Church of St James

Details

IDDESLEIGH IDDESLEIGH SS 50 NE 4/126 Church of St James - 22.2.67 GV I Parish church. C13 origins but main fabric dates to C15, partly rebuilt in 1846-8 and restored in 1879. Coursed slate stone rubble walls incorporating some granite ashlar to buttresses of tower. Gable ended slate roof with late C19 decorative ridge tiles. Plan: nave, chancel, north aisle and chapel. west tower and south porch. Although the earliest fabric of the church dates mainly to the C15 the earliest feature is a C13 effigy in the north chapel. A partial rebuilding of some of the walls was undertaken in 1846-8. The vestry was added at the west end of the north aisle in 1850. Exterior: 4 stage west tower with angle buttresses, battlemented with crocketted pinnacles. Gargoyle of crouching animal figure at top of each buttress. 2-light granite belfry openings with segmental headed lights apart from on east side which has cinquefoiled heads. Limestone west doorway with 2-centred head richly moulded with trailing vine carving in high relief, now much eroded. Large restored Perpendicular west window and smaller window above. Rectangular stair projecting on north side of tower. C19 vestry between north aisle and tower. North aisle has 3 partly restored tall 3-light Perpendicular windows. Similar east window to aisle has granite panel below carved with flower and heraldic arms devices. East window completely restored Perpendicular as is 2-light window on south window to nave which retains only its original granite jambs and mullions. 1 storey gabled south porch has granite roundheaded doorway with double rollmoulded arch and hoodmould above. Small slate sundial above dated 1720. To west of porch nave has 2 early C16 trefoil headed windows one above the other - possibly signifying an early gallery at the west end of the nave. Interior: tall 3 bay granite arcade with Pevsner A-type piers with moulded cup capitals and 4-centred moulded arches. Rebuilt plastered chancel arch and arch to north chapel. Tall 4-centred undecorated tower arch. Internal walls have C20 render covering. Original wagon roofs survive with high relief moulding to ribs and carved bosses. Partly restored carved wall-plates. Chancel roof has been set onto C19 angel corbels. Early C17 semi-octagonal panelled pulpit with integral carved lectern and top panels carved with strapwork design. Section of C15 screen with Perpendicular tracery to north chapel - this was renovated in 1883. Octagonal granite font with carved panels and moulded shaft - churchwarden's accounts suggest a date of 1538. It has a good C17 pointed wooden cover with finials at top and the corners and a frieze of strapwork and foliage design. C13 effigy of Knight under low arch on north wall of chapel believed to be one of the Sully family who probably founded the church. The figure has chain armour and flat helmet and holds a shield. Good slate wall memorial of 1681 on north wall of chancel. To Wilmot Veale, wife of the rector. Inscription in gothic script with high relief carved figure of woman and child to the right. Source: Beatrix Cresswell - Notes on Devon Churches - Deanery Churches in the Deanery of Torrington; Kelly's Directory 1906

Listing NGR: SS5689808222

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

93238

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Cresswell, B F, Notes on Devon Churches in the Deanery of Torrington, (1925)
Kelly's Directory in Kelly's Directory, (1906)

End of official list entry

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