List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: CHURCH OF ST LEONARD THE LESS
List Entry Number: 1073063
Location
CHURCH OF ST LEONARD THE LESS, POTTER LANE
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Lancashire
District: South Ribble
District Type: District Authority
Parish: Samlesbury
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: I
Date first listed: 11-Nov-1966
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 357996
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
SD 53SE SAMLESBURY POTTER LANE
1/91 Church of St. Leonard-the-Less
11.11.1966
GV I
Church, substantially 1558, but with masonry of late C12 building visible
in both gables, and tower and porches of 1899. Nave and chancel in one,
with aisles, tower attached at north-west corner. Two gabled and timber-
framed porches on south side. Aisle and clerestory windows are all of 3
arched lights with stone mullions, deeply splayed reveals and hoodmoulds.
Arched 3-light west window with intersecting tracery; east wall contains
arched 3-light window with perpendicular tracery, a dripmould over it
with figured stops. Battlemented tower of ashlar with diagonal buttresses,
west door, 1st floor window, belfry louvres on all sides and stair turret.
Interior: nave arcades of 4 bays following line of original outer walls
(the west ends of which remain), composed of 3 short octagonal columns
with moulded capitals and matching responds at each end, and double-
chamfered 2-centred arches. Interior walls of coursed irregular masonry
now with ribbon pointing (plastered until 1884). Wooden ceiling on
slightly-cambered bridging beams and secondary beams, all chamfered
(concealed by reed and plaster ceiling until 1884); sloping aisle roofs.
Exceptionally complete set of individually constructed and decorated box
pews, most with dates and plates ranging from 1678 to 1756. Other notable
furnishings and fittings include: 2 levels of C18 3-decker pulpit; C17
Communion rail with turned balusters; funerary armour (sword, helm and
blazoned shield) believed to be that of Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury
Hall (q.v.) d. 1546; Royal Arms, Commandment, Creed and Lord's Prayer
Tables all painted on canvas; alabaster slab, incised, to Sir William
Atherton and his wife (d.1440 and 1480); memorial tablets of Geoffrey
Hornby (d.1801) and Mrs. Fielden (d.1859); a tub font, possibly Norman;
and C14 Sanctus Bell over east door. Numerous masons' marks on south
arade, exterior north wall, and jambs of east window. (VCH Lancs; Pevsner;
R. Eaton History of Samlesbury 1936; G. Clayton St Leonard the Less
Samlesbury n.d.
Listing NGR: SD5898630362
Selected Sources
Books and journalsClayton, G, St Leonard the Less Samlesbury
Eaton, R, History of Samlesbury, (1936)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: North Lancashire, (1969)
Map
National Grid Reference: SD 58984 30353
This copy shows the entry on 20-May-2024 at 11:20:53.