Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Oswald, Kirkoswald

St Oswald, Kirkoswald

St Oswald's Church

Kirkoswald Church

locality:-

Kirkoswald

civil parish:-

Kirkoswald (formerly Cumberland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

church

coordinates:-

NY55514090

1Km square:-

NY5540

10Km square:-

NY54

references:-

: 2005: Diocese of Carlisle, Directory 2004/5

BUL02.jpg (taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BUL04.jpg (taken 29.4.2011)

evidence:-

old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 40 10)
placename:- St Oswald's Church

source data:-

Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
"St Oswald's Church (Vicarage) / Grave Yard / Well"

evidence:-

old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd)

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.

D4NY54SE.jpg
"Church"
church, with two crosses to NE
item:- Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library

evidence:-

old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions)
item:- coat of arms

source data:-

Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.

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Page 191:- "..."
"The church of Kirk Oswald was turned into a college of 12 secular priests 1523: and, at the dissolution of great tithes, passed with it into lay hands; but the vicarage has been augmented by queen Anne's bounty. The choir is so disproportionate to the body, that bishop Nicolson supposed it was rebuilt by some of the lords Dacre when the church was made collegiate, as their arms and those of the Cliffords are painted in most of the windows. The belfrey is placed without the church on the top of a hill to the east."

evidence:-

old text:- Capper 1808

source data:-

Gazetteer, A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom, compiled by Benjamin Pitts Capper, published by Richard Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, 1808; published 1808-29.

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"[Kirkoswald] ... The church is a very irregular, old building, but the belfry stands on the top of a hill away from the church, in order that the bells may be the better heard by the neighbouring villages. Near the west end of the church issues a spring. ..."

evidence:-

old text:- Gents Mag

source data:-

Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.

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Gentleman's Magazine 1819 part 1 p.507
From the Compendium of County History:- "... In Kirk Oswald church, among the memorials of his family, is the monument of the loyal Sir Timothy Featherstonehaugh, who was beheaded at Chester, Oct. 22, 1651."

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843)

source data:-

Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.

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Page 128:- "..."
"... The Church is an old building, consisting of a nave, aisles, and porches, north and south, and a chancel. It is built at a little distance from the town, under a hill-side, a noble avenue of sycamores leading to it. A copious spring of pure water issuing out in the Church, runs through the whole length, and emerges into day at the west end. The style is late Norman or very early English, with many modern alterations. The belfry, containing two bells, stands on the hill above; for, otherwise, their sound would be inaudible in the town. ..."

evidence:-

old map:- Nurse 1918

source data:-

Map, The Diocese of Carlisle, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Rev Euston J Nurse, published by Charles Thurnam and Sons, 11 English Street, Carlisle, Cumberland, 2nd edn 1939.

NUR1NY54.jpg
"KIRKOSWALD"
item:- JandMN : 27
Image © see bottom of page

stained glass

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:- Church of St Oswald

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"CHURCH OF ST OSWALD / / / KIRKOSWALD / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 73487 / NY5551440902"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Church. Early C12 with late C12 additions, mid C13 and early C16 additions; renovations of 1847 and 1878. Large blocks of red sandstone rubble, green and Welsh slate roofs with coped gables and cross finials; ashlar vestry chimney stack. Nave and chancel with north and south gabled aisles;/detached bell tower is listed separately North timber-framed gabled porch of c1523, has C19 stone infill, incorporating above entrance a reused early C17 stone inscribed ROBERT LOWTHION; porch seat is part of a C16 pew with carved poppy head end boards. Flanking pointed lancet windows, with 2-light mullioned Tudor window to left. North wall has 8 medieval grave slabs leaning and fixed to it. Nave has C19 west window with well down steps below with C20 inscription. Blocked south entrance with hollow chamfer and roll mouldings is probably C13; flanking Tudor mullioned windows, that to right of 3 lights is a C19 enlargement. Chancel has tall 3-light mullioned Tudor windows. Interior has 3 bay arcades of round arches with pointed west end arches on carved corbels. C13 chancel arch is on base of C12 arch; flanking niches for statues. Tudor 2-light clerestory windows. Panelled oak roof of 1847. Medieval bowl font and medieval cross fragment built into west window of north aisle. C20 side chapels in both aisles. Chancel has heraldic stained glass to various local families of 1846. Marble wall plaques to members of the Fetherstonhaugh family and fragment of plaque of 1609 to Thomas Brougham. Open timber roof is also C19. Alterations of c1523 were carried out at the expense of Thomas Lord Dacre when the nearby College of Vicars was formed by him."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"BELL TOWER NORTH-EAST OF CHURCH OF ST OSWALD / / / KIRKOSWALD / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 73489 / NY5554240974"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Bell Tower. Core of 1743 (date on weather vane) with inscription over entrance THIS TOWER WAS REBUILT/1893/IN MEMORY OF/JOHN HENRY RANSOME/VICAR 1877-1892. Coursed red sandstone rubble wall, flat roof not visible. Small square 2-storey tower with angle stair turret. Lower stonework is C18 with C19 rebuilding of upper floor. Plank door in roll moulded surround; 2-light mullioned bell openings have louvred stone vents; battlemented parapet with angle projecting water spouts. Surrounding plinth is of similar materials with steps to entrance, ball finials at angles. 3 inscribed bells, 1619, 1729 and 1892. See, Guide to St Oswalds Church, Kirkoswald, 1974, p16. The only detached church Bell Tower in north Cumbria."

