Easter Walk '11: St Margaret's Bowers Gifford

(Click on the photo to see more pictures at the Flickr site)

First stop on the walk was the St Margaret's church, Bowers Gifford. Although there may have been an earlier church here, the stone-built one has it's origins in the early 14th century when it was built by the lord of the manor, Sir John Giffard. As is always the case with churches of this age, it shows the signs of a number of modifications over the years including the tudor bell tower (the bells are apparently still the original 14th century ones).

The thing that I don't understand is why the church is where it is. Looking at the OS map, it is on an area of low ground and in the 14th century would probably have been uncomfortably close to the marshes. It is some distance from the location of the manor house, whilst the present day village of Bowers Gifford is further away still. Perhaps the medieval village was in a different location, or perhaps Giffard didn't want to use prime land for the building of the church?