Ayshford Chapel facts for kids

Ayshford Chapel is an old private chapel located in the small village of Ayshford, in Devon, England. It's right next to Ayshford Court, a historic manor house, and close to the Grand Western Canal. This chapel is a very important historical building, listed as a Grade I building, which means it's considered to be of exceptional interest. A charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches now looks after it, making sure it stays in good condition for everyone to see.

History of Ayshford Chapel

The Ayshford family, who lived in the nearby Ayshford Court, built this chapel in the 1400s. It was quite large for a private chapel in Devon at that time.

Over the years, the chapel has been updated. In the 1800s, it was renovated, and beautiful stained glass windows were added. These windows were the first known work by an artist named John Toms from Wellington.

Since the chapel was no longer used for regular services, a charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches took over its care. They have a long-term agreement to look after the building, which started in 2000. Between 2001 and 2002, the charity did a lot of important work to preserve the chapel. They restored the original salmon-pink color of the walls inside and fixed the stained glass.

Chapel's Design and Features

Ayshford Chapel, interior view looking eastward toward the chancel

Ayshford Chapel is built from local stone called Westleigh chert rubble, with special details made from Beer stone. It has a roof made of slate. The building is one long rectangular room, with no wall separating the main seating area (nave) from the altar area (chancel).

The chapel has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. Both ends of the chapel have pointed gables with decorative stone caps. At the west end, there's a small bell tower, and at the east end, there's a cross at the very top. There are three windows on each side wall, and one larger window at each end. All these windows have a special design called Perpendicular tracery, which was popular in English Gothic architecture. The chapel has two doors: one at the west end and another on the south side.

Inside, the roof dates back to the 1400s. It's a continuous open "wagon roof" with carved oak decorations called bosses, shaped like leaves. There's also a carved oak screen from the same period that separates the chancel. This screen was repainted in the 1800s, and you can still see some of the original red, blue, and green paint. Most of the wooden benches (pews) are from the 1800s. The floor is covered with red and black glazed tiles, and there are memorials to members of the Ayshford family. The stained glass windows are said to be in the Art Deco style. The chapel also has one bell, which was made in 1657.

Monuments and Memorials

Armorials of Ayshford family of Ayshford Manor, Burlescombe Parish, Devon. Argent, 3 Ash-crops, Vert, between 2 chevronels, S[able].

Inside the chapel, you can find several memorials to the Ayshford family.

Henry Ayshford's Gravestone

Right in front of the altar, there's a worn yellow sandstone gravestone for Henry Ayshford. He was a squire (a type of landowner) who passed away in 1649 at the age of 73. His wife, Anne, who died in 1656, is also buried there. The stone shows the Ayshford family's coat of arms combined with his wife's family arms.

Infant Henry Ayshford's Tomb

Chest-tomb of the infant Henry Ayshford, died 1666 aged 1 year and 9 months, the heir apparent to the Ayshford estates. Chancel, to north of altar

To the left of the altar, there's a small black marble chest-tomb for an infant named Henry Ayshford. He was the great-grandson of the older Henry Ayshford mentioned above. This young Henry was the only son of Arthur Ayshford and Grace Courtenay. He was expected to inherit the Ayshford family's lands, but he passed away in 1666 when he was only one year and nine months old. His tomb has the Ayshford family's coat of arms and crest (a saracen's head).

John Ayshford's Monument

Monument to John Ayshford (died 1689), last of the Ayshfords of Ayshford, Ayshford Chapel, Ayshford

On the north wall of the chapel, there's a fancy marble monument for John Ayshford (1641–1689). He was the last Ayshford family member to be the lord of the manor of Ayshford. After he passed away, the family estates went to his cousin, John Sanford.

The monument is a rectangular plaque with columns on either side. Above it are the Ayshford family arms and flaming urns. The bottom part is decorated with carvings of cherubs and more family arms. The inscription on the monument tells us that John Ayshford passed away in 1689 at 49 years old. It also mentions his wife, Susanna Ayshford, who passed away in 1688 at 24 years old.

Ayshford Court Manor House

Ayshford Chapel and Ayshford Court, viewed from the south, from the bank of the canal

Ayshford is a very old place, mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, and even earlier in a document from 958. The manor house, Ayshford Court, is now divided into two homes. The main part of the house was built around 1500 by the Ayshford family, with many additions made in the 1500s and 1600s.

The Ayshford family was very wealthy, as shown by an inventory from 1689. Ayshford Court, along with its chapel and farm buildings, forms a beautiful historic group. The Ayshford family's estates eventually passed to the Sanford family through the marriage of Mary Ayshford to Henry Sanford.

Images for kids

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  Ayshford Chapel, west end, with Ayshford Court behind

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  Ayshford Chapel viewed from across the canal, with Ayshford Court behind