Ruins Of Old Church Of St Mary

The ruins of the old Church of St. Mary, a former parish church, likely date back to the 13th century and were remodeled in the 18th century. The church was largely demolished in 1833 when a new church was built nearby. The remaining structure is made of squared rubble with cut quoins and dressings. What survives includes the east gable and the more ruinous side walls of the chancel.

The east end features remains of two narrow square-headed lights with chamfered surrounds, which were replaced by an 18th-century window with a pointed arch. There are also traces of a smaller square-headed light in the gable. The south wall shows one chamfered jamb of a medieval window, the lower jambs of a blocked door, and remains of a low-side window. The north wall has the jambs of a vestry door, likely from the 18th century.

Inside, there is a chamfered band below the east windows, and the internal lintels of older windows, along with the sill of the gable light, are re-used cross slabs. A piscina with a pointed arch and a broken bowl is located on the south side, and there is another bowl set in the blocking of the south door. A recess, possibly an aumbry, can be found on the north side.

The church is situated in a romantic setting by the River Greta and has been the subject of paintings by Turner and others. At the time of the survey, the ruins were in poor condition and deteriorating.