St Michael's Church and the crinkle-crankle wall give Sutton On The Hill two distinctive landmarks for a stay combining architectural history with a clearly defined circular walk. The Three Churches Circular Walk starts at the church and passes the garden wall west of Sutton Hall. This means that on the same described route, you can encounter both the church's history and a striking feature of the garden grounds.
St Michael's Church: Building history spanning several centuries
St Michael's Church in Sutton-on-the-Hill is a Grade II* listed building. The building was completely rebuilt in 1863. At the same time, the church has a 14th-century west tower and an arcade from the same period. These different dates give the building a layered history, rather than reducing it to a single date of construction.
Individual furnishings and finds also add to the picture: a historically significant bell dates from around 1400 and was made by J de Colsale. In 1863, thirteen silver coins from the reign of Henry III were also found in the foundations of the north aisle. The coins connect a specifically identified detail of the church building with a much earlier period.
The churchyard includes a short avenue of yew trees. It also contains three Grade II listed gravestones. A pair of gravestones has curved gabled finials decorated with acanthus leaves. The lychgate at the church was built around 1863. The tower, bell, gravestones and entrance structure thus offer different perspectives on the site's architectural and design history.
Circular walk, garden wall and cycle route
The crinkle-crankle wall is an early 19th-century garden wall. It is about ten feet, or around three metres, high and forms the western boundary of the gardens of Sutton Hall. The house itself was built around 1815 and extended in the late 19th century. The dates can be distinguished: the wall is attributed to the early 19th century, while both Sutton Hall's construction date and a later extension are recorded.
The Three Churches Circular Walk starts at St Michael's Church and passes the wall. If you are interested in historic architectural forms, this route description brings together two different themes: the church building, with its older elements, and a garden wall whose shape and height set it clearly apart from the surrounding buildings. Check current route conditions before setting off.
For a bike ride, there is another specific point of reference: the existing NCN68 Pennine Cycleway runs along Ash Lane within the parish of Sutton on the Hill. This information refers to that road and the parish boundary; it is a separate point to consider when planning a cycling trip. Check the current signage and route conditions before setting off.
Views, church services and local events
St Michael's Church offers far-reaching views, particularly towards the Peak District. The church is used for services; a communion service is held at 11 am on the first Sunday of every month. If you would like to include this in your plans, check the service details in advance.
Sutton-on-the-Hill Village Hall is also available to hire as an event venue for gatherings and events. It can be hired for celebrations, meetings, activities and local events. A recurring church service and a versatile community space thus complement the historic and scenic points of interest for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Brimington, Melbourne, Hathersage, Newton, Froggatt, Grassmoor, Shardlow, Long Eaton.
For the wider travel overview: Derbyshire.
