Church Heritage Record 621605

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Biscathorpe: St Helen

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Biscathorpe: St Helen
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

621605
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Lincoln
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Lincoln
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Asterby Group

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (data verified 14 Nov 2024)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of the south elevation as seen from the churchyard.
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

May 2014
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Catherine Townsend

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Rebuilt in 1840s by W A Nicholson in fanciful Gothic style.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.southwoldsgroup.org.uk

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Cathedral and Church Buildings Division (2014) Research into the Presence of Bats in Churches [Digital Archive/Data]
CCB project, summer 2014, to ascertain the presence or absence of bats in church building
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Exterior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Interior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/15035/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TF 229 848

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Lincolnshire County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Biscathorpe is situated 6.5 miles west of Louth, to the south of the A157. It is situated within the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The church lies to the east of Biscathorpe House and the River Bain flows from its north around to the east. The church is set amidst pastureland, though much screened by mature trees. The medieval remains of a settlement at Biscathorpe are located within a field to the north and are marked on the Ordinance Survey map.

The churchyard is open and contains burials (some broken headstones) with interred ashes to the south of the church. The site slopes up to the west. There are no hard surfaces laid within the churchyard. It is grassed with yew trees, planted c.1847. Access is via a field to the north-east, where cars can also park, and through brick gate piers with wrought-iron grates. There is a wooden fence to the north and a ha-ha formed by a stone retaining wall bounds the eastern side of the plot. The west boundary merges into the woods between the church and the main house.

Two footpaths pass close to the church, the Viking Way footpath – a 147 mile long distance path from the Humber Bridge to Oakham in Rutland – and the Lindsey trail. A former shepherds hut to the north side has recently been restored and is rented as a holiday let, with new outbuildings abutting the north boundary.

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

West tower with belfry and spire, 2-bay nave and chancel

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

[Approximate] Nave 8m (26ft) x 4½m (15ft), chancel 3m (10ft) x 2m (6.5ft)

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

64 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The church is likely to have replaced, or been a substantial rebuild, of an earlier church on the same site. White records that it was rebuilt in 1844 at the cost of £1000. Stone beneath the render, which has become exposed, suggests earlier fabric may have been reused. Some burials pre-date the current church as do monuments inside the chancel which also record the burial of family members in a vault – possibly beneath the chancel.

William Adams Nicholson (1803-53) was principally a church architect. The design of St Helen’s bares semblance to some of his other churches, in particular the now closed church of All Saints Haugham built in 1840 - itself inspired by the tower and spire of St James, Louth – which is of stuccoed brick with a tower with crocketed spire and pinnacles.

To the north of the site is the Deserted Medieval Village of Biscathorpe. Archaeological records identify many sites within 1km of the church of archaeological interest including Neolithic finds, a prehistoric enclosure seen as cropmarks, possible prehistoric barrows seen as cropmarks, and possible prehistoric or Roman enclosure. An evaluation trench on the Biscathorpe estate revealed a series of Romano-British ditches and a possible Neolithic or Bronze Age ditch.

The archaeological potential of the site is considerable. The church is also located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and contains mature trees including yews. There is some potential for the presence of bats.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

St Helen’s is hidden away within the pastureland surrounding Biscathorpe House, and is screened by yews planted in the 1840s.

The small church is a charming composition nevertheless. It has a low tower, elaborately embellished with crenelated parapet, corner crocketed pinnacles, a central octagonal belfry with trefoil headed openings, with crocketed corner pinnacles finally surmounted by a short stone spire. A door in the base of the west elevation enters a porch in the base of the tower. The door is panelled with blind cusped tracery.  Above it is a circular opening with a quatrefoil window. A single lancet window pierces the north and south elevations. There is a sundial marked into the stone plinth to the north side of the tower. Buttresses have figurative gable-stops too.

The nave is of two-bays with two two-light trefoil headed windows beneath hoodmoulds with carved head stops. Two-stage full height buttresses to the corners and between the bays. Running around the base is a continuous plinth and stringcourse, and a parapet pierced with trefoils completes the elevations and screens the roof. Projecting east of the gabled east nave is a short low chancel with single three-light east window. Its  parapet is pierced with a different pattern to the nave. Stone cross finials are fixed to both east gables.

The stucco is failing in places revealing stonework beneath on the south elevation, brick to the north buttresses, and tiles to the moulded string course.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
William Adams Nicholson
Role:
Architect
From:
01 Jan 1844
To:
31 Dec 1844
Contribution:
designed church rebuild
Who:
Lee D Holmes
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
BELFRY (19th century)
CHANCEL (19th century)
NAVE (19th century)
SPIRE (19th century)
TOWER (COMPONENT) (19th century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
BRICK (19th century)
CONCRETE (19th century)
STONE (19th century)

Interior Image

Interior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of 621605 Biscathorpe St Helen
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the inside of the church, looking east.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
May 2014
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

Inside the west door a lobby within the base of the tower rises high, but the walls are green. The nave is accessed through another pointed archway. The walls of the narrow space are plastered and painted white with many green patches. The ceilings are formed of ribbed timber panels with plaster bosses. Stained wood benches are fixed to raised timber-boarded pew platforms either side of the aisle (formed of stone flags covered by carpet). The benches have poppy-heads at both ends, though many of those against the wall have been broken off, and the ends are carved with blind tracery. The windows are filled with diamond leaded panes mostly of clear glass, though with some coloured borders. Above them are hoodmoulds with foliate stops formed from plaster - some have fallen off. In the north-west corner a curtain screens a space used in the past as a vestry. An empty space in the south-west corner was once occupied by the font (now missing). In the north-east corner is the pulpit with a readers’ desk boxed around it.

A pointed arch in the east wall leads into the narrow, lower, pitched chancel. The space is raised by a step and the floor paved in stone flags. The altar, against the east wall, is raised on another step.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (20th century)
BELL (1 of 1)
LECTERN (19th century)
PLAQUE (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PULPIT (19th century)
RAIL (19th century)
STAINED GLASS (WINDOW) (19th century)
URN (19th century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

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Collapse Portable Furnishings and ArtworksPortable Furnishings and Artworks
BOOK (17th century)

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TF 229 848

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has the following evidence of bats: Data gathered summer 2014

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

High
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church’s setting amidst pastureland would have been part of the vision and landscape setting of Biscathorpe Park. Although the impact has since been reduced with the maturity of the trees, the church has considerable historic landscape significance and is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is of considerable archaeological potential given the proximity to a Deserted Medieval Village and the presence of an earlier church on the site.
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Moderate
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Helen’s, listed Grade II*, is a carefully composed design of considerable architectural interest by W A Nicholson, a significant regional architect.
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The interior is simple and the remaining contents are of little interest, though the benches provide some historic character.
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 20
Total number of animal species 20
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 35
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Steven SleightAdded QI inspectionFri 22 Sep 2017 10:03:42
Steven SleightCreated asset source linkFri 22 Sep 2017 10:03:40
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Significance descriptionMon 10 Jul 2017 14:57:22
Anna CampenAdded object typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:54:59
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:52:48
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:52:13
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:46:54
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:45:34
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:44:45
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 14:43:38
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