Bradford-on-Avon

Bradford-on-Avon (Sax. Bradanford, 'broad ford'), a town of Wiltshire, on both sides of the Avon, and on the Kennet and Avon Canal, 9 miles SE. of Bath. It is an ancient town, and still shows some gable-fronted houses, built and roofed with stone. Formerly it was the seat of important woollen manufactures, and kerseymeres were first made here. The tiny church of St Lawrence, built by St Aldhelm (q.v.) between 675 and 709, is the only perfect building of pre-Norman times now remaining in England. Only 38 feet long, it consists of a nave, chancel, and north porch; the most striking feature of the interior being the narrowness of the chancel-arch, which is not more than 3 feet across. It had been used for two centuries as a school and dwelling-house, when in 1856 it was rescued from profanation; and it has since been put in a state of thorough repair. Hard by, on the site of Aldhelm's monastery, is the parish church of the Holy Trinity, of various dates from the 12th to the 16th century, and restored in 1865-66. On the summit of Torr Hill are the ruins of a 14th-century chapel of the Virgin; and the town bridge retains its desecrated chapel. In the neighbourhood is the pleasant valley of Avon, with many picturesque spots. At Bradford, Cenwall, king of the West Saxons, gained a great victory over the Welsh in 652. Pop. 4957. See an article in the Saturday Review for 11th September 1886.