Nominal: 754 Hz Weight: 1325 lbs Diameter: 41.88" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 7711 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Wymeswold: St Mary
Diocese of Leicester
Church, 619216
http://www.barrowandwoldsgroup.com/This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SK 603 234
St Mary’s church is sited on a raised mound in the centre of the village immediately adjacent to the main A6006 road which also serves as Wymeswold high street. The church dominates the street scenes and the landscapes both within and outside the village. The church probably originated with the nucleated village in Anglo-Saxon times. The first mention of a vicar dates from around 1220. Some of the earliest parts of the church that survive today are the south doorway, the pillars in the nave and the tower which are all 14th century.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 604 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Some of the earliest parts of the church that survive today are the south doorway, the pillars in the nave and the tower which are all 14th century. The chancel is of a similar date and the clerestory is 15th century. The church had a spire until it was struck by lightning in 1783 causing additional damage to the bells and bell tower. Consequently, the original bells were replaced with a ring of six by Thomas Osborn of Downham Market, Norfolk in 1795.
The building was substantially rebuilt in the 1840s when the most notable Vicar of Wymeswold, Henry Alford, commissioned his friend and renowned architect, A.W.N. Pugin, to undertake the work. St. Mary’s was the first church in the county and one of the earliest in the country to be redesigned according to the preferences of the Oxford Movement.
The four ornate pinnacles above the parapets were replaced in 1907-8 after the earlier ones became unsafe.
There are several external figurative carvings and the end-stops to the clerestory windows were replaced with exact replicas (carved heads of kings and queens) in 2002-3.
Exterior Description
The building was substantially rebuilt in the 1840s when the most notable Vicar of Wymeswold, Henry Alford, commissioned his friend and renowned architect, A.W.N. Pugin, to undertake the work. St. Mary’s was the first church in the county and one of the earliest in the country to be redesigned according to the preferences of the Oxford Movement.
The church is generally constructed in random rubble stonework with dressed stone quoins, mouldings and tracery etc. with plinths to the north and south aisles. The tower buttresses, faces and frieze are in coursed stone. There is a quatrefoil frieze below the parapets with four large corner gargoyles depicting feline beasts. The four ornate pinnacles above the parapets were replaced in 1907-8 after the earlier ones became unsafe. There are several external figurative carvings and the end-stops to the clerestory windows were replaced with exact replicas (carved heads of kings and queens) in 2002-3. All the roofs are leaded.
Building Materials
Blue Lias
14th Century
Blue Lias
Conglomerate
14th Century
Sandrock
Diorite
14th Century
Mountsorrel Granodiorite
Limestone
14th Century
White Lias
Millstone Grit
14th Century
Millstone Grit
Sandstone
14th Century
Bromsgrove Sandstone
Interior
Bells
Nominal: 1267 Hz Weight: 615 lbs Diameter: 29.63" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 47395 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1130 Hz Weight: 536 lbs Diameter: 30.13" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 47396 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1007 Hz Weight: 678 lbs Diameter: 32.38" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 47397 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 950 Hz Weight: 821 lbs Diameter: 34.25" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 47398 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 847 Hz Weight: 1038 lbs Diameter: 37.5" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by Thomas Osborn 1795
Dove Bell ID: 47399 Tower ID: 10306 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 603 234
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is O in C 11/06/1863 postponed by Os in C 14/08/1878 & 17/05/1879
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.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
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
Sources
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