Bispham Parish Church (All Hallows)

SD 34 SW BLACKPOOL ALL HALLOWS ROAD, BISPHAM

1/1 Bispham Parish Church (All Hallows)

II

Church, 1883, by John Lowe of Manchester: third building on the site of the original church of the parish of Bispham, until 1821 the only church in Blackpool; incorporates fragments of early C12th masonry. Stone with slate roofs. Nave, chancel, west tower, in minimally Early English style. Tower with angle-buttresses, squinch-set stair turret on north side, 3 belfry louvres on east side parapet and pinnacles. Nave of 5 bays, buttressed, a gabled porch to the west bay, and one pair of single-light cusped windows in each of the other bays. Chancel with transepts, the northern one very short; each has 2 pairs of similar windows, and a round trefoil window in the gable. Triple light east window. South doorway is 1883 restoration of Norman original, incorporating fragments of original masonry: principally, 2 pairs of scalloped capitals on each side, and an uncertain number of chevron-patterned voussoirs in the outer band; middle band of raised chevrons with carved signs of the zodiac is Victorian interpretation of signs said to have been found carved upon originals when whitewash was removed (VCH Vol. 7 p. 244). Interior: king-post roof on arched braces rising from wall posts supported by stone corbels; ground floor of tower wall incorporates an ancient piscina hewn from a square block, a round arch with hollowed spandrels above it; north transept has painted wooden Commandment Table on west wall.

Listing NGR: SD3190240578