Weight: 347 lbs Diameter: 24.13" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1895
Dove Bell ID: 50659 Tower ID: 18092 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bamber Bridge: St Aidan
Overview
Grid reference: SD 563 266
The Victorian stone parish church was built in an extension to the growing town north of the station, and the scale of it is something of a surprise, very tall and with considerable townscape presence on a wide road in a residential area. The dominant feature of the church is its bulk and scale, followed closely by the typical Freeman motif of yellow stonework and red dressings. The style is free Perpendicular, with much use of Freeman’s curving, spiky tracery. The west gable has a large 5-light pointed window of this type framed by blocky angle buttresses of two weatherings, the case everywhere. There are three bays with a 3-light to each in the nave, the westernmost shorter over tall narrow gabled porches to the west bay.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay aisled nave with double-gabled transepts and 2-bay chancel under one roof, north-east chapel, south-east organ chamber and vestry, south-west porches.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c 27m x 8m (90ft x 26ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Bamber Bridge developed from a scattering of farms and cottages in the early 19th century for the textile industry, as with most Lancashire towns. However, the road crossing to the north of the church is marked by the base of a medieval cross, and Station Road is an ancient highway, previously lined by weaver’s cottages, at least one of which remains to the south of the church. The site may therefore be of some archaeological potential, and the Sites and Monuments Record should be consulted before any development is contemplated.
In 1837 St Saviours church was built as a Chapel-of-ease in the parish of Walton-le-Dale, the latter now dwarfed by the sprawl of Bamber Bridge. The church of St Aidan was built in 1895 by R Knill Freeman, a prolific architect in this area. The church was originally cruciform but the nave was apparently extended by two bays to the west in 1914-15, although this is scarcely noticeable from the exterior, which is stylistically seamless. The chancel was refurbished in 1961.
Exterior Description
The dominant feature of the church is its bulk and scale, followed closely by the typical Freeman motif of yellow stonework and red dressings. The style is free Perpendicular, with much use of Freeman’s curving, spiky tracery. The west gable has a large 5-light pointed window of this type framed by blocky angle buttresses of two weatherings, the case everywhere. There are three bays with a 3-light to each in the nave, the westernmost shorter over tall narrow gabled porches to the west bay. There are similar windows to the double-gabled transepts.
A little extra vertical emphasis is provided by an open fleche at the east end of the nave, the only demarcation with the chancel. The fleche has corner pinnacles and a spirelet. The chancel east wall has a large 5-light window with filigree free Perpendicular tracery, 2-lights in the east wall of the north chapel and each bay of the north wall. The organ chamber has a round stair turret in the south wall.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 5-bay aisled
Transept
19th century double-gabled
Chancel
19th century 2-bay
Chapel (component)
19th century north-east
Organ (component)
19th century south east chamber
Vestry
19th century
Porch
19th century south west
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century coursed
Brick
19th century inner core
Stone
19th century red dressings
Timber
19th century roof structure
Slate
19th century roofing
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is very tall, stark and bare with exposed brick walls and stonework. The nave is broad with narrow aisles, in effect ambulatories, the effect heightened by transverse double-tiered arches across the middle bay. The arcade arches are sharply pointed, moulded and die into octagonal piers, as at Ribbleton St Mary Magdalene by Freeman of a few years earlier, which has several similar motifs. Broad plain chamfered chancel arch and blocky responds. The roofs are tunnel-vaulted with tie-beams in the nave, the floors carpeted throughout in blue.
The nave is pewed with plain benches, plain panelled choir stalls. A modern altar has been placed forward of the chancel arch. The north transept is a memorial chapel. The south side of the chapel is taken up by the organ chamber with displayed pipes. The north side opens through double plain arches to a chapel with a low inserted roof which cuts across the windows, this has plain glazed screens to the chapel and transept. There is one step up to the chancel, which has a low plain stone wall as demarcation, and one further step to the sanctuary.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Light stained pitched pine chest with blind tracery. Similar in chapel.
Reredos
19th century Plain panelling to full height up to the east window with central triptych, painting of Christ as the Light of the World under an ogeed tracery canopy. Plain panelling in the north chapel.
Pulpit
19th century The pulpit is of light oak, octagonal, with tracery panels, wooden steps and rail.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle. Modern oak reading stand.
Font (component)
19th century Chunky square neo-Romanesque font with columns with cushion capitals to the corners, plain square base.
Plaque (component)
19th century Brass plaque, black and red lettering, in memory of William Birkenhead, died 1887.
Organ (component)
20th century Two manual pipe organ by George Ainscough 1903. Organ blower given 1954.
Rail
19th century Plain wood.
Inscribed Object
20th century Large boards under the west window with the names of the fallen in World War I.
Flag
20th century Regimental flags hang in the memorial chapel.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers from 1895 in the County Record Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 563 266
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
Showing 9 entries of 9 View All
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.