Brampton Old Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brampton Old Church |
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| Church of St Martin, Brampton | |
Brampton Old Church from the southwest
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 Brampton Old Church
Location in the City of Carlisle district
Brampton Old Church
Location in Cumbria
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| 54°56′47″N 2°45′59″W / 54.9463°N 2.7663°W | |
| OS grid reference | NY 510 615 |
| Location | Near Brampton, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1 April 1951 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone rubble Slate roofs |
Brampton Old Church is a very old church located about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) west of Brampton, a town in Cumbria, England. It used to be the main parish church for the area. However, it is now a redundant church, which means it is no longer used for regular church services. This historic building is recognized as a special Grade II* listed building, meaning it is very important and protected.
Contents
The History of Brampton Old Church
This church was built on a very old site. It stands where a Roman fort once was, right on the Stanegate Roman road. This spot is about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) south of Hadrian's Wall, a famous ancient Roman barrier.
Building Through the Centuries
The church building itself dates back to the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Over time, parts of it were changed or added. Originally, it had a tower, a nave (the main part of the church), and a chancel (the area around the altar).
Changes and Replacement
Between 1787 and 1789, the tower and the nave were taken down. Later, in 1861, a porch was added to the church. It's also possible that the roof was replaced in 1891.
In 1878, a new church, St Martin's Church, was built in the town of Brampton. This new church became the main parish church, replacing the old one. Brampton Old Church was officially declared redundant in 1978, and its furniture was removed.
What Brampton Old Church Looks Like
The church is built from red sandstone rubble, which means it's made of rough, broken pieces of stone. Some of these stones might even have come from Hadrian's Wall! The roofs are made of slate.
Parts of the Church
Today, the church consists of the former chancel and the porch. On the north side, there's a small lean-to shed that used to belong to the sexton (the person who looked after the church).
The porch has iron gates and wooden oak doors. On its gable (the triangular part of the wall at the end of the roof), there's a cross finial (a decorative top piece).
Windows and Features
The chancel has a special Norman window, which means it's from the 12th century when the church was first built. Other windows in the church were added later, in 1891.
Inside the chancel, you can find a piscina and an aumbry. A piscina is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels, and an aumbry is a small cupboard, often in the wall, used for storing church items. These features might also date back to the 12th century. On the east gable of the chancel, there's another cross finial, and on the west gable, there's a bellcote, which is a small structure that holds a bell.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in the City of Carlisle
- Listed buildings in Brampton, Carlisle
