IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Sidlaw Rise, NOTTINGHAM, NG5 9PU

Leading to Sidlaw Drive

Once on the southern edge of the Royal hunting forest of Sherwood, Bestwood Forest was a favourite sporting venue for Medieval, Tudor and Stuart Royalty when in Nottingham. It is now a country park and extends to the reclaimed colliery site at Bestwood Village.

The original site at the east end of the churchyard. On another website a 'Local parishioner' writes: "The lychgate has recently (2009) been relocated to the other side of the church yard. This was done in order that it might be saved from destruction through repeated acts of vandalism. The stone walls remain in position but the steps have recently been covered over by a ramp. The relocated wooden structure has been resited on new stone work. The original location had been the main entrance into the church yard but had fallen into disuse due to modern housing developments surrounding the church. The new location means that the lychgate functions once again as it was intended. I believe that English heritage have lost interest in it being a listed structure now that it has been moved." The lych gate can be seen in its new location in http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2005013 .

Built in 1867 to the design of S.S.Teulon essentially as the private chapel for Bestwood Lodge, the home of the Dukes of St Albans, but now the local parish church. Listed Grade II. This is now the main access to the church, following the housing developments of the 1980s in the area. What appears to be a west door is in fact a memorial alcove to one of the duchesses, see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2005005 .

The plaque on the back wall of this little porch says: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SYBIL MARY DUCHESS OF ST. ALBANS.

Attached to the west end of Emmanuel Church, the alcove is a memorial to one of the Duchesses of St Albans. Described as a porch in the English Heritage listing.

This beautiful little church is now hidden away in the middle of an undistinguished residential suburb of Nottingham. The setting is quite surreal, the apparently typical English country churchyard of shrubs and trees being in shattering contrast with the tracts of adjacent modern housing. When I visited the church was barred and bolted, but the interior looks as though it may be quite impressive [http://www.discoveremmanuel.co.uk/the_place/the_place.html].

Someone has placed a modern light on the frame of this beautiful little exterior carving - surely they could have found a less sensitive spot?