Church Of St Andrew

The Church of St Andrew is a building of group value, dating back to the 12th century with significant additions and alterations across several periods. The original 12th-century feature is the chancel arch, while the chancel itself was rebuilt around 1300. A west tower was added in the 15th century, and the nave was largely reconstructed during the 19th century. The church is constructed of ashlar with lead roofs.

The west tower is two-stage, with a moulded plinth and a moulded string to the belfry stage. It has pointed two-light belfry openings under a four-centred arch with a continuous hollow chamfer. Gargoyles sit beneath a crenellated parapet with crocketed corner pinnacles. A pointed west window with two lights and Perpendicular tracery is set under a hoodmould. A square stair turret, set in the angle between the north wall of the tower and the west wall of the nave, has slit windows and a corbelled roof.

The nave has a chamfered plinth and two two-light pointed windows with 19th-century tracery in a Decorated style on both the north and south sides. A pointed south door, also with a continuous double chamfer under a hoodmould with monarch stops, provides access. The chancel has a moulded plinth and buttresses with offsets. It features four pointed windows, each with two trefoil-headed lancets under a quatrefoil, and a pointed priests' door with a double chamfer. Grotesque gargoyles and a low moulded parapet are also present. The east window is composed of three stepped trefoil-headed lancets under a single pointed and chamfered arch.

A projecting, octagonal north-east turret has slit windows, pilaster buttresses with gablet tops, a fleur-de-lys finial, and a pyramidal roof with a ball finial. The adjacent north chancel chapel has a trefoil-headed lancet to its east wall and two similar lancets to its north wall. A fragment of a flory cross grave slab is incorporated into the plinth of this chapel.

Inside, a pointed double-chamfered tower arch sits on chamfered imposts and square responds. The church has two chancel arches separated by the west bay of the chancel. The westernmost arch is from the 12th century and features a rebuilt, pointed double-chamfered arch with trails and capitals—including a Christ in Majesty, St Peter with keys, a mermaid, and the judgement of Solomon—while the eastern arch, dating from around 1300, is pointed and double-chamfered with moulded capitals and demi-octagonal responds. A similar arch is present leading to the north chapel. There are three trefoil-headed sedilia and a piscina on the south wall. A door leads to the north-east turret.

The church contains several memorial monuments, including a brass plaque commemorating William Watkinson, who died in 1614, depicting him with his two wives and daughter. Another monument is dedicated to Sir Edward Payler of Thoralby Hall, who died in 1647, flanked by paired black columns with white Corinthian capitals and a broken pediment. A monument to Mary Payler, who died in 1786, features a portrait medallion, urn, and mourning cherub situated above an elaborate plinth. Finally, a ridged grave-cover with wheel-headed crosses is set into the floor.