Church of St. Giles, Alderton

The grade II listed church at Alderton is dedicated to St Giles, an 18th century Abbot. It is thought that the church dates from the 11th or 12th century, although there was extensive rebuilding in the 19th century. Arthur Mee, in his extensive assessment of churches throughout Wiltshire, describes the situation of the church as having: “Fine trees and a big pond, a churchyard with a Wellingtonia towering up.” Within the nave and aisle of the church stand three Saxon pillars and the nave holds old carvings including 24 individually carved rosettes.

The church was lagely rebuilt during the renovation of the 19th century (1844-5 by James Thomson, using elements from the 12th to 15th century church) and original features that remained after this included pointed arches, the roof of the nave, the Saxon pillars of the north door and most of the tower. The renovation was undertaken by Joseph Neeld, who bought the manor of Alderton in 1827. Alongside the renovation, he also built a new vicarage and recast three of the bells, also adding a new one.

On the chancel floor is a monument dating from the 17th century, commemorating the life of Lydia Gore. A verse inscribed upon it reads “floods are due unto this stone”, referring to the tears that fell through her life when five of her children died. There is a figure representing her son Charles, six years old when he died, kneeling in prayer in a recess in the wall of the church. The figures in the east window of the church are the saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.