Chebsey

Chebsey is a small village in Staffordshire 2.5 miles southeast of Eccleshall on a confluence of Eccleshall water and the River Sow some 5 miles northwest of Stafford. It comprises a number of houses and cottages and a village church dedicated to All Saints.

All Saints church

All Saints Church, Chebsey viewed from the south and showing the unusual external staircase turret running up the southeast corner of the west tower, May 2008

Standing above the village on a natural mound of higher ground, the church is mostly built from reddish sandstone in the Gothic style and dates from the 12th century. The west tower dates from the 15th century, and is constructed from mostly grey with some red sandstone blocks. The external staircase turret (on the southeast corner of the tower) at Chebsey, is quite an unusual feature. Though it is very common in the churches of the South of England and especially those of Devon and Somerset,^[1] yet it is rarely seen in churches of the English Midlands and North of England. Parts of the south wall of the church show signs of extensive repairs, mostly in red sandstone. The churchyard contains an Anglo-Saxon cross shaft.^[2] Inside the church can be found late Victorian stained glass windows by Charles Eamer Kempe, and a 13th century stone coffin.^[3] The church was extensively renovated in 1897 under the supervision of Staffordshire ecclesiastical architect Andrew Capper.^[4]

References

1. ^ "In Devonshire towers the staircase turret is generally a very prominent object, and placed in front of the tower...it forms a very ornamental feature, and adds much to the picturesque effect of these towers."W Grey, The Church of Combe-in-Teignhead, Devon, Architecture: Oxford Architectural Society, The Gentleman's Magazine, March 1842, p.302
2. ^ picture of the Anglo-Saxon Stone Cross, Chebsey Churchyard
3. ^ All Saints church, Chebsey
4. ^ All Saints, Chebsey

External links

• Photograph of Chebsey Church, c.1925

Coordinates: 52°51′N 2°13′W / 52.85°N 2.217°W / 52.85; -2.217