The Chapel Of Saint Nicholas

The Chapel of Saint Nicholas

A private chapel of late 15th-century origin, substantially altered internally in 1655, rebuilt in brickwork in 1717, and with transepts added in 1829. The building is constructed of red brick with a slate roof and follows a cruciform plan comprising a 3-bay chancel with transepts and a 2-bay nave.

The exterior features a brick plinth with moulded stone cornice and rusticated quoins. The west entrance, serving the family pew, is approached via nine stone steps with an ornamental cast iron balustrade. A pair of three-panel wooden doors set in a wide projecting moulded stone surround with archivolt and blank tympanum marks this entrance, flanked by built-up window openings. The north and south transept entrances each have pairs of three-panel doors in plain frames with blank overlights and bracketed hoods. These entrances are surmounted by keyed oculi with leaded lights and stained glass central inserts. The remaining windows are generally single and high-transome leaded lights with moulded sills and semi-circular arches featuring springers and keystones. A bullseye window in a stone frame sits above the low vestry hipped roof. The main roofs are finished with blue hip tiles, lead valleys, and wide boarded eaves soffites.

The interior contains woodwork of exceptional quality, particularly the elaborate full-height oak panelling dating from 1651–55, which has been described by F. H. Crossley as "the most valuable post-Reformation church furniture we possess in the country". The chancel roof, a hammer-beam structure originating from the late 15th century, retains its canted beams and purlins from that period, though the carved trefoil panels, daggers, and angels' heads indicate substantial alteration during the 17th century.

The chancel screen of 1655 consists of six carved Corinthian columns supporting an elaborate cornice of strapwork, brackets, and dentils. It is surmounted by carved arms of Lord Leinster facing east and the Earls of Cholmondeley facing west, with a centre arched opening featuring pendant and vine motifs. An oak communion rail in five panels with cross, diamond, and roundel motifs completes the chancel furnishings.

Choir stalls of early 19th-century oak box-pew design with panelling contrasting with the wall panelling occupy the chancel. The large east window contains fragments of Flemish monastic stained glass with Latin inscriptions, collected by the first Marquis. A stone shell font with built-up ogee oak cover and crucifix handle stands against the north wall of the chancel. Near the south transept stands a carved oak Jacobean-style pulpit of 1655, approached by a short flight of steps with turned balusters. An oak reading desk of similar date occupies a corresponding position near the north transept. Commandment boards dated 1655, formerly in the chancel, now hang over the pulpit and reading desk.

The transepts are separated from the nave by a triple arcade based on plastered brick piers with moulded caps. The nave and transepts are fitted with softwood panelled box pews dating from 1829. A flight of seven steps with turned balusters on both sides leads to the family pew, which features an oak panelled rail, panelled walls, and a pedimented panel above the west entrance with flanking birds-head scroll brackets.

The chapel has plastered walls and ceilings with a wide coved cornice. Six funeral hatchments in diamond-shaped frames and three religious oil paintings hang from the chapel walls.