Diameter: 17.5" Bell 1 of 1
1818
Dove Bell ID: 61711 Tower ID: 24457 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Warwick-on-Eden: St Leonard
Overview
Grid reference: NY 466 568
This remarkable church is tucked away in fields behind a fine Georgian Sunday School. Its eye catching late Norman semicircular eastern apsidal sanctuary surrounded by thin pilaster strips surmounted by small rounded arches is a great rarity in England. The lancet windows are later, introducing light into the once mysterious early medieval space. Constructed during Henry I's period of burgeoning church expansion, it was probably a 2:1 ratio two cell building. Internally, the Norman presence is dominated by the magnificent western arch, probably the relocated chancel/tower arch that is supported by scalloped capitals that are decorated by corn motifs which match those in Carlisle Cathedral dating from c.1130. This coincides with first written records of a chapel at Warwick. The dressed red sandstone and graduated Westmorland slate building was altered in 1869 by R.J.Withers who raised the roof and introduced the barrel vaulted timber ceiling and J.H. Martindale who added the baptistery/west porch in 1910. Fine figurative stained glass windows introduce colour. In spite of later changes, St Leonard's lives up to Pevsner's accolade as being "the most memorable Norman village church in Cumberland".
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
W narthex with S porch, aisleless 3-bay nave, chancel with N vestry and apsidal E end. Kitchenette to N side of W narthex.
Dimensions:
Approx 21m long
Footprint of Church buildings: 212 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
To come
Exterior Description
To come
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
12th century aisleless 3-bay
Chancel
12th century with north vestry and apsidal east end
Building Materials
Sandstone
12th century dressed & red
Slate
19th century roof
Interior
Interior Description
The W extension, of 1908, is Edwardian in character. Access to the building is through double oak-boarded doors in the S face. Inside, before another set of double doors, is an inscribed stone within the W wall which records the restoration of the chancel and nave in 1869 and the addition of the porch and belfry in 1908. The next set of doors has ogee-headed glazed panels with rectangular leaded panes. Carved into the woodwork over the lintel on either side are the words ‘Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness’ and on the other side ‘I will also tell of thy greatness’. Directly across, to the N side, a pine and glazed partition contains basic kitchen facilities. In the W wall, forming a backdrop to the font, are 3 lights set beneath a single low arched opening.
A round Norman arch (c.1130), with simple roll mouldings and square, scalloped capitals, leads through from the pitched W end, to the nave. There are theories as to whether this was once the W tower arch or if it is a relocated chancel arch. The stone of the arch and window surrounds, a continuous stringcourse beneath the windows, and a continuous hoodmould over the windows, are all exposed. The remaining wall area has been plastered and painted white.
The small nave is ceiled by a 6-bay pine-boarded barrel-vault roof. The space has a level floor with pine pews to either side and carpet along the middle laid over grates. The floor is solid to the S, but boarded beneath pews to the N. Large redundant boilers occupy the NW and SW corners.
At the E end a pointed chancel arch, with roll mouldings and foliate capitals, divides the nave from the chancel which is raised by a single shallow step. Carved heads either side face the nave. Within it a pine-boarded barrel-vault is enhanced by decorative stencilled strips and painted ribs. Carpet continues up the centre of the aisle but encaustic red, black and yellow quarry tiles pave the space. Simple choir stalls to N and S. To the N side a pointed door with hoodmould leads into the N vestry, next to a pointed window. A double lancet window is set in the S wall.
The Sanctuary rises by 3 steps and geometric plain floor tiles are interspersed with decorative, encaustic (Minton ?) tiles. 3 lights set within the curved E wall have deep reveals contain small figurative panels.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Simple oak table, 1909.
Pulpit
19th century Built into church, grey square stone with steps leading up to it. Stone balusters.
Lectern
19th century Oak on turned circular oak column and base.
Font (component)
19th century Octagonal stone font carved on each side, raised on plinth, no cover.
Pew (component)
20th century Simple pine choir stalls and pews, 1909
Organ (component)
21st century Rodgers Insignia, 2002
Plaque (component)
19th century Various marble memorial plaques.
Stained Glass
19th century Little – mostly cathedral glass in diamond and square-leaded panes. • 3 lights in W narthex – Henry Holiday (who has connections with the Lake District) for Powell, Whitefriars – central light is figurative, outer lights are patterned with acanthus leaves. Inscription records its installation in memory of Joseph Lowther Hodgson, Hon Canon of Carlisle Incumbent of Warwick and Wetheral 1848-1861; • 3 lights in E apse – St Mary the Virgin, Christ in Glory, St Leonard – by Daniel Bell, 1870s.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers: Baptisms since 1684, burials and marriages since 1703 at Cumbria Record Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NY 466 568
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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