Building record 14028/2 - First Church of St John Bosco

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 407441 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Large Chapel: 1936-38, by Philip Tilden for Salesian Order. Squared sandstone rubble with slate roof. The body is octagonal with transepts projecting from the four cardinal faces and small radiating chapels between. The main aspect is symmetrical with gabled facade of transept and clerestory gable above. Triple Romanesque features to ground floor with central, iron-bound doors, and pointed lancets above. Small lead louvre in centre of main roof.

Interior: Roughly dressed stone with red sandstone bands and dressings. Octagonal nave under domical vault, with ambulatory and gallery over west door. Chancel has triple round-headed arches on two plain, sandstone pillars with Romanesque capitals above similar altar in cream and purple marble. Pairs of round-headed sedilia to either side. Paintings of St. John Bosco and the twelve stations of the cross by the architect.

<2> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.270 (Book). SCH785.

The Salesian Mission built the church in 1936. It was designed by Philip Tilden, a late Arts and Crafts architect. An octagonal nave is imposed upond a Greek cross, with corner chapels projecting from the angles. The stations of the cross and the altar piece were painted by Tilden, but many of the fittings have now been removed.

<3> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, p.543-4 (Book). SCH3078.

Built c.1933-8 by Philip Tilden and linked to Shrigley Hall by a stone bridge. The stone was quarried by the staff and pupils from the bottom of the drive. The ironwork, e.g. on the west doors, was made on site by a lay brother, Reginald Wilkinson. The arms, formerly chapels, all interconnect, making a processional circuit. With the hotel conversion it has become a leisure complex. A pool fills the middle of the octagon.

<4> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1988/2/1/19 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.