Castlefacts³

Scaleby Church of All Saints

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Ecclesiastical site, and also as a Possible Pele Tower

There are major building remains

Name	Scaleby Church of All Saints
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Cumberland
Modern Authority	Cumbria
1974 Authority	Cumbria
Civil Parish	Scaleby

Church. Probably early C13 with tower of early C14 and restorations of 1827-28 and 1860-62. Large blocks of dressed red sandstone, probably from the nearby Roman Wall; graduated green slate roof with coped gables and cross finial. 3 storey square west tower, 5 bay nave/chancel. Fortified tower has walls 1.3 metres thick, with slit windows and chamfered plinth, rebuilt above string course before 1790, with battlemented parapet of 1827 and corner pinnacles of 1828: square bell chamber openings, existed before 1790. Nave/chancel has buttressed walls with pointed lancets. Recessed C19 east window, suggests an infilled arch of the demolished chancel. C19 porch and vestry cover original north and south entrances: porch has stone slate roof with coped gable and cross finials: original entrance has round arch with 2 continuous chamfers and hood mould projecting to either side of porch. Interior: C19 vaulted pine ceiling. C19 pews have panels of carved Gothic tracery with lectern and pulpit of similar details. White marble wall plaques to members of the Fawcett and Farrer families of Scaleby Castle and Scaleby Hall, all early C19. 3 early C20 stained glass windows. Bowl and stem font is dated 1707 with inscription MH, NB, WB, CG, CHURCH WARDENS. Free standing inscribed Roman Altar, probably from Birdoswald, has been reused in C14 with carvings on back and side of clerics (heads missing). Interior of round arch east entrance to tower has draw-bar hole. There is a bench mark on the south-west corner of the tower. (Listed Building Report)

The strength of the lower part of the tower suggests that it almost certainly originated as a vicar's pele, but there is now little external evidence of this. (PastScape ref. Field Investigators Comments F1 BHP 13-MAR-72)

Gatehouse Comments

The west tower is separated from the nave by a narrow door with draw bar and is suggested as a 'pele tower' in some sources (Does this mean it was considered as a residence for the priest?). The upper chamber is a bell chamber, the ground floor is lit by loops. Gatehouse considers this unlikely as a residential tower and the fortification there is may be that needed to make the tower a strong rooms for the storage of deeds and monies of the village and church.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number

Historic England Listed Building number(s)

1335573

Images Of England

77952

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

11649

County Historic Environment Record

maps.cumbria.gov.uk/eggp/eggp.aspx?dept=Environment&scriptname=1%20Historic%20Environment

OS Map Grid Reference	NY447631
Latitude	54.959789276123
Longitude	-2.8653199672699
Eastings	344700
Northings	563140