Heritage sites in WHITWELL PARISH

English Heritage sites near Whitwell Parish

PORTH HELLICK DOWN BURIAL CHAMBER

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

A large and imposing Scillonian Bronze Age entrance grave, with kerb, inner passage and burial chamber all clearly visible.

HALLIGGYE FOGOU

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

Roofed and walled in stone, this complex of passages is the largest and best-preserved of several mysterious underground tunnels associated with Cornish Iron Age settlements.

INNISIDGEN LOWER AND UPPER BURIAL CHAMBERS

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

Two Bronze Age communal burial cairns of Scillonian type, with fine views. The upper cairn is the best preserved on the islands.

HARRY'S WALLS

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

An unfinished artillery fort, built above St Mary's Pool harbour in 1552-53.

GARRISON WALLS

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

You can enjoy a two-hour walk alongside the ramparts of these defensive walls and earthworks, dating from the 16th to 18th centuries.

CROMWELL'S CASTLE

1000 miles from Whitwell Parish

The castle stands guarding the lovely anchorage between Bryher and Tresco and is one of the few surviving Cromwellian fortifications in Britain.

Churches in Whitwell Parish

All Saints

Dumb Hall Lane Steetley Worksop
01909 722354
http://ecwst.com

Steetley Chapel is very special - a gem of early architecture and the most complete and beautiful specimen of Norman work to be found anywhere in Europe. The Chapel lies within the parish of Whitwell, about two miles from its sister church of St Lawrence in Whitwell village. The Chapel is situated in the hamlet of Steetley, just three miles from Worksop, in the north-eastern corner of Derbyshire, on the borders of Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The chapel is said to have been built by the landowner Gley le Breton, during the Anarchy of Stephen (1135-1154) but it could be earlier, Anglo Saxon times even. One reason is the evidence of a slot behind the main door which would have been used as an invasion beam. In the year 1349, Steetley, like most of the country, fell victim to the Great Plague. It didn't take long for the village to die. There was no one left and the Chapel began to deteriorate. The roof caved in and eventually what was left of the structure was covered with ivy. In the 17th century, during the Civil War, a skirmish took place between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers in the Chapel grounds and musket ball holes are still visible on the outer walls of the Chapel.

<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Just when it looked as if Steetley Chapel would remain a ruin, the opening of coal mines in the 18th century revived the village and the restoration of the Chapel began under the direction of Canon Mason, the Rector of Whitwell. The work was finally completed in 1880 and the Chapel was re-dedicated to All Saints.

The chapel is 56 feet long - constructed from magnesium limestone and inside a softer sandstone. It is divided into three parts; the Nave, rectangular in shape and 15ft 9" broad, the Chancel, 13ft 9" square and the Apse, which is semi circular in shape and contains the altar.

St Lawrence

High Street Whitwell
01909 722354
http://ecwst.com

The parish church of Saint Lawrence, Whitwell, is typical of the style of church built within 100 years after the Battle of Hastings. Most of the present church dates from the 12th century when the Normans built the nave with the round arches and massive pillars, the clerestory, the tower (except for the 15th century belfry), the great chancel arch and most of the chancel. The transepts were added between 1300 and 1350 to give the church the shape of the cross. The church is built from stone quarried locally and from quarries on the outskirts of the parish; it is Grade II listed.

It has all the characteristics of Norman architecture, namely huge round pillars, beautiful semi-circular arches, high roof and a square tower. During the 14th century the church underwent a number of alterations, as well as acquiring additional features. The side aisles were enlarged and the windows are of the 14th century perpendicular period. The two transepts were added, the height of the tower was increased and the South porch was reconstructed.