Weight: 252 lbs Diameter: 21.5" Bell 1 of 4
Founded by James (L) Bagley 1716
Dove Bell ID: 61651 Tower ID: 24428 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Ward End: St Margaret
Diocese of Birmingham
Church, 602208
https://www.ccwe.org.uk/welcome.htmOverview
Grid reference: SP 113 886
Ward End is situated some 2 ½ miles from Birmingham city centre and the church itself is found on St Margaret’s Road. A chapel of ease, dedicated to Holy Trinity, Blessed Virgin and St Margaret was built 1517 because the inhabitants of Ward End were frequently prevented by floods from getting to the parish church of Aston. This small church is on the whole a straightforward essay in the Gothic style with thin pointed lancets and is pleasing in its simplicity.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel west tower, south entrance porch, north vestry, crypt below nave and chancel.
Dimensions:
Overall length c22.5m x 10m width (minus vestry and porch).
Footprint of Church buildings: 198 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
That there was a previous medieval church on this spot is no surprise; Ward End Hall (SMR: 02932) stood immediately to the north of the church from c1710 up until it was demolished after the Second World War and adjacent to this was a large moated site (now destroyed) which would have seen an earlier hall. The church itself is within the probable medieval settlement of Ward End and the site is therefore of archaeological significance.
A chapel of ease, dedicated to Holy Trinity, Blessed Virgin and St Margaret was built 1517 because the inhabitants of Ward End were frequently prevented by floods from getting to the parish church of Aston. It was paid for by Thomas Bond (or Boyd) a merchant of Coventry and lord of Ward End Manor. That building was reported to be in disrepair in the early 18th century and again in the early 19th century with some evidence that it was used as a cart or cow shed.
The present church poses a conundrum – sources are divided on whether the present church was built by John Frith or Thomas Rickman. There is a groundplan (see below) signed by Frith in 1834 which is perhaps the most convincing evidence, however the style is indeed akin to Rickman’s Commissioners Gothic (one would expect the tower to have pinnacles, and the VCH reports that at one time it did) although it is not included in general lists of his work. It is interesting to note that Frith was working as Clerk of Works for Rickman in 1834, perhaps the final design was a collaboration of both architects?
Regardless of the architect there is another mystery as to whether the tower remains from an earlier build. It has been assumed that the church was a complete new build in 1834 however the tower could stylistically be dated to the early 18th century without difficulty. The Tudor style west door is out of keeping with the pointed lancets and door shown in the nave and chancel. There are unsigned sections and elevations for the new church in 1834 which show no tower at all, although on Frith’s plan it is there.
The VCH reports that the chapel was in ruins in 1730 and that it was being repaired by a Mr Blackman, an ironmonger of Birmingham. Whether Mr Blackman completed the works is unclear and in the early 19th century the building was in disrepair again. It is not unfeasible that the tower was ‘repaired’ or rebuilt in 1730 and was incorporated into the new building of 1834. Regrettably with the presence of the external render there is no way of concluding this matter either way. In 1929 there was an external restoration and internal refitting.
Exterior Description
This small church is on the whole a straightforward essay in the Gothic style with thin pointed lancets and is pleasing in its simplicity. The west tower has already been discussed and is of two stages with diagonal buttresses to the height of the first stage with three weatherings. There is a single lancet to the north and a disused west door in a pseudo-four centred arch with a wide rectangular hood mould, a jarring discrepancy in the overall Gothic design. At the second stage there are clock faces to the north and south covering blocked openings which probably matched the louvred bell openings to the west and east. The openings are pointed with short hood moulds finishing with plain stops. The tower has a simple parapet although the VCH suggests that it was once embattled with pinnacles.
The pitched tiled roof is continuous for the nave and chancel although it shortens at the east end to adjust to the narrower width of the chancel. The nave is of five equal bays, the central bay on the south side is the main entrance porch and opposite on the north is the vestry. The porch and the vestry are roughly equal in size and both have low hanging pitched roofs and diagonal buttresses rising to a shouldered gable. The door to the porch is arched with plain wooden doors and the north wall of the vestry has a short lancet window, each with hood moulding and stops.
The remaining four bays of the nave on each elevation contain single pointed lancets with short hood moulds. Each bay is divided from the next by a slender buttress with two weatherings. The chancel adds a further bay to the church and there are single lancets in the north and south walls. In the east wall there is a stepped triple lancet window. The buttresses are diagonal and as seen with the porch, rise and turn to a slightly shouldered gable. Access to the vault is through cellar doors under the east window.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
18th Century West tower possibly 18th century
Historical Notes
1700 - 1799
Period Qualifier: 2
Crypt
Brick-built crypt under whole of church except for tower. Crypt has vaults on both sides of central passage
Nave
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Porch
19th century
Building Materials
Render
19th century outside walls
Welsh Slate
19th century roof tiles
Brick
Interior
Interior Description
The interior feels somewhat gloomy due to the lack of natural light; every window has stained glass and the walls are full of memorials and monuments. The small nave is pewed throughout on raised timber platforms and the font is positioned just inside the entrance to the west.
