Inscription reads :-

"From Lincoln 18 miles, From Grantham 7 miles, From London 117 miles"

Early C19. 

DB 26 March 2018

Detail of the iron pull handle. 

DB 26 March 2018

Located on west side of Main Street on southern edge of the village. 

DB 26 March 2018

A small church in a small stone village; the church of St. Nicholas in Normanton has transitional and Early English arcades, embattled Perpendicular clerestory and a 17c pulpit.

It is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.


Mark Acton, 2007

"Parish Church now vested in Redundant Churches Fund. C11, C12, C13, C14, C15 and alterations and additions of 1845"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921 

DB 26 March 2018

White's Directory 1872 reports :-

"The Church (St. Nicholas) is a small fabric, consisting of nave, chancel and a tower with three bells.

The rectory, valued in K.B. at £10. 2s. 6d., and now at £104, is in the patronage of the Marquis of Bristol, and incumbency of the Rev. Rd. Chapman, M.A., who has 12A. of glebe.

The poor parishioners have a yearly rent-charge of £2 out of the Holt Close, left by an unknown donor ; and also £3. 6s. yearly from £100 invested in the funds, and left by Captain Lewis Gwin, to be distributed in coals to the poor of the parish"

DB 18 March 2024

Kelly's Directory 1930 states :-

"The church of St. Nicholas is a building of stone, in the Late Transitional, Early English, Decorated and  Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, south porch, and a western tower containing 3 bells:

the earliest portion is the Late Transitional south arcade, the north arcade being Early English:

the tower of three stages is Decorated, and has a plain Perpendicular parapet and a west window, highly enriched on the exterior with the ball flower ornament and other carving:

the clerestory, which is embattled, affords a rich and beautiful example of the Perpendicular period:

the chancel and north aisle were restored, and a vestry built; before 1867, and in 1900 the nave and south aisle were restored and reseated, and the chancel also reseated in oak :

there are 130 sittings"

DB 18 March 2024

Looking east towards the sanctuary and altar. The chancel was largely rebuilt in 1845.

DB 11 March 2024

Looking west through the chancel arch and to the tower arch beyond.

DB 11 March 2024

A closer view of the altar.

DB 11 March 2024

C19 aumbry.

DB 11 March 2024

C19 piscina.

DB 11 March 2024

"THE ALTAR CROSS & CANDLESTICKS WERE GIVEN BY THE FRIENDS OF JAMES WILLIAM DENNISON WHO FOR MANY YEARS LOVED & CARED FOR THIS CHURCH & WHO DIED ON SAINT NICHOLAS DAY 6-12-55"

DB 11 March 2024

C19 poppyhead.

DB 11 March 2024

Roof presumably dating from C19 when the chancel was largely rebuilt.

DB 11 March 2024

Dismounted wooden plaque. 

"The Incorporated Church Building Society,

GRANTED £20 A.D. 1898, TOWARDS RESEATING & REPAIRING THIS CHURCH, UPON CONDITION THAT ALL THE SITTINGS ARE FOR THE FREE USE OF THE PARISHIONERS ACCORDING TO LAW"

The Bank of England inflation calculator suggests £20 in 1898 would be worth £2,139 today.

DB 11 March 2024

Located on the church wall west of the porch. 

DB 18 March 2024

Looking east towards the chancel. The Post Office Directory 1861 notes :-

"The living is a rectory, of the yearly value of £90, in the patronage of the Marquis of Bristol, and held by the Rev. Richard Chapman, M.A.

The church of St. Nicholas is a neat building, consisting of north and south aisles and chancel ; the tower contains 3 bells; the chancel and north aisle have been lately restored, and a new vestry built.

The register dates from the year 1650"

DB 11 March 2024

Looking west towards the tower arch.

The south aisle was built in C12 and its columns are topped by "waterleaf" capitals.  

DB 11 March 2024

Looking across the nave towards the south aisle.

"Late C12 south arcade of 2 bays with short circular piers on large square bases with waterleaf capitals. Plain responds. Stepped and chamfered arches with dog tooth hood mould and added C19 head over central pier. Arches may have been recut in 1845 restoration. Over the easternbay is a blocked opening cut by the C12 arcade which seems to be evidence of an earlier C11 phase"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry  

DB 11 March 2024

Waterleaf decoration over the late twelfth-century round pier.

