Historic Graffiti Nᵒ.1: Aston Church

The church of St.Peter and St. Paul in Aston is one of only two Birmingham churches mentioned in the Domesday Book; the other being St. Laurence's in Northfield. Although the majority of the edifice was rebuilt in the Gothic style by J. A. Chatwin between 1879 and 1890 some of the spire dates back to the fourteenth century, and carries with it some traces of people who wanted to leave their mark. Were W. M. and M. B. in love, perhaps they were about to be married; on 12th April 1836 a William Millets married a Mary Ann Bates at the church.*





The base of the spire is covered with old graffiti, which I'm sure the council wont be painting over any time soon; some nearly 250 years old. Click on the images to enlarge them.

NOTES
* There is also a marriage at the church of William Matthews and Mary Bamfield on 17 February 1837, this couple could have engraved their initials as they came to have the banns read out late in 1836.

Aston churchyard with Aston Hall in the distance. Taken 12 March 2010.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ASTON
Aston history by Bill Dargue
http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-a/aston/