CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

Overview

Location

Details

SO 73 NW; 4/38

EASTNOR CP, EASTNOR, UPPER ROAD (west side)

Church of St John the Baptist

18.11.52

GV

I

C12, altered C13 and C15; tower remodelled C14; restored and mostly rebuilt in 1852 by Sir G G Scott. Consists of west tower, nave and south porch, north aisle and organ space and north or Somers chapel and chancel. Ashlar, rubble and coursed squared rubble to the tower: plain tiled roofs.

West tower of three stages, diagonal buttresses and embattled parapet; the top is of a different stone and is unbuttressed; setback pyramidal roof, weathervane on ball finial; 3-light Perpendicular style west window and moulded west doorway; single round-headed lights to second stage and 2-light C14 style windows to bell chamber; square stair tower projects at north-east. Nave: two C19 Geometric style windows and buttresses with off-sets. Projecting, gabled, timber-framed porch has trefoil headed arcade on an ashlar base. Restored south doorway of one order of columns with trumpet-scallop capitals and a plain arch. Chancel: two fine C19 2-light windows in an early - mid C14 style with much ballflower ornament and under hoodmoulds with head stops; ball-flower ornamented wall plate; priests' door under large trefoil head, ornamented with fleurons and ballflower; 3-light Geometric style east window, also profuse with ballflower ornament. North aisle is plain with three narrow slit windows. Somers chapel: angle buttresses with gabled heads; three lancet windows divided by a transom, trefoil heads to lower part and a large trefoil light above, under a hoodmould with head stops; decorated band over:

INTERIOR: Three-bay arcade to north chapel has octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches; the east capital has trumpet-scallops. Double ware-moulded tower arch. Font and pulpit of 1852 in a heavy Gothic style, of carved freestone and marble shafts. Circular tub font in north aisle. Enriched Gothic style screen. Reredos of 1896, incorporating carved friezes and other parts of a monument from Siena. Glass: east window by Kempe; Somers chapel east window by Wilmhurst and Oliphant, 1884. Monuments. Tower: two designed by James Stuart and executed by Thomas Scheemakers; to Joseph Cocks died 1778, in brown and white marble, a sarcophagus with a profile in a roundel and putti above; and to Mary Cocks, died 1779, in marble, a seated woman by an urn, set against drapery, and with a putto at the right. Somers chapel: to first Earl Somers, died 1855, by Sir G G Scott, a freestone chest with religious scenes in trefoiled arcading, all set in depressed arched niche; to 3rd Earl, died 1883 by Sir J E Boehm, a grey marble chest tomb with a white marble recumbent effigy; marble tablets to John Cocks, died 1771, an urn in front of an obelisk; Edward Cocks, died 1782, by Thomas Scheemakers, a marble plaque with books, a cap and a lamb at the foot; Charles Cocks 1806. Rev John Fletcher, died 1797, also by Stuart and Scheemakers (Pevsner), stand- ing female figure by an urn and in front of an obelisk. A high quality but small and little known masterpiece by Scott at a cost of £1506 0s 3d.

Listing NGR: SO7313437226

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

152465

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Herefordshire II East, (1932)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, (1963)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.