Launde Abbey: Chapel

LAUNDE SK 70 SE LAUNDE ROAD

5/45 Launde Abbey : Chapel

29.12.66

GV II*

Chapel. Largely C15, but parts of fabric are C12 and C13. The Chapel was formerly part of the Augustinian Priory of Launde and is now attached as a wing to the house. Finely coursed ironstone rubble with tiled roof. Steep parapet to east gable with tall pinnacles. Doorway to north in Victorian Porch and to its right, part of the shafts of the Norman crossing are visible, round shafts with scalloped capitals and a fragment of arch to the west. Single Victorian traceried window in this wall, between the shafts. East window and the three south windows are all C15, of three principal lights with lesser upper lights, and hood moulds.

Inside there is an antechapel or western bay where the eastern-most C12 shaft is visible, and a narrow Early English archway opens onto the present nave. This may have been the former chancel arch but is possibly the arch to a south aisle chapel of the former Priory Church. It is steeply pointed, with an outer chamfer and inner rounded fillet-moulded arch, and is supported on corbels which themselves are like tiny shafts with stiff-leaf capitals and foliate bases. Across the inner (eastern) angles of this dividing wall are blank walls with ogee arches. The rest of the Chapel is a single space, with the chancel raised up slightly and a north doorway. Roof of c1839 with tie beams and traceried panels above them. To the north of the altar, the tomb of Gregory Cromwell; a fine example of Renaissance work, 1551. It is a large pedimented wall memorial with Corinthian pilasters decorated in low relief. The pediment carries three putti. The memorial is raised up on a base or predella with strapwork cartouche. In the central space the inscription is flanked by high relief winged horses supporting the shield of arms. Some C15 stained glass survives in all windows, including three large figures in the east window, one of which is St. Catherine, and smaller figures of the apostles in the south windows. The rest is filled with Victorian glass (1879 and 1892) Stone reredos representing the Last Supper in high relief, Caen stone (c1839).

Launde Priory, of which this building is a surviving fragment, was founded in 1125 by Richard Bassett and his wife Maud. At the dissolution it was held by Thomas Cromwell and then his son Gregory, remaining in the family until 1603.

Listing NGR: SK7975004375