Listed Building record MDR9989 - St Swithin's Church, Main Road, Holmesfield
Type and Period (1)
- PARISH CHURCH (Georgian to 21st Century - 1826 AD? to 2050 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
St Swithin's Church, Main Road, Holmesfield, the current building probably dates to 1826, built on the site of an earlier church.
Bulmer records a chapel of St. Swithin being built at an early date, in the Norman style, with a side aisle. It was taken down in 1826 and the present church was built on the site. (1-2)
'Holmesfield was an ancient parochial chapelry of Dronfield. It is described in the Parliamentary Survey of 1650 as a 'chappell of ease', although it was possessed of an independent endowment, to the amount of forty acres of glebe land. A will dated 1505 makes it clear that the chapel was dedicated to St Swithin. The curate of the chapel died in the plague of 1609 and was buried in Holmesfield chapel yard. In 1819 it was described as 'a very antient building and so ruinous it must be wholly taken down and rebuilt'. The present St Swithin's was built on its site in 1826.' (3)
Please also see (4-5) for recent archaeological work.
Although the Listing description gives a date of 1727, this is unlikely since the church was described as being ruinous in 1819. (6)
From the National Heritage List for England:
'PARISH OF HOLMESFIELD MAIN ROAD SK 37 NW 5/164 (North Side) Church of St Swithin, 31.1.67 Holmesfield II Parish Church. 1727, with additions in 1826, 1895 and 1961. Coursed squared coal measures sandstone, with quoins, coped gable with cross finial to chancel, and slated roof coverings. West tower, C20 tower porch, nave, chancel, and vestry. Two stage tower with flat bands delineating stages. First stage with single light pointed arched window within chamfered surround; second stage with clock face and embattled added parapet with crocketed pinnacles, incorporating central segmental headed plaque bearing the date 1826. C20 gabled lean-to porch encloses original entrance with quoined surround, massive lintel and planked door with glazed light to centre. Nave end wall window also within the porch, of 2-lights with slightly chamfered mullion, in flush surround, and with leaded glazings. Above, a matching window lights the nave gallery. Three bay nave with tall semi-circular headed windows and raised alternating quoins to surrounds. Chancel added in two single bay phases, with one single lancet to late C19 bay, which rises from a shallow plinth, and has a moulded eaves band, and a buttress to the original end, now mid wall. Angled buttress to new south-east corner, and tripartite east windows consisting of a tall central lancet, flanked by lower lancets, within a recessed panel of ashlar sandstone, beneath a semi- circular headed arch. Gabled vestry and Sunday school additions to north side. Interior retains gallery with pews, supported on thin circular iron columns, with a stone access stair within the tower. Interior. Gallery to east end, with charity boards, otherwise fittings are C19.
Listing NGR: SK3206177690.'
(7)
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SDR10000 Index: North Derbyshire Archaeological Trust (NDAT). North Derbyshire Archaeological Trust Index. 3069.
- <2> SDR3507 Bibliographic reference: Bulmer, T and Co.. 1895. History, Topography and Directory of Derbyshire. 246.
- <3> SDR11673 Bibliographic reference: Cox, J. 1875. Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire, Vol. I. 215-217.
- <4> SDR19758 Unpublished document: May, R (ARCUS). 2004. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of St. Swithin's Churchyard, Holmesfield, Derbyshire.
- <5> SDR19757 Unpublished document: Lewis, B (TPAU). 2006. Archaeological Evaluation at St. Swithin's Church, Holmesfield, Derbyshire.
- <6> SDR20769 Personal Observation: Manning, N. Personal observation, map evidence, field visit etc..
- <7> SDR19551 Listed Building File: Historic England. 2011. The National Heritage List for England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1057675?section=official-list-entry.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | SK 32061 77690 (point) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | HOLMESFIELD, NORTH EAST DERBYSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
- EDR1916
- EDR1915
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Jun 10 2025 3:14PM