There is one step to the chancel area and a wide pointed arch to the sanctuary with a further three steps; the floor is carpeted in red throughout. The arch to the tower at the west end is panelled at the lower stage and above this has a small curved projecting gallery on which the organ is placed; the display pipes fill the arch almost entirely. The roof is of exposed queen post trusses with decorative spandrels and unusual cusping.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Crude frame table.
Reredos
19th century None as such, but dark wood panelling.
Pulpit
20th century Pentagonal wooden pulpit with two stages of recessed panelling 1929.
Lectern
19th century Oak with cluster column.
Font (component)
19th century A small design with octagonal stand and round decorated scroll carved bowl.
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century • East window. The Ascension, by Claude Price 1953. Made for the architect H W Hobbiss to replace a former window destroyed during wartime bombing of the city. • South chancel. St Peter. Sarah Margaret Smallwood 1869. • North chancel. St Paul. Erected by John Anthony (family in vault) • South nave (from e-w) St John. Richard Bray 1869 • South nave. Abraham. Frederick Glouther 1891 & son John William 1886 • South nave. Charity by Burne Jones A B Griffiths 1826 - 1901 • South nave. Good Shepherd by Burne Jones E T Griffiths MD JP 1823 - 1900 • North nave. (from w–e) St Luke William Bailey1895 & son George Earnest 1884 • North nave. Lamb of God John Anthony MD Cantab 1814 –1895 • North nave. The Good Samaritan(?) • North nave. Virgin and Child. Canon Clarke notes that several of the windows are by Hardman.
Inscribed Object
19th / 20th century Monuments: (from south east corner clockwise) • William Hutton 1815 and many other Hutton family members. Crocketed monument with intricate carving, marble inner tablets and a good bust of Hutton on ledge below by Peter Hollins 1848.. Hutton was a local historian. • John Harris 1842 aged 58. Marble tablet on slate surround. • Joseph Davis 1905 aged 63, Catherine Heath 1906, Charles Edwin Heath 1906 aged 44, Sarah Ann Davis 1925 aged 80. Marble tablet by W Evans, Saltley • George Heath 1937 aged 87. Brass plaque. • Solomon Bray, Attorney at law 1859 aged 64. Marble tablet set in decorative crocketed arch. • Sarah Ann Dallow 1953. Brass plaque on the west end panelling. • Sally Bussell 1901 & William Bussell 1908 aged 68. Marble tablet on slate surround. • Edward Redshaw 1901 aged 28 & son William E H Redshaw 1911 aged 10 years 11 months. Marble tablet on slate surround. • Walter John Leacroft Freer. 1932 aged 50 Brass plaque on wooden surround. • Edward Tebbutt 1891 aged 65 & wife Eliza 1902 aged 74 & their sons William Edward 1866 aged 14, Arthur Frederick 1891 aged 32, George Harry 1894 aged 22. Marble tablet on slate surround. • Jesse Bartlett. 1871 aged 67 & wife Sarah Emma 1873. Marble tablet on slate surround with carved bible above.
Clock
19th century There are two clocks, with two bells: Smaller bell: 9.3/4” diameter, c.21-lbs, note G#. Uninscribed. 4 canons. c1821 Larger bell: 10” diameter, c.28-lbs, note E. Uninscribed. Peg argent. c.1821
Organ (component)
19th century Built 1845 by J C Bishop, rebuilt and enlarged in 1898 by J T Bossward. Potentially an instrument of some quality, depending on what remains of the Bishop organ.
Rail
20th century Wooden, simple octagonal stanchions with curved supports to the rail, 1929.
Inscribed Object
20th century War memorials: • World War I marble tablet on slate surround, (north nave wall above vestry door). • World War II wooden tablet recording 5 choristers who perished, (north nave wall).
Bells
Weight: 392 lbs Diameter: 26" Bell 2 of 4
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1834
Dove Bell ID: 61652 Tower ID: 24428 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 28 lbs Diameter: 9.75" Bell 3 of 4
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 61653 Tower ID: 24428 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 28 lbs Diameter: 10" Bell 4 of 4
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 61654 Tower ID: 24428 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 113 886
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 13/05/1887
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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