Building record 183/1 - Site of the Church of St Chad's and extant Church Tower

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 1, p.271 & 344, Thacker A, 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

One of Cheshire's Domesday Churches when church & manor were held by the bishop. Its placename & dedication suggest an important Saxon foundation

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

What survives of the church is the fine C15 tower. This is of 5 stages & has 5 statues in niches. Subsidence has led to the tower leaning & the body of the church being demolished to its foundations in 1976. This has happened to a number of previous churches from at least 1596. Trubshaw reblt the church & levelled the tower in 1833 & Brooks did the same in 1892/3. (see also source 3)

<3> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, p.373-6 (Book). SCH2309.

2 fine monuments, a brass to Rafe Delves (died 1513) & a recumbent effigy of Thomas Smith (died 1614) are now stored in the tower.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T 1964 SJ74NW3 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, 1988, R.Turner (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The site stands on a prominent natural mound, which may have been naturally heightened. Similar situation at Audlem. Effigy of Thomas Smith reset in Nantwich Church. Construction work within tower (1987-8) revealed interior completely removed during C19 restoration to depth of circa 2m. No archaeological remains. Trenches around outside of tower also sterile.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 05/01/2000, SAM 32564 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Footprint of the partly demolished church of St Chad. Nave and Chancel pulled down in 1976 because foundations could not be stabilised and structure was becoming dangerous. Tower still standing after successful engineering works underpinned the structure but the tower is excluded from the scheduling. Dedication is to St Chad (Bishop of the Mercians in AD 669). suggests that the church may have been important during the latter years of the Kingdom of Mercia. Church may have been an important mother church during the medieval period. Church tower dates to the 15th century although frgaments of a 12th century building were found near the tower during excavations in 1893. The church was partly demolished and rebuilt in 1593 and 1760. The chancel was demolished and rebuilt in 1792, 1833 and 1893. Restoration of 1893 incorporated turning the chancel into the existing nave leaving the area of the former chancel to become burial ground. Scheduling includes the platform of the former nave of 1760, 26m x 20m. On the north side of this area are the remains of 6 buttresses.