Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Boulton Lane

This is a parish church of mixed date. It retains some 12th-century and 14th-century fabric, but is mainly the product of several phases of enlargement spanning the 19th and 20th centuries.

The church was first significantly enlarged westwards in 1840 by John Mason, surveyor of Derby (1794-1847). A restoration and enlargement followed in 1871, when the nave south wall was rebuilt, a north aisle was added, a north vestry and bell turret were constructed, and the 12th-century chancel arch was dismantled. The south aisle was added in 1908, at which time the original 12th-century south doorway and 14th-century south porch were dismantled and rebuilt. In 1960, the aisles were extended westwards to the length of the nave by Sebastian Comper. The church has thus grown through planned interventions rather than organic development.

Materials and exterior form

The chancel, chapel and north aisle are constructed in snecked rock-faced gritstone, while the south aisle and porch are in coursed squared gritstone. 20th-century additions to the aisles use reconstituted stone. Roofs are clay tile with crested ridge tiles.

The plan comprises a long aisled nave with a south porch, a lower chancel with a north-east chapel and south-east vestry.

The chancel features angle buttresses and a three-light Perpendicular window, with a two-light square-headed south window above the low vestry. The north chapel (formerly vestry) has a pointed east window and a Norman-style north doorway which, although said to incorporate masonry from the dismantled chancel arch, appears to be entirely 19th-century work. The 1908 section of the south aisle has three two-light square-headed windows. The re-sited porch has a distinctive cinquefoiled entrance arch. Inside, the 12th-century south door displays a single order of shafts with scalloped capitals, an arch with chevrons, a lozenge frieze to the label, and a cable moulding at the base of the now blank tympanum. The 19th-century section of the north aisle has three two-light Decorated windows. The aisle extensions of 1960, which comprise three bays on the south and four bays on the north side, have windows with Y-tracery. The four-light west window has intersecting tracery and a transom, above a west door. A gabled bellcote rises from the eaves on the south side.

Interior

The nave has arcades of 1871, 1908 and 1960 which are similar in design, with octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. The arches of the 1908 section in the south aisle are polychrome. The chancel arch is finely moulded on corbelled shafts. The nave has a painted arched-brace roof. The aisles have lean-to roofs; the earlier eastern sections have diagonal struts on corbels. The chancel has a closed polygonal roof divided into panels by moulded ribs. In the south wall are sedilia and piscina under ogee heads in square frames. Walls are plastered and painted. The sanctuary has a diaperwork marble floor and there are floorboards beneath benches.

Fittings and decoration

The font of 1871 has an octagonal bowl and stem of four marble shafts with stiff-leaf capitals. The polygonal pulpit is of alabaster with blind panelling, on a painted stone base. The prominent west gallery of 1840 is brought forward in the centre and has an open balustrade. Simple nave benches have moulded ends. The choir stalls are dated 1964. In the north aisle are two windows with stained glass by Hardman and a window by Powell & Sons. The crucifixion east window is by Walker J. Pearce, dating to 1913.