1 Balderton, St Giles The oldest parts of the present church are the Norman north and south doorways, the north entrance to the porch being particularly M1 superb with a carved 12th century figure of M18 the Virgin Mary in a niche above; inside is a Great North Rd 15th century oak door. M18 In the south aisle window is glass depicting the Adoration of the Lamb by artist W Wailes. There are also many fragments of A638 19 Austerfield medieval glass. Other notable features include the early A614 14th century font, the outstanding octagonal Bawtry spire, the brass lectern, which came from A631 18 the church at Cotham when it fell into disuse, and the remarkable set of medieval pew ends, with carvings of rabbits, hounds and M1 grotesques. Scrooby 17 A631 A638 2 Newark, St Mary Magdalene 16 Ranskill In medieval times Newark was one of the largest towns in Nottinghamshire. Although Blyth Great North Rd there was probably a church on the site in * Saxon times, the earliest parts of the present 15 Sutton-cum-Lound church, in the crypt, date from c1180. There are two chantry chapels dating from about 1500, one with fine wall paintings A638 depicting the ‘Dance of Death’. A1 Visible from many miles away, St Mary’s 14th century spire is 14 reputed to be the fifth tallest parish church Babworth 13 14 RETFORD spire in the country. A57 14 It is said that during the 17th century, WORKSOP Great North Rd the church tower served as a look-out Ordsall 12 A638 point for the Newark garrison during the Civil War sieges – a cannonball hole A57 Eaton Headon in the spire is possible evidence. Most of Gamston * A1 * the stained glass windows, which had * survived the Reformation, were destroyed Askham at this time, though fragments were West Drayton gathered together and can now be seen in * * A1 A57 the east window of the Holy Spirit Chapel. A57 To LINCOLN u After the capitulation of the town, Parliamentarian soldiers are A614 said to have stabled their horses in the church. West Markham 11 A1 Also in Newark are St Leonard’s, St Augustine’s and Christ TUXFORD 10* East Markham Church; information about these can be found on our website. Great North Rd 9 Normanton-on-Trent 3 South Muskham, St Wilfrid 8 Weston St Wilfrid’s today is a stone-built, Grade I listed building. The north OLLERTON A1 aisle is narrow, approximately 4ft wide and almost certainly dates 7 Sutton-on-Trent from the 14th century; the north door is 13th A614 century and was most likely A616 moved when the north aisle Carlton-on-Trent was added. The tower has 7 6 stonework from the 13th, 14th Sutton-on-Trent, All Saints and 15th centuries. Domesday Book records a church A south aisle window and a priest in Sutton-on-Trent, Cromwell contains glass showing the although today there are no traces 5 of fabric earlier than the 13th arms of William Smith, bishop Great North Rd of Lincoln 1496-1513. century visible. To the south of the chancel is the North South 4 Muskham rich and ornate Meering Chapel, 4 Muskham North Muskham, St Wilfrid dated to c.1525. Local legend has it A616 3 A46 Originally consisting of simply a chancel and nave, the church dates that the Chapel was brought across the River Trent from the church A1 back to the end of the 12th century. at the village of Meering which has Notable features include the stone seats now vanished. In truth, it was the A617 A46 A17 around the 13th century pillars of the north changing course of the river that cut 2 aisle, which were used off the once-neighbouring hamlet. A1 Between the south aisle and the To Southwell by the sick and infirm NEwaRK- Meering Chapel is a rare survival in the days before ON-TRENT pews. This arcade is of an intact rood screen and loft, Great North Rd the oldest visible part complete with stairs. The design of the church, and appears to be of the 1520-30s. 1 Balderton remarkably one of the There are fragments of medieval glass in the chancel and the east capitals has traces of window is by Wailes. In the chancel are a few “poppyheaded” pew original painting. ends, probably dating from the 15th century. The chancel contains some interesting memorials and the 15th century north aisle 8 was financed by a local wool merchant, John Barton of Holme, and Weston, All Saints do tend to be locked. As an alternative, with a slight diversion you his initials and symbols can be seen in the glass in the north windows. A church is mentioned in Weston in Domesday can take in East Markham St John the Baptist, Askham St Nicholas The rood