Immingham Church - A Visitors Guide to the History
St Andrew’s Church in Immingham.
Little did I expect to find myself here on Christmas day, nor did I expect to be eating my Christmas day lunch in a graveyard !
Give it a read - it was a good trip
Even though it was sub-zero temperatures your Holy Hero set out to the wilds of Immingham after a mention by David J. Smith and further egging on by Chris Keyworth . . . well I had to go
Having a walk around the church, as I always do, looking for carvings, heads and the like, also old carved stone which has been reused 
during periods of rebuild or renovation I saw a nice piece of stonework built into the wall near the main door - as seen on the right.
I also saw this fella on the left, hello I thought - he looks like the devil !
He’s one of the heads sat under a window arch toward to the rear aspect of the building near the tower.
As look would have it a gentleman turned up and asked me if I knew much of the place, answering in the negative he asked - have you seen the Devil’s Head ?
Well, according to this guy local legend when he was a child was that if you ran around the church 3 times then stared into the devil’s face - the devil himself would appear. Whilst being more than equal to the task and naturally unafraid of confronting the devil, as no doubt one day I’ll have to, I decided twas better not to risk it - I shouldn’t want to be blamed for bringing the devil to earth on Christmas Day - I’m unpopular enough as it is !
I was also told the story which David originally mentioned concerning the Mooning Gargoyle !
This chap was a retired undertaker . . . so he should know these things !
Gargoyle Sending a Message to the Residents of Killingholme
It seems, or local legend has it anyway, that in a neighbourly spirit the residents of Immingham came to help those in Killingholme when it came to building their church.
However, when Immingham church was looking for some reciprocal help with their church the residents of Killingholme, in a particularly unchristian spirit it has to be said, were noticeable by their absence.
Hence our grotesque friend here atop the tower showing his rear and looking through his legs - right in the direction of Killingholme 
St Andrew’s Church Immingham on Christmas Day
The site is ancient with the first known priest being recorded in 1219 and there is still Norman work extant.
The chancel arch and some of the lancet windows date back to the 13th century whilst the tower and much of the renovation is 15th century.
Along with the interesting gargoyles there is also a very rare King James II royal coat of arms dated 1688.
Mee makes mention of of some interesting oil paintings inside located between the windows, they are described as being of the apostles and ‘curious’.
Dating from the 18th century it’s a shame I couldn’t get to see them on my visit.
We’d be very keen to learn any more about this church so if you know anything or would just like to share and memories or knowledge please feel free to leave a comment - we welcome all input
All the best
Rod
Steve... said,
December 25, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
Devil or Pan ?
Rod said,
December 26, 2009 @ 8:44 am
Steve,
good point - I’m just going by ‘local legend’ as they say
Cheers
Rod
Rod said,
December 26, 2009 @ 8:55 am
Kindly sent in by Neville, an even ruder carving on the church !
Fabulous !
A typical religious Symbol
Amiguru said,
December 26, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
Rod,
117 metres from the church tower there was occupation in a much earlier time……
N
le the Devil
Rod said,
December 26, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
Neville,
Saxons !
Rod
Amiguru said,
December 26, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Rod,
……earlier…..
Saxons! - no
N
le the Devil
chris keyworth said,
December 26, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
Iron age upwards, did you find the rings on the church Rod?
regards
chris
Amiguru said,
December 26, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
Chris,
……earlier……
Iron age - no
N
le the Devil
Femme Fatale said,
December 26, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Rod,
Lovely pictures again,what a nice spot for a Christmas Day picnic
Is it me, or does the mooning Gargoyle bear a slight resemblance to the Legendary Bart Simpson?
