<< Our Photo Pages >> All Saints (Asfordby) - Ancient Cross in England in Leicestershire and Rutland
Submitted by TimPrevett on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 Page Views: 6112
Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: All Saints (Asfordby)Country: England County: Leicestershire and Rutland Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Village: Asfordby
Map Ref: SK7081218939
Latitude: 52.763421N Longitude: 0.952025W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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External Links:
I have visited· I would like to visit
Anne T visited on 17th Mar 2019 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 All Saints, Asfordby: The church is usually open on Saturdays between 2pm and 4pm, but we were fortunate because there was a service here today, from 10.30am until 11.30am, so we arrived as close as we could to the finish time of the service (which, because we got lost, was 12 noon). The congregation was having coffee and biscuits, but made us hugely welcome – even our son and DIL’s Labrador was allowed into the church and made a fuss of. The vicar had very kindly made arrangements for us to meet the Secretary and Historian of the church, who warmly welcomed us, introduced us to the Curate, and showed us round the church.
All Saints is very obviously a vibrant, active church, and the building is well used for community activities, which is lovely to see.
Miriam, the historian, very kindly showed us the three Anglo Saxon stones cemented into the far south western corner of the nave, with members of the congregation very kindly re-arranging tables and chairs for us to have easier access.
I came prepared with a list of features I really wanted to see, including the rare Tudor painted bench end (next to a pillar just to the east at the north western corner of the nave), the Green Man (on a boss high up in the middle of the nave) and Norman aumbry (in the northern wall at the north eastern corner of the nave) with its original Norman chevrons. Miriam also pointed out a ‘ladder’ (stairway to heaven) on the pillar at the north eastern side of the nave, and pilgrim crosses and what looked like a scratch sundial on the external western side of the door frame into the church.
I really could have spent a lot longer in the church, as it had a lovely, calm, reflective atmosphere and would love to attend a service here.
The church is recorded as Historic England List ID 1360866, which mentions: "3 portions of Saxon cross with scrollwork, a dragon on one stone a figure giving blessing on another". The church itself is recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 321381 and the cross fragments as Pastscape Monument No. 321357.
Dated to the 10th/early 11th century, the cross shaft fragments were found during restoration work in 1961, built into the west end of the North aisle. The church also has a rare Tudor decorated/painted bench end, and a Green Man. The church historian also kindly pointed out to us a 'stairway to heaven' ladder scratched into the eastern side of a pillar at the north eastern end of the nave, a Norman aumbry with chevron decoration, and pilgrim crosses and graffiti on the western exterior side of the door frame into the church.
More information can be found at Leicestershire and Rutland Churches: Asfordby, which includes the tale of the haunted rectory!
Note: The church is usually open on Saturdays between 2pm and 4pm. Check with the A Church Near You Website: All Saints, Asfordby for more information and contact details.
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