Details
STANWAY DIDBROOK
SP 03 SE
4/103 Church of St George
4.7.60
GV I
Parish Church. C13, late C15, C18, minor alterations C19. Roughly
coursed, squared stone or random rubble, ashlar dressings, ashlar
to tower and west end nave; stone slate roof. Nave, chancel,
western tower. West facade: 3-stage tower, clasped by nave each
side. Angled buttress to nave each side, moulded plinth, angled
buttress to tower. Boarded door in 2 leaves, old iron hinges,
small door cut in one leaf, moulded surround, 4-centred arch, sunk
spandrels, hoodmould. Three-light window over, Perpendicular
tracery, casement moulding, hoodmould; string course, 2-light
mullioned window, cusped heads to lights, hoodmould; string course
with gargoyles at corners, crenellated parapet, crocketed corner
finials. South side: angle buttress to corner, moulded plinth, 2-
light window, behind casement moulding, reticulated tracery, wide
buttress. No plinth to east: 2-light window with Y tracery, iron
opening light, replacing doorway. Ashlar masonry stops to east:
blind lancet, 3-light window, Perpendicular tracery, casement
moulding to outside, iron opening light. Square-set buttress just
beyond line of east gable to nave. Gabled parapet west end; tower
with angled buttresses, dripmould over roof, lancet, string course:
above as west end, but with two lead chutes to drain roof.
Chancel, slightly set back from nave, two 2-light Perpendicular
windows, deep chamfer, flat heads; between windows boarded door,
4-centred arch, panelled spandrels, hoodmould. Angled buttress,
parapet gable, cross on apex. East end angled buttresses, 3-light
Perpendicular window, deep chamfer, hoodmould with circular stops.
Headstone against wall below. North elevation: chancel with
plinth, 2 windows as south. Nave: buttress as south, plinth; 3-
light Perpendicular window, casement moulding, offset to wall just
below eaves; buttress. Two-light window, Y tracery, lean-to cover
to boiler room below, stove-pipe flue; buttress; 2-light window
with reticulated tracery, aisled buttress. Tower above as south
side.
Interior: tower supported by 2 octagonal piers, moulded bases and
caps, asymmetrical arches across 'aisles', giving 3-arch screen to
nave proper. Wide nave, elliptical chancel arch, Roman Doric
pilasters, moulded head, plain keystone; panelling each side, with
further pilasters in corners. Above, exposed gable truss, close
studding below collar, king strut and feather bracing above. Tomb
recess in north wall, foiled head, foliate cross slab below. Tie-
beam trusses with collar and double angle struts; one truss with
inserted collar; 2 pairs butt purlins with windbraces: plaster
ceiling removed, probably C19. Chancel: door recess on north,
probably for rood stairs; piscina; C17 communion rails, turned
balusters, moulded rail. Braced collar rafter roof, with ashlar
pieces, at one time plastered. Wine-glass pulpit, fielded
panelling to sides, with wide reading shelf; octagonal sounding
board over, panelled underside, projecting corners, moulded edge.
Semi-octagonal reading desk below, made up from C15 panelling.
Pews, probably C17, plain ends, moulded top; panelled, probably
early C19 box pew, seats and backs faced cloth. Octagonal stone
font, blind arcading to stem and bowl. Two chests, one leather
covered, one iron straps; 2 hatchments. 1735 marble wall monument
to Richard Tracy, with Ionic columns, gadrooning below; 1791 wall
monument. Some medieval glass reset in east window. Church partly
rebuilt c1475 for William Whitchurch, Abbot of Hailes, referred to
in contemporary inscription in east window. Font 1858 for W.
Edwards; tomb recess in nave C19.
(Kelly's Gloucestershire Directory, 1894; D. Verey,
Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, 1970, Cotswold Churches, 1976)
Listing NGR: SP0548431405
