Unlike the rest of St. John the Baptist’s medieval church, the south aisle is entirely Victorian. Built during Henry Ward’s rebuilding of the 1840s, it was carefully designed to harmonise with the Romanesque character of the older church. This article explores how Norman-inspired architecture, the remarkable south doorway and later additions combined to create one of the most successful parts of the rebuilding.
The north aisle preserves the strongest impression of St. John the Baptist’s Norman origins. Although rebuilt by Henry Ward in the 1840s, its heavy round arches, massive pillars and Romanesque character echo the medieval church described by Stebbing Shaw. This article explores the aisle’s architectural development and its later transformation into a place of remembrance, where the history of the church and the parish meet.
The nave forms the architectural heart of St. John the Baptist Church. Although rebuilt in the 1840s, its massive pillars, round arches and chevron carving preserve the powerful impression of the Norman church described by Stebbing Shaw half a century earlier. This article explores how Henry Ward recreated the Romanesque character of the medieval building while producing the unified interior that visitors experience today.
