St Mary's Church, Old Goole - From Sod Cutting in '33 to Dedication in '38

The recently demolished St Mary's Church was, much to the chagrin of those trying to save it, not a consecrated church but the processes involved in creation of a new church involve deep religious practices. A process of Sod Cutting, declaring the land Holy and formal dedication or consecration of the new building had to be followed. In the case of St Mary's in Old Goole this process would take a period of four years, largely blamed on the financial restrictions of the period. What follows are two articles detailing the religious ceremonies taken to make the old church redundant and to for the creation of the new St Mary's church. 

New Church Ceremony – 30^th June 1933

Cross Erected on Site of Building

Vicar & Facing Difficulties

The first step in the erection of the new Goole Church of St Mary’s was taken on Saturday afternoon, when legal church people cut the sods on the site. A short service was held on the church and a procession was afterwards formed along Swinefleet Road, the gathering being representative of all the churches in the Parish.

The Vicar (Rev. H. E. Wall, M.A.) gave an address during the service, saying it was true that the further desire to see bricks and mortar was displayed for a while, but a very short period of waiting would satisfy their longing and quieten their impatient. “To-day we officially cease to own this building and site and become possessed of our new land, to which we shall proceed presently and there by a solemn ceremony in initiate the actual of work of building. Our task has been laid upon us and we must fulfil it. It is certainly not of my seeking. For over fifty years generations of St. Mary’s church people have made the best use possible of a building erected for the purposes of a day school and have endeavoured to infuse into it the spirit of worship. From the beginning it has never been really adapted for its purpose, as every priest who had had to minister the sacrament know well, and every choirman too, using the schoolroom and a vestry, has wished for a building which did not necessitate a walk in the open air whatever the weather conditions.

“All Sorts of Clergy”

“There had been all sorts of clergy” attached here, some who succeeded well, others who achieved but failure, but all alike have been unanimous in asserting a proper building in order to secure development of the work. My task would have been easier had it been possible to live nearer and to know the workers more intimately but circumstances compel me to _ a stranger to many with disadvantage to both of us, and the difficulties already faced have been made greater by the reason of delegated authority. There is but one way not overcoming difficulties on which they had usually vanished.

Explaining the ceremony the vicar said there were three divisions on the new site, one for the church, one for the hall, and one for the proposed parsonage. There were three sods for each site, those for the church being triangular in shape, as a symbol of the ever blessed Trinity, the base of the centre one facing east and the base on the other two west, for they looked to the East for Christ’s appearing, while their lives were lived until they merged with the sun down on the west. There were three sods for the Sunday school or Church hall, and they were square, school being a place where lives were built like a building, whilst those on the house site were round signifying home.

Cross of Possession

The second part of the ceremony was not quite familiar, and indeed there was no recognised order for such. “It is a service in initiation of early missionaries,” said the vicar, “who, when first coming to our native land preached this good news to the chief man and his followers, and upon acceptance of the message was usually given land for the two-fold purpose of erecting himself a dwelling and a place for worship. As a sign of taking possession a cross, often rudely and crudely made, was set up, marking it with the Christian symbol and so securing its being set apart for all time as holy ground. An illustration of this is seen in many villages, where the stone-cross, replacing the wooden one, is surrounded by the village itself. Our cross now to be set up by the clergy and lay read of out parish will act as a vivid reminder not only of our own possession, but link us closely to scenes in our historic past.”

At the site, the clergy and lay readers of Goole erected the cross on the site of the altar for the new church, the Rev. W.B. Crowe saying, “In the name and faith of Jesus Christ we erect this symbol out of holy faith and hereby claim for ever and set apart this ground for the service of His church and the people. The Lord’s name be praised.”

The cutting of the three sods followed. Those turning the sods on the site of the new church were Mrs H. E. Wall, representing the parochial clergy; Mrs. E. Barley, representing the parish church-wardens and the Parochial Church Council; and Mrs. Birkitt, representing the wardens of St Mary’s.

On the site of the hall, the sods were turned by Mrs Theaker, representing St. Mary’s workers; Mrs Caukill, representing the Parish Church Wardens and Parochial Church; and Mrs. Rosindale, representing the St. Mary’s wardens.

On the site of the new parsonage, Mrs. Shillito and Mrs. Glew performed the ceremony on behalf of the St Paul’s wardens; Mrs. Nash on behalf of the Parish Church wardens and the Parochial Church Council, and Mrs Boyes on behalf of the largest organisation, the Mothers’ Union and Mothers’ Meeting in all parts of the parish.

New St Mary’s Dedicated – 2^nd December 1938

Old Ambition Realised

Mayor Attends Service

Bishop of Sheffield’s

“Undiluted Pleasure”

An Old Goole ambition of many years, which has known many set-backs, was finally realised on Tuesday evening when the new church of St. Mary was dedicated by the Bishop of Sheffield (Dr L. H. Burrows). Behind the building of the church, which takes the place of one, which long ago was counted out of date and insufficient for the needs of the people, is a storey of disappoints.

