Purton combines the unusual architecture of St Mary’s Church with the hillfort of Ringsbury Camp and a 14-mile walking route to Malmesbury. These themes offer different points of focus: cultural and landscape visits centre on specific architectural features and viewpoints, while the long route should be planned as a separate part of the trip.
St Mary’s: Towers, Wall Paintings and a Capital
St Mary’s Church in Purton is one of only three parish churches in the United Kingdom to have both a central tower with a spire and a west tower. This rare arrangement brings together two distinctly different tower positions. Wall paintings were uncovered in the church in 1977; these include a depiction of the death of the Virgin on the south wall of the Lady Chapel. A 12th-century capital is incorporated into the wall of the early 13th-century nave. This creates a specific architectural relationship between an older structural feature and the later nave.
Museum and Other Historical Traces
Purton Museum is on the first floor of the Institute building and is accessible by stairs. If you plan to visit the museum, bear the stair access in mind when finding your way around.
Purton House adds a house dating from around 1840 to the architectural themes. It has a stucco façade, a slate roof and an Ionic portico. In contrast to the church’s medieval structural features, its architectural context is the 19th century.
Pavenhill also forms part of Purton’s historical context: a Roman floor was discovered there during quarrying in Victorian times. The find suggests the presence of a Roman villa.
Ringsbury Camp and the Landscape
Ringsbury Camp is a Scheduled Monument and a 3.4-hectare hillfort. Several earthworks define the site: the inner rampart reaches a height of up to five metres, the ditch is three metres deep and the outer rampart is two metres high. The only entrance is on the east side. The measurements show the different levels: the inner rampart is considerably higher than the outer one, while the ditch is a distinct element of the fortifications.
The hillfort stands on an outcrop of Coral Rag and offers views south over the clay plain. Purton itself lies on the crest of a hill and offers views of Cricklade and the Thames floodplain. The viewpoints differ: from Ringsbury Camp, the view looks south over the clay plain; from Purton, it takes in Cricklade and the floodplain.
The Walking Route to Malmesbury
The walking route starts at St Mary’s Church in Purton and ends at Malmesbury Abbey. At 14 miles, it is a substantial attraction in its own right, not merely a short addition to the local sights. The first half follows footpaths and bridleways to Ravensroost Wood. This distinction is important for planning: the section to Ravensroost Wood describes the first part, while the 14 miles refers to the full route from Purton to Malmesbury Abbey.
Discover more destinations: Hindon, Downton, Corsham, Amesbury, Castle Combe, Limpley Stoke, Upper Seagry, Collingbourne Kingston.
For the broader travel overview: Wiltshire.
