ALL SAINTS, CLAVERLEY

Notable for its spectacular wall paintings, Claverley is a treasure

trove of medieval artwork. Alongside architectural features dating from the twelfth-fifteenth centuries, you’ll find a pair of fonts, one Norman and one possibly Saxon, but decorated in the Norman style and pillars painted to

look like dressed stone. By far the most captivating feature is the 13th-century

frieze on the wall of the nave including scenes alluding to the myth of the

9th-century emperor Charlemagne.

ST. ANDREW’S, QUATT

The red brick exterior of St Andrew’s dates to c. 1763; however, some of its features are medieval. Inside you’ll

find some striking early modern funerary monuments of the local Wolryche family as well as some

remarkable items of military history, including a memorial to Lt. Wilkinson – a local who received the Victoria

Cross during the First World War.

ST. MICHAEL’S, UPTON CRESSETT

A hidden gem, St Michael’s is a Norman church with an array of

surviving features, including the nave and lower chancel, the chancel arch,

the font, and even some surviving Norman windows. A wall painting dating to c. 1200 on the west side of the chapel depicts an angel,

enthroned king, and broad band of foliage scrollwork in a style identical

to that used at Claverley.

ST. PETER’S, WORFIELD

Described by locals as ‘a church that thinks it’s a cathedral’, this impressive

12th-century church has what is widely considered the finest spire in Shropshire.

Inside you’ll find 14th-century stained glass, alongside beautiful newer additions. There

are also a pair of impressive funerary monuments connected with the Bromley family. The original, 12th-century church doors are on display above a modern

meeting room complex.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE’S,

QUATFORD

Nestled in a beautiful setting, this church, established between 1084-6 by the Earl of Shrewsbury, appears in Domesday Book (1086). The current

building retains the Norman chancel and some evidence of a Norman

nave and tower. The font is probably Norman, and the remnants of a wall

painting on the north wall of the chancel date to c. 1100.

ST. MARY’S, ALVELEY

Top image: Part of Worfield’s renovated stained-glass window

12th-century font at Upton Cressett

Remnants of medieval wall paintings that would have once covered the inside of the church

Top image: Funerary monument of the Wolryche family

Part of Alveley’s wall paintings showing a skeletal figure

Top image: Wall paintings at All Saints, Claverley

Main Road (A442), Quatford, Bridgnorth WV15 6QJ

1 Hillside Bungalows, Quatt, Bridgnorth WV15 6QW

Alveley Village, Alveley, Bridgnorth WV15 6ND

Upton Cressett, Bridgnorth WV16 6UH

Main St, Worfield, Bridgnorth WV15 5LF

HOLY INNOCENTS, TUCK HILL

On route from Claverley to Alveley, you can stop at Holy Innocents,

Tuck Hill. While not medieval, it is a fine church in a lovely setting.

Tuckhill, Bridgnorth WV15 6EW

Church St, Claverley, Wolverhampton WV5 7DT

Overlooking open countryside to the West and North, St. Mary’s is a medley of medieval features, dating back to the Norman Conquest. Keep an eye

out for the medieval wall paintings on the south wall and the 15th-century

altar frontal on the north. The stained glass in the clerestory (upper level)

dates to the 15th-century.

Outside, you’ll also find a medieval preaching cross and sabre marks on

the church yard from the Civil War period in the 17th-century.

AL

L SA

INT

S, CL

AVE

RL

EY

HO

LY IN

NO

CE

NT

S, TU

CK

HIL

L

ST

. MA

RY

’S, ALV

EL

EY

ST. A

ND

RE

W’S, Q

UA

TT

ST. M

AR

Y M

AG

DA

LE

NE

’S, QU

AT

FO

RD

ST. M

ICH

AE

L’S, U

PT

ON

CR

ESSE

TT

ST. P

ET

ER

’S, WO

RF

IEL

D

CHARLEMAGNE_SHROPSHIRE CHURCH TRAIL_12PP LEAFLET _AW.indd 1-6 23/11/2018 13:52

AN EAST SHROPSHIRE

CHURCH TRAIL

CHARLEMAGNEA E u ro p e a n I c o n

CHARLEMAGNEA E u ro p e a n I c o n

Bridgnorth

Quatford

Mose

Quatt

Hampton Loade

Eardington

Upper Forge

ClaverleyBarnsley

RoughtonSwancote

WorfieldAstley Abbotts

Hilton

Chelmarsh

Beobridge

Bobbington

Upper Farmcote

Lower Beobridge

Sidbury

Tasley

Newton

Rindleford

Billingsley

Glazeley

Chetton

Morville

Upton Cressett

Highley Alveley

Deuxhill

Middleton Scriven

6

7

1

24

5

3

Tuckhill

For more information on all of these churches, please see our website:

www.charlemagne-icon.ac.uk

For more information on Claverley, please see our Claverley leaflet and further information which

can be found on our website:

www.charlemagne-icon.ac.uk/heritage

FURTHER READING

Richard Marks, Stained Glass in England during the Middle Ages (1993)

John Newman and Nikolaus Pevsner, Shropshire, The Buildings of England series (2006)

Roger Rosewell, Medieval Wall Paintings, Shire Series (2015)

IF TRAVELLING FROM THE NORTH

For those interested in Medieval wall paintings the church of St Andrew’s, Wroxeter, just outside

Shrewsbury, is well worth a visit. The grand 15th-century church of St Bartholomew’s, Tong,

just off junction 3 of the M54, is also worth seeing.

Just off the A458 from Shrewsbury you’ll find the ruins of Wenlock Priory and further along the A4169 the impressive ruins of Buildwas Abbey

on the banks of the River Severn.

IF TRAVELLING FROM THE SOUTH

For those travelling through the Shropshire Hills AONB, be sure to visit the majestic Ludlow Castle. Just up

the A49 is also the fortified manor of Stokesay Castle which is maintained by English Heritage.

IF TRAVELLING FROM THE WEST

Visit the award-winning Walsall Leather Museum, a celebration of the British leather goods capital.

To see Walsall’s famous ‘Bayard’s Colts’, early modern carved staffs, including the ‘Charlemagne head’,

contact the curator of the Leather Museum.

THINGS TO SEE INBRIDGNORTH...

MAP OF THE TRAIL

Bridgnorth was the main political centre for this area during the Middle Ages and

contains many things to see and do.

The ruins of Bridgnorth Castle can be seen in the High Town. St. Leonard’s church

is also worth visiting. Both of these were severely damaged in the Civil War during

the 1646 Siege of Bridgnorth, though St. Leonard’s has since been rebuilt.

While not open to the public, Bishop Percy’s House has a beautiful exterior

displaying 16th-century timber work. The 17th-century Town Hall is also admirable.

For those parking in the Low Town, the Cliff Railway provides an easy way

to ascend the cliffs and admire the views over the River Severn.

For more information on facilities available at Bridgnorth see:

www.visitbridgnorth.co.uk

Photographs by Jamie Carstairs

Shropshire has an exceptionally large number of historic churches. This short

trail highlights a few medieval places of worship in a circular route.

We start with Claverley, because of the allusions to Charlemagne, but you could

pick up the route at any point.

5. St. Mary Magdalene, Quatford

6. St. Michael’s, Upton Cressett

7. St. Peter’s, Worfield All Saints, Claverley

1. All Saints, Claverley

2. Holy Innocents, Tuck Hill

3. St. Mary’s, Alveley

4. St. Andrew’s, Quatt

CHARLEMAGNE_SHROPSHIRE CHURCH TRAIL_12PP LEAFLET _AW.indd 7-12 23/11/2018 13:52