An impressive landmark close to the River Wharfe, St Mary's Church was an interesting place to stop and explore soon after the start of our walk.
The first stone church was built around 1150AD, but the current church was later, being built in the 15th century, with further additions and changes later. Being close to the river, the church was subject to flooding, so the whole of the building, apart from its tower, was taken down stone by stone between 1875 and 1877, and rebuilt five feet (1.5 metres) higher.
Although this solved the problem for most normal floods, the church once again found itself flooded and at the centre of a lake at the end of 2015 and early 2016 when one of the worst floods ever recorded took place.
magnificent architecture! This building is filled with history. Amazing to think of moving such a huge spectacular structure to conserve it
Happy to see that the floods have not affected it badly
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Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
In addition to the rebuilding of the church at a higher level, in the 1980s a flood bank was built between the churchyard and the river, although it proved quite inadequate for the 2015 / 16 flood. Funding is available to strengthen the flood defences, but the nature of those improvements is still being debated.
Happy to see that the floods have not affected it badly
fav
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
In addition to the rebuilding of the church at a higher level, in the 1980s a flood bank was built between the churchyard and the river, although it proved quite inadequate for the 2015 / 16 flood. Funding is available to strengthen the flood defences, but the nature of those improvements is still being debated.
Ian
Thank you Vesna, it was an interesting building to explore.
Ian