← Database

St Thomas A Becket

Tilshead

Wiltshire

Early C12 nave and arcades

Architectural Features

mid-C13 chancel

C17 and C18 renovations

Roughly chequered flint and limestone, Welsh slate roofs and tiles to conical tower roof

buttressed and with C17 3-light round-arched window with relieving arch to ground floor

C17 conical tiled roof with plain Cl9 parapet

North side of tower has C19 2-light C16-style window with hoodmould, one square-headed window to bellstage

C19 lean-to vestry has pointed door with foliated terminals to hoodmould and 2- light C16-style window

North aisle has 3-light C16-style window with lancet either side, clerestory has two quatrefoils

Interior: C15 inner south doorway has double-chamfered Tudor arch, above is ogee-headed niche

3-bay nave has C19 king-post roof, braced onto corbels, with arch-bracing to principals, round-arched arcade on square chamfered piers with plain capitals, C14 ogee- headed piscina on south wall, Cl9 pointed doorway to vestry in north aisle

C17 collar and tie-beam roof to chancel

Fittings include cylindrical stone font with zigzag carving of c1100 in north aisle

stone pulpit and north aisle pews of 1845

Royal Arms of 1805 above arch to tower from nave

Fine pair of wall tablets in tower, both pedimented with carved aprons, on north wall to Margaret Edwards, died 1755 and on south wall to Rev

The plan and Cll importance of Tilshead suggest that a Saxon church may have preceded this one. (Unpublished records of RCHM (England),Salisbury).

Photo coming soon