Ordsall: Buildings from Several Eras

Ordsall can be explored through buildings whose dates of origin are far apart. The rood screen at All Hallows dates from around 1430; Ordsall House was a former vicarage dating from around 1820. St Alban's Church was built in three phases, and a freestanding war memorial stands on All Hallows Street. Together, these examples offer a way to explore different aspects of architectural and local history. For planning your trip, the contrast between a church feature dating from the Middle Ages, a former vicarage and a 20th-century church building is particularly interesting.

Discover architecture through specific details

The rood screen at All Hallows combines fluting with fan vaulting and dates from around 1430. Fluting refers to lengthwise grooves; in a fan vault, the vault ribs are arranged in a fan shape. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different design features: the grooved surface and the shape of the vault. Its date makes the rood screen a much earlier example than Ordsall House or the building phases of St Alban's. If you are interested in architecture, you can look for such differences between structural elements, façade design and period when making comparisons.

Ordsall House is a former vicarage dating from around 1820 and is protected as a Grade II listed building. Its east façade is arranged in three bays: it is divided into three vertical sections. Simple pilaster strips, a centrally positioned entrance and a porch supported by Doric columns define the façade design described here. “Three-bay” is more than a date: the term helps explain the structure of the façade, while the entrance and columns provide specific points of reference. These details distinguish Ordsall House as a former vicarage from the village's church buildings.

Several building phases and a freestanding memorial

St Alban's Church in the parish of Ordsall was built in three phases: 1902–1903, 1912–1913 and 1930–1931. The dates fall in separate periods and show a building process spanning almost three decades. This places St Alban's in a different period from the rood screen at All Hallows, dating from around 1430, and Ordsall House, dating from around 1820. Another example with a different form is Ordsall's war memorial: it stands on All Hallows Street, is freestanding and is also protected as a Grade II listed structure. Its form sets it apart from the church and house buildings described above.

Visiting hours for All Hallows are listed as Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before planning a visit specifically for this purpose, check whether it is currently open to visitors.

If you would like to include architectural history and architecture in your trip planning, Ordsall offers specific points of interest: the examples range from the rood screen dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th-century building phases of St Alban's Church. This can help you decide whether the place suits your interests. When looking for holiday accommodation, you can then consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on these cultural themes.

Discover more destinations

Newark-On-Trent, Kimberley, West Stockwith, West Bridgford, Woodborough, Warsop, Clayworth, Carlton

For the main travel overview: Nottinghamshire.