Bell 1 of 1
Founded by William Blews & Sons 1876
Dove Bell ID: 57118 Tower ID: 21836 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Low Wray: St Margaret
Overview
Grid reference: NY 372 7
The tiny quaint Victorian church of St Margaret is found within the grounds of Low Wray Castle not far from the eastern shore of Lake Windermere. The church is barely visible from the castle driveway in summer, hidden by trees and foliage but can be seen from the road as you pass the lodge and gatehouse. The church is approached from the south side along the old service route to the castle. The entrance to the lane to the church has an elaborate and interesting timber gate with diagonal struts creating four crosses in the gate. The churchyard has a low slate boundary wall and the west end backs onto the gatehouse garden. The churchyard has burials to the west of the church and a war memorial adjacent to the west window. Built of slate with sandstone details the church has a picturesque setting. Built in 1845 the South East Tower certainly reflects the battlements of the adjacent Wray Castle and all created for James Dawson, a retired surgeon from Liverpool. Although of limited architectural quality it has limited interest because it is largely unaltered and complete even with its original organ. However, the church provided the first living of Canon Rawnsley, one of the founders of the National Trust. It is also understood that Beatrix Potter spent holidays at Wray Castle and it may be assumed she also knew the church.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel, south porch, south-east tower and north vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave approx 13m x 7m and chancel approx 6m x 5m.
Description of Archaeology and History
St Margaret’s church was built in 1856 as an estate church for the recently completed Low Wray Castle (1840-7). James Dawson, a surgeon from Liverpool, was responsible for the Castle and complex and it has been suggested that the architect for all the buildings may have been H P Horner. Horner was based in Dawson’s home town of Liverpool, which provides a possible link. Pevsner states that Horner was responsible for the castle certainly but also gives an earlier date for the church at 1845.
The church was consecrated in 1861 by the Bishop of Carlisle and assigned parochial boundaries. There are several gravestones of local interest including James Dawson and his wife Margaret. The dedication of St Margaret of Antioch may be a connection to Margaret Dawson.
The church has a historical link with the National Trust; Canon Rawnsley, a cousin of James Dawson, was appointed as incumbent in 1878 and went on to be one of the founding members of the National Trust.
If any development of the site is proposed the SMR should be consulted.
Exterior Description
St Margaret’s church is a small unaltered example of simple Victorian gothic design. The nave is of three bays, with a steeply pitched roof, the west end surmounted with a cross finial. The chancel roof is slightly lower than the nave and from the west end is completely hidden by the tower, which sits at the south-eastern corner of the nave.
The windows to the nave are simple cusped lights with plain hoodmoulds over. The south elevation has a porch between the first and second bays from the west and the westernmost window is therefore hard against the west wall in order to fit. The porch has a pitched roof with its own cross at the apex and a sundial on the gable with inscription to the Dawson’s. There are clasping buttresses to either side. The entrance to the porch is a plain-chamfered pointed arch at the top of several steps. The roof has been tiled with hexagonal laid tiles, which gives a pleasing decorative effect.
The north elevation of the nave has the same windows as on the south and between each there are substantial buttresses with two weatherings. To the west elevation there are angle buttresses. The west gable has a large three-light window with Decorated tracery.
The chancel has a large three-light window to the east but no other fenestration. At the junction of the nave and chancel on the north side there is a small octagonal vestry with a steep pyramidal roof surmounted by a cross. There are two tiny cusped lights on two faces.
The main feature of the church is undoubtedly the crenellated tower which mimics the design of the castle. There are large diagonal buttresses with three weatherings to the south-east and south west; on the church side the buttresses die into the chancel and nave roofs. There is a canted stair turret tucked against the junction with the nave with its own small clasping buttress, arched doorway, pyramidal roof and slit opening.
The tower faces are even, with no stages, except for the final parapet which also has a slight overhang. The south face has a two-light window under a pointed arch on a low level. Above this there is a single lancet with cusped head which is repeated on the east face. Just below the parapet on all faces there are two cusped louvred bell openings.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Porch
19th century south
Tower (component)
19th century south east
Vestry
19th century north
Building Materials
Slate
19th century The walls are built with squared slate rubble. The roof is of Westmorland slate.
