Ayshford Chapel facts for kids
Ayshford Chapel is a very old private chapel located in the small village of Ayshford, in Devon, England. It's right next to a historic house called Ayshford Court and close to the Grand Western Canal. This chapel is a really important building, listed as a Grade I historic site. Today, a special group called the Friends of Friendless Churches looks after it, making sure it stays in good condition for everyone to see.
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History of Ayshford Chapel
The Ayshford family, who lived at Ayshford Court, built this chapel way back in the 15th century. That's over 500 years ago! It's quite a large chapel for a private one in Devon.
Chapel Renovations
The chapel was updated in the 1800s. During this time, beautiful stained glass windows were added. These windows were the first known work by a glass artist named John Toms from Wellington.
Caring for the Chapel
After a long time, the chapel was no longer used for regular services. So, a charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches took over its care in 2000. They have a long-term agreement to look after it. From 2001 to 2002, the charity did a lot of important repair work. They restored the pink color on the inside walls and fixed the stained glass.
Architecture of Ayshford Chapel
Ayshford Chapel is built from local stone called Westleigh chert rubble. The decorative parts are made from Beer stone, and the roof is covered with slate.
Chapel Design
The chapel is one long rectangular room. There isn't a separate area for the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (near the altar). Strong corner supports, called buttresses, help hold up the building. Both ends of the chapel have pointed tops, called gables. At the west end, there's a small tower for a bell, known as a bellcote. At the east end, there's a cross at the very top.
Windows and Doors
Each side wall has three windows, and each end has one large window. All these windows have a special design called Perpendicular tracery, which was popular in Gothic times. There are two doors: one at the west end and another on the south side.
Inside the Chapel
The wooden roof inside the chapel is from the 15th century. It's a continuous open wagon roof with carved oak decorations called bosses. These bosses have beautiful carvings of leaves. There's also a carved oak screen from the same period, which separates the main part of the chapel from the altar area. It was repainted in the 1800s, but you can still see some of the original red, blue, and green paint.
The wooden benches, called pews, are from the 1800s. The floor is covered with red and black tiles. You'll also find special stone memorials inside, dedicated to members of the Ayshford family. The stained glass windows are said to be in an Art Deco style. The chapel also has one bell, which was made in 1657.
Monuments in Ayshford Chapel
Inside the chapel, there are several old monuments. These are like special markers or sculptures that remember members of the Ayshford family who lived here long ago.
Henry Ayshford's Gravestone
Near the altar, there's a worn yellow stone gravestone for Henry Ayshford, who died in 1649. His wife, Anne, who died in 1656, is also buried there. The stone has a shield showing the Ayshford family's crest combined with his wife's family crest.
Infant Henry Ayshford's Tomb
To the left of the altar, there's a small black marble chest-tomb for a baby named Henry Ayshford, who died in 1666 when he was just one year and nine months old. He was supposed to inherit the Ayshford family's land. His tomb has a shield with the Ayshford crest, which is a saracen's head.
John Ayshford's Monument
On the north wall of the chapel, there's a fancy marble monument for John Ayshford, who died in 1689. He was the last Ayshford family member to own the Ayshford manor. This monument has columns, carvings of angels, and the Ayshford family crest. It also mentions his wife, Susanna Ayshford, who died in 1688.
Ayshford Court
Ayshford Court is the historic manor house right next to the chapel. It's mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086, which is a very old record of England. The house itself was built around 1500 by the Ayshford family, with more parts added in the 1500s and 1600s.
Today, Ayshford Court is divided into two homes. The house, chapel, and farm buildings together create a very interesting historical site. Over time, the Ayshford family's estates passed to another family, the Sanfords, through marriage.
