The former Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Saleby has been disused since it was last used for worship in 1984. It was built in 1855 and a schoolroom added in 1914.

September 2018

Adjoining the north-west corner of the churchyard is Saleby Grange, a late 17th century house altered and extended c 1820. It is listed Grade II – see:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1308594?section=official-list-entry 

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret Noel Palethorpe photo.

Howard Noel Palethorpe was a respected local farmer of Saleby Grange. He served with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry in WWI, was Captain of the local Home Guard in WWII, a JP, chairman of Louth RDC, county chairman of the NFU, a governor of Alford Grammar School. At his funeral in Alford church it was said of him that no matter how busy he was he always found time for something else. He was the nephew of Margaret Palethorpe, also remembered here.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Now a residence this building was a school until 1932 and later a meeting hall. Above the right-hand window the scroll of text reads:

Saleby cum Thoresthorpe School. A.D. 1854.

Above a blocked doorway in the central gable it says:

PALETHORPE MEMORIAL HALL 1954 A. D.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

St Margaret, Saleby, was built in 1850 to the design of Stephen Lewin, an architect from Boston.

Mark Acton, 2016

St Margaret's is built in pale yellow brick, typical of the Alford and Farlesthorpe brickworks.

The windows are in the style of the early fourteenth century.

At the time of this photograph the bellcote over the west gable was under repair.

Peter Kirk Collection, 1998

The west end of Lewin's church, with twin bellcote (restored in 1998).

September 2018

View from the east. The church is constructed of brick with a stone plinth.

Large trees close to the south side of the church make the interior dull - and make photographs difficult.

September 2018

A copy of Stephen Lewin’s design for the church is displayed in the nave. The dedication reads:

‘To the Revd Felix Laurent M. A. Vicar of Saleby cum Thoresthorpe./ THIS VIEW OF SALEBY NEW CHURCH/ is most respectfully inscribed by his very obliged and humble servant Stephen Lewin Architect.’

He has chosen to omit the 14th century cross.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret east end.

The three-light east window has flowing tracery in imitation of the early 14th century and a hood mould with human head stops. The stepped buttresses are used all around the building.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret from northwest

There is no north door and no north aisle so the stepped buttresses are higher along the north wall.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret from southeast

The church dates from 1850 and was designed by architect Stephen Lewin. It has a south aisle as can be seen from the lower roofline, and a priest’s door in the chancel. The church is Grade II listed – see:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063011?section=official-list-entry

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret from west.

The three-light west window has an unusual tracery pattern, a lancet lights the west end of the south aisle and there are two bells in the bellcote.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret looking west.

A tall narrow arch separates chancel and nave with a 20th century screen and rood.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

The painted design of the wall behind the altar, the position of the effigy and of the stained sanctuary window can be seen. 

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

This photo shows the quality of the carving on the screen which was dedicated by the Bishop of Lincoln in October 1950 and given by the executors of Mrs Dudding of Saleby in memory of former rectors the Revd Richard Dudding and the Revd Reginald Charles Dudding.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret chancel arch springer – north

The queen’s head perhaps depicts Queen Victoria, still a young woman in 1850 when the church was built.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret chancel arch springer – south

Perhaps this figure depicts John Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln in 1850.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret chancel corbel – north

The chancel roof is supported on six carved stone corbels along each side, some showing human heads and some foliage. This is one on the north side.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret chancel corbel - south

The chancel roof is supported on six carved stone corbels along each side, some showing human heads and some foliage. This is one on the south side.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Beside the altar stands the datestone of the original chapel of the Haryngton or Harrington family. I H stands for John Haryngton who founded the chapel in 1591. Sadly the carpet hides two small brasses to members of this family: George who died in 1556 and John who died in 1599.   

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

A painted and gilded design is applied below the sill of the east window with a stencilled floral motif either side of the window. These also bear the words ‘King of Kings’ and ‘Lord of Lords’.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Although some of the text is now missing from the dedication of the window it is in memory of Arthur and Felicia Laurent who died in 1841 and 1843 respectively.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

At the north end of the altar in an arched recess is a full-length effigy of a knight in chainmail and surcoat. He is thought to be Sir William de Hardreshull who died in 1303.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

At the north end of the altar in an arched recess is a full-length effigy of a knight in chainmail and surcoat. He is thought to be Sir William de Hardreshull who died in 1303. The figure is almost undamaged; this view shows his hands in prayer, his sword and a shield bearing the outline of three birds.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

At the north end of the altar in an arched recess is a full-length effigy of a knight in chainmail and surcoat. He is thought to be Sir William de Hardreshull who died in 1303. The legs also are undamaged showing that the chainmail extends to his feet which also bear spurs.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret sanctuary window N.

This window depicts two saints: possibly St Margaret of Antioch on the left, a palm in her left hand and the cross thrust into the mouth of the dragon; and a composite St Michael (with weighscales) and St George (with the red cross of England) on the right. It is dedicated:

TO.THE.GLORY.OF.GOD.AND.IN.LOVING.MEMORY.OF.FELIX.LAURENT/ 31.YEARS.VICAR.OF.THIS.PARISH.DIED.APRIL.13.1878.AGED.84

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

South of the nave of the church is the base and lower shaft of a 14th century cross, listed Grade II – see:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1308598?section=official-list-entry

See also:

https://lincscrosses.org.uk/saleby/ 

Jean Howard 4 January 2025 

The rood screen and furnishings of St Margaret's are Victorian like the remainder of the church fabric.

Mark Acton, 2016

Interior view looking east from a narrow nave towards a small rood screen.

September 2018

Saleby St Margaret looking east.

The nave has a hammer-beam roof.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

A stoutly buttressed south porch with very decorative hinges to the double doors.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Saleby St Margaret looking northwest.

From the eastern end of the south aisle the south arcade can be seen and the two commandment boards on the north wall of the nave.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

Small octagonal font with deorative panels.

September 2018

 Saleby St Margaret font detail

Although the octagonal font dates from 1850 it is decorated in a very traditional style, the eight faces carrying the symbols of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and traditional Christian symbols including the dove and wafer, the sign of the Trinity and the lamb and flag. Those visible in the photograph are the winged ox for St Luke and IHS, the first three letters of Jesus in Greek.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

This tablet is on the south wall of the south aisle. It reads:

MARGARET/ PALETHORPE/ BORN. 1864 – DIED.1942./ IN.REMEMBRANCE/ OF.A.COURAGEOUS.LIFE

Margaret was born at Sausthorpe in July 1864, was a nurse and died in Surrey in February 1942. In the top RH corner of the tablet the word NURSE is written within a circle and around a cross. In the top LH corner an owl is depicted, perhaps a reference to Florence Nightingale’s pet owl, Athena.

Jean Howard 4 January 2025

On the east wall of the south aisle this tablet is erected:

THIS CHURCH WAS LARGELY RESTORED/ IN 1958 BY A GIFT FROM MAJOR A.N. DUDDING/ PATRON OF THIS LIVING AND MISS E.W. DUDDING/ IN MEMORY OF THEIR BROTHER/ THE REVEREND H.B. DUDDING M.A./ ONE TIME INCUMBENT OF THIS PARISH.

The donors were Major Arthur N Dudding, a Northumberland solicitor and Miss Edith W Dudding of Wigton, in memory of Revd Henry Basil Dudding who had died in August 1956.

The Dudding family have played a significant part in the history of Saleby: Reginald Charles Dudding, also a former minister here, wrote a ‘History of the Manor and Parish of Saleby with Thoresthorpe’, published by W K  Morton & Son of Horncastle in 1922. This is archived on-line at:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b758617&seq=11 

Jean Howard 4 January 2025