: on north side of chancel, a wall-tomb, 1574. Limestone. A flush chest with 3 strapwork shields. Four-centred arch over with arms spandrels. Scrolled crest and date. Within arch a painted inscription to John Borwick (Berwick) and daughter. Also eight C19 and 1 x C20 brasses to Montague and other families. West wall of aisle has a moulded stone tablet, C18, to Jane Brooke, her mother and aunt. On south side of chancel, a framed wood fruit trencher of 1610 with a painted inscription reading 'Though hungrie meals be put in pot, yet concious cleare keepe without spot, do the keepe the corpse in quiet rest, than hee that thousands hath in chest'. (Pevsner Sir N., Buildings of England, WILTSHIRE)

Listing NGR: SU1400560792