evidence:-

database:- Listed Buildings 2010

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"WALL SURROUNDING CHURCHYARD OF CHURCH OF ST OSWALD / / / KIRKOSWALD / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 73488 / NY5550540877"

source data:-

courtesy of English Heritage
"Churchyard wall. C18, C19 and early C20. Red sandstone rubble. Low wall with rounded coping stones, inscribed stones set at intervals within the wall giving the initials of those parishioners responsible for building each portion of wall. Listed partly for G.V. with Church."

evidence:-

old print:- Calverley 1899
item:- mason's mark

source data:-

a in the wall behind the church; c on SE buttress, a mason's mark? d on NE corner, a mason's mark? e in the church wall at NE corner.

click to enlarge
CV1125.jpg
Sketch by W G Collingwood.
item:- JandMN : 190
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:-

source data:-

Print, uncoloured engraving, St Oswald's Church, Kirkoswald, Cumberland, published by the Illustrated London News, 12 August 1882.

click to enlarge
PR0313.jpg
Illustrations of place visited by the Royal Archaeological Institute.
item:- Dove Cottage : 2008.107.313
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old painting:-

source data:-

Painting, watercolour, Kirkoswald Church, St Oswald's Church, Kirkoswald, Cumberland, by William James Blacklock, 1840-58.

click to enlarge
PR0943.jpg
Foreground path leads to entrance of a small irregularly shaped church to right of which rises a grassy hillside and beyond which grows dense woodland. A woman stands at open church door.
This work is an example of juvenilia by the artist. It has poor perspective and flat colour.
item:- Tullie House Museum : 1946.67.11
Image © Tullie House Museum

ring of bells

cross slabs

incumbents:-

Martin	1246 -
Langton, Walter de	1293 -
Lovetoft, Nicholas	1293 -
Monte, Richard de	1323 -
Appleby, John de	1372 -
Beachamp, William, Sir	1374 -
Marshall, William	1436 -
Shepherd, James, Sir	1561 - 1577
Carter, Thomas	1592 - 1601
Allan, John	1607 - 1611
Wilson, William	1636 - 1639
Milburn, Robert	1648 - 1650
Yates, George	1668 - 1670
Sanderson, George	1671 - 1685
Rumney, John	1685 - 1738
Mandeville, John	1739 - 1761
Smalwood, Charles	1761 - 1771
James, John	1771 - 1774
Fisher, John	1774 - 1829
Lawson, Gerard	1829 - 1855
Best, John	1855 - 1877
Ransome, John Henry	1877 - 1892
Thornley, John James	1892 - 1906
Duncan, Robert	1906 - 1933

scratch dial

notes:-

Described in:-

Butler, Lawrence (ed): 2011: Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne for Cumbria, 1833-1872: CWAAS:: ISBN 978 1 873124 52 9

Extracted from the original notes made by Sir Stephen, now in Deiniol's Library, Hawarden, Flintshire, contact through Flintshire Record Office

BUL07.jpg Organ, 1883.
(taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BUL08.jpg Organ, maker:-
"Harrison &Harrison / Durham" (taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BYU88.jpg Mothers Union banner.
(taken 16.7.2013)
photograph

BUL05.jpg Effigy; said to be a monk, or, by local opinion, Lady Dacre.
(taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BUL06.jpg Corbel.
(taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BUL10.jpg Corbel.
(taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BYU87.jpg Alabaster memorial, Browgham Family, 1609.
(taken 16.7.2013)
photograph

BUL11.jpg Font, sandstone.
(taken 29.4.2011)
photograph

BJU26.jpg (taken 26.8.2005)
photograph

BJU28.jpg (taken 26.8.2005)
photograph

BUL03.jpg Gravestones
(taken 29.4.2011)

BOE11.jpg Initials on the church boundary wall - parishioners with responsibilities of upkeep.
(taken 7.9.2007)
photograph

BOE12.jpg Initials on the church boundary wall - parishioners with responsibilities of upkeep.
(taken 7.9.2007)
photograph

BUK89.jpg Gate.
(taken 29.4.2011)

notes:-

A church is believed to have been her since before the Norman Conquest. A small stone building was here from about 1130; a north aisle was added about 1160; a south aisle added about 1180; in the 13th century the aisles were rebuilt, wider, and the west end rebuilt; there was major rebuilding in 1523; after neglect the church was restored, 1847, and again in 1878; foundations were put in under the church in 1970-72.

: : church leaflet

dedication

person:-

: St Oswald

place:-

Kirkoswald / Carlisle Diocese

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