Church of St Mary (Ponteland)
St Mary's Church, Ponteland. Photo Northumberland County Council, 1969.
(NZ 16587295) St Mary's Church. (1)
Norman west tower and doorway, with 14th and 19th century alterations. (2)
A secular college was founded at Ponteland AD1150-55 and dissolved AD1303. (Presumably annexed to the church). (3)
The church is in normal use. There are no remains of any collegiate buildings. (4)
Round-headed grave-marker built into south wall of tower church, inside. Found during the restoration of interior of church during incumbency of Rev W L J Cooley. Measures 0.368m x 0.318m. Fairly complete and unworn. Only one face visible. Possibly a head- or foot-stone. Cross carved on visible face. Date 10th century. (5)
Parish church. 12th-15th century. Restored 1810, 1851 by Wardle, 1861 by F R Wilson and again in 1881.
Tower 12th century. West door with one order of columns and chevron moulding in the arch. Two small original windows above. Other 12th century windows on returns and some 14th century cusped windows. Bell stage added 14th century. Vestiges of 12th century masonry in nave and aisles. Extended in 13th century and again in 15th century. South porch 13th century, reset. North aisle rebuilt 1810 using old masonry.
South transept rebuilt late 15th century with Perpendicular east window. North transept 13th century, gable rebuilt 19th century.
Chancel 13th century, with chamfered sill string rising to form hoodmould over segmental priest's door. Two original lancets on north side, 14th century decorated windows elsewhere.
Interior: 15th century south arcade. North arcade similar, 1810. 13th century chancel arch with recut corbels of Adam and Eve. 14th century glass fragments in chancel window heads. (6)
Dowsing has revealed a great deal of information at St Mary's, eg more than one pre-Norman phase appears to be indicated, and traces of a well in the chancel. Validation exercise carried out, excavation in the angle between chancel and north transept to try and locate the apse predicted by dowsing. The standing wall is 13th century, excavations showed the wall foundations incorporate and override an earlier wall of completely different fabric. Cobble spread found in excavated area. The work so far suggests dowsing has correctly indicated a difference in parts and periods, not visible in the standing wall fabric. (7)
Dowsed plan of St Mary's shows an apse between the north wall of chancel and east wall of north transept. Resistivity survey by Dr Titman of Newcastle University provided suggestion of foundations in this area. Excavation in July 1983, 3.5m square trench, revealed three pre-Victorian phases: i) cemetery apparently unrelated to alignment of standing building or dowsed features; ii) clay-bonded foundation, pre-13th century; iii) 13th century activity. (8)
Confusion has arisen over the presence of a secular college at Ponteland. Authority 3 is misleading in that it does not refer to a college or collegiate church in the high medieval sense, but to the tripartite division of the parish. Hence a number of secular priests were associated with the church giving rise to the term college, but in no way implying any college building. (9)
Church contains a number of war memorials as:
* wall-mounted white marble tablet, with black lettering, for "(''')/ MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BYRNE SKERRETT,/ DISTINGUISHED BY HIS GALLANTRY/ IN THE PENINSULAR WAR/ UNDER LORD WELLINGTON/ WAS KILLED IN THE ATTACK ON/ BERGEN OP ZOOM IN 1814/ (')".
* wall-mounted brass plaque to "IN MEMORY OF/ BREVET LIEUT. COLONEL EUSTANCE GUINNESS/ COMMANDING 84TH BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY,/ KILLED IN ACTION AT BAKENLAAGTE, SOUTH AFRICA/ 30TH OCTOBER 1901 AGED 41 YEARS".
* wall-mounted limestone tablet to "TO THE MEMORY OF/ RICHARD NEWTON OGLE, ESQ./ CAPTAIN IN THE 70TH REGIMENT OF/ INFANTRY AND AIDE DE CAMP TO/ GENERAL SIR CHARLES GREY IN THE/ CONQUEST OF MARTINICO/ AND GUADELOUPE WHO DIED ON/ QUITTING THE LATTER ISLAND/ OF THE INFECTIOUS/ FEVER ON BOARD/ THE BOYNE AD 1794 AGED 25 YEARS".
* stained glass window with inscription on the base "IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945" and associated tablets below giving their names.
* wall-mounted white marble tablet, with black lettering, for "TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN/ FROM PONTELAND WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (NAMES)/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE". (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)
Listed. (15a)
Norman west tower and doorway, with 14th and 19th century alterations. (2)
A secular college was founded at Ponteland AD1150-55 and dissolved AD1303. (Presumably annexed to the church). (3)
The church is in normal use. There are no remains of any collegiate buildings. (4)
Round-headed grave-marker built into south wall of tower church, inside. Found during the restoration of interior of church during incumbency of Rev W L J Cooley. Measures 0.368m x 0.318m. Fairly complete and unworn. Only one face visible. Possibly a head- or foot-stone. Cross carved on visible face. Date 10th century. (5)
Parish church. 12th-15th century. Restored 1810, 1851 by Wardle, 1861 by F R Wilson and again in 1881.
