It has been undisturbed for generations
Liverpool-based Frank Rogers Building Contractors accidentally uncovered a sealed access hatch (Image: Photo courtesy of Frank Rogers Building Contractors)
A fascinating hidden vault that lies beneath a sealed hatch has been rediscovered after decades. First listed in 1971, St Mary’s Church on Knowsley Lane in Knowsley Village opened to the public in 1893 and was designed for the 13th Earl of Derby at a cost of £20,000.
The church has an Early-English style exterior and inside holds a monument to the 14th Earl Edward Stanley, octagonal font carved in 1890 and choir stalls from the early 20th century. Through the decades, the church has welcomed thousands through its doors.
But few know of the “long-forgotten” vault that has been left undisturbed beneath its floors for many years. Liverpool-based Frank Rogers Building Contractors accidentally uncovered a sealed access hatch during instructed works to improve accessibility and renew the nave floor inside St Mary’s Church.
READ MORE: Liverpool building from the ‘era of genteel shopping’ to get new lease of lifeREAD MORE: 30 baby names for boys and girls that were popular 110 years ago
The vault — unknown to current parish staff and not accessed for generations — was confirmed as the Derby family crypt. The final resting place of prime ministers, statesmen and the family behind the Stanley Cup, has now been sensitively restored as part of a landmark heritage project.
Contract manager for Frank Rogers Building Contractors Lewis Culshaw, 27, said the team was shocked to find a flight of stairs while work was underway. Lewis, from Crosby, told the Liverpool ECHO: “We were releveling and making the church grounds more accessible for wheelchair users.
A fascinating hidden vault, beneath St Mary’s Church, Knowsley Village, has been rediscovered after decades(Image: Photo courtesy of Frank Rogers Building Contractors)
“The existing setup within the church meant all the pews were kind of sat on raised timber plinths. We dug it down to put a new suspended timber floor down the two end aisles, with a concrete floor going down the centre aisle. Once we kind of removed the existing timber plinth that was there and dug down a little bit, we found some sandstone flags.
“I was removing a couple of those first immediate sandstone flags and we found a set of stairs that looked to be going quite far down. We managed to move a couple more flags out of the way and get down the set of stairs.
“We went down and found this amazing crypt with big vaulted ceilings and all the architecture that was down there.” Within the crypt lies Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1799–1869) – three-time Prime Minister and the Conservative Party’s longest-serving leader.
READ MORE: Life at ‘happiest’ school that was built out of old aeroplanesREAD MORE: ‘We’ve spent 20 years helping people sell and buy their dream homes’
Also laid to rest in the crypt is Emma Caroline Stanley (1805–1876) – Countess Dowager of Derby, Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (1826–1893) – Foreign Secretary; Britain’s first Secretary of State for India, Mary Catherine Stanley (1824–1900) – wife of the 15th Earl, Constance Stanley (1840–1922) – wife of the 16th Earl; daughter of the 4th Earl of Clarendon. and Sir Arthur Stanley (1869–1947) – third son of the 16th Earl; senior public figure and Red Cross leader.
Lewis said: “It was shock, amazement, that we had just discovered something hasn’t been seen for a long period of the time. I don’t think the church actually knew where it was.
The vault unknown to current parish staff and not accessed for generations, was confirmed as the Derby family crypt(Image: Photo courtesy of Frank Rogers Building Contractors)
“I think there was some kind of understanding of a crypt being previously located in the church – but as far as I’m aware, nobody else understood where it was or what it looked like. Once we did find it, we found some reference to it in a few older books.
“There’s so much character down there and so many amazing features that in today’s society and in today’s construction industry – you’re blown away by some of the details of craftsmanship that went into some of the details. It’s just an honour to work down there and to be a part of the history of the crypt and the church itself.”
Outside St Mary’s Church – contract manager Lewis Culshaw, main director Dean Rogers and director Dave Bracegirdle (Image: Photo courtesy of Frank Rogers Building Contractors)
The works, commissioned by the parish and funded by the current Earl of Derby, stabilised and secured the vault, introduced a new safe access hatch and handrails, installed heritage lighting, resealed and cleaned the external entrance, and improved the nave with a level floor build-up (timber-suspended and solid sections). Reused pew timber was crafted into new furnishings and the font was relocated as part of the reordering.
Martin Hemming, managing director of Frank Rogers Building Contractors, said: “What started as routine works became a remarkable moment for Knowsley. Our team handled the discovery with care, bringing in heritage methods to make the vault safe and accessible without compromising its integrity. We’re proud to help safeguard local history for the parish and for Liverpool.”
READ MORE: Lost Liverpool city centre restaurant that had tropical fish and £5 pastaREAD MORE: Important history behind forgotten ruin on Merseyside beach
St Mary’s, Knowsley, added: “Frank Rogers approached every step with respect — from the moment the hatch was found to the last finishing detail. This project strengthens the bond between our church, the Derby family and the community.”
St Mary’s has a long and fascinating history – and this weekend, the church is also hosting two heritage open days. You can find out more here.