Fonts

Norman – perhaps from the original church building

Possibly 17th century

Restoration of 1862

The old parish church of Yarkhill was descending into ruin, with any original beauty being hidden by thick coats of white or yellow paint which were themselves crumbling.

It was of a plain and simple form, with just a tower, nave and chancel.  The ancient walls were very thick but had little or no foundation so proper foundations were built.

The tower and chancel did not need to be taken down, but were thoroughly restored;  the entire body of the church however needed to be rebuilt, with buttresses etc and proper drainage.

All the interior fittings were cleaned and restored and the ghastly paint was removed.

During restoration, the roof of the nave was uncovered, revealing fine open oak timber work, and more provision was made for the poorer inhabitants of the parish.

Very fine old oak, taken from the decayed church of Coaley in Gloucestershire,  was used for the pulpit and reading desk, whilst the clay floor under the seats was replaced by pine.

The crude font which used to be a pig trough, was kept in the church but a more fitting version was planned.

Church Reopens in February 1863

The building work was beautifully carried out by Messrs Ainslie and Blashill, architects of 11 Old Jewry, London, and was in the style of the 13th century, with much of the original materials being incorporated.

During restoration, an ancient carving was unearthed which now is the key stone over the south doorway.  It has the Crucifixtion on one side with two mourners, and on the other side is the baby Jesus.

Also found was a granite slab dedicated to Francis Stedman.

Preserved monumental slabs included one for a father and son with the name of Lewis, who both married a Deborah;  also, two to the Godsall family, and a marble one for John Cleife who lived at the Castle Cottage in Yarkhill.

Churches of Yarkhill

• St. John the Baptist - Yarkhill

  The current church at Yarkhill is probably over 800 years old, although there were extensive renovations in 1862, but some 13th century bits and pieces still remain, such as in the porch and the base of the tower. There are three 17th century bells, but there is a record dated 25th March 1553 relating to mediaeval bells. When the three later bells were installed, the Rev. Francis Stedman was the Vicar of Yarkhill church, (he was there for 47 years) and his son Fabian wrote the Tintinnalogia on the art of bell ringing, and his method is being used countrywide to this day. There is a memorial stone in the Vestry dedicated to the Rev. Francis Stedman.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Fonts

  Norman – perhaps from the original church building

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Possibly 17th century

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Restoration of 1862

  The old parish church of Yarkhill was descending into ruin, with any original beauty being hidden by thick coats of white or yellow paint which were themselves crumbling.

  It was of a plain and simple form, with just a tower, nave and chancel.  The ancient walls were very thick but had little or no foundation so proper foundations were built.

  The tower and chancel did not need to be taken down, but were thoroughly restored;  the entire body of the church however needed to be rebuilt, with buttresses etc and proper drainage.

  All the interior fittings were cleaned and restored and the ghastly paint was removed.

  During restoration, the roof of the nave was uncovered, revealing fine open oak timber work, and more provision was made for the poorer inhabitants of the parish.

  Very fine old oak, taken from the decayed church of Coaley in Gloucestershire,  was used for the pulpit and reading desk, whilst the clay floor under the seats was replaced by pine.

  The crude font which used to be a pig trough, was kept in the church but a more fitting version was planned.

  Church Reopens in February 1863

  The building work was beautifully carried out by Messrs Ainslie and Blashill, architects of 11 Old Jewry, London, and was in the style of the 13th century, with much of the original materials being incorporated.

  During restoration, an ancient carving was unearthed which now is the key stone over the south doorway.  It has the Crucifixtion on one side with two mourners, and on the other side is the baby Jesus.

  Also found was a granite slab dedicated to Francis Stedman.

  Preserved monumental slabs included one for a father and son with the name of Lewis, who both married a Deborah;  also, two to the Godsall family, and a marble one for John Cleife who lived at the Castle Cottage in Yarkhill.

   

   

   

  Read More >

News from the Past Yarkhill

• Yarkhill News from the Past

  Painless amputation;  prolific apple trees, very useful ducks,  and more

  1846 – A Very Useful Duck

  Mr. Sandford, a Tailor of Yarkhill, had a duck that laid two eggs every day for eight days, and then on the ninth day produced three.

  1846 – The Inevitable Death of a Child from Fire

  Here it is, every village had several.  So so sad.

  An 8 year old girl called Mary Ann Stallard was left at home whilst her parents went out to work.

  Mary Ann became hungry and tried to reach some peas which were in a pot over the fire;  her clothes were caught by the flames and she was completely enveloped in fire.

  Once found, she was taken to the Infirmary but she died after suffering 9 hideous days of agony.

  1847 – Amputation Without Pain!

  At this time in history, anaesthetics were a very modern invention and were being used with caution, therefore the following was worthy of headline news!

  Charles Bufton, a Yarkhill man, suffered from a severe attack of rheumatic fever, which finally settled in his ankle and produced extensive disease of the bones.  Initially, attempts were made to cure this but they were unsuccessful;  the pain became so severe that it threatened the very life of poor Charles.  The only option was to amputate the limb.

  The Apparatus for Administering Ether

  This was described as ingenious, and was made by Mr. Bullock of the Infirmary.  It consisted of a small flat wooden box, with a glass stoppered opening to pour in the ether;  a bladder of air to dilute it, and an elastic tube with a mouthpiece to breathe from.

