Bradford-on-Avon Tourist Attractions

St Lawrence's is believed to have been founded by St Aldhelm (died 709) and is referred to in a document of 705. In 1001 the church became the responsibility of Shaftesbury Abbey, being deconsecrated soon afterwards and put to a succession of different uses (charnel house, cottage, and outbuildings) until its original status became quite forgotten. It was rediscovered in 1856 when, so the story goes, the local vicar, gazing out from a window over the huddle of roofs, recognized the cross shape of the old church. The buildings adjoining it were subsequently removed, revealing St Lawrence's much as seen today.The tiny church makes a powerful impression with the simplicity of its architecture and virtual absence of external decoration apart from blind arcades. The tall nave, long and narrow and without aisles, opens into the rectangular chancel by way of a rounded arch. Today the furnishings are plain but traces of paintings have been discovered. The two sculpted angels above the chancel arch date from the eighth century, remnants of a group which would have included a crucified Christ. The original floor is still visible in the chancel while the altar is fashioned from Saxon stone slabs. Three new windows were added in the 19th century to improve the lighting, the original three being in the porch, nave and chancel.

The old stone bridge over the River Avon is truly delightful. Two of its nine arches date from the 13th century, the others from the 17th century. The bridge is made even more special however by having a chapel in the center. This was a place of pilgrimage at one time and later used as a lock up. Nowadays it serves only for a charming view.

Consecrated in 1150 the parish church underwent alteration several times between the 15th and 19th centuries. Inside are a late medieval wall painting of Mary learning to write, a 13th century sculpture of a girl in a hood, and a number of tombs of Bradford cloth merchants.

The great medieval Tithe Barn in Bradford once belonged to Shaftesbury Abbey. Built in the early 14th C it is a masterpiece of medieval joinery, its superbly constructed timber roof truss being supported on massive stone walls. Used originally to store grain it now houses a farm museum.

The Courts is a National Trust property located in Holt, near Bradford-on-Avon. The seven acre garden has many unusual plants and specimen trees that will be of interest to the amateur gardener and botanist.

The garden at Iford Manor was designed by Harold Peto, an architect and landscape gardener who designed between 1899 and 1933. The garden is Romantic Italian style with collanades, cloister and casita, statues and ponds.

Westwood Manor is a National Trust property located in Bradford-on-Avon. The 15th C stone manor house has fine furnishings and gardens of clipped yew.