Church of St Lawrence (Warkworth)
Ceowulf [King of Northumbria AD 731-7] built a church at Warkworth and gave it to St Cuthbert when he entered the latter's monastery - St Lawrence's Church now occupies its site. Whether it were wooden or not is not known, but a stone church of pre-Conquest date certainly existed on this spot until early 12th century. Remains of the foundations of its eastern termination were discovered immediately west of the chancel arch when the present church was restored in 1860.
During alterations to the church in 1800 there was discovered, 2ft below the present floor level, the east end of a pre-Norman church measuring internally 7ft to 8ft in width with walls 4ft thick. Remains consisted of the angles of a building with a south wall running some distance westward.
A small roughly carved pre-Conquest head stone with a cross and interlacing pattern upon it was also found. The three stone coffins unearthed in 1860 lie in the churchyard. (1)
11th century headstone found at Warkworth. (2)
NU 24670618. There are no remains of the pre-Conquest church to be seen in and around the present St Lawrence's Church, which is partly of Norman date. The 11th century headstone is preserved at the north end of the chancel arch and is of octagonal shape measuring 0.4m x 0.3m x 0.2m deep. The front and back faces contain a cross in relief. The three stone coffins lie in the churchyard at the east end of the south aisle. (3)
Condition of headstone unchanged. (4)
Part of cross-head, in niche in wall of south aisle. Measures 0.245m x 0.237m x 0.089m deep. Broken but relatively unworn. In the centre of each broad face is a flat cross-incised boss. Narrow faces plain. Date first half of 11th century.
Also a grave-marker, built into upper part of north wall of chancel in restoration of 1860. Now in a niche in wall of south aisle. Measures 0.362m x 0.425m x 0.125m deep. Worn. There is a cross carved on each of the broad faces. The narrow faces have an indecipherable plait or ring-chain. This type of grave-marker is more common in Durham than Northumberland. Date, 10th to 11th century.
Another cross-head or grave-marker is situated inside the church, measuring 0.285m x 0.265m x 0.145m deep. Worn. Plate-headed type cross. Likely to have been a head- or foot-stone of a slab-covered grave. Probably post-Conquest, 11th century. (5)
Before renovations the church comprised a chancel and nave, mainly in later Norman style. Early English tower at west end added some 100yrs later, and an undated spire above. Main alterations during Perpendicular period - the pointed roofs removed, south front of nave taken down, and south aisle added. In 1884 the church was declared unsafe. Renovated by Dobson. On lowering the walls of the nave, mouldings, shafts and parts of corbel courses and grotesque heads and monumental fragments were discovered [photographed by Mr Longstaffe]. A Saxon headstone also found. Excavations in the nave uncovered wall foundations [details as above]. (6)
Church of St Lawrence probably part of the route between Durham and Lindisfarne. Warkworth granted to community at Lindisfarne by Ceowulf, king of Northumbria.
In north east angle of nave is a staircase for the ringer of the Sanctus bell. Windows are unusually large. Possible there was a west door originally - no trace today.
The west wall of the church had its windows blocked up and was used as one of the four sides of the tower. Possibly intended as a refuge from Scottish incursions.
Extensive alterations in Perpendicular period. Porch has a room above it, access gained from outside the church. (7)
The 'villa Werceworth' recorded as early as time of King Osbert (848-67); and a century earlier, Coewulf when he abdicated in 737 made over to the Abbey of Lindisfarne the lands of Werceworde 'and the church which he had erected there'. Thought to be the stone foundations uncovered in 19th century restoration works. (8)
Founded by Ceowulf, King of Northumbria. Given to abbot and monks of Holy Island in 737. King Osbert took it from them. Present church built early in 12th century. Comprised two cells - nave and chancel. In 13th century a three-storey tower was added, with another stage added in 14th century and finished with a spire. Vestry also added in 13th century. Mid 15th century an aisle added to south side. Rib vaulting in chancel - rare in England, yet common in Northumberland - probably modelled on Durham Cathedral. The nave is the largest in Northumberland for its date - transformed by addition of south aisle. (9)
[Summary of church, details as above]. (10)
Description of church. (11)
Hodgson argues that the 12th century church may have been built after the earlier church was gifted by Henry I to his chaplain c.1110-20. This may explain the scale and grandeur of the building. The 12th century church comprised a vaulted chancel and an aisleless nave and no tower. The greater part of the windows in the chancel and nave remain. The east window of the south aisle contains the only surviving fragments of old stained glass left in the church. Until 1877 the chancel floor was paved with gravecovers (no transcript made) when they were covered with plain tiles. (12)
Tomlinson suggests the Saxon church was destroyed at the time of a massacre of 100-300 people by William the Lion in 1174.