Sandstone
19th century The window dressings are in buff sandstone.
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside, the building is very simple. The chancel arch is tall and plain. There is a waggon roof to the nave. The chancel has some decorative furniture and a fine east window. There is a small arched doorway to the vestry and a segmental open arch to the base of the tower. The tower houses the organ and the decorative pipes are seen from the chancel.
Although Pevsner is rather dismissive of the nave and chancel as ‘perfectly innocuous’ it is the rural idyll setting and resonance as part of the castle complex that gives this building its own particular charm.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Oak table.
Reredos
19th century Good oak panelling with linenfold decoration to the lower panels and perpendicular tracery to the upper. Brattishing and crocketted pinnacles to the detailing across the width of the window opening. 1888.
Pulpit
19th century Plain oak pulpit built against the east wall of the nave with simple tracery carving on the panels.
Lectern
19th century Double sided brass book rest with an additional wooden shelf. 1884.
Font (component)
19th century Tiny octagonal bowl and stem with a wooden pyramidal cover with crocketted details.
Stained Glass (window)
19th century East window. • The Crucifixion. Plaque below on sill - the gift of James Lumb of Homewood, Cumberland. Easter 1890. Nave south side (e-w) • St Paul. Brass panel on sill – In memoriam: John William Whittaker DD formerly of Belmount Hall & Vicar of Blackburn in Lancashire who died in the year 1854 aged 63 + • St John. Brass panel on sill – Mary Haughton the wife of Dr Whittaker and the daughter of Sir William Fielden, Bart of Feniscowles died 1871 aged 71 + • Christ and the little children. A children’s gift in memory of Emily Weedon, 10, Albert Weedon, 5, Alfred W Weedon, 3, John W Weedon, 2, Annie Chapman, 8. Sept & Oct 1888. West window • The Resurrection. Nave north side (e-w) • Saint holding a lily. A thank offering from the Revd Henry Clark MA Vicar1888. • Virgin and child. In memory of Mary Dixon who departed this life the 21st January 1877 aged 73, erected by her eldest son John. • St Margaret. The gift of D J Flattely Esq Holbeck Cottage Windermere 1888. Tower south side • Scenes & texts from Gospels. Dominus Gulielmus donauif AD MCCCLV
Inscribed Object
19th century South wall of nave – marble monument: • IN PIAM MEMORIAM/Margaretae / TAM OPTIMAE QUAM DILECTISSIMAE CONJUGIS / Jacobi Dawson, CHIRUGI / DE WRAY / OBIIT XV. JUNII MDCCCLXII / AETATIS SUAW LXXII / PURITY OF MOTIVE, INTEGRITY OF PURPOSE / AND REFINEMENT IN MANNER / WERE HER / CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTES / ALSO OF / THE ABOVE NAMED / JAMES DAWSON / WHO DIED AT WRAY CASTLE / ON THE 17th OF JANUARY 1875 / AGED 96 YEARS
Plaque (component)
19th / 20th century East wall of nave - brass: • In memory of Richard Fletcher Broadrick Lievt R.N. of High Wray Bank who was drowned when crossing Windermere Lake on the ice. January 31st 1879 – aged 46 years. (Followed by a long verse, perhaps by Rawnsley) South wall of nave – brass • Brian Crossley 1915 aged 29. North wall of nave – brasses • Three tablets in similar style to Andrew Tucker Squarey MacIver, April 1915, Robert Troutbeck MacIver, Sept 1915. Reginald Squarey MacIver. July 1916.
Organ (component)
19th century Wilkinson and Sons of Kendal 1890. Original case and decorated pipework.
Rail
19th century Small oak rails with uprights creating simple arcade with trefoil decoration.
Bench (seat)
19th century • Two benches with high backs with carved panels. One at the west end and the other as a choir stall.
Stall
19th century • Two four-seat choir stalls with curved arm rests. One with elaborate tall back panel, similar to the reredos panelling.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
• Double sanctuary chair with carved detail in the back panel • Sanctuary chair with carved detail in the back panel
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 372 7
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
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
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