St Michael’s Church at Lowther by munki-boy
St Michael’s Church at Lowther
St Michael’s Church at Lowther is in The Lake District National Park in England.
The church of St. Michael at Lowther, twelfth and thirteenth century in origin but rebuilt in the seventeenth century, and completely remodelled in the nineteenth century. It has been suggested as the site of a monastery, but this is unconfirmed.
The listing includes a twelfth century cross and a seventeenth century mounting block in the church grounds, as well the nineteenth century mausoleum for the Lowther family. The late seventeenth century gate piers are also listed.
“Three pre-conquest decorated hog-back tombstones are located within the churchyard, and there used to be two cross-shafts inside Lowther Castle, which are probably of eighth century date” (Bailey and Cramp 1984).
The hogback stones and cross parts are now found within the public area of the church.
Church of St Michael, Lowther Park, Askham
Parish church. C12 and Cl3 with extensive late C17 rebuilding; C19 alterations and additions. Partly-rendered sandstone rubble walls with eaves cornice and raised red sandstone quoins. Graduated greenslate roof with coped gables. 4-bay nave with west porch and aisles; central square 3-storey tower with north and south transepts; single-bay chancel. Nave is externally late C17 with moulded-surround windows in aisles and in clerestory. C19 gabled stone porch. Tower is partly medieval and in late C17 had a domed cupola, removed in C19 and replaced by an extra storey and a battlemented parapet. C19 triple lancet windows. Transepts are late C17, that to south with Lowther arms in pediment. Line of original transept roof can be seen in tower wall above. Chancel has C17 priest’s doorway and tall round-headed windows, 2 in east wall. North vestry. Interior of porch has free-standing remains of 3 hog-back coffin lids and a saxon cross shaft. Interior: north arcade has 3 C12 round piers with carved capitals, supporting round arches. Similar round arches of south arcade are supported by C13 octagonal piers. Font c.1686 inscribed TA. Various marble wall plaques to members of the Lowther family and C20 heraldic stained glass in south windows. Pointed tower arch. Hanoverian Royal Arms of the 3rd period (1816-37) on gallery and pater boards above. In the south transept are elaborate monuments to various members of the Lowther family: an alabaster effigy of Sir Richard Lowther 1608, with accompanying wall-mounted heraldic plaque; John Viscount Lowther 1700, marble effigy and wall plaque; elaborate wall plaque of 2 busts with garlands and railed backdrop to John Lowther and Lord Lowther 1675. More C19 and C20 marble and brass monuments and wall plaques to members of the Lowther family in south transept and in chancel. Dado panelling looks C17 but altar rail is C19 imitating C17. See RCHM, Westmorland, 1936, plates 13, 44, 96 and 138.
Created: 28 October 2020 Edited: 29 November 2023
St Michael’s Church at Lowther
Walks in St Michael’s Church at Lowther
Local History around St Michael’s Church at Lowther
There are some historic monuments around including:
Long cairn 370m ESE of Mossthorn FarmRound cairn 285m south east of White Raise round cairn, Askham FellRing cairn east of Threepow RaiseLong barrow on Trainford BrowRound cairn on Heughscar HillBridge over Heltondale Beck 250yds (230m) SSW of WidewathTwo standing stones and a round cairn south of CrooklandsRoman road and enclosures SE of FrenchfieldSettlement 1/3 mile (540m) ENE of Brougham CastleCastlesteads multivallate prehistoric defended enclosureLinear stone bank on Askham FellFour funerary cairns and a surrounding cairnfield on Threepow RaiseRound cairn on Askham Fell, 335m north of the Cop StoneWhite Raise round cairn, Askham FellStanding stone 180m NNE of SkirsgillRound cairn 490m south east of White Raise round cairn, Askham FellRound cairn west of Riddingleys Top, Askham FellRound cairn 280m south-east of The Cockpit stone circleBowl barrow 80m east of Scarside PlantationTowtop Kirk early Christian enclosureStone circle 800m east of Wetheriggs PotteryAskham Fell stone alignmentBowl barrow 850m WSW of Yanwath Woodhouse FarmRound cairn 660m north east of The Cockpit, Askham FellRound barrow 150m east of Scarside PlantationSlight univallate hillfort in Scarside PlantationCatterlen Hall tower houseLittle Round Table hengeThe Cockpit stone circle and seven adjacent clearance cairns, Moor DivockRomano-British settlement and regular aggregate field system north of Yanwath WoodThe Countess PillarBowl barrow 350m north east of The WreayMelkinthorpe medieval settlement, part of its associated open field system and the site of Melkinthorpe HallRoman marching camp 450yds (410m) NE of BrovacumStrickland's Pele Tower and Penrith CastleLong cairn 330m east of MossthornMoated site east of Newton ReignyRound cairn 520m north east of The Cockpit, Askham FellSt Ninian's preconquest monastic site, site of nucleated medieval settlement, St Ninian's Church and churchyardRound cairn 580m north east of The Cockpit, Askham FellRing cairn on Knipescar CommonStone bridge, Cawdale BeckClifton Hall towerRound cairn 515m south east of White Raise round cairn, Askham FellMayburgh hengeRound cairn 475m south east of White Raise round cairn, Askham FellRound cairn on Askham Fell, 270m north of The Cop StoneThe Giant's Thumb - Anglian high cross in St Andrew's churchyard, PenrithTwo round cairns 415m and 420m NNE of The Cockpit, Moor DivockRound cairn 680m ENE of DalefootSettlement 100yds (90m) SE of Sceugh FarmRing cairn on Askham Fell including The Cop StoneEamont BridgeRomano-British settlement at Cragside WoodRing cairn on Askham Fell and four adjacent stonesSite of Catterlen Old HallMoated site and annexe east of Setterahpark WoodRing cairn on Knipescar Common south of Inscar PlantationRound cairn 490m ENE of Rough Hill TarnSewborrans standing stone 400m south west of SewborwensThe Giant's Grave - Two Anglian cross-shafts and four hogback stones in St Andrew's churchyard, PenrithBridge over Heltondale Beck 550ft (170m) S of WidewathSkirsgill Romano-British enclosed stone hut circle settlement, Romano-British farmstead, and Romano-British regular aggregate field systemBrougham Roman fort (Brocavum) and civil settlement and Brougham CastleRound cairn 50m north east of White Raise round cairn, Askham FellKing Arthur's Round Table hengeThe Old Kiln, Wetheriggs Pottery.
