St Barbara's, Ashton under Hill
St Barbara's church at Ashton under Hill is sits on high ground set back from the main road through the village and thus doesn't immediately show itself to the casual visitor. To find it one has to look out for the lychgate set between houses and ascend the steep pathway beyond it where the building is picturesquely revealed in its lovely setting behind trees.
The building appears at first sight to be of mostly 15th century date stylistically, but this is misleading as some parts are considerably older and others surprisingly younger, for example the entire chancel appears to have been rebuilt in 1624 (marked by an inscription on the south side) and sits well with the medieval nave and tower, being a good example of rare Gothic Survival architecture (some of the stonework of the side windows may be reused medieval work). The east window tracery incorporates curious carvings of fish.
The church is entered via the south porch which shelters a Norman doorway, betraying the church's earlier 12th century origins. Within the nave and north aisle are spacious and light (thanks to clear glass and rendered walls) whilst the chancel beyond has late glass be the studio of Frank Holt and its floor level is unusually a step down from the nave (the reverse of the norm and a symptom of the hillside site). There is a handsome late medieval font in the north aisle with a fine window by Florence Camm behind it.
St Barbara's church is kept open and welcoming under normal circumstances, however like many has spent much of the Covid lockdown inaccessible. My visit was the exception, being part of the team repairing (fortunately minor) vandal damage to the east window.
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
St Barbara's, Ashton under Hill
St Barbara's church at Ashton under Hill is sits on high ground set back from the main road through the village and thus doesn't immediately show itself to the casual visitor. To find it one has to look out for the lychgate set between houses and ascend the steep pathway beyond it where the building is picturesquely revealed in its lovely setting behind trees.
The building appears at first sight to be of mostly 15th century date stylistically, but this is misleading as some parts are considerably older and others surprisingly younger, for example the entire chancel appears to have been rebuilt in 1624 (marked by an inscription on the south side) and sits well with the medieval nave and tower, being a good example of rare Gothic Survival architecture (some of the stonework of the side windows may be reused medieval work). The east window tracery incorporates curious carvings of fish.
The church is entered via the south porch which shelters a Norman doorway, betraying the church's earlier 12th century origins. Within the nave and north aisle are spacious and light (thanks to clear glass and rendered walls) whilst the chancel beyond has late glass be the studio of Frank Holt and its floor level is unusually a step down from the nave (the reverse of the norm and a symptom of the hillside site). There is a handsome late medieval font in the north aisle with a fine window by Florence Camm behind it.
St Barbara's church is kept open and welcoming under normal circumstances, however like many has spent much of the Covid lockdown inaccessible. My visit was the exception, being part of the team repairing (fortunately minor) vandal damage to the east window.
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...