Building record 1996/1/1 - Church of St Lawrence

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 2/389-90 (Book). SCH1389.

Church of St Lawrence, Church Lane. On site of Saxon chapel. Sir Peter de Thornton, after obtaining possession of the manor, gave the church to the dean and chapter of the collegiate church of St John in Chester in 1349. At this time the church is described as a sumptuous fabric of stone and wood, of great size, with four bells, but was then becoming ruinous.

<2> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1947 /305-9 & 430-2 (Book). SCH2309.

There was evidence of C12 architecture until the rebuilding in 1827, including an enriched south doorway, a plain blocked-up north doorway and a carved font.

<3> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /4/34 (Report). SCH1934.

Present building is mostly 1827, chancel is Perpendicular. Red sandstone, slate roofs. Cruciform plan, west tower, nave, north and south transepts. North wall of chancel has inscription and date 1698. Interior has Tudor hammerbeam roof, C16 rood screen and C17 altar, pulpit and wall tablets

<4> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 92/207-8 Crossley F H 1940 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ47SW5/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.363 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2000, Improvements to the Toilet Facilities at The Church of St Lawrence, Stoak, Cheshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief, R2332 (Client Report). SCH3924.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2000 during groundworks associated with improvements to the toilet facilities at St. Lawrence's Church. Although only one trench was excavated, which extended through the lower doorway into the churchyard, an earlier sandstone wall, potentially medieval in date, was recorded beneath a nineteenth century brickwork foundation constructed to support the tower doorway. Also part of a wide ditch feature was identified within the churchyard which may represent an earlier boundary to the churchyard. Several fragments of post medieval pottery were recovered, along with one fragments of potential medieval floor tile.