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Ancestral Geographies of the Neolithic, Edmonds, Bender

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<< Our Photo Pages >> St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) - Early Christian Sculptured Stone in England in Derbyshire

Submitted by TimPrevett on Saturday, 27 May 2006  Page Views: 14463

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) Alternative Name: The Wirksworth Stone, T'Owd Man of Bonsall (separate carving)
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 0.977 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Derbyshire Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone
Nearest Town: Wirksworth
Map Ref: SK2874853942
Latitude: 53.081931N  Longitude: 1.572282W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Anne T visited on 17th Sep 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Anglo Saxon Stones at St. Mary The Virgin, Wirksworth, Derbyshire: My husband's father had died unexpectedly last week and we were down sorting out the funeral and his house. It all got a bit too much, and I asked to 'run away' for the afternoon to do something different. Funny, we'd nearly bought a house here in the early 1980's, on the hills just outside the town, but never really explored this pretty little market town with its boutique shops.
We found the church behind the shops opposite the market square in a pretty oval shaped churchyard. It was much bigger than expected, feeling light and airy - more like a mini-cathedral - and with what Anglo Saxon treasures.
There were groups of stones built into the walls - by the north door, the walls of the south transept and the south western part of the nave.
The church offered a good guide book, but most useful was the 'treasure trail' for children along with the laminated guide sheet which showed the locations of the stones with a short description.
As I only had the camera on my phone we decided to go back with the camera proper, but time has run away with us and we never did get to go back. Thanks to modern technology the phone on my camera is better than the mini digital camera I usually carry with me.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : The Wirksworth Stone - 8th or 9th Century carved coffin lid depicting Christ washing the feet of the disciples, the crucifixion, the body of the BVM being borne for burial, the presentation of Christ in the temple before Simeon, Christ's descent into Hell, Christ's Ascension, the Annunciation, and the Mission of the Church. The picture was very difficult to take; direct sunlight coming through t... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Saxon Coffin (Dark Age) Coffin and various stones in Derbyshire

An 8th to 9th Century coffin lid, in fantastic condition. located in the wall of the North Nave Aisle. Many other fragments, some possibly Saxon, are also built into the church fabric on the north wall of the North Transept (both sides of the door), and also in the South Transept. Other figures and engravings are visible if you look carefully (including Towd Man of Bonsall, a figure of a lead miner removed from the Church at Bonsall.
Another figure of interest is the T'owd Man of Bonsall, removed from Bonsall Church a few miles away. It depicts a lead miner, and is early mediaeval in date; T'owd Man can also refer to a spirit of mines of caves.
This is the second earliest known Christian site in Derbyshire, with a church having been on the site since the 7th Century. Access subject to church opening and services.

Some details about the church and the carved fragments (including the Wirksworth Stone) can be found on Historic England List ID 1335090 and Pastscape Monument No. 1517943. The Journal of Antiquities also includes an entry for The Wirksworth Stone, St Mary’s Church, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, which includes directions for finding the church, together with drawings, descriptions and a list of reference material for more information.
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St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Detail of carving on the Anglo-Saxon coffin lid known as the Wirksworth Stone, 2011 (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Detail of carving on the Wirksworth Stone, 2011 (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : The carved Anglo-Saxon stone coffin lid belongs to the tomb of Betti, who came as a missionary from Northumberland in 653AD. Photo taken in 2011 (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Carving of a lead miner, ‘T’ Owd Man of Bonsall/Wirksworth’, 2011 (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Saxon carving, 2011 (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Saxon carvings, 2011

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Sunny100 : Detailed image of the Anglo-Saxon Wirksworth Stone/coffin slab, dating from the 7th-9th century. Carved on it are various scenes from the life of Christ with apostles and family members. This stone is said to be the finest example of Saxon carving in England. It was found beneath the chancel floor in 1820.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Sunny100 : Fragment of Saxon stonework depicting a lead miner which is called T'owd Man of Bonsall, is embedded in the wall of St Mary's Church. This and the other fragments probably date from the 8th century. (4 comments)

