West Boldon, Church of St. Nicholas

This church was listed Grade I in 1949 with the following description:
'Parish church. Early C13, with later south porch; C19 restorations and north porch. Early alterations to the 3-bay nave, with north and south aisles; chancel has 3 bays. West tower, with clasping buttresses, bears a broach spire. While the windows are C19 there are original headstops to hoodmoulds on north wall. A round-headed block door in the south chancel wall has keystone date 1767. 3-light east window. Interior : nave arcades have octagonal piers, moulded capitals, some nailhead decorations; 2 C14 effigies of priests, one, with restored head, in a tomb recess in the south aisle wall, the other in the chancel. Two pre-reformation bells. Beside the south porch is a foot-scraper.'
It had previously been agreed that the church originated in the early C13, and initially consisted of an aisleless nave and chancel (6), with tower/spire (5). Before the mid C13 north and south aisles were added to the nave, this going on (according to 6) while the tower and broach spire were being built, the aisles being taken to the west face of the tower. The nave thus acquired three-bay arcades with octagonal piers. A stone-vaulted south porch also dates from the C13. (5) considers the present chancel may postdate the aisles. The building underwent several 18th century and 19th century restorations, and the only original windows to survive are those in the tower, and the west walls of the aisles (with dog tooth).
Peter Ryder suggests that the nave may date from the Anglo-Saxon period with reused Roman stonework. Fittings: one medieval bell and base and shaft of font perhaps 13th century in date.
Part of the churchyard wall was archaeologically recorded before demolition and rebuild in May 2004. The upper part of the wall was found to be modern, but the lower third is of an undated earlier build, still with its original mortar. WWI war memorial inside - http://www.boldonwm.uk/stnic.htm