Details
YORK
SE6051NW CONEY STREET
1112-1/28/270 (South West side)
14/06/54 Church of St Martin-le-Grand
GV II*
Parish church, and attached gates to garden. Early C15 tower
and west end, incorporating vestiges of C11 church; south side
rebuilt and porch added in restorations of 1853-54; nave,
north side and east end remodelled and reconstructed 1961-68
following bomb damage sustained in 1942. 1856 clock and
painted and carved figure of 1778. C19 restoration by JB and W
Atkinson. C20 reconstruction, including iron gates and
railings, by G Pace. C19 glass by JW Knowles, C20 by H
Stammers.
MATERIALS: magnesian limestone ashlar, with areas of gritstone
and rubble; fragments of coffin lids with incised crosses
incorporated in former north aisle wall: coved eaves string
beneath parapet, south side traceried, to lead roof.
PLAN: original 5-bay south aisle converted to nave, with
narrow north aisle and short transept; south porch and
south-west tower; vestry and offices at west end: remainder of
church converted to garden.
EXTERIOR: east end of nave rebuilt as tall 2-centred arch of
two continuously moulded chamfered orders between gabled
buttresses with carved angel gargoyles. Arch closed by
set-back iron gates and railings. Clock on scrolled bracket
attached to wall supports the figure of the 'Little Admiral'.
Former north aisle window blocked: restored south aisle window
of three cinquefoiled lights with cusped panel tracery above,
in 4-centred head beneath head-stopped hoodmould. South-east
angle buttress with offset, upper part re-shaped as flying
buttress surmounted by crocketed pinnacle, with gargoyle at
eaves level. North side incorporates C11 masonry towards west
end, with inserted 4-centred arched doorway: blocked door with
2-centred head in centre, and blocked window with intersecting
tracery towards east end. Buttressed south side, on chamfered
plinth, has 4 windows similar to that at east end of aisle.
Gabled porch towards west end has crocketed diagonal
buttresses, traceried parapet, and moulded doorway in
2-centred arch. West end on double chamfered plinth
incorporates C11 masonry to north, with blocked round-headed
doorway: window above rebuilt. West window rebuilt as 3-light
mullion window preserving lower moulded corners and sill of
original window. 3-stage buttressed tower to south west on
double chamfered plinth. All three stages have windows similar
to those on south side, those to ground and belfry stages of 3
lights, to second stage of 2 lights. All have coved
hoodmoulds. Coved strings beneath belfry stage, and to eaves
below original open parapet. Weathervane with scrolled finial.
INTERIOR: remains of north arcade of four truncated octagonal
columns retained in garden. South arcade of five 2-centred
arches of two chamfered orders dying into octagonal columns,
and tower pier at western end. 2-centred hollow chamfered
tower arches die into south and west walls and pier to north
east: attached to pier are two carved heads, one a lion, one a
bearded male. Tower stair in south-west angle, approached
through chamfered doorway with 4-centred head. Reconstructed
window in north transept of 5 cinquefoiled lights with cusped
panel traceried head. South aisle roof coffered with moulded
beams and plates, with carved bosses at intersections.
FITTINGS: medieval octagonal font on C20 base, with octagonal
cover of open volutes crowned with a dove, the rim inscribed:
ANO DOM 1717 RICHARD SPEIGHT RICHARD MANCHLIN CHURCH WARDENS.
C20 pews.
GLASS: north transept window contains reset glass from former
west window, given by Robert Semer, vicar 1425-43; other
windows contain C15 glass, reset, or set in C19 glass; C20
glass in east window.
MONUMENTS: on Sanctuary north wall, segment-pedimented tablet
between fluted Composite pilasters, with gadrooned base and
winged skull below, to Robert Horsfield (d.1711), 4 of his 5
wives and 7 children; inscribed brass to Thomas Colthust
(d.1588). On north wall, carved monument to Lady Elizabeth
Sheffield (d.1633), framed by pilasters with pediment, and
incorporating busts and figures. In south aisle, niche on
angel corbel, beneath vaulted canopy, to John Kendall (d.1823)
and his wife (d.1833); brass plate to Valentine Nalson
(d.1722/3), pastor and succentor of York Minster, with shield
of arms.
(Bartholomew City Guides: Hutchinson J and Palliser DM: York:
Edinburgh: 1980-: 179-180; City of York: RCHME: The Central
Area: HMSO: 1981-: 25-29).
Listing NGR: SE6016251856
