NU1301 : Church of St Mary, Longframlington
taken 8 years ago, near to Longframlington, Northumberland, England
A simple church consisting of unaisled nave and chancel of Norman origin, with later south porch, vestry and community room. It was a chapel of ease to the mother church of St Michael, Felton, before becoming a separate parish in 1892. The parish also includes the priory church of Brinkburn.
The nave is largely still the Norman structure of around 1190, although the window opening were renewed during the Victorian restoration. The chancel arch, the detached pillars of which are unusual, is also of this period.
The porch is probably 14th century, but was rebuilt incorporating older material, including the main arch, in 1749. The west end was remodelled at around the same time when the bell turret was added.
The chancel was rebuilt in 1882, and the vestry added in 1896. The latter incorporates a 14th century two-light window which is thought to have been in the south wal of the chancel. In 2012 a community room was added to the north side of the church.
Inside, the chancel arch is the main item of interest. There is also an unusual piscina in the chancel, clearly of old date and built into the new wall, consisting of a basic bracketed out from the wall, rather than being recessed or in the windowsill.
The church is Listed Grade I.
Listed buildings and structures are officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are over half a million listed structures in the United Kingdom, covered by around 375,000 listings.
Listed status is more commonly associated with buildings or groups of buildings, however it can cover many other structures, including bridges, headstones, steps, ponds, monuments, walls, phone boxes, wrecks, parks, and heritage sites, and in more recent times a road crossing (Abbey Road) and graffiti art (Banksy 'Spy-booth') have been included.
In England and Wales there are three main listing designations;
Grade I (2.5%) - exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* (5.5%) - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II (92%) - nationally important and of special interest.
There are also locally listed structures (at the discretion of local authorities) using A, B and C designations.
In Scotland three classifications are also used but the criteria are different. There are around 47,500 Listed buildings.
Category A (8%)- generally equivalent to Grade I and II* in England and Wales
Category B (51%)- this appears generally to cover the ground of Grade II, recognising national importance.
Category C (41%)- buildings of local importance, probably with some overlap with English Grade II.
In Northern Ireland the criteria are similar to Scotland, but the classifications are:
Grade A (2.3%)
Grade B+ (4.7%)
Grade B (93%)
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