screen, originally 15th century, contains the original door Book. and Headon-cum-Upton St Peter, all of which tend to be open and some late medieval carving. The church today is embellished with every day (at least during the summer). For more information on It is thought that at some point in history the lead was stripped battlements and pinnacles and dates mainly from these 6 churches visit our website www.nottsopenchurches.org.uk. off the roof leaving the church open to the wind and rain for a long the 13th and 14th centuries, although extensive Picking up the Old Great North Road (A638) again at Eaton… period, hence the bleached colour restoration took place in 1880 under architect of the oak inside the church. This E Browning of Stamford. 12 may have happened during the The chancel retains sedilia (stone seats) and Ordsall, All Hallows Civil War as many local churches two piscinae (ceremonial wash basins). There Ordsall village is suffered when Newark was under is a Norman tub font of the 12th century. Tiny mentioned in the siege, the lead being melted down for fragments of medieval glass remain. The three bells are old, one by Domesday Book and ammunition. R Mellors of Nottingham dates from around 1550. its present church was probably built around the middle of 9 Normanton-on-Trent, St Matthew the 13th century; it 5 Cromwell, St Giles St Matthew’s is mainly 14th century, but parts of the north aisle are has an interesting late medieval rood screen. The Domesday Book mentions a church probably 13th century. The rood screen no longer exists but the steps It is situated in a beautiful spot on a hill above the river Idle. The in Crunwelle in 1086 but it was largely and doorway can still be seen. first known Rector was William de Bilburg, who came in 1277. rebuilt in the 13th century with a new Between the 15th century clerestory The author, John S. Piercy, who wrote ‘A History of Retford’ in tower of the 1420s. windows, there is some Georgian 1828, is buried in the churchyard. To the south the small aisle and chancel lettering from the scriptures, the one Up until the mid-18th century the Great North Road from aisle have been much changed over the nearest the tower being from the Markham Moor to Barnby Moor was a sandy track running fairly years. Two psalms. directly through Babworth (traces can still be seen on OS maps medieval There are several stained glass marked as Old London Road). In 1765 this was abandoned and windows in the windows, one of which, showing replaced with a new stretch of road running through Retford. north chancel St Philip & St George, is a memorial to wall include Philip George Turner (son of the then Vicar) who died at El Alamein remains of armorial glass. There is also in World War II. 13 Babworth, All Saints a fine example of a “flamboyant” 14th While out slightly to the east of the Old Great North Road, you may The first building of a century window to the south of the altar. wish to visit Low Marnham, St Wilfrid (NG23 6SL). church here is recorded Cromwell is one of 41 ‘Thankful Villages’ in England, where all This church is now owned by the Churches Conservation Trust. It is in 1290, but the present the soldiers returned from the First World War hence there is no generally open but if locked there is a list of local keyholders at the church dates largely war memorial. entrance. from the 15th and 16th 10 centuries. 6 Carlton-on-Trent Tuxford, St Nicholas Notable features include the embattled This large church, situated in the south porch with its carved human face St Mary the Virgin historic market town of Tuxford, and grotesque creature, a decorated urn to the Rev John Simpson (d.1784) and the rare A medieval church existed on the site of has 12th century origins. The fine late Georgian, and Victorian stained glass. the present building which was linked tower is of the early 14th century The chancel and sanctuary contain furniture by Robert Thompson to the parish of Norwell. This building and the spire dates from the 1350s. who was part of the 1920s Arts and Crafts movement. Look out for contained Norman stonework was Unusually, the chancel is dated his famous carved mouse trademark. demolished in 1849. to 1495, being a gift of Thomas Richard Clyfton was curate of All Saints from 1586 until 1604. The present building was constructed Gunthorpe. It has a unique and rare His preaching in the new manner had a strong influence on the in 1849-1851. The patron was John canopy above the baptismal font.