St. Helen's Church - The South Arcade

A general view of the south arcade

Crossing the nave of St. Helen’s church, to briefly look at the dolomitic limestone in the north arcade – and then to take a good look at the style of the arches in the south arcade - it is clear that there has been a radical change in the design.

A carved head stop to the tower arch

It is not only the style of the arches - considered to be of late 13th century date - that has changed but also the stone. Although Rotherham Red sandstone walling surrounds the arches to the Norman north arcade, it is now the principal building material for the arches themselves.

A carved head stop on the south arcade

Although described as double-chamfered and pointed, set on a quatrefoil pier with a foliate-carved capital and a nailhead motif to the abacus – by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner - no mention is made in any publication about the carved heads to the impost blocks that adorn the arcade and tower arch. 

A carved head stop on the south arcade

Examples of fine stone carving of Rotherham Red sandstone are very unusual and it is dolomitic limestone that has been preferred for the imposts. Although the style of the carving is quite crude,  the contrast in both colour and texture between the limestone and sandstone has been used to good decorative effect.

A foliate-carved capital with a nailhead motif to the abacus