After years of hope, work on the new church was begun in 1933, but financial difficulties caused the operations to be suspended with the shell of the building completed. The church stood unfinished for about four years when, a few months ago, a grant enabled it to be completed.

The grant was one of £2,000 from the Sheffield Diocesan Board of Finance and it has been made on condition that some of the money is repaid.

A fine example of modern church architecture St Mary’s is built of old English brick, and is a church of which Old Goole and the parish can be proud. The link with the old church, which was built about 1865, originally as a church day school has not been lost for the altar, font, pews and bell are among fittings and furnishings which have been incorporated into the new building.

The altar looks very beautiful in its new setting under a domed canopy, painted to depict the heavens and the waxed-oak choir stalls made the broad chancel a notable feature of the building. Modern concealed lighting also helps considerably to enhance the beauty of the church.

The first sods of the new church were out on June 27^th, 1933, by the local church workers and the foundation stone was laid on November 2^nd of that year by the Marchioness Townsend of Raynham. Five years later almost to the day the church was dedicated.

The church will accommodate 250 people and almost every nook and corner was filled on Tuesday evening. The dedicated service was attended by the Mayor of Goole (Alderman A. Kirby), who was accompanied by the deputy Mayor (Alderman T. Temple J.P.), the acting Town Clerk (Mr A. LAzenby), with the town’s mace resting under the pulpit. The three South Ward representatives on the Town Council – Councillors V.B. Hudson, H.G. Gierson and G. T. Medcalf, J.P. – were also present.

The Bishop was assisted in the service by the Archdeacon of Doncaster (Rev. F.G. Sandford), and the Vicar of Goole (Rev. L. L. Knighthall, M.A.), the Rev. C. W. Fulljames, priest-in-charge, the Rev. F. Trow, who acted as Bishop’s chaplain, and the Rev J.R. Skelhorn. The visiting clergy included the Rev. J. Herring, late Vicar of Whigift, was the first priest-in-charge of the old St Mary’s, the Vicars of Hook (Rev. G. H. Platt), Drax (Rev. B. A. Ramskir), Cowick (Rev. C. Norton), Hensall (Rev. H. Boyes), Swinefleet (Rev. A. K. McGovern) and Canon Youens, of Brodsworth.

The dedication was carried out with all the impressive ceremony of the Church of England, the Bishop entering the church by the south-west door alter knocking three times and the service including the hymns “Glorious things of Thee are spoken”, “Veni Creator Spritus”, “We love the place O’God,” “O Worship the King of Heavan” and the 122^nd Psalm.

In his sermon the Bishop said the season of Advent upon which they had entered stood out for Christians as a special times for thanksgiving. It also reminded them of the need and virtue of helpfulness and patience of waiting and he went on to describe the trials of the people before the coming of the Messiah. There was the duty, neglected by many, the duty of expectation – and of faith unshaken and unaltered by waiting. Most important of all was the preparation.

When Christ did come there were only a few to welcome Him, and a faithful few which followed Him in His ministry.

Waited in Patience

The season of the Advent was singularly appropriate to St Mary’s. For twenty-five years they had been performing the very difficult duty of waiting. There were many who had found that waiting for so many years caused them to exercise patience. There were not a few people who had stuck to St Mary’s through all that time of waiting and had shown that that was the greatest test of faith. When things were got going exactly right they still waited, expecting and hoping and never lost heart. Now they had a first rate leader, excellent workers, and a most beautiful church.

“I have dedicated and consecrated many churches,” said the Bishop, “but I have never consecrated or dedicated one which gave me such a feeling of undulated pleasure as St Mary’s. There is an air of church feeling about it. It is quite true, I feel it in some churches, but not in others."

They had to prepare to receive the Church as from God, with thanksgiving. It would be no use at all if they did not do that. They might just as well have built it. Now they got their new church they must show all around that they had a Christian congregation at St. Mary’s and they offered to God in all humility love and gratitude their services of praise and thanksgiving.

Farewell to the Old Church

Continuing a Tradition

“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts. That passage from the second chapter of the Prophet Haggai was the text of the Rev. C. W. Fulljames in his sermon at the farewell service in the old church of St Mary’s on Sunday evening. Despite the inclement weather there was an excellent congregation, and appropriate farewell and thanksgiving hymns were sung.

The preacher’s text referred to the neglected building of a church, the reprovement of the people by the Haggai and the incitement of them to the building. This was something which I had rung true in the experience of St Mary’s. Now the present building was becoming older and more dilapidated from year to year but as with the prophet there had been upsets and disappointments. The new church had stood unfinished for nearly four years, and the new building had a been a reproach to them and a _ to God, and they should thank God that that reproach had been _ _ ever.

The new house of God, continued Mr Fulljames, was ready for worship and he would like to think that it was a continuation of the old church. Although it was new, it was founded upon St Mary’s Church, which had stood for sixty or seventy years. The building homely and compact as it was, had not been built as a church, but to serve as a church day school. Fifty years ago the first priest-in-charge had been appointed, and the church used both as a day school during the week and a church on Sunday. That enrate (the Rev. Joseph Herring) was still alive, and since his time there had been fifteen others who had serviced God, and most of them had visions and plans for the building of a church which would be more worthy of God and the district. Most of those people, many of them past and gone, had their plans, but not until now had they been fulfilled, and it his privilege to stand in that pulpit for the last time.

