St Mary the Virgin, Astley, next to the castle was also open. I did visit the church quite a few years ago now but as a service was due to start I only had about 15 minutes to look round. I can't say I spent much longer in the church last Saturday but fortunately I remembered what I had missed the first time! Although I still forgot the tiles!
A church has existed on the site from 1285 and then a collegiate church was built in 1343 by Sir Thomas Astley of the castle. The college dissolved in 1545 and its church became neglected. Materials were stolen over the years and tower fell c1600.
In 1607 Richard Chamberlaine decided to re-establish it as a parish church and was responsible for building the present West Tower and Chancel.
The church was restored by F C Penrose in 1876.
Paintings of Apostles and Prophets date back to 1624.
The misericords are C14th and have carvings of foliage, a dog, a boar and a wyvern, possibly by the carver who carved those at Worcester Cathedral in 1379.
The church once had a spire and was called "The Lantern of Arden" as it was a familiar landmark and guided travellers in the surrounding Forest of Arden.
The pulpit is late C17th.
The nave wall paintings of scriptural texts date back to c1610.
The Chancel
Late C16th Flemish Triptych on the altar.
Some of the chancel and nave windows contain fragments of C14th glass.
I haven't been able to find any information on the age of the font.
The Talbot's crest in oak on an iron bracket may relate to the tomb with the effigies.
Three alabaster effigies - Sir Edward Grey, Cecily Bonneville and possibly Elizabeth Talbot.
c1400 brass containing fragments of a woman.
Book of Condolence for the Queen in the chancel.
This track leads to an ancient holloway which I explored on a previous visit.
Sadly and annoyingly we haven't been able to go to Herefordshire. The extensive renovation and building work next door has been noisy and problematic. I won't go into details but work was started without the party wall agreement giving 2 months' notice that work was about to begin. We insisted on this agreement being prepared to protect our property which meant a surveyor visit. The plans in the agreement are not those which were given planning permission so we've been on to the Planning Department but are still waiting to hear. The horrid news is that under the Party Wall Act we have to allow them to put scaffolding up on the patio although once up they will have to access it from their side and it will be screened but security wise it is worrying. In fact the whole thing is turning into a bigger nightmare than even I envisaged.
I also strained a muscle in my lower back - thankfully now better! and E has needed a lift to the station morning and evening as she is working in a different place this week.
Hopefully we can escape to the caravan for a few days soon!
Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate most of my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would appreciate an email first - thanks).
Reference: The Buildings of England Warwickshire by C Pickford and N Pevsner, Yale University Press, 2016
Church guidebook
