All Saints Wath - The Exterior

All Saints church in Wath-upon-Dearne

Back in February 2016, when I undertook my investigation of the mediaeval churches of South Yorkshire and surrounding counties – beginning at St. Helen’s church in Treeton and nearby churches in Rotherham – I had been prompted by an encounter with Elmet Archaeology, based in Wath-upon-Dearne. 

A general view of All Saints church in Wath-upon-Dearne

As part of their day long conferences, aimed at professionals, students and the general public, a stone specialist from the Museum of London would use the nearby All Saints church to provide an introduction to standing buildings archaeology. 

The south elevation of All Saints church

Having worked with archaeologists before, for the restoration of All Saints church in Pontefract and for the Conservation Plan at Brodsworth Hall, I wanted to have a good look at this church; however, in the limited time available to me, I only had a very quick look at its exterior. 

Geology around Wath-upon-Dearne with two approximate quarry locations

Wath upon Dearne is set on rising ground next to the River Dearne, which is formed by a swathe of Oaks Rock that occupies the land to the south of the river valley and old quarries in close proximity to the church are believed to be the source of its building stone. This sandstone is fine grained, often flaggy and cross-bedded and with a pale brown to yellow colour. 

The porch

Even with just a brief survey of its stonework, the various additions to the church over the years were obvious from the changes in the pattern of the masonry to its various parts, and it has some very distinctive features that set it aside from the very many other churches that I have surveyed. The porch, added in the C14, is quite unusual in its design with its angled buttresses and ribbed stone tile roof, and it has a modern Welsh slate sundial.

The old clock face set on the base of the tower

Walking clockwise around the church, the rubble masonry to the lowest section of the tower contrasts with the squared masonry used for the porch and the old 17th century clock face has been placed here. Looking up at the Norman tower, the various upper stages are built with different styles of masonry – both the shape and dimensions of the individual blocks – which reflect different phases of building.

A view up the tower from the south-west

The belfry and spire were added c.1375 with windows in the Perpendicular Gothic style and, to the east elevation, the old steep roofline is clearly visible and on the east and west of the third stage, twin round headed windows have been blocked 

The north aisle

Moving round to the north elevation, the walls of the north aisle were added c.1360 and comprise well squared ashlar blocks that contrast markedly with the roughly coursed rubble walling of the Lady Chapel of c.1295, which appears disproportionate in size to the rest of the elements of the church. Here, one can find a couple of old stone coffins, which have been stood on end and leant against the wall. 

Stone coffins placed against the external wall of the Lady Chapel

The modern extension to the east end, which replaced the one that was added in 1920, obscures the part of the church and its rock faced masonry is austere and featureless, but its colour and texture is such that it blends in with the older parts of the church. 

The east end of All Saints church

In the churchyard, various headstones and chest tombs are scattered around and there is a simple war memorial cross, but the most interesting feature is the top of the spire, which was removed when it was rebuilt c.1714 and, having being subsequently rebuilt behind Church House and then dismantled, it was re-erected in 1973.

The old top of the spire in the churchyard