Hope your Boxing Day was equally relaxing
FF
xx
chris keyworth said,
December 26, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
There is evidence of iron age settlement around immingham creek and at every inlet along this part of the river, i have found Iron age coins off mill lane and at leonards farm just north of mill lane, there is also a settlement under the CHP station on rosper road killingholme and also another at chase hill on rosper road, iron age deposits were found recently on land next to immingham church along with part or a roman road, construction on habrough park also unearthed iron age and roman pottery, ironage and roman pottery has also been found just over the A180 on stallingborough road. its everywhere Nev you just have to know where to look..
regards
chris
chris keyworth said,
December 26, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
oh and there is a roumer of an iron age boat that had been descovered at houltons covert immingham, but ive never seen any notes about it probably lost in the connoco vaults somwhere..
regards
Amiguru said,
December 27, 2009 @ 12:32 am
Chris,
I am not denying anything about Ironage finds, if you read my last post it says:
“Chris,
……earlier…… ”
Iron age - no
I do know what I am talking about. As you say, ‘you do have to know where to look’.
Regards,
le the Devil
N
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Chris,
round and round the church but saw no rings - even asked the undertaker !
Tried to send tyou a text but there was no service - xmas day system overload I suspect
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 9:35 am
FF,
Bart Simpson - that must have been the invisible draw - you’re right - well being a woman you would be
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 9:37 am
Neville,
Neolithic flints and axe heads ??
Rod - fingers crossed
Amiguru said,
December 27, 2009 @ 9:47 am
Rod,
The master has unerringly homed in!
- “Neolithic……axe head”
There is a second related item too from the same location. Images shall wing their way…….
Regards,
le the Devil
N
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 10:05 am
He shoots he scores - get in there ! I hope you’re reading this Chris
I won’t crow about it Neville as there could be something of a broken clock syndrome here
Will sorts the pics out asap
Best
Rod
chris keyworth said,
December 27, 2009 @ 10:52 am
where have they been recorded nev as they are not recorded on the SMR databasei know they must exist from immingham but if they are not recorded then no one knows about them and the historical link becomes broken, there are some in the Immingham museum but there is no provenance for them, where the ones you know about in context or found loose on the surface..
regards
chris
chris keyworth said,
December 27, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Rod
the rings are there i will go take some pics when i get out with the dog, also the is a painting which was in the Immingham Museum, which clearly shows boats near to the church, i know its there as ive seen it with my own eyes, Nev you must know about the rings on the church…
regards
chris
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
HI Chris,
thanks for that, much appreciated, I saw a metal ’stud’ in one of the tower corners but no rings
Best
Rod
Rod said,
December 27, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
Kindly sent in by Neville Sisson
Amiguru said,
December 27, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
Thanks Rod,
The top image is a drawing I made of a neolithic axe in green tuff originating from well known Langdale Axe Factory. It was found in 1975 among earth disturbance caused by the building of the clubhouse on Immingham Golf course. There were no digital cameras in those days and I seem to recall that I had no film in my camera so made the drawing instead before the axe went off to Scunthorpe Museum for recording, testing and identification. I did not find the axe but it was loaned to me for the above drawing.
The following day I went to the building site to look for any other artifacts and was amazed to find the second item lying among the debris. I suspected that it was a tool due to the way the ends had been shaped. I had been recently reinforcing my knowledge of flint tools and so had appropriate books to hand. On checking one of the library books I had out on loan. I found a picture of a smaller but almost identical tool being used to demonstrate pressure flaking.
Of course these days with the web at our finger tips it is simple to check out these things but then it was fortuitous that I had the books to hand and had only a year or two prior been camping in the Lake District and made it a a mission to visit the Langdale axe factory. I was fortunate to find a discarded rough-out on the scree slope there so was familiar with the type of stone in the above specimen.
I thik that pushes Immingham’s history back a few millenia, dont you?
Regards,
le the Devil
N
Amiguru said,
December 27, 2009 @ 8:21 pm
Sorry guys,
Forgot to mention that the tool is made from deer antler which was used as it is very strong and durable.
N
le the Devil
chris keyworth said,
December 27, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
well that answers that question i suppose, excuse me for swearing but BLOODY SCUNTHORPE MUSEUM. In future readers please if you find an item in Immingham send it to Lincoln SMR it then gets recorded for our area as it is Nev these items are now lost to the records, My own copy of the SMR of Lincolnshire gets updated every 6 months its that big i have it on a seperate laptop, your items dont even turn up in the Archaeological Survey of Humberside the bible…. Can i suggest Nev you write up your notes and send them to Lincoln so they apear on the records, they are important items to be unrecorded. Scunthorpe was renowned for miss recording finds up until Kevin Leahy took over, they are now much more officiant at it..
regards
chris
Rod said,
December 28, 2009 @ 8:42 am
Neville,
that’s absolutely superb - it’s quite staggering to think what went on in certain areas just on our doorsteps.
