Church Of St. Mary

Description

This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.

CHULMLEIGH CHELDON SS 71 SW 6/30 Church of St. Mary GV II* Small parish church. C15 fabric to nave, chancel and probably west tower, extensively restored, refenestrated and upper section of tower probably rebuilt and chancel refaced in C19. Unrendered stone rubble, nave rendered. Slate roof to chancel, asbestos slate roof to nave. Coped parapets with apex crosses.

Plan: west tower, nave, chancel and south porch.

Exterior: squat west tower of 2 stages, the upper stage apparently rebuilt in C19 with high embattled parapets and small square bell-openings to each face. Set back buttresses. Massive relieving arch above small 2 light C19 window at west end.

Blocked doorway with plain slightly cambered stone lintel. C19 south porch has gabled slate roof. Unmoulded virtually semi-circular arched doorway with segmental arched inner doorway. C19 Perpendicular style 3 light window to each side of nave and to east end.

Interior: C15 or early C16 wagon roof to chancel with crenellated wall-plate with floriated decoration at intervals, moulded ribs, the central rib with human head bosses to the base; large bosses at the intersections. C19 wagon roof to nave.

C15/early C16 chancel arch with ogee flanking hollow moulded surround. Late C17 or early C18 communion rails with barley sugar balusters and pulpit with raised and fielded panelled sides to the polygonal drum. Stone flag floors with some very worn late medieval patterned tiles. Unusual chancel "screen" has on each side a C19 timber base, with narrow C18 headrail with small turned balusters surmounted by elaborate and delicate wrought iron open traceried panels, possibly reused from family chest tombs. Left side is dated 1743, right side 1737. Both panels are of 3 bays, left side flanked by fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals surmounted by Classical torches; on the right side these are placed over the 2 outer bays. Both panels have central heraldic shields with elaborate scrollwork to the overthrows.

Bench ends in late C15/early C16 style with elaborate Perpendicular and foliated tracery. Font has elongated lead-lined octagonal bowl on a short stem and square base.

Monuments: Nave north side. Timber board with painted verse Phil.IV.v.6. Early C18 wall monument with inscription to William Webber. Oval medallion in rectangular moulded surround, skull to base, angels to head. Small wall tablet on south side with inscription to Mary Cornwall and Mrs Elston 'concerning whose decease the Reader is referr'd to ye adjoyning monument'. This has Corinthian pilasters flanking oval medallion with inscriptions to the above and other members of the finials. C18.

Over south doorway are 2 plaster medallions with busts in relief.

Listing NGR: SS7342513404

Content

This is part of the Series: IOE01/1022 IOE Records taken by Hedley R Hooper; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England

Rights

© Mr Hedley R. Hooper. Source: Historic England Archive

This photograph was taken for the Images of England project