Page 24 - link magazine

24
Swindon Wide
Famous artwork in Lydiard church to be explained Farmer Tom

A book to be published in the Spring records the history of the St John family and the extraordinary triptych remembered
in St Mary’s Church in Lydiard Park.
Bloor Homes have again com-
Writer Simon Jenkins states in
his book, England’s Thousand memorated a man who once
farmed the land where Priory Vale
Churches, that in the church, is now being developed.
“lies a treasure trove of Carolean Their latest housing site,
art .... Were it to be removed Saunders’ Mead, takes its name
lock, stock and barrel to the from Tom Saunders, a farmer, mas-
Victoria and Albert Museum in ter-craftsman, builder who lived at
London it would cause a sensa- Brook Farm, where Asda Walmart
tion”. now stands.
The triptych is a giant family tree
Tom was also the grandfather of
started in 1615 with, at its centre, Lorraine’s Palmer, Bloor’s market-
images of Sir John St John, his ing manager who said, “he was
wife and children, and the coffins well-known in
of those who died as infants. the area: big,
In fact it should more properly be
described as a polyptych as two strong and, at
times, quite
further panels were discovered dur- strict. My first
ing extensive restoration work in memories of
the 1980s when the whole monu- him are feeling
ment was taken to pieces. Simon Jenkins visiting the St John family triptch, from June 2002 Link in awe of a
The two extra panels from 1615 years’ research into the St John
were revealed for the first time in family of Lydiard Tregoze and the larger-than-life
character. But
nearly four hundred years and were monuments in the church. he was a gen-
meticulously recorded before the The book contains a detailed tle giant who
work was reassembled and con- description of the monument to was passionate about his farm.
cealed again. give a complete picture of the “My family still has firm roots in
‘Curiously Painted’, written by Bolingbrokes of Lydiard Tregoze.
former St Mary’s rector Brian The limited edition, to be pub- the area. I live in Priory Vale, while
my daughter, son-in-law and grand-
Carne, brings together all that is lished by the Lydiard Park Trust in children live closeby. We are living
known about the monument and is May, is priced at £30. The first 100 proof of Priory Vale’s close-knit
illustrated with 40 colour photo- books will be numbered, signed by and thriving community.”
graphs. It incorporates eighty the author and a name printed on a
special book plate. Orders can be • A full version of this article can be
Left, another of St Mary’s monuments
featuring Sir John St John and his wife placed through Lydiard House. found at www.swindonlink.com

www.gweworkspace.co.uk

21 March 07 24 16/2/07, 9:53 am