A selection of old postcards and engravings showing the changing face of the church surroundings

An early engraving showing the position of Sprotbrough Hall  with St Mary's . c: 1700s ?

The first two postcards are the same, top one is hand tinted.  Interestingly the gate shown crossed the path of the lane leading to Sprotbrough hall. The gate has gone, but one post can still be seen today.

Pictures of what is beloved to be a Frith Stool.

Frith stools were used as a place of sanctuary; anyone who managed to reach the frith, such as a criminal fleeing justice, could not be touched until they were granted assurance of justice and fair treatment. Sanctuary was used frequently, until it was finally outlawed in the Tudor period.
 

At first glance these two could be mistaken for the same picture, but there is a big gap between when they were taken Notice the gable end on the big house and the two different cars (one on left a three wheeler) .The hand tinted card also shows some telegraph poles, and a red telephone box

Circa 1900

Interior detail of the Church. The two pennants and the Helmet (top right) are still in the church. But the two "sconces" on the left pillar are no longer there

View of St Thomas' Chapel

A stereoscopic slide of the Church.  Unfortunately I don't posses the required viewing device

I believe this picture was taken before the end of the First World War as there is no War memorial in the Church grounds.

These pictures taken between First and Second World Wars?

Early 1900s ?

Early 1900s? doesn't look like this now, there are buildings on the left and right

View taken from inside the Church yard

I acquired this next piece of Church memorabilia off the internet. It is a copy of an early guide book, dated 1930

It gives a full account of the Church History and was written by Jessie Scott Hobbs

The inscription reads:  The Rvd  Canon and Mrs A L Davis from Jessie Scott Hobbs.  July 1936.  Three years before the outbreak of World War II.

 Also with the guide was the following note, thanking them for looking after and returning a lost button.

 Jessie Scott Hobbs, was the mother of  the World War II fighter Ace Douglas Bader

An original print  (1700s ?, Van der Aa) showing The Church (middle left) and Sprotbrough Hall (top right)

Interesting to think that they didn't have any planes in those days.  Did he use a Balloon to work out the topography or did the just walk the land and work it all out, who knows.

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