In Barthomley, the Church of St Bertoline and the Barthomley Ramble are connected in a specific way: the walking route starts at the church. This means you can consider local history and a walk together when choosing your destination. A complete architectural and historical tour guide for the church is available to visitors. Confirm locally that it is available before your trip.
The Church and Architectural History
The Church of St Bertoline is in the Barthomley Conservation Area. Its Crewe Chapel was added shortly after 1608 as a memorial to Sir Ranulph Crewe and his family. This chapel is part of a longer architectural history that can also be seen in other named buildings.
The Smithy is a Grade II listed building and was originally a blacksmith’s forge dating from the mid-19th century. The building is made of red brick, and its roof is mostly covered with moulded tiles. Today it is used for light engineering work. Old Hall Farmhouse, by contrast, dates from the late 17th century. Its description includes timber framing, red brickwork and a tiled roof; alterations and additions were made in the late 19th century. The contrast in dates makes the different building phases in Barthomley tangible.
The Churchyard and Local History
The history of the Church of St Bertoline also includes a tragic event: shortly before Christmas 1643, twelve parishioners were murdered in the church tower during the Barthomley Massacre, after they had surrendered. These events are among the place’s defining historical themes.
The churchyard adds a long burial tradition to this history. Burials have taken place in the area around the church for at least 700 years, and there are more than 600 gravestones in the churchyard. The length of time over which burials have taken place and the number of gravestones are different indications of the history of the place and the church surroundings.
The Barthomley Ramble and Countryside
The Barthomley Ramble starts at St Bertoline’s Church in Barthomley. One specific feature of the route is Wulvarn Brook: the stream lies behind the White Lion Inn and is crossed twice on the Ramble. This connects the route with both a named starting point and a named watercourse.
Mill Dale is another distinctive landscape feature: the deeply cut valley forms the county boundary with Staffordshire. If you are interested in the landscape, the valley and the stream offer two different points of interest; only Wulvarn Brook is explicitly linked to the route of the Ramble.
Travel Planning Note
The White Lion Inn has been closed since 18 September 2023 and has been considered permanently closed since 14 May 2024; its future is uncertain. As the Inn is also mentioned as a reference point for Wulvarn Brook, check its status before your trip. When planning your time in Barthomley, you can take the church history, buildings and Ramble into account as different interests, without combining them into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Hartford, Beeston, Wilmslow, Mobberley, Crewe, Tattenhall, Alderley Edge, Handforth
For the wider travel overview: Cheshire.
