This drawing by Nattes, dated 1790, is one of very few illustrations of this fine house.

The house was situated in a large park about 1.5 miles ENE of the village centre.

It was bullt for the Lister family in 1760 and demolished in 1958. A stable block has survived.

T R Leach Collection

This octagonal brick butter cross was built c1700.

The building was later adapted for use as a dovecote, and more recently has been used as a village hall.

It stands uncomfortably close to the busy A16.

Frank Robinson, January 2015

View of St Michael's from the south-east.

Peter Kirk Collection, 1997

Lying above the village and built into the side of the Wold, St Michael's church, Burwell, is built partly in Spilsby sandstone and partly in brick.

It has a Norman chancel arch which is the oldest feature, Perpendicular (Georgian brick-topped) tower and signs of a vanished south aisle.

It is now in the hands of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Mark Acton, 2008

Exterior from north

The church is Grade I listed and has been cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust since 1982.

The mixed masonry includes Spilsby sandstone (greenstone), brick at wallplate level and brick repair at the east end.  The church is remarkably short of windows on the north side, so no wonder light levels are low within the nave.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063684 

Jean Howard, August 2020

Looking east from the nave towards the chancel. 

Norman chancel arch dating from the early C12th, it has an inner frieze of shallow chevrons, with outer roll and billet mouldings.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Moulded capital on the northern shaft shows two horses or stags.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Above the chancel arch against the north wall of the nave this fragment of a wall painting shows a crowned head with the letter M, possibly representing the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Oak and made in 1915 in memory of the Christison family, beautifully carved with a Norman arcade of five round arches supported by six pillars each decorated with different designs, and within the arches panels of Decorated tracery. 

The deep plinth has a design of knotted rope.

Note along the east wall behind, the decorated dado rail and battens showing that the chancel was once panelled.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Just to the north side of the altar, a flowered Perpendicular bracket that possibly served as a statue ledge.

Jean Howard, August 2020

The centre panel depicts St Michael with his shield and blazing sword, stamping out evil in the form of a dragon beneath his feet.

By Morris & Co 1934.

The window is in memory of William and Susan Scorer who lived at Priory Farm, Burwell for more than forty years.

Jean Howard, August 2020

This panel comprises an ambitious design of scrolling vines with leaves and bunches of grapes, but exists only on the north side of the sanctuary.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Up against the south wall of the chancel is this fine early C18th tomb with skull and laurel wreath on each end panel and swagged drapery on the side.  The inscription is illegible.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Scottish born Robert Christison (1837-1915) emigrated to Australia with an elder brother when aged 15. He worked among cattle and sheep and became a winning amateur jockey.

He explored much of Queensland and chose an area to establish a sheep and cattle ranch, treating the local native people in a most creditable manner.

He helped to found the Anglican See of North Queensland and established a successful frozen meat export company.

He married twice; his second English wife found it difficult to settle in Australia. In 1910 he sold up and moved with his family to Burwell Park where he died, having meanwhile paid for the restoration of Burwell church where this plaque is mounted.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/christison-robert-222

opened up the country and proved its resources."

Jean Howard, August 2020

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF/ ELIZABETH CATHERINE YORKE/ RELICT OF THE LATE JAMES WHITING YORKE ESQ/ OF WALMSGATE IN THIS COUNTY/ WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 26TH DAY OF/ APRIL 1845 IN THE 73RD YEAR OF HER AGE/ THIS TABLET IS ERECTED/ AS A LAST THO' INADEQUATE MEMORIAL OF ONE/ WHOSE MATERNAL KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY/ CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY HER GRATEFUL AND/ AFFECTIONATE SON JAMES WHITING YORKE.

