Description

SWITHLAND MAIN STREET
SK 51 SE
4/87
Church of St. Leonard
1.6.66

GV II*
Church of C13 and later. Granite and slate rubble stone with Swithland
slate roof. W. tower of 3 stages, nave, N. porch, S. aisle with E. porch,
and chancel. Lower part of tower C13, upper Perp with 2 W. clasping
buttresses, small C19 W. door, original 1-light above, several slits, 4
restored 2-light bell openings and restored crocketted pinnacles and
battlements. 2 storey C19 stair turret on S. side. Nave has C19 N.
porch and C13 arcades originally similar but N., now blocked, was
heightened later in Century. N.W. arch remains similar to S. arcade.
Now blocked it leads to N. porch. Arcades of 4 bays, S. has circular
piers and abaci supporting double chamfered arches. 3 bull's-eyes
windows above. ½ bull's eye remains abutting first of higher N. arcade
blocked arches. These similar to S. Upper part of Nave C16/17 timber
framing in 4 bays. Wall pieces and curved braces from renewed stone
corbels support collar and cranked tie beam trusses with lower angle
struts. Curved wind braces to single purlins. Heavily restored
chancel. Arch double chamfered, one dying into corbels. 2 C19
flat-headed 2-lights either side with C19 E. window of Geometric type
tracery. Stained glass of 1867. Restored, partly renewed, single
purlin roof with wall pieces and curved braces supporting collar beams,
thence king struts. Wrought-iron alter rail. S. aisle built as
Danvers Chapel in 1727. 4 bay double purlin king post tie beam truss
roof with angle struts to purlins (upper from king post). Date on E.
tie beam. C19 E. porch. 3 C19 S. windows of Geometric type tracery.
Stained glass of 1864 (Heygate Memorial) in SSW, otherwise 2 heraldic
glass lunettes, one dated 1849. 1 C18 half round window remains with
W. window blocked. 6 hatchments and helmet, sword and 2 metal gauntlets.
C17 and C18 slate and brass monuments and pedigree of Danvers Bulter
family, including outstanding example of mid C18 to children to Sir
John Danvers, 'a tour de force of the slate workers' (Pevsner). Mid C15
brass; organ originally by John Snetzler, of London, 1765, with Gothic
pinnacled front; C18 white marble font; remains of possibly C17 carving
in some pew backs. On N. wall C18 wall monument and 2 C19 Curvilinear
type tracery windows. Triple chamfered W. arch with small round arched
1-light above and C19 stained glass in small W. window.

Listing NGR: SK5549412826

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534244

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)