English Heritage sites near Tunstall Parish
WARTON OLD RECTORY
7 miles from Tunstall Parish
A rare survival of a large 14th-century stone house with great hall and chambers. It served as a residence and courthouse for the wealthy and powerful rectors of Warton.
STOTT PARK BOBBIN MILL
17 miles from Tunstall Parish
In the Lake District in Cumbria, this extensive working mill was begun in 1835 to produce the wooden bobbins vital to the Lancashire spinning and weaving industries.
SAWLEY ABBEY
20 miles from Tunstall Parish
The remains of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1148, set on the banks of the Ribble against a backdrop of dramatic hills.
AMBLESIDE ROMAN FORT
24 miles from Tunstall Parish
The well-marked remains of a 2nd-century fort with large granaries, probably built under Hadrian's rule to guard the Roman road from Brougham to Ravenglass and act as a supply base.
BOW BRIDGE
24 miles from Tunstall Parish
This narrow 15th-century stone bridge across Mill Beck carried an old packhorse route to nearby Furness Abbey.
PIEL CASTLE
24 miles from Tunstall Parish
The impressive ruins of a 14th-century castle with a massive keep, inner and outer baileys, and towered curtain walls still standing.
Churches in Tunstall Parish
St John the Baptist
Church Lane
Tunstall
LANCASTER
015242 72540
Please check service times. Normally 2nd and 4th Sundays (1st and 3rd Sundays at Leck); 5th Sunday in rota across all six churches in the Benefice. Extra Services at Christmas and Easter. Details on www.eastlonsdalebenefice.wordpress.com/churches/#tunstall
A church at Tunstall is recorded in the Domesday Survey but the oldest structure in the present church dates from C.13th. The church was rebuilt around 1415 by Sir Thomas Tunstal. Alterations were made in the C.16th and the church was restored in 1907. In the early C.19th the church was attended by the Brontë sisters during the year they attended the Clergy Daughter's School at nearby Cowan Bridge. There is a special Bronte history display.
A Roman votive stone, probably from the nearby Roman fort at Burrow, has been built into the surround of a window in the north aisle. Under the tower arch is C.18th oval marble font on a sandstone base. The east window contains glass from the Netherlands dating from the late C.15th and 16th. It was donated to the church in 1810 by Richard Toulmin North of nearby Thurland Castle. In the church are a number of memorials to the Fenwick family. The two-manual organ was built in 1923 by Harrison & Harrison, and was restored in summer 2017. There is a set of three fine bells, and we are looking for regular bell ringers.
An imposing painting of The Lamentation of Christ, thought to be by Francesco Montemezzano (1540-1602), school of Veronese, has hung in the church for over 200 years. It featured in the BBC programme 'Fake or Fortune' in July 2015.
There is a large and attractive churchyard, with many historic tombstones. A sandstone pillar has the marks of an old sundial on it, and is probably the remains of a very ancient cross, recognised by the OS; information welcome!
There are stunning views along and across the Lune valley, and east to Ingleborough. The church is a popular wedding venue.
Pubs in Tunstall Parish
Lunesdale
Now describes itself as a gastropub - a large dining room is at the centre of this pub, but there are some smaller rooms for quiet drinking or to bring the dog. Completely refurbished 2017 in a white-walled Florentine style. Pictures by lo...