Monument record 355/1/3 - Church of St Michael: Churchyard

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 422037 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Churchyard wall. Probably sixteenth or seventeenth century. Red sandstone ashlar. Three sides of a rectangular churchyard to which a later twentieth century extension has been added. Walling of large blocks of coursed ashlar with steeply chamfered coping stones. The graveyard is raised above the surrounding field and more of the walling is evident to the outer face than appears to the inner side.

<2> AAA Archaeological Advisors, 2006, St Michael's Church, Marbury, Cheshire; Report on an Archaeological Evaluation. (Client Report). SCH4756.

'...There is one indicator of an earlier church on this site in the form of a late twelfth century tomb cover of a knight which is propped against the eastern inside wall of the churchyard…’

<3> County Historic Environment Record, Site Visit/Watching Brief Observation Report Form (Unpublished Document). SCH4357.

There are two possible vaults located to the south of the church and a number of inscriptions in the north wall of the churchyard which commemorate it's extension in 1935.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R 16/09/2020 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The churchyard has been extended to the north on two occassions; once between 1874-1875 and 1898 (see 5 & 6), and again in 1935. It was extended to the west in the 1970s or early 1980s.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5645, 1874-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5645, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<7> Latham, F.A., 1999, Wrenbury and Marbury: The History of Two Parishes and the Nearby Villages, p.71 (Book). SCH8899.

A schoolhouse was built in the churchyard in 1688, but was demolished in 1824.