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St Peters Church, Swettenham. It is said that an underground passage links the church with the nearby Swettenham Arms. The latter was once a nunnery.
©Colin Park
Dist:0.5km<br/>For a note on the building see [[1567575]]. The leaded windows of clear glass are more in keeping with the Georgian date of the church than stained glass would be.
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.5km<br/>The church is believed to have been built between 1288 and 1304 - see http://www.thornber.net/cheshire/htmlfiles/swettenham.html
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.5km<br/>This is the crest of the Mainwaring family. One of the Mainwarings of Peover was in the crusades. His horse was shot so he mounted a donkey or ass. As a consequence the ass's head became part of the armorial bearings and the motto "Forward if I can" was adopted. - see http://www.thornber.net/cheshire/htmlfiles/swettenham.html
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.5km<br/>This horse head motif repeated on each of the 19th century pillars of the south aisle may reflect the legend of the Mainwaring ass - see [[793157]].
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.5km<br/>This arcade in St Peter's church, Swettenham looks to be Norman but in fact, according to the list description it is one of the "alterations in the Romanesque style by J M Derrick 1846".
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.5km<br/>A grade 2* listed Anglican parish church. Although parts of the building look Norman, and there has certainly been a church here since ancient times, according to the list description the present building is early 18th century with 19th century additions.
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.5km<br/>See [[793157]] for close-up of the Ass's Head.
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.6km<br/>
©Colin Pyle
Dist:0.6km<br/>
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.6km<br/>The Arms is believed to be as old as the church, which is 13th century. It was built as a Nunnery and it was customary for those attending funerals to stay the night here (and this may be why it later became a hotel). The following morning the coffin would be taken to the church through an underground passage which is said to have gone under the car park and to have been blocked up many years ago.
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.6km<br/>Looking SW from Ashtree Farm across the valley of Swettenham Brook to West Farm.
©Colin Park
Dist:0.7km<br/>This small graveyard on the edge of the village appears to be an overflow from St Peter's churchyard (see [[107246]] ) which is presumably full.
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.7km<br/>
©Stephen Craven
Dist:0.7km<br/>
©Colin Pyle

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