HOUGH ON THE HILL : CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS
Church Post Code NG32 2AZ
Open to visitors
Visited September 2020 revisited March 2022.
As this is being typed in late November 2025, there is a discussion on a Facebook church photography group that I am a member of in which the question was asked are those who submit photographs interested in the architecture or are they just interested in getting a good photograph of a church without worrying too much about the finer architectural details. An interesting question!
This page will look at two churches in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire; starting off with the church of All Saints at Hough On The Hill, followed by a brief trip north to Stragglethorpe, and the church of St Michael & All Angels. These churches would nicely cater to both groups, with ancient and historic architecture for those interested in the history and exquisite churches in a beautiful setting for those who want this. Each also caters for a third group, not acknowledged in that Facebook post; the churchcrawling Christians who could look at each church and its continuity of worship for 900 years or so!
The church of All Saints at Hough on the Hill is one that I particularly wanted to see inside; with the church here having one of only four surviving Saxon external stair cases; the others being at Brigstock and Brixworth in Northamptonshire and Broughton in Lincolnshire. The latter I haven’t visited but Brigstock can be found on my site that covers parish churches around Peterborough and Brixworth can be found on this site; I will pop a link to both sites at the foot of this entry.
The village itself can be found some seven miles north of Grantham, with Stragglethorpe, which is also included on this page, neighbouring to the north. The wonderfully named Carlton Scroop, with its Cold War emergency microwave tower and now demolished Cold War Royal Observer Corps bunker is across the fields to the south east. Lincoln is some 20 miles away to the north east.
The village recorded a population of 449 at the time of the 2021 census, with this including that of neighbouring Brandon, which also has a small and ancient chapel of ease which was closed when I visited but which has a fine tympanum doorway. All Saints sits on high ground, known as Castle Hill where a medieval motte and bailey castle once stood; with only the mound remaining today.
As has already been mentioned there was a church here in Saxon times and it is no surprise to hear then that there was a church and a priest mentioned here at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086, on lands owned by Alan of Brittany. Amazing to think that the same church stands today that was recorded then
The church that we see today consists of west tower with circular external stair turret, nave with north and south aisles and clerestories, south porch and chancel.
The tower is of rubble and is of four stages with the lower three stages dating from the 11th century; the circular stair turret alongside also dates from the same period and rises up to the same height as the original tower. As was mentioned earlier, this is of extreme rarity, with only four surviving in the country. The nave walls also date from the 11th century; the north and south aisles were added during the 13th century, at which point the south porch was also added. The church was restored in 1845.
The upper stage of the tower is of ashlar and is battlemented with crocketed pinnacles; a frieze running across the top consists of a repeated quatrefoil design. Small animals can be seen in the string course below, including an inquisitive owl which looks out with its head tilted sideways. Grotesques of high quality peer out from the four corners of the tower, which includes a crouching playing a pipe and a snarling figure with bulging eyes and a lichen encrusted forehead.
The nave has windows on two levels with the outline of the previous roofline of what appears to be a steeply pitched porch still visible. It is suggested that the original walls of the nave would have stood some 10 meters high. The clerestory is battlemented and pinnacled, with grotesques running the full length, alternating with plain water chutes.
When Thomas North’s study of the church bells in Lincolnshire was published in 1882, there were five bells in the ring here; with all five cast by Tobias Norris III of the Stamford bell foundry. He noted the details as follows.
The first of the ring had the names inscribed Ed Payne Esq, W Walker and J Morris with the second reading ‘Tobie Norris Cast Wee 1683. The third of the ring bore the names W Read and S Folkerd with the fourth inscribed R Poole Min and R Bee Gent. The fifth was inscribed with the verse ‘When you have heare this mournfull sound prepare yourselves for underground’.
North also notes that there were three bells here prior to 1683; with no founders recorded but inscriptions as follows ‘SCA HELENA ORA PRO NOBIS’ which translates as ’St Helen pray for us’. The second read ‘PROTÉGÉ PRECE PIA QUOS CORNUOCO SCA MARIA’. I struggled with translating this one, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Google translate struggled with this one and didn’t care for the word Cornuoco and I have a translation which reads ‘ St Mary protect with a pious prayer’.
The third was inscribed ‘CELORUM XPE PLACEAT TIBI REX SONUS ISTE’ which reads ‘May this sound please you King of Heaven’.
There was also note made of the church wardens accounts from 1566, which reported that two hand bells that were here in the days of Queen Mary had been defaced and sold and that a ‘Scaringe bell’ had also been sold to Austen Earle to hang around a calves neck!
The visitor enters the grounds through a lychgate to the south, with village notice board alongside which has finely carved depictions of the village history including the castle and church. The church was open and we were good to go.
