Building record 570/1/1 - St Oswald's Church, Winwick

St Oswald's Church, Winwick. Dedicated to St Oswald, the Christian King of Northumbria, who was slain in battle against the heathen King Penda of Mercia in 642AD at Maserfeld. Church possibly or site of a Saxon church. St Oswald's was recorded in Domesday as one of the two most highly endowed in Lancs, having a glebe assessed at c.240 arable acres and took the fines for all crimes and offences committed within its limits where the land was exempt from the Danegeld (1). Church has a chancel with north vestry, nave with aisles and south porch, west tower and spiure. Built of inferior local sandstone, so many repairs and rebuilding. Architectural description in 1911 (2). Church was restored in 1533 and an inscription was carved on the outside - part of which can still be read (3). Bases of north arcade early l3th century; walls of Legh Chapel and organ chamber 1330; west tower 1358; walls and north arcade of nave 1580; south porch 1720; south arcade of nave rebuilt in 1836 reusing probably 14th century stone. Chancel/sanctuary and vestry by A W N Pugin 1847-9; external stonework and tracery restored 19th and 20th century, sandstone with roofs of lead on other metal (4). Rectors from 1192. Registers from 1563 (5). Full architectural description (4) and (5).

<1> Carter G A, 1971, Warrington and the Mid-Mersey Valley, /152-154 (Book). SCH3679.

<2> Farrer W & Brownbill J, 1906-14, The Victoria County History of the County of Lancaster, 4/124 1911 (Book). SCH3636.

<3> Allen EW, 1871-3, The Antiquary, 3/261 1881 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3022.

<4> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /12/2/18 (Report). SCH1934.

<5> Department for the Environment, Various, Provisional List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /8/2/7 1962 (Report). SCH2744.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ69SW25/1959 (Index). SCH2487.

<7> Croston, History of Lancashire, 4/ (Book). SCH1426.