Bilborough

St Martin of Tours

Nottingham Archdeaconry

Nottingham North Deanery

Introduction

The medieval church of St Martin of Tours stands on the southern edge of the old Bilborough village but now also serves the large outer Nottingham city housing estates of Bilborough and Strelley.

The nave and chancel were built in the second half of the 14th century with the tower added in about 1450. There is a handsome south porch also of the 14th century. Restoration of the church was carried out in 1887-8 by J E Newbury.

Inside, on the south wall of the chancel, is a monument to Sir Edmund Helwys of Broxtowe Hall who died in 1590.

A Heritage Lottery funded project over the period 2011-2014 included the repair of the tower, the unblocking and re-glazing of the east window, the restoration of the Gibbs mural and the Victorian barrel-vaulted ceiling in the chancel, the installation of under-floor heating and new electrical wiring and the drainage system upgraded. Damp, damaged plaster was removed from interior walls and the church redecorated.

Particular thanks to Bernard Beilby and Andy Nicholson for research on this entry
and to Geoff Buxton, Dr Chris Brooke and Mike Wakerley for the photographs.