Mediaeval Churches in Rotherham

All Saints church in Laughton-en-le-Morthen

Having undertaken a thorough survey of the building stones of St. Helen’s church and developed a better understanding of the techniques that an archaeologist uses to unravel the construction history of an ancient building, it has spurred me on to take this project to another level.

All Hallows in Harthill

Limited to travel by public transport, the previous year had been spent exploring various geological sites and historic monuments in parts of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Derbyshire; however, with the easily accessible places now effectively exhausted, I have had to think of some other places that I know would be of interest to Geotourists.

St. Peter & St. Paul in Todwick

In England, the oldest building in any village, town or city is usually the church or the castle and wherever they are underlain by hard rock geology, the stone used to build them was generally quarried from very nearby.

St. John the Baptist in Wales

Essentially, the geology of South Yorkshire comprises Carboniferous Millstone Grit and Coal Measures, Permian dolomitic limestone and Triassic sandstone - with the latter largely being covered by Quaternary sands and gravels.

St. John the Baptist in Hooton Roberts

As a starting point, I have set out to explore the old mediaeval churches that are built on or near to the outcrop of the Mexborough Rock, from Hooton Roberts in the north to Harthill in the south, where the distinctive red colouration of the rock gives it the name “Rotherham Red” sandstone.

St. Leonard in Thrybergh

In the south-eastern part of the borough of Rotherham, I have now surveyed the part of the stratigraphic column that lies between the Carboniferous Treeton Rock and the Permian Cadeby Formation – from the top deck of the bus and by walking around various ancient villages.

All Saints in Aston

Wherever possible, I have taken photographs of the interiors of some magnificent churches that date back to the Norman Conquest and beyond and - continuing my exploration in other parts of South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire - my travels have provided me with a great insight into the logistics of quarrying and transport that existed during a time when Roche Abbey and Conisbrough Castle were also being built.