Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Michael, Lowther

St Michael, Lowther

St Michael's Church

Lowther Church

locality:-

Lowther Park

civil parish:-

Lowther (formerly Westmorland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

church

coordinates:-

NY51902446

1Km square:-

NY5124

10Km square:-

NY52

references:-

: 2005: Diocese of Carlisle, Directory 2004/5

BJW53.jpg (taken 29.9.2005)
photograph

BJW55.jpg (taken 29.9.2005)

evidence:-

old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 7 8)
placename:- St Michael's Church

source data:-

Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
"St. Michaels Church / Rectory / Grave yard / Mausoleum"

evidence:-

old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd)

source data:-

Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.

J5NY52SW.jpg
church
item:- National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland

evidence:-

old map:- Cary 1789 (edn 1805)

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmoreland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Cary, London, 1789; edition 1805.

CY24NY52.jpg
church symbol; church or chapel
item:- JandMN : 129
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old text:- Gents Mag

source data:-

Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.

goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1825 part 1 p.515 "Compendium of County History. - Westmorland."
"AT LOWTHER ... The church contains several tombs of the Lowther family."

evidence:-

old map:- Nurse 1918

source data:-

Map, The Diocese of Carlisle, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Rev Euston J Nurse, published by Charles Thurnam and Sons, 11 English Street, Carlisle, Cumberland, 2nd edn 1939.

NUR1NY52.jpg
"LOWTHER"
United benefice cum Askham, but separate parish.
item:- JandMN : 27
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

site plan:- Historical Monuments 1936

source data:-

Site plan, uncoloured lithograph, Lowther, Parish Church of St Michael, Lowther, Westmorland, scale about 1 to 290, published by Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, London, 1936.

click to enlarge
HMW098.jpg
On p.159 of the Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Westmorland.
printed, top "LOWTHER - PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL"
RCHME no. Wmd, Lowther 1
item:- Armitt Library : A745.98
Image © see bottom of page

stained glass

hatchments

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:- Cross South of Church of St Michael

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"CROSS SOUTH OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74351 / NY5190724443"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Churchyard cross, latterly a sundial. C12. Pink sandstone. Stepped socket stone, split and clamped together. Shaft has chamfered edges, the now flat top with C18 brass sundial plate without inscription or gnomon. See RCHM, Westmorland, 1936, plate 37."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:- Church of St Michael

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 74350 / NY5190424454"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Parish church. C12 and Cl3 with extensive late C17 rebuilding; C19 alterations and additions. Partly-rendered sandstone rubble walls with eaves cornice and raised red sandstone quoins. Graduated greenslate roof with coped gables. 4-bay nave with west porch and aisles; central square 3-storey tower with north and south transepts; single-bay chancel. Nave is externally late C17 with moulded-surround windows in aisles and in clerestory. C19 gabled stone porch. Tower is partly medieval and in late C17 had a domed cupola, removed in C19 and replaced by an extra storey and a battlemented parapet. C19 triple lancet windows. Transepts are late C17, that to south with Lowther arms in pediment. Line of original transept roof can be seen in tower wall above. Chancel has C17 priest's doorway and tall round-headed windows, 2 in east wall. North vestry. Interior of porch has free-standing remains of 3 hog-back coffin lids and a saxon cross shaft. Interior: north arcade has 3 C12 round piers with carved capitals, supporting round arches. Similar round arches of south arcade are supported by C13 octagonal piers. Font c.1686 inscribed TA. Various marble wall plaques to members of the Lowther family and C20 heraldic stained glass in south windows. Pointed tower arch. Hanoverian Royal Arms of the 3rd period (1816-37) on gallery and pater boards above. In the south transept are elaborate monuments to various members of the Lowther family: an alabaster effigy of Sir Richard Lowther 1608, with accompanying wall-mounted heraldic plaque; John Viscount Lowther 1700, marble effigy and wall plaque; elaborate wall plaque of 2 busts with garlands and railed backdrop to John Lowther and Lord Lowther 1675. More C19 and C20 marble and brass monuments and wall plaques to members of the Lowther family in south transept and in chancel. Dado panelling looks C17 but altar rail is C19 imitating C17. See RCHM, Westmorland, 1936, plates 13, 44, 96 and 138."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"MOUNTING BLOCK AT EAST END OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74352 / NY5193024458"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Mounting block. Late C17. Red sandstone. Steps at either side of rectangular structure rising to square mounting stone. An unusual feature in Cumbrian churchyards and probably provided for the Earls of Lonsdale."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"GATE PIERS AND GATES SOUTH OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74355 / NY5191224348"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Gate piers and gates at churchyard entrance. Late C17 piers with C20 gates. Red sandstone ashlar and wrought iron. 2 rusticated piers with moulded caps. Scrolled iron gates. Adjoining wall is not of interest. Listed for group value with Church of St Michael."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:- Lowther Mausoleum

