Annesley Old Church
| Annesley Old Church | |
|
Nottinghamshire | |
|---|---|
 Annesley Old Church | |
| Type: | Church |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK503523 |
| Location: | 53°3’58"N, 1°15’0"W |
| History | |
| Built 1356 | |
| For: | Annesley family |
| Church | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Ruinous |
Annesley Old Church or the Church of All Saints, Annesley Park, is a disused church in a ruinous condition which stands on a mound near to Annesley Hall in Nottinghamshire, surrounded by a graveyard.
The building remains are Grade I listed[1] and the site is scheduled as an ancient monument.[2]
The church is built in stone and measures approximately 115 feet by 48 feet. The standing remains include the roofless west tower, nave, chancel and a large 14th-century lady chapel to the south. The Lady Chapel, known as the "Felley Chantry” after the priory at Felley to whom the patronage once belonged, contained three fine sedilia and a piscina and a large east window with reticulated stone tracery. The surrounding graveyard contains a variety of mainly 17th- and 18th-century grave markers.
History
The present building, constructed by the Annesley family in 1356, replaced a previous Norman building on the same site. After the Annesley estate had passed by marriage to the Chaworths, Patrick Chaworth, 3rd Viscount Chaworth, in 1686 built the flight of steps leading up to the church and arranged for a carving of his coat of arms, or Achievement, to be fixed one of the tower walls in the church. As the village of Annesley developed into a mining community it was decided to build a new church on a site nearer to the growing colliery community. The new church, All Saints' Church, Annesley, was consecrated in 1874. Occasional services, especially Harvest Festivals, continued to be held in the old church until 1942. Following the cessation of use the building deteriorated and Viscount Chaworth's achievement was transferred to the new church. When the Annesley estate was sold in 1973 the buildings fell into a state of total disrepair and were sold by the Church Commissioners tothe local council for a nominal £1; in 2012 the council completed a programme of preservation and restoration to make the site safe and accessible to visitors.
The ruined building is on the Heritage at Risk register.[3] Some conservation work is being carried out, to conserve what remains of the church buildings and make the site more accessible for visitors.
The church is mentioned in the writings of both Lord Byron and D. H. Lawrence.
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1234999: Ruins of Church of All Saints (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1020778: All Saints’ Church and graveyard, south of Annesley Hall Lodge S (Scheduled ancient monument entry)
- ↑ "Heritage at Risk register – East Midlands". http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/publications/publicationsNew/heritage-at-risk/heritage-at-risk-register-east-midlands-region/hareastmidlandsacc.pdf. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- "Annesley Old Church". Southwell and Nottingham Church History Project. http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/annesley-old-church/hintro.php. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
