I went for a country drive, and I wondered what the church was that I could see on the hillside. I followed minor roads and found myself in the hamlet of Mugginton – SK283429. Pevsner says “The village is on a hill, the church on a knoll at one end with an ancient yew beside it.” The church is All Saints, Grade 1 – a history board, but no guidebook.
The Tower is Norman, though the later work is C13 and the battlements are later than that. The west end of the nave must be older than the tower. The porch is C15 or C16 and the inner doorway earlier than that.
The doorway further east is a reused C13 one.
They’ve done some modern woodwork inside, and a nice kitchen.
“The interior of the church is a delight” says Pevsner. There is lovely plasterwork, the Commandments date to the C17 and have been over-painted.
The clock is a rare C18 cage frame clock. The churchwardens’ accounts record its presence as early as 1728. There is no sign of any outside dial, so it would have told the village the time by its bell. It has been suggested there was a dial inside where the priest could see how long the service was. When they built a new school hall at Barton CE School the ten year old me said it needed a clock so we could see how long Mr Law (the vicar’s) prayers were. I always was a tactful child!
What is the pot in the corner?
There are some wonderful carvings, both in stone and in wood.
I wonder why there is a memorial to George Augustus Selwyn here – he is buried down the road in Lichfield. Then I have realised that this was probably in Lichfield Diocese before Derby was created. But even so, why is there a memorial here? I should mention that Julie and I went to Selwyn College Cambridge – I wonder if they know why.
There are some other interesting tomb and memorials. I wonder what the one on the right means.
The brass is to Nicholas Kniveton (died 1400) and his wife and children, it dates to 1475. Note the beast looking at its reflection in the mirror. The whole south aisle is called the Kniveton Chapel.
I am frustrated. I want a really good guidebook. I want to know about this glass in the Kniveton Chapel.
I want to know the stories of those who gave their lives in WW1. I want to know why it has such a short pulpit.
Pevsner also says “Bookcase for a missing collection given by Hugh Radcliffe. A case with angle balusters, early C18”. Who was Hugh Radcliffe? Where is the bookcase? More, more, tell me more.