Description

LYTHAM ST ANNES

SD32NW WOODLANDS ROAD, Ansdell
621-1/2/5 (East side)
Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph

II

Roman Catholic church, with attached presbytery. 1909-14
(dated 1911 on north gable wall); by Pugin, Pugin and Pugin,
for James and Roger Taylor.
Coursed squared yellow sandstone with red sandstone dressings
and graduated Cumbrian slate roof.
Decorated style.
Nave on approx. north-south axis, with east and west aisles,
double transepts incorporating side chapels, sacristy
continued from west transept (and linked to presbytery by a
short passage or cloister), sanctuary at south end and
detached north-east tower linked to east aisle.
The tall 3-stage tower, with angle buttresses carried up to
octagonal pinnacles, and various weathered bands, has a
2-centred arched north doorway with deeply moulded surround
(leading to an internal porch), a lettered band above this, a
tall canopied niche containing a statue and flanked by narrow
2-stage cusped lancets, pairs of quatrefoils between stages
above this, a belfry stage with pairs of tall louvred windows,
and an elaborate machicolated parapet with cusped
machicolation, pierced lettering and crow-stepped coping.
The gable of the nave, divided by buttresses into 3 bays, has
a similar lettered band, segmental-headed 2-light traceried
windows below this in the outer bays, a tall canopied niche
with a statue in the centre bay, 3 tall narrow 2-light
traceried windows (that in the centre stepped up, over the
niche) and a low 3-light window in the apex.
The 5-bay aisles, with buttresses, moulded cornices and
parapets with upstands between bays, have 2-centred arched
3-light traceried windows with linked hoodmoulds; and attached
to the 1st bay of the west aisle is a 5-sided baptistery which
has a one-light windows in each side and a tall polygonal
roof.
The clerestory of the nave has segmental-headed 3-light
windows, and straight buttresses carried up as rectangular
pinnacles which have panels of blind tracery.
The transepts have coupled gables projected from pitched roofs
at right angles to the axis of the nave, a 3-light traceried
window in each gable, and on the south side of each an unusual
shallow canted chapel with high-set fenestration and a tall
saddleback roof.
The sanctuary has blind arcading at mid level and above that a
2-centred arched 5-light traceried window.
INTERIOR: 7-bay arcades with cylindrical columns and 2-centred
arches, and lateral arches bridging the aisles; elaborate
carved reredoses to altars in the sanctuary and both chapels.
HISTORY: built by the brothers James and Roger Taylor,
priests, who were members of a prosperous Fylde farming
family, and donated to the diocese of Lancaster.

Listing NGR: SD3483528058

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26514004

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

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  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
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  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)