Mr. Fulljames then asked his congregation why it was that the church was crowded that night, and sad that there were deeper things than sentimental reasons. Within those four walls many of them been baptised, educated, confirms, had attended Communion, and some of them could look back upon many years of worship and friendship.

They were dependent solei and wholly upon God, and they must determine, in they were going to carry to the new church the same spirit which had existed in the past, upon a greater devotion, giving themselves unthinkingly and wholly. 

Goole's Child Welfare Centre - Another Building Demolished

The recent history of Goole's architecture and heritage is 'another' Goole building has been demolished. Over the past year the former Customs House, Stanhope Street, and St Mary's Church ,in Old Goole, have both been demolished and very soon it looks as though the former South Street Chapel and First and Last Pub will follow suit. However, demolitions in the town do not always reach prominence and more recently a rather interesting building has been demolished to make way for the expansion of Goole High School. The building in question is the former Goole Health Centre on Bartholomew Avenue. Although a relatively modern building it is worth a second look. The building consisted of two parts a small clinic area dating to the 1930s, and a larger block added in the 1950/1960s. The architectural features of the 1930's building can be found in an article in the local paper:

"Goole’s new build child welfare centre, which has been built at a total cost of £2,780, is almost completed and will be officially opened shortly. 

Goole's New Child Welfare Clinic (Goole Times 14.10.1938)

The centre, which will take the place of the existing one in the maternity home, has been built near to the Hospital at the end of Bartholomew Avenue behind the Memorial Gardens, and is designed primarily for children between the ages of one and five in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health. In addition, it will be used for nursing and ambulance classes and as first aid station in A.R.P. work. 

The building has one storey and is of modern design. There is a large assembly and lecture room 45 feet by 20 feet, rooms for doctors and nurses in which children will be treated, a store room for milk foods, a special room for toddlers and indoor accommodation for perambulators in wet weather. There are also two bathrooms which have been included in the scheme under A.R.P. so that people caught by mustard gas can be decontaminated.

The interior has been designed to give the maximum amount of air space and light, and is heated by concealed radiators which fit flush with the wall, supplied by a self-circulating system."

Therefore what would at first to be an unimposing structure is actually a modern public building designed to conform to Ministry of Health regulations for childcare and more importantly included A.R.P facilities, which were being prepared a full year before the outbreak of the Second World War. Therefore it pays to take a second look at a building. 

Goole Earth Images:

A Record of Volunteering – The Yorkshire Waterways Museum

Between 2007 and 2013 I acted as a volunteer with the Yorkshire Waterways Museum. Assisting the then Museum Officer – Rachel Walker (my sister) – the Museum made great strides in inputting it’s collection onto computer databases, enhancing gallery spaces and undertaking conservation projects to new and existing Museum exhibits. To record how I spent my time volunteering with the Museum I would like to share on my blog the state of play of the archives of the Museum on my last day of volunteering in October 2013.

Museum Archives

In c.2007 the Museum Officer won funding for Museum Data Software and a volunteer project began to input the Museum back catalogue onto Catalist Software. During 2011 the software was updated and the Museum Catalogue is now based on Modes Archive software. The information currently available on Modes includes:

Items	Number	Notes
Paintings and Portraits	71	100% finished.
Objects	44	A small proportion and the next phase of works would have been to input the exhibits on display.
Documents	691	Around 80% of the archival material.
Pictures and Slides	7,936	Around 95% of the archival material.
Total	8,742	c.70% of the Archives.

Of the Modes entries it is estimated that 7500 have attached images and all have item descriptions and storage locations.

Personally I can take responsibility for inputting around 7000 items and scanning 4500 images. The remainder was undertaken by the Museum Manager and other volunteers.

Museum Library

The Museum has a vast collection of books and during c. 2008 a Library was established in the Museum. Over the past several years the collection has increased substantially and consists of new and old books and periodicals of all aspects of Waterways heritage, culture, boating and engineering. In total the Library contains 4,160 volumes, searchable on an excel spreadsheet.

My part in the project was to input just a small proportion of the entries onto excel and to a greater extent bound books in protective coverings, using skills remembered from previous Library volunteering.

Conservation and Exhibitions

The Museum greatly expanded upon it exhibitions during my tenure as a volunteer and I was lucky to be able to gain hands on experience of Conservation. One such instance was a project to conserve the St Aidan’s Rudder. Under the guidance of the York Archaeological Trust an 18th rudder was removed from outdoor display and cleaned and stabilised so that it could be exhibited within the Sail and Keel Gallery.  Another project in which I was proud to assist was with the re-decoration of the Museum Foyer; thanks to 2012 Olympic funding secured by the Museum Manager. During December 2011 and January 2012 I donned by paint brush and assisted where I could to provide a new entrance for the Museum.