The porch is peppered with bullet holes. The windows of the vestry is composed of three narrow slitsm through which it is believed an anchorite communicated. (13)
Addition details. (14)
A plan drawn up from a dowsing survey coincided with the remains found during the 19th century. (15)
During restoration work in 1884, which lowered the walls of the nave, mouldings, monumental fragments, shafts and parts of corbels and grotesque heads were discovered in the rubble fill of the ashlar. (16)
Archaeological investigation and recording took place between 2008 and 2010 during groundworks and structural works to support the north wall of the church. Phase 1 revealed a variety of remains between the two medieval buttresses on the north side of the church, including intact human burials at depths below 0.75m. Phase 2 comprised two trenches south of the phase 1 trench revealed substantial stone building remains at about 0.5m deep and intact human burials below 0.25m; the substantial footings are considered likely to be remains of a pre-Conquest church. Phase 3 investigated two buttresses at the east end of the north wall: they are each of different character, one well constructed on a rubble base and the other poorly constructed with gaps between stones below turf level. Shallow deposits of sand or degraded sandstone seen in both trenches at or below buttress foundation level are similar to those seenin pahse 2 work; an alternative interpretation may be the remains of one or more phases of Saxon porticus. Phase 4 comprised re-excavation of three trenches to remove burials and the excavation of a small trench to rebury the remains at the edge of the churchyard; this latter trench contained some structural remains of potential archaeological importance and possibly those of a tithe barn. An intermittent watching brief in the roof of the south aisle revealed structural elements suggestive of post-medieval remodelling or periodic response to the continuing structural problems of the building. Phase 5 monitored works to lower the floor of the west end of the church and services; this revealed features associated with 19th century flooring and heating works and the footings of the tower. (17)
Analysis of 51 timber samles has resulted in the production of two dated site chronologies comprising seven and 29 samples spanning the years AD1174-1390 and AD1324-1443 respectively. Three further site chronologies remain undated.
Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples indicates the earliest definite felling phase is represented by material from the bell frame, with two timbers felled in the mid AD1380s, and a third timber possibly coeval or slightly later. Two ceiling beams of the 'winding chamber' below the belfy have slightly later estimated felling dates in the range AD1386-1411 and AD1405-30 respectively. The next phase of felling is represented by the south aisle's upper and lower roofs, these are likely to have been cut as part of a single programme of felling spread over a small number of years in the late AD1420s and early AD1430s. The timbers of the Parvise roof have the latest episode of felling detected in this programme of analysis and were also cut as part of a single programme of felling in AD1443. (18)
There are several war memorials inside the church. (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)
Listed Building grade I. (25)
During alterations to the church in 1800 there was discovered, 2ft below the present floor level, the east end of a pre-Norman church measuring internally 7ft to 8ft in width with walls 4ft thick. Remains consisted of the angles of a building with a south wall running some distance westward.
A small roughly carved pre-Conquest head stone with a cross and interlacing pattern upon it was also found. The three stone coffins unearthed in 1860 lie in the churchyard. (1)
11th century headstone found at Warkworth. (2)
NU 24670618. There are no remains of the pre-Conquest church to be seen in and around the present St Lawrence's Church, which is partly of Norman date. The 11th century headstone is preserved at the north end of the chancel arch and is of octagonal shape measuring 0.4m x 0.3m x 0.2m deep. The front and back faces contain a cross in relief. The three stone coffins lie in the churchyard at the east end of the south aisle. (3)
Condition of headstone unchanged. (4)
Part of cross-head, in niche in wall of south aisle. Measures 0.245m x 0.237m x 0.089m deep. Broken but relatively unworn. In the centre of each broad face is a flat cross-incised boss. Narrow faces plain. Date first half of 11th century.
Also a grave-marker, built into upper part of north wall of chancel in restoration of 1860. Now in a niche in wall of south aisle. Measures 0.362m x 0.425m x 0.125m deep. Worn. There is a cross carved on each of the broad faces. The narrow faces have an indecipherable plait or ring-chain. This type of grave-marker is more common in Durham than Northumberland. Date, 10th to 11th century.
Another cross-head or grave-marker is situated inside the church, measuring 0.285m x 0.265m x 0.145m deep. Worn. Plate-headed type cross. Likely to have been a head- or foot-stone of a slab-covered grave. Probably post-Conquest, 11th century. (5)
Before renovations the church comprised a chancel and nave, mainly in later Norman style. Early English tower at west end added some 100yrs later, and an undated spire above. Main alterations during Perpendicular period - the pointed roofs removed, south front of nave taken down, and south aisle added. In 1884 the church was declared unsafe. Renovated by Dobson. On lowering the walls of the nave, mouldings, shafts and parts of corbel courses and grotesque heads and monumental fragments were discovered [photographed by Mr Longstaffe]. A Saxon headstone also found. Excavations in the nave uncovered wall foundations [details as above]. (6)
Church of St Lawrence probably part of the route between Durham and Lindisfarne. Warkworth granted to community at Lindisfarne by Ceowulf, king of Northumbria.
In north east angle of nave is a staircase for the ringer of the Sanctus bell. Windows are unusually large. Possible there was a west door originally - no trace today.
The west wall of the church had its windows blocked up and was used as one of the four sides of the tower. Possibly intended as a refuge from Scottish incursions.
