Church Of St Lawrence

DENTON TOWN LANE SJ 99 NW (north side)

4/53 Church of 27/11/67 St. Lawrence

G.V. II*

Church. Nave c.1530, chancel and transepts 1872 by J. Medland and Henry Taylor. Timber-framed structure which was weather-boarded on the south and rendered over on the north side in 1862 but painted to retain its character. Graduated stone slate roof. Cruxiform plan with west gallery and bellcote. 4-bay nave has stone plinth, coved eaves and 3 or 5-light mullioned windows in each bay. Central west door with blocked window above. The chancel, under a continuous roof, and the transepts, under parallel roofs, continue in the same style but with more elaboration to the east end which has foiled openings, rosettes on the barge boards and a 5-light east window. The bellcote has a pyramidal roof and has been restored to reveal the decorative framing. Interior: 6 structural bays of the timber-framed structure remain. The shaped posts and curved braces support tie-beam roof trusses which have inclined struts, purlins with cusped bracing and a ceiling at collar level. Between the posts the framing is concealed by plaster or removed completely where transepts and chancel adjoin. West gallery supported on C19 cast-iron columns. Early C18 baluster font. Pews 1859. Part of former wardens pew of C17 and C18 preserved beneath gallery. Other carved timberwork of C19 and C20 dates. The windows incorporate fragmentary early C16 glass from former east window. Edward Holland memorial, 1655 - oval inscription plate between short columns supporting scrolls and the coat of arms. Dame Mary Asheton memorial wall tablet, 1721. The building is an important early survival of a timber-framed church. J. Booker, A History of the ancient chapel of Denton.

Listing NGR: SJ9264095055