The Church of St Laurence is a grade I listed building, enjoying a prominent position on a relatively high area of ground near the centre of the original village.
Downton was held by the Bishop of Winchester from at least the late 8th century and it is therefore likely that there was on earlier church here. This later probably had the status of a Minster church serving the Saxon communities of Charlton, Wick, Witherington, Walton (New Court), Standlynch and Barford, as well as villages farther afield.
A new church seems to have been built in the 12th century. In the nave the three western bays of the arcade date from this time, when the nave appears to have been short but wide. In the early 13th century the church was greatly enlarged by the addition of two eastern bays to the nave, a central tower and transepts, and a larger chancel. This as high quality work and would have attracted new Burgage holders from The Borough.
In 1295 William Burnell endowed a chantry, the Chapel being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the early 14th century the chancel and transept were re-modelled and raised to their present height: the aisles might also have been rebuilt during this century. In the 15th century the western doorway was inserted in the nave and some windows were re-modelled.
Much work was carried out in the early 17th century, including the reconstruction of the upper part of the tower and the replacement of window tracery with mullions. In 1648 the porch was either added or rebuilt.
In 1791 the tower was raised by 30 feet (9.14 metres) to allow Lord Radnor to see it from his estate. Battlements and pinnacles were also added. A restoration occurred in 1859-60 and the tower was then restored to its former height, with the pinnacles and battlements being retained.
Much work was also carried out on the chancel which, until this time, had been separated from the nave by a wall, having been used by the Bishops of Winchester as a chapel when visiting Downton. The west gallery of 1734 and the vestry were removed at this time. Further works in 1890-91 included the re-plastering of the interior and new tracery in the west window.
In the churchyard there is a medieval cross on a raised base to the south east of the porch.
There are eight bells at the church. The oldest is dated 1605 and the most recent was added to mark the blessing of bread and wine in 1996. On the south wall of the church is a leper window - and you can make out marks from a doorway where the village fire engine was once kept. The fire engine can now be seen in Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum. Downton’s Reverend Dickenson served as Senior Chaplain to the Forces during World War One. His son, Aubrey Dickenson, died on 1 July 1916 of wounds he received on that date - the first day of the Somme. By cruel coincidence, Whittaker Coombs - the son of the village’s Baptist Minister,died on the following day of wounds received at the same battle. Their names appear one after the other at the Memorial Hall (Heritage Trail plaque 3).
The only public view that can be had of the Manor House, another grade 1 listed building, formerly known as Parsonage Manor, is from the northern side of the churchyard.
The Manor House is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in the south of England. The original house on this site was built circa 85OAD and was used as a rectory. The building then consisted of a barn with cellars underneath, a private chapel and a loft area where the priests slept on rushes.
There were considerable alterations in Elizabethan times, when the house and all its land were let to the Queen. She installed John Wilkes, Secretary to Her Majesty’s Council, but he died a year later and the house was then occupied by Sir Carew Raleigh, brother of Sir Walter.
The Raleigh family continued to use the house for almost 100 years. According to legend, in 1586 they had to improve the house at short notice for a visit by the Queen, who was on her way to visit the recently built Breamore House. Sir Walter is said to have sailed a boat up the Avon, beached it near the tannery and used its timbers to provide panelling and better roof beams.
A portrait of Sir Walter was hidden behind oak panelling at the house, possibly when he fell from favour. It was found about 250 years later by the then resident farmer, who was facing bankruptcy. He gave the painting to a Salisbury agent, Rawlence and Squarey, in lieu of a debt, and it was sold to the National Portrait Gallery for 100 Guineas (£105) in l857. It was the first item they had actually purchased, the previous five exhibits having been donated. It is now the best known picture of Sir Walter.
The Manor was also the birthplace of Sir Roger Curtis, who commanded the gunboats at the siege of Gibraltar. As the only son of an eminent local farmer he was under pressure to continue the family business, but his wish to serve at sea was fulfilled and in a long and illustrious career around the turn of the 19th century he rose to the rank of ViceAdmiral.
