Nominal: 2042 Hz Weight: 96 lbs Diameter: 16" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1907
Dove Bell ID: 51074 Tower ID: 18387 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Biscathorpe: St Helen
Diocese of Lincoln
Church, 621605
http://www.southwoldsgroup.org.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2024-11-14)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TF 229 848
Rebuilt in 1840s by W A Nicholson in fanciful Gothic style.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower with belfry and spire, 2-bay nave and chancel
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 8m (26ft) x 4½m (15ft), chancel 3m (10ft) x 2m (6.5ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 64 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church is likely to have replaced, or been a substantial rebuild, of an earlier church on the same site. White records that it was rebuilt in 1844 at the cost of £1000. Stone beneath the render, which has become exposed, suggests earlier fabric may have been reused. Some burials pre-date the current church as do monuments inside the chancel which also record the burial of family members in a vault – possibly beneath the chancel.
William Adams Nicholson (1803-53) was principally a church architect. The design of St Helen’s bares semblance to some of his other churches, in particular the now closed church of All Saints Haugham built in 1840 - itself inspired by the tower and spire of St James, Louth – which is of stuccoed brick with a tower with crocketed spire and pinnacles.
To the north of the site is the Deserted Medieval Village of Biscathorpe. Archaeological records identify many sites within 1km of the church of archaeological interest including Neolithic finds, a prehistoric enclosure seen as cropmarks, possible prehistoric barrows seen as cropmarks, and possible prehistoric or Roman enclosure. An evaluation trench on the Biscathorpe estate revealed a series of Romano-British ditches and a possible Neolithic or Bronze Age ditch.
The archaeological potential of the site is considerable. The church is also located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and contains mature trees including yews. There is some potential for the presence of bats.
Exterior Description
St Helen’s is hidden away within the pastureland surrounding Biscathorpe House, and is screened by yews planted in the 1840s.
The small church is a charming composition nevertheless. It has a low tower, elaborately embellished with crenelated parapet, corner crocketed pinnacles, a central octagonal belfry with trefoil headed openings, with crocketed corner pinnacles finally surmounted by a short stone spire. A door in the base of the west elevation enters a porch in the base of the tower. The door is panelled with blind cusped tracery. Above it is a circular opening with a quatrefoil window. A single lancet window pierces the north and south elevations. There is a sundial marked into the stone plinth to the north side of the tower. Buttresses have figurative gable-stops too.
The nave is of two-bays with two two-light trefoil headed windows beneath hoodmoulds with carved head stops. Two-stage full height buttresses to the corners and between the bays. Running around the base is a continuous plinth and stringcourse, and a parapet pierced with trefoils completes the elevations and screens the roof. Projecting east of the gabled east nave is a short low chancel with single three-light east window. Its parapet is pierced with a different pattern to the nave. Stone cross finials are fixed to both east gables.
The stucco is failing in places revealing stonework beneath on the south elevation, brick to the north buttresses, and tiles to the moulded string course.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th century west
Belfry
19th century
Spire
19th century
Nave
19th century 2-bay
Chancel
19th century
Building Materials
Brick
19th century rendered
Stone
19th century ironstone and some other stone details
Concrete
19th century roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
Inside the west door a lobby within the base of the tower rises high, but the walls are green. The nave is accessed through another pointed archway. The walls of the narrow space are plastered and painted white with many green patches. The ceilings are formed of ribbed timber panels with plaster bosses. Stained wood benches are fixed to raised timber-boarded pew platforms either side of the aisle (formed of stone flags covered by carpet). The benches have poppy-heads at both ends, though many of those against the wall have been broken off, and the ends are carved with blind tracery. The windows are filled with diamond leaded panes mostly of clear glass, though with some coloured borders. Above them are hoodmoulds with foliate stops formed from plaster - some have fallen off. In the north-west corner a curtain screens a space used in the past as a vestry. An empty space in the south-west corner was once occupied by the font (now missing). In the north-east corner is the pulpit with a readers’ desk boxed around it.
A pointed arch in the east wall leads into the narrow, lower, pitched chancel. The space is raised by a step and the floor paved in stone flags. The altar, against the east wall, is raised on another step.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century modern concrete and brick structure
Pulpit
19th century panelled pulpit, octagonal oak, north-east corner
Lectern
19th century built-in desk by pulpit in north-east corner
Rail
19th century oak rails with bronze uprights
Stained Glass (window)
19th century East window - centre piece of The Deposition, a copy of Rubens
Plaque (component)
20th century brass plaque memorial in memory of George Richard Michael Whitlam, Master Mariner 1951 aged 26
Urn
19th century on black background, in memory of William and Eliza, children of Whitlam's d. 1812 buried in family vault
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers held at Lincolnshire County Record Office - Christenings since 1688, Marriages since 1699, Burials since 1697
Churchyard
Grid reference: TF 229 848
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the 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
Sources
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