Church Of St John The Baptist

SO 52 NE; 3/44

KINGS CAPLE CP, KINGS CAPLE

Church of St John the Baptist

25.02.66

GV

I

Parish church. C13 nave; west tower early C14; chancel rebuilt and top stage of tower added late C14, Aramstone chapel and south porch c1400. Restored 1894 and further C20 alterations to interior. Sandstone rubble, ashlar dressings, slate roofs. West tower, nave with south porch and north Aramstone chapel, chancel.

West tower: four stages with moulded string courses and plain band with square corbels below between third stage and later fourth stage, embattled parapet, octagonal spire with roll mouldings at angles; small doorway with 2-centred arched head to ground stage, square- headed loop vents to second and third stage, two trefoil-headed lights and tracery to bell stage. Nave: two trefoil-headed lights with further decorative cusping in spandrels to window to left, three windows to right; two cinquefoil- headed lights to western window, two trefoil-headed lights with quatrefoil to central window and large window with gable and three trefoil-headed lights and tracery, all to right of south porch: moulded plinth and moulded parapet, square-headed surround to doorway with decorative spandrels, 2-centred arched head to opening with moulded jambs, vaulted ceiling with diagonal and ridge ribs, and carved rose central boss, two trefoil-headed lights to returns. Chancel: two trefoil-headed lights to left and two cinquefoil-headed lights to right of doorway.

INTERIOR: renewed roof to nave and chancel. Aramstone chapel with vaulted ceiling, diagonal and ridge ribs springing from moulded corbels, and bosses largely restored; chancel arch: two chamfered orders with square cut plain imposts to inner orders. Fittings: C18 gallery at west end now enclosed on ground floor by C20 wall, panelled front, staircase with moulded rail, square newels and turned balusters. C17 pulpit, four-sided with decorative panels; sounding board. Monuments: recess in south wall of nave, with traces of ballflower ornament and late C13 coffin slab in recess. In Aramstone chapel Thomas Marrett, 1725, wall tablet, marble fluted Doric pilasters flank inscription panel with Doric entablature surmounted by cartouche; many other monuments commemorating members of Woodhouse family. (RCHM, Vol II , p 95-96; BoE, p 204).

Listing NGR: SO5589228843