Skip to main content

Listed Building record MDR4531 - St Werburgh's Church, Church Street, Derby

Type and Period (1)

  • (Medieval to 21st Century - 1300 AD? to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

St Werburgh's Church, Church Street, Derby, largely a 14th century building. 'Spondon. "The church, which is dedicated to St. Werburgh, consists of chancel, nave and side aisles, and tower surmounted by a spire at the west end .. No part ..is older than the fourteenth century" The destruction of the church by fire in 1340 gives "almost the precise date of the greater portion of the church as it now stands." It was repaired and modernised in 1826. "..We believe that parts of the lower stage of the tower are those that belonged to the Early English Church before the fire.. The upper part of the tower and spire .. [are] probably c.1375-1400" When the Domesday Survey was taken, the Manor of Spondon possessed a church. It was granted in the reign of Henry II (1154-1189) to the Hospital of Burton-Lazars.' (1) "A thorough restoration was commenced in 1890, and completed in 1892 ..the architectural and other incongruities perpetrated by the restorers of 1826 have, in most cases, been removed .." (2) 'In normal use.' (3) Church formerly dedicated to St Mary. (5) 'Spondon, St Werburgh's Church. Archaeological evaluation and a watching brief were carried out by Trent & Peak Archaeological Unit in 2002/3 on the site of an extension to the vestry. Although first mentioned in Domesday book, the dedication to a 7th century Mercian princess, and the existence of an Anglo-Saxon cross-shaft in the churchyard, suggest an earlier foundation for this church. Except for two courses of the south-west buttress of the south aisle, no foundations belonging to medieval elements of the church were exposed.' (6) 'One of the bells in St Werburgh's is of historical significance. Dating from c1550, it was make by T Newcombe of Leicester.' (7) From the National Heritage List for England: 'This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 09/07/2012 893/9/60 10-NOV-67 CHURCH STREET SPONDON CHURCH OF ST WERBURGH II Large medieval parish church consisting of naves and aisles, chancel and west tower. Largely C14 but heavily restored and partly modern. C14 tower and spire. Sedilia, piscina and Easter sepulchre..' (8)

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Bibliographic reference: Cox, J C. 1877. Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire, Vol. III. 293-303.
  • <2> Bibliographic reference: Bulmer, T and Co.. 1895. History, Topography and Directory of Derbyshire. 812.
  • <3> Personal Observation: F1 FRH 30-NOV-66.
  • <4> Index: Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust (TPAT). Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust Index: 2520. 2520.
  • <5> Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1882. OS County Series, 1st edition, scale 1:2500 (c. 25" to one mile).
  • <6> Article in serial: Elliott, L. 2005. 'Spondon, St Werburgh Church', Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. Volume 125, pp 92-3.
  • <7> Unpublished document: Church of England. 2007. Identification of bells and bell frames of historic significance.
  • <8> Listed Building File: Historic England. 2011. The National Heritage List for England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1216070?section=official-list-entry.

Map

Location

Grid reference SK 39809 35912 (point)
Civil Parish DERBY, DERBY, DERBYSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • EDR1508

Please contact the HER for details.

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Dec 14 2025 12:30PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.