Building record 1821/2/1 - Church of St Alban

Church of St Alban, Church Bank. Given by William Malbedeng, 1st Baron of Wich-Malbank to Abbey of St Werburgh, Chester. As Wm died c.1100, church poss existed during Norman Conquest. After Dissolution, advowson attached to See of Chester. Early church remains, evidently destroyed by fire, discovered when 1869 church built (1). Present building: Core & tower early C16, restored/remodelled 1869-70 by John Douglas. Ashlar red sandstone, green slate roof. 4-bay nave, 5-bay aisles & 2-bay chancel, 3-stage W tower & S porch. Timber-framed porch has 4-centred arched entrance & carved brackets, spandrels & bargeboards. Aisle bays split by buttresses have broad 3-light windows. 5-light Perp style E window. Tower has diagonal buttresses, cyma-moulded W doorcase & 3-light W window. Louvred bell open- ings & gargoyles support embattled parapet. Int:4-bay arcades on oct piers, low clerestorey, 3-light windows. Broad chancel arch on stiff-leaf corbels. Tower resembles one at All Saints. Handley, probably by same mason (RN:1818/1) (2).

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richard R 1973 /324-328 (Book). SCH2309.

<2> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 5/96 (Report). SCH1934.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ45NE9/1964 (Index). SCH2487.