Church of St James

The Church of St James is a Grade II* listed building located on Church Street in Brassington. It dates from the late 12th century, with alterations made in the 14th century and a restoration that included the addition of a north aisle around 1895. The church is constructed from squared coursed limestone with gritstone dressings and features a slate roof adorned with decorative ridge tiles.

The structure includes a western tower, nave, aisles, and a chancel with partial aisles. The tower, which is heavily restored in the Norman style, has angle buttresses and features a 19th-century plate tracery window set within a former Norman doorcase on the west wall, above which is a two-light window. The tower also has round-headed twin bell openings on all sides and an embattled parapet above a decorated stringcourse.

The north and south aisles contain double or single 19th-century lancet windows, while the northern clerestory features 19th-century three-light cusped windows. The east wall is highlighted by a rose window with plate tracery, a hoodmould, and carved stops, topped with a stone coped gable surmounted by a cross. The south aisle has two flat-headed Perpendicular windows, and the south porch showcases a Norman arch with roll moulding and attached shafts, along with a fine early studded arched door.

Inside, there is a tall Norman arch leading to the tower, with imposts that continue into a stringcourse. The south arcade consists of three circular 12th-century piers with scalloped and waterleaf capitals and stepped soffits. The north arcade features 19th-century circular polished limestone piers with carved capitals and round arches, along with a 19th-century roof. From the nave, a pointed moulded arch leads to the chancel, with lower arches into the chancel aisles. The south aisle of the chancel includes a late Norman arcade with round-headed arches springing from imposts to a central polygonal column with a waterleaf capital, above which is a Perpendicular window. The eastern window contains 19th-century glass. Additionally, there is a hatchment in the tower dating from 1806.