Description

SD 53SE SAMLESBURY POTTER LANE

1/91 Church of St. Leonard-the-Less
11.11.1966
GV I

Church, substantially 1558, but with masonry of late C12 building visible
in both gables, and tower and porches of 1899. Nave and chancel in one,
with aisles, tower attached at north-west corner. Two gabled and timber-
framed porches on south side. Aisle and clerestory windows are all of 3
arched lights with stone mullions, deeply splayed reveals and hoodmoulds.
Arched 3-light west window with intersecting tracery; east wall contains
arched 3-light window with perpendicular tracery, a dripmould over it
with figured stops. Battlemented tower of ashlar with diagonal buttresses,
west door, 1st floor window, belfry louvres on all sides and stair turret.
Interior: nave arcades of 4 bays following line of original outer walls
(the west ends of which remain), composed of 3 short octagonal columns
with moulded capitals and matching responds at each end, and double-
chamfered 2-centred arches. Interior walls of coursed irregular masonry
now with ribbon pointing (plastered until 1884). Wooden ceiling on
slightly-cambered bridging beams and secondary beams, all chamfered
(concealed by reed and plaster ceiling until 1884); sloping aisle roofs.
Exceptionally complete set of individually constructed and decorated box
pews, most with dates and plates ranging from 1678 to 1756. Other notable
furnishings and fittings include: 2 levels of C18 3-decker pulpit; C17
Communion rail with turned balusters; funerary armour (sword, helm and
blazoned shield) believed to be that of Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury
Hall (q.v.) d. 1546; Royal Arms, Commandment, Creed and Lord's Prayer
Tables all painted on canvas; alabaster slab, incised, to Sir William
Atherton and his wife (d.1440 and 1480); memorial tablets of Geoffrey
Hornby (d.1801) and Mrs. Fielden (d.1859); a tub font, possibly Norman;
and C14 Sanctus Bell over east door. Numerous masons' marks on south
arade, exterior north wall, and jambs of east window. (VCH Lancs; Pevsner;
R. Eaton History of Samlesbury 1936; G. Clayton St Leonard the Less
Samlesbury n.d.

Listing NGR: SD5898630362

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Leonard the Less, Samlesbury at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5117481

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)