St Giles Church, Imber Wiltshire. Phase one repairs

Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out archaeological and historical analysis of Saint Giles Church, Imber, Wilts. The church is the most substantial surviving element of the village which was taken over for military use in the 1940s. The phase one work was carried out in response to a restoration project carried out in 2005 and 2006. This project saw the replacement of stone work of the tower parapet and the re-roofing of the south aisle. An archaeological record was made both before and during these works.
The south aisle roof was stripped and rotten wallplates renewed and faulty guttering rebuilt. The roof consisting of five bays divided by moulded principal rafters with one order of moulded purlins appears to be late medieval in style and is probably the original 15th century roof of the aisle.
Two missing merlons from the 15th century tower parapet were replaced. The carved finial of the south-east tower pinnacle and a crocketted member from the south-west pinnacle were also replaced.
The replacements to roof and parapet were made of traditional materials and care was taken to preserve and protect the surviving historic fabric.