Church of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a substantial building constructed between 1853 and 1856, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It is a group value building, recognised for its architectural and historical significance. The church is built of stone with slate roofs. The main structure comprises a five-bay nave with adjoining aisles under lean-to roofs, a north and south porch, transepts, a crossing tower, a three-bay chancel, and north and south chapels. A vestry is located on the south side. The design is in the geometrical style.

The west entrance features two orders with a four-light window above. Aisle windows are of two lights, while those in the aisles themselves are of three lights and incorporate stone rainwater heads sculpted as beasts; offset buttresses are also present. The clerestory is characterised by two-light windows. The north porch has a blocked entrance, dating from 1984, with sides featuring quatrefoil and trefoil openings. The north transept includes a four-light north window and spherical triangle windows to the east and west, accompanied by a canted stair turret with a pinnacle to the west. The two-stage crossing tower has octagonal angle turrets with crocketed pinnacles; the lower stage exhibits a five-bay blind arcade with cusped arches, a frieze of quatrefoils, and an embattled parapet. The upper stage has paired two-light bell openings with a canopied niche above, a Lombard frieze, and a pierced parapet. The chancel features an apsidal end with two-light windows and a Lombard frieze. Chapels have a three-light east window and two-light side windows; windows in the north chapel were blocked in 1984. The vestry has windows of two and three cusped lights and a parapet. The south transept has three two-light windows, accompanied by chamfered buttresses and a rose window above.

The interior features arcades with round columns and wall shafts, and scissor-braced roofs. The crossing incorporates clustered shafts and a triforium with two-light traceried openings, covered by a flat ceiling. A two-bay arcade on quatrefoil piers leads to the south chapel, alongside an organ loft to the north. The octagonal font has a traceried canopy. The pulpit, choir stalls, chancel panelling, screen, and reredos in the south chapel were added by J.O. Scott in 1906. Stained glass is largely the work of Hardman. The fine carving of the arcade capitals is particularly noteworthy. A sundial from a previous church, dated 1793, is set on the south wall. It is considered to be one of Sir George Gilbert Scott’s better works, especially noted for its elaborate interior.