1874 – Parish Church, Neston, Cheshire

St Mary and St Helen Church is in the town of Neston, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

“This church, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Helen having become very much dilapidated by lapse of time, it was resolved to undertake an effectual restoration and extension, in accordance with designs prepared by James Francis Doyle, architect, Liverpool. The church, of which we give exterior and interior perspectives, is a very ancient edifice, and was in existence prior to the Norman Conquest; it consists of nave, north and south aisles, chancel and vestry, with galleries on the west and north sides. The nave arcade has been erected in the Norman style, but much mutilated; there are four Norman arches remaining, as indicated on plan. About 1.50 years since (it is supposed) several of the piers and arches were removed, and arches of an elliptic form inserted over the space of two original Norman arches, and a “lato” arcade erected at side of chancel. Tho caps and bases of the Norman work have been much cut away, and almost destroyed, but there are still indications of the beauty of the original work. The tower is built of great strength, the wall at the base being about five feet thick; it is supposed the upper portion of the tower was rebuilt in 1G97, that date being found cut on a stone let in the face of the tower, together with the names of the church- wardens. The proposed work embraces the re- building the main body of the church (except the tower and the south wall), the insertion of a clerestory in the nave, and the extension to the east of ii chancel, vestry, and organ-chamber.

At the west end of the nave arcade, the three Norman arches (one in tower, and one on either side of arcades) are retained and restored, the remainder of the church being carried out in the Early English spirit, with a slight infusion of Early Decorated work to appear in harmony with the tower. The external work will be built with local red stone to match existing walls ; the interior arches, window reveals, quoins, and face of chancel walls will be of white Stourton stone slightly intermixed with red stone; the whole of the roof timbers and other finishings of selected figured pitch pine, and the outer door of oak. The church will be warmed with a combination of hot water and hot air. It is in contemplation (if funds admit) to erect a new and suitable boundary-wall and railing round the church The execution of the work has been intrusted to Messrs. William Tomkinson and Son, contractors, of Liverpool, under the immediate supervision of the architect, James Francis Doyle.”