Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary

Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary, Church Lane, Prestwish, Bury, Greater Manchester

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Overview

Gate piers of c1827 and boundary walls of 1827 and 1886 enclosing St Mary's churchyard to north, east and south sides. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1356815
Date first listed:: 29-Jan-1985
List Entry Name:: Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary
Statutory Address:: Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary, Church Lane, Prestwish, Bury, Greater Manchester

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Date:: 2007-03-24
Reference:: IOE01/16128/07
Rights:: © Ms Pamela Jackson. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1356815
Date first listed:: 29-Jan-1985
Date of most recent amendment:: 21-Feb-2012
List Entry Name:: Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary
Statutory Address 1:: Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary, Church Lane, Prestwish, Bury, Greater Manchester

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Gate Piers and Boundary Walls to Churchyard Of St Mary, Church Lane, Prestwish, Bury, Greater Manchester

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Bury (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SD8106503658

Summary

Gate piers of c1827 and boundary walls of 1827 and 1886 enclosing St Mary's churchyard to north, east and south sides.

Reasons for Designation

The boundary walls and entrance gate piers of St Mary's churchyard, Prestwich, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: They illustrate the extensive history of the St Mary's churchyard and its expansion during the C19 * Group value: They have group value with the Grade I listed St Mary's Church and the other listed monuments and structures in the St Mary's churchyard

History

St Mary's Church, Prestwich, dates to the C14 with later alterations, and the oldest extant grave marker in the churchyard dates to 1641. However, the topography of the churchyard suggests a much older burial ground. The churchyard has been extended many times, including in 1827 when boundary walls were constructed. Prior to these walls being erected the churchyard was enclosed by a ditch and hedge created in 1706, and subsequently by the planting of beech and fir trees in 1763. Further extensions to the churchyard occurred in 1864, 1886, 1924 and 1950.

The western section of the churchyard contains, amongst other graves, the unmarked burials of thousands of inmates of the County Asylum Prestwich dating from the mid-C19 to early-C20, although several communal graves for the asylum's attendants and some inmates are marked by grave slabs. In 1801 a hearse house (altered in the mid-late C20) was constructed to the north of the church.

Details

North, east and south boundary walls (1827) constructed of coursed sandstone with curved copings, original iron railings now removed to north and south walls; some post WWII railings survive to east wall. North wall abuts the C18 Church Inn (also listed at Grade II). Later section of boundary wall to south of 1827 south wall erected in 1886 when the graveyard was enlarged; wall is of coursed sandstone with large, square carved blocks for copings with tool mark decoration. Openwork cast-iron gate piers set to north-east corner of churchyard with flat tops, colonettes to corners and latticework in between. C20 double and single gates between piers are not included in the listing. Gate piers flanked to south by raised section of east boundary wall. Section of red brick wall (1827) of same height with sandstone copings is attached to north side of gate piers and extends to Church Inn. West face of wall incorporates a large stone containing an incised oval shape and inscription dated 1827 that records the extending of the churchyard and its enclosure.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 210622
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Hartwell, C, Hyde, M, Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East, (2004, reprinted 2010 with corrections), 566
Pringle, I, Saint Mary Prestwich: A Description of the Churchyard, (2008)
Sather, K, St Mary's Prestwich: Conservation Management Plan, (n.d.)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.