Jean Howard, August 2020

An alabaster tablet with black columns either side and garlands at the foot.   Sadly the inscription is almost illegible but says:

Under this monument lieth interred the body of Hugh Alington of Stenigot in the County Lincoln. Ye son and heir of Henry Allington, Esq. Descended from the family of Alingtons of Horsett in the County of Cambridge who had to wife in second marriage Jane, the daughter of Sir Martin Lister, late of this place Kt. By who he had Issue Hugh and Barbara. Hugh died young in the life time of his father and lieth here also interred. Obijt Junij 3 1674. AETATIS SUAE 39

Jean Howard, August 2020

Matthew Bancroft Lister was born in 1766 and served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. He married Sophia Brinton.   The tablet reads:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF/ MATTHEW BANCROFT LISTER/ OF BURWELL PARK IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN/WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 14TH OCTOBER 1842/IN THE 77TH YEAR OF HIS AGE/ THIS TABLET IS INSCRIBED/ BY HIS AFFECTIONATE AND GRATEFUL FAMILY/ THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED.

By Bishop of London

Jean Howard, August 2020

An unusual tablet shaped like a sarcophagus surmounted by a draped urn before an obelisk.  

By Whitelaw of New Road, London.

IN MEMORY OF/MATTHEW DYMOKE LISTER ESQR/ WHO DIED FEBRUARY THE 9TH 1772 AGED 39 YEARS/ AND OF LYDIA/ ONLY CHILD OF JOSEPH BANCROFT MERCHANT OF MANCHESTER/ AND WIDOW OF THE ABOVE MATTHEW DYMOKE LISTER,/ (BY WHOM SHE HAD ISSUE, MATTHEW BANCROFT, JOHN JOSEPH, AND LYDIA BOUGHTON/ WHO DIED APRIL THE 28TH 1792 AGED 19 YEARS/ ALSO OF GRACE/ WIDOW OF SIR EDWARD BOUGHTON BART OF LAWFORD IN THE COUNTY OF WARWICK/ WIFE OF MATTHEW LISTER ESQR/ AND MOTHER OF THE ABOVE MATTHEW DYMOKE LISTER/ WHO DIED IN FEBRUARY 1779 AGED 77 YEARS/ THE ABOVE WERE BURIED IN THE VAULT UNDERNEATH/ ALSO IN MEMORY OF MATTHEW LISTER ESQR/ WHO DIED JANUARY THE 15TH 1786 AGED 79 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS/ AND WAS BURIED AT BRANT BROUGHTON, IN THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM/ THIS MARBLE IS ERECTED BY THEIR DESCENDANT/ NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING FORTH THEIR MERITS OR OF RECORDING/ THEIR VIRTUES BUT AS AN HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL TRIBUTE OF/ AFFECTION TO THEIR MEMORY

Jean Howard, August 2020

Looking east past the font and towards the chancel.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Looking west towards the tower arch.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Octagonal, Perpendicular font with shields in quatrefoils and a panelled stem.  The gothic inscription around the plinth says it was given by Thomas Fitzwilliam in 1468.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Funerary memorial of Matthew Bancroft Lister who died in 1842 displayed on the north side of the nave.   His marble memorial tablet is in the chancel.

Jean Howard, August 2020

Jacobean with blank arches and panelling.

Jean Howard, August 2020

This may have been made from a former backboard of the pulpit.

Jean Howard, August 2020

A rather unusual war memorial high on the north wall of the nave. Created in dark material and in a church with little natural light at the west end, it is very difficult to read from ground level. I believe the decoration above the text is a frond of yew, with three small sprigs across it.

1914       1919

ALBERT BARKER

PRIVATE ROYAL FUSILIERS

RICHARD HENRY BUTLER

GUNNER ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY

GEORGE DAWSON

PRIVATE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT

EDWIN WATSON

PRIVATE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT

REMEMBER THESE YOUR BROTHERS WHO PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MEN BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF-SACRIFICE GIVING UP THEIR LIVES THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM.

There are displayed beneath the tower ceiling three large remarkable roof figures that must have been saved when the roof was replaced in C19th with the present one.

Jean Howard, August 2020

There are displayed beneath the tower ceiling three large remarkable roof figures that must have been saved when the roof was replaced in C19th with the present one.

Jean Howard, August 2020

There are displayed beneath the tower ceiling three large remarkable roof figures that must have been saved when the roof was replaced in C19th with the present one.

Jean Howard, August 2020