York Historic Environment Record

YORK SE6151SW LAWRENCE STREET 1112-1/23/539 (South side (off)) 14/06/54 West Tower of the Old Church of St Lawrence GV I Formerly known as: Tower of Old Church of St Lawrence HULL ROAD. Church tower. Late C12 with C13 alterations; top storey added C15, and C12 former north doorway of nave re-erected against east wall when nave and chancel demolished in 1881-3. Roughly squared limestone rubble, the upper stage in larger and more regular blocks. Windows of bell stage infilled with brick. Roof hidden by parapet. PLAN: square. EXTERIOR: the doorway has a semicircular arch of 4 orders: the inner order has plain voussoirs springing from moulded imposts over scalloped capitals; the second order has an interlace above 2 monsters springing from capitals also carved with monsters; the 2 outer orders are carved with formalised foliage. Behind, a semicircular rear arch springing from chamfered imposts is probably the original tower arch of the late C12. On the south side the middle stage has 2 narrow blocked chamfered openings, the upper one with a pointed head. On the west side the lowest stage has a blocked Tudor-arched window, and the middle stage has a blocked pointed window. The north side has a blocked pointed window to the middle stage. Above and below the bell stage there are moulded string courses. Gargoyles remain at the south-west and south-east corners, and the parapet is a C20 rebuilding with plain corner pinnacles. The bell opening are of 2 trefoiled lights under straight heads with hood moulds. INTERIOR: not inspected. (An Inventory of the Historical Monuments of the City of York: RCHME: Outside the City Walls East of the Ouse: HMSO: 1975-: 24-5). Listing NGR: SE6122651303