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Orston's early church One indication of exceptionally early christianity in Orston comes from the discovery in the parish of a Roman coin minted about 350 with the early Christian chi rho on one face. This type of coin is called a 'Constantine', even after the death of Constantine himself in 337. But it does not mean the person who lost or intentionally hid the coin was a christian. A chi rho Constantine from AD 337 to 361 similar to the one discovered in Orston. For various reasons (which I have discussed in this free PDF) a church at Orston was probably founded in the late sixth or early seventh centuries. It would have been one of about a dozen such mynsters in Nottinghamshire, with income from surrounding parishes. Having a church in each village only starts around the tenth century. The best evidence for early churches comes from much later. The Domesday Book compiled in 1086 states that Orston was held directly by the king (this was typical for early churches) and had a church and two priests. By the eleventh century – and probably for several centuries previously – Orston was the mother church of Scarrington, Thoroton and parts of Staunton. Mansfield with its subordinate holding at Edwinstowe was also held by the king and again both are good candidates for being early churches. In 1093 William II gave both Orston and Mansfield churches, with their land and income, to the Bishop of Lincoln. Orston's fourteenth century dependencies. A document of 7th February 1377 clearly links Orston with Edwinstowe and also the chapels at Staunton, East Stoke, Farndon and North and South Scarle. Two surviving eighteenth century documents show Orston church still owned land in Scarrington, Screveton, Staunton and Thornton. This land was steadily sold off in the nineteenth century. Overall this arrangement looks like a typical royal estate centre which evolved from its formation in the mid-Anglo-Saxon era to the later eleventh century then retained at least some of that estate until recent times. While compiling this Chronicle I discovered details of a lost church at Langar which may originate as an exceptionally early baptistry. None of the other early churches in Nottinghamshire were in the Vale, although two – at Vernemetum near Willoughby on the Wolds (another putative early baptistry) and at Stanford on Soar – are just to the south, while East Stoke is to the north-west immediately to the west of the Fosse Way. For info, the other early churches in Nottinghamshire were probably at Southwell, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Kirkby in Ashfield, Dunham, Misterton or Clarborough, Ratcliffe on Soar, Flawford, Wysall and Blyth. Full details in this free PDF. Back to top of this page     Back to home page   This website does not gather or store any visitor information. Copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025 No unauthorised copying or reproduction except if all following conditions apply: a: Copy is complete (including this copyright statement). b: No changes are made. c: No charge is made. www.hoap.co.uk/chronicle

Chronicle entries home page what's new? the geology of the Vale the boundaries and rivers of the Vale long, long ago prehistory in the Vale prehistoric boundaries in the Vale north-south prehistoric routeways Romans roads in the Vale Roman settlements in and near the Vale long ago introduction to Anglo-Saxons place-names of the Vale waterborne transport around the sixth century Orston's early church Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the Vale why Orston lost out to Bingham and Bottesford what the Normans did for the Vale Granby's importance in 1086 Granby's lost castle the Vale's watermills in 1086 Romanesque sculpture in the Vale St Remigius why Bottesford is in Leicestershire the Vale in medieval times medieval gargoyles of the Vale Eastwell's chancel screen St Ethelburga's church other early saints Elston's old chapel Muston and Long Clawson saltways of the Vale the Vale's medieval tile collection the Vale in Tudor times Dissolution in the Vale not that long ago the Vale in the C17th the 'great and the good' of the Vale Bottesford's effigies 'wicked practice and sorcerye' the whales on the Whalley memorial Car Colston's bigoted GP cum JP the Vale's very own regicide Wiverton Hall five rare C17th fonts in the Vale pinfolds and pounds in the Vale dovecotes in the Vale the Vale in the C18th turnpiking the Vale gravestones and C18th trade routes goodbye 'Belvoir Angels' C18th gravestone carvers in the Vale Daffy's Elixir the Marquess of Granby Stilton from the Vale springs and spas of the Vale outstanding organs in the Vale Grantham canal changes in the Vale's agriculture since 1800 Eastwell's recusant priest house and chapel Colston Bassett's ruined church seems like yesterday windmills in the Vale stained glass in the Vale village life in the southern Vale 1850 to 1880 folklore of the Vale Flintham museum lacemaking in the Vale gypsum pits in the Vale brick and tile works in the Vale ironstone quarrying in the Vale ironstone railways ironstone quarries of Leicestershire (YouTube video) The Vale's railway stations Orston's famous architect Mothers Union banners of the Vale redundant telephone exchanges in the Vale WWII airfields and pillboxes in the Vale the Vale in 1944 location shooting at Belvoir Castle Screveton's giants researching and writing local history the Vale as a verb getting started free advice from 2005 asking curious questions (YouTube video) local history groups in and around the Vale Aslockton (Cranmer LHG) Bingham Heritage Trails Association Bottesford Eastwell Harby Harlaxton Hickling Redmile archive Belvoir Villages History and Memories Group Belvoir Angel Society Grantham Canal Society you may also be interested in free PDFs written by Bob Trubshaw Earliest Churches in Nottinghamshire How Anglo-Saxons Found Their Way Anglo-Saxon Leicestershire Conversations in Churchyards Little-known Leicestershire and Rutland Bob Trubshaw's YouTube channel Introduction to medieval carvings Anglo-Saxon and Romanesque carvings How Anglo-Saxons found their way Anglo-Saxon shrines at fords Meetings at triangles Rota's Land and Franni's Land Reading Romanesque fonts Church and manor The significances of square headdresses Early churches and waterborne trade Charnwood slate gravestones and C18th trade routes Ironstone quarries of Leicestershire Roman roads in north-east Leicestershire Salt ways in Leicestershire Why Melton Mowbray needed to called 'middle town' Evolving Anglo-Saxon agriculture Nottinghamshire's earliest churches Ploughs not piety? Economic regeneration in the C7th Were Anglo-Saxon weaving huts women-only places? Barrowby Until Now website Rutland Village by Village website Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland