Building record 2027/1 - Church of St Michael

Church of St Michael. Existed at Domesday. Saxon church recorded at Shotwick AD 900 (1). Present building-Late C11 door, C14 body, late Perp tower, S porch, C17 fenestration. Restoration 1851. Ashlar red sandstone, purple tile roof. 3-bay nave & lower chancel. 6-bay N aisle & chapel in 1 range, 3-stage W tower, S porch. Gabled porch has stone-mullioned window & benches. Norman S door has scalloped capitals but no shafts, zigzag band above band of chequerwork. Cham- fered stone-mullioned windows in nave & chancel. Chancel has buttresses & priest's door. Tower has diagonal buttresses & bands lst & 2nd floor with carved faces. Louvred bell openings. Band with gargoyles bears embattled parapet. Int:4 bay arcade to N aisle. Arch-braced collar roof sprung from wooden brackets. Tall tower arch. Wooden chancel arch on C19 stone angel corbels. Oak box pews. 2 larger family pews & C18 raised pulpit, with reader's desk, N aisle. To rear wardens pew 1675 with 1709 hood. Some C14 stained glass survives. Arch description(2).

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, /Richards R 1972 296-303 (Book). SCH2309.

<2> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /3/42 (Report). SCH1934.

<3> Sulley, P, 1889, The Hundred of Wirral, /110-4 (Book). SCH3174.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1964 SJ37SW3 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.389 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.