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Introduction to the
Living Churchyard In conjunction with |
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We hope you enjoy your visit around the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. This short guide cites some of the main focal points in and around the church grounds. The numbers in brackets on the map below are referred to in the text below. |
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| The Sensory
Garden As you walk through the main entrance to the churchyard, the first thing you will notice to your right is our brand new Millennium Sensory Garden [1]. This is a partnership project between the church and the Hucknall Partially Sighted Society. It has been designed wide-enough to accommodate wheelchair users, and as well as containing an array of aromatic bushes and flowers, locally designed tiles have been mounted on to the wall around the garden for people to touch and explore. These tiles include images of famous Hucknall personalities such as Eric Coates and Robin Bailey, as well as successful businesses of today and yesteryear. A granite tablet nearby remembers those CO-OP workers who died in the Great War of 1914-18 [2]. The second phase of the project [3], containing a stone built fish - the Christian symbol of faith - was opened in July 2001. |
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| The Byron Memorial
Garden Containing a commemorative black stone tablet [4], the Byron Garden is essentially a place where people can retire and admire God's natural creation. A young Rowan sapling in the bottom right hand corner of the garden commemorates the life of local councillor Mick White, who died in 2000. |
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| Garden of Remembrance
A large beech tree [5], symbol of peacefulness stands behind a grey tablet marking the place where people's interred remains are put to rest. |
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| Headstones in the
Churchyard In April 1994, the churchyard, becoming more difficult to maintain, was landscaped and re-ordered to provide an attractive green area in the centre of town. Many old, weathered headstones were moved, with consent from the relatives concerned, to the walls of the churchyard [6]. |
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| Famous Headstones
People usually associate Hucknall Parish Church with the famous poet Lord Byron. Yet, the churchyard also pays homage to other well-known local personalities. Benjamin Caunt, the Champion Prizefighter of 1841 is buried alongside his two children, who both died in a house-fire [7]. In addition, the churchyard also houses the family grave of the Godbers [8], local schoolteacher William (Gaffer) Jacklin [9], and the Parish Priest Thomas G. Barber, author of "Byron and Where He is Buried." [10] |
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| Wildlife & Nature in the Grounds
Trees - Nearby the famous gravestones, a rare Mediterranean Oak tree [11], a gift from the Byron Society some eight years ago, is one of many different types of tree in the yard. We also have varieties of Sycamore, Lime, Yew, Horse Chestnut, Oak, Cherry and Ash as well as two beautiful Copper Beech trees that stand together in the centre of the grounds [12]. One notable absence in the churchyard is the Elm tree. Present in the churchyard for over a century, many had to be cut down - victims of a 'Dutch Elm Disease' outbreak in the 1970s. To remember this, a small statue of the Virgin Mary was carved from one of the fallen trees and this now stands in the Lady Chapel inside the building. Animals - As well as nocturnal animals such as foxes, bats and hedgehogs, the churchyard is also home to squirrels and a selection of birds - blackbirds, pied wagtails, starlings, robins and blue-tits are among the most common visitors. |
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This page created and maintained by
Richard Jackson
on behalf of the District Church Council of St Mary Magdalene.
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© 2001 - last change Sept 3rd 2001