Benchmark - All Saints - Braunston, Rutland - U.K. and Ireland Trigpoints on Waymarking.com

A cut benchmark on the South east corner of All Saints' church, Braunston.

"All Saints church is in the centre of the village and is set in a pretty churchyard. The church has a short west tower with small spire, nave, north & south aisles, chancel and later vestry. The church has been rebuilt and restored many times over its long history but it does have Norman responds in the chancel arch and a Norman south doorway. The south arcade dates to the 13th century whilst the north arcade and clerestory are ‘Perp’ (perpindicular period 1350-1575). In 1728-29 the tower was totally rebuilt but they used the same materials, in 1860 the vestry was added and from 1887-88 the chancel was restored and the south wall rebuilt.

In the chancel in the north wall is a 13th century lancet window, there is a trefoiled piscina and below the south-east window a rectangular aumbry. The font dates from the 12th century, but has not been in the church for all of its life. In 1890 the bowl was found in the churchyard in three pieces. It was repaired and returned back to the church. The south aisle has some brass effigies of Kenelme Cheseldyn of Uppingham (d. 1596) and his wife Winefred and an armorial brass plate to Edward Cheseldyn (d. 1642). There are also traces of medieval painting in the south aisle.

The churchyard is of interest especially for its ‘Sheela na Gig’ situated at the base of the west tower. This is a stone carving of a naked woman with prominent features and although the carving is hard to date, in England and Ireland the earliest they appear is from the 12th century to the 15th century. There are many theories on the meaning of the representation from pagan goddesses to a fertility figure, to warnings against lust and evil. The villagers cannot have been too keen on her as it was found around 1920 being used as a step into the church with the carving facing downward so she was hidden from view"

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