I have visited this church ruin a few times. It was one of the first things I looked at in 2013, including the other ruin five minutes drive away. I literally then only had a bit of paper then and a rough drawn map were I thought they might be. I have not been to them for a few years now so thought whilst in the area I would pop in not long after lock down. I always enjoy seeing them just sitting there slowly having nature take over. St Mary's has always been my favourite one. I have no idea when the church was built, but it is centuries old. And this and its brother St john's were both abandoned around the 1880's with falling numbers. A new church was built in the village centre to replace the pair off them.
Looking up the tower, funnily enough you can get enough up to the top up a tight spiral staircase.
On the first level you can see the nice round window.
Getting to the top is were the bells would have sat. On these two levels you have to watch your step or it's a straight drop down.
In the graveyard lays an old stone. It's a tragic story were a couple lost all six children in a week to Scarlet Fever.
From the records, John was buried 22 January 1851, aged 11, Elizabeth buried same day aged 8.
Mary Ann, buried 25 January aged 15,
Harriot was buried the same day aged 6
Thomas was buried same day, aged 2
William, buried same day, aged under 1 year. Mary Ann was the last to die on the 25 Jan and
immediately buried with her siblings on the same day. The parents, Thomas died 1870, and Hannah died 1881. Thomas was an agricultural labourer and Hannah went to live with her sister and brother in law.
This happened when several diseases like Small Pox and Scarlet Fever were rife. Thankfully thanks to medicines and vaccines these were virtually eradicated. Small Pox was and Scarlet Fever was virtually, but it is on the rise again. Ironic how these vaccines then prob saved millions of deaths. And yet so much hatred against some modern vaccines at the min from a lot of people.
Looking up the tower, funnily enough you can get enough up to the top up a tight spiral staircase.
On the first level you can see the nice round window.
Getting to the top is were the bells would have sat. On these two levels you have to watch your step or it's a straight drop down.
In the graveyard lays an old stone. It's a tragic story were a couple lost all six children in a week to Scarlet Fever.
From the records, John was buried 22 January 1851, aged 11, Elizabeth buried same day aged 8.
Mary Ann, buried 25 January aged 15,
Harriot was buried the same day aged 6
Thomas was buried same day, aged 2
William, buried same day, aged under 1 year. Mary Ann was the last to die on the 25 Jan and
immediately buried with her siblings on the same day. The parents, Thomas died 1870, and Hannah died 1881. Thomas was an agricultural labourer and Hannah went to live with her sister and brother in law.
This happened when several diseases like Small Pox and Scarlet Fever were rife. Thankfully thanks to medicines and vaccines these were virtually eradicated. Small Pox was and Scarlet Fever was virtually, but it is on the rise again. Ironic how these vaccines then prob saved millions of deaths. And yet so much hatred against some modern vaccines at the min from a lot of people.
