| Summary : Parish church built in the Norman period and altered in the 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 19th centuries. It comprises nave with north and south aisles, north porch, transepts with central tower, chancel with north chapel. 10th and 11th century pilaster strips occur around the main mid 13th century doorway. Plan of aisled nave, north porch, transepts, central tower and chancel with north chapel. Roman altar reused as a Saxon sundial in the 11t century. |
More information : (SU 09939353) St Sampson's Church (NAT) (1)
The Parish Church of St Sampson, which probably dates back to
before 950 AD, has an Anglo-Saxon pilaster-strip in situ in the
wall of the south aisle (2). Other work is late Norman to
Perpendicular with later restoration (3). (2-3)
In addition to the pilaster strip there are, above the north
doorway within the porch, two pieces of Saxon interlace work,
one probably part of a cross shaft, the other part of a coffin
lid.
Grade A. Church of St. Sampson Parish church. Fine large church. Tower built 1551-3 by Duke of Northumberland. C.12 Nave Arcades. C.15 font. (4)
Church of St Sampson. Plan of nave incorporating C10th-11th work,
(lesenes on wall above South aisle), with C14th North and South
aisles, C15th North porch, North chapel probably of 1484, chancel
C13th but remodelled in the C14th, transepts and mid C16th
central tower. The North arcade is late C12th, while the South
arcade is C13th. Two Anglo-Saxon stones, one part of a tombstone,
the other a cross, are set above the mid-C13th doorway. Two
carved stones are set at a high level in the South aisle, that
to the West being two deeply carved affronted beasts, while that
to the East is a defaced central panel supported by two figures
is said to be Roman, (cf auth.2).
Grade I. (5-6)
Listed. (7)
The Saxon fragments are fully described and discussed. Nos are those used by Cramp:
1. 10th-11th century cross shaft found during restoration. Now built into the North wall of the porch to the left of the door.
2. Part of an 11th century coped grave slab also found during the restorations. Now built into the North wall of the porch to the right of the door.
3. Panel showing two affronted beasts. Perhaps Roman originally, reshaped and reused as a frieze in the 11th century.
4. Possible Roman altar reused as a Saxon sundial, reshaped in the 11th century. (8) |