We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.

St Michael, Llanyblodwel, Shropshire

Location
(52°47′53″N, 3°7′46″W)
Llanyblodwel
SJ 23938 22891
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Shropshire
now Shropshire
medieval St Asaph
now Lichfield
  • Barbara Zeitler
24 Aug 1999

Please use this link to cite this page - https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=3426.

Find out how to cite the CRSBI website here.

Description

Llanyblodwel is in the NW of the county, 5 miles SW of Oswestry and only a mile from the Welsh border. The village stands in the valley of the River Tanat, with the church at its centre. St Michael's is medieval in origin but was rebuilt to the design of the vicar, Rev. John Parker, between 1847 and 1856. It is now dominated by an octagonal tower that merges into a slightly swelling tower, like a rocket, apparently based on the spire of Freiburg Mister although the comparison is not close. Parker's spire, however, is of Welsh Minera limestone heavily dressed with Shelvock sandstone, which gives it a decidedly pinkish appearance. The steeple is almost detached from its twin gabled church, being linked to it only by a low vestibule. The nave, with a W gallery, and chancel occupy the S block, while the N block is an aisle with a longitudinal organ gallery occupying most of its length. Between the two is a 3-bay arcade dating from the 14thc. Parker also added dormers to the nave roof and his interior is covered with painted texts and stencilled patterns. The S nave doorway, under Parker's porch, is 12thc and the font may well be too, although this is a matter of dispute.

History

At the time of its construction in the 12thc, the church was in Welsh borderlands, and ownership of the manor was liable to change. By 1272 and probably earlier Llanyblodwel was in the Walcheria, or Welsh part of Oswestry, and its church was in the patronage of the FitzAlans (Eyton v.10, 354). That being so, it is likely that the manor was held by Earl Roger of Shrewsbury as overlord in 1086.

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Furnishings

Fonts

Comments/Opinions

The doorway is uncommonly tall. The font is described by the Shropshire HER as an 'Octagonal font with painted carved decoration said to be c. 1660 but may be a medieval font recut; rests on possibly C12 scalloped base.' For Newman and Pevsner it is 'An attempt at Neo-Norman surely by Parker.' The base is certainly a genuine 12thc scalloped capital, and the font, despite its unusual appearance, must be medieval in origin since there are signs on the rim that it once had a lock. The oversized chip-carving could well be a later modification, however.

Bibliography

D. H. S. Cranage, An architectural account of the churches of Shropshire, part 9, Welington, 1908, 798-800.

R. W. Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, 12 vols, London 1854-60, vol. 10, 353-54.

Historic England Listed Building, English Heritage Legacy ID: 256618

J. Newman and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Shropshire, New Haven and London, 2006, 336-38.

R. Purser, The Church of St Michael the Archangel, Llanyblodwell, booklet, 1995.

Shropshire Council, Historic Environment Record 13036