There are conflicting dates which indicate that either the nave or the chancel was built first. Both have been quoted as being constructed in the early 1300’s and the walls are built of rubble stone . The nave has two aisles and arcades of semi-circular rounded, Norman style (13th century), arches supported by alternate pairs of round and octagonal pillars with plain moulded capitals. The arch leading to the chancel is of pointed Gothic style (14th century), possibly indicating that the nave was built first in the early 1300’s followed by the chancel in the mid to late 1300’s.
All Saints Church as it probably looked in the early 14th Century
The chancel is particularly noteworthy for its tracery (the ornamental stonework of the windows). The east window has geometrical patterns of the stonework, the unusual positioning of the tracery at the bottom of the windows with combinations of circles, triangles and segments all make a very striking feature not found anywhere else in the County. The long windows on the north and south walls of the chancel are also of interest. At one time the lower part was hinged and shuttered to make a ‘leper’ opening.
The East and South Windows
The stone octagonal pillars are echoed in the octagonal font with shields in the panels, which date from the 14th century.
The Font
The south porch is also 14th century; however, it has been restored several times.
All Saints Church as it probably looked in the late 14th Century
Barnby is mentioned in documents during the reign of King Edward I, in the early 14th century, as shown below:
May 24th, 1305. Richard son of William Dode, of Barneby, and Eleanor, his wife, grant to Geoffrey de Retforfff and Dionisia, his wife, the moiety of a messuage in Baldertungate, between a messuage of John Mangote E. and a place of the said Geoffrey W., abutting on the highway and the croft of John Mangot, to them and to their heirs, remainder to the heirs of said Galfrid. Witnesses, John son of Peter, Matthew de Bathequell, William Dorant, Adam de Kelleseye, Roger Momfort, Adam Treymars, William Treymars, Gilbert son of Ivo, Geoffrey de Sibthorp. Dated May 24th, 33rd of King Edward, son of King Henry.
Slightly later, during the reign of King Edward III, there was discussion over the ownership of land in Barnby and the surrounding area:
Hugh de Aston and Margery his wife and Alice daughter of William de Barneby 5 messuages, one toft, one carucate, 15 acres and 1 rood of land and 8 acres of meadow in Newerk, Codyngton and Barneby. Alice recognised the holding to be the right of Margery of which the said Hugh and Margery have three messuages, the said toft, 1 carucate of land and 4 acres of meadow by the gift of the said Alice and besides the said Alice granted to her one messuage, 7 acres and 1 rood of land in the said towns of Newerk and Codyngton which Hawisia who was the wife of William de Barneby held for the term of her life and also one messuage, 8 acres of land and 4 acres of meadow in the town of Barneby which Richard Prentiz of Newerk held for the term of 15 years. And after the death of Hawisia they shall revert to the said Alice and her heirs, etc., etc.
King Edward III mentioned Barneby in a letter to Philip de Luetely in 1363 discussing chantry (an endowment for a priest to celebrate masses) for the Church of the Blessed Mary Magdalene of Newerk.
Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and Lord of Ireland and Acquitane, to his beloved Philip de Luetely, his escheator (someone who controls the handover of property, often to the State when there is a lack of an heir) in the county of Nottingham, Greeting. We command you that by the oath of upright and legal men of your bailiwick, by whom the truth of the matter may be best known, you inquire diligently whether it be to our hurt, or to that of others, if we grant to Simon de Surflete, chaplain, Roger de Bury, William de Wakebridge, and William Perkyn, that they may give and assign 34 messuages and 50 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow, and 5 marks of rent with their appurtenances in Newerk, Balderton, Barneby, Houghton, Kellum, Ffarnedon, Muskham, Codyngton, and Northgate, near Newerk, to two chaplains celebrating divine worship daily in the Church of the Blessed Mary Magdalene of Newerk, at the altar of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all saints, according to the ordinance of the aforesaid Simon, Roger, William, and William, to be had and held by the said chaplains and their successors in aid of their maintenance. Celebrating divine worship daily in the aforesaid manner, for ever, and whether it be to our hurt or prejudice, and to what hurt and what prejudice to others, etc. . . .so that the country will not be burdened or incommoded more than it has been wont to be through the donation and assignment aforesaid, by defect of the said Roger, William, William, and the heirs of the said Simon, and the inquisition therein distinctly and openly made, send to us into our chancery, under the seal and their seals by whom it shall have been made, without delay, and also this letter. Witness, I myself, at Westminster, the 15th day of July, the year of the reign of the King, the thirty-sixth.
A unglazed baluster jug of the late 14th century was found at Barnby in 1949 by H C White and S G Vessey. The jug is on display in Newark Museum.
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Photographs of the baluster jug courtesy of Newark Museum
Last updated: 10 February 2001