Description

AMOTHERBY WITH HILDENLEY CHURCH LANE
SE 77 SE
(east side, off)
5/6 Church of St Helen
25.1.54
GV II
Church. C16 tower; nave probably rebuilt c1708; extensive restoration of
1870-72, by G Fowler Jones, during which the nave windows and chancel were
rebuilt, and the south porch, north aisle and vestry added. Limestone
ashlar with rebuilding in rock-faced sandstone and sandstone ashlar; slate
roof. West tower; 4-bay nave and continuous chancel; north aisle and south
porch; north vestry. Single-stage tower on tall chamfered plinth has round-
arched doorway to west, beneath hoodmould with lozenge-shaped stops.
2-light, square-arched window above, with chamfered mullion and square
hoodmould. Bell-openings to all 4 faces are similar. Moulded eaves course
beneath embattled parapet with vestigial pinnacles, and stone waterspout to
west. Gabled south porch contains reset C12 doorway with roll-moulded round
arch on attached shafts with scalloped capitals: hoodmould with re-used
beakhead mouldings as stops. The C19 door has fine wrought-iron hinges.
Nave has offset buttress to east and single round-arched lights in quoined
surrounds of contrasting stone. Windows to north aisle and vestry are
similar. Chancel windows are paired, with chevron mouldings to the round
heads. East end is on a chamfered plinth with diagonal offset buttresses
flanking the window of 3 stepped lancets. Beneath the window 4 carved
stones have been set, dated 1708, and probably recording the names of the
masons for the restorations of that date. Coped east gables to chancel and
north aisle; gable crosses to both. Interior: traces of a blocked round
tower arch, probably C12 or earlier, are visible within the tower in the
east wall. C19 arcade of chevron-moulded round arches on slim columns with
scalloped capitals, on tall plinths. The north wall of the sanctuary
contains a round-arched niche with head-stopped hoodmould and slim nook
shafts. Beneath is a C14 tomb slab carved with a foliated cross and
inscribed: ICI GIT WILLEM DE BORDESDON PRIZ PUR LA ALME. Sir William de
Bordesdon who died c1340 was the brother or nephew of Sir John de Bordesdon
whose effigy lies in a C19 niche in the south wall of the sanctuary. He is
shown with his arms and wearing a surcoat with sleeves; he died c1329. In
the porch a number of stone fragments have been set, including 2 Anglo-
Danish cross fragments, part of a foliated grave slab and part of a C14
grave slab carved with a quatrefoil enclosing a female figure. Pevsner,
The Buildings of England: Yorkshire, the North Riding, 1966; p 60.

Listing NGR: SE7506773428

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Helen at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26442079

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)