St.
Michael & All Angels,
Church Broughton
& the village of
Church Broughton
Church Broughton has a
population of about 570, most of whom live in the village core which
consists
of the cottages of the old village together with modern housing. There
is much
farming in the parish although the farmsteads are outside the village
itself.
Most of the residents now work outside the village especially in the
urban
centres of
There is a
Church of England (Controlled) Primary School with some 120 pupils from this and neighbouring
villages. There has been a school in the village at least since 1745
when the
Duke of Devonshire (then Lord of the Manor) provided a building for the
purpose
and with others provided funds for it. This meant that from then poor
children
were able to have a free schooling. When the present school was
inspected by
OFSTED School Inspectors, it was adjudged one of the best schools of
its size
in
Latest Ofsted
Report
on the school
There is also a village pub
- "The Holly Bush". The active
village community includes the Friends of Church Broughton School who
hold
various functions the proceeds of which contribute towards the work of
the
School. The biggest event organised by them is the May Festival held on
the May
Day Public Holiday each year. For this the village street is closed to
allow
various stalls to be set up and there are various entertainments
including a
dancing display by the schoolchildren and music from the band of the
John Port
School.
In February each year
during school half term, "Beer Crate Productions" present a pantomime
in the school. This is an entirely local prodcution with the script
locally
written, as well as all those taking any part in the production -
actors,
backstage staff etc. all local people. This event is attracts large
audiences
through its run.
The present Parish Church
of St. Michael & All Angels includes parts of the Norman Church
built
around 1100 including the pillars of the nave and the font. There has
been
considerable rebuilding work over the years with a major rebuilding in
the 14th
century possibly interrupted by the Black Death of 1348-1350.
Additional
changes came in the 16th, 17th 18th and 19th centuries. The tower
contains a
ring of 6 bells. More about the bells
The parish church has an
active congregation and forms of service from both the 1662 book of
Common
Prayer and Common Worship are used.
In addition to the human
congregation we are joined in church by a community of bats, thought to
be
pipistrelles although this is at present being checked. At dusk these
can be
seen using their private access into and out of the church and flying
about the
churchyard feeding. They cause some problems for the church cleaner
especially
during the summer when there is a bat maternity unit there! It is,
however, a
joy to have their help in controlling the various beetles which
threaten the
woodwork in the church. The churchyard is something of a wildlife
sanctuary
with various wild flowers growing and also resident grey squirrels
(These
immigrants from North America have sadly ousted the native red
squirrels in
most of England, but it can still be fascinating to watch them as they
leap
through the trees and scramble on the ground. Apart from the birds,
other
resident or regular visitors to the churchyard include hedgehogs. The
recent
sighting of a very young hedgehog there suggests that they breed here.
The time
was when they would have been in serious danger by making their homes
here. It
seems that in those times they were believed to be harmful and there
was a
bounty on them. Time and again in the 17th century churchwarden's
accounts
there a records such as:
"2 hedgehogs
4pence"
Sometimes and entry can be
startling:-
"1680 For five
hedgehogs and given to a man yt had his tongue cut out 2 shillings and
sixpence" (12 1/2 pence) (This must have been quite a sum for the time.
Another entry shows that six and a half days work for a builder earned
one Luke
Mather only 7 shillings and 7 pence. In 1650 the Rector of Dalbury had
an
income of 20 pounds per year
Other fascinating items
include:
"1681 A brief for
redeeming ye merchants taken by Turkish pirates: one pound one shilling"
In 1703 a new weathercock
was set up on top of the spire at a cost of 9 shillings (45 pence
Also served by St.
Michael's, Church Broughton is the little community of Barton
Blount. To the north of Church Broughton this is now simply a
fine 18th
century hall surrounded by a few scattered farms and cottages and a
racehorse
training stables. At the time of the Domesday survey (1086) the
situation was
very different. The village was evidently then twice the size of Church
Broughton. The record reads "In Barton, Godric, a second Godric, Edric,
Leofnoth, Alfeah, Ledmer, Dunning and Edward had 4 carucates of land
taxable.
Land for 4 ploughs. Now in lordship 3 ploughs, 19 villagers and 11
smallholders
who have 7 ploughs. A priest and a church; 2 mills 20 shillings (= one
pound);
meadow 64 acres. Value before 1066 and now 4 pounds. Ralph holds it."
The old parish