Building Name

Tower and Spire, Parish Church of St Michael, Kirkham

Date
1843 - 1844
Street
Church Street
District/Town
Kirkham
County/Country
Lancashire, England
Architect
Work
New build
Listed
Grade II*

BUILDING OF A NEW TOWER AND SPIRE - TO STONEMASONS - The Plans, Specifications, Building Conditions and Forms of Contract for the Building of a NEW TOWER AND SPIRE, to be added to the Parish Church of Kirkham, Lancashire, can be seen at the office of Mr E. Sharpe, Architect, Lancaster. from Monday, 24 July until, Saturday, 29 July; and at the Victoria Hotel, Preston, from Monday 31 July until Saturday 5 August. Tenders must be sent in to the Building Committee, on or before Wednesday 9 August, addressed to the care of Edmund Birley, Esq. Kirkham, Lancashire. Kirkham 7 July 1843 [The Builder 15 July 1843 page 271 – contracts]

KIRKHAM CHURCH - The first stone of a new tower and spire, connected with Kirkham parish church, was laid on Tuesday, by Thomas Clifton, Esq, of Lytham Hall. A great number of the gentlemen of the neighbourhood were present. The tower and spire, the very beautiful design for which has been furnished by Edmund Sharpe, Esq, of Lancaster, whose well-known taste as an architect has been many times the subject of praise, will be one hundred and fifty feet in height, the style being that of the 15th century. It will be built of Longridge stone, the quality of which for such a purpose is already well known. It is expected that the top stone will be placed in little more than twelve months. Perhaps we shall give a better idea of the design, if we say it is that kind which abounds in the rich and highly ornamented churches in Lincolnshire; indeed, it will be a "Fen Steeple" planted in the Fylde. It will be about forty feet higher than that of the Roman Catholic chapel in that neighbourhood, and when finished, will be an object of considerable interest in the view even at a great distance. —Westmoreland Gazette. [Builder 9 December 1843 page 526]

KIRKHAM, LANCASHIRE – The recently published design for a new Tower for this church, by Edmund Sharpe, of Lancaster, is beautiful and correct, and conceived quite in the spirit of ancient composition. It has a rich crocketed spire, with three alternating tiers of gable lights, and with four flying-buttresses at the spring, rising from the feet of many richly panelled and crocketed pinnacles. The style is Perpendicular. We could suggest nothing that we should wish to see altered, except the omission of the clock-dial, or at all events of the panelling in that compartment, which is of too limited extent to assort with the rest of the tower, and the substitution of an ordinary pointed for a four-centred west doorway. We are glad to observe that the door is furnished with a wicket. [Ecclesiologist volume 3 1844 page 23-24]

Reference    Builder 15 July 1843 page 271 – contracts
Reference    Builder 29 July 1843 page 297 – contracts
Reference    Builder 9 December 1843 page 526 – foundation
Reference    Ecclesiologist volume 3 1844 page 23-24