Marston on Dove – Parish Church and River History

If you want to understand local history through specific building phases and a changing river landscape, Marston on Dove offers clear points of reference. St Mary’s parish church, the lychgate and The Hall represent different periods of construction; the diversion of the River Dove adds a changing landscape to the story of the buildings.

Church of St Mary and its building phases

The Church of St Mary is a Grade I-listed parish church. Its chancel dates from the 13th century; the tower and south aisle date from the 14th century. A chancel is the area at the altar end of a church; a south aisle is a side space on the southern side. These terms identify different parts of the church building and help distinguish its various building periods. When exploring the architecture, you can therefore distinguish the older chancel from the later-dated parts.

A bell at the Church of St Mary was cast in 1366 by John of Stafford. Unlike the century-based dates for the building elements, this date specifies a particular year and founder. The bell thus adds a precisely dated detail from the 14th century to the chronology. In exploring the history of the place, two scales come together: the building phases of the parish church and the making of a single object.

Lychgate and The Hall

The early-20th-century lychgate stands northeast of the Church of St Mary. It is listed for its group value. The structure combines finely dressed, squared sandstone with wood; its pitched roof is covered with Welsh slate. Compared with the church’s medieval building elements, the gate belongs to a considerably later period. Its group value also highlights its relationship with the church. The materials and date give you two specific points of reference for considering this structure separately.

The Hall, formerly Marston Hall, stands on Marston Lane and is a Grade II-listed small country house. Its origins date to the late 18th century, with additions made in 1837 and 1887. Listing does not mean that the house is generally open to visitors. If you have specific plans to visit, check the current access arrangements for the house.

River history and practical information

The village of Marston-on-Dove developed along the banks of the Old River Dove. In the 1850s, the course of the River Dove was diverted south to allow a new railway line to be built. As a result, Marston was farther from the banks of the River Dove than before.

For practical directions around St Mary’s, there is a clear point of reference: a large, free car park is located directly beside the Church of St Mary. If the parish church is one of your interests, you can take this information into account when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Pattingham, Alton, Eccleshall, Branston, Endon, Hamstall Ridware, Whittington, Kinver

More travel ideas: Staffordshire.