St Martin's Church, Brampton

St Martin’s Church stands in Front Street, Brampton, Cumbria, on the site of a former 17th-century hospital turned chapel. It is the only church designed by Philip Webb, a leading figure in the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and Nikolaus Pevsner called it a remarkable building. The church replaced Brampton Old Church, which lies about two kilometres west of the town centre. Built between 1874 and 1878, the tower was added in 1906. Webb worked closely with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and the church reflects their artistic ideals. The building is constructed from red sandstone with green slate roofs and a lead spire. Its plan includes a square west tower, a four-bay nave with aisles, and a single-bay chancel with a two-storey vestry. The stained glass, made by Morris & Co. between 1878 and 1880, was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. The east window, a memorial to Charles Howard, features tiers of figures including the Good Shepherd and angels. The font dates from the 13th century, and the three-manual organ was rebuilt in 2008 by Nicholson & Co. To the west is St Martin’s Hall, built in 1895 and now an antiques centre, while nearby Church Cottage, built in the early 19th century, once housed a chiropodist’s surgery. The church holds weekly services and summer concerts, though it is now locked during the day after vandalism in 2009. A recent proposal to install a lift was refused to protect the building’s historic character.