St. Helen Sandal Magna - The Exterior

A general view of the south elevation

When revisiting Sandal Magna, I was surprised to discover that the public access to the motte at Sandal Castle was denied – due to structural problems with the bridge – and that the information centre had also been closed, with the inner moat also looking much more overgrown than when I had seen it less than two years previously. Stopping only to look at the exposure of Crigglestone Rock and the remaining facing stones to the barbican of the castle, I made my way down to St. Helen's church - which is less than 1 km away as the crow flies.

A view of the Victorian west end

Set back from the main road and lying tight against the northern boundary of the churchyard, which contains numerous mature trees, it isn't easy to get all round views of the church; however, there is a clear view of the west and south elevations and the principal features of its cruciform plan can be appreciated from here.

A detail of the Victorian extension and the porch

Approaching from the road, the west end of the church, although Decorated Gothic in style, is actually a Victorian addition of 1872, when the nave was extended with 3 bays and a new porch added – in addition to restoration of the interior, which entailed the removal of most of historic fittings and furniture.

The 14th century tower

To the east of the porch, the walling is roughly squared and varies considerably in the course height and the size of the individual blocks, with Pevsner commenting that the Perpendicular Gothic windows were “strange”, with shouldered lintels forming their heads.

A general view of the east end

Looking up, the tower is considered to be 14th century – in late Decorated Gothic style, with simple tracery to the windows but no gargoyles - and the south transept below forms part of the crossing of the church, of similar age.

A detail of the east end

Moving on to the east end of the elevation, the south chapel was added in the early 16th century and, walking further around the church, there are further late 19th century additions and extensions to the church, but these are of little architectural interest.

A view of the north aisle

As for the geology, St. Helen's church is set on the Woolley Edge Rock and, although blackened in places, a distinctly striped texture can be seen in much of the visible masonry, which is similar to that seen in Sandal Castle, Wakefield Cathedral and St. Mary's Chantry Chapel - suggesting that this is the principal building stone used in and around Wakefield.

The geology of the area between Sandal Magna and Wakefield