Sutton Bonington offers two distinct ways to explore during a stay: its historic village layout and the nature of Diamond Wood. When planning your visit by theme, you can focus on architectural history or on woodland and nature. Sutton Bonington Conservation Area was designated in 1968 and was the first conservation area in the Rushcliffe District. It has a linear layout, with historic buildings set among fields, open spaces, gardens, trees and hedges. The relationship between buildings and open spaces is therefore also part of the village’s character.
Historic buildings in the old village
The old village has two 17th-century timber-framed houses, as well as numerous houses and outbuildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. St Michael’s Church is a Grade II* listed parish church with fabric dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its notable features include a 135-foot spire, a clock and six bells. The 13th-century south arcade is also described in detail: it has round piers and moulded capitals. A 14th-century stone font adds to these details. It is octagonal and decorated with quatrefoil panels. The tower, arcade and font offer different points of reference for the church’s architectural history, differing in form, function and date.
St Anne’s Church and its distinctive features
St Anne’s Church provides a different architectural emphasis. The listed building is also Grade II*, but its highlighted features are a north aisle from the transitional phase of Norman architecture and a medieval alabaster effigy in the chancel. This makes it possible to distinguish two churches with the same designation by their different structural and decorative features. At St Michael’s, the arcade and font are among the main features, while at St Anne’s, they are the aisle and effigy. For a visit focused on cultural history, this offers a concrete comparison rather than simply listing construction dates.
Diamond Wood and paths through the village
Diamond Wood appeals to visitors interested in woodland and landscape. At the end of 2012, arable land was converted into habitats with native woodland. Diamond Wood consists of two woodland areas connected by public footpaths through the village of Sutton Bonington. The area is open to everyone and offers a variety of tree, plant and insect species to explore. Check local path conditions before your visit. The woodland’s creation and its biodiversity offer two tangible focal points for exploring nature: the conversion of the land and the diversity of habitats today.
Campus and arboretum
The Sutton Bonington Campus offers another perspective. The university welcomes visitors to explore the campus at a time that suits them, at their own discretion. The campus includes an arboretum with an unusual collection of native and exotic trees. A self-guided tour of the campus is estimated to take about 30 minutes. Observe any applicable access restrictions during your tour. This makes the campus a distinct botanical and architectural focus, while the churches centre primarily on architectural history and Diamond Wood on the development of a woodland habitat.
Discover more destinations: West Stockwith, Misterton, Stapleford, Beeston, Carlton, Sutton In Ashfield, Cuckney, Trowell.
For the wider travel overview: Nottinghamshire.