Objects on Display and Audit

Being a Museum for over 20 years objects has been put on display over a tenure of several museum officers and as such not everything was recorded. Towards the end of my photograph inputting project I began a system of auditing. The aims of the audit were:

1. To identify what items were on display and if they had been accessioned. The items would then be inputted onto Modes.
2. Cross referencing the Museum Acquisition books against all items inputted on Modes. This would give an indication of what percentage of museum items had a known location, items missing and what remained to be inputted onto Modes.

On display there are around 350 objects and the next phase of the data inputting project would have been to input outstanding items onto the Modes Database

The audit, as of October 2013, consisted of inputting all records within Museum Accession books between 1991 and 2008, with missing records inputted from Acquisition forms for the period between 1994 and 1995. In total there were around 1000 items which had been accessioned but had yet to be processed on Modes software for the period upto 2008.

The Grant Total

With assumptions the Grand Total for the Archives of the Yorkshire Waterways Museum would be 12,000 items of all types and 4,200 printed publications of which around 70% is searchable via Modes and Excel data bases.

Notes on Heritage Protection - A Case Study

The below are notes on the heritage methods taken to save St Mary's Church, Old Goole. 

Conservation Area

The building is not in a location suitable for designating as a Conservation Area. 

Listing

In 2008 a member of the public submitted a the Church for listing but received a negative response. A further attempt was made to list the church in 2012. The basis of the submitted proposal was:

Location: Swinefleet Road, Old Goole

Date: 1933-1938

Local Significance:

St Mary’s Church was built to replace an earlier nearby Mission Church, built in 1862. The church is built on land secured from the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. in exchange for the site of the old church and school rooms.  The building of the church began in 1933 and it is built in a modern architectural style. The site also includes a church hall built at the same time and in the same architectural style. Due to lack of funds, the church was not completed until 1938, when it was dedicated to St Mary by the Bishop of Sheffield. Dr L.H. Burrows gave a grant of £2,000 from the Sheffield Diocese in 1938. When the church was built, it was considered to have modern lighting and architecture as well as traditional church elements taken from the old church. When the building opened in 1938, fixtures from the original St Mary’s Church were moved into the building.

The church hall is built in red/brown facing brick in raking bond. The style of the hall is modern with classical and gothic influence. The north elevation of the building consists of a west front incorporating an entrance with pediment and flanking buildings. The central entrance consists of a shouldered pediment linking into the cornice of the flanking parapet walls. The entrance architrave is formed by a round headed projecting arch with brick springing points, voussoirs and key stone. The flanking extensions have brick plinths and parapet, with stepped brick cornice. Each flanking extension contains two square profile windows. The central entrance has a pitched roof and the flanking walls flat roofs below the level of the parapet. Set within each wall is a dedication stone, with the following details:

·         “This Stone was laid by Henry Silvester White ESQ to commemorate the granting of a charter of incorporation to the town of Goole by His Majesty King George the Fifth November 2nd 1933.”

·         “This Stone was laid by the most honourable Marchioness Townsend of Raynham November 2nd 1933.”

Set behind this is the main section of the hall. The hall consists of four bays. On the east elevation the first bay is separated from the entrance elevation with a brick buttress. The west elevation bays are also separated by brick buttresses with no buttress at the south elevation. There is no plinth along this elevation and the eaves finish at the top of the elevation. Set within the first, third and fourth elevations are two square profile windows. Set within the second bay is a brick chimney stack which projects over the eaves. The roof is constructed from slate with coping stones along the apex. The east elevation of the hall copies the west with the exception of a door in place of the windows on the second bay.

The church building is constructed from brown facing brick in raking bond. The style of the church is modern but with Italian influences. The plan of the building consists of nave, chancel with flanking chapels and apse. The south and north elevations of the nave each consist of four bays defined by engaged colonnades, with the columns acting as buttresses. Set within each of three bays are double headed round arched windows and the remaining bay a round headed door opening to the north elevation and a porch entrance on the south elevation. Architectural features are defined in brick work. The roof is pitched and the chapel roofs lean onto the chancel. The chapels are built in plain brick with blind round headed door openings to their west elevation and three round headed windows set within the south and north elevations. The apse takes the form of a half hexagon. Set within three of the sides is a double headed arched window. In the east elevation is a dedication stone with the inscription:

“TO THE RADIANT GLORY OF THE INCARNATION. THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THE HONOURABLE THE MARCHIONESS TOWNSEND OF RAYNHAM ON NOVEMBER 2ND 1933.”

The west elevation has a later extension. The remaining features of the elevation consist of a triple headed arched window and single arched window set with the gable. At the pitch of gable is a stone cross. The extension is rectangular in form and at the West end consists of three square profile windows.

Internal features of the church include an apse ceiling depicting a gold cross shining through the clouds. It was hand painted by Messrs J.G and H.W Fisk, who ran a business from 77 Swinefleet Road, Old Goole. The majority of the stonework, interior decoration and carpentry was by labourers of Goole and Old Goole.              