Moving inside there are two bay arcades to north and south, dating from the early 13th century, which have octagonal piers and capitals. Fixtures and fittings look to date from the Victorian restoration. To the south of the chancel arch is a small ogee headed recess in which is a modern statue of the Virgin with child. The east end of the north aisle has an altar with a curious 19th century multi coloured canopy over it. Looking back to the west we can see the stonework of the lower stage of the 11th century tower, with small doorway with rounded arch leading in to the tower itself. Looking up we see a fine timber ceiling, dating from the 15th century.
Moving in to the chancel, the east window is of five lights and has Christ in Majesty at the centre, one hand raised in blessing and holding a globe; flanked by the four Gospel writers. The altar is plain and simple; more elaborate the reredos; tasteful in shades of blue and gold, which consists of several ogee headed blind arches, with the central arch wider and having the wording ‘Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus’. IHS can be seen on the other arches, this being a Christian monogram denoting Jesus, with these being the first three letters in the Greek word for Jesus.
Other glass here has a three light window with Jesus as the Good Shepherd central. This central image is flanked by two other depictions, each concerned with sheep. To the left as we look at it we see King David with harp with text from Psalm 23, a Psalm of David on a banner ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. To the right we see the Prophet Isaiah who holds a scroll which reads ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd’, this from Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 11.
Elsewhere we see Mary and Martha with Jesus; who has travelled back to them on hearing of their brother Lazarus’ death. The scene is just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead; Martha has gone outside to meet Jesus in the yard whilst Mary is still inside, seen through a window weeping. Martha was a doer, always on the go; mainly depicted carrying a jug, or with a bunch of keys. Here though both sisters are at prayer; the time for activity has ceased, and the time for prayer has come. Script below in the Old King James version says ‘I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live’.
We also see a depiction of the nativity, with Mary and Joseph at prayer alongside the manger; the baby Jesus in the manger with all three having golden nimbus. Mary is dressed in expensive robe; which irks me no end as a few weeks later they presented Jesus in the temple along with the temple sacrifice of two doves, which was the suggested offering for those of limited means.
It was interesting to see a grid for a game called ‘Three Men’s Morris’, carved in to a bench in the porch and its worth noting here that much secular activity took place in church porches.
This is a fine church, steeped in history, open and welcoming and is well worth while taking a look at if you are in this part of Lincolnshire. Just note as well that the remains of the Knights Templar complex at Temple Bruer is not too far away either, less than ten miles away to the north east and this is normally open to visitors; the graffiti there being fascinating.
A Couple More Saxon Exterior Stair Turrets
Click on the photograph above to visit the page for the church of St Andrew, Brigstock Northants.
Click on the above photograph to visit the page for the church of All Saints, Brixworth Northants.
STRAGGLETHORPE : CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS
Church Post Code LN5 0QZ
Open to visitors
Visited March 2022
Four miles or so to the north of Hough on the Hill is Stragglethorpe, a small village; just a scattering of houses, and the church of St Michael & All Angels. Since 1931 the village here has been in the same parish at neighbouring Brant Broughton to the north; forming the Parish of Brant Broughton with Stragglethorpe.
The two churches within this parish couldn’t be further apart is terms of structure; with the soaring grandeur of St Helen, which can be seen elsewhere on this site, contrasting to the single cell charm of its neighbour.
Stragglethorpe can be found to the south of the A17 which connects Newark to Sleaford; the former being some eight miles to the west with the latter 12 miles to the south east. The River Brant runs to the east of the village with the church of St Michael & All Angels to be found to the north of the village.
This is still a working church but is seen as a ‘festival church’ which would only have services on special occasions such as carol services; the spiritual wellbeing of the parish on a daily basis being looked after at Brant Broughton.
Looking at the church from the south on this crisp March afternoon St Michael is framed by trees, all without leaves at this early point in the year. A few clumps of daffodils were just starting to get past their best with a carpet of grape hyacinth running against the rustic fence that marks the southern extent of the grounds. There was no real warmth to the sun yet, but I pictured a pleasant scene here on a summer evening. Sat in the church grounds after a day out with the camera, with a pack up and a cold drink; a day out of the rat race, with the rat race here being self-inflicted due to the fact that I work for myself, enjoying the warmth; bees and birds my only company; thunder rumbling off in the distance.
We have a simple single cell building of nave and chancel, with double bellcote at the west end and a south porch. Nave and chancel run in to each other seamlessly under a single steeply pitched tile roof. A statue of St Michael can be seen in the buttress to the west end slaying the devil in the form of a dragon; a few very weathered heads in the bellcote above. To the west of the door in the south porch we see the remains of a mass dial; this being a kind of sundial which would alert the faithful as to the time of the next Mass.
