Swadlincote, SS Peter and Paul - Diocese of Nottingham

St Peter and St Paul
Newhall Road, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11
National Grid Reference SK297 203
Statement of Importance
St Peter and St Paul is a building of typical design and materials for the
mid-20 th century date, in a plain round-arched style but with an
unexpectedly richly-carved pedimented stone entrance. The associated
presbytery and shrine are of some interest, in particular the latter
which is probably of 19 th century date and a war memorial.
Part 1: Core data
1.1. Listed grade: Not listed
1.2. Conservation Area: No
1.3. Scheduled Ancient Monument: No
1.4. Churchyard: No
1.5. Dates: 1955-8

1.6. Architects: Harrison & Cox
1.7. Date of visit: 18 February 2011
1.8. Name of report author: Clare Hartwell
1.9. Name of parish priest and/or contact(s) made on site: Rev. Richard Hardstaff
1.10. Associated buildings: Presbytery, Shrine, social club.
1.11. Bibliographic references:
The Coppertop St Peter and St Paul Swadlincote 50 th Anniversary 1958-2008, 2008
Catholic Building Review, Southern edition, 1956
Diocesan Yearbook, 1922; 1959
Part 2: The building, its contents and its setting
2.1. Historical background
Figure 1: Unexecuted design by J.S. Brocklesby, Diocesan Yearbook, 1922
A Catholic church was established in Swadlincote in 1886, replaced by a temporary
building on this site in the 1920s. Plans were drawn up for a new church by J. S.
Brocklesby (figure 1), but it seems that they remained unexecuted, apart from the
building of a concrete foundation raft and a rock-faced stone Gothic presbytery; the
congregation continued with a temporary building.
The present building was built in 1955-8 from designs by Harrison & Cox of
Birmingham. The concrete raft foundations laid in 1920-21 were replaced by a
reinforced concrete raft foundation, to guard against the effects of mining
subsidence. The presbytery was extended and a social club erected in the 1970s. A
Calvary within a brick shelter of Gothic design, which is said to date from the 1850s,
stands set back from the Presbytery (photo bottom left). Its origin is obscure, but it
seems that it was on the site by 1918 when it was dedicated as a war memorial.

2.2. The building and its principal fittings and furnishings
The church was described in the CBR (1956) as being in a simple Romanesque style.
It is of light steel framed construction, faced in brown brick with Portland stone
dressings. The (liturgical) west entrance is set in a giant blind arch beneath a
pedimented gable and there is a porch of Portland stone with columns, a broken
pediment and carved figures, including a seated Christ. Windows are generally
round-headed lancets, and there are transepts. The interior has a cedar boarded
ceiling and arcades of plain piers. There is a west gallery and a gallery in the south
transept, with a Lady Chapel in the north transept. The forward altar is of marble,
other furnishings are of simple design and include bench seating.
2.3. The church in its setting
Swadlincote is a small town southeast of Burton-on-Trent. The church stands in a
residential estate on the north side of the centre. It forms part of a group of buildings
on the site with a large car park.
2.4. Listed status
The building is not listed and is not considered to be of listable quality.
Part 3: Managing the building into its future
3.1. Condition
Good.
3.2. Ancillary facilities
These are located in the extended presbytery and social club.
3.3. Access
There is a large car park and level access to the building via a ramp to a doorway on
one side.
3.4. To what extent is the building amenable or vulnerable to change
• As a consequence of remaining in use as a place of worship: There is ample
scope for change and reordering if required.
• As a consequence of being closed as a place of worship and passing into
alternative secular use: Although the building would not lend itself easily to
alternative use there would not be a problem in principle, however the carved
Portland stone porch might be reused elsewhere by the church. The shrine,
which is a war memorial, should be retained (or carefully moved) in a
dignified setting with public access to it.
3.5. Category: 3