-
Question
-
I have read that John Aubrey wrote about Calne church tower falling down in the 17th century. Could you tell me something about this please?
-
Question asked on
-
04 July 2011
-
Answer
-
John Aubrey wrote,
'One of the pillars was faulty and the churchwardens were dilatory, as is usual in such cases, ---------- Chivers Esq. Of the parish, foreseeing the fall of it, if not prevented, and the great charge they must be at by it, brought down Mr Inigo Jones to survey it. This was about 1639 or 1640: he gave him £30 out of his own purse for his pains. Mr Jones would have underbuilt it for £100. About 1645 it fell down on a Saturday and also broke the chancel. The Parish has since been at £1,000 charge to make a new heavy tower.'
Aubrey's dates are not right and in fact the tower fell on 26th September 1638 and in January 1639 the parishioners of Calne petitioned the King for a general collection to help them rebuild their church. They somewhat overstated the amount of damaged caused, although it was very great, and said that the cost would be at least £3,000. It appears that the pillars were never adequate to support the weight of the tower, having been filled with mortar and small stones instead of being built as solid masonry.
The rebuilding took some years to complete and tradition has it that Inigo Jones was called in after the work had started. This probably is the reason for the confusion in Aubrey's account. The churchwarden's accounts for 1650 include an item of £20. 13 shillings for lead for the new aisles, although there are few other records of payments for this expensive work. The present church tower is pictured here.
-
Bibliography
-
A history of the borough and town of Calne by A. E. W. Marsh, 1903.
