St Laurence's Church at Bradford on Avon

Saxon expression of simple geometric form is also evident here in the arcading and division of the exterior wall areas. These were carved on the surface after the church was built, either during a reconstruction, or to raise it in importance following the death in 709 C.E. of its internationally known founder, the saxon scholar Adheim. the Manor of Bradford on Avon was given by King Ethelred to the Abbey of Shaftsbury in 1001 as a safe refuge form the Vikings for the relics of St. Edward the Martyr, and it is also possible that the reconstruction dates from then.