It also completetly alters the perception of what is ‘old’
Truly fascinating
All the best
Rod
Amiguru said,
December 28, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Hi Rod and Chris,
As Rod knows, I’ve yet more skeletons, (pun intended,) to bring out of the cupboard.
Yes, as you observe Chris, things were a bit chaotic then particularly as ‘we’ had only just become South Humberside the year before, but ironically, I think Kevin Leahy was in post then. Just checking my files I have a letter from him dated October 1979 when he was Keeper of Archaeology.
Yes, I’ll do something about reporting the artifacts in due course but at least our excellent Maestro has enabled us to reveal all to the world, albeit in an informal manner. At the moment I am frantically filling my time away from school rummaging in loft, cupboards, drawers garage and web to retrieve moth-balled artifacts and facts to feed the site.
Yes I know of the rings in the wall story but as far as I can recall, I haven’t seen them. I don’t doubt their existence but I am dubious as to the purpose of them. I would suggest that they may have been for mounted worshippers to tether their horses to whilst they were in the church or for tethering goat ‘lawnmowers’. I make these suggestions, firstly as I know Rod likes lateral thinking and secondly, because the church, as is almost invariably the case, is built on higher ground and The Washdyke crossing the marshland would be lower. Current levels are: road at church gate, (so as not to be distorted by graveyard lift,) 23 ft.; rough area SE of Homestead Park, 3 ft.
,) may have seen the rings and thought something on the lines of “Oohh, Immingham, Pilgrim Fathers, Boat, Tie-up…perfect!”……Just a thought.
I would suggest tentatively that someone, (no names no pack drill, and definately no one who can read this now
Once again I’d like to thank Rod for facilitating the opportunity for us all to share both found objects, known facts, experiences and feet, (aka legends,) in an interesting yet, hopefully, non-stuffy way.
Regards,
le the Devil
N
Rod said,
December 28, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
Neville,
some interesting points and I really enjoy getting as much information in the right spot as possible.
It’s hugely interesting debating the possibilities of various things and the information those discussions threw up is very valuable.
Poignant to this point is the mention of the pirate’s grave by the chap I met here. I’d bet the story started because of the misinterpretation of the skull & cross bones on his stone but it still persists and the story is the better for a bit of folklore and other ideas.
I’d certainly encourage anybody to mention theories or ideas whatever they may be - who knows what information they may hold or help dig up. It’s especially useful if they create some friendly debate and lead to even more ideas and information coming to light - as has happened so often on this site.
Best
Rod
David J. Smith said,
December 29, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
Hi Chris. You’re not getting mixed up with Old Clee church re the rings for boats to tie up against, are you? I know there are some on there. I’ve never seen any on Immingham church, but I’m not saying they’re not there.
By the way, are you doing anything next sunday? If you are free, I wondered if you fancied looking for Miss Venus.
Regards
Dave
chris keyworth said,
December 29, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
hi david
no i am certain about immingham church a few people have mentioned it, unfortunatly the woods were miss venus is, is off limits until the middle of Feb due to shooting being in progress but after then i would gladly take you up there for a look round.
regards
chris
David J. Smith said,
December 29, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Ok Chris, we’ll leave it until Feb then. That will just work out well with my work rota. Looking forward to meeting you.
I’ll have a good look around St. Andrews next time I’m there.
Regards
Dave
chris keyworth said,
December 29, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
I walk past st andrews everyday with the dog but have never bothered to go in for a closer inspection but i fully intend to
regards
chris
Amiguru said,
March 27, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
Rod,
Here are some references to Immingham in the Calendar Patent Rolls:
7 November 1313 tempus Edward II
“Richard de Athelyngfiet and Nicholas de Immyngham, monks of Seleby,
bringing news of the death of William, late abbot of that place, have letters
of licence to elect.”
