Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 3rd July, 2025)

I have looked at them many times thinking that they were not just decorative and wondered what they were for, now I know. Thank you

I have been in St. Wilfrids, albeit a long time ago, bit never noticed these. What a lovely name the lady had.....Anastasia.

Having seen 'Hatchments' in churches, I know now what they were used for. Thanks Colin !
Look at those roof timbers, how old they must be....and how old is St Wilfrids I wonder ? I could ask Google but would rather hear it from a PAD'er !

Helen, hang on until Cyril gets out of bed then he will give you the dates your looking for.
More importantly why did they hang the hatchments up cockeyed.
With a name like Anastasia you can bet she would have been a foreinger.

A beautiful church as well as a ‘museum’ which many old churches are these days. I would find the wooden plaque on the left interesting with the names of all the Pastors through the ages. I also love seeing the beautiful stained glass windows. Many modern churches don’t have the ‘real thing’. I suppose the cost is one reason. An unusual way of hanging the Hatchments. There must be many interesting stories attached to this church in Standish.

Helen, the current church and the oak roof timbers date from the 1580's Richard Moody having been installed as Rector in 1559. Today we have a Moody Street just off Church Street in Standish.
The original St Wilfrid's Church dates back to 1206 when Alexander de Standish was rector.
It was once described by Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner CBE FBA (1902-1983) a German-British Art and Architectural Historian born in Leipzig as ''The most important church of the Elizabethan Age''.
So as you can imagine and although not being particularly religious myself I am rightly proud to have such a church with all its historical connections right on my doorstep.

Helen, for your interest this is a bit more information regarding the Sir Robert Clayton Hatchment.
In 1688 the Adlington Estate and Manor House where purchased by Thomas Clayton who was descended from Robert de Clayton who came to England with William The Conqueror and was granted lands known as Clayton-le-Moors for his outstanding military service.
In 1690 he bought the adjoining manor of Worthington from Edward Worthington and his wife Jane.

Colin thank you for your unusual view of St Wilfrid's. I've only been in there once but that was to a funeral so I couldn't explore. I doubt I'll be able to go again so I really appreciate your photos and information. Like you I'm not particularly religious , but I can honestly say, the minute I walked into that beautiful church I felt at peace and at home and that has never happened before no matter what Church I've been in. It's a feeling I'll never forget

Irene,I agree..Anastasia is a beautiful name.

As a complete aside to this but with regard to dates and as SW19 is in full swing, on this day in 1806 Michael Keen exhibited the worlds first edible cultivated Strawberry.
On this same day in 1954 food rationing in Britain ended but I’m not sure if everyone could afford to over indulge in strawberries!

I agree Maureen and Irene, the name Anastasia is a beautiful name. Makes me think of the film with Ingrid Bergman posing as one of the four Romanov daughters murdered in the Russian Revolution. I remember first seeing that film at Scholes Pictures. It comes on TV quite a lot.

Good, interesting information Colin, I too hadn't heard of Hatchments before. Those folk around the bottom table look to be busy, is it an information desk, or a refreshments table as one seems to have a cup?
Also Clayton-le-Moors, I had only vaguely heard of it, but looking on Wiki it's an interesting town and where many notable folks who were either born, or had a connection to there, as the saying goes 'there must be something in the water':

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton-le-Moors

Being interested in the 1940s as I am, but being born AFTER them, the fashions, history etc. are something I have to look up in books, so knowing food rationing was still going on up to 1954 makes me feel a part of it, Colin! I was only a year and nine months old on this day in 1954 so obviously I don't recall the food rationing personally , but I bet the children who were older than me were so excited when sweets came off ration!

I remember the Roundhead helmet that used to hang from a bracket opposite the pulpit . I wonder if the church ever suffered any puritan iconoclasm during the Interregnum .

I definitely recall the day sweets came off ration. My mam gave me a ‘point’ from a ration book. I ran and got some toffee straight away. It made me think they were free because I didn’t need any money! Straight down Higham St to Sally’s shop. Although I hadn’t a clue how that worked.

Anastasia may be an unusual name but I can't imagine anyone would say the 'full' version of it all the time?Perhaps shortened to Anna or Stasia?

Anastasia would only be a beautiful name to have if it matched your surname.

I actually know a woman called Anastasia , although I prefer to call her Anne .

I used to deliver her morning paper , and
she works at Morrisons in Bolton on the bacon slicer .

She used to have a Labrador type dog …
A lovely dog , but it were madder than a neest of fire ants if I’m being honest .

It came charging at me in the plantations one time and knocked me a*** over bloody t** .

Just a few fragments of useless information there …
But that’s what this site’s all about innit …
Useless info ?

Btw … anyone heard owt from Tom recently ?
I’m getting a bit concerned , as I haven’t seen his name crop up on here for some time .

Hope he hasn’t gett’n himsel’ run o’er by a Blackpool tram … same as wot yon mon off Corporation street managed to do a while back eh ?

I agree … Anastasia Ramsbottom wouldn’t be the best of combinations really , would it ?

Oh bugger ! …
I’m hoping that there aren’t any Anastasia Ramsbottoms out there somewhere reading this right now …
What are the chances ?

What about Shufflebottam, it’s true I did once know an Anne Shufflebottam. I think her married name was Higgins.

Ozy Tom commented yesterday,interesting photo and information Colin.

Anastasia Blinkhorn?
Would be daughter of a Clogger….

Have you tried contacting Tom on the tom- toms in the Plantations Ozy?
What about Anastasia Broadbottom?

What about Anastasia Fatbottom ?

Ozy Tom commented yesterday,interesting photo and information Colin.

Here ! Thee ! … Ozy .
And what’s so funny about my name I’d like to know ?
I’ll come round yonder an’ gi’ thi a clout round t’lughole if tha not careful .
I know where you live …
Rest assured …
Mick told me .