Description

SJ 85 NE
SJ 890 590
7/22

BIDDULPH CP
CONGLETON ROAD (east side)
Church of St Lawrence and coffin lids and benches on south side

13.4.51

GV
II*
Parish church. C15 core; substantially rebuilt in 1833 by T.Trubshaw, with additions and Heath Chapel by Ernest Bates done in 1873; slightly altered in 1894 by Lynham. Red sandstone coursed and dressed; blue machine tile roof to nave, lead to aisles, (invisible behind parapets).

Virtually rectangular plan of projecting south porch, aisles, nave, and chancel, flanked by chapels ; northwest tower tucked between north aisle and nave, all of a local Perpendicular, the restoration work of Trubshaw is the typical Perpendicular of the period.

Tower: C15 of four stages; thin diagonal buttresses all turned into diagonal pilaster strips to upper stages run through to crenellated parapet; cavetto strings define bell chamber with gargoyles to centre of upper strings on outer sides; three-light, four-centred-arch, panel tracery openings to bell chamber; round arch window to first stage on north side. Shallow gabled porch of 1833, with blind parvis window over four-centre-pointed arch entry contemporary with aisles of four bays divided by pilaster buttresses of two stages; roll plinth string and further string below parapet, labelled three-light Perpendicular window to each bay; chapel bays of 1873 built on to east end of each aisle flanking chancel and gabled to east; taller than aisles; to south, unfenestrated with upper string stepped over blind opening, similar to aisles on north with stepped label over high level three-light east window.

Nave and chancel: in one range with continuous crenellated parapet and clerestory of four bays of Perpendicular three-light windows to nave. East window of three tiers of panel tracery; west window also of panel tracery, with enlarged centre-light, and over four centred-arch west door. Seven coffin lids, mostly inscribed with crosses laid at plinth height, set as benches between bays of south aisle.

Interior: Nave of four bays of octagonal columns and moulded capitals supporting clerestory and cambered, coffered, roll-moulded-beamed ceiling with gilded pendant bosses; pent aisle ceilings similar but simpler; pointed chancel arch with inscription round extrados. Chancel: five-sided apse, with three-tiered, blind, trefoil-headed panel tracery of three bays to all sides (the east window of three lights forms part of the device); segmental ribs run to centre boss of flat ceiling; organ and vestry bay to north and Heath Chapel to south: pointed arch off aisle, to invisibly top-lit bay; intensely patterned encaustic tile and marble floor with Heath coat-of-arms to centre, decorative wrought iron railed enclosure to the Church's major Monument: William and Mary Heath of 1872, by Matthew Noble, in marble; the former life-sized set under the figure of Christ, all against a pointed arch-headed ground; eleven plaques to Heath family on Chapel sides; further plaque of 1872 to William Heath on south wall of aisle; marble, twin-columned gabled pilasters to crocketted centre gable over inscription.

Bowyer Memorial: a chest tomb of 1649 in marble, partly vaulted under tower; slab top with inscribed edge and painted carved coats-of-arms to longer sides, 18 to north and three to south; further Bowyer wall memorial of 1749 to north aisle; segmental pediment over coat-of-arms, supported by Ionic pilasters on gadrooned rims to corbels. Font: of drum shape; round-arched blind arcaded sides; octagonal oak Pulpit on stem, stone altar with blind tracery similar to chancel sides. Fragments of medieval glass retained in east window, including coat-of-arms of Biddulph family. Painted hatchment to south wall of nave.

Listing NGR: SJ8899659015

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531533

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

• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)