Dunsdown Lane West Littleton Bath
01225891100
http://www.westlittleton.com

St James's Church lies in the small village of West Littleton on the border of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. The church is Grade 2 listed and has a particularly fine 13th century turret and bellcote. The bell itself dates from the same period. It is thought that the chancel arch and bellcote are the only parts of the original structure which survived a fire in the 19th century, although a beautiful canopied niche above the doorway in the south porch is certainly from the 13th or 14th century.The church was largely rebuilt, including a new porch and vestry, in 1855 under the supervision of Thomas Wyatt, architect of the Salisbury Diocese.

 

The church contains four listed 18th and 19th century marble wall monuments with the earliest commemorating the death of the Reverend William Alsop in 1750. In the churchyard there are nine listed chest tombs which flank the path to the church door.

In September 2008 we embarked on a project to restore the important collection of 18th and 19th century wall memorials and tombs. There are four marble memorials inside the church and nine listed chest tombs in the churchyard that were in urgent need of conservation.

 

The project to conserve this vital heritage completed in September 2011 and cost £46,500.  We were delighted to have been awarded a grant of over£13,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (www.hlf.org.uk) and £15,000 from the Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust as well as other grants from various trusts and other organisations. The Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust and the Marshfield and District Local History Society were also supporters of the project.

 

The conservation work started in July 2010 and took around three months to complete. One of the objectives of the work was to alter the appearance of the tombs and memorials as little as possible.

Church Street Tormarton Chipping Sodbury
01225892180
http://www.tormarton.org/MagdaleneChurch.php

Tormarton village is four miles from Marshfield and is a small rural village in South Gloucestershire set in the Cotswold Area of Outstand Natural Beauty.  There are currently four working farms, mainly arable, but one farm also runs a dairy herd, and another provides livery for a number of horses.

the church is Grade 1 listed and dates back to before the Norman Conquest.  It is a beautiful small church, seating about 110 p[eople and noted for its Norman arch, stained glass windows, notable monuments and a 15th century brass.  The Cotswold Way passes through the village and close to the Church which is kep open at all times to welcome our many visitors for quiet contemplation or to discover its heritage and history.  There are three services a month.

Tormarton, GL9 1JB
(01454) 218242
compass-inn.co.uk/

Sprawling traditional Cotswold-stone hotel, part of the Best Western group, serving good food. The meeting place for several classic car clubs. Small, comfortable bar and drinking area. Pool table. Conference facilities.

High Street, Tormarton, GL9 1HZ
(01454) 218263
majorsretreat.co.uk/

This pub is the focal point of the ancient village of Tormarton. Built in the 1700s its stone frontage belies its spacious, unassuming main bar. It has an oak-panelled restaurant which provides freshly-cooked generous meals at modest prices...