At Dovecote Farm on Front Street there is an early 17th century dovecote (although one source states that it is 15th century and another states that it is possibly late medieval). The dovecote is 63 feet in circumference and 15 feet high to the roof. Originally designed with 728 nesting holes, there are now only 670 of two types, the earlier nesting holes in stone, the later made of brick and pan tiles. There are two entrances to the dovecote in the south and east, each with 12 holes, and a landing course below. The woodwork is in poor condition, there is a large crack in the rubble wall and several tiles are missing on this Grade II listed building.
The Dovecote
The chancel of All Saints Church, although dating from the 13th century, was partly rebuilt in the 17th century. The chancel has doors on both the north and south walls which, in past times, were opened to ‘sweep the devil out of the Church’. Other additions to the chancel in the 17th century were the very fine panelling in the sanctuary, the altar table and the altar rail with heavy balusters, the alter rail has since been replaced.
The Sanctuary Panelling
The civil war (1642-1649) is well documented, particularly concerning Newark’s involvement. Barnby was largely on the fringes and it is believed that Colonel T Gray was encamped here for a period of time.
There is recorded evidence of the existence of Quakers at Barnby. Thomas Hardy was tasked with sorting out legal paperwork in connection to the Quaker burial ground at Barnby in 1682. It is believed that the burial ground was in the field to the south west of Barnby Hall.
In 1672 Doctor Thoroton toured every village in Nottinghamshire and said that the manor house had been in the Hough family for many years, ‘from whom it came to Audelay’, whose daughters and heirs married Edmund and Robert Thorold, sons of William Thorold of Parston in Lincolnshire. Furthermore, Thoroton stated that ‘the Manor of Barneby was exchanged betwixt Strangeways, and Suthill’.
There are many memorials to the Sharpe family within the Church, the first being the death of George Sharpe in 1686 aged 26. The Sharpe arms are ‘Azure, a pheon Argent (silver), within a border Or (gold), charged with 8 torteaux’. The Sharpe family gave the church a silver patten (plate) which is dated 1648 and a silver flagon dated 1743; both items are also decorated with the Sharpe Crest. These items are now kept in the Southwell Minster strong room. It is believed that the family lived at Barnby Hall for many years, although the current Hall probably dates from the mid 18th century. On the south wall of the chancel is an alabaster memorial to Mary Sharpe, 24 year old daughter of George Sharpe, who died on 1 April 1742. The bust shows her head looking through the east chancel window towards the home she loved a short distance away, Barnby Hall.
Barnby Hall and the Mary Sharpe Memorial
The old photograph of Barnby Hall, below, was possibly taken in the late 19th, early 20th century.
Last updated: 10 November 2001