Wallingford St Leonard
St Leonard's is certainly an old church, but whether its
provenance stretches back to the sixth century as is often claimed is
another matter. Before 1135 King Henry I
had granted the church to St Frideswide of Oxford. Surviving of
the old church is a solid rebuilt 'Norman' tower, Saxon nave and
a chancel with a rebuilt apse apprently on
the original foundations. Unfortunately the church was heavily
damaged in the 1646 siege of Wallingford and was over restored in
1849-50.
The nave shows most antiquity due to the rebuildings. This consists of an uneven flint and stone rubble build. Above this and the replaced Romanesque fenestration are several courses of herringbone masonry
on the north side. Obviously this should post date the lower
rubble work which contains a blocked triangular headed doorway in the
south wall. There is also a blocked Romanesque window, those
still open all appear much altered. Internally are 2 fine, but
much rebuilt, chancel arches and a nineteenth century Romanesque arcade.
Copyright©2021
Paul Martin Remfry