For this church:

Introduction

Location

History

Archaeology

Fittings

Glass

Organ

Bells

Clock

Stonework

Monuments

War Memorial

Churchyard

References

Pictures

Listing Description

List of Incumbents

North Leverton
St Martin

Stonework

The church is sited on the red mudstone succession of the Mercia Mudstone group. Although dominated by mudstone lithologies locally there are some thin greenish grey sandstone beds (Skerry sandstone) which have been used on a small scale in the church.

In general the church has a very varied selection of buildings stones in its fabric.

The walls of the aisle below the windows includes a mix of grey, thinly laminated silty Lower Jurassic Lias limestone together with thinly bedded local Triassic Skerry sandstone. The prominent buttresses are of cross-bedded, pale colour, Permian Magnesian limestone (Cadeby Formation). The window mouldings are also of off-white Magnesian limestone. The upper part of the wall fabric (a later repair?) comprises yellow-brown, Middle Jurassic ooidal Lincolnshire limestone blocks.

The walls and gable end of the chancel show a similar mix of Lias, Skerry and Lincolnshire limestone blockwork, with Magnesian limestone window mouldings and buttresses. Odd blocks of yellow- brown Lincolnshire limestone have been used to repair some parts of the fabric.

The north walls of the chancel show a distinctive thinly bedded hard, small Skerry sandstone  (locally sourced) with paler Magnesian limestone window mouldings.

The north wall of the nave appear to have been partially rebuilt with a mix of stone including greenish grey Triassic sandstone blocks (large Skerry sandstone). The original Magnesian limestone windows have been largely replaced with yellow-brown, ooidal Lincolnshire limestone mouldings showing a typical ‘streaky bacon’ texture in places.

The tower is constructed completely of large ashlar blocks of finely vuggy (porous) and peloidal (large pelletal fragments) Permian Magnesian limestone. A small number of blocks show some surface decay, which although unsightly is not a serious issue at this stage.

The Magnesian limestone is likely to have been sourced from the outcrop which extends north to south from the Worksop area to the west and was heavily quarried for building stone in the past.

The porch is constructed of yellow-brown, ooidal Lincolnshire limestone blocks and carved window mouldings. The parts of the arched entrance to the porch shows serious decay problems. The Lincolnshire limestone here has decayed badly and shows surface salt efflorescence.

The Norman doorway with its dogtooth mouldings and carved figures  is another variety of yellow, Permian Magnesian limestone which is much more finely crystalline in character than the whiter Magnesian limestone used in the buttresses, mouldings and tower of the rest of the church (probably sourced from the Mansfield area).

Thanks to Dr Graham Lott for this entry.