A 15TH CENTURY chapel near Melksham has received £78,000 for urgent repair work to its roof.

The grant to St Nicholas' Church in Bromham from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund will go towards mending the roof and medieval ceiling of its Bayntun Chapel, which dates back to 1492.

Its most important feature is a gilded panelled oak ceiling, which is exceptional in that 25 of its 32 panels have never been painted over.

A spokesman for the church council said: "It is extremely rare to find original 15th century paint that has survived without being repainted or varnished, especially such a large area."

Laurence Keen, the church archaeologist, said the chapel is "a building which is without parallel in Wiltshire, or in the country as a whole."

The chapel contains the effigy of its founder, Sir Roger Tocotes, who was Sheriff of Wiltshire three times in the 15th century.

The building was used as a stable by Cromwell's troops after the Battle of Roundway, and graffiti carved into Sir Roger's effigy by the troops can still be seen.

But the original paint and gilding are deteriorating and a replacement roof over the chapel has sagged and is resting on the mediaeval ceiling. Problems have also been caused by rainwater and deathwatch beetle.

Local supporters have been busy raising money over the past few years but there is a risk the historic chapel will deteriorate further without urgent attention.