IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Green, SALISBURY, SP1 1QR

Volunteers gather for a day at the Laverstock Church Discovery Project, "now in its third year, and this summer a team of local volunteers will be undertaking an archaeological excavation of the medieval foundations of St Andrew’s Church" http://www.winchester.ac.uk/?page=10949 . See also Image

In 1410 a fire at night destryoyed the Norman church and the priest's house as well as nearby houses. The church and priest's house were rebuilt following an appeal by the Bishop. This church survived for over 4 centuries but in 1853 it was said to be 'very damp and ruinous and the walls and roof are pronounced wholly insecure'. It was said that there was accommodation for 128 adults and 28 children, mainly in the galleries. At that time there was still an Early English chancel and a 13th century doorway with traces of Norman work. The church was demolished and all that remains is part of a buttress and some foundations in the churchyard to the west of the present church.

The previous parish church, in the churchyard of Image The ruins comprise stones showing where the foundations are, and a short section of wall. https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1355734 (end of listing). The building was pulled down in 1857.

There have been 3 or 4 churches on this site. May be a Saxon church, then a Norman church, which was destroyed in 1410. The third church was demolished in the 19th century and this Victorian church dates from 1858. It includes some remnants of its predecessor.

In the grounds of St. Andrew's: Image

This is the handle to the priests door. For a view of the church Image

The church was built in 1858 by T H Wyatt. It is of knapped flint with ashlar dressings.

The bellcote holds two bells and on its top is a weathercock. It was a papal edict in the 9th century that was responsible for the proliferation of weathercocks on churches. This edict required every Church in Christendom to be mounted by a cockerel. This symbol was to recall Peter's betrayal of Christ (LUKE 22:34) "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me". Although only the symbol of the cockerel was required by the edict, the motif, it seems, was quickly wedded with the weathervane. By the 13th century the word for weathercock (gallum) and weathervane (ventrologium) had become interchangeable. Interestingly, early weathercocks did not include cardinal letters, as Christian churches always lay east to west.

Amongst the gravestones is the tap with its attending watering cans.