Askham, St Peter
The Church
A small ‘pre-ecclesiological’ Gothic Revival church of 1832 by Sir Robert Smirke (the architect for nearby Lowther Castle), incorporating features from the earlier medieval church on this site.
The plan comprises a square south west tower and a continuous nave/chancel with a north transept and south aisle. The interior has a 4-bay arcade and a west nave gallery.
The fittings include a font dated 1661, a panelled pulpit, Commandment boards and C19th panelled oak pews, the ends carved with the Lowther Arms.
There are several small C19th white marble wall plaques. The transept was the burial chamber of the Sandford family of Askham Hall and has some re-set C17th and C18th wall plaques.
Our Work
Soprano, common pipistrelles, and brown long-eared bats are all present but are safely confined to the tower and roof voids.
Although the church contains items of high significance/vulnerability, there is no evidence of harm at present.
Members of the Cumberland Bat Group check the roost periodically to make sure there is no build up of droppings and that bat numbers remain healthy.
Askham Case Study Poster
Upcoming events
If you’d like to contact or find out more about the church, visit their page on A Church Near You