A few weeks ago I was family chauffeuring and had a couple of hours to spare in the town of Knowle near Solihull. It has taken me a while to get round to writing the post partly because I was hoping to re-visit the church to see the items I had missed and partly because I have finally got my act together and started the dreaded task of getting my mum's house ready to be sold which is proving as time consuming as I feared.
The name Knowle comes from the Saxon word "Cnolle" which means a small hill. For fans of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Edith Holden sometimes walked or cycled through this village and at one time lived nearby in Dorridge. The whole area has undergone so much housing development I very much doubt she would recognise the vast majority of the town.
The Guild House next to the church was built in 1413 as the headquarters of the Guild of St Anne founded by Walter Cook. The medieval Guild was an important charitable, religious and social organisation.
There are plenty of pubs in Knowle.
The Parish Church of Knowle
Centuries ago people from Knowle had to walk to the church in Hampton-in-Arden which was three miles away. A wealthy citizen of Knowle, Walter Cook, obtained permission from Pope Boniface IX, in 1396 to build a small chapel on land owned by his father. The chapel was completed and consecrated by 24th February, 1403.Since that time the church has been extended and altered. The biggest threat to the church was The Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in the sixteenth century and also the suppression of Guilds and Colleges under Edward VI. The Kings Commissioners decided that the chapel could remain due to the distance to the nearest church which involved crossing the River Blythe which was dangerous during the winter.
When I have checked in the past this church has never appeared to be open to the public except for services or special open days so I spent ages looking at the exterior of the church and the churchyard.
There are many interesting grotesque, gargoyles and pinnacles.
The grass was very "manicured" but there were plenty of trees and shrubs around for birds.
My exploration of the churchyard finished I wandered round to the main entrance to the church only to find it was open!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently it is now open most days and, although a funeral was due to be held in an hour, I was kindly told I could look round for half an hour. (I really should have checked beforehand to see whether it was open! and I was also kicking myself for spending so much time looking round the churchyard)
The pointed arches of the nave show that it was originally built in the 14th or 15th century.
The font is octagonal with quatrefoils as decoration - a popular carving of the 14th and 15th centuries when the font was made.
The colours of the stained glass window in the baptistry area were beautiful. The window shows Jesus surrounded by children and it was installed in memory of the late Canon Thomas Downing who was Vicar of Knowle 1901 to 1932.
Isn't this peacock beautiful?
The Soldiers' Chapel was originally a chantry chapel and then a family pew but it is now a memorial for men and women of Knowle who have died in wars.
This window is dedicated to three men from Knowle who lost their lives on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.
The East Window shows the Crucifixion and Ascension and dates from the 1870s. The stained glass in the church is all relatively modern and is 19th century.
Sedilia
Pulpit
I really should have looked at the original medieval rood screen more closely as when I got home and finally read the guide book I discovered it contained many carvings.
One of two medieval dug-out chests in the church. They were once used for keeping parish documents and had 3 locks - the priest had keys to one and two church wardens keys for the other two so that the chest could only be opened when all three were present.
After leaving the church I had a little wander round the High Street
I bought some rather nice bread from this artisan baker.
Chester House is now Knowle Library. It was originally two houses built in 1400 and 1500 which were later combined to make one dwelling used either as a farmhouse or inn.
More purchases were made at the sweet shop.
By now the rain which had threatened during my whole walk materialised so I returned to the car.
So what did I miss in the church?
Carvings on the Rood Screen (as already mentioned)
Scratch marks or graffiti on arches in the nave
Roof beams made from oak sourced from the local Forest of Arden (the roof dates back to medieval times) and there are traces of red paint and metal stars
Carved misericords
Carvings on the pulpit of roses, leaves, acorns, rosehips, grapes, blackberries, hazelnuts, catkins and sycamore seeds.
A Bronze Tablet as you enter the church to the church's founder Walter Cook also in front of the rood screen is a round grey stone half buried under the carpet which may be the tomb of Cook.
I will try and return as I pass through Knowle on my way to Baddesley Clinton which I keep meaning to try and visit before I miss the annual dahlia display.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330
Reference : Guide book to the Parish Church of Knowle and an Information sheet