26 May 1334 tempus Edward III
“Licence for the alienation in mortmain by William de Immyngham,
chaplain, to the prior and convent of Drax, in satisfaction of 60s. of the
10l. yearly of land and rent which they had the late king’s licence to
acquire, of a messuage, six tofts and a carucate and a half of land, in Hilton
in Cleveland, which are not held in chief as appears by the inquisition taken
by William de Clapham, escheator in the counties of York, Northumberland,
Cumberland and Westmoreland.”
21 February 1365 tempus Edward III
“Licence for the alienation in mortmain by Gilbert de Umframvylle,
earl of Angus, to the prior and convent of Kyme of twenty -nine
messuages and 42 bovates of land in Immyngham, co. Lincoln, is
held in chief, in aid of their sustenance and to do certain works of
piety according to his ordinance.”
This one is in a list of dozens of accused who literally ‘got away with murder’, all being pardoned for one reason or another:
13 March 1327 tempus Edward III
John son of William le Clerke of Rothewell for the death of William
de Immyngham; with general pardon.
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
March 27, 2010 @ 6:54 pm
Neville,
these names are really interesting, I mean . . . Gilbert de Umframvylle . . . he must have done all sorts - the names seem to scream historic interest to me.
It’s fantastic to see these resources of information building up Neville
Many thanks indeed
Rod
chris keyworth said,
March 27, 2010 @ 9:04 pm
21 February 1365 tempus Edward III
“Licence for the alienation in mortmain by Gilbert de Umframvylle,
could this be the same Gilbert of Humbervil road Immingham ? or lands on spring street..
have you found the murder yet Nev an the Perp at Newhouse in the calender of patent rolls?
regards
chris
Amiguru said,
March 28, 2010 @ 10:33 am
Chris,
Humberville Road and Spring Street didn’t exist in the 14th. century. That area was part of the Ings then and was south of Dyke Lane as it was then known.
Re the Newhouse murder, is this something you wish to know or something you already know and wish me to look up as there are hundreds of murder cases in the rolls?
What’s more, they cover all recorded cases of major incidents in all the courts of the crown throughout the land from 1216 to 1452 in 16 volumes. The only ordering is chronological, therefore, give me a time frame if you wish me to pursue. Added to the search issues are the vagaries of spelling which in the case of Newhouse, as you know, are many and varied. e.g. Newhouse, Newsham, Newehuse, Newhus, Neusum, Nusum and so on as well as the fact that the Lincolnshire Newsham is not the only one. So, when?
Regards,
Neville
Amiguru said,
June 15, 2010 @ 12:23 am
Rod,
Another entry from the Commission of Enquiry into the state of the Religious dispersed by the Dissolution of Monasteries etc.:
“Alice Coventrie of Immingham formerly a nun of Wallingwells (Notts.) with a pen[sion] of £2 granted 28 Jan., 31 Hy. VIII. She
is not married. Richard Coventrie cl[er]k of Immingham, her brother, who appears for her, swears that she is unable to be
present because she is too ill to travel.”
Regards,
Neville
RButhnot said,
January 31, 2011 @ 10:27 am
As good a place as any… Looking at Hutesons Funeral Parlour at ‘Top End’, it’s plain that the dedication stone has been deliberately vandalised at some point. I happen to know that it was done during the building’s time as the Immingham Museum, and by xxxxxxx, but can anyone suggest what grudge might have been indulged at the time?
Stumpy said,
November 4, 2011 @ 7:40 am
after reading all this fantastic history on Immingham they now plan a concrete skate park on homestead with in mind what has been said above would the park have had in the past a settlement as it being so close to church and next to golf club where finds where located
Chris Keyworth said,
November 4, 2011 @ 2:11 pm
There is some possibility of there being some Archaeology on the site but this would be taken into account when the planning assesment was carried out and i am sure if they think there is any chance of running into anything during the construction there will be somone there carrying out a watching brief who will be more than capable of dealing with it.
regards
chris…