| Thruxton | ||||||||||||||
| Thruxton, the word conjures up the sight
of speeding cars and motorbikes, the roar of engines and the squealing
of brakes, because this is Hampshires only Motor racing circuit which
was originally an airfield. It is also the home to a tessellated Roman
pavement with part of an inscription showing the tribe of the Bodeni,
the best thing is that the inscription is almost perfect and there was a
candelabra made of terracotta found here as well. As well as being the home of Roman Soldiers and speeding racers this is also the home of Knights. For in the parish church which has both 13th and 15th century parts and a Norman tower, inside a stone knight leans on a wall. It is believed that he was Sir John Gormailles who died c1200 he is wearing a square shaped helmet and carries a shield.
Lying before the steps of the sanctuary is another knight, in fact this is a brass portrait of him in plate armour and a brass canopy is over him, He has spurs on his feet which are resting on a lion. Here is sir John Lysle who died in 1407. Yet a third knight lies with his lady on a tomb under one of the arches in the chancel, they two were Lyles and were the Lord and Lady of the Manor in the 15th century, His army has lions and birds embossed on it and his lady is seen to be smiling. The most striking treasure in the church though is a figure of an Elizabethan lady carved in oak and she is one of about 100 such figures in the whole of the country, It is thought that she may be Elizabeth Philpotts who was the lady of the manor, though found in a barn during the 20th century and though she is severely damaged it is a beautiful carving. Another lady is interred in a tomb from the 19th century with an open Bible made of stone on top.
CHURCH OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL
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