St Lawrences Church |
Hob Uid: 7922 | |
Location : Northumberland Warkworth
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Grid Ref : NU2468706183 |
Summary : Parish Church. Nave and chancel early 12th century; west tower circa 1200; vestry probably 13th century; belfry and spire 14th or 15th century; south aisle and porch late 15th century. Restored 1860, nave by John Dobson and chancel by Ewan Christian. Squared stone with cut dressings. Graduated Lakeland slate roofs to nave and chancel, leaded roofs to aisle, porch and vestry. Plan: Unusually long nave (27.6 x 7.6 metres) with west tower, 5-bay aisle with 2-storey south porch, 2-bay aisleless chancel and formerly 2-storeyed north vestry. On the site of a pre-Conquest Church. Excavations have located the early church and an 11th century headstone. The present church was restored in 1860. (1) |
More information : Ceowulf (King of Northumbria A.D. 731-7) built a church at Warkworth and gave it to St. Cuthbert when he entered the latter's monastery. St. Lawrence's Church now occupies its site. Whether it were wooden or not is not known, but a stone church of pre-Conquest date certainly existed on this spot until c. early 12th century. Remains of the foundations of its eastern termination were discovered immediately west of the chancel arch when the present church was restored in 1860. 'During alterations to the church in 1860 there was discovered, 2 ft below present floor level, the east end of the pre-Norman church measuring internally, 7 ft to 8 ft in width with walls 4 ft thick. Remains consisted of the angles of a building with a south wall running some distance westward.' (a) A small roughly carved pre-Conquest head stone with a cross and interlacing pattern upon it was also found. The three stone coffins unearthed in 1860 lie in the churchyard. (1) 11th century headstone found at Warkworth. (2) NU 24670618. There are no remains of the pre-Conquest church to be seen in and around the present St. Lawrence's Church, which is partly of Norman date. The 11th century headstone is preserved at the north end of the chancel arch and is of octagonal shape measuring 0.4m x (3) Condition of headstone unchanged. (4) Church of St. Lawrence. Grade A. Large church, almost completely Norman. Long narrow nave with flat burrtesses. Chancel c.1130. West tower added c.1200. (5) (For full description see list).
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