The building has architectural significance in its modern style of architecture and is a rare form of architecture in the local area. The church represents local craftsmanship and many of the residents of the town are related to those who built the church. The church and hall have been used by many residents for religious ceremonies and social functions and are part of the community value of Old Goole. The building also has local historic significance as set within the hall is a tablet dedicated to the incorporation of the town in 1933. This tablet is unique as there are no other forms of commemoration within the town.

Threats:

The church was closed in 2008 and since then most of the fittings have been removed. The font, bell and two pews (from the original St Mary’s Church) have been taken into the care of the St Mary’s Heritage Centre. A committee was formed in February 2010 with the aim of re-opening the church as a community facility.  A petition of 2,000 community members has been signed in support of using the church as a Community Church. Many of the fixtures and fittings of the church have been removed, including guttering. The buildings are in danger of falling into poor condition. There have been lead thefts and attempted arson.

The building was not forwarded for listing as it was deemed no new evidence had been provided since 2008:

Thank you for your application to add the above building to the List of Buildings of Special

Architectural or Historic Interest.

This building was considered for Listing in 2008. At that time, the Secretary of State for

Culture, Media and Sport decided not to add the building to the List of Buildings of Special

Architectural or Historic Interest. We will therefore not be taking your application any further,

unless you are able to provide us with substantial new evidence that was not considered

during the previous assessment. I attach a copy of our previous advice report for your

information.

The building of this church began in November 1933 and replaced an earlier church of 1865 on a different site. It is simply designed in brick with the usual cruciform plan. Windows are generally round-headed, paired or in triplicate with leaded glass. Internally the church is very simple with unpainted brick walls. The fixtures including altar, font, lectern, and pews were all re-used from the earlier Victorian church and the apse roof is adorned with a depiction of a cross shining through clouds. The adjacent hall is of a similar construction and retains its original stage. 

Because of the large numbers of C20 churches surviving nationally, a high level of selectivity is necessary and only those which display a high level of architectural quality and intactness will be added to the list. Other factors looked for in places of worship include high quality design and artistic embellishment; association with a nationally significant architect, designer or artist; and innovative construction.

This church displays simplicity of design and finishing which while attractive, is not of the highest architectural quality demanded of the listing criteria for a church of this date. For its date, the design of the church is also very conservative and few 1930s architectural influences can be identified. Although undoubtedly of local significance, not least for its strong local ties, particularly with the local craftsmen who contributed to its construction and finishing, unfortunately it is not of sufficient special architectural interest in a national context to merit listing.  

A Letter Appealing to List the Building:

Further research has resulted in new information about the design and construction of the Church and Church Hall. The research has resulted in the discovery of the architect and contractors. The architect was a Mr F Turner, of Carlisle Street, Goole. The architect designed several building in the local area, including a Gothic revival church. The design of the St Mary’s Church and Church Hall mark a new style for the architect. The contractor for the construction of the buildings was a Mr Edwin Mitchell of Howden. 

Although designed by a local architect the plans were approved by the principle architect of the Incorporated Church Building Society, Sir Charles Nicholson. The approval was considered a guarantee that the building would be of a high standard. The Society also contributed £75 for the construction of the Church. In respect to the decision notice further weight should be attributed to the Bishop of Sheffield’s fund and the fact that the Churches constructed with this fund were built against the back drop of economic decline. 

An article from the Goole Times, dated 28.7.1933, provides information which outlines details of the architectural significance of the building. It was noted that the building marked a departure from the usual church material of the time – stone and red brick – been constructed in rustic brick. Various shades of rustic brick were selected for the construction, including dark crimson and brown, with a facing brick selected for dressings. Further research should be undertaken that considers the rarity of using such materials in church buildings during the period. 

The design of the buildings also carries some merit. The article describes further innovations in the design of the buildings as the interior of the building was finished in brick work, with the ornament been provided by the structure itself, which largely consists of Norman arches. The use of Norman architecture within a modern design itself could be considered unusual for the period. Further design elements noted within the article give details of the plan of the Church. The building was constructed with a Choir but no Chancel, with the remainder of the church incorporating a Nave, West end, Vestry and Organ Chamber. Given the style and design of the building the Church can be considered a transitional phase of building, incorporating a mixture of traditional and modern church elements. The design of the Church Hall was intended to replicate the architecture of the Church and incorporates facilities for community events and Church education. 

The Church and Church Hall were also designed to be a design feature in the town, with the buildings located in a prominent position on the entrance to Old Goole. Given the time of construction the buildings mark a significant change in building design for the Town of Goole and the wider area. The retention of both the Church and Church Hall in near complete condition should be considered of significance. Research of similar building types has found no other examples of the style of architecture within the region. 

