Still in Pewsey vale we now have the Wiltshire village of Marden. Here you will find the church of All Saints, set back from the village street and accessed by a short flagged path. This is another strip parish extending up onto the northern edge of Salisbury Plain; this village again nestles agin the comfort of the infant Avon.
Whilst the Avon provides comfort to Pewsey vale it has over the years caused distress to the structure of the church. The fertile lowlands are on a geological feature known as greensands, a tricky shifting substance on which to build foundations. Not that the earlier builders were unaware of the problems and they underpinned the fine church tower with sunken boulders, alas not with totally adequate results. This 15'th century tower was shortened in the 17'th century, probably to counteract the weight of newly installed bells. However in the 1850's the architect C.E Ponting was charged with the restoration of the church and under his careful attention the tower was dismantled and rebuilt to its original form.
The nave of All Saints dates from the 12'th century and retains its original decorated chancel arch, a fine feature and worthy of some appreciation by the visitor. The chancel itself dates, in its current form, from the 14'th century, although it was much rebuilt in the 17'th century. Co-incident with this rebuilding it is likely that the nave walls were partly rebuilt.
The church sits in a small gently sloping graveyard bordered by mature trees. At the right time of the year (early summer), the visitor is likely to be subject to scrutiny by the swallows who nest in the church porch. Unfazed by visitors their acrobatics will mark your coming and going.
Photographed in July 2010, by Nick Temple-Fry for theChurchPhotographer. This church is normally open.
