Church Of St Leonard

SWITHLAND MAIN STREET SK 51 SE 4/87 Church of St. Leonard 1.6.66

GV II* Church of C13 and later. Granite and slate rubble stone with Swithland slate roof. W. tower of 3 stages, nave, N. porch, S. aisle with E. porch, and chancel. Lower part of tower C13, upper Perp with 2 W. clasping buttresses, small C19 W. door, original 1-light above, several slits, 4 restored 2-light bell openings and restored crocketted pinnacles and battlements. 2 storey C19 stair turret on S. side. Nave has C19 N. porch and C13 arcades originally similar but N., now blocked, was heightened later in Century. N.W. arch remains similar to S. arcade. Now blocked it leads to N. porch. Arcades of 4 bays, S. has circular piers and abaci supporting double chamfered arches. 3 bull's-eyes windows above. ½ bull's eye remains abutting first of higher N. arcade blocked arches. These similar to S. Upper part of Nave C16/17 timber framing in 4 bays. Wall pieces and curved braces from renewed stone corbels support collar and cranked tie beam trusses with lower angle struts. Curved wind braces to single purlins. Heavily restored chancel. Arch double chamfered, one dying into corbels. 2 C19 flat-headed 2-lights either side with C19 E. window of Geometric type tracery. Stained glass of 1867. Restored, partly renewed, single purlin roof with wall pieces and curved braces supporting collar beams, thence king struts. Wrought-iron alter rail. S. aisle built as Danvers Chapel in 1727. 4 bay double purlin king post tie beam truss roof with angle struts to purlins (upper from king post). Date on E. tie beam. C19 E. porch. 3 C19 S. windows of Geometric type tracery. Stained glass of 1864 (Heygate Memorial) in SSW, otherwise 2 heraldic glass lunettes, one dated 1849. 1 C18 half round window remains with W. window blocked. 6 hatchments and helmet, sword and 2 metal gauntlets. C17 and C18 slate and brass monuments and pedigree of Danvers Bulter family, including outstanding example of mid C18 to children to Sir John Danvers, 'a tour de force of the slate workers' (Pevsner). Mid C15 brass; organ originally by John Snetzler, of London, 1765, with Gothic pinnacled front; C18 white marble font; remains of possibly C17 carving in some pew backs. On N. wall C18 wall monument and 2 C19 Curvilinear type tracery windows. Triple chamfered W. arch with small round arched 1-light above and C19 stained glass in small W. window.

Listing NGR: SK5549412826