Nominal: 759 Hz Weight: 1456 lbs Diameter: 41" Bell 1 of 7
Founded by James Barwell 1894
Dove Bell ID: 7559 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Withernsea: St Nicholas
Overview
Grid reference: TA 342 276
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower. 4-bay aisled nave with clerestory. South porch and north door. Chancel with north vestry.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 15m (49ft) x 7m (23ft), aisles 3m (10ft), chancel 10m (33ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 422 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The medieval village of Withernsea, mentioned in the Domesday survey, and its 12th Century church were destroyed by the encroaching sea during the 15th Century. A new church, the one we see today, was built inland and was consecrated in 1488. According to a plaque in the churchyard some of the fabric of the lost church was incorporated into the new chancel. Alterations were made in the 16th Century. The pace of coastal erosion and diminishing local population as a result, led to the demise of the church. It lost its roof in a storm in 1609, was abandoned and fell into decay. The tower was reported to have been pulled down and a bell sold in 1623 [VCH] but images of the church c.1850 show the tower still standing albeit in poor condition. Parishioners worshipped at Hollym instead.
Withernsea underwent a revival, leading to its growth, in the mid-19th Century when it was promoted as a seaside resort town. A railway opened in 1854 linking the town with Hull. In 1858 the decision to restore the church was made. According to the list description work included rebuilding the north aisle and south porch, partial rebuilding of the south aisle and nave, re-roofing, re-flooring, new window tracery, new tower parapet and new vestry. The adjacent church institute, recently sold, was built in 1913-14. Popularity as a resort town never met projections and the railway closed in 1965. Restoration c.2000 included stone repairs to the tower.
St Nicholas is understood to be the oldest building in Withernsea. Archaeological finds in the surrounding area suggest Roman settlement. The site is of some archaeological potential. There are no designations relating to the ecology of the site.
Exterior Description
St Nicholas has the appearance of a quintessential parish church. It has a stepped roofline with a low chancel, higher nave abutted on either side by aisle roofs, and culminates in a west tower with crenellated parapet and a flag pole. Stone cross finials terminate both east gables.
The shallow roofs are covered in slate roof tiles with crenellated ridge tiles. Beneath the eaves on either side of the nave are chunky stone modillions. Nave and tower are both constructed in cobbled stone creating a dappled texture which contrasts with smooth stone ashlar dressings and window surrounds. The north aisle elevation has thin layers of stone laid horizontally at intervals giving the wall a striped effect. The chancel is constructed entirely in stone ashlar and has a crenellated parapet with crocketed finials. Buttresses are situated at the angles and between some bay divisions.
Windows in the north and south aisles consist of three-light cinquefoil-headed windows under square-heads, whilst above in the clerestory windows are two-light trefoil-headed windows under within slightly pointed surrounds. The chancel windows are pointed three-light perpendicular chancel windows. The tower also has a three-light perpendicular pointed window at ground level whilst above it on each elevation is a two-light louvred window over which are fixed a clock face.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
14th century with various restorations
Nave
14th century with partial rebuilding
Clerestory
14th century
Porch
19th century rebuilt
Chancel
14th century
Vestry
19th century north
Building Materials
Cobble
15th-19th
Cobbles
Limestone
15th-19th
Lower Magnesian Limestone
Slate
15th-19th
Slate
Limestone
14th century ashlar chancel
Stone
14th / 19th century cobbled nave with bands of stone and stone dressings
Welsh Slate
19th century roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The church is entered via a projecting gabled south porch which was added in the 19th Century. It is stone with a timber roof and stone benches to either side. The iron gates were a gift in the 1980s. A 15th-century ledger stone is mounted on the west wall. The interior of the church is light and spacious. Light is maximised by the predominance of clear glass in the windows (some with coloured borders) and a clerestory. Four-bay arcades either side of the nave are formed by double-chamfered pointed arches carried on octagonal piers. The arcades stop either side of the chancel arch on carved corbelled responds. At the west end a glazed wood partition screens the tall pointed tower arch.
Around the top of the nave walls is a wooden crenellated wall-plate. Crenellated tie-beams cross the width at each bay division. Below these arch-braces link to wooden corbels carved to form heads. Whilst above are Queen-strut trusses with carved bosses in the apex of each. Two chain light fittings, with an iron ring and four bulbs, are suspended from two of the trusses. Additional light is provided by spot-lights.
The walls are plastered with stone surrounds left exposed. Carpet is laid over red and black quarry tiles which pave the main body of the church, some bare signs of erosion. The original position of the columns is indicated within the layout of the tiles. Unfixed pine benches of a simple catalogue design provide seating in the nave and are of little value. The west end has been rearranged to create some space. There are altars at the east end of both north and south aisles.
The chancel is entered through a double-chamfered pointed arch which springs off corbelled responds carved with shields. It is raised by a step and the floor is paved in wood blocks with tiered oak choir stalls positioned to north and south sides. They have frontals facing the nave with blind tracery panels and the ends of the stalls have poppy-heads. The organ is situated behind the north stalls where it partially blocks a door, which perhaps led to the old vestry. The roof over the chancel is simpler than that over the nave but is painted with three gilded carved wooden bosses to each truss which in turn rest on painted wooden corbels carved in the form of angels.
The sanctuary is raised by another stone step. A north door leads to the vestry. Red quarry tiles pave the floor. A further step rises beyond the communion rails. Here the floor is paved in encaustic tiles and the altar is raised once more. The lower walls of the sanctuary are panelled in oak, given in 1938. The boards behind the roof trusses are painted blue with gold stars.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century plain oak table with four recessed panels c 1942
Reredos
20th century incorporated into oak panelling in sanctuary, 1938
Pulpit
20th century octagonal oak pulpit by John Bilson of Hull with blind tracery panels and carved figure of St Nicholas, 1920
Lectern
19th century carved oak eagle
Font (component)
19th century octagonal stone font, uppermost part overhangs octagonal pedestal, flat oak cover with ironwork
Rail
20th century oak with open tracery panel and central iron gates
Stained Glass (window)
19th century east window - 3 scenes with central nativity scene c 1877
Stained Glass (window)
20th century north and south east aisle window, north being Crucifixion, late 1940s by Harry Stammers
Bells
Nominal: 1282 Hz Weight: 487 lbs Diameter: 27.5" Bell 2 of 7
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 46557 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1157 Hz Diameter: 30" Bell 3 of 7
Founded by James Barwell 1894
Dove Bell ID: 46558 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1020 Hz Diameter: 31.63" Bell 4 of 7
Founded by James Barwell 1894
Dove Bell ID: 46559 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 952 Hz Diameter: 33" Bell 5 of 7
Founded by James Barwell 1894
Dove Bell ID: 46560 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 849 Hz Diameter: 36.5" Bell 6 of 7
Founded by James Barwell 1894
Dove Bell ID: 46561 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1437 Hz Weight: 461 lbs Diameter: 26.25" Bell 7 of 7
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1948
Dove Bell ID: 46562 Tower ID: 10813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TA 342 276
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
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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