Bradford on Avon

This tiny church of St. Laurence was 're-discovered' by Canon Jones in the 19th century. Before its re-consecration it had been used for secular purposes (apparently becoming a house, a school and part of a factory). There is always a question mark over the original purpose of a building of this type. looking at the layout it is more likely to have been the 'hall' of a saxon nobleman or wealthy merchant. This would fit well with its past history. Otherwise the question is - when and why was it taken over / handed over for secular use?

Brixworth in Northamptonshire

All Saints' church, in Brixworth founded circa 680 AD and described by many experts as "The finest Saxon church north of the Alps". An interesting feature is the use by the early builders of Roman bricks from the site of a villa in the fields to the north of the present church.

Brixworth church detail

Looking at the south door, we can see where the original Saxon work has been infilled and a smaller 'Norman' doorway inserted at a later date. The arch of the 'new' doorway is typical of the period 1100 to 1150.


The photo on the right shows the Saxon 'herringbone' stonework and the use of Roman tiles in the arch of the door








Left: A photo of the nave of the church looking west to the inside wall of the tower with its triple light saxon window.

Right: This is taken looking east to the altered chancel arch and the saxon sanctuary in the form of an apse. I wonder if the original building was two storey?
There is a 'step' in the interior walls all round, below the clerestory windows. There is certainly the outline of a door on the inside wall of the tower below the triple window; this means that there was at least a gallery across the west end of the nave.

Zennor in Cornwall

A picture of the famous mermaid carving on a bench end in the church of St. Zenoria in Zennor on the north coast of Cornwall. shown here with a comb and a mirror. The local legend tells how a mermaid fell in love with one of the young village boys who sang in the church choir. After Evensong one Sunday evening she enticed him down to the sea where they both disappeared!
The mermaid was carved in churches as a warning against temptation. The mermaid of legend entices men to their destruction with her beauty and sweet singing.