Weight: 1261 lbs Diameter: 41" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Thomas II Mears
Dove Bell ID: 60368 Tower ID: 23664 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St Mary Somers Town
Diocese of London
Church, 623346
http://www.posp.co.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: TQ 294 830
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, 7-bay aisled nave, small apsed sanctuary, hall with toilets and adjacent vicarage on south side.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] aisled nave 27m (90ft) long x 18m wide (60ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 876 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Somers Town was developed in the late 18th and early 19th century around the historic parishes of Battle Field (now Kings cross) and St Pancras, and was open fields beforehand. The archaeological potential of the site is low. The area was named after Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers (1725–1806). In the 1830s the London and Birmingham Railway built its main station at Euston for the line from London to the Midlands, initiating further development.
The church was built as part of the 600 new churches campaign and funded by the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1824-7 by IT Seabrook, to designs by H and HW Inwood (although funds for the site were raised locally). It cost £13,629. There were 1030 pew places, of which 885 were free.
The church was originally a chapel in Old St Pancras parish. It was involved in some controversy as it was said to be “converting" local Catholics into Anglicans. It was known at first as “Mr Judkins chapel“ after the first incumbent, and was attended by Charles Dickens as a badly behaved 15 year old when it was known as Seymour Street chapel, the original name of this part of Eversholt Street. The roof span is remarkable (60ft), though found in several Commissioners churches, and plans of the roof are included in Port (2006), p142.
The interior was decorated by J K Colling in 1874. The apse was added in 1888 by Ewan Christian, who also removed the side galleries. The west gallery was removed and the interior redecorated in 1890 by E C Reade, who introduced the font and pulpit, and added traceried transoms to the aisle windows.
The dark-stained pews were removed in the 1990s, though the pew platforms remain, rather a trip hazard. A hall was also built onto the south side with kitchen and toilets. This entailed the blocking up of the aisle windows below the transom. These measures were taken to enhance the community use of the building.
Exterior Description
This is a very typical Commissioner's church from the outside. Symmetrical west front with central buttressed tower, with pinnacles and angles and Y- tracery louvred belfry opening; pointed arch main entrance. Tower flanked by nathex with pointed arch entrances the same dimensions as the main entrance, flanked by buttresses terminating in pinnacles above the cornice and parapet. String course at window height continuing around the building. North facade with pointed 2-light geometrical tracery windows (narthex window with Y-tracery), flanked by buttresses terminating at the cornice, above which is a parapet.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th century west
Nave
19th century 7 bay, aisled
Sanctuary
19th century small apsed
Church Hall
19th century adjacent
Vicarage
19th century adjacent
Building Materials
Brick
19th century grey stock
Stone
19th century dressings
Slate
19th century roof tiles
Wood
19th century piers
Cast Iron
19th century cores of piers
Lath
19th century vaulted ceilings
Plaster
19th century vaulted ceiling
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside through the narrow tower space and internal square doorway, a peaceful interior is encountered, suffused with light from the large windows and the glow of candles. The walls are pink, as is the carpet over the pew platforms. It is unknown if this hides any earlier decorative schemes.
The biggest surprise is the vaulted plaster ceiling, rising directly from wooden clustered piers with thin capitals, all whitewashed. It was said to be 'perhaps the greatest example of Carpenter's Gothic ever witnessed' (Gentlemen's Magazine 1827), referencing its charm and quaintness as well as perhaps the wood lath and plaster interior. The aim was still a preaching box, with galleries across the aisles and west end.
A few of the old benches line the walls, somewhat wobbly. The modern seating is very good, light-stained Luke Hughes benches, not fixed. This is therefore a highly flexible interior with great potential for mixed use and sensitive re-ordering. There are several shrines and pricket stands and a Lady Chapel at the end of the south aisle, and an elaborate reredos in the shallow apse; adjacent in the north-east corner stands the large pipe organ. The internal west wall of the aisles appears to have been inserted to the east of the originals, small vestries take up the intermediate space.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Oak chest, c 1870 or later.
Reredos
19th century Seven figures of saints within carved and gilded alcoves within triptych, late 19th century?
Pulpit
19th century Hexagonal limestone and marble pulpit with figures in niches, iron spiral stairs, 1890.
Lectern
20th century Free-standing wood, plain modern.
Rail
20th century Plain modern.
Font (component)
19th century Limestone and marble font with octagonal basin, 1890 on octagonal base with inscription.
Stained Glass (window)
19th century The stained glass in the two 2-light windows of the east apse is not signed but appears to be probably by Burlisson & Grylls, and date to the 1890s.
Organ (component)
19th century 2-manual pipe organ of 1875 by Bevington.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 294 830
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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