Leigh nr. Wigan / Lech / Leech / Leeche / Legh / Leghthe / Leght / Westleigh in Leigh

INFORMATION

Font ID: 16928LEI
Object Type: Baptismal Font1?
Font Century and Period/Style: 13th century, Medieval
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin [formerly St. Peter's]
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Mary the Virgin [formerly St. Peter's]
Site Location: Greater Manchester, North West, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Located off (E) the A579, 10 km SE of Wigan, 20 km W of Manchester
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Manchester [formerly Diocese of Chester]
Historical Region: Hundred of West Derby -- formerly Lancashire
Additional Comments: disappeared font?
Font Notes:
The Victoria County History (Lancaster, vol. 3, 1907) notes: "The church of St. Mary the Virgin, anciently described as 'the church of Westleigh in Leigh,' was originally consecrated in honour of St. Peter [...] The old church [...] was rebuilt, with the exception of the west tower, in 1873 [...] The font is modern, octagonal, with panelled sides." Pollard & Pevsner (2006) inform that the stone font is by Paley & Austin, responsible for the renovation of this church in 1869-1973: "Octagonal on octagonal pier. Corner shafts, carved panelsbetween, alternately with semi-relief scenes." [NB: the church in Leigh is documented since 1238 [VCH], but we have no information on the medieval font; the fonts at the other churches in Leigh are also modern]

COORDINATES

UTM: 30U 545923 5905309
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 53.295, -2.311
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 53° 17′ 42″ N, 2° 18′ 39.6″ W

REFERENCES

  • Victoria County History [online], University of London, 1993-. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk.
  • Pollard, Richard, Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West, New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 2006, p. 229