A review of the Heritage Gateway of 20th Century Church architecture (using the search criteria 1930-1939 Church buildings, national location) has noted no directly comparable listed Church buildings. Those buildings which do have some comparison are mostly constructed from plain red brick and were built in a modern style incorporating features of the Art Deco and Scandinavian movement. There is no direct comparison of a 1930s Church building constructed in rustic brick in a modern design influenced by Norman Architecture. The majority of buildings listed within the criteria are on a much larger scale and located in large Parishes within major Cities or large towns. There are no examples of Church architecture of the period designated built on a small scale within a small township such as Old Goole, within the small Parish of Goole. The Heritage Gateway search further shows that there are only two examples of a Church and Church Hall designated as one entity and a further Church listed with the addition of Church Rooms to the rear. Considering the unity of design of the St Mary’s Church and Church Hall a value of significance should be attached to group value of the buildings. 

A Response to the Appeal:

'Although the points are well presented, they would not be regarded by the Department of Culture Media and Sport as being substantive new information sufficient to justify a reassessment of the building. We therefore cannot take this application forward for assessment. The information does not change the view set out in our 2008 advice that the "church displays simplicity of design and finishing which while attractive, is not of the highest architectural quality demanded of the listing criteria for a church of this date". I also disagree with a number of the suggestions such as the use of the interior brickwork structure being innovatory in providing ornament to the interior (this being a typical approach taken with many churches from at least the late C19, most often with cheaply built examples that are rarely listed) and the unification of the design of the church and hall being unusual (again this is seen with many churches nationally from the later C19 onwards, it is rarely noted in listing descriptions because it is not unusual).'

Local Listing

In 2012 the Goole Civic Society prepared a Local List of Heritage Assets based on public consultation, including St Mary's Church. This document was approved by the Goole Town Council. However despite much effort the Local Authority Conservation Department would not accept a full list. They did concede to the policy of Local Heritage Assets based on a case by case basis. 

Conclusion

Sadly Heritage bodies will not consider the building as national interest but accept that it has local interest. This local interest is based on the local crafts men who built the Church and Hall and the unique nature of the buildings being the only physical commemoration of the 1933 Incorporation of the Town. The only Heritage option left therefore is to nominate the building as a non-designated Heritage Asset when a new planning application is proposed, and push the Local Authority to enact the National Planning Policy Framework. 

The Finest Suite of Office's in Yorkshire - Goole's Bank Chambers

In Pevsner’s Guide to the Buildings of the West Riding of Yorkshire there is an entry for the town of Goole, including Goole buildings, such Aire Street, but since ‘much more interesting buildings have not been put up at Goole since, except for the church’. A small number of other buildings are referenced including Goole Hall, The Lowther Hotel, the Water Towers and the only commercial building in Goole – the bank chambers, by H B Thorp.

Mr Henry Bell Thorp was a prominent architect in Goole and the surrounding area, designing in the region of 50 buildings in the area over a period of 30 years. An architect in the mould of the late Victorians Mr Thorp specialised in the Gothic revival and Renaissance styles of architecture, and characteristics of his buildings include the use of red brick and terra cotta detailing.

In a prelude to writing about the full works of Henry Bell Thorp below is a small article, copied from the Goole Times, about a building considered one of the finest office suites in Yorkshire at the time of its erection:

“One of the most notable features in connection with the growth of Goole has been the numerous handsome structures that have been erected in the town during the last year or two. But undoubtedly the most important from an architectural point of view is the splendid block now in course of construction – and, by the way, rapidly approaching completion – at the corner of Church and Stanhope Streets.  These premises, which are commonly known as the “New Bank Building,” are being erected for Messrs Beckett & Co., the well-known Leeds bankers, and are destined to take the place of the unpretentious offices in Boothferry-road, Goole, in which they have carried on their business since they opened a branch in this town. The architect of the new building is Mr H. B. Thorp, of Goole, who may be congratulated on the elegance of the structure he has designed. It forms one of the finest suites of offices in Yorkshire, in addition to the fat it will be finest building of which Goole can boast. It fronts Stanhope-street and Church-street, its length in the former street being 105 feet, and in the latter 106 feet. This building is freely treated in the renaissance style, to be adapted to the purpose for which it is required and is faced with Ruabon Bricks aand red terra cotta dressings throughout from Mr J. C. Edwards Ruabon. The façade has a most imposing appearance. At the angle at the meeting of the two streets I the bank entrance, with a semi-circular arch, carried on fluted pilasters, with panelled soffit. This angle is further enriched by oriel windows, and a terra cotta turret. 

