St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick. Originally built in the early to mid 13th century but the only parts of that period that still remain are the west tower. A lot of rebuilding and extending occurred in the early 14th century, including extensions to the chancel.
Rebuilt from an earlier church in the 14th century, some parts of the south parts are from the earlier period. The porch and tower were rebuilt in the 19th century.
The font is 13th century, the cancel and alter rails 17th century, whilst the east window is modern.
Originally built in 1848 as a school by William Butterfield, with the schoolmaster living in the tower. It was also used as a church on Sundays, but became a chapel in 1905 and then as a church in 1925 when it was dedicated St Edmund (841-869).
Access: Open.
The small church of St. Mark was built with railway money in 1891 as compensation for the disruption to the nearby ancient village of Wolfhampcote. The railway was closed to passengers in 1952. However, freight trains ran along the line until 1963.
Access: open on day of visit
The Church has been on this site since the 13th Century but the only original part is the base of the tower, the upper part of the tower is 18th century. Most of the rest of the church was rebuilt in 1844.
The interior contains a number of 16th-18th century monuments, dedicated to the Shuckburgh family.
The church itself stands on a small rise in the deer park of Shuckburgh Hall which is a few 100 metres away.
The tower contains 4 bells from the mid 17th century, three of which were made by Henry Bagley.
The local church history quotes from “The Kings of England, Warwickshire Book’ by Arthur Mees’s which says these stones came from Cardinal Wolsey’s Palace in Esher, but they look far too modern to me. Another souce says that they are 18th century.
www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57132
Access: Locked no contact details
