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The Northern face of St Michael's |
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St Michael and All Angels Entrance |
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The Devizes Gazette of April
21st 1860, in an account of the re-opening of the church
after restoration, gives the following particulars:
"The church before the restoration consisted of a nave,
chancel, west tower and north aisle, entirely of the date
of the 15th century. The chancel was perhaps a little later
in date, but was especially poor and mean in its proportions
and character and unworthy of the rest of the church.
The
arcade between the north aisle and the nave had entirely
fallen over northwards, and was shored up by timbers, which
encumbered the aisle and were most unsightly. The roofs had
spread, and were in very bad condition, and the walls were
very unsound." "New roofs have been put to the nave and chancel; the
chancel on larger scale, has been rebuilt; the arcade between
the nave and the north aisle has been taken down and rebuilt
with the old stones, so far as they were fit for the purpose.
The other walls, which were unsound have been rebuilt, and
the entire church has been repaired and refitted.
The old chancel screen has been repaired and is replaced glowing
with colour. A screen at the tower arch has been formed out
of the screen work of an old Jacobean pew, which was in the
old chancel. The font has been cleaned and the few monuments,
principally to the Heneage
and Walker families, have been cleaned
only."
This account is preserved in Vol. XVI of Wilts Cuttings and
Scraps in Devizes Museum Library. |