Description

SD 62 SE DARWEN CHAPELS

4/14 Church of St. James
-
GV II

Church, 1722, restored 1852-3, altered c.1878, altered and enlarged
1937-40 by Sidney Eaton (Pevsner). Ashlar with stone gable copings
and some finials, slate roof with ventilator on the ridge. Simple
rectangular 4-bay plan (with modern chancel, vestry (etc.) added at
right angles at east end). Renaissance style, with some Gothic
details. Low plinth with string course; side walls have Doric
pilasters between the bays and coupled at the corners, simple
entablature with plain frieze and moulded cornice (originally bearing
flaming urn finials over all pilasters, only those at the west end
and east gable now remaining), and in each bay a large round-headed
window with keystone and 3 lights with trefoil-headed tracery.
Entrance (originally in south side, replaced by window) removed c,1878
to centre of west end wall. This has Doric demicolumns flanking the
doorway above which the centre portion of the gable breaks forwards
slightly up to a modern bellcote on the apex, the centre and each side
having large square-headed 5-light windows with trefoil-headed tracery.
The addition at the east end has a hipped roof with a chimney and
semicircular apse with domed copper roof but is otherwise of matching
style and materials. Interior: entirely modernised; one late C18
memorial tablet on north wall. History: built on site of C16 chapel
which had become dilapidated as a result of late C17 dispute over
ownership between Vicar of Blackburn and local Nonconformist congregation
who built Lower Chapel (q.v.) in 1719. Damaged by mining subsidence
1851. (References: W.A. Abram History of Blackburn 1877; J.G. Shaw
Darwen and its People 1889).

Listing NGR: SD6957623070

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26644088

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)