Memorial to 2nd Baron Hatherton

The memorial stone to Edward Richard Littleton , 2nd Baron Hatherton, born 31st December 1815 - died 3rd April 1888 on display at St Michael and All Angels Church, Penkridge, Staffordshire. 

The church dates from 13th century, it was a wealthy foundation with quite a collection of buildings, including a chapter house and a refectory, close to the site of the present church. Most of these buildings were lost during the reformation, though the Old Deanery and Church Farm date from the collegiate days.

The structure of the present handsome and rather grand sandstone church dates from 13th century, though the tower and porch are a century later. Alterations during the 17th century gave the exterior much of it's perpendicular character but the church retains the original 13th century arcades inside. and the east window is in the Decorated style.

There are some distinguished 16th and 17th century monuments on display, notably the double decker tomb of father and son both called Sir Edward Littleton, of nearby Pillaton Hall, who died in 1610 and 1629 respectively.

Cross- legged knight effigy

Effigy of a cross-legged knight probably originally intended to be laid horizontally. A similar, less mutilated monument dated circa 1300 can be seen in the Draycott Chapel of St Margaret's Church, Draycott-in-the-Moors.

On display at Croxden Abbey, Staffordshire. 

The Old Bell, St Giles Church, Croxden

The Old Bell, St Giles Church, Croxden

The old bronze bell inscribed WR MR RO and dated 1588 believed to have been cast to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada, was originally installed in the wooden belfry of the old stone fabric church at Croxden 420 years ago.

The old church was eventually taken down in 1806 and the bell was acquired by  Thomas ( later Sir Thomas) Warble of Leek and used in a mission chapel in the Peak District. After his death in 1909 the chapel fell into disuse and the bell was later returned to St Giles at Croxden.

The laying of the foundation stone of the new church took place on the 26th November 1884, a replacement stone church was complete with a new bell was built and then dedicated on the 12th September 1885 by the Bishop of Lichfield. The original bell was then later installed above the new bell even though the tower was designed to take only one bell.

However the old bell was made to fit in the confined space and when the bell was used over the years , one side rubbed on the sandstone tower wall, you can still see where part of the bronze has worn away.

The bell fell from the top of the tower in 2006 having been rung accidentally whilst it was out of order. Extensive corrosion of the metal fittings over the years caused it to fall from the top of the bell tower to the ground outside of the church, a distance of 45ft  an broke into many pieces, after a search with the aid of a metal detector most of the pieces were recovered to enable the bell to be re-assembled.

George and Sidney Johnson of Great gate re-assembled the bell and it's fittings, during 2008 it was then put on show inside the church for future generations to see.

Unfortunately due to the extensive damage the bell sustained after the fall the old bronze bell cannot be used and will never ring again.