The bank premises are at the corner of the two streets, and consist of a handsome banking room, the walls and ceilings of which will be finished in fibrous plaster mouldings and panels; the floors will be of red tiles, and the desk, screens, &c, of polished Honduras mahogany, to the designs furnished by the architect. There is in the rear a strong room, lined with glazed bricks, with Price’s strong room door and grill, and the walls are of great thickness, while the floor is of concrete. Accommodation is provided in each street for two large blocks of offices. The ground floor in Stanhope-street has already been rented by the Bennett Steamship Company, Limited, and Mr T.L. Williams. The Bennett Steamship Company’s suite consists of a clerks’ room, 44 feet long by 10 feet wide; two manager’s and a book-keeper’s offices, 20 feet 6 inches by 15 feet; and a private office, 15 feet by 15 feet. The whole of the first in Stanhope-street is taken up by Mr W. Meek and the Yorkshire Coal and Steamship Company. It comprises a clerks’ office, 44 feet by 19 feet; book-keeper’s room 25 feet by 15 feet; a captain’s waiting room, 19 feet by 16 feet; and a strong room – the whole forming a capital set of offices. On the ground floor in Church-street offices are rented by Messrs England & Son, solicitors, Goole; they consist of five rooms 16 feet square and a strong room. There is a further set of offices on the first floor and similar offices to those below on the second floor in both Church and Stanhope Streets. The private entrance to the bank manager’s house is in Church Street, and his apartments comprise commodious sitting rooms, kitchen, &c. on the first floor, and on the second floor there are six bed rooms, bath rooms, &c. All the different sets of offices have private lavatories, &c, which are lined with glazed bricks, and fitted up with the latest sanitary improvements. It is proposed to light the building with gas at present, but wires are being laid throughout the whole of the rooms, will this idea of using electricity should it be adopted by the town. The contractors for the work are Messrs W. Nicolson and Son, of Leeds, who are to be congratulated on the excellency of their workmanship, and the following are sub-contractors – Salting, Mr Season, Leeds; plumbing, Mr J. Lindley; Leeds; painting, Mr Barron, Goole; plastering, Mr Mountain, Leeds; terra cotta work, Mr J Edwards, Ruabon; lighting conductors, Messrs Berry and on, Huddersfield.” (Goole Times 30/10/1891)

Since the building was the constructed it has been added to and adapted over its life, including the addition of the Aire and Calder Navigation Offices in the early 20^th century and in the late 20^th century the suites of offices were converted in the home of the Boothferry Borough Council. The turret was taken down in the 1950s but the Bank Chambers remains one of Goole’s finest buildings, and represents a time in Goole’s history when buildings were constructed as a reflection of the town’s growing aspiration and rapid growth in commercial trade.  

The Sites and Monuments Records for Goole

One of the annoyances of being a local history researcher in Goole is that several boundary changes and 'clear outs' have resulted in the town's archives being scattered over a number of different archives. As a result Goole documents and records can be found in Goole Library and Museum, Yorkshire Waterways Museums, and archives and museums based in Beverley, Doncaster, Hull, London and Wakefield, as well as several other locations. Other records can be considered lost, and a fire in the Town's local board offices in 1891, means that little survives before this date anyway. 

In terms of Heritage the standard reference point for informing planning application decisions is to refer to the Heritage Environment Records (HERs). However, if you search for these records on-line, using the Heritage Gateway, you will find that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Records (being Goole's local authority) are not available on-line. Goole's HERs, still referred to as Sites and Monuments Records (SMRs), are located at the Humber Archaeology Partnership offices, based in Hull. Unfortunately the records are not available online, but are available here:

(Index - DOE - Department of Environment; NBR - National Building Record - records start with a Number 9.)

