Priory Church of St Mary

The Priory Church of St Mary in Lower Allithwaite, Cartmel, is a significant example of a former monastic church with a long and complex history spanning from around 1190 to 1220. Later additions and alterations occurred in the 14th century (c1330), 15th century (1395-1420), and 17th century (1613 and 1677). The building is primarily constructed of ashlar, with some areas of dressed stone and rubble, all covered by slate roofs.

The church’s design includes a chancel, a Piper choir, transepts, a nave with aisles, a tower, and a Town choir. The three-bay nave features an embattled parapet, a recessed gable, and a large five-light west window flanked by deep buttresses. Straight-headed clerestory windows illuminate the nave, while the aisles have three-light west windows. The south aisle incorporates a gabled porch with a round-headed, three-order entrance dating back to c1190, and a traceried door. The north aisle retains traces of a former cloister, and features an early 13th-century entrance of two orders. The transepts are characterized by flat buttresses, with blocked lancet windows and upper windows of varying sizes. The crossing tower has an embattled parapet and a diagonal upper stage with four-light windows. The chancel exhibits a moulded base, flat buttresses, and a large nine-light window, complemented by straight-headed clerestory windows. The Piper choir, located to the north, is a two-bay structure with flat buttresses, a corbel table, and three-light windows. A vestry adjoins the east side of the Piper choir, featuring a segmental-headed three-light window. The Town choir, situated to the south, is distinguished by its three-light windows, buttresses, and a five-light east window with two blocked lights.

The interior features simple three-bay nave arcades, and crossing arches with clustered shafts to piers. Round-headed arcades and continuous arcading to the triforium are visible in the choir. Roofs include a quadripartite vault in the Piper choir, a 19th-century roof over the crossing, and a 19th-century roof in the Town choir. Original 15th-century stalls incorporate good misericords, along with 17th-century canopies and screens. A notable feature is the Harrington tomb, originally freestanding, now situated within a south arch of the chancel. Other notable interior elements include a cutting sedilia from c1347, recumbent effigies, painted ceilings, numerous memorials, medieval grave slabs, a recumbent effigy of a canon dating to c1340, and wall memorials dedicated to Dame Katherine Lowther and Sir Thomas Lowther. Additional memorials, including a marble effigy by T Woolner commemorating Lord Frederick Cavendish, a painted board relating to the Preston Family (1646), a 17th-century font with a cover dated 1645, and stained glass from the early 15th century complete the interior.

The Priory Church of St Mary represents an important survival of a medieval monastic church, with the Harrington Tomb, choir screen, and canopies being especially significant artistic achievements.