Details
DEERHURST DEERHURST VILLAGE
SO 8629-8729
10/44 Odda's Chapel
4.7.60
GV I
Former chapel, now in care of English Heritage. 1056 for Earl Odda
(datestone); altered C17, C18, restored 1885, 1965. Nave random
rubble, long and short quoins, stone slate roof, chancel rendered
stone on north, irregular bond brickwork on south to ground floor,
timber-framing with rendered panels above: tiled roof. Nave,
chancel with inserted floor. North facade: gable of Abbot's Court
on left (q.v.). Ground floor to chancel 4-light wooden casement,
king mullion, leaded lights. Jettied upper floor, ovolo-moulded
jetty beam. Framing above 4 panels high to eaves, lowest close
studded, above 2 panels high each end square with curved decorative
timber across corners, narrow herringbone between framing 4-light
mullion and transom window, leaded lights; narrow panels over. To
right, set forward from lower level nave wall, east end slightly
battered. Window double-splayed, rendered reveals, tapers slightly
upwards with semi-circular head. Doorway, iron gate, plain
imposts, semi-circular head with hoodmould. Nave roof slightly
lower than chancel, which oversails east wall of nave. West wall.
plain, south facade disturbance from blocked doorway left, window
as north nave: chancel ground floor 3-light wooden mullioned
window, ovolo-moulding: above 3-panel high timber framing, close
studded, blocked window. Roof as north.
Interior: nave, brick jambs and timber lintel to former fireplace,
west wall, opening bricked up. Two stone corbels north and south
walls: chancel arch long and short quoins, moulded capitals,
horseshoe arch, plain hoodmould. C20 rafter roof: outline king
post truss on gable wall. Chancel: brick floor, outline original
south wall on right, existing further out. C13 capital set in
north-east corner: east wall brick, with reproduction of 1056
datestone, and inscribed plaque later reused as head to lancet
window. Wide-chamfered beams over to floor, exposed joists: part
floor removed. Room above blocked stone fireplace east wall, 4-
centred head; blocked doorway adjoining, plastered ceiling,
exposed spine beam, braces to tie-beam against nave wall. Chapel
became part of Abbot's Court in early C17 when house built, chancel
being floored over and most of the walls replaced, nave becoming
kitchen. 1885 chapel was recognized and partly restored, fully
disentangled from house 1965. Datestone had been found 1675 and
taken to Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. Forms group with Abbot's
Court, Priory Farmhouse and Church of St Mary (all q.v.). A.M.
Gloucestershire 368.
(H.M. & J. Taylor, Anglo-Saxon Architecture, 1965; Sir Eric
Fletcher, Odda's Chapel, 1965; D. Verey, Gloucestershire, the Vale
and the Forest of Dean, 1970)
Listing NGR: SO8692029847
