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33. Penrith Town (2), Cumbria: St Andrew's Church and a Tudor Building
St Andrew's Church is a mighty 'Baroque' rebuild in 1720-1722 and only the tower remains of the original 12th century church. There is a detailed free guide sheet available to the church, but a small donation should always be left to help maintain these fine old buildings, much frequented by passing tourists.
The entrance to the church via the mighty 12th century west tower, with its massive thick walls, and outside to the right of it the 'Giant's Thumb' which is the weathered remains of an old Norse Cross dating from around AD 920.
Two old crosses, with a mixture of Viking and Christian carvings and four hogback/hogsback tombstones which date back to the 9th-10th? century i.e. from the earliest Christian history of Penrith.
The interior of St Andrews Church, the nave, columns of the isles and the alter and east window. The idea was to bring the ideas and style of the architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London, Sir Christopher Wren, to Penrith Town.
One of two portions of surviving fragments of the old medieval stained glass windows.
One of two portions of surviving fragments of the old medieval stained glass windows of the original church.
A relatively modern peace of stained glass in one of the south wall windows and next to it, children's work on transparent plastic rectangles, beautifully 'knitted together' - what a good practical artistic idea!
An old gravestone in the porch of St Andrew's and across from the church is the front part of the 'Tudor' house.
The old Tudor-Elizabethan house is in St Andrew's Place and William and Dorothy Wordsworth attended 'Dame Birkett's School there. There are many other interesting buildings in this fine northern town, including the fine sandstone ruins of Penrith Castle near the station, which sadly, we had no time to visit in our first trip to Penrith. previous page <-> next page
* Page updated July 20th 2008 * EMAIL Phil Brown * digital images snapshots photographs pictures views scenes views pics photos snaps webshots of walks and places © Phil Brown docspics 2008 |