January 2018

"The oak chest is probably C14 and has traceried pointed arches on the front"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"On the south arcade is an incised geometric consecration cross"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 18 March 2024

Victorian decoration on the battlement above the south wall of the nave.

January 2018

Southeast corner of the nave.

DB 18 March 2024

"The east wall of the nave has a battlemented parapet which terminates with an angel figure at the ridge. A C19 cross stands on the C15 pinnacle base"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 18 March 2024

"The hexagonal pulpit is C17 and has 2 tiers of plain panelling; a back piece and tester over with fretted edge, dentillated cornice and pendent knobs"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"The nave roof is C17, oak tie beams with moulded purlins"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

Royal Arms of George IV 1820 - 1830 hangs above the west tower arch. 

"1820 JD Curtis Newark" 

DB 11 March 2024

Memorials commemorating those who died in World War 1 & 2 :-

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF  NORMANTON WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918"

FRANK CARTWRIGHT

WALTER CROWLEY

JOSEPH S. GALE

CHARLES HEDWORTH

JOHN T. HEMPSALL

CHARLES E. SPENDLOW

RICHARD WOODS"

------------------------ 

"JOHN M. CHAMBERS.

JOHN D. ANDREW.

DAVID BRISTER.

EDWARD H. DENNISON.

1939~1945"

DB 11 March 2024

Looking west.

DB 11 March 2024

Looking east.

"The 2 bay north arcade is late C13 with octagonal piers and responds and nail head decoration to the top mouldings of the capitals"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"The south porch is in ashlar with a lead roof and stone coped gables. The opening is round arched with plain imposts. Over the door is an inscription 'L Pollard CW 1789', probably referring to the reroofing of the porch. The porch has stone side benches. The south doorway appears to have been recut in the C17 and is a plain pointed chamfered opening with slightly moulded imposts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"The south doorway appears to have been recut in the C17 and is a plain pointed chamfered opening with slightly moulded imposts"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 18 March 2024

Looking east towards an altar.

DB 11 March 2024

Looking west towards the font.

DB 11 March 2024

Altar at the east end of the south aisle.

DB 11 March 2024

Plain font dating from C12. 

DB 26 March 2018

"WHOLESALE & EXPORT.

METZLER & Co.,

37, Gt. Marlborough St,

LONDON. W.

PIANOS, HARMONIUMS. AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS EVERY DESCRIPTION. MUSICAL BOXES"

DB 18 March 2024

"THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF THIS CHURCH WAS INSTALLED BY THOMAS CHAMBERS IN MEMORY OF HIS SON SUB-LIEUT. JOHN M. CHAMBERS, R.N.R. KILLED IN ACTION 25TH NOV. 1940"

DB 11 March 2024

Looking towards the west window and C14 tower stair door.

DB 11 March 2024

"In the splayed sill of the tower window is an inscribed lead plaque 'T. Pollard C.W. 1802"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"A benefactors board of 1758, on the south tower wall"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

"CAPTAIN LEWIS GWIN left in 1758 by Will one Hundred Pounds (invested in the funds in EARL BROWNLOW'S name Producing three Pounds Six Shillings per annum) to be given in coals to the poor of Normanton. 

Also Two Pounds per annum left by some person unknown" 

DB 11 March 2024

On the tower walls are mid C19 commandment boards.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

On the tower walls are mid C19 commandment boards.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

Memorial in the tower floor which postdates the church being placed in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust in 1974.

DB 11 March 2024

"The plain parapet has a finally carved corbel table and moulded top"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 18 March 2024

View through the late C12 tower arch into the nave and chancel beyond.

DB 11 March 2024

"The 3 light west window is C19 but incorporates some C14 ball flower ornament. Set in the centre of the tracery is a C19 carved head. The hood mould and decorated label stops are C14"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"There are fragments of C14 glass in the west window"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024

"The ashlar and slate vestry dates from 1845, when the chancel was also largerly rebuilt"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146921?section=official-list-entry 

DB 11 March 2024