Church Of Saint Mary

BIRDSALL THE PARK SE 86 NW 3/30 Church of Saint Mary l0.10.66 GV II

Church. 1820's by Watson and Pritchett. Chancel and top stage of tower 1879-81 by Hodgson Fowler. For the Willoughby family, the Lords Middleton. Limestone ashlar. West tower, 3-bay nave with boiler house to north, 2-bay chancel with organ chamber to north. Gothic Revival. West tower: 3 stages, with diagonal stepped buttresses. First stage: 2-light double-transomed pointed window with blind panels holding shields to central section to west. Semi-octagonal stair turret to north. Pointed doorway with crocketed hood- mould and lead bas-relief of 2 figures flanking Middleton arms above to south. Second stage: 2 moulded string courses, the second carrying lancet window, to each face. Third stage: 3-light double transomed belfry openings to each face. Openwork parapet with finials to octagonal angle turrets. Nave: string course carries 3-light windows in Decorated style, with bays divided by stepped buttresses surmounted by finials. Priests' door to eastern bay on south side. Boiler house with pointed doorway to eastern bay on north side. Chancel: 3-light Perpendicular windows to south with empty tomb recess to eastern bay. Vestry to north: steps to pointed doorway with square-headed 2-light window to right. East end: 5-light Perpendicular window with door to crypt below flanked by empty tomb recesses. Interior: 2 black marble monuments on west wall to Henry Southeby, died 1662, and Anne Southeby, died 1688. North wall: monument to Thomas Southeby, died 1729. Memorial plaque flanked by termini and surmounted by pedestal and urn. Signed by Rysbrack. South wall: monument to Sixth Lord Middleton by Sir Richard Westmacott. White marble with figure of kneeling woman. Chancel: C14 recumbent figure of a lady, with kneeling figure on either side, and the soul, as a bird, ascending to heaven, above head. Pevsner N, Yorkshire, York and the East Riding, 1972. York Georgian Society Annual Report 1975.

Listing NGR: SE8182965392