St Oswalds, Thornton in Lonsdale

St Oswalds, Thornton in Lonsdale, Conan Doyle

St Oswalds, Thornton in Lonsdale

Where is it – England, Yorkshire and the Humber

Who looks after it –  Church authorities 

What is it –  Church, Free access, Literary 

When is it from – Medieval

St Oswald’s, Thornton in Lonsdale, is originally a Norman church built by the Mowbray family on the site of an Anglo-Saxon predecessor. The handsome tower is 15th century and the building was rebuilt 1933-35 after a fire. Inside are monuments dating from the 17th century and a 12th century slab possibly commemorating the 4th Baron Mowbray.

The church’s main claim to fame is that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle married Louise Hawkes there in 1885 and the wedding reception is claimed to have been held in the 17th century pub opposite, the Marton Arms. Some also believe that Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ was set nearby. The Bronte sisters famously went to school in nearby Cowan Bridge and their final coach stop from Haworth was just outside the church, opposite the Church Stile Inn (the Marton Arms). There’s also a fine set of stocks on the road on the west of the church.

 


Address

North Yorkshire LA6 3PB 

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