Details
CHIRTON THE STREET
SU 05 NE
(north end)
3/67 Church of St John the Baptist
19.3.62
I
Anglican parish church. c.1170, C14, C15 and restored 1850 by
William Butterfield. Limestone ashlar with stone slate roofs, lead
to aisles. Nave with wide north and south aisles; south porch,
chancel with north C19 vestry, and a west tower. South porch, C15,
with 4-centred hollow chamfered arch and angle buttresses. South
aisle has one C14 three-light window with elaborate tracery, and
C14 east window to north aisle. Remainder 2-light windows.
Chancel has C19 three-light east window, 2-light windows and ovolo-
moulded low side window. South priest's door. Tall chimney on
south-east buttress of aisle. Tower of 3 stages, with angle
buttresses, perforated bell openings, and crenellated parapet.
Three-light west window.
Interior: Fine inner door of late C12, lined internally with C14
arch. Outer orders of continuous chevron enclosed by torus bearing
beak-head decoration, scalloped capitals and nook shafts. Nave
arcades of 3 bays, plain round arches on a variety of reworked late
C12 capitals and round columns. Open roof, also c.1200, four bays,
with billet moulded tie beams and inner wall plates, trussed
rafters wth curved ashlars and knee braces to collars, and single
clasped purlins. Curved windbraces above purlins. Low C14 piscina
probably reset with carving in lobed bowl, in south aisle. Chancel
has south window sill lowered as sedilia and piscina. Chamfered
round chancel arch of same width as chancel. C19 trussed rafter
roof, underdrawn with plaster in eastern bay. Stone C12 guilloche
string across east end. Tower arch probably C15, three orders
dying into imposts. Glass: In porch windows, C15 yellow stained
King of Heaven with two kneeling angels, and in side window, a
head, crown and other motifs. Chancel windows by Wailes.
Fittings: Font, a fine C12 drum with 12 apostles standing within
continuous arcade, reset on C19 drum. Pulpit, C19 oak octagon on
stone base. Hatchments: Under tower, five hatchments, (a) Ernle
impaling Hungerford, (b) Yerbury impaling Ernle, for Elizabeth
Warriner, died 1757, (c) Gifford Warriner, died 1787, (d) Yerbury
impaling Long, for Anne Warriner, died 1815, and (e) Warriner and
Ernle impaling or. Not identified. Over chancel arch. Royal arms
of house George III of Hanover. The church was acquired by
Llanthony Priory in 1167. Monuments: North Aisle: Alabaster
surround to slate panel with gilded lettering, crest over, badge
below. To Rt. Hon Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes, inter alia 1st
Commander of RFC, died 1954. Sjt Leslie Thinwood, died 1945.
South Aisle: Wall monument, c.1880, limestone arched recess between
crenellated pilasters over table. Long inscription to Isaac
Warriner of Conock, died 1752. Tablet: White marble on black, by
Denman of London, to Maj. Gen C.S. Fagan of Conock Manor House,
died 1842. Under tower: (a) White marble tablet C18, to William
Hayward, died 1765, and family. (b) Limestone. Gadrooned top and
fluted pilasters either side of painted raised panel. Apron below,
to Richard Yerbury, died 1740. Furniture: In chancel a fine C17
oak arm chair.
(Pevsner, Buildings of England: Wiltshire)
Listing NGR: SU0734057641
