Details
WOOLFARDISWORTHY WOOLFARDISWORTHY
SS 32 SW
5/221 Church of All Hallows (formerly
20.2.58 listed as Church of Holy Trinity)
GV I
Anglican parish church. Norman origin, mid C15 tower, C14 nave and transept. C16
aisle, porch and vestry C19 incorporating some earlier roof. Restored in 1872.
Mostly of coursed local rubble slate roofs, stone coped verges.
Plan: nave, chancel, long north aisle. South transept, south nave porch, west
tower. Restored in 1872 when windows were renewed and north vestry probably added.
Exterior: stage tower with offsets between the stages, central 5-sided crenallated
stair-turret with series of trefoiled and quatrefoiled openings on the south facade
rising above the body of the tower. Embattled parapet with corner pinnacles which
are probably of C18 or early C19. 2-light bell-chamber windows, 2 of the C15 with
tracery, square-headed window, probably of similar date to west, large square corner
buttresses on bottom stage of the tower, 3-light west window, tracery replaced in
the C19. West doorway in a simple surround of 2 orders, replaced C19. 2-bay nave,
2 windows with virtually semi-circular heads, one of 2-lights, one of 4-lights,
openings and reveals ancient, windows C19 Perpendicular style. Norman semi-circular
head south doorway of 3 orders, chevron and beak-head ornament, carved cushion caps
and hook shafts, door probably C18. Gable C19 porch with floor of C17 reused
monument slabs. Transept with a large 4-light window to the south with C19 tracery.
3-light basket-arch headed window to west also C19. North aisle of 5 bays, with
chamfered stone cornice, 3-light windows, 2 to east with original C16 tracery and
jambs, one with tracery renewed in C19, one window blocked, probably in the C17
when a monument was introduced in the aisle. North wall with 2 C18 memorial slabs,
good incised lettering and emblems of mortality. North doorway is simple chamfered
stone 4-centred arch. Restored C19 east and west windows. Chancel with 2 late C16
windows to the south of 2-lights with square heads, stopped labels, a cinquefoil at
the head of each light, between these a doorway with simple chamfered stone
surround, door possibly C18. 3-light east window, C19 Perpendicular tracery,
opening and reveals certainly earlier. Small C19 vestry at east end of aisle with
chimney with projecting rubble breast and a brick shaft, 2-light C16 or C17 window
reused to the east. Doorways in the aisle and chancel with C19 wrought-iron dog
gates.
Interior: no chancel arch, rubble tower arch possibly rebuilt. Internal walls
retain much early plaster. Flagstone floors, these replaced in chancel and part of
nave with concrete slabs. Plaster barrel ceilings of C17 with large bold cornices,
probably covering medieval roofs. 5-bay arcade of depressed 4-centred arches to
aisle with 4-clustered shafts, 2 with carved initials to caps. C13 font with the
square bowl on central shaft of clustered columns with 4 angle shafts, remains of
ancient colour. Aisle with what is believed to be an early altar. Stained glass
C19. East window of north aisle 1870; also east window 1925 by Drake and Sons of
Exeter. 2 C17 tables. C19 reading pulpit, altar rails and chains. Good
Perpendicular C15 or C16 carved bench ends in nave and north aisle with various
religious devices. Otherwise C19 benches.
Memorials: in chancel a white marble oval wall tablet with urn above to Mary Hammer
died 1793 and white marble Neo-Classical Tablet to Bartholomew Prust of 1862 by
Baker. In the north aisle a good large early C17 or late C16 monument to a member
of the Cole family. Ancient colour survives throughout with Trophy reliefs
supporting round-arched recess framing reclining figure in armour with inscription
panel (faint) in strapwork cartouche. Flanking Corinthian columns support
pulvinated frieze and attic storey with 3 armorials in strapwork frames between 2
obelisks. Limestone grey marble wall tablet to John Whitlake dated 1750 with Roman
Doric frame to inscription and urn above. Secondary cartouche in apron below to
Mary Whitlake (d.175 ). Plain rectangular white marble tablet inscribed to John
Robbins "who was thrown from his horse and perished in a deep snow on 11th Feb
1784". Adjoining above is the apron of a missing C17 limestone monument with skull
wings, fronds and cherubim retaining ancient colour and gold. Tablet to Rev Joseph
Prust Neo-Classical white and grey marble first half of C19 by Baker.
Listing NGR: SS3322121085
