Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Overchurch Graves Stones

The outline of the church has deffo gone now unfortunately

I think that the last time the foundations were seen was around 1890 when Cox probed to find the outline and dimensions of the church. (see below) [Ref: Overchurch and its Runic Stones by Edward W Cox, Feb 1891[

In 1869, as the site was becoming neglected and overgrown, it became overrun with rabbits, money was raised to build a wall around the churchyard. Traces of this wall are still visible today.

In 1965, with the permission of English Heritage, a local school teacher with a class of nine and ten year olds carried out a small excavation where they hoped to find the foundations of the church. Wall foundations and fragments of slates and stained glass were found. They replaced the fragments and soil when they had finished. [Ref: The Site of Overchurch, Upton by D O'Hanlon and K Pealin, 1984].

This would be a great site to carry out excavations on if it were allowed. Must admit i havent noticed the wall built around the church though.

There is a very clear long section of wall there, runs roughly parallel to the slip road down to the roundabout.

The 1865 wall followed the circular bank and ditch, it take a bit of searching to find the remains of the wall.

The site is protected as an ancient monument, and it is illegal to dig on the site without permission from English Heritage. Work needs to be carried out on the site soon as the roots of the trees and the sapplings are breaking up the remaining grave markers.

The remains of wall in the ditch on the north side of the grave yard was much more exposed in the sixties these remains extended around what was the walled garden of Overchurch Hill House. As seen on a map of the area circa 1870. The majority of these bricks were removed in the early seventies by the local council.I can remember apple trees and a wallnut tree within the walled garden area. also a cobbled area which was possibly the stable courtyard which was located east of the walled garden.I have never found the foundations of the church but believe the survey conducted in 1983 showing the foundation position is fairly accurate.

Good Stuff thanks for the pics

Myself and Snooze popped down there tonight.

We found the grave stones (its been 20+ years since I saw them last ) but were a bit unsure which direction to look for the church foundations.

As you can see from our pics, time is really starting to take its toll on them now even when you compare them with previous pics from fairly recently

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Upton-Wirral/112173455476100?v=desc&ref=mf

new page i found on facebook dedicated to Upton/Overchurch, worth you joining Doctor Frick and Upton CX I think you enthusiasm and knowledge is infectious

Yoy are probably aware from previous posts in other forums that the woods are now jointly owned by our community group and WBC/English heritage. I for one can't get enough of the history on my doorstep, just wish i could infect the youngsters with some enthusiasm. Need to get some $hit hot historian who can inspire the kids, get them involved. would love to set up a mock saxon village for a weekend how cool would that be,History is the most exciting subject ever. but not when your a kid lol

digging deeper and other stuy etc thanks for so many photo's and input into this forum, even if its not mine

English heritage want the monuments to remain overgrown as they feel clearing them exsposes them to vandals and(?treasur hunters?).
maybe if we have any "proffesional" archeoligists on here who can make an application to English heritage we could carry out a time team type dig on a section of land.or even invite time team

and T,C, NO PROBS MATE!

You need to talk to Heather Butler, she is an archeologist who lives in Upton and does not agree with the 'keep it overgrown' philosophy. She runs a local history group in Upton Library on Tuesday afternoons.

thanks UtonCX i will try and get in touch with her