Church of St. Mary, Westport, Malmesbury
There was a church at Westport before 1066, which was replaced by a new church in the late 12th century. The spire of this church was higher than that of St. Paul in Malmesbury and it served the parish that had grown up outside the defences of the town. The church was pulled down by William Waller after a Civil War siege as he felt that it provided cover for anyone attacking the town. After the Civil War, in the mid 17th century, a new church was built. This was small and with an undivided nave and chancel. A north aisle was added later.
Around 1840 the church was rebuilt in the Tudor Gothic style, still with an undivided chancel and nave, but with a south aisle of five bays and a bell cote at the western end. Worship at the church ceased towards the end of the Second Wolrd War and in the late 1940s the building was used as a classroom for the grammar school. It became the Church Hall in 1977 when the interior gallery was removed. The registers from 1678 (christenings and burials) and 1685 (marriages) are held by the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
Around 1840 the church was rebuilt in the Tudor Gothic style, still with an undivided chancel and nave, but with a south aisle of five bays and a bell cote at the western end. Worship at the church ceased towards the end of the Second Wolrd War and in the late 1940s the building was used as a classroom for the grammar school. It became the Church Hall in 1977 when the interior gallery was removed. The registers from 1678 (christenings and burials) and 1685 (marriages) are held by the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.