St. Giles' Church in Killamarsh - Part 2

A general view of the east end

Continuing my exploration of St. Giles’ church in Killamarsh, the chancel was rebuilt in the 1840’s using a light brown/orange Coal Measures sandstone, with some iron banding but, apart from the large window with reticulated tracery, there is not much of interest. 

A general view of the north elevation

The entire north side, built in pale cream coloured Magnesian Limestone, was added in 1895 and the walling is rock faced with sawn quoins and dressings. The windows to the vestry are square headed in the Perpendicular Gothic style, with those of the north aisle being arched with ogee headed lights, with tracery that has elements of both Perpendicular and Decorated Gothic styles.

A date stone with a floriated cross on the north aisle

The buttress to the north-west corner of the north aisle has a date stone comprising a panel with a floriated cross carved into it with a date of 1895, which commemorates the building of the new aisle and vestry, but there is nothing else of interest on the north side. 

The Norman south door

Entering the porch, the Norman origin of the church is evidenced by the round arched south door, with double chevron decoration, a single order of colonnettes, and foliated capitals. The surrounding walling is plastered, however, and there is no evidence of this being in its original position or reset.

A general view of the interior showing the north arcade

Once inside the church, I was disappointed to see that it was completely plastered and painted white, with the only exposed stonework being the five corbel brackets that are set into the wall of the north aisle. Each is carved into the head of a saint – Mary the Virgin, Giles, Mary Magdaline (sic), Chad and Cecilia. 

Carved corbel brackets in the north aisle

The most interesting stonework feature is the C12 font, which the guide book says was retrieved from a cobbler who had used it for soaking leather. The large octagonal bowl is quite unusual in that it is made from local Coal Measures sandstone, with Liesegang rings and numerous iron nodules, and the rim is marked where a knife has been sharpened. 

A detail of the font

Having finished a very quick look in the interior, I briefly looked at the mediaeval preaching cross in the churchyard, with its C19 wheel cross head, before having a quick look around the vicinity to see if there was anything interesting. 

The mediaeval cross

Apart from the church and the cross, only three farm buildings in Killamarsh are listed and, after looking at a few examples of walling and photographing the sandstone escarpment to the east of the church, I headed back into Sheffield to have a good look around Sheffield Cathedral.

Views of the landscape and walling stone