Details
LANDULPH
SX 46 SW
6/149 Church of St Leonard and St Dilp
23.1.68
GV I
Parish church. Probably C14, on earlier foundation; tower probably early C15, with
aisles of later C15. Late C19 restoration, including raising of the nave roof to
form a clerestory. Slate roofs with raised coped verges, ridge tiles and cross
finials.
Plan: Nave and chancel in one. West tower, probably added in the early C15. North
aisle and south aisle with south porch of later C15. C19 alterations include
rebuilding of the roof over the nave to form a clerestory and the addition of a
vestry to the east of the south aisle.
Exterior: The chancel east end has a 3-light C19 window, with 4-centred arch and
breather above. East end of each aisle has similar window with cusped lights and
Perpendicular tracery, central light taller, of C15. Single storey C19 vestry.
The north aisle is on a plinth, with diagonal buttresses and weathered buttresses, of
4 bays. The west bay has a chamfered, 4-centred arched doorway. The other 3 bays
have windows as at the east end and similar west window with breather above; single
storey lean-to at the west end.
South aisle of 5 bays, with the porch in the west bay; similar buttresses and west
window. To east, 4 similar windows and central projecting rood stair tower with
lancet.
Gabled south porch has 4-centred arched greenstone doorway with chamfered jamb shafts
and cast iron gates. Slate sundial with gnomon over, set by John Wymond and John
Hodge, churchwardens, 1767. Interior of porch has C19 slate floor and granite
benches to sides, C19 wagon roof. Inner doorway has 4-centred arch with roll and
hollow mouldings and hood mould, C19 double doors and image niche above.
West tower in 3 stages, with string courses, weathered set-back buttresses through 2
stages and diagonal buttresses at the third stage; embattled parapet with pinnacles
and polygonal north stair tower. West doorway has 4-centred arch, with rounded jambs
with shaft rings, hood mould and relieving arch; C19 double doors. 3-light C15 west
window, with 3-centred arched lights and upper tracery, hood mould and relieving
arch. Second stage north and south a single 3-centred arched light with hood mould
and relieving arch. Third stage has 2-light bell-openings with 3-centred arched
lights, slate louvres, hood mould and relieving arch.
Interior: Tall 4-centred tower arch in banded slatestone. Slate paved floors and
plastered walls. Nave and chancel have C19 wagon roofs, with three 3-light cusped
windows in the clerestorey; north and south aisles also have wagon roofs,
reconstructed in C19 using earlier bosses; in the south aisle principal rafters and
pendants also retained. The tower has a north door to the stair tower, with chamfered
4-centred arch door with iron bands and studs. 5-bay arcade to north and south with
octagonal piers with ring mouldings, 4-centred arches, chamfered and stopped. Above
the north arcade are 2 corbels from the former roof-line, and at the chancel are 2
corbels to north and south with carved masks, the springing for the former chancel
arch. The south aisle has a 4-centred arched doorway to the rood stair, with stone
newel stair and upper opening; corresponding opening above the north and south
arcades. The south aisle has an east doorway, with pointed arch, possibly formerly a
priest's door, now leading into the C19 vestry. Chancel has cusped piscina and
aumbry. Rood screen of 1929.
Fittings: Octagonal stone front in north aisle, with central pillar and 4 outer
shafts; dated 1660, with inscriptions carved around the bowl; the font itself is of
earlier date. Pews in north aisle and south aisle with C15 bench ends. C18 alms box
in south aisle. The rood screen incorporates part of the C15 screen. At the west
end, panelling with unicorn finials, formerly the Lower family's box pew, dated 1631,
with fine carving on the panelling, set on the base of the C15 rood screen. Royal
arms of George II in south aisle, oil on board in scrolled surround. Early C18
ringers' verses in tower, oil on board in bolection-moulded frame. Hatchment with
coat of arms dated 1736 in south aisle. Letter of thanks from Charles I in north
aisle, oil on board in scrolled ovolo-moulded frame. Pair of medals in case in north
aisle, from South Africa 1853 and Pekin 1860, from Samuel Crook. Three C17 pewter
flagons in case in the north aisle. Early C19 unidentified portrait of a man in the
north aisle.
Monuments in south aisle; oval slate tablet with floral surround, by H. Grills, to
William Roberts, 1798; slate tablet to George Roberts, 1802; slate tablet to Richard
Roberts, 1803; slate tablet to Joan...., 1782; pair of brass tablets in stone ovolo-
moulded surround with some ancient colour, with stone skull and hourglass, to Sir
Nicholas Lower, 1695 and Dame Elizabeth Lower, 1638; stone chest tomb with marble
lid, carved with coat of arms and unicorn crest, to sir Nicholas Lower, 1655; stone
tablet to Elizabeth Roberts, 1654; brass tablet to Theodore Palaeologus, died at
Clifton, with shouldered nowy head on moulded plinth, with several inscriptions, of
C18; slate tablet to Joseph Symons, 1801. In tower: slate tablet with shaped head
and trumpeting angel carved in relief, to Fitz Anthony Pennington, Bell-founder of
Lezant, with quatrain, 1768.
Glass: South aisle window retains fragments of mediaeval glass, with shields of arms
and the unicorn crest of the Lower family.
Sources: Pevsner, N.: Buildings of England: Cornwall 1970.
Listing NGR: SX4199663132
