The Corpus of ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE in Britain & Ireland
Cumberland (pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales))
Parish church
On the south exterior of the nave is a blocked, medieval doorway, said to be late-12th century. In 1717, it was declared that there was no maintenance for a curate at Clifton Chapel, or any ecclesiastical services performed there. Between 1736 and 1821, the burial ground had ceased to be used and the building was in a state of disrepair. The church was subsequently restored in 1858 and rebuilt in 1900.
Redundant parish church
The rectangular chancel is all that remains of the medieval church. It now stands isolated in a field. In 1845-6, when the new parish church of St James was built in the village of Ireby, about a mile away, the nave and N aisle of the old church were taken down. Consequently, the baptismal font and a few other carved stones were removed to the new church (see: Ireby, St James’ Church). Some reconstruction and repairs on the surviving structure were undertaken in 1880. The walls of the present structure bear evidence of significant restorations and changes. Ireby is divided into High Ireby and Low Ireby. The Old Church of Ireby is within the boundaries of Low Ireby, as is the newer Church of St James.
Parish church
The church was rebuilt in 1846-7/8. Drawings survive of both the chancel arch and the S doorway prior to the 19thc. building, which show that both were of 12c. date. Various carved stones from these were re-used in the doorway to the vestry at the NW corner of the church. Other fragments have been incorporated into the E interior wall of the vestry. An ornate baptismal font of possible late-12thc. date is located in the SW interior of the nave. Various other medieval stones are also preserved within the church. Outside, re-used in the churchyard wall near the gate leading to the rectory are a series of chevroned voussoirs and other carved stones.
Parish church
Gosforth is a village in Cumbria, situated between Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness. The church of St Mary has a long history and is well-known for its early standing cross. It has a complex post-medieval history. In 1654 a bell turret was added to a church consisting of a simple nave and chancel with walls of about eleven feet. At that time the church was thatched. In 1759 the south wall of the nave was rebuilt, and the pointed north doorway of the chancel walled up. However, in 1789 the church underwent considerable alterations, the walls heightened and a porch built off the western end. Subsequently, in 1858 the chancel was lengthened and a north transept built. At this time the north doorway of the chancel was re-discovered and opened up, revealing a number of re-used carved fragments. In 1879, the vestry was enlarged, but in 1896-9 the church was largely rebuilt. Some carved stonework from the 12th-century church survives, particularly the lower part of the chancel arch, and a blocked south doorway. There is also an incised stone with incised cross at the east end of the north nave aisle, as well as a section of impost or stringcourse decorated with rosettes in beaded circles. Another head of a cross found at St Mary’s is now in the museum in Whitehaven (See Whitehaven, Beacon Museum). Further stones have been re-used in the walling of a structure in the NE corner of the churchyard. This part of Cumberland became part of the diocese of Carlisle in 1856.
Parish church
The church at Isel consists of a rectangular chancel and nave. There is a S porch and a W bell turret. The church building is primarily of Romanesque, with later medieval changes, such as the 15thc window in the S wall of the chancel. In 1878, the church was restored. Romanesque features include the chancel arch, S doorway and a fragment of roll moulding built into an interior wall of the porch.
Parish church
The small church is built of coursed, roughly-ashlared stones. It is dedicated to St Bride, a shortened form of Bridget, who was an early Irish saint. The plan of the church consists of nave, square-ended chancel and W bellcote. The original chancel seems to have been shorter and was extended at a later date. In 1703, Bishop Nicolson described the condition of the church as ‘nasty’. Substantial work was carried out on the church in 1895-9, at which time the chancel was substantially rebuilt re-using some of the original stones. There is also a later porch off the S side of the nave and a 20thc vestry off the S side of the chancel. All early features within the building - chancel arch, doorway and windows - are carved plain. Only the loose font bowl is carved with any decoration.
Parish church
Workington is in the ward of Allerdale above Derwent (i.e. Allerdale S of the Derwent River), also called Copeland. Only the lower part of the W tower of the church remains in place from the medieval church structure, as most of the building was rebuilt in 1770. Two subsequent fires, in 1887 and 1994, led to the church being rebuilt two more times. The upper storeys of the W tower were built about 1770 and the nave after the 1887 fire. Following the 1994 fire, excavations were carried out which revealed much of the medieval ground plan of the church, which appears originally to have been a three-cell structure. A rough drawing of the church made about 1770 shows the medieval church before it was rebuilt. The bowl of the 12thc. baptismal font survives, as do parts of the W tower arch and a single, large scallop capital. Embedded in the walls of the church are various carved stones, including chevroned pieces. Loose stones of a range of dates, found over many years and during the excavations, are also kept inside the church. Although much of the interior of the church was destroyed in the 1994 fire, the 1880s exterior walls survive.
Parish church
Ainstable is a small village about 11 miles SE of Carlisle, and the church lies to the N of the village. The church of St Michael was rebuilt in the early part of the 19thc and again in 1870-1, the tower of that church being taken down in 1983. Inside the present church is a late 14th-c graveslab of John de Denton and a small Romanesque pillar piscina. There are also two effigies from St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlise, which were moved there when that church was taken down in 1778. No part of the medieval fabric appears to survive.
Parish church
The Dissolution came into effect for Cleator church c. 1539. In 1541, the parish was brought into the diocese of Chester, but in 1856 this was changed to the diocese of Carlisle. The original parish was later divided, in 1870, with the creation of a church at Cleator Moor, which grew up as a result of the iron industry. Only the chancel of St Leonard’s Church is medieval, the nave having been rebuilt and enlarged in 1841. In the late 18thc, the walls of the chancel were raised about two feet, new pews were installed and the church was repainted, along with other changes. Little is known about the early cross at Cleator, except that it was found in the walling around the churchyard (this cross should not to be confused with the so-called ‘Fawn Cross’, which is later). In the N wall one Norman window survives, though at a later date it was partially opened out on the exterior to let in more light. The church was largely restored in 1900-1903, when a new vestry, baptistry and porch were built. At the same time remains of a piscina were found in the S wall of the chancel. A carved animal also survives on a corbel stone on the SE exterior corner of the chancel.
Redundant parish church
Upper Denton is located on the old Roman Stanegate, which ran from Corbridge (Coria) to Carlisle (Luguvalium). The church of Upper Denton is located about 0.6miles S of Birdoswald Roman fort.
The church consists of chancel, nave and belfry. In the 18thc, the W wall of the nave and the bellcote were rebuilt. The church was later restored in 1881 and again in the 1930s. It has been redundant since the late 1970s. The earliest carved features in the church are the chancel arch, the S doorway of the nave and one window on the N side of the nave.