Building » Platt Bridge – Holy Family

Platt Bridge – Holy Family

Lily Lane, Platt Bridge, Wigan WN2

A modest post-war church, built using modern construction techniques and traditional forms.

Platt Bridge expanded in the nineteenth century as a coal-mining village. The mission was established in 1893, when a school-chapel was built. The present church dates from 1960.

Description

Tall aisled nave with entrance loggia across the liturgical west front between a northwest tower, and a western extension of the south aisle. At the east end of the church is a shallow sanctuary projection. The walls are faced with red brick laid in Flemish bond, the pitched nave roof is covered with Welsh slate. At the western end the triple-arched loggia sheltering the main door is set between a rectangular northwest tower which is devoid of ornament apart from a doorway in the west face and a single round-headed window in each face at the upper stage.  In the western gable of the nave is a single round-headed window.  The side aisles have small rectangular windows and flat roofs. Above the aisles the nave has a clerestorey with seven round-headed windows a side. The short sanctuary has three tall thin windows on each side between narrow brick piers; the east wall is blind.

Internally, the concrete portal frame of the building is clearly visible, with the vertical piers inclining to form the principals of the pitched roof. Between the uprights of the frame are low semi-circular arches into the aisles. At the west end of the nave is a gallery, underbuilt to provide a vestibule. At the east end a triangular-headed arch opens to the side-lit sanctuary, whose east wall is lined with timber boarding, against which is a hanging Rood under a canopy. The nave is carpeted throughout, with the original benches.

Entry amended by AHP 11.01.2021

Heritage Details

Architect: Massey & Massey

Original Date: 1960

Conservation Area: No

Listed Grade: Not Listed