There is some real age to the church here with the nave and chancel dating to the late 12th century; with a blocked west doorway with triangular arch suggesting that parts were earlier still; Saxon in date.. The south porch dates to the 14th century and visitors entering in through this porch will note another mass dial on the jamb of the south door itself. This inner door dates from the late 12th century and this dial would have had the same purpose in the years before the south porch was added.
There are two bells in the ring here, with the first dated 1804 and cast by Thomas I Mears of Whitechapel. North in his study records that this bell was donated to the church at some point around the 1830’s by a local man who had been using it as his dinner bell. North also notes that it had stood in the church for seven years before finally being hung. The second of the ring was cast by Thomas Osborne of Downham Market in Norfolk in 1790.
​A check beforehand suggested that the church would be open to visitors; the white half picket gate in the south porch was open and we were good to go!
Moving inside, there is a real sense of history here with beautiful old box pews in the nave with the east end having the family box pew for the Lords of the Manor. I was a little surprised on entering to see that there was a north aisle here; this also dating from the late 12th century and consisting of two bays with octagonal piers and capitals. The eye is caught by a monument against the north wall of the chancel; which we will come to in a few moments; just to mention for now though that this is of some height and the ceiling over it has been heightened to accommodate it!
The chancel is plain and tasteful; the high altar having a cloth of gold and white, with just a single cross and two pots of daffodils. There is a theme of gold here with golden curtains to north and south of the chancel, a reredos of gold cloth and more golden cloth on the lectern. There are two single light windows with rounded arches at the east end of the chancel, with the northern window having a small piece of stained glass which, although being very small, is of great historic interest, dating from the first half of the 13th century and said to be the oldest surviving stained glass in Lincolnshire. Looking to the west we see the original west door, now blocked, with its triangular arch. The Norman drum shaped font is surrounded by blank arcading.
This is an interior that appeals to me very much; fascinating to try and think back to what things must have been like here during a service during say the late 17th century. The Lord and Lady of the Manor having pride of place in their family pew; no doubt keeping more than half an eye out to make sure that their staff was all present and correct; this task being made easier by the fact that there was seating on all four sides of this family pew making it easier, if necessary to look out across at the congregation rather than looking east towards the priest.
This is an interior devoid of imaginary and it is reasonable to suggest that things were the same back in the day. A space where the word of God was paramount and not the trappings that often accompanied this! Bible passages are wall mounted throughout; the Ten Commandments to be found at the east end, flanking the east windows with the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer also displayed.
Also included is Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 verse 1 which reads in the Old King James version ‘Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil’. This verse pretty much sums up what this interior is about, with verse 1 & 2 in the modern Message Translation reading ‘Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good. Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better’.
The monument mentioned earlier is to Richard Earle against the north wall of the chancel. The Earle family had purchased the Manor of Stragglethorpe in 1608 and four generations of the family, all named Richard, were Baronets. This particular Richard inherited the title 4th Baronet after the death of his father when he was seven years old. He died in 1697 at the age of 24 years.
The epitaph, which refers to his mother Eleanor Welby, reads as follows… ‘Stay reader and observe deaths Partial doom/A spreading virtue in a narrow tomb/A generous mind mingle with common dust/Like burnish’d steel cover’d and left in rust/Darke in the earth he lies in whom did shine/All the divided merits of his line/ The lustre of his name seems faded here/ No fairer star in all that fruitfull sphere/ In piety and parts extremely bright/Clear was his youth and fill’d with growing light/ A morn that promised much yet saw no noon/None ever rose so fast or set so soon/ All lines of worth were centred here in one/Yet see he lies in shades whose life had none/But while the mother this sad structure rears/A double dissolution there appears/ He in to dust she in to tears’.
Above the epitaph we see angels, which were used to symbolise the safe escorting of the soul towards Heaven. We also see trumpets which were used to symbolise the resurrection and a crown. The crown is another often used symbol of victory; with the victory here being over death; the deceased having led a good Christian life and receiving his reward in Heaven.
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The church grounds are interesting but there is nothing of any great rarity or interest and nothing here has its own Grade II Listing.
The church of St Michael is generally open to visitors and is well worth taking a look at. The two churches looked at on this page are e of great historic and architectural interest and great beauty; with each having a continuity of worship numbering many hundreds of years. There is plenty enough to keep any visiting churchcrawler interested whatever your reason for visiting.
A Couple of other pages of possible interest.
Mention was made on this page of two other local church of interest, Temple Bruer and Brant Broughton. Please click on either of the photographs to be directed to the relevant page; with each page opening up in another window.
Temple Bruer
