Church Of St Margaret

NZ 1855 STANLEY FRONT STREET (North side) Tanfield 18/170 Church of St.Margaret 19/7/50 GV II Parish church. Nave dated 1749, tower dated 1853, chancel dated 1864, remodelling dated 1878, the latter by Austin, Johnson and Hicks (brass panel in tower describes it as 'remodelled, restored, new seated and new organ'). 1853 and 1864 by public subscription with large contributions from John Eden of Beamish Park, and James Joicey and Company, coal owners. Sandstone ashlar with plinth and quoins; graduated Lakeland slate roof with stone gable copings; Welsh slate roof on north tower vestry. West tower with north vestry; aisled nave; chancel with north organ chamber and vestry. Tower has double boarded doors, with elaborate hinges and lift-scutcheon latch, under fanlight in moulded, shafted round-headed arch; inscription with date above; tall shouldered light above, and 2-light shouldered belfry openings under corbel table and battlemented parapet; west front of tower has shafted round- headed window with paired round-headed lights and plate tracery; clock above. 4-bay nave has 2-light square-headed Perpendicular windows(replacing C18 round- headed windows, of which traces remain) and impost band; lancets in 3-bay chancel, with 3 stepped east lancets; buttresses between bays, angle to tower and chancel, with setbacks. Date panel on nave below impost band at left, and sundial with gnomon above. Roof continuous over aisles, with stone cross finials, and wrought iron vane on tower. Wrought iron foot-scraper. Interior: painted plaster above panelled dado; painted ashlar dressings; panelled chancel; panelled flat nave roof on corbelled wall-posts and low- pitched panelled chancel roof, with Tudor-flower freizes. Triple-chamfered 2-centred arcades springing without capitals from round columns; similar style chancel and tower arches. Perpendicular style rood screen; Communion rail on fat twist balusters; carved wood altar in Gothic style with 3 medallions and 4 apostle figures. Romanesque piscina in north wall. Gothic organ 1907 by Walker. Large raised font, of Frosterley, Devonian and white marble with octagonal bowl on pedestal and 4 shafts; commemorates Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. Perpendicular-style font cover inscribed to T. Duncombe Eden, died 1899. Geometrical glass with figures, in chancel, dated 1864; later glass in aisles, one window signed with mark of mailed hand and ribbon. Monuments include C17 heraldic slabs to members of Tempest and Ripon families; white marble mourning figure and sarcophagus with portrait medallion, on north aisle wall, to Dorothea Melden Eden, by Bedford of London; broken column in south aisle to George Rippon by Jopling of Newcastle.

Listing NGR: NZ1876355478