Nominal: 688 Hz Weight: 2166 lbs Diameter: 47" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 5846 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Samlesbury: St Leonard the Less
Overview
Grid reference: SD 589 303
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 367 m²
Exterior Description
Church, substantially 1558, but with masonry of late C12 building visible in both gables, and tower and porches of 1899. Nave and chancel in one, with aisles, tower attached at north-west corner. Two gabled and timber- framed porches on south side. Aisle and clerestory windows are all of 3 arched lights with stone mullions, deeply splayed reveals and hoodmoulds. Arched 3-light west window with intersecting tracery; east wall contains arched 3-light window with perpendicular tracery, a dripmould over it with figured stops. Battlemented tower of ashlar with diagonal buttresses, west door, 1st floor window, belfry louvres on all sides and stair turret.
Building Materials
Sandstone
16th Century
Bunter Sandstone
Sandstone
16th Century
Haslingden Flags
Sandstone
16th Century
Midgley Grit
Interior
Interior Description
: nave arcades of 4 bays following line of original outer walls (the west ends of which remain), composed of 3 short octagonal columns with moulded capitals and matching responds at each end, and double- chamfered 2-centred arches. Interior walls of coursed irregular masonry now with ribbon pointing (plastered until 1884). Wooden ceiling on slightly-cambered bridging beams and secondary beams, all chamfered (concealed by reed and plaster ceiling until 1884); sloping aisle roofs. Exceptionally complete set of individually constructed and decorated box pews, most with dates and plates ranging from 1678 to 1756. Other notable furnishings and fittings include: 2 levels of C18 3-decker pulpit; C17 Communion rail with turned balusters; funerary armour (sword, helm and blazoned shield) believed to be that of Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury Hall (q.v.) d. 1546; Royal Arms, Commandment, Creed and Lord’s Prayer Tables all painted on canvas; alabaster slab, incised, to Sir William Atherton and his wife (d.1440 and 1480); memorial tablets of Geoffrey Hornby (d.1801) and Mrs. Fielden (d.1859); a tub font, possibly Norman; and C14 Sanctus Bell over east door. Numerous masons’ marks on south arcade, exterior north wall, and jambs of east window. (VCH Lancs; Pevsner; R. Eaton History of Samlesbury 1936; G. Clayton St Leonard the Less Samlesbury n.d.
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
19th Century Clock with cast iron flat bed frame located in Tower made by James WilliamBenson from London in 1899
Historical Notes
1899 - 1899
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1377.5 Hz Weight: 585 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37931 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1294 Hz Weight: 602 lbs Diameter: 28.63" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37932 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1148 Hz Weight: 686 lbs Diameter: 30.5" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37933 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1032.5 Hz Weight: 802 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37934 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 917 Hz Weight: 933 lbs Diameter: 35.38" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37935 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 860.5 Hz Weight: 1120 lbs Diameter: 37.5" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37936 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 774 Hz Weight: 1494 lbs Diameter: 41.75" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1900
Dove Bell ID: 37937 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1614 Hz Diameter: 18" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Robert Bolton
Dove Bell ID: 37938 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 18" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by (unidentified)
Dove Bell ID: 37939 Tower ID: 10494 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 589 303
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.
The churchyard has war graves.
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 | Yes |
| 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
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.