Church Of St Nicholas

WILSFORD THE STREET SU 15 NW (north side)

2/167 Church of St. Nicholas 27.5.64 II* Anglican parish church. C13 and C15, restored 1864 and 1960. Limestone ashlar with slate roofs. Chancel rendered flint and malmstone. Nave and south porch, chancel, and west tower. Nave has 3-light C15 windows between buttresses. Gabled porch, reconstructed in 1864. South door with casement moulding, early C15, and moulded cornice over. Corresponding north door blocked. East end of north wall has blocked arch to former chapel, demolished 1959, and includes reset C13 doorway. Chancel C13, low, with south priest's door and lancets, triple at the east end. West tower of 3 stages with angle buttresses, much repaired c1960. Three-light west window with niche over, and pierced transennae to two-light bell stage. Quatrefoil frieze at base offset, fleur-de- lys frieze below crenellated parapet. Stair in south-east corner, with sundial high on south face. Gargoyles. Interior: Nave has 4-bay open trusses roof of 1864 on carved corbels. Tall hollow-moulded tower arch and lower but wider chancel arch. Chancel has low C15 roof with moulded principals and purlins, and deep moulded wall plates. Blocked squint to former chapel and arched piscina with clover-leaf sinking. A splendid example of a modest medieval chancel that rarely escaped C19 restoration. Fittings: Font, under tower arch, deep octagonal drum on short pedestal. Pulpit and sanctuary rail, C19. Monuments: In chancel; five wall tablets. South side: White marble oval on black oval, urn over. To Elizabeth Chandler, died 1794. North side, from east: (a) White marble tablet with urn over against grey pyramid. To Elizabeth Layland, died 1810. (b) Identical, to Thomas Chandler, died 1797. (c) Marble scroll against slate, by Salmon of Devizes. To John Hayward, died 1869. (d) White marble against slate, to Henry Horton, died 1975. In nave, 3 tablets on north side, from east: (e) White marble tablet with cornice, by Osmund of Sarum. To George Benson, died 1819. (f) Gabled tablet on gabled slate backing, by R. Davis of Bath. To Harry Hayward, died 1855. (g) White tablet against grey. To John Hayward, died 1824 and family. Furniture: Small C17 chest under tower. (Church Guide, 1980; Pevsner, Buildings of England - Wiltshire.)

Listing NGR: SU1022457225