St
Margaret’s Church, Alstone
19
November 2007
For Teresa’s autumn visit to a local church, we chose
the nearby Alstone, which we had not yet seen. Though Alstone is signposted at the
Toddington roundabout, subsequent indications are easy to miss – as we almost
did. The village lies down a very
minor road off the main road to |
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The church is on a small site flanked, indeed,
overlooked, by private houses and farmland.
From the road all the main features – church, graveyard and peacock
topiary are clearly in view. We nearly aborted our visit – the access gate initially
did not yield, and, once through that, the security gate on the porch
appeared to be locked – until Teresa pointed out that the padlock, though
closed, did not pass through the hasp. |
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The original
building dates from the 12th and 13th Centuries, and
the chancel arch, east window, font and south door date from this
period. Most of the rest of the
structure results from the further extensions and refurbishment undertaken in
the 17th Century. |
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The wooden bell
tower, housing a single bell, is from the18th Century |
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A fine eagle lectern, and flower arrangement – poppies
from Remembrance Sunday. |
The 12th/13th
Century chancel arch. |
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The church is dedicated to St Margaret, celebrated in
this tapestry. In the south wall, two 16th/17th
Century window lights have survived. |
A transcription of
the text of a memorial tablet on the north wall, dated 1671, and thought to
be associated with the Darke family who were prominent in the community at
the time. We wondered
whether they were related to the Reverend Darke(s), for whom our old house in
Prestbury, Darkes Farm, had been named a hundred or so years earlier. |
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