Information for record number MWA1720:
Church of All Saints, Billesley

Summary The Church of All Saints which was originally built during the Medieval period. The Church was largely rebuilt during the Post Medieval period. It is situated 100m north east of Billesley Hall.
What Is It?  
Type: Church
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Billesley
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 14 56
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 A rectangular structure [ie nave], 9.3m by 4.1m inside, with a round apse, a S vestry, and W porch. Said to have been rebuilt by Bernard Whalley in 1692, but there is evidence of a C12 origin in the walling, with remains of later Medieval windows and a blocked C14 doorway in the N wall. Set in a blocked doorway in the W wall is a fragment of stone carved with a figure of Christ, probably C12. vestry and porch of 1692. Wooden bellcote at W end of nave. The interior has no Medieval features. C17 woodwork.
2 Is the unexpected apse sign of a preceding Norman apse?
5 The church is now redundant. The interior is in a state of disrepair.
6During 1988 a fibre-opitic survey found a "sealed burial vault" underneath the chancel of the church, which appeared to contain 2 chests. Part of investigation described in
7.
7 Discussion as to whether or not William Shakespeare was married at this church. Findings were disappointing; no parish register for Billesley exists for the relevant period.
8 Record of trial pit dug in 1999.
 
Sources

Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Newspaper/Magazine Article
Title: Vault may hold secret of Shakespeare's marrage
Author/originator: David Keys
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Controversy about the Church where William Shakespeare was married
Author/originator: Marlow A
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: OS Card, 47SW
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP47SWM
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: SMW
Date: 1980
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 1726
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: All Saints Church, Billesley
Author/originator: Palmer, S
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
All Saints Church, Billesley
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1930s
Click here for larger image  
 
All Saints Church, Billesley
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1950s
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument BURIAL VAULT * A built structure, generally below ground, designed for the interment of several burials over a period of time. Usually constructed with a door or sealed entrance to allow reopening for further burials. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument VAULT * An underground room or building with an arched roof, often used as a burial chamber. Use wider site type where known. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument SIGN * A board, wall painting or other structure displaying advice, giving information or directions back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record