Building record 1332/4/1 - Church of St James

St James Church, Church Lane. Ref to Chapel of Gawsworth 1st occurs in time of Simon, Abbot of St Werburgh's 1265-1289. Gawsworth had its own rectors, but was included in Parish of Prestbury & not completely independent til c.1500 (1). Blg C15/C16. Yellow & red sandstone ashlar with lead roof, W tower, nave & chancel. No aisles or structural separation of chancel from nave. Nave earlier than chancel & tower. Tower of red sandstone c.1497-1536, on moulded plinth with diag buttresses. Nave of yellow sandstone with moulded plinth & 3 bays separated by buttresses. Chancel of yellow sandstone, lower courses re- used from W end of nave when tower arch introduced. Upper course of red sand- stone. Int: Panelled ceiling to nave with moulded principals on wall posts & arched braces rising from figurehead corbels. Chancel ceiling of sq panels. Remnants of sides of orig window evident in nave. Oct C16 panelled ashlar font on C19 stem. Mons to Fitton family 1608,1619,1627 & 1643. Full arch desc (2&3).

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1947 /160-164 (Book). SCH2309.

<2> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 58593 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<3> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /222-223 (Book). SCH3078.

<4> Richards R, 1957, The Manor of Gawsworth (Book). SCH3207.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ86NE5/1964 (Index). SCH2487.