Bywell

Bywell, a village in Northumberland, is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne opposite Stocksfield, between Hexham and Newcastle.

It is a picturesque village notable for it's two churches, Bywell Castle and Bywell Hall. The latter 2 are both privately owned and in their own grounds so there are no photos of them on this page.





19th August 2009










St Peters Church.

St Peter's Church in Bywell, Northumberland, dates from Anglo Saxon times, probably the 8th century. It originally belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Durham and in 803 AD was the location of Bishop Egbert's consecration as 12th Bishop of Lindisfarne. Much of the church was rebuilt after a fire 1285. Excavations in 1995 uncovered extensive foundations of the Saxon chancel, and Roman stones suggest that the church stands on a much earlier Roman site.

Grade 1 Listed. Source: Co-Curate.












St Andrews Church.

Parish Church. Pre-Conquest nave and tower; upper part of tower early C11, nave and lower part of tower probably earlier. Chancel and south transept early C13. Alterations 1830,1850 by John Dobson, and addition of north transept, chapel, vestry and probably south porch 1871 by William Slater of London.

Pre-Conquest fabric heavy roughly-squared rubble with massive quoins, medieval parts coursed rubble, C19 parts squared tooled stone with tooled ashlar quoins and dressings; stone slate roofs. Alterations in C13 style. Cruciform with west tower, north vestry and chapel, south porch. Tall tower with string courses below and above belfry; apparent buttresses are remains of west gable of taller Pre-Conquest nave.

Lower stage has original round-headed window on south, and similar window above C19 lancet on west; on south, just below belfry, high-level doorway with monolithic arched head and projecting imposts and bases which link to stripwork surround. Two-light belfry openings with baluster mullions, impost blocks and stripwork surrounds; circular sound holes (cf. Billingham) in tympana and to either side. C19 porch with chamfered arch and trefoiled niche under steep gable.

C19 lancets throughout, paired in transepts and triplet at east end. Traces of old north nave door and priest's door in chancel. 18 medieval cross slabs (9 complete) re-set in walls on north. Chancel, south transept and C19 parts have chamfered plinths and coped gables with moulded kneelers and finial crosses. Interior: South door inside porch has chamfered C13 arch with hoodmould, holding C19 door with floral ironwork. Slightly-pointed double-chamfered tower arch may be post-medieval, on older square jambs. Double-chamfered chancel arch on moulded capitals with altered responds, and squint to south. Similar south transept arch on corbels with nailhead; north transept arch is a copy.

North chapel has 2 moulded arches on circular pier to chancel and single similar arch to transept. Piscinae in chancel and south transept. Re-set cross slabs as door and window lintels. Mosaic reredos with SS Peter and Paul, mosaic paving in sanctuary, brass communion rail. Carved pulpit with Frosterley marble shafts to pointed arcading; carved stone eagle lectern. Octagonal font on old moulded base.

Part of Saxon cross set on Roman carved block in chancel. Early C19 memorial tablet in south transept. Good Annunciation glass in north transept, Kings and shepherds in north chapel and Resurrection in east window.

Grade 1 Listed. Source: Historic England.







Bywell Bridge.

Bywell Bridge was opened in 1838 and was built by T W Beaumont and designed by George Basevi.




Bywell Village Cross.

The village Cross in Bywell dates from the 13th century. Having being damaged the structure was altered in the 18th century when a stone ball was added to the top of the remaining column.

Grade 2 listed. Source: Co-Curate.













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