The Chapel About 350 Metres West And 650 Metres South Of Gibside Hall

NZ 15 NE WHICKHAM B6314 (north side) Gibside Estate

10/113 The Chapel; about 350 metres west and 6501.2.50 metres south of Gibside Hall.

G.V. I

Chapel and mausoleum. 1760-69; completed 1812. Designed by James Paine for George Bowes, M.P. and coal owner. Ashlar; lead-covered dome. Greek cross plan. Palladian style, Ionic order. One tall storey on basement, 3 x 3 bays. Plinth and floor band.2 side stairways and front balustrade to prostyle tetrastyle pedimented portico with central doorway. Attached corner columns; continous entablature; modillions to main features. Keyed archivolts and coved reveals to side sash windows with glazing bars. Tall parapet,with balustraded outer sections,has 6 urn finials. Central drum, with carved garlands, supports shallow dome. On other elevations the central projections hold recessed Diocletian windows, curved on plan to follow shape of room within. Interior: cruciform on 4 attached columns with apses on 3 sides. Corinthian order. Ionic order to lower cross-vaulted bays; Ionic doorway. Panelled dome with delicate leafy plasterwork (late C18 or early C19). Cherrywood box pews and dado; and 3-decker mahogany pulpit, with inlaid sounding board on Ionic column, behind central altar. Sources: C. Hussey 'Gibside, County Durham'; Country Life Feb. 8 and 15, 1952; 354-7 and 422-425.

Listing NGR: NZ1718458247