Church of St Olaf

Details

SS 20 NW BUDE-STRATTON POUGHILL

5/203 Church of St Olaf
5-3-52

GV I

Parish Church. C13 font, C14 north aisle, C14 and C15 south aisle, C15 south
porch, chancel may be of C14 origin. C15 west tower, C19 vestry. North aisle
stone rubble, chancel, south aisle and west tower dressed stone brought to course.
Granite and greenstone dressings, north aisle and parts of south aisle Caen stone.
Slate roofs. Nave, chancel, west tower, north and south arcades of 4 bays, 1 to
the chancel, north-east vestry. C12 foundations said to have been discovered
during C19 restoration. The C14 church probably had a north chancel chapel and
may have had a north aisle. Use of different stone suggests that the north aisle
was built in 2 stages or underwent repair. Largely Perpendicular church with
Decorated north aisle. Chancel has 4-light C19 Perpendicular east window. South
aisle has three 3-light granite Perpendicular windows under hoodmoulds. Similar
windows to east and west ends. North aisle has 3-light C19 Perpendicular east
window under hoodmould, 1 label stop may be C15, 3 aisle windows 3-light granite
Perpendicular under hoodmoulds. North east vestry with north gable end has brick
chimney. Chamfered arched polyphant north doorway. 2-light C14 Decorated
greenstone window to west end of north aisle. 3 stage battlemented west tower has
north east stair turret, set-back buttresses and tall crocketted corner pinnacles
of usual local design with C19 finials. Moulded granite strings mark the stages.
West wall of tower above plinth and below moulded string is carved with
quatrefoils (q.v. Jacobstow and Week st Mary). Moulded arched granite west door
under square hoodmould has carving in the spandrels. 3-light Perpendicular
granite west window. South side has rectangular opening at bell-ringers' stage.
2-light granite belfry openings under blind quatrefoils. South porch has granite
coping and kneelers to gable. Moulded arched granite doorway under square
hoodmould. Carving in the spandrels. Porch has stone benches with granite tops.
Porch roof unceiled C15 waggon with carved ribs, bosses and wallplate. Holy water
stoup; Moulded granite arched inner doorway under square hoodmould, carving in
spandrels. Trefoil-headed Caen stone nodding ogee riche above inner door has
chamfered polyphant jambs.
Interior. Good probably C16 studded door has loop drop latch, strap hinges with
simple scrollwork decoration and massive wooden lock case. 4-bay Caen stone north
arcade has piers of 4 engaged shafts with smaller shaft and keel mouldings
between. Capitals carved with trefoils in roundels. Arches are deeply-moulded,
chancel bay has slightly lower arch. East bay of south arcade has similar pier
and respond but different capitals and mouldings to the arch. Capitals are carved
with trefoil-headed blind arcading. The first bay from the easternmost bay has a
taller granite arch and a conventional Perpendicular granite west pier. The
adjustment of height is made by an engaged demi-pier supported on the capital of
the Caen stone pier. The next pier to the west is also conventional Perpendicular
granite. The respond against the west wall is Caen stone, but of the same
conventional Perpendicular design. Double-chamfered tower arch springs from
moulded capitals on short engaged shafts. No chancel arch, nave/chancel division
marked by good C15 ceilure, 3 of the 4 panels retaining their decorative carving.
Some of the paintwork on the ribs may be medieval ancient colour. Chancel roof
C15 unceiled waggon with bosses and carved wall plates. Aisle and nave roofs C15
ceiled waggons with bosses, carved ribs and wallplates. Square C13 granite font
on replaced base and corner shafts in similar to that at Poundstock and has 2
orders of pointed arched blind arcading. Late C19 5-sided drum pulpit with
pierced traceried panels is supported on stem with curved braces. Communion table
of late C16 origins enlarged in 1941 has turned legs. Piscina in chancel probably
C14. Circa early C16 bench ends, probably from the same atelier as those at
Kilkhampton and Launcells, have border carving of unusual design, blind tracery
and carvings of monograms, grotesques, armorial bearings, including the Grenville
Arms, and instruments of the Passion. Some of the bench ends preserve their
contemporary benches with moulded rails. Large Royal Arms of Charles II in
plaster on north wall. 2 large wallpaintings, probably late C15 in origin but
entirely repainted by Frank Salisbury, one on north wall, one on south. That on
the north wall depicts St Christopher, that on the south is similar. C19 reredos,
commandment boards, floor tiling and altar rail. C17/18 wooden gate of former
lych gate, now in west tower, a grillage pattern with chamfered rails and scrolled
stiles with later iron barbed capping.


Listing NGR: SS2224707754

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