Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/09/2022
10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location
All Saints, Wardour
Categories
For our late summer tour on Friday 2 September, Michael Hodges will lead us to some outstanding churches in the Tisbury area, including the exceptional chapel at Wardour. In Tisbury can also be found Beaton’s Tearooms, for coffee at the start of the day and tea at the end. It is open 9.30 to 4.30.
Details of the tour are as follows:
10.30 am All Saints, Wardour, SP3 6RH
(The chapel is situated in the east wing of the 18th century New Wardour Castle. From Tisbury Station drive west towards Swallowcliffe and Ansty, go under the railway line and turn right after a couple of hundred yards towards Semley. After about a mile turn left, before the school on the left, signposted Old Wardour Castle. After a couple of hundred yards the road turns left at a right angle. Go straight ahead through a gate and New Wardour Castle is ahead of you. You are encouraged to park in the car park on the right and walk up to the chapel.)
The chapel was originally built for the 8th Lord Arundell of Wardour by James Paine in 1776 as a nobleman’s chapel. Pevsner wrote “ Moreover it is so grand in its decoration that it seems to express consciously….the spirit of the Catholic Ecclesia triumphans.” Sir John Soane in 1788-90 added giant fluted pilasters, crossing, transepts and a shallow apse. The altarpiece by Giacomo Quarenghi was brought from Rome in 1789-90 by Father Thorpe SJ. There are many interesting fittings.
Our Vice President, Richard Arundell, Lord Talbot of Malahide, has kindly agreed to give the talk on the chapel, built by his ancestors.
11.15 am St James, Ansty SP3 5QB
The church was originally built in 1230 by the Knights Hospitaller. The Victorians added the transepts. There are double traverse crosses carved on the western bellcote and the east end. The fittings include an attractive Norman font and 17th century stalls possibly from Salisbury Cathedral. The setting is delightful, with the monastic fishpond.
12.00 St Mary, Alvediston SP5 5LE
The tower is Perpendicular but the rest of the church is by T. H. Wyatt of 1868. There are a number of interesting fittings including a wall tablet by Rysbrack to a member of the Wyndham family. Sir Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, is buried in the churchyard. The setting is again delightful.
No firm arrangements have been made for lunch but the following pubs are in the vicinity:-
Alvediston – The Crown 01722 780203 SP5 5JY
Berwick St John – The Talbot 01747 828222 SP7 0HA
Donhead St Andrew – The Forester 01747 828038 SP7 9EE
Ebbesbourne Wake – The Horseshoe Inn 01722 780474 SP5 5JF
Swallowcliffe – The Royal Oak 01747 870211 SP3 5PA
14.30 St Andrew, Donhead St Andrew SP7 9EB
(The church warden, Lady Cooper, has kindly said coffee will be available on arrival).
Mainly Norman and Perpendicular; medieval corbels; chancel of 1837-8; memorial to Captain John Cooke of HMS Bellerophon, killed at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805; good Victorian glass; extensive re-ordering in 2017-19.
15.15 St John the Baptist, Tisbury SP3 6NH
Large church with prominent cruciform tower, upper part of 1762; various styles; rib vaulting; nave wagon roof with horizontal angels; restored by the Victorians; interesting fittings including Jacobean pulpit and pews; brass of 1590 to Lawrence Hyde; various memorials in the chancel to the Catholic Arundells of Wardour. Parking should be available in Tisbury.
Cost of tour £20 per head, payable on the day.
Please register with Martin Knight