The Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Lawrence is a situated in the centre of the village of Cauldon and of its widespread parish which includes Cauldon Lowe and part of Waterhouses.
There has been a church on the site since the 12th Century, although the present building dates from 1786 whilst incorporating some earlier remains.
The church is a Grade II listed building, constructed of stone from the local quarry at Cauldon Low. (
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The church consists of a nave, chancel and north aisle with square piers (rebuilt in 1926) incorporating a Lady Chapel. There is a vestry adjoining the tower to the north and a porch was added in 1885. (
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The Church is described in Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire (1896) as follows;
"The church of St. Mary and St. Lawrence is a small building of stone, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and a western tower with four pinnacles, containing 3 bells: in the church are monuments to the families of Cropper, 1814; Wilmot, 1843; Marshall, 1800 and Whieldon, 1807: the chancel was partly rebuilt in 1784 by Sampson Whieldon Esq. the lay rector, and the nave and tower a few years previously: in 1886 a new south porch was erected by Ralph Wooliscroft Esq. of Leek, in memory of his father and mother, new pulpit, font and lectern introduced, the flooring relaid and the church reseated, at a cost of about £250; a choir vestry was built in 1890: there are sittings for 120 persons." Source: (
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The plaque that gives the date the porch was erected is inside the porch. It is weather worn and difficult to photograph and read.
It is inscribed as follows;
'To the Glory of God
and in the grateful memory of
GEORGE & HANNAH WOOLLISCROFT
This Porch is Erected by their Children
A.D. 1885:
________________________________________
G.W. BORN AUG 10TH 1788 DIED JUN 13TH 1865
H.W. BORN SEPT 20TH 1789 DIED OCT 6TH 1843'
The 1841 Census shows George and Hannah living in Cauldon.
George Wolliscoft 50 Head - General Agent
Hannah Wolliscoft 50 wife
George Wolliscoft 18
Ann Wolliscoft 15
Richard Wolliscoft 12
Ralph Wolliscoft 9
(Ralph was the son who erected the porch in memory of his mother and father)
1851 Census
The Village
George Woolliscroft 62 - farmer 24 acres
Mary Day 38 daughter - house keeper
George Harry Penny 28 -Lodger curate
James Worthington 14 - farm servant
The 1861 Census shows the following information:
Cauldon Low
George Woolliscroft 72 Head - Brewery Agent
Ann Woolliscroft 35 Daughter
John Rider 16 Grandson
Frances Whieldon 65 sister in law
George died on 13th June 1865, his will lists him as a farmer of Cauldon. Executors of his will were Ralph Woolliscroft son, an ironmonger from Leek and Reverend William Carlisle Ward of Carlton. Effects were listed as under £200.