Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Bradford-on-Avon: The Catholic Church
Shortly after going over the river, we came across this incredible building, to which my old friend said:
"That's a bit grand, isn't it?"
At first, I thought it had to be the town hall, but being the curious type, I took a closer look and was surprised to see that it was a Catholic church named after St. Thomas More.
Have just read that the building was originally designed as the town hall by the Bath architect Thomas Fuller, and that the structure is made from Bath stone (with Fuller having gone on to move to Canada where he designed part of the Parliament of Canada building in Ottawa).
Have also just read that the first floor's council chamber was converted into St. Thomas More's Catholic church in the 1950s. Had a quick look at the church inside, but it was disappointing, very bare and (post-) Vatican II style (this wasn't a surprise, of course).
Across from St. Thomas' church, we saw The Swan Hotel pub which I've just read dates back to the year 1500:
Wouldn't have minded having a pint inside the Swan, but our time was limited, and there was so much to see during our brief, unscheduled stop at Bradford-on-Avon.
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