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Historic England Research Records

Church of St Ebbas

Hob Uid: 22547
Location :
County Durham
Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : NZ1036855450
Summary : The church was probably built in the first half of the 11th century. Extensively rebuilt in 1892 by C.H. Fowler; tower added and nave extended and other work done in 1910 by G.T. Wilson. Sandstone rubble, except for lower course of massive blocks; some blocks and quoins of coarse sandstone; tower snecked sandstone; ashlar dressings; stone-flagged roof. Restorations in Romanesque style with round-headed windows, except for Perpendicular-style west window. Nave with north tower and boiler-room; chancel with south vestry, choir-vestry and organ chamber. Three Roman altars, four Building stones some from funerary monuments and inscriptions were found.
More information : NZ 1036 5545. St. Ebba's Church [T.U.] (1)

Ebchester Church. "The church consists of nave, chancel and south
porch, the later modern (1876). The whole church appears to belong
to one period, and may be placed in the first half of the eleventh
century..... The chancel contains four of its original windows.....
Only one of the original nave windows remains ... The double bell
gable is apparently an addition of the 13th century." (2)

Ebchester Church "Mr. W. H. Knowles ... described the church. He
pointed out a Roman altar standing outside the porch.... There are
several inscribed and sculptured stones built into the porch, among
them two [inscribed] altars ... Most of these were discovered
during the restoration of the church ... The foundations are the
same as originally built ... and ... the date of the original
building he ascribed to 1120 to 1140." (3)

Ebchester Church "is ... largely constructed of Roman stones. This is particularly noticeable in the lower parts of the
walls." (4)

Further references.(5-7)
[Photograph] (6)

The church is in use for public worship. (8)

Early monastic house, founded by Aebba from Coldingham before 660.(9)

1099. Altar, 20 x 34 in. (1/12), found in 1876 in the foundations at
the west end of Ebchester Church. On the left side patera, jug; on
right eagle, knife. Now in Ebchester Church porch. Drawn by R. G. C.,
1926.

EE vii 981; ix p. 572. Watkin AJ xli (1844) 177 quoting Hooppell.
Haverfield MS iv (1892-3) f. 50.
Genio[.../...IV/...]rieius/ [.../[p]r[a]ef(ectius) u(otum) l(ibens)
s(oluit)
"To the Genius...,prefect, willingly fulfilled his vow."
1 I.O.M., 5 V.S.L.M. Hoopp., Watk., F.H. (regarding the readings as
somewhat imaginary). 1-5 GENIO [.../...]IV/...]RIEVS/.../ETVLS R. G.
C. 5 [P]R[A]EF VLS R. P. W.

1104 Altar, 9x12 in. (1/8), found in 1873 in extending Ebchester
Churchyard. Now built upside down into the west side of the porch.
Drawn by RGC, 1927.
EE iv 677. LS 668 Watkin AJ xxxiii (1876) 258. Haverfield AA xv
(1918) 42.
Deo/ Vitiri/ I.IT..
"To the god Viriris..."

1105. Base of altar seen in, or before 1883 built into the west wall
of the porch of Ebchester Church. Now lost; sought in vain by R. G.
C., 1927.
EE vii 982; ix p. 572. Watkin AJ xli (1884) 177 quoting Hooppell.
...]
.../...] l(ibens) m(erito)
2. ...] LM Hoopp.; Haverfield regarded this as rather imaginary.

1107. Building-stone found before 1787 at Ebchestar, and seen by
Hutchinson built into the Rectory. Now lost. Sought in vain by R. G.
C., 1927, and by R. P. W., 1942. Traced from Hutchinson.
Hutchinson Durh ii 433. LS 672.
coh(ors) V
"The fifth cohort (built this)".
Huebner (CIL vii 460 identifies this with Horsley's stone (RIB 1106)
despite the arrangement of the margins, the two ansations, and the
position in which the text is placed R. P. W.

1112. Building stone, 15 x 4 1/2 in. (1/8), found in 1841 at
Ebchester. Now built into the east side of Ebchester Church
lych-gate.Drawn by R. G. C., 1927.
CIL vii 464. LS 673. Ryan Shotley Spa 140. Bruce Wall (ed 2) 317,
PSAN iii (1887) 55 with fig. (from LS).
c(enturia) Varsidi Iusti
"The century of Varsidius Justus (built this)."

1114. Building-stone from a funerary monument, about 12x6 in. (1/4),
seen in, or before, 1883 built into the porch of Ebchester Church:
(a) right-hand part built upside down in west side of porch, (b)
left-hand part now lost. (a) Drawn by R. G. C., 1927, (b) sketched
by F. H.,1895, and sought in vain by R. G. C., 1927.
EE vii 983; ix p. 572. Watkin AJ xli (1884) 177. Haverfield MS iv
(1892-3) f. 47.
D(is) M(anibus) [...]/ Dub[i]tati m/ilitis X P . ROB
"To the sririts of the departed and... of Dubitatus, soldier..."
1-3. DIA VAIA/ DVB.../ IRITI.X.R/ Watk, quoting Hoopp., F. H. EE.
DI...VIA/DVB. ALIA/ILITIS XPROB F. H. MS.
3. The reading X in this context is unintelligible; it may perhaps be
explained as a centurial sign distorted by damage or recutting R. P.
W.

1116. Building-stone, 8x6 in. (1/8), seen in 1892 in the west side of
Ebchester Church porch. Now lost; sought in vain by R. G. C., 1927.
Traced from Haverfield MS.
Haverfield MS iv (1892-3) f. 49
...] A[.../...]CIVII[
Fragment of inscription, 9 x 4 1/2" (1/8), found shortly before 1927
in digging for a grave in Ebchester Churchyard. Once in the
possession of the late Mr Lauder at Ebchester. Drawn by R. G. C.,
1927; sought in vain by R. P. W., 1942.
JRS xvii (1927) 214 no. 19
...]ETIS CA[... (10)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1923
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : (C C Hodges)
Page(s) : 56
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 3 - 1889
Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 364-69
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1965
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : XLIII
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 5 - 1896-1905
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (W H Wood)
Page(s) : 94
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 38 - 1882
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : History and Antiqs of Durham 2 1820 301 (R Surtees)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : (W H D Longstaffe)
Page(s) : 127
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 2 - 1871
Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : (R T Lang)
Page(s) : 118
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 93 - 1943
Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : F1 ECW 23-NOV-59
Page(s) :
Figs. :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : CW Phillips DA Index
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 9a
Source :
Source details : Mss Liber Eliensis (ed) DJ Stewart Anglia Christians Soc 1848 45n
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Inscribed Stone, Altar
Evidence : Find
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Early Medieval
Monument End Date : 1050
Monument Start Date : 1001
Monument Type : Church
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Largely rebuilt 1892
Monument End Date : 1892
Monument Start Date : 1892
Monument Type : Church
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Early 20th Century
Display Date : Extended 1910
Monument End Date : 1910
Monument Start Date : 1910
Monument Type : Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Inscribed Stone, Altar
Object Type : ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 438845
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1240418
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NZ 15 NW 9
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1959-11-23
End Date : 1959-11-23