Building record MLI42536 - Church of St Wilfrid, Alford

Summary

Parish church dating to the mid 14th century, with alterations in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. It stands on the site of a previous church with is thought to have been demolished c.1350.

Type and Period (2)

  • (Medieval - 1150 AD? to 1350 AD?)
  • (Medieval to Modern - 1350 AD? to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Parish church of mainly Decorated style, thought to have been built on the same site as an earlier building dating to approximately 1150. The new church consisted originally of chancel, nave, north and south aisles and a tower. This church fell into disrepair and was restored in 1867-9 by Sir Gilbert Scott, when the west tower was altered and a second north aisle built. The church contains a monument to Sir Robert Christopher and his wife, dated to 1668. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}{6}{7}{8} The present church dates to the mid 14th century, with alterations in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. It stands on the site of a previous church with is thought to have been demolished c.1350. It is thought to have been built by William of Tothby, whose family founded the North Chapel as a chantry chapel in 1396. The parvise is believed to have been used as part of a grammar school, founded by Francis Spanning in 1566. The church was restored by Sir Gilbert Scott c.1867. The church is built of coursed and squared greenstone with limestone dressings, and features stone slate roofs. It is comprised of a western tower, nave, aisles plus an additional 19th century north aisle, south porch with parvise, chancel, and north chapel. The four-stage tower was rebuilt 1525-1535, but part of the top stage and parapet are of the 19th century. In the chancel is a large standing alabaster monument to Sir Robert Christopher, d.1668, and his wife, of Alford Manor House. The monument shows the pair as recumbent effigies, he in armour, hand on breast, all surrounded by the original wrought iron railings. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate entry in the National Heritage List for England. {9}{10} In the chancel and north chapel north windows are panels of 14th stained glass decorated with foliage. {11} Historic graffiti at this church was recorded in early 2022 by the Lincolnshire Medieval Graffiti Project. The survey identified a number of historic marks, the majority of which were found on the lower sections of the nave support columns. These marks included a quite wide variety of different symbols, including pentagrams and cross-type designs, along with a number of probable mason's marks. {12}{13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 47 NE: U.
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 47 NE: 9.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). pp.92-3.
  •  Leaflet: St Wilfred's Church, Alford. -.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: R.E.G. Cole. 1913. Speculum Dioeceseos Lincolniensis sub Episcopis Gul: Wake et Edm: Gibson A.D.1705-1723. Part 1: Archdeaconries of Lincoln and Stow. p.2.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: John Charles Cox. 1924. Little Guide: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.42.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: S.M. Cooke and P.E. Crome. 1988. Alford Town. p.32.
  •  Report: QuBE Planning Ltd.. 2008. Alford Conservation Area Appraisal. Section 6.7.
  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1986. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 5/1.
  •  Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1063026.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Penny Hebgin-Barnes. 1996. The Medieval Stained Glass of the County of Lincolnshire. pp.4-5.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire Medieval Graffiti Project. 2013->. Lincolnshire Medieval Graffiti Project Surveys. -.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Matthew Champion. 2015. Medieval Graffiti: The Lost Voices of England's Churches. -.

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Grid reference Centred TF 45554 76067 (41m by 28m) Surveyed
Civil Parish ALFORD, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Record last edited

Dec 7 2023 2:11PM

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