St. Nicholas, Steventon
Steventon is situated in a beautiful part of Hampshire. As you approach it through the lanes from Oakley, the countryside becomes richer and gently undulating, with many trees lining the fields and lanes. The village is small and attractive, with a number of humble terraced cottages in flint and brick, which come together at a small triangle near the village hall. The church lies in a secluded spot away from the village, and Steventon Manor is near by.
Jane Austen was born in Steventon, and for this reason the church is probably visited more than most. But the church is interesting in its own right, and the architectural detail is of a high quality for a Hampshire church. It is an idiosyncratic building, not large yet solid and imposing. It consists of a nave and chancel, with a west tower and short needle spire contained within the west end of the nave. The church is entirely rendered. The graveyard is pleasant and open on the south side, with gravestones appearing mainly in groups. The best are to the south of the nave. An ancient yew dominates and shrouds the north-west angle of the church.
St Nichl0las Church in the sleepy hamlet of Steventon (Hampshire) was first mentioned around 1238 reagarding the presentation of a Clerk. It gained mention again in 1261 when an alleged robbery occured. The current structure seems to date from the early 13th Century and has remained largely unchanged, structurally, ever since. The fenestration of the North and South sides follow the same sequence therefore creating a mirror image of each other.
The nave and chancel date from the early 13th Century although in 1859, an entry in Whites Directory claims the chancel was rebuilt 'about 15 years ago' The chancel has two lancets in both the North and South walls. The Eastern pair are narrower and chamfered, and of two orders whilst the Western pair and simply chamfered.
The West end of the Church is problematical for various reasons. The West doorway is clearly early 13th Century but is believed to have been installed at a later date becasue it cuts into a blocked lancet above, which is visible from the inside. There are many other interesting facets to be considered when looking around this Church and a potted history can be found online.
Parking is available at the front of the Church. Now for the cache:
At the published headline coordinates you will find Cross in memory of one Bernard Thomas Hutton Croft What year did he die? let this be ABCD
At stage 2, you should find a prominent grave of the Fane family. Seek the information for Carole Daisy Seaburne Fane and convert the date she was born to EE December FGHJ
Not too far away is stage 3, which should have you standing alongside the grave belonging to the relatives of Jane Austen (Author) who was born in Steventon. A small white plaquqe of a large low gravestone provides the information you need: The Rev. James Austen was born on KL February MNOP and Mary Austen died on Q August RSTU
You have completed all your investigation now so for the cache location please work through the following equasion:
N51 MH.JLS W001 AE.NP (C-R) - The cache is a short walk away.
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html