Woodthorpe St Mark

Archaeology

The church from the
south-east

The church comprises nave with north and south aisles, chancel, tower at the south-west, choir and clergy vestries, parish office, entrance lobby at the south end with cloakroom facilities, and another porch on the north side; also on the north side stands St Mark’s Chapel, connected by a door to the chancel.

The church is orientated north-west to south-east, with liturgical east being at the north-west end.

The tower

The body of the church dates from a single phase of building in 1961-2. Construction is typical of 1960s materials, mainly red brick, timber, and concrete. The tower is a fanciful example of neo-Romanesque with twin round-headed belfry openings in brick and flanking projecting brackets. All other openings are plain rectangular in form, typical of 1960s architectural design.

Prior to construction the site was a field, formerly in agricultural use as part of Swinehouse Farm; the archaeology of the site has not been investigated.

Technical Summary

Timbers and roofs

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Main Flat ceiling, recessed painted panels, pitched roof above, details concealed; all 1961-2. Flat ceiling, recessed painted panels, pitched roof above, details concealed; all 1961-2.  
S.Aisle Simple flat plaster, 1961-2. n/a  
N.Aisle Simple flat plaster, 1961-2. n/a  
Other principal      
Other timbers      

Bellframe

Single bell, cast-iron low sided frame by Taylors 1964.

Awaiting preservation grading.

Walls

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Plaster covering & date Plastered and painted, 1961-2. Plastered and painted, 1961-2.  
Potential for wall paintings None. None.  

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

There have been no known archaeological excavations.

The standing fabric of the church dates entirely from a single phase of building in 1961-2 on a site that was open field space previously. It is expected that below-ground stratigraphy will be uniformly that of the construction phase of 1961-2.

The standing fabric of the entire building is typical of 1960s architecture and has some archaeological merit in being representative of that period.

The churchyard is rectangular, with the church positioned centrally. There are no burials.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground pre-1961 archaeology in the church and churchyard, is considered to be UNKNOWN. The standing fabric of the church is of a single phase of 1961-2 and has had relatively little alteration since that date. It has some potential for 1960s archaeology in the standing fabric which is considered to be MODERATE.

Exterior:No burials, potential for pre-church archaeology but this is unknown.

Interior: Stratigraphy under the entire interior of the building is expected to comprise construction layers dating from 1961-2.