All Saints Bakewell - The Porch

Decorative crosses on mediaeval grave slabs from the 12th to 13th century

During my investigation of the mediaeval churches of South Yorkshire - in Conisbrough and Thrybergh for example - I have encountered a few fragments of what are considered to be Saxon crosses and I have seen a few examples of mediaeval stone coffins and their carved lids but, at All Saints church in Bakewell, there is the largest and most varied collection of early mediaeval monuments of this type to be seen in the UK.

An interpretation panel in the porch

Now covering both walls of the interior of the 15th century porch, these were discovered during the major phase of rebuilding in 1841/1842 – along with others that have been removed or reused elsewhere in the church - and date from the 10th to the 15th century.

Anglo-Scandinavian sculpture

The earliest examples – on the right hand side when entering the porch - are of both Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian styles, with geometrical designs, mythical beasts and other creatures, and which have been interpreted as fragments of cross shafts and parts of a decorated frieze that formed part of an earlier Saxon church.

Norman cushion capitals and miscellaneous carved stones

Above these, there is a large collection of small Norman style cushion capitals, gargoyles, figurative sculpture and various fragments of grave tops with crude shallow relief carvings, together with miscellaneous carved stones that were salvaged from the mediaeval church when it was largely rebuilt in the 19th century.

A general view of the porch

On the opposite wall of the porch, there are several large grave slabs from the 12th and 13th century that, with their decorative crosses, are very different in style to the 10th century sculptures. Many of these are carved with symbols – including a sword, chalice, keys and pairs of shears – which reflect the status or occupation of the persons interred in these graves.

Mediaeval tiles in the porch of All Saints church in Bakewell

Also, in addition to various other interesting examples of ancient masonry on the floor, there are two small stone slabs - with drafted margins - upon which have been set some mediaeval floor tiles, where the decoration and coloured glazes are still clearly seen.