Listed Building record MDR5953 - St Leonard's Church, Main Street, Scarcliffe

St Leonard's Church, Main Street, Scarcliffe, originally a 12th century building. 'The advowson of the church at Scarcliffe, the gift of Hubert Fitzralph, was one of the earliest endowments of Darley Abbey, which was established in c1135. There is no record of a church here at the time of the Domesday survey. The original chartulary of the Abbey speaks of the Church of St Giles. Pilkington, followed by Davies, attributes the dedication to All Saints, but Liber Regis gives St Leonard, and this is the impression prevailing in the parish. The plain porch covers a very good Norman entrance, with a tympanum with geometrical ornamentation, and jambs with shafts cut from the same stone. Three pillars of different construction, which support four round arches separating north aisle from nave, are of the original fabric, and the jambs of the pointed archway into the chancel appear older, and may also be original. The priest's door, south side of chancel, so fresh-cut as to appear to be modern, is also a good specimen of old Norman work, said to have been freed from plaster, and scraped, a few years ago. In the south-east corner of the chancel is a small Norman piscina, and another, later, piscina. Below a small (Early English) lancet window, south side of chancel is what is perhaps the most interesting memorial (also Early English) in Derbyshire, an effigy of a lady and child, probably of one of the baronial family of Frecheville, who had for a time held the manor of Scarcliffe. The base of a shaft or small pillar (Early English) found built into the wall at the west end of the north aisle, now stands on the north side of the churchyard. A two-light window on the north side of the chancel is Decorated. The east window of the chancel, another on the south side of the nave and two in the south wall, are Perpendicular. The old tower, 13th century and surmounted by a spire which is said to have resembled that of the church at Bolsover, was taken down and a new one built in 1842.' (1) 'Some Norman detail; the greater part of the rest of the fabric, excepting the modern tower, is Early English.' (2) 'The church is in use for public worship. The incumbent confirmed the modern dedication as being to St. Leonard though several medieval alternatives are known. The Early English pillar-base, mentioned by Authority 1, is now placed at the south west corner of the porch.' (3) 'No change.' (4) 'Church of St Leonard, Parish church 12th, 13th and 16th century, tower rebuilt in 1842, 19th century restoration. Grade II*.' (5) 'The bell's of St Leonard's are of historical significance. One conserved bell dates from circa 1450 and was made by the RC Nottingham foundary. Another conserved bell dates to 1698 and was made by W Noone of Nottingham. One of the two 16th century bells made by the R B Chesterfield foundary dates from circa 1500 has not been conserved, whereas the circa 1560 bell made by R II Heathcote of Chesterfield has been.' (7) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 56 NE PARISH OF SCARCLIFFE MAIN STREET, SCARCLIFFE 7/148 (North Side) Church of St Leonard 8.7.66 II* Parish church. C12, C13, C16, tower rebuilt in 1842, C19 restoration. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Lead and welsh slate roofs. West tower, nave with north aisle and south porch, chancel. The tower has a stop chamfered plinth and is divided into four stages by moulded string courses. Clasping buttresses to half height. On the south side the second stage has a sundial and a circular clock face to the third stage. The fourth stage has bell-openings of three double-chamfered lancets with continuous hoodmould. To the west is a double- chamfered doorway, a 2-light window with bar tracery and hoodmould above, a tiny chamfered lancet above again, and bell-openings as to the south. The north side of the tower is embraced by the vestry which forms a western continuation of the aisle. Small lancet window above, and bell-openings as to the south and west. Similar bell- openings to the east. Battlemented parapet and four pinnacles. Lean-to north aisle has a pair of chamfered lancets to the west vestry. To the north is a single chamfered doorway. The older part of the aisle has a flat-arched window with double chamfered surround and square leaded glazing. To the left is a 2-light window with square section mullion and square leaded glazing. A further similar flat-arched window to the left again. Four buttresses. Clerestory of three small rectangular chamfered lights. Small rectangular east window with wave moulding. The north side of the chancel shows evidence of later raising. Interrrupted sill band. Cusped 2- light window with hoodmould, a blocked flat-arched doorway, a chamfered lancet and a tall blocked lancet. Angle buttresses. The chancel has an east window of three cusped lights under a segmental pointed arch. Hoodmould on headstops. The south side of the chancel has a round-arched doorway with dogtooth. Hoodmould with stylised headstops and dogtooth. Panelled door. To the right is a tall chamfered lancet, and to the left a 3-light segment-pointed arched window with cusped lights. The south side of the nave is battlemented and has irregular fenestration. From the east, there are two large 3-light flat-arched windows with bead moulded surrounds and mullions. The second one has a blocked light. Then another flat-arched window of 2-lights with cusped segment headed lights and short mullions rising from the apex of each light. All three windows are set close together. Deeply projecting gabled south porch has a single chamfered pointed-arched entrance. Above the porch is a small rectangular window with wave moulded surround. To the left is a tall cross window set in a deeply chamfered surround with triangular head. Stone seats in the south porch. Interior: C12 south doorway with one order of colonettes, one roll-moulding in the arch, and a lintel with inscribed wheels, stars and saltire crosses. Scalloped capital. Pair of C19 panelled doors. North arcade of four bays, with double-chamfered round arches and a hoodmould with two headstops. Semi- circular west respond, then a circular pier, a quatrefoil pier and capital with nailhead, then an octagonal pier and a semi-octagonal respond. Plainly chamfered doorway into the tower with a lancet above. Doorway at the east end of the arcade set up, from the aisle into the rood loft. Double chamfered chancel arch, the inner order on semi-circular responds with scallop capitals, the outer order dying into the imposts. Tomb in the south east corner of the nave; an effigy of a lady (probably Constantia de Frecheville who died in 1175). A child in her arms, her head resting on a lion, with a huge scroll of Leonine verse. C13. Charity board above dated 1832. The chancel has a number of C19 memorial tablets. Mid-Victorian stained glass in most chancel windows. North aisle east window 1902 by M. Lowndes, with strong modelling to the figures. Small octagonal font like a baluster, the octagonal cover dated 1688. Listing NGR: SK4954368750.' (8)