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Hamstall • Mavesyn • Pipe

This page is about St Michael and All Angels. You can switch to the main parish pages by clicking on the names above. The information on Hamstall is divided into several pages. You can read them in sequence by clicking on the "next" button at the end of each page, or you can jump to any page by clicking in the list of Hamstall topics to the right

 

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Hamstall Parish
Hamstall Hall
Rectors of Hamstall Ridware
Blythfield Cross
Hamstall Parish Enclosures
Population
Public Houses
Nethertown

 
 
 
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The Church of St Michael and All Angels

Churches with this dedication often stand on high ground and some believe it is indicative of an ancient foundation. The present church was built around 1130 in the Norman style. Originally it consisted only of the present nave and a shorter chancel. Some of the Norman masonry can be seen on the outside on either side of the tower. Inside there is a small Norman window above the arch leading into the tower.

In the 14th century the church was lengthened to its present size and the walls were raised to their present height. Chapels were built on the north and south sides of the old chancel and the chancel was lengthened to its present form. The north aisle was added in the 15th century and the south aisle a little later. The lower part of the tower is 14th century work, the upper 15th and the spire of a later date.

A rare feature of the interior is the absence of a structural division between the nave and the chancel. The two were originally separated by a large rood loft reached by a spiral staircase on the south side. The 14th century painted panels depicting the life of Christ may have formed part of the rood screen. The 16th century choir seats came from Lichfield Cathedral.

The most significant monument in the church is the Cotton tomb, which dates from the reign of Henry VIII. The Cottons were lords of the manor from 1375 to 1517. In the south aisle and outside in the churchyard there are monuments to the Stronginthearm family. They were yeoman farmers, unusual in having their own coat of arms, which appropriately shows strong arms uplifting swords.

There is very old stained glass, some of it 14th century, in the south chapel which is dedicated to St Cecilia. This includes coats of arms of the de Ridware, Cotton, Fitzherbert and Leigh families; a depiction of Dame Alice Cotton and a female saint with crozier - possibly St Werburga. Nine of the 12 apostles are represented in beautiful stained glass in the north aisle. St John is depicted holding a chalice with a serpent coiled within it.

In the south aisle, just inside the door, is a photograph of the Hamstall Ridware chalice and paten. These rare objects, designed to hold the wine and bread at Communion, were made around 1350 and were discovered in 1817 by a farmer, William Jaggard, who was digging a ditch. They were securely wrapped and had been buried on an old road near the manor. It is possible that they were buried to save them, either at the Reformation or at the time of the Civil War. The small cup (less than five inches high) and the plate (less than five inches across) are made of silver and gilt. The paten has in the centre a hand raised in benediction. Very little church silver from this period survives and these beautiful items are extremely rare. Upon their discovery, Mr Jaggard, who was the tenant farmer at Hamstall Hall, gave them to the lord of the manor, Lord Leigh. He had them restored and returned to the parish, where they were used at Christmas and Easter, but they were eventually removed to the Victoria and Albert Museum. They are now on display at St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Lichfield.

Other evidence of medieval religious life in Hamstall Ridware comes from the Ridware Chartulary. This document consists of 68 folios of parchment, which are filled on both sides with handwriting of the early part of the 14th century and bound into one quarto volume. It was compiled by Thomas de Ridware and was probably inscribed by a monk of Merivale. It records that William de Rydeware and his son William le Sage gave two virgates of land in Nethertown to two hermits of Hamstall Wood in exchange for land where they could build a house and live. This transaction took place in the late 12th or early 13th century.
 

Hamstall Hall

Some Rectors of Hamstall

 
 
 
Latest news

Meetings

1st February:  The Society was privileged to have Ian Wykes, Cultural Environment Group Leader for Staffs Co Council speaking about the Staffordshire Hoard (a change from the advertised subject)
1st March:  Randle Knight gave a very interesting talk on William Salt and his Library
17th April:  Members enjoyed a tour of Hamstall Ridware village and church, led by Sarah Elsom and David Rudge
15th May:  David Wilkinson led members on a very interesting walking tour of Alrewas
12th June:  Members enjoyed a visit to Blithfield Hall and Church, which was a great success.
3rd July:  Members marked the 20th Anniversary of the Society with a celebration at the Gatehouse, Mavesyn Ridware, by permission of Sunny and Mark Eades.  A champagne buffet was held on a lovely sunny day and many old members travelled some distance to be present. Entertain was provided by the Early Music Man, Terry Carter.
4th October:  The winter season commenced with a very interesting talk on the Wartime Camps on Cannock Chase given by Ian Wykes.
1st November:  Dr John Hunt talked to members on 'Knights in Local Society'.
5th December:  Dr Pam Sambrook gave an intersting talk on 'The History of Oatcakes' which was followed by a Christmas Buffet
10th January:  AGM of Society, followed by a fascinating talk by Alan Harvey, who was a member of the diving team on the Mary Rose.
7th February:  Professor Timothy Peters gave an interesting talk about the Nature of the Madness of King George III.
7th March:  David Budden spoke eloquently about the history of St Matthew's Hospital, Burntwood, where he was a Pharmacist.

Click on any Programme link for details of these and other meetings.

Ridware History Society

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