Extensive alterations in Perpendicular period. Porch has a room above it, access gained from outside the church. (7)
The 'villa Werceworth' recorded as early as time of King Osbert (848-67); and a century earlier, Coewulf when he abdicated in 737 made over to the Abbey of Lindisfarne the lands of Werceworde 'and the church which he had erected there'. Thought to be the stone foundations uncovered in 19th century restoration works. (8)
Founded by Ceowulf, King of Northumbria. Given to abbot and monks of Holy Island in 737. King Osbert took it from them. Present church built early in 12th century. Comprised two cells - nave and chancel. In 13th century a three-storey tower was added, with another stage added in 14th century and finished with a spire. Vestry also added in 13th century. Mid 15th century an aisle added to south side. Rib vaulting in chancel - rare in England, yet common in Northumberland - probably modelled on Durham Cathedral. The nave is the largest in Northumberland for its date - transformed by addition of south aisle. (9)
[Summary of church, details as above]. (10)
Description of church. (11)
Hodgson argues that the 12th century church may have been built after the earlier church was gifted by Henry I to his chaplain c.1110-20. This may explain the scale and grandeur of the building. The 12th century church comprised a vaulted chancel and an aisleless nave and no tower. The greater part of the windows in the chancel and nave remain. The east window of the south aisle contains the only surviving fragments of old stained glass left in the church. Until 1877 the chancel floor was paved with gravecovers (no transcript made) when they were covered with plain tiles. (12)
Tomlinson suggests the Saxon church was destroyed at the time of a massacre of 100-300 people by William the Lion in 1174.
The porch is peppered with bullet holes. The windows of the vestry is composed of three narrow slitsm through which it is believed an anchorite communicated. (13)
Addition details. (14)
A plan drawn up from a dowsing survey coincided with the remains found during the 19th century. (15)
During restoration work in 1884, which lowered the walls of the nave, mouldings, monumental fragments, shafts and parts of corbels and grotesque heads were discovered in the rubble fill of the ashlar. (16)
Archaeological investigation and recording took place between 2008 and 2010 during groundworks and structural works to support the north wall of the church. Phase 1 revealed a variety of remains between the two medieval buttresses on the north side of the church, including intact human burials at depths below 0.75m. Phase 2 comprised two trenches south of the phase 1 trench revealed substantial stone building remains at about 0.5m deep and intact human burials below 0.25m; the substantial footings are considered likely to be remains of a pre-Conquest church. Phase 3 investigated two buttresses at the east end of the north wall: they are each of different character, one well constructed on a rubble base and the other poorly constructed with gaps between stones below turf level. Shallow deposits of sand or degraded sandstone seen in both trenches at or below buttress foundation level are similar to those seenin pahse 2 work; an alternative interpretation may be the remains of one or more phases of Saxon porticus. Phase 4 comprised re-excavation of three trenches to remove burials and the excavation of a small trench to rebury the remains at the edge of the churchyard; this latter trench contained some structural remains of potential archaeological importance and possibly those of a tithe barn. An intermittent watching brief in the roof of the south aisle revealed structural elements suggestive of post-medieval remodelling or periodic response to the continuing structural problems of the building. Phase 5 monitored works to lower the floor of the west end of the church and services; this revealed features associated with 19th century flooring and heating works and the footings of the tower. (17)
Analysis of 51 timber samles has resulted in the production of two dated site chronologies comprising seven and 29 samples spanning the years AD1174-1390 and AD1324-1443 respectively. Three further site chronologies remain undated.
Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples indicates the earliest definite felling phase is represented by material from the bell frame, with two timbers felled in the mid AD1380s, and a third timber possibly coeval or slightly later. Two ceiling beams of the 'winding chamber' below the belfy have slightly later estimated felling dates in the range AD1386-1411 and AD1405-30 respectively. The next phase of felling is represented by the south aisle's upper and lower roofs, these are likely to have been cut as part of a single programme of felling spread over a small number of years in the late AD1420s and early AD1430s. The timbers of the Parvise roof have the latest episode of felling detected in this programme of analysis and were also cut as part of a single programme of felling in AD1443. (18)
There are several war memorials inside the church. (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)
Listed Building grade I. (25)
N5415
Early Medieval (410 to 1066)
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
EXCAVATION, Excavation at St Lawrence's church, Warkworth 1859; DUNN, J W
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 1 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2008; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 2 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2008; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 3 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2009; The Archaeological Practice
WATCHING BRIEF, Church of St Lawrence, Warkworth 2010; The Archaeological Practice
TIMBER SAMPLING, Church of St Lawrence: tree-ring analysis 2010; English Heritage
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1971; B H Pritchard
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 1 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2008; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 2 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2008; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Phase 3 evaluation, St Lawrence's churchyard, Warkworth 2009; The Archaeological Practice
WATCHING BRIEF, Church of St Lawrence, Warkworth 2010; The Archaeological Practice
TIMBER SAMPLING, Church of St Lawrence: tree-ring analysis 2010; English Heritage
Disclaimer -
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.