Details
ST54SE PILTON CP SHOP LANE (West side)
15/152 Church of St John the Baptist
2.6.61
GV I
Anglican Parish Church. C11, C12, C13, C14 and C15; restored c1870. Coursed and squared lias, freestone dressings and
detailing, low pitched lead roofs. Nave, chancel, north aisle, west tower, south porch; predominantly Perpendicular,
with other earlier features. West tower, embattled and buttressed, 2-stages with pinnacles, stair turret with a
spirelet, 2-light bell chamber windows with a quatrefoil interlace; west door, 4-light west window, sundial, prominent
gargoyles. Five bay buttressed nave with 3-light windows; clerestory stage with 3-light windows, to each end and
between each window a shafted pinnacle with the carved figure of an animal, buttressed south porch with an ashlar
frontage, pinnacles; Norman south doorway with chevron decoration. Two bay chancel, 3-light windows, three 3-light
windows to the clerestory stage again shafted pinnacles, pierced parapet, figures of grotesque animals, buttresses;
5-light east window, below it a large C18 monument. North aisle with buttresses, arcaded parapet with pinnacles, large
gargoyles, 2 and 3-light windows; Early English doorway with roll-mouldings. Interior on flag floors, encaustic tiles
to chancel, plaster walls. Five bay north aisle arcade of c1150, octagonal piers with scallop capitals; Perpendicular
chancel arch of 1410-90. Particularly fine roofs; those to nave and north aisle with tie-beams, cusped struts, corbels
and bosses carved as angels; panelled roof to chancel with bosses and corbels carved as angels; further fine roof to
the porch. Elaborate piscina to chancel with a foiled head; sedilia with an arcade of blank quatrefoils, squint.
Further piscina in north aisle chapel; also a corbel carved as an angel; Easter Sepulchre in a recess, arch over with
ball-flower decoration; carved oak C15 screen, arcade of vine leaves and grapes, remains of some colouring; upper
entrance to rood loft. Octagonal C13 lead-lined font, a semi-circular headed niche to each face of the bowl. Late C19
stone pulpit. Jacobean altar rail with turned and twisted balusters, also contemporary 2 chairs and a chest. Six C18
wall monuments, the most notable to Maria Huntley of 1728 in the chancel, some C18 memorials set in the floor; 16
principal C19 wall monuments, some executed in brass. C19 pews and organ, C19 strong-box, C19 painted plaque under
tower setting out the lands belonging to the Church. Branch of 1749:- R Rice Bristol Fecit. Some medieval glass to
north-east and south-east chancel windows, also east window of aisle; remainder of glass C19 and early C20. Cope,
(Pevsner, Buildings of England, South and West Somerset, 1958.
Listing NGR: ST5883840808
