Grade II* listed · St. Helens

Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury)

Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury) is a Grade II* listed building in St. Helens, first listed on 11 September 1951. It is one of 13 Grade II* entries among 149 listed buildings in St. Helens; 0% of St. Helens’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury)
Grade	Grade II* — particularly important, more than special interest
List entry number	1199094
Date first listed	11 September 1951
Local planning authority	St. Helens
Location	53.46699, -2.75522 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1199094

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents St. Helens will require for your works on Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury), lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest — about 5.8% of listed buildings. Applications for listed building consent are notified to Historic England.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury)

Name	Grade	Distance
Cross to South of Windleshaw Abbey	II	11 m
The Malthouse	II	522 m
53 and 55, Rainford Road	II	593 m
Cockleshell Cottage	II	598 m
59, Rainford Road	II	601 m
Grotto by Lake to North of Victoria Park House	II	850 m
The Mansion House	II	890 m
Cowley High School, South Block	II	1.1 km
St Marks Gate Lodge	II	1.1 km
Church of St Mary, Lowe House	II	1.5 km

Frequently asked questions

Is Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury) listed?

Yes. Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury) is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, list entry number 1199094, first listed on 11 September 1951. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Ruins of Windleshaw Abbey in Roman Catholic Cemetery (Chapel of Saint Thomas of Canterbury)?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from St. Helens, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.