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"LOWTHER MAUSOLEUM SOUTH WEST OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74353 / NY5189524380"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Mausoleum for the Lowther family. Dated AD 1857 over entrance, for William, second Earl of Lonsdale. Calciferous sandstone ashlar with polished Shap granite panels. Rectangular 3-bay chamber over basement. Front has steps down to double panelled doors in pointed arch. Above is a similar doorway with glazed panel doors, under Lowther arms. Battlemented shaped parapet and octagonal angle turrets, the caps with numerous carved heads and surmounted by griffins. Return walls have recesses with pointed granite panels under shaped parapet with 3 blank shields. Rear steps up to flagged walk around. Rear 4-light pointed-arched window. Inside is a marble seated figure of the 2nd Earl by E.B. Stephens 1863, nine years before his death."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"HEARSE HOUSE NORTH OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / LOWTHER / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74354 / NY5189024487"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Hearse house. Late C18 or early C19. Red sandstone rubble walls partly rendered, under graduated greenslate roof with lead hips and wooden louvred cupola. Small square building in north corner of churchyard. Central double plank doors in segmental arches; no other openings."

memorials

evidence:-

old print:- Calverley 1899
item:- hogback gravestone

source data:-

In the church:-

click to enlarge
CV1128.jpg

click to enlarge
CV1129.jpg
Photographs by W L Fletcher.
There are two other hogback gravestones still in situ, close to the Lowther mausoleum.
item:- JandMN : 190
Image © see bottom of page

cross slab gravestones

incumbents:-

Capella, William de	1320 -
Wells, Walter de	1362 -
Bone, John	1379 -
Raby, John de	1425 -
Cleveland, Thomas
Wharton, John	1465 -
Fairfax, Thomas	1579 -
Lowther, Leonard	1586 -
Trasdale, John	1640 -
Smith, William	1676 - before
Threlkeld, Richard	1676 -
Holme, Richard	1694 -
Robinson, Hugh	1738 -
Lowther, Henry	1763 -
Lowther, William	1769 -
Satterthwaite, James	1814 -
Jackson, William	1828 -
Tylecote, T B	1878 -

sundial

notes:-

Described in:-

Butler, Lawrence (ed): 2011: Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne for Cumbria, 1833-1872: CWAAS:: ISBN 978 1 873124 52 9

Extracted from the original notes made by Sir Stephen, now in Deiniol's Library, Hawarden, Flintshire, contact through Flintshire Record Office

CAT02.jpg (taken 23.5.2014)
photograph

BLN19.jpg (taken 4.1.2006)
photograph

BOP17.jpg (taken 6.2.2008)
photograph

BJW54.jpg Coat of arms on the outside of the church.
(taken 29.9.2005)
photograph

BJW56.jpg Coat of arms, George III? after 1816
(taken 29.9.2005)
photograph

BQU50.jpg Organ, by Wilkinson, Kendal.
(taken 11.6.2009)
photograph

BQU51.jpg Organ, by Wilkinson, Kendal.
(taken 11.6.2009)
photograph

BQU52.jpg Organ, keyboard, by Wilkinson, Kendal.
(taken 11.6.2009)
photograph

BQU53.jpg Organ, stops, by Wilkinson, Kendal.
(taken 11.6.2009)
photograph

BTF82.jpg Organ pumps, by Wilkinson, Kendal; hand pump and motor in the box in the foreground.
(taken 11.6.2009)
photograph

BJW61.jpg The tiny gravestone of Mary Clark, almost hidden by the steps of the Lonsdale tomb.
(taken 29.9.2005)

notes:-

Saxon and norse finds suggest a date for the site in the 9th or 10th century, any wooden church from this period has gone without trace. The present church includes pillars and part of the chancel from about 1175; the south aisle and arcade were added about 1250, with other alterations; the whole was rebuilt in 1686, adding a tower.

: : church leaflet

personal

person:-

artist
: Thompson, Jacob

person:-

: Lonsdale Family

place:-

burial place

dedication

person:-

: St Michael

place:-

Lowther / Carlisle Diocese

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