Railway tunnel in Hillmorton providing pedestrian access to St John the Baptist's church beneath the Birmingham to London main line.

Tags:   hillmorton church rugby warwickshire railway tunnel

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A wonderful old church well worth exploring but little visited on the edge of suburban Rugby, but as it's normally kept locked I timed my visit close to a sunday evening service to get in. Very friendly people, but alas little time to get decent photos, though they seemed happy to open up for me if I wanted to return. I've known the church for years having grown up in the area but only been inside a few times years ago, when it used to be more accessible. It was one of the first ancient churches I ever experienced and left a lasting impression.

Despite serving what is now a large suburb of Rugby the church retains a country feel, being cut off from the town by the main line between Birmingham and London, meaning it is completely invsible from Hillmorton itself. Normal approach is thus bizarrely through a tunnel under the railway line that leads to the churchyard!

It's a mainly 13th/14th century building, the west tower is of a rich red sandstone whist the body of the building has been patched up at various dates giving it an attractive unrestored patina. Inside is equally unspoilt, retaining a late Georgian feel with it's furnishings, Royal Arms and whitewashed walls (though oddly just chancel and south aisle have been scraped). Victorian glass is confined to 2 south aisle windows (including one strange piecemeal affair) the main east window with it's intersecting tracery is left plain.

The main items of interest here are the monuments, three medieval tombs and an elegant brass of a lady. Of the effigies the best is the early 14th century lady in the south aisle with wimple and canopy over her head. The nearby knight is more damaged whilst the 13th century priest under an arch in the north aisle (almost hidden behind benches) is badly mutilated.

All in all well worth a look, but unless you're lucky with timing will probably require a phonecall to open up, unfortunately there are no keyholder details.

Tags:   hillmorton church rugby warwickshire

© All Rights Reserved

A wonderful old church well worth exploring but little visited on the edge of suburban Rugby, but as it's normally kept locked I timed my visit close to a sunday evening service to get in. Very friendly people, but alas little time to get decent photos, though they seemed happy to open up for me if I wanted to return. I've known the church for years having grown up in the area but only been inside a few times years ago, when it used to be more accessible. It was one of the first ancient churches I ever experienced and left a lasting impression.

Despite serving what is now a large suburb of Rugby the church retains a country feel, being cut off from the town by the main line between Birmingham and London, meaning it is completely invsible from Hillmorton itself. Normal approach is thus bizarrely through a tunnel under the railway line that leads to the churchyard!

It's a mainly 13th/14th century building, the west tower is of a rich red sandstone whist the body of the building has been patched up at various dates giving it an attractive unrestored patina. Inside is equally unspoilt, retaining a late Georgian feel with it's furnishings, Royal Arms and whitewashed walls (though oddly just chancel and south aisle have been scraped). Victorian glass is confined to 2 south aisle windows (including one strange piecemeal affair) the main east window with it's intersecting tracery is left plain.

The main items of interest here are the monuments, three medieval tombs and an elegant brass of a lady. Of the effigies the best is the early 14th century lady in the south aisle with wimple and canopy over her head. The nearby knight is more damaged whilst the 13th century priest under an arch in the north aisle (almost hidden behind benches) is badly mutilated.

All in all well worth a look, but unless you're lucky with timing will probably require a phonecall to open up, unfortunately there are no keyholder details.

Tags:   hillmorton church rugby warwickshire

© All Rights Reserved

A wonderful old church well worth exploring but little visited on the edge of suburban Rugby, but as it's normally kept locked I timed my visit close to a sunday evening service to get in. Very friendly people, but alas little time to get decent photos, though they seemed happy to open up for me if I wanted to return. I've known the church for years having grown up in the area but only been inside a few times years ago, when it used to be more accessible. It was one of the first ancient churches I ever experienced and left a lasting impression.

Despite serving what is now a large suburb of Rugby the church retains a country feel, being cut off from the town by the main line between Birmingham and London, meaning it is completely invsible from Hillmorton itself. Normal approach is thus bizarrely through a tunnel under the railway line that leads to the churchyard!

It's a mainly 13th/14th century building, the west tower is of a rich red sandstone whist the body of the building has been patched up at various dates giving it an attractive unrestored patina. Inside is equally unspoilt, retaining a late Georgian feel with it's furnishings, Royal Arms and whitewashed walls (though oddly just chancel and south aisle have been scraped). Victorian glass is confined to 2 south aisle windows (including one strange piecemeal affair) the main east window with it's intersecting tracery is left plain.

The main items of interest here are the monuments, three medieval tombs and an elegant brass of a lady. Of the effigies the best is the early 14th century lady in the south aisle with wimple and canopy over her head. The nearby knight is more damaged whilst the 13th century priest under an arch in the north aisle (almost hidden behind benches) is badly mutilated.

All in all well worth a look, but unless you're lucky with timing will probably require a phonecall to open up, unfortunately there are no keyholder details.

Tags:   hillmorton church rugby warwickshire

© All Rights Reserved

A wonderful old church well worth exploring but little visited on the edge of suburban Rugby, but as it's normally kept locked I timed my visit close to a sunday evening service to get in. Very friendly people, but alas little time to get decent photos, though they seemed happy to open up for me if I wanted to return. I've known the church for years having grown up in the area but only been inside a few times years ago, when it used to be more accessible. It was one of the first ancient churches I ever experienced and left a lasting impression.

Despite serving what is now a large suburb of Rugby the church retains a country feel, being cut off from the town by the main line between Birmingham and London, meaning it is completely invsible from Hillmorton itself. Normal approach is thus bizarrely through a tunnel under the railway line that leads to the churchyard!

It's a mainly 13th/14th century building, the west tower is of a rich red sandstone whist the body of the building has been patched up at various dates giving it an attractive unrestored patina. Inside is equally unspoilt, retaining a late Georgian feel with it's furnishings, Royal Arms and whitewashed walls (though oddly just chancel and south aisle have been scraped). Victorian glass is confined to 2 south aisle windows (including one strange piecemeal affair) the main east window with it's intersecting tracery is left plain.

The main items of interest here are the monuments, three medieval tombs and an elegant brass of a lady. Of the effigies the best is the early 14th century lady in the south aisle with wimple and canopy over her head. The nearby knight is more damaged whilst the 13th century priest under an arch in the north aisle (almost hidden behind benches) is badly mutilated.

All in all well worth a look, but unless you're lucky with timing will probably require a phonecall to open up, unfortunately there are no keyholder details.

Tags:   hillmorton church rugby warwickshire

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