Church of St. Mary and St. James, Grimsby, Lincolnshire

PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JAMES, GREAT GRIMSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE -  All our photo-lithographs this week are devoted to illustrations of the parish church of St. James’s' Great Grimsby, as it is about to be restored. The illustrations consist of two exterior perspectives, two perspectives of interior, and three longitudinal sections and plan. By successive charters of Kings Henry I. and II. and John, the Church of St. James’, Great Grimsby, was granted to the Abbey of Wellow, and the Vicarage instituted. The present edifice, with the exception of the tower, was erected between 1180 and 1230, the western doorway and portions of the chancel being the earliest parts of the existing fabric. The tower was rebuilt in 1365, as stated on north- east pier. At the dissolution in the reign of Henry VIII., this church and the adjacent Church of St. Mary, both being in a dilapidated condition, were united by the consent of Arch- bishop Whitgift, a native of Grimsby, William Wyckham, bishop of the diocese, and the patron, Sir Thomas Heneage, the latter Church of St. Mary being taken down to help in repairing the former, and the remaining materials divided among the inhabitants, relics of which were visible in the walls of many houses until a few years since. It may be inferred that the work was badly done, for during the last century the church was again in ruins, and it is stated that it remained roofless for some years. It was then altered as we now find it, the north and south aisles of nave taken down and widened some 3ft. or 4ft., south porch destroyed, west gable of nave rebuilt, chancel shortened one-half, and new flat roofs erected over the whole fabric, all done in the pseudo- Classic style then prevailing. Some few years since the church was re-seated and the transepts repaired; at the same time the south-eastern arch of south transept was removed and made to form a skew buttress to the south-east pier of tower, thus preventing a perfect restoration at the present time. The works now in pro- gress are the rebuilding the west gable of nave above west doorway, to the original design as far as it could be traced, and the stairs turrets from bottom of foundations, together with new roof to nave of original pitch, and repairs to clerestories. The next to be undertaken will be the remodelling of aisles and rebuilding south porch, and finally the reconstruction of chancel and aisles, the former upon a much smaller scale than originally existing, local causes preventing any further extension. The drawings given in this number are copied from those prepared for the entire restoration by Mr. R. J. Withers, architect, of No. 11, Adam-street, London, under whose superintendence the works are being carried out, Mr. Brown of Grimsby being the builder, and Mr. Laidler, clerk of works. The west windows of nave will be filled with painted glass, forming a Jesse window, executed by Mr. D. Bell, of Charlotte-street, London, the gift of J. H. Marshall, Esq., of Grimsby, as a memorial. [Building News 25 May 1875 page 570]

Reference           Building News 25 May 1875 page 570