Nominal: 830 Hz Weight: 1471 lbs Diameter: 42.38" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Edward II Seller 1731
Dove Bell ID: 2819 Tower ID: 16299 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Grasmere: St Oswald
Diocese of Carlisle
Church, 607250
Overview
Grid reference: NY 337 73
The Church is named after St Oswald, a 7th Century Christian King of Northumberland, who is said to have preached on this site. It is the parish church of Grasmere, Rydal and Langdale, and each township has its own separate gate into the churchyard. The tower, porch and south wall are all that remain of the medieval church. Until 1841 the church floor was of earth with the parishioners simply buried beneath it. The church is roughcast but Pevsner says that in 1891 this was removed from the tower and the un-hewn beck cobbles pointed up. However after only twenty years the roughcast had to be reapplied to resist water penetration. The interior is one of the most striking things about the building as in around 1500 the church was enlarged with a single storey arcade created from the original north wall separating a new northern nave. The resulting roof valley was a poor detail and in 1562 John Benson bequeathed money so that the Roofe be taken down and maide oop again and this created the startling two tiered arcade. The box pew opposite the quire stalls is of 1633 and was for the Le Fleming family who have strong associations with the building. The bells are said to contain metal of Pre-Reformation examples but William Wordsworth would have heard the present ones. He and his family are buried in the churchyard as is Hartley Coleridge, eldest son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. There are two south windows by the famous designer Henry Holiday; British Pre-Raphaelite Painter and Stained Glass Artist, 1839-1927.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 474 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Earlier church/human remains
Exterior Description
2xII, II*- Hearse house, church stile cottage, Wordsworth graves (set of 12)
Interior
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
20th Century Clock with cast iron flat bed frame made by JohnSmith from Derby in 1901
Historical Notes
1901 - 1901
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1071 Hz Weight: 706 lbs Diameter: 32.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Thomas Mears & Son 1809
Dove Bell ID: 22225 Tower ID: 16299 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 889.5 Hz Weight: 1075 lbs Diameter: 36" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by Edward II Seller 1731
Dove Bell ID: 22226 Tower ID: 16299 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 337 73
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
| Name | Status | Number found in this site |
|---|---|---|
| Common yew | Notabletree | 4 |
| Common yew | Notabletree | 2 |
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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