  The Amputation

  On 9th April 1847, a medical team assembled at Hereford Infirmary and Charles was brought into the room……..he was emaciated – haggard from enduring endless pain.

  They had barely plonked him on the table before he began begging for the ether, which being ready, was given to him.  After about a minute of breathing it in, he became unconscious, and the surgeon, Mr. Cam removed the limb then stitched the wound just as Charles began to come round.

  It was remarked on with wonder, that Charles had not uttered a sound throughout the operation, and on waking he said that he felt no pain and did not know that his leg had been removed.

  The Recovery

  A week later, not only were there no problems with the wound, but Charles was rapidly gaining weight and getting more sleep than he had had in months.

  He was cheerful and happily recommending ether to anyone who would listen.

  The stump was free from pain or inflamation, and was healing really well.

  1848 – Child Drowns at Yarkhill

  Henry Dutson, a child of just 4 and the son of Elizabeth Dutson, was sent out to play with the neighbour’s children.  He returned to eat early afternoon, then went back out.

  Elizabeth was alerted by a lad who knocked on the door, who said that whilst gathering watercress he had found a child in the canal.  She hurried to the scene, and found to her horror that it was Henry.

  Nobody seemed to know how he got there, and the verdict was “found drowned”.

  1857 – Prolific Apple Tree at Yarkhill

  An apple tree growing on land in the occupation of Mr. Deem of Yarkhill, yielded 44 bushels of good fruit in 1857.

  1860 – Woman in Labour dies at Yarkhill

  In September 1860, Alice Anne Badham aged 29, the wife of a labourer in Yarkhill, went into labour.

  After a while, the pains eased off but a few hours later she vomited nearly three pints of blood, and then died shortly afterwards.

  Several times she was asked if she wanted a doctor, but each time she refused, however the jury at the inquest (no doubt peering, frowning, over their glasses) said that “it is much to be regretted that her friends and family did not procure medical assistance”.

  The verdict was Death in unsuccessful attempts in labour.

  Read More >

1846 – A Very Useful Duck

Mr. Sandford, a Tailor of Yarkhill, had a duck that laid two eggs every day for eight days, and then on the ninth day produced three.

1846 – The Inevitable Death of a Child from Fire

Here it is, every village had several.  So so sad.

An 8 year old girl called Mary Ann Stallard was left at home whilst her parents went out to work.

Mary Ann became hungry and tried to reach some peas which were in a pot over the fire;  her clothes were caught by the flames and she was completely enveloped in fire.

Once found, she was taken to the Infirmary but she died after suffering 9 hideous days of agony.

1847 – Amputation Without Pain!

At this time in history, anaesthetics were a very modern invention and were being used with caution, therefore the following was worthy of headline news!

Charles Bufton, a Yarkhill man, suffered from a severe attack of rheumatic fever, which finally settled in his ankle and produced extensive disease of the bones.  Initially, attempts were made to cure this but they were unsuccessful;  the pain became so severe that it threatened the very life of poor Charles.  The only option was to amputate the limb.

The Apparatus for Administering Ether

This was described as ingenious, and was made by Mr. Bullock of the Infirmary.  It consisted of a small flat wooden box, with a glass stoppered opening to pour in the ether;  a bladder of air to dilute it, and an elastic tube with a mouthpiece to breathe from.

The Amputation

On 9th April 1847, a medical team assembled at Hereford Infirmary and Charles was brought into the room……..he was emaciated – haggard from enduring endless pain.

They had barely plonked him on the table before he began begging for the ether, which being ready, was given to him.  After about a minute of breathing it in, he became unconscious, and the surgeon, Mr. Cam removed the limb then stitched the wound just as Charles began to come round.

It was remarked on with wonder, that Charles had not uttered a sound throughout the operation, and on waking he said that he felt no pain and did not know that his leg had been removed.

The Recovery

A week later, not only were there no problems with the wound, but Charles was rapidly gaining weight and getting more sleep than he had had in months.

He was cheerful and happily recommending ether to anyone who would listen.

The stump was free from pain or inflamation, and was healing really well.

1848 – Child Drowns at Yarkhill

Henry Dutson, a child of just 4 and the son of Elizabeth Dutson, was sent out to play with the neighbour’s children.  He returned to eat early afternoon, then went back out.

Elizabeth was alerted by a lad who knocked on the door, who said that whilst gathering watercress he had found a child in the canal.  She hurried to the scene, and found to her horror that it was Henry.

Nobody seemed to know how he got there, and the verdict was “found drowned”.

1857 – Prolific Apple Tree at Yarkhill

An apple tree growing on land in the occupation of Mr. Deem of Yarkhill, yielded 44 bushels of good fruit in 1857.

1860 – Woman in Labour dies at Yarkhill

In September 1860, Alice Anne Badham aged 29, the wife of a labourer in Yarkhill, went into labour.

After a while, the pains eased off but a few hours later she vomited nearly three pints of blood, and then died shortly afterwards.

Several times she was asked if she wanted a doctor, but each time she refused, however the jury at the inquest (no doubt peering, frowning, over their glasses) said that “it is much to be regretted that her friends and family did not procure medical assistance”.

The verdict was Death in unsuccessful attempts in labour.