St Mary Le Bow Heritage Centre

DURHAM AND FRAMWELLGATE NORTH BAILEY NZ 2742 SW (East side)

14/252 St. Mary le Bow 6/5/52 Heritage Centre (formerly listed as Church of St.Mary- le-Bow)

GV I

Parish church, now heritage centre. Circa 1685 rebuilding of medieval structure; 1702 tower; C19 repairs and restoration. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar plinth and dressings. West tower. 3-bay nave and narrower 2-bay chancel with north organ chamber. Decorated chancel windows. Perpendicular east and nave windows. 3-stage tower projects slightly and has chamfered round arch with dropped keystone under drip mould; round-headed niche above has 2-centred-arched drip mould; 2-light round-headed belfry openings; battlemented parapet. Stepped buttresses, diagonal at corners with pinnacles; battlemented parapets to nave and chancel.

Interior: plaster above high wainscoting with panels and dentilled cornice; shallow C15 king-post roof trusses; battlemented frieze. Flat 4-centred chancel arch springing from walls. Stone newel stair in tower. Chancel panelling of 1731 has Corinthian pilasters, cherubs' heads, crossed palms and modillioned cornice. Panelled west gallery of 1742. Rood screen of 1707 has much leaf and flower carving of high quality. Communion rail has fat turned balusters. Stall ends have high relief passion-fruit and flower carving, and poppyheads. C18 font in chancel; C19 Frosterley marble font in west baptistry. Monuments include marble slab with coat of arms of Thomas Wilkinson and members of his family, died 1718 to 1733.

Chancery court bench, dated to reign of James I, originated in Palace Green.

Source: W. Page V.C.H. Durham III 1928, reprint 1968, 137-141.

Listing NGR: NZ2747242160