Hollington’s building history is reflected in its buildings and materials. The Church of St John features roughly worked Hollington sandstone and steeply pitched tiled roofs; The Temple features columns and a dome built from regularly coursed stone. Also part of the story are the histories of two quarries and Yard Farm House, a 17th-century farmhouse. If you choose building history as the guiding theme for your stay, there are several distinct points of interest to explore.
Churches and architectural forms
The Church of St John was built in 1859–61 by G.E. Street as a Chapel of Ease. It is made of roughly worked, irregular Hollington sandstone and has steeply pitched tiled roofs. A western bellcote, a north porch and an apse complete the building. The term Chapel of Ease refers to a supplementary chapel for worship and adds the building’s religious function to its description. Its materials, roof shape and the placement of its features are specific points of reference for understanding the building.
The Temple was built in the 1850s using parts of Heath House, which had been demolished shortly before. Eight Ionic columns support a plain frieze, a cornice and a dome built from regularly coursed stone. The frieze runs as a horizontal band above the columns; the cornice forms the projecting upper edge. In contrast to the Church of St John, with its irregular sandstone, The Temple draws the eye to its columns and the even coursing of the dome.
Quarry history and rural architecture
There were two quarries in Hollington, operated by the Stevensons: one produced white sandstone, the other red. Stone from Hollington Quarry was used to build Coventry Cathedral. The two quarries differ in the colour of the sandstone they produced; its use in Coventry Cathedral adds a specific reference to this material history. You can explore Hollington’s building history through both the forms of its buildings and the stone’s origins and uses.
Yard Farm House adds a listed 17th-century farmhouse, designated Grade II, to the architectural themes. In terms of age, the farmhouse clearly predates the other buildings: the Church of St John was built in 1859–61, and The Temple in the 1850s. The buildings mentioned therefore offer both a contrast in age and a variety of forms and materials.
More historic places to visit and a walking option
The ruins of Croxden Abbey are less than a mile from Hollington. If you would like to include this other historic site in your stay, check the latest visitor information in advance.
A group walk in 2017 followed the Hollington Circle around Hollington Village and ended near The Raddle Inn. If you would like to use the route today, check a current route description before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Pattingham, Newcastle Under Lyme, Rugeley, Ecton, Whitmore, Drointon, Stafford, Hopwas.
Return to the main travel overview: Staffordshire.
