Church Of St Ebba

The Church of St. Ebba is a parish church located near Consett, originally dating to the 12th century. It underwent extensive rebuilding in 1892 by C.H. Fowler, with further additions and alterations in 1910 by G.T. Wilson. The church is constructed of sandstone rubble, with a lower course of massive blocks, and quoins of coarse sandstone; the tower utilizes snecked sandstone, while dressings are in ashlar. The roof is stone-flagged.

The architecture is primarily Romanesque in style, featuring round-headed windows, although the west window is in the Perpendicular style. The church comprises a nave, north tower with a boiler-room, a chancel, a south vestry, a choir-vestry and an organ chamber. The three-stage tower has double doors within a triple-chamfered round-headed surround, a small window above, a clock within a raised surrounding mould, and a belfry opening, all under dripmoulds. It is topped by a cornice and stepped parapet with roll moulding. The nave and chancel (four and three bays respectively) have small, mostly chamfered windows along the north and south walls, with original windows surviving in the east bay of the chancel and elsewhere on the north wall. A large east window and a large Perpendicular west window are also present. A portion of a Roman altar has been incorporated into the west wall. A gabled bellcote features paired 2-centred arched openings. Stone cross finials adorn the structure.

Inside, the church has sandstone rubble walls with ashlar dressings; it is topped by a collar-truss roof. The chancel has a low-pitched panelled roof with painted decoration on the ribs and frieze. The east window has a moulded round arch on shafts with scallop capitals. Restored windows replicate original designs, while others feature deeply-splayed reveals, stepped sills, and inserted lintels. A semicircular chancel arch stands on impost bands. A plain aumbry is situated to the left of the altar, and a rerearch is visible at the west window. The round-headed tower arch has a chamfered head. Stained glass windows commemorate Robert S. Surtees (died 1864) and Anthony Surtees (died 1871), and later 19th-century glass appears in the west window. A Norman-style font with a moulded bowl sits on a stout pedestal. Monumental inscriptions include representations of Anthony and Alice Surtees of Hamsterley Hall (died 1838 and 1837 respectively) and Robert and Ann Surtees of Milk Well Burn (died 1811). Painted panels displaying the Creed, Commandments, and Our Father are on the east wall. A re-used Roman altar is built into the porch wall. The church is situated within the site of the Roman fort of Vindomora.