Tower 12th century. West door with one order of columns and chevron moulding in the arch. Two small original windows above. Other 12th century windows on returns and some 14th century cusped windows. Bell stage added 14th century. Vestiges of 12th century masonry in nave and aisles. Extended in 13th century and again in 15th century. South porch 13th century, reset. North aisle rebuilt 1810 using old masonry.
South transept rebuilt late 15th century with Perpendicular east window. North transept 13th century, gable rebuilt 19th century.
Chancel 13th century, with chamfered sill string rising to form hoodmould over segmental priest's door. Two original lancets on north side, 14th century decorated windows elsewhere.
Interior: 15th century south arcade. North arcade similar, 1810. 13th century chancel arch with recut corbels of Adam and Eve. 14th century glass fragments in chancel window heads. (6)
Dowsing has revealed a great deal of information at St Mary's, eg more than one pre-Norman phase appears to be indicated, and traces of a well in the chancel. Validation exercise carried out, excavation in the angle between chancel and north transept to try and locate the apse predicted by dowsing. The standing wall is 13th century, excavations showed the wall foundations incorporate and override an earlier wall of completely different fabric. Cobble spread found in excavated area. The work so far suggests dowsing has correctly indicated a difference in parts and periods, not visible in the standing wall fabric. (7)
Dowsed plan of St Mary's shows an apse between the north wall of chancel and east wall of north transept. Resistivity survey by Dr Titman of Newcastle University provided suggestion of foundations in this area. Excavation in July 1983, 3.5m square trench, revealed three pre-Victorian phases: i) cemetery apparently unrelated to alignment of standing building or dowsed features; ii) clay-bonded foundation, pre-13th century; iii) 13th century activity. (8)
Confusion has arisen over the presence of a secular college at Ponteland. Authority 3 is misleading in that it does not refer to a college or collegiate church in the high medieval sense, but to the tripartite division of the parish. Hence a number of secular priests were associated with the church giving rise to the term college, but in no way implying any college building. (9)
Church contains a number of war memorials as:
* wall-mounted white marble tablet, with black lettering, for "(''')/ MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BYRNE SKERRETT,/ DISTINGUISHED BY HIS GALLANTRY/ IN THE PENINSULAR WAR/ UNDER LORD WELLINGTON/ WAS KILLED IN THE ATTACK ON/ BERGEN OP ZOOM IN 1814/ (')".
* wall-mounted brass plaque to "IN MEMORY OF/ BREVET LIEUT. COLONEL EUSTANCE GUINNESS/ COMMANDING 84TH BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY,/ KILLED IN ACTION AT BAKENLAAGTE, SOUTH AFRICA/ 30TH OCTOBER 1901 AGED 41 YEARS".
* wall-mounted limestone tablet to "TO THE MEMORY OF/ RICHARD NEWTON OGLE, ESQ./ CAPTAIN IN THE 70TH REGIMENT OF/ INFANTRY AND AIDE DE CAMP TO/ GENERAL SIR CHARLES GREY IN THE/ CONQUEST OF MARTINICO/ AND GUADELOUPE WHO DIED ON/ QUITTING THE LATTER ISLAND/ OF THE INFECTIOUS/ FEVER ON BOARD/ THE BOYNE AD 1794 AGED 25 YEARS".
* stained glass window with inscription on the base "IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945" and associated tablets below giving their names.
* wall-mounted white marble tablet, with black lettering, for "TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN/ FROM PONTELAND WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (NAMES)/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE". (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)
Listed. (15a)
N10992
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; R W Emsley
EXCAVATION, ST MARY'S, PONTELAND 1983
DOWSING SURVEY, A new approach to church archaeology, II: Dowsing and excavations at Ponteland and St. Oswald's Durham 1983
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, A new approach to church archaeology, II: dowsing and excavations at Ponteland and St. Oswald's, Durham 1983; Department of Geophysics, University of Newcastle
EXCAVATION, ST MARY'S, PONTELAND 1983
DOWSING SURVEY, A new approach to church archaeology, II: Dowsing and excavations at Ponteland and St. Oswald's Durham 1983
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, A new approach to church archaeology, II: dowsing and excavations at Ponteland and St. Oswald's, Durham 1983; Department of Geophysics, University of Newcastle
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.