Church Of St Mary

1. CHURCH STREET 5099 Church of St Mary

NZ 2563 5/11 26.4.50

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1. Large Parish Church, mainly C14 but with fragments of Norman work. Chancel much rebuilt in C19, mainly by John Dobson. Mid C18 west tower. Attached to north wall "The Anchorage" originally sheltered an anchoress, rebuilt in early C19 as a school and now used as vestry.

Sandstone coursed rubble, some squared. Tower ashlar. Welsh slate roofs. Cruciform with nave aisles, south porch, projecting west tower with arch to nave of 1876, tall with four plain chamfers, to form baptistry in tower.

Five-bay nave with parapet, crocketed buttresses, C15 style restored windows. Three long bays to chancel have C19 windows but traces of blocked C15 ones are visible. Tower of three stages with quoins and cornices, curved up over clock faces in second stage. Pedimented top stage, round arched bell openings.

Interior: Nave piers run straight into arcade arches without capitals, as at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle. Complete C17 paving with carved doors and bench ends. C15 timber roof with moulded beams and joists, losses at intersections. Carved choir stalls part C17, mostly C19. Good C19 and C20 stained glass in chancel, and several classical memorial tablets.

"The Anchorage" has steps to first floor entrance, filled arcade below. Historical note: There has been a church on this site since early Saxon times.

At time of survey roof partly destroyed, chancel and anchorage damaged by fire.

Listing NGR: NZ2544563679