Church Of St Mary

TO EAST OF QUEEN'S SQUARE 1. 5166 Church of St Mary SD 6178 NW 5/152 12.2.62 I GV

1. C12 to C16 with alterations C18 and C19. Ashlar and rubble. Slate roof with lead gutters. Nave and chancel with axial west tower of four storeys, two north aisles and one south aisle. Outer north aisle gabled. Tower (partly C18) and walls entirely embattled in C19. Two deep buttresses to east wall with many setbacks. East window of three lancets with vesica over. Square-headed windows of several lights to the aisles, the lights cusped to south aisle, round headed to north. Three Romanesque doorways, two to south aisle and an elaborate one of four orders at base of tower. South porch, Romanesque, added 1866. Interior. Nave and chancel arcade of seven bays, the first three round arches of C12, the eastern four two-centred arches of C13. The Romanesque north arcade of nave combines composite piers and round piers with incised decoration in the manner of Durham cathedral. The fabric of the south aisle is mainly C14. The north aisles are mainly C16 and are separated by an arcade of that date. The east window of the chancel has an inner order of slim detached shafts with rings. Early C13 piscina in first column of south arcade. Pulpit 1619. Other woodwork and furniture C17 to C18. The principal medieval church of South Westmorland. The arcade which imitates that of Durham cathedral is of the first importance.

Listing NGR: SD6112478822