St Giles' Church, Imber

St Giles' Church in Imber is a limestone church with a square tower topped by five pinnacles and aisles extending along both sides. Large windows with stone tracery patterns punctuate the walls, allowing light into the interior spaces.

This church originated in the late 13th century as a parish center. In 1943, the entire community was evacuated so the area could be used for military training operations.

Interior wall paintings from the 15th century depict moral scenes such as the Weighing of Souls, serving as visual lessons for the community. These religious images helped convey spiritual teachings to people who could not read.

Access requires special permission in advance, and visits are limited to specific days during spring, summer, and winter due to the site's location within a military training zone. Plan ahead and check availability before traveling.

The tower contains hand-painted numerical patterns from 1692 marked on its interior walls. These markings represent some of the earliest documented records of bell-ringing sequences ever created.

Location: Heytesbury

Inception: 13 century

Website: https://imberchurch.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.23440,-2.05111

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03