Lancashire

Churches

A church of 1828 and 1864: the resting place of Iron Master John Wilkinson

The village of Lindale (or Lindale in Cartmel) is known to have had a chapel in 1577. In 1627 Lawrence Newton is recorded as the reader at "Lindell Chappell" , and in 1662 George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, preached in the village. The present church of St Paul was built in 1828. It was designed by the Kendal architect, George Webster (1797-1864) who built churches, houses, bridges, workhouses, banks and other buildings in the Lakeland area and beyond.

Webster's St Paul, Lindale, has many characteristics of churches of the 1820s and 1830s. At the west end is a rather starved looking tower, the embattled top having emphasised corners. See Bleasdale, St Eadmer, of 1835 for a similar tower. The bell openings at Lindale are narrow paired lancets, and below, on the west face is a single lancet window. The tower itself is rendered, and is embraced by the nave, barely projecting at the west end. The whole effect is plain, rather mean, and quite unhistorical.

The lancet theme is continued in the nave, with regularly spaced windows on the north and south walls. A south porch is traditionally located. All this makes for a rather boring exterior, but inside it works rather better. The tower is expressed at the west end, and is opened up with a tall tower arch to form a small baptistery. Looking from the east this arch frames the west window and is flanked by two further, identical, windows to give a simple, symmetrical and pleasing effect at the end of the nave.

The nave has benefited visually from the addition of the north aisle. This was built in 1912 to accommodate the increasing population. Its octagonal columns and arch mouldings are unpainted stone, and match the chancel arch that must have been added in 1864 when the new chancel was built. Who built the chancel? Was it Webster's last commission? If so, little attempt was made to follow the style of the nave: the roofline is different, as is the wall treatment, and cusps appear in the tracery of the larger, two-light windows. The east window, of three lights, does follow the earlier precedent in its stepped lancets, but now they are cusped with trefoil tops. Internally the chancel is plastered with the stonework of the windows and arches uncovered. The sanctuary is panelled, and a wooden reredos rises to obscure the bottom of the east window. This is seen so frequently in English churches, one wonders why? Particularly at a time when so many altars have been brought forward to the chancel arch one might hope for a better treatment of what is often the best window of a church. At Lindale the altar remains on the east wall, and so the reredos must too. The chancel is separated from the nave by a screen, the top of which has a trellis-like quality.

The stained glass of the church is of mixed quality, but the best piece is undoubtedly one of the single panels by Shrigley & Hunt of Lancaster. It shows a dignified, but vulnerable St Paul, is typically well-drawn, with rich but muted colours, and has an inventive border with foliage, shields and crowns. At the bottom is a memorial panel with an unusual motto (see photograph). The font was presented to the church in 1913 and is of high quality, showing the power of simplicity. It is a bowl in the Norman style, with a band of intersecting arches, and below, where it tapers to a plain column, boldly carved interlace. It would grace any church. Lindale also possesses what is described as a Saxon font. This carved and hollow stone presents few clues to its age, or, in my view, its origin. The curves and prow-like projections may suggest Saxon, but equally, it could be much later. Was it a font, or perhaps a stoup?

In the churchyard, near the south porch, and built into the steep bank that rises on that side of the building, is the large and severe looking tomb of the architect of the church, George Webster. It is a stone block with minimal decoration of a classical nature, and is topped by cast-iron railings. It is not a thing of beauty.

Lindale is famous for its connection with the iron master, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), who lived in the village from 1750. Wilkinson was born near Workington, and educated at Kendal. His family operated a foundry at Bare Sykes and John acquired his own works in Staffordshire. He later worked with Abraham Darby, producing the iron for the world's first iron bridge in 1780. This structure stills spans the River Severn at the place now called Ironbridge. Wilkinson's foundry at Bradley produced the world's first iron boat. Christened "Trial", it was a barge, and was launched on the River Severn in 1787. Wilkinson introduced many new ideas into iron foundry and the making of iron products including the use of hot blast, the rifling of cannon, and making coal cutting machines. He also worked in France, and was involved in creating the first waterworks in Paris. In later life he had a cast-iron pulpit made for the Wesleyan Chapel at Bilston, Staffordshire, and had several cast-iron coffins made for himself. During his lifetime he had a cast-iron obelisk made as a memorial to himself. This can still be seen in Lindale. It is an early example of box-casting, is 40 feet high, and weighs 22 tons. An inscription penned by Wilkinson in Trajan lettering includes the words "his life was spent in action for the benefit of man; and, as he presumed humbly to hope, to the glory of God". Above is a portrait medallion. Wilkinson was buried in the original Lindale Chapel, and when the new church was built in 1828 his remains were reburied there.

Tower and nave with later chancel

The thin tower and lancet windows are typical of 1828. The chancel was added in 1864.

View to the west

The tower is almost wholly embraced by the nave, and the effect inside is unusual.

A Saxon font

Is this carved and hollowed stone a Saxon font? Dating such items is problematic.

Shrigley & Hunt glass

An unusual motto below the shield! Above this panel is a typically well-drawn St Paul.

Font

The font of 1913, in the Norman style, is a simple, elegant piece.

Cast iron obelisk (1808)

The obelisk commemorates John Wilkinson, iron master, who lived in Lindale.

Photographs and text © Tony Boughen