More information : [NY 9136 6648] St. Michael's Church [T.U.] (1)
Warden church came under Hexham Priory in the 12th cent. and after
1138. The transept in 13th cent., but the nave and chancel are a
re-building of 1765 on the old foundations: there was also, partial
rebuilding in the late 19th cent. The tower, apart from the top, is
in simple Norman style. (2)
Pevsner puts it at c. 11th cent.'but whether pre or post Conquest
can hardly be determined'. It is small and unbuttressed, and has
irregular quoins not of long and short type. The windows are mostly
slits with deep inner splays. (3)
In the porch is a reversed Roman altar which has been converted into
a 10th-11th cent. Christian memorial. (4)
In normal use: the provenance of the altar is unknown. (5)
7/125 Church of St. Michael
15.4.69 I
Parish church. Saxon west tower, transepts C13, nave and south
porch 1765, chancel 1889. Tower coursed sandstone with irregular
large quoins, remainder coursed squared sandstone; slate roof.
Cruciform with west tower and south porch.
Tall tower has small round-headed windows differing in detail,
stepped-in C18 belfry stage with single broad pointed opening in
each face, low pyramidal cap. Nave has C19 windows in C13 style.
Transepts have tall chamfered plinth, clasping buttresses at
angles, stepped buttresses to side and beneath gable windows; single
and paired C13 lancets in side walls with hollow-chamfered string
linking hoodmoulds. Three-light windows in gables are largely C19.
Chancel has lancet windows in side walls, priests' door on south
with enriched shouldered arch, three-light east window. South porch
has C19 inner and outer arches, good C18 sundial in gable, blocked
square-headed window in west wall.
Interior. Low round-headed tower arch with moulded imposts, possibly
Roman stones, arch of rough rubble perhaps a post-medieval
reconstruction. C19 pointed double-chamfered transept arches on
medieval jambs. Piscina in south wall of south transept,
square-headed aumbry rebated for door in north wall of north
transept.
C12 coped and tegulated gravestone in chancel against north wall,
medieval cross slab in sanctuary floor, various C18/19 floor slabs
and wall monuments. Important collection of carved stones lying
loose in porch.
Traditionally Warden Church stands on the site of an oratory used by
St. John of Beverley when he was Bishop of Hexham (685-704). The
west tower, despite the C18 reconstruction of its belfry stage, is
an important member of the Northumbrian group of Saxon towers.
H.M. & J . Taylor, Anglo Saxon Architecture 632-634
7/127 Lych gate to south of Church of St. Michael
GV II
Lych gate, 1903. Stone and timber with stone slate roof. Free Gothic.
Ornate timber superstructure on moulded stone plinth, four gables
with traceried barge-boards above shouldered arches with carved
foliage in spandrels. Inscription commemorating Mary, wife of
George Cruddas. (6)
In the south porch is a reused column, probably of Roman date, inscribed with an 8th-11th century incised cross. (see also NY96NW14 for Roman altar in the porch, which was reused as a Saxon grave-slab).
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