Yatton Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yatton Chapel |
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![]() Yatton Chapel from the southeast
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OS grid reference | SO 626 303 |
Location | Yatton, Herefordshire |
Country | England |
Denomination | Anglican |
Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Redundant |
Heritage designation | Grade II* |
Designated | 25 February 1966 |
Architectural type | Church |
Style | Norman |
Groundbreaking | 12th century |
Specifications | |
Materials | Sandstone, stone slate roof |
Yatton Chapel is a very old church building in Yatton, a village in south-east Herefordshire, England. It is no longer used for regular church services, which means it is a "redundant" church. This special building is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It is also listed as a Grade II* building, meaning it is very important historically and architecturally. You can find it at the end of a winding path, right next to Chapel Farmhouse.
Contents
History of Yatton Chapel
When Was Yatton Chapel Built?
This chapel was first built way back in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! At that time, it was the main church for the local area, known as a parish church. Over the years, people made some changes to it.
Changes Over the Centuries
In the 13th century, more changes were made to the chapel. Later, in the 16th or 17th century, the north wall was rebuilt. Around the year 1600, a special wooden tower for bells, called a bellcote, was added to the chapel.
The east end of the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was rebuilt in 1704. They even reused an old window from the 13th century in this new part.
Why Did the Chapel Close?
Yatton Chapel stopped being a regular parish church in 1841. This happened because a brand new church was built nearby in a different spot. Many of the chapel's important items, like the altar and a screen, were moved to the new church.
Restoration and Preservation
During the 1970s, the chapel was carefully repaired and restored. This work was done by the Redundant Churches Commission, which is now called the Churches Conservation Trust. The chapel was officially declared "redundant" in 1971. In 1974, it was officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust to look after forever.
Architecture of Yatton Chapel
What Is Yatton Chapel Made Of?
Yatton Chapel is built from sandstone rocks that were roughly shaped, called "rubble." It also has smoother, cut stones called "ashlar" for details. The roof is made of stone slates.
The Chapel's Simple Design
The chapel has a very simple layout. It has a main room called a nave and a smaller section at the east end called a chancel. At the west end, there's a wooden bellcote. This bellcote is covered with wooden boards and has a roof shaped like a pyramid.
The Norman Doorway
The main entrance on the south side of the chapel is in the Norman style. This means it has a round arch over the top. The arch is decorated with a zigzag pattern called "chevrons." Above the door, there's a carved stone panel called a tympanum. It has a beautiful design of leaves and plants.
Windows and Light
To the right of the doorway, you'll see several windows. There's a double window with square tops, a small single window with a square top, and a larger single window with a pointed arch. On the east wall, there are two round-headed windows, one above the other. At the west end, there's a window with two sections, each having a three-leaf shape called a "trefoil" at the top.
Inside the Chapel: The Fonts
Inside Yatton Chapel, you can find two old fonts. A font is a basin used for baptisms. The original font, likely from the 12th century, is a simple, round stone bowl that is a bit damaged. The second font also has a plain, round bowl and dates from the 12th century. It was brought here from another church, St Mary Magdalene in Brobury, when that church was no longer used.