St Michael and All Angels, Maxstoke and Recent Reading

 

I popped out recently to check the actual location of a cottage for sale at Nether Whitacre about 25 minutes from here and as I was in the area I decided to visit St Michael and All Angels at Maxstoke. I've seen the interior of the church when we went to a Christmas Tree Festival there some years ago but I've never had a good look round the churchyard.

Plants in Walls - the lovely Ivy-leafed Toadflax

We quite often walk in this area as there is a handy car park at the church :)

St Michael and All Angels is 14th century and founded initially in 1333 by the founder of Maxstoke Priory and Castle William de Clinton who was born at Maxstoke and went on to become Earl of Huntingdon in 1337.  It is believed to have been a chantry chapel rather than a chapel of the nearby Priory.  The Bell Turret is Georgian.

C14th churchyard cross restored in 1886.

If you want to see a few photos of the church interior please see St Michael's Maxstoke  although be warned most are photos of the Christmas Tree Festival.

This rather lovely cottage wasn't the one I had checked out earlier but it was on the market a while back and I really regret now not going to view it as it was affordable and the location is lovely. Although I do remember it had a really ultra modern kitchen - all stainless steel which was what put me off somewhat. A Shaker Style kitchen imho would be much better suited :)

Recent Reading

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Joanna Piercy novel - she is back at work after the birth of her son but DS Korpanski is still on sick leave.

The 8th book in the Jackman and Evans series and a great read.  I am really enjoying this series.

My son bought this book - its a short autobiography covering the author's childhood.  Fascinating reading especially if you enjoy Alan Garner's  books - The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is a superb book.  Some of you may remember we visited Alderley Edge where many of his books are set.  D and I recently attended a brilliant Zoom talk on the locations in his novels.

As you will see I've been reading more of the Faith Martin Hillary Greene books set in Oxfordshire. I just find these stories totally unputdownable!!!!  

Some of you will remember I have read a couple of books on stories behind graves and churchyards which I didn't really enjoy that much but this set in Herefordshire was, to me, far more enjoyable, especially as most are churches I have visited or could in the future. Some amazing stories have been uncovered.

This Hillary Greene novel took a bit of getting used to as she is back in a different role. I won't say too much in case anyone else is reading the stories but HG is in her usual fine form.

Old family photos

I found a scan of an old family slide recently which made me smile.  It must have been taken in the early 1960's before Land's End became the theme park it is today!!!!  I'm top right in the photo next to my younger brother with my mother and paternal grandmother sitting below. Talking of boxes and boxes of old family slides I brought back when mum and dad's house was sold - we still have loads to go through and I still haven't looked into having a bag full of old cine films converted. I suspect it will very very expensive.  B did think of doing it himself as we have an old cine projector but I think he gave up as it was so time consuming and even if he went ahead he has loads of his own and his parents' cine films to do first.

All photos, except the last one!, taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.  I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would appreciate an email first - thanks.

A Local Country Walk in North Warwickshire

 

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas.

Today we went a walk in the North Warwickshire countryside and it was cold enough to blow away the cobwebs!

We had initially decided on a walk round Shustoke Reservoir but the 2 mile path is high on a ridge and the wind was bitingly cold so that plan got abandoned after a few hundred yards!

So instead we went for a walk along the lanes round the Shawbury and Maxstoke area.

This is the door of a cottage at the little hamlet of Maxstoke.  I've mentioned before this house was on the market last year and you can imagine how much these days I wish we had bought it!!

This is the church of St Michael and All Angels, Maxstoke. It it is Grade 2 listed and dates back to the C14th with 18th and 19th century additions.  It was founded by  William de Clinton who was born in Maxstoke and later became Earl Huntingdon.  The church may have been founded as a chantry chapel rather than the church for the nearby Priory.

The church is usually locked but we did visit some years ago for a Christmas Tree Festival so if you would like to see inside please see St Michael's Maxstoke

Victorian Wall Letter Box in the wall of the 14th century Maxstoke Priory. 

The Priory of Augustinian Canons at Maxstoke was also founded by William de Clinton in 1336/37.  It was dissolved in 1536 during the Dissolution.  The site today is surrounded by a surviving sandstone precint wall.

Below is the gatehouse but the rest of the ruins are on the land of a working farm and in I think the grounds of the Old Rectory so are not accessible. Many years ago when I was a teenager I was walking in the area with friends and the farmer did allow us to view them briefly but today there are "keep out" signs!!

It wasn't a long walk but it was good to get some fresh air out in the countryside.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).