Brigham: Church Art and Local History

Church art and local history are a clear focus in Brigham. The Church of St Bridget is a Grade I listed building and a landmark of the Derwent Valley. Its architecture, stone fragments and historic bells offer different ways to explore the history of the area.

Church of St Bridget: Architecture, Stones and Bells

The painted plaster and timber ceilings in the nave, chancel and Lady Chapel, the south aisle, were created during restoration work carried out from 1864 to 1876 under William Butterfield. In 2013, the ceilings in the nave and Lady Chapel were restored to their original and remarkable condition. The church therefore offers a glimpse of both a defining 19th-century restoration phase and later work on the ceilings.

A sundial dating from 1684 stands in the churchyard to the south of the church. St Bridget’s Church is open for services on the first and third Sundays of the month; ongoing renovation work limits opening. If you are planning to attend a service, check the church’s latest notices beforehand.

The church contains Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian stones, as well as fragments of crosses. Notable motifs include a cross-head with free arms and a human figure, a feature seen on very few other crosses. The two-part cross base has distinctive animal depictions on its top and sides. These details make the stone collection a subject in its own right, alongside the church’s later architecture.

The old tower contains three bells. The middle bell is made of brass, dates from the Middle Ages and is thought to be from around 1320. Churchcare of the Church of England classifies it as a bell of historical significance. Its material, approximate date and classification give it a distinctive place in local history.

Memorial and Other Historical Connections

Brigham War Memorial stands in the churchyard near the entrance to the church and is listed as a Grade II building. It commemorates 22 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 16 men who fell in the Second World War. Both numbers and both wars are part of the memorial’s specific commemorative purpose.

Brigham Hall adds to this picture as a Grade II farmhouse dating from the mid-18th century. Fletcher Christian’s history can also be understood through two distinct local connections: Moorland Close is identified as his birthplace; Christian was baptised in Brigham on 25 September 1764. His baptism in Brigham and the identified birthplace are separate details.

The Cockermouth & Workington Railway is another clearly dated connection. It operated from 1847 to 1966 and had a station in Brigham. Local history therefore includes a specific chapter of railway history alongside buildings and memorial sites.

At High Ellerbeck Bridge there is an abandoned, overgrown cattle pound dating from the early 19th century. It is considered a rare surviving example in this area. Its present condition is part of the context for understanding the structure, as is the period in which it was built.

Discover more destinations: Elterwater, Grange Over Sands, Rusland, Embleton, Holmrook, Morland, Garrigill, Mealsgate

For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.