St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley
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| St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley | |
St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley |
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  Shown within Cheshire
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| Ecclesiastical status | Private chapel |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red brick with slate roof |
St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley is a private chapel in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire, England, the ancient seat of the Marquess of Cholmondeley, hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England (grid reference SJ536514).[1] It is a Grade I listed building.[2]
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[edit] History
This was originally a timber framed chapel dating from the 13th century. It was damaged in the civil war and, because of this and because of general dilapidation, it was repaired in 1652 by Robert Cholmondeley, 1st Earl of Leinster. In 1716 John Vanbrugh encased the timber framing of the chancel with brick and rebuilt the rest of the chapel with brick and stone facings. Transepts were added in 1829 by George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley and north and south galleries were added in 1840. Later in the 19th century George Gilbert Scott was asked to supply plans for the chapel's restoration, which included its demolition, apart from the chancel. The Marquess declined to follow these plans and instead repairs were conducted by workmen from the estate.[3]
[edit] Structure
The chapel is built in red brick with a slate roof. It has a cruciform plan with a three-bay chancel and transepts, and a two-bay nave. It stands on a brick plinth with a moulded stone cornice and has rusticated quoins. The west entrance leads to the family pew and is approached up nine stone steps with an ornamental cast iron balustrade. The public entrances are at ground level into the north and south transepts.[2]
[edit] Fittings and furniture
The hammerbeam roof includes both blank and openwork tracery. Pevsner considers that the 17th century furnishings of the chapel are the most complete of their date in Cheshire.[4] F. H. Crossley states that the chapel holds "the most valuable post-Reformation church furniture we possess in the country".[2] The chancel is panelled in old oak. The screen dividing the chancel from the nave is carved in Tudor style. The reading desk, pulpit, altar rails and holy table all date from the time of the Commonwealth. Extending across and elevated above the west end of the nave is the Cholmondeley family pew, with steps descending to the nave.[3] The stained glass includes many small Netherlandish roundels.[4][5] The plate is from Germany and includes an alms dish dated 1711.[4]
[edit] External features
The wrought iron gates and railings were moved here from Cholmondeley Old Hall.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Cholmondeley Castle. The Chopin Society. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ a b c Images of England: The chapel of Saint Nicholas. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ a b Richards, Raymond (1947). Old Cheshire Churches. London: Batsford, 126–129.
- ^ a b c d Pevsner, Nikolaus; Edward Hubbard [1971] (2003). The Buildings of England: Cheshire. New Haven: Yale University Press, 176. ISBN 0 300 09588 0.
- ^ Cholmondeley Castle, St Nicholas Chapel. Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
