Building record MLI83056 - Church of St Benedict, St Benedict's Square, Lincoln

Summary

The Church of St Benedict, St Benedict's Square, Lincoln.

Type and Period (1)

  • (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The Church of St Benedict dates from the early 13th century and early 14th century. The nave and north aisle were demolished and then rebuilt from old meterials in the mid 17th century. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {1}{2} This church appears to be a relatively late foundation, presumably built to cater for the new population on the reclaimed land in this area. It was given to the Minster by Robert Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, who died in 1107, and the gift was confirmed by Henry I. Many wealthy citizens resided in the parish and were buried in the graveyard. Many of them also endowed chantries, altars and obits and by the time of the late 14th century Clerical Poll taxes, this church had the largest number of chantry priests and clerks in Wigford if not the whole city. Known chantries include: one founded by Thomas of Wigford in 1318, although this was moved to the Bridge Chapel in 1330, one founded by Robert de Dalderby in 1352 and one founded by Roger de Tateshall in 1378. The church was also home to the Guild of the Purification of St Mary. The church survived the Reformation but was damaged in the Civil War. It was restored c.1670 when the west tower was built, possibly re-using architectural fragments from medieval church. An account from this time notes that the previous steeple had fallen down, and the nave appears to have been demolished either in the civil war or shortly afterwards. Only the chancel, side-chapel and (rebuilt) tower of the church survive today. The church contained a very fine toned bell, dated 1585, bearing the crest of the Barber Surgeons and decorated with bands of arabesque work. This was purchased for the church St. Mark in the 19th century (although it is not known what happened to it when that church was demolished in the 1970s). {3}{4}{5}{6} The present west tower contains re-used architectural fragments from the earlier church although it appears that these are not Saxon in date as has been suggested. Rather, they appear to date from the 14th century and probably came from the demolished nave. {7}{8}{9} The date of the west tower of this church has been discussed since the 19th century, when it was believed to be an example of the 'Lincolnshire Tower' type and of Saxon date. It has since been proved that the structure is of late medieval date, re-using earlier medieval (not Saxon) stone, but built in a reproduction of the classic 'Lincolnshire Tower' style. {10}

Sources/Archives (10)

  •  Index: Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Dec 1999. Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 269.512.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.496.
  •  Article in Serial: Edmund Venables. 1888. 'A list and brief description of the churches of Lincoln previous to the period of the Reformation' in Associated Architectural and Archaeological Societies’ Reports and Papers. p.334, no.15.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: E. Mansel Sympson. 1906. Lincoln: A Historical and Topographical Account of the City. pp.334-5.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: HILL, J.W.F.. 1948. Medieval Lincoln. pp.134-5.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Jones, Michael, J; Stocker, D.; and Vince, A.. 2003. The City by the Pool including LARA. RAZ 6.90.20, 10.90.20, 11.91.3.
  •  Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1982. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire, 1981' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.17, pp.82-3.
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SK 97 SE: 74.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. SK 97 SE: FB.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Paul Everson and David Stocker. 2006. Summoning St Michael: Early Romanesque Towers in Lincolnshire. no.32.

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Grid reference Centred SK 97472 71119 (17m by 15m) Surveyed
Civil Parish BOULTHAM, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Sep 1 2022 1:41PM

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