Church of St Andrew

Details

SX 79 NW HITTISLEIGH HITTISLEIGH BARTON

5/160 Church of St Andrew 26.8.65

GV I

Small parish church. Norman origins. Late C13 nave and chancel, late C15 tower, early C16 north aisle and refurbishment of nave and chancel, nave roof and south porch possibly late C16; restoration in 1914, refurnished in 1926, restoration 1967. Nave, chancel and north aisle of Drewsteignton rubble including some granite, volcanic and red sandstone; granite dressings and tracery (restored with Beer stone): south porch of volcanic and granite ashlar and tower of large coursed blocks of volcanic and granite ashlar. Slate roofs. Some early Decorated work but most late. Perpendicular. Plan comprises nave and chancel under continuous roof; north aisle and chapel under a parallel roof; west tower and small south porch. Relatively large and little restored west tower of 2 stages with diagonal buttresses with offsets to ground and first stage, embattled parapet and crocketted pinnacles. It has 2-light belfry windows on each face with elliptical heads and, in west face, a round-headed door with hoodmould and a 3-light Perpendicular window above with granite tracery and hoodmould (the lower drip mould is carried round top of window). North side has series of tiny slit windows to newel stair. Most windows to nave, chancel and aisle are early C16, square-headed granite windows with round-headed lights, hollow-chamfered surrounds and sunk spandrels. South wall of nave/chancel raised up (see quoins at east end). The small porch has rounded arch, kneelers with coping to gable end, ceiled roof with moulded ridge and wall plates and stone seats each side. Irregular fenestration to nave and chancel. To left of porch early C16 2-light window. To right of porch C20 restored Beerstone 2-light window with cinquefoil heads and hoodmould; early C16 windows, 1- and 2-lights, further right; then small priest's door to chancel with round head made from single slab of granite; and, at right (east) end, a primitive 2-light early Decorated window with plate-like granite tracery punched through wall surface. East corner has massive granite quoins. East chancel window is another early C16 3-light window with red sandstone hoodmould and relieving arch over. C20 restored gable with sandstone kneelers and coping and finial with cross fleuree. East window of north chapel is arch-headed with simple Perpendicular tracery, 2 granite mullions with round heads to outer lights; hoodmould over. 3-window north aisle of early C16 granite 3-light windows with hoodmoulds. Interior: South door is plain chamfered, almost rounded, arch with early C20 door. Continuous ceiled wagon roofs over north aisle and north chapel, and nave and chancel. North aisle/chapel is early C16 with moulded ribs to aisle and carved ribs to chapel with break between marked by a more ornately curved truss; carved oak bosses through and wall plates carved as fern leaves. Nave/chancel is probably late C16 with ovolo-moulded ribs with straight cut stops. The only carved bosses mark break between nave and chancel. Northern wall plate rests awkwardly on series of corbels and roof is lower than tower arch suggesting that it replaced a medieval roof. 4-bay granite arcade to north aisle (the fourth arch between chancel and north chapel) on slender moulded piers (Pevsner's Cornish A type) with undecorated capitals. Tall plain tower arch with double-chamfered arch ring. Late C16-early C17 belfry floor of moulded intersecting beams. Flagged floor in nave and aisle includes several C16 and C17 grave slabs, one dated 1568. A slab with inscribed cross is set in centre of chancel floor in front of altar rail. It depicts a type of cross Botonee in crude perspective and is flanked by gravestones of John Pulton (died 1601) and his son Samuel Pulton (died 1654) both former rectors. Black basalt Norman font positioned in rear arch of arcade. Square step and thin square base with shallow ring mouldings of almost water-holding section; plain drum shaft of 3 blocks and square top with large single incised zig-zags on its outward- sloping faces; circular lead-lined tub hollowed out. Box pews replaced 1926 but 2 are retained in north chapel with relatively plain oak-panelled sides and inscribed 'This was built at the cost of Thomas Furse of Eastchurch, Gent, 1610'. Other furnishings are late C19-early C20 including mahogany handrail on wrought iron posts and brass lectern. All mural monuments have been removed but painted arms of George III dated 1819 in north aisle.

Listing NGR: SX7336695445

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

445091

Legacy System:

LBS

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