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Sunny100 : Detailed illustration of the Anglo-Saxon slab-stone or coffin-slab in St Mary the Virgin Church. It dates from the 7th-9th century. Scenes from the life of Christ are carved on the stone which is embedded in the wall. The slab was discovered under the chancel floor in 1820. The first church here was founded in 653 AD by the Saxon missionary St Betti.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : Figure of Adam & Eve (I think!) in Wirksworth Parish Church. See main entry for more details.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : Spot the Saxon cross fragments, and pieces of shaft built into this wall. Located in the South Transept.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : T'Owd Man of Bonsall, now in Wirksworth; see main entry for details.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : The assortment of stones, to the left of the North Transept door.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : The assortment of Norman and Saxon carvings on the right hand side of the door of the North Transept.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : Photo taken in 2011

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Antonine : The church stands where at least 5 ancient trackways meet, and is probably built on the site of a prehistoric stone circle. The church has many Saxon carvings incorporated into the interior walls, and other medieval monuments. Photo taken in 2011

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : This carving of Adam, the serpent and the tree of life is situated above head height in the northern wall at the west end of the nave. At the time of our visit it was partially hidden behind a tall modern sculpture which we moved slightly (and replaced) to get the best photograph.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : This block of carvings can be found in the south transept. Most curious is the carving of the pair of legs, which is now clearly out of its original context! The children's treasure trail sheet in the church implies these legs marry up with a carving of half a man in the north transept.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : This wonderful carving of a lead miner, with his pick and kibble (metal bucket) is located on the western wall of the south transept.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : The Wirksworth Stone depicting the life of Christ in 8 panels. It is located on the northern wall of the western part of the nave, to the right of the lead lined font which dates from the 13th century. The Wirksworth Stone is particularly finely carved, having been found 2 feet below the surface of the pavement in front of the altar, with the carving face-down.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : This group of carvings is located in the south wall of the south transept.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by Anne T : These carvings are set into the north wall of the north transept and include the 'King and Shepherd' stone. The church guide tells me that these stones were found under a pavement of the church during the restoration of 1870-1874. Nearby on the western wall of the north transept is a "Breeches Bible".

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : Further fragments in the South Transept. See main entry for more details.

St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)
St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) submitted by TimPrevett : More carvings preserved in the North Nave Aisle, to the west of The Wirksworth Stone.

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 33m NW 310° St Mary's Churchyard Cross (Wirksworth)* Ancient Cross (SK2872353963)
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 5.1km WSW 241° Stones Island* Modern Stone Circle etc (SK243514)
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 5.7km WNW 293° Curzon Lodge Ancient Village or Settlement (SK235561)
 5.7km W 271° Brassington Moor Stone Circle (SK230540)
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 7.3km NE 46° Dethick Moor* Stone Circle (SK3459)
 7.4km WNW 291° Galley Low* Round Barrow(s) (SK218565)
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"St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth)" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) and its predecessors by Beorwulf on Monday, 01 August 2011
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One point I missed from the above. Each September the church is "clipped" or surrounded by a ring of people holding hands. The clergy try hard to Christianise this custom by holding a church service immediately prior to the clipping, with the congregation then filing out under the direction of the officiating priest. However there is no compulsion to join in the worship, and many residents avoid attendance but nevertheless take part in the circling.

An interesting continuation of a Pagan ritual to honour the Lady of the Well!
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Re: St Mary the Virgin (Wirksworth) and its predecessors by Beorwulf on Monday, 01 August 2011
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The Church of St Mary is in the Ecclesbourne Valley, and the Ecclesbourne stream rises at the Lady's Well, Wirksworth. The exact site of this has been lost but is thought to be in the vicinity of the church, There is no doubt that the original "Lady" of the well was NOT the Virgin Mary! The site was undoubtedly venerated long before Christianity.

The name "Ecclesbourne" is formed from the Cymric "Eglwys" or church, and the Anglo-Saxon "Bourne" or small stream The name points to the existence of a Celtic / Roman Christian church during the AS Heathen period, and thus much, much older than the C7th. This area was in the territory of last Heathen King on the English mainland, Penda of Mercia. Penda was no friend to the incoming, authoritarian and patriarchal Roman version of the "new" religion and throughout his long reign fought his fellow English kings who had converted (until his last battle, always successfully) usually in league with the Welsh King Caedwallon, a Celtic / Roman Christian, but Penda tolerated the older and purer form of Christianity - as long as its adherents did not try to convert Heathens!



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Wirksworth Wapentake Event by TimPrevett on Friday, 11 April 2008
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Thought this would interest some:

http://www.wirksworthwapentake.org.uk
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