No. (National Buidling)	Building	Date	Pictures	Extant
15935	No.19 Warehouse	6.93		No
92133 (NBR)	Warehouse and Transit Shed, Railway Dock, Bridge Street	6.93	2	No
15930	Stores/Offices (Tanet), next to Bridge Street Aire and Calder Office.  (NBR – 92127)	6.93	1	No
15931	Bothy Store and toilet block (1909-1910) (NBR92129102) and Generator (House) – 1930-50). South Dock	6.93		Yes
15932	South Dock Hoist. Grade II. Accumulator tower. NBR92130.	6.93	Y	Yes
15933	Dry Dock, South Dock. Grade II. NBR 92131		Y	Yes
15934	Barge Dock, No.1 Shed NBR 92134	6.93	Y	No
15936	Railway Water Tower. NBR – 92134. West Dock South – SE7401 2320? Water Tank.	6.93	Y	No
15937	Railway workshop, railway sidings South West Dock c.1860-1880. NBR. 92135			No
15929	Crane, Railway Dock. Cowans Sheldon and Co. Ltd. NBR – 92126		Y	?
15928	Transit Shed, Stanhope Dock, c.1870-1890. NBR – 92118		Y	No
15927	Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways Railway Offices, Stanhope Street. NBR. 92122		Y	Yes
15926	Transit Shed, Aldam Dock North Side NBR. 92120. C. 1880-1890		Y	No
15925	Offices Bond Island. NBR – 92118		Y	Yes
15924	Transit Shed, Aldam Dock, Aire Street, NBR. 92118		Y	No
15923	Bothy, store and toilet. NBR – 8737 1/02			No
6396	Swing Bridge, Goole J. Hatcher ‘Industrial Architecture of Yorkshire (1985).		Y	No
6937	Terrace R, Adam Street c. 1830. Possibly demolished. See also 10523, 10524	1988	Y	No
6938	Boat Hoist Aldam Dock. Hatcher 1086. Waterways World October (1983), 150 Years Port of Goole, British Waterways Board. DOE record – 15.9.87. Also details of a Goole article and a chronicle article 15.5.86 ‘Coal Hoist will be preserved’ as there are preservation orders on the two hoists. Also newspaper article showing picture of demolition. 87371/01. Grade II*		Y	No
6992	Bank Chambers, Stanhope Street. Pevsner	86		Yes
6993	Water Tower, Pevsner and DOE description. HBR	6/93		Yes
6994	25-41 Aire Street, Pevsner			Yes
6995	St Johns Church. Pevsner and DOE			Yes
6998	Boat Hoist, South Dock. DOE decription.  Chronical – 15.5.86 and GT 18.5.86 DOE letters – notes Enid Thompson detailing hoist. Notes for building to look at. British Waterways Board want museum, ABP don’t.	1987	Y	No
10523	DOE description 2 Adam Street			Yes
10524	Theatre Royal – DOE description. Useful photo.	1987	P	Yes
10525	No. 11 Aire Street - DOE description. Useful photo.	1987	P	Yes
10526	MacIntosh and Adjacent property - DOE description. Useful photo.	1987	P	Yes
10527	3-9 Aire Street (Royal) - DOE description. Useful photo.	1987	P	Yes
10528	Lowther DOE report. All modern photographs.			Yes
10527 (?)	Victoria and Ouse Lock – DOE report. Clarke, M (1999) Mile Post Reseach			Yes
10530	Dry Dock. DOE		Y	Yes
10531	Goole Grammar DOE		Y	Yes
10532	Windmill Tower 145 Boothferry Road. DOE and 2007 plans.			Yes
10533 (?)	Hydraulic Accumulator Tower – South Dock basin. DOE and LB photograph 1987. In 1993 the structure was demolished. Keith Miller reports having an accumulator town spot listed on commencement of demolition, but destruction was completed on the ground that the remains were a ‘dangerous structure’ 8/93. The pictues show the Stanhope Dock Hoist in the progress of demolition. This means that the record is actually 10544. Singer, C History of Technology.	1987	Y	Yes (South Dock)
10534	South Dock Bridge, Goole. DOE. Clarke, Mike – Historical Audit, Mile Post Research, July 1999, undertaken for ABP. Reference to ABP plan stores.			No
10535	Coal Waggon Hoist – DOE, HBR 92121. Plans – DC/04/03102/PLB/WESTWW (PA/CONS/10759). Letter.			Yes
10536	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10537	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10538	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10539	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10540	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10541	DOE Bridge Farmhouse			Yes
10542	Lock Up, DOE		Y	Yes
10543	Railway Swing Bridge. DOE P, A p after been hit. Clarke, M report on Bridges, report 2003. Dutch River Swing Bridge (Mile Post Research) Britain’s Historic Railway Bridges, Biddle G (2003), Gazzetter		Y	Yes
10544	Hydraulic Accumulator Tower. Doe. Confused with South Dock.			No
10545	Sluice/Road Bridge. DOE		Y	Yes
6397	Brick Water Tower DOE. NBR – 92124		Y	Yes
6398	Goole Hall, Pevnser and DOE.  Internal pictures.		Y	Yes
8821	Railway moved to North Lincolnshire.
9600	Ref: Archaeology of Industrial Revolution. B Bracegirdle, 1973. Porteous.
7234	Reference to Old Goole – Lock Hill picture.		Y	No
1319	Goole Fields SE7415 2200 – Silver Penny of Henry IV? (Yorkshire Mint 1412-13) discovered in 1947. YAS. SF741 220 – Silver penny of Henry VII 1974. Doncaster Museum Record.			?
20291	First Goole Swing Bridge report. (new)			No
20292	Dutch River Swing Bridge. Reference to M Clarke (2003) Historical Audit. Reference to pictures and description. Extant 25.10.2005.			No
20293	New Bridge Inn – Extant 21.07.2005			No
20622	New Potter Grange. Extant 21.08.2008. Yorkshire possibly 17.11.2006. BBC News 2008 Historic House wrecked by arson.			No
9490	Dutch River Picture and article by PL Smith		Y	Yes
9486	Aire and Calder Navigation			Yes
14450	Goole Cemetery – shown on map. Ref to 11711 pumping mill Goole Cemetery (copied the article)			Yes
14471	Mortuary Chapel  Goole Cemetery	91		Yes
14472	Mortuary Chapel  Goole Cemetery	91		Yes
14473	Lodge, Goole Cemetery.			Yes

The records compose of two main archives. The first is the Department of Environment's (pre-predecessor to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for managing Listed Buildings)  survey for Listed Buildings undertaken in the late 1980s and the second, the National Buildings Record survey undertaken in the early 1990s. The time of the surveys was a transition period for Goole with a number of Victorian structures still surviving on Goole Docks, which were recorded as part of the surveys. It was a period of 'cat and mouse', as soon as an interest was taken in a building steps would be taken to demolish it by the Port Authorities. A number of these structures were Listed at the time, but several were later demolished. Sadly a larger number of the buildings recorded as part of the National Buildings Record were not Listed and have now been demolished. The SMR records still record a large number of buildings surviving in Goole and many have pictures, which can be used as an informative record of unauthorised works to Listed buildings.