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Buckler's paintings

Between 1800 and 1810 the architect and artist John Buckler was commissioned to make a definitive record of all the churches in Wiltshire. This was commissioned by Sir Richard Colt Hoare of Stourhead (1758-1838), an banker, antiquarian and patron of the arts. The result was 10 leather-bound volumes containing 700 watercolours, originally held in Stourhead library, but sold in 1883 to pay estate debts. Under the aegis of the Wiltshire Archeological and Natural History Society they were acquired in 1918 and held at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.

Amongst the collection, dating from 1810 was this lovely watercolour of what was described as the chapel of St Andrew, Blunsdon St Andrew. As you can see, at the time this was an isolated chapel with very little around it. Here's a bigger version for those not using phones:

Buckler also painted fonts in the churches, including the font at St Andrew's, shown in this watercolour:

Looking in more detail, we can compare the font with the present:

 

Although it was thought that the font originated